Neighbours (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Twenty Seven

Lia

The dinner passed without anymore comments from Louise, instead she just sat and observed. In a way, it made Lia more nervous but Bucky was relaxed. Seeing him talk about how much the war changed the world was weird, Lia never thought to ask him about it. She just assumed he wouldn't want to talk about it but then again most people didn't want to discuss the root of all their trauma a lot. Lia was the opposite, she joked about hers as a way of coping but she knew that Bucky was more reserved.

Once they were finished eating Michael paid the bill, insisting on treating his daughter and her boyfriend. Boyfriend felt weird to even think, they hadn't exactly put a label on it. Maybe he didn't actually want her like that. Maybe she was just his toy for a while before he got bored, bile rose up her throat at the thought.

She was too much in her own thoughts to notice the table standing to leave until Bucky tapped her on the shoulder, she smiled softly before standing and placing her jacket back on. Her brain was tuning out any conversation that was happening around her, too fixated on figuring out how long they could do this for without labels. He met her parents; surely that means something. The battle inside her head told her otherwise.

"It was nice to see you Ophelia." She smiled at her dad, letting him embrace her in a hug. She couldn't remember the last time he held onto her like this but she chose not to comment. "Hold onto him, he's a good man."

The words were whispered to her and Lia smiled, finally feeling slightly accepted by her family. At one point she was a daddy's girl but that very quickly changed once she became a teenager. Once it hit that point he would only talk to her to rant about how important grades were or how she shouldn't do drugs. It felt like he loved her again.

Louise stared coldly at the pair then turned back to Bucky to give him the same stare but worse, it was obvious that she didn't approve.

"Take care of yourself Ophelia." Lia swallowed the lump in her throat, Bucky snaking his arm around her waist. He knew she was uncomfortable but there was only so much he could do without causing more issues with Louise.

She waited until Michael was out of earshot to speak again.

"Soldier."

Bucky's face remained unaltered but Lia grew visibly angry. She could feel how tense Bucky became at the mention of the title, it just brought everything right back for him. All the torture, all the loss.

"His name's James and I'll be damned if you don't respect it. Bullying me is one thing, but Bucky's a good man." Louise tutted before strutting away, dismissing her daughter completely.

Lia didn't even realise she was shaking until Bucky pulled her into his chest, holding her tightly in the middle of the restaurant. Neither of them cared, they needed each other in this moment. They weren't sure how long they stood there in each others arms but Bucky eventually let Lia go, holding onto her hand and dragging her to the unisex toilets.

She just let Bucky lead her, her feet moving to follow his without even realising she was doing it. Her heart was breaking for him, he did everything to become a better person and her mother just tramped on it like it was nothing. Like he was nothing.

Bucky pulled them into a toilet, standing in front of Lia and tilting her face up to his. He could see the tears forming in her eyes, the way she was trying to hide her anger but also show him how much she cared. He said nothing, only pressed his lips to hers in a desperate plea to show her that he appreciated everything she did for him. Bucky was never good with words, using physical touch as a way to demonstrate how much people meant to him. Lia kissed him back with just as much desperation, her hands grabbing at whatever piece of him she could to bring him closer to her. Her heart was pounding in her chest which only made the whole situation more intense. Bucky pulled away from her lips, licking his own at the sound of her whines.

"Thank you." Lia said nothing, only placed her lips back on his and pushed him backwards so that his back was against the wall. Her whole body was shaking with anticipation, desperate for some sort of relief of anything. Her emotions were too high for her liking.

Her hands slid between them, slowly undoing his belt until his hands grabbed hers. She whined and tried to push against him, growing frustrated that he wouldn't let her get her own way. He pulled his lips away from hers again, creating a block between them.

"I don't wanna fuck you in here doll, it's dirty." Lia rolled her eyes, attempting once again to fight against his grip. "When we get home."