GROW (BUCKY BARNES x OC)

26

When Bucky and Aurora came up from training they parted ways and left to take showers. If the water was cold, that was their business only.

Aurora didn't understand how things could change so much so fast. All because of that one comment Olivia made. Her heart was giddy with happiness and judging off the expression on Bucky's face every time he looked her way, he felt the same.

She was driving him crazy. He knew she was attractive before, but now that they were more free with their affection, Aurora was like a drug. Bucky could never get enough of her. They had decided to tentatively use the label of dating, though they had yet to call each other their boyfriend or girlfriend out loud.

New Years Eve came and Tony threw a large party. Olivia was with the Barton family who were spending some time in a nearby hotel and offered to have her over for a sleepover. Olivia was excited if not a bit nervous that she'd have to leave early, but this time she'd stay the whole night. Aurora kept her phone on her all night anyway, and didn't drink a drop of alcohol. Bucky, on the other hand, sat with Steve and Thor, where he'd apparently decided to finally take the good up on his offer of Asgardian ale. Aurora noticed with no small amount of amusement, that he was drunk. How their roles switched.

She watched the three Avengers laughing and talking animatedly to each other from the corner she stood in. Steve eventually stood up and made his way over to her, wobbling slightly.

"Hey tipsy." Aurora greeted.

"I'm not drunk." Steve scoffed, but he swayed where he stood for a moment.

She raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not that drunk." He amended.

Aurora laughed.

"Anyway, you need to come get Bucky." Steve said.

"Is he okay?" She worried, looking over.

"He's okay, but he won't stop talking about you. I love you and all Aurora, but if Thor and I have to hear him describe your 'amazingly breathtaking eyes' one last time..." He sighed.

She felt her face heat up and she moved to weave her way across the room. When Thor spotted her first, he looked relieved.

"Here to rescue you." Aurora joked.

Bucky spun around at the sound of her voice so quickly she almost toppled off his stool. His face broke into a wide grin.

"There she is! My amazing, wonderful, perfect girlfriend!" He declared loudly.

She laughed, but there was a definite rush of happiness at hearing him call her that.

"Why don't we spare Thor from hearing you rant about my awesomeness for a while." She suggested jokingly.

"Sure! I'd much rather be in the presence of your awesomeness anyway." Bucky agreed, standing up and patting Thor farewell on the back.

Aurora led them to a corner of the room, smiling while he kept complimenting her and gushing over how much he liked her.

"And when I see you, I just know I like you so much- no, that I love you so much, that I'd do absolutely anything for you!" Bucky said happily.

Love.

Did he mean that or was it the alcohol talking?

"You're definitely drunk." She decided to say.

"Sober words are drunk thoughts." He shrugged.

His face scrunched up and she giggled.

"Wait, no, the drunk thoughts- no, the, uh... the drunk words are sober thoughts?"