𝙲𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚝 𝙾𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 - 𝓑𝓾𝓬𝓴𝔂 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼 [2]

16. {Plus-One}

Bucky's frustration simmered as he marched towards Y/N's door that morning. Without bothering to knock, he grasped the handle in a surge of anger. The door swung open unexpectedly, revealing Y/N's apartment beyond.

His frown deepened at the sight of a suitcase near the entryway. A whole fucking suitcase for just two nights? With a dismissive roll of his eyes, he bypassed the luggage, tossed his bag and suit to her couch, and headed directly for her bedroom door, confident she would be inside. 

They were meant to have left for the airport twenty minutes ago. If she made him damn late for this flight... Just two nights, Barnes. Two nights he had to tolerate her on a private, secluded island for wedding festivities. Regret was sinking in fast for inviting her as his plus one.

Barnes' irritation was palpable as he stormed to her bedroom door, his hand clenching the handle before he pushed it open. "We should have been at the fucking airport by now, Y/N!"

His work partner jumped at his sudden entrance, her arms instinctively crossing over her chest as she stood there half-dressed. In truth, she was barely clothed, clad only in a pair of lacy underwear that momentarily widened Bucky's eyes as he took in the sight, his body halfway into the room.

"What the fuck, Barnes?!" Her shocked expression quickly morphed into the familiar daggers he was accustomed to, and with his anger still simmering, he rolled his eyes, releasing the door before glaring back at her.

"Oh please," he gestured dismissively towards her attempts at modesty, "I've seen every damn inch of you, Y/N. There's no need to start acting shy now." He huffed, feeling a flicker of satisfaction as her scowl deepened.

Exasperated, she rolled her eyes and lowered her arms, abandoning her modesty. She continued to rummage through her drawers, clearly irritated. "Don't you knock anymore?" she asked pointedly.

"The door was open," he replied nonchalantly, his tone indifferent.

She paused, a hint of confusion crossing her face, evidently not recalling that she had left her door unlocked. Without acknowledging his words, Y/N continued rifling through her drawer. Bucky watched her with a glare that betrayed his irritation as she located one shirt after another, tossing them onto her bed before delving into the drawer below.

"I thought we were meeting outside your apartment?" Y/N huffed, seizing the clothes she needed and swiftly donning the upper half of her lacy attire.

Barnes found himself torn. The sight before him stirred appreciation he couldn't deny, yet Y/N's morning tardiness had already driven him to frustration. Taking a deep breath, he leaned against the door frame, arms folded.

"Yes, twenty fucking minutes ago, sweetheart," he remarked, his tone tinged with exasperation.

Y/N glanced at him over her shoulder, her movements swift as she pulled a simple shirt over her head. "Well, I'm almost ready now, aren't I?" she retorted, her voice laced with sarcasm, putting her arms through the sleeves next with an added huff.

Bucky's jaw clenched slightly, his frustration evident despite the flicker of amusement her sass brought. "Almost isn't good enough," he countered sharply. "We have a flight to catch."

She reached for a pair of jeans that lay at the end of her bed but stopped, glancing in his direction once more. "Are you going to keep staring while I get dressed, or are you actually going to give me some damn privacy?" 

Bucky remained unmoved, his arms folded as he arched a brow, a smug smirk appearing on his lips. "Well, I'd much prefer to be watching you undress, but it seems we're at an impasse," he said casually, fully aware it would annoy her.