Behind Closed Doors (Bucky Barnes)

~7~ Taylor Swift

Tony's method of grounding was relatively relaxed compared to Pepper's. Lani was allowed to keep her phone, computer, and TV privileges, and she could still spend time with her friends. However, she was forbidden from going out and had to surrender her credit card. Despite this, she didn't find the punishment too severe.

Lani was lounging in her room, engrossed in a Netflix show, when she was interrupted by a light knock on her door. Halting the movie, she rose and opened the door. A smile spread across her face at the sight of Bucky, standing there with his hands casually tucked into his pockets..

"Hey there." Lani stood leaning casually against the doorway, her eyes lighting up as Bucky stepped closed.

"Can I come in?" he asked, nodding toward her room.

She stepped aside to let him in and closed the door behind them. As he sat on her bed, he patted the space beside him, and she smiled and joined him, feeling a sudden wave of nervousness wash over her.

Bucky noticed her fidgeting with her fingers and gently took her hands in his, giving them a reassuring squeeze.

The silence was broken as he looked up from their intertwined hands and asked, "So, we're friends, yeah?"

"F-friends?" Lani repeated, her thoughts momentarily clouding her response.

"Friends, pals, good buddies..." Bucky continued, noticing Lani's slight unease.

"Just friends?" Lani countered in a whisper, almost lost to his super soldier hearing.

A small chuckle escaped him as he smirked at her. "Make-out buddies."

Lani's laughter filled the air, giving Bucky the perfect cue to draw closer and plant a gentle kiss on her lips. Without hesitation, she reciprocated, pressing her hands against the sides of Bucky's face to draw him even nearer. In response, Bucky pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her onto his lap, causing her to straddle him.

His flesh arm stayed on her hip as his vibranium fingers traced up her leg making her squirm at the coldness as she let out a giggle. He quickly grabbed her ass to make her focus on him when Friday's voice rang through the room.

"Mr. Barnes you are needed in the conference room, team meeting."

They both let out exasperated groans but reluctantly parted ways nonetheless. As they shared one final lingering kiss, Bucky assured Lani, for the second time that day, that they would pick up where they left off later. Lani closed the door and leaned against it, her thoughts consumed by the memory of that passionate kiss.

After the team's meeting finished, Lena paid a visit to Lani's room. They settled in to enjoy watching their favorite series together and were both in stitches from laughter, completely engrossed in the show.

Suddenly, Lani's phone began to ring, but the caller ID displayed "unknown." Concerned, Lani put the call on speaker, ensuring that Lena could also hear, just in case it was a potentially threatening call.

"Hello?" she answered the call.

"Who do you think you are messaging MY boyfriend? Like the audacity you have Leilani, to text him while we're dating is disgusting to me. You disgust me-" the caller started making the girls look at each other questioningly having no clue who this is.

"Wait wait wait. Wait. What did I do? And who is this?" Lani started completely confused about who this person was and what she was being accused of.

"You have been messaging my boyfriend, you think I haven't seen his DM's? Are you kidding me?!" The individual was becoming increasingly agitated about the entire situation, which only heightened Lani's curiosity.

"Okay, but who exactly is your boyfriend?" Lani inquired, attempting to untangle the situation.

"Why does that even matter? How many other people are you talking to?!" the person on the other end raised their voice, causing Lani to feel frustrated.

"Well, cause I DM'd Travis Kelce last night so I'm sorta hoping this is Taylor Swift." Lani was finding it increasingly difficult to suppress her sarcasm. Whoever this person was, they were really starting to get on her nerves.

"What is wrong with you, Starks? Can you be serious for just one minute?" Lena shook her head and mouthed, 'No, they can't.'

"So, let me get this straight. This isn't Taylor Swift?" Lani repeated, causing Lena to stifle a snicker.

"No, this is not Taylor Swift! It's Sharon!" "

"Ugh, then why are we even talking?" Lani let out a dramatic eye-roll, and Lena couldn't help but stifle a snicker.

"Stop messaging Bucky! I really don't see what he sees in you. He's in a relationship with me, so you need to leave him alone!" Lani froze for a moment at Sharon's outburst. Lena reached out and squeezed her best friend's hand reassuringly.

"I didn't realize you two were officially in a relationship," Lani said, her voice tinged with disappointment despite her attempts to hide it.

"Well, we are, when you see him tell him to give me a call if he wants to stay in it okay?" Lani was overcome with frustration as Sharon's cutting remark stung deeply, but she was determined not to let her get the upper hand.

"Fine, we will. Does he have your number, 1-800 biatch?" Lena teased, grabbing the phone and confronting Sharon.

"Now fuck off, Sharon," Lena stated firmly before ending the call, then turned to embrace her distraught friend.

Feeling a mix of disappointment and betrayal, Lani was on the verge of tears when a knock on the door caught their attention. Lena cautiously opened it, revealing a visitor that brought tears to Lani's eyes.

Bucky stood there with a smile on his face, prompting Lena to roll her eyes and shoot him an icy glare. "Stay away from her, Buck, or I swear to all the Gods that I will make a kebab out of you."

Those words wiped the grin off Bucky's face, leaving him looking at Lena with a mixture of confusion and concern. "What did I do?" he asked.

Lena couldn't help but sarcastically laugh as she glared at Bucky once more. "Just go and leave Lani alone."

With that, she slammed the door in his face, leaving him bewildered. Then, she climbed into bed with her best friend, and they snuggled close while continuing to watch their favorite series.