Catch Me If You Can | Winter Soldier x reader |

CHAPTER 13

It was the most wonderful time of the year.

Everyone's spirit was over the rooftop. They were all dressed for the best and had stupid grins plastered on their faces. The chatter that was ordinary for the warehouse grew louder and louder. No, it wasn't Christmas. Certainly not Christmas.

It was payday. 

Bucky gleamed at the crowd of scrawny teenagers as they swarmed around the stolen picnic table. One of the overseers of the Ambassadors, as well as you, were sitting on the top, evenly distributing the decks of green to the adolescents. Barnes was perplexed by the ruckus but he waited till the crowd slimmed and staggered towards your direction.

You were too oblivious and obsessed with the money to have noticed him approach you. So eventually, he cleared his throat and your eyes sprung up to meet his pearls. "Well hello there," you cooed, flirtatiously, "I was wondering when you'd show up."

"Where did you get all of this money from?" The man furrowed his brows, staring as you counted away the bills.

"The big man gave it to us. The last few missions had given us a reward." You beamed, smacking his deck in his palm. "There, now you can join us tonight."

"Join who? What? What about tonight?" He inquired, blindly following you as you leaped off the table.

You chuckled lightly and glanced over your shoulder, "It's a celebratory tradition. On payday night, we always head towards the city. You probably would want to dress up a little."

The Winter Soldier paused and froze in his spot. His voice lowered almost immediately, "I can't come. Steve would probably be suspicious if I was out for too long."

"Aww, big boy's still got a curfew?" You laughed, punching him lightly. "Don't worry, we'll leave fairly early and hit the bars. They usually have good deals before the sun goes down. Then you can leave whatever time you want. No one's going to stop you."

"You're not going to make a fuss and guilt me into taking your drunk áss home?"

You were surprised to hear a single curse word slip from Bucky's lips. He'd always been the monotone, dead-faced, Darth Vader kind of guy. But from the way he said ašs it sounded like Barnes could swear like a sailor. So for him to suddenly transition from those two personas, it was evident that he was growing comfortable with you.

Let's just get him comfortable enough to get him to drop his briefs.

A wicked smirk flooded over your features, "I won't make any promises, twinkle toes." You let a soft chuckle, "We'll meet at the Verboten."

Bucky Barnes was given no time to interject before you jogged away past the clutter of people. Once your figure disappeared beyond the ocean of orange tents, the man heaved a sigh and looked at the money in his hand.

Well, guess his Friday night is booked.

Meanwhile, you had already made it to your tent with an idiotic smirk stapled onto your face. Your breath was shallow and your heart was racing. These nights were usually the best and most memorable moments of the year. So everyone was trying their best to make themselves look good, act good and smell good. Which reminded you, you probably should take a bath.

Anyways! Barnes was joining you. That's insane! The nightclub would be the perfect opportunity to make another first impression on the man. He's always seen you in jeans, dark clothes, grimed face and all— so this would be the most stunning chance to show him how ladylike you were.

You scrambled towards your stash of bags and rummaged through to choose clothes out for the night. After several minutes, you finally plucked the One. It was a deep wine-colored dress that was long sleeved and hemmed. You recalled it as the dress you first wore when Mason took you on a date.