𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. ( 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒 ) ✓

xliii. OLD FRIENDS

When you first moved to New York, you lived on the borders of Hell's Kitchen. Sure it wasn't safe (like, at all) but you happened to make some pretty great friends that you didn't even realise would benefit a different aspect of your life in the future. Years on, you'd moved out your boxy apartment and into a new place in DC with your best friend Sam Wilson. You were aware of his past and his 'stupid bird suit' as you called it to annoy him but you got roped back into the whole thing when Captain America himself turned up at your door needing help. Of course, Sam was kind enough to get himself involved and in a way you did too. You'd become best friends with Steve too and eventually, the point came where you put your skills to use. Your extensive knowledge of databases and technology meant you were a big use in helping Steve find Bucky. And that you did.

From that point on, you were roped into most all of the superhero business going on around you. Including, having one as your boyfriend. You and Bucky Barnes hadn't known each other for that long but you felt it your duty to take care of him when you found him considering you're the reason his period of hiding ended. And so, it just happened. You love him. Which probably explains why you're carrying his cryofrozen body in a body bag to one of your old friend's apartment with Sam and Steve.

You knock frantically on the door in front of you, wanting to set down the overwhelming weight of the body bag and, just as expected, the door open immediately.

"(Y/N)?" a very sleep Matt Murdock mumbles. "Hey buddy." You have to guide his body to the side of his doorway so Steve and Sam can finally put Bucky down somewhere whilst you catch Matt up with the situation.

"So he's not dead, just...asleep." Matt leans on his kitchen counter as you make four steaming cups of coffee. "Yep, super deep sleep. He didn't even wake up when we hit his body against, about, seventeen door frames on the way here." Matt's low chuckle brought a sense of ease to this strange situation and although you never thought you'd say it, it felt nice to be back in Hell's Kitchen.

"Did you tell them about me?"

"Yeah I did, I'm sorry but we didn't have anywhere to-"

"Hey, it's fine. If you trust them, I do too." Matt reached his hand over the counter and rested it on yours with a small, comforting smile. You shook off the feeling of guilt and carried the cups of coffee into the living room. The four of you were up the whole night talking and joking around whilst you waited for Bucky to wake up.

"Okay, I guess it wasn't fair for me to keep it a secret but you had the best reaction." Matt chuckled as he shared the somewhat embarrassing story of you finding out about his vigilante life. "It was not that funny, Matt."

"Are you kidding? You fainted and almost face planted straight into the ground. Good thing I saved you, as always."

"You give yourself way too much credit for being Daredevil." Steve and Sam were clutching their stomach's after laughing so hard at the shared remarks between the two of you.

"Steve?" Everyone's heads shot up towards the direction of the bedroom as they heard Bucky's shout and Matt seemed to wince at the level of volume. You mumbled a quick apology to him before you raced into where Bucky had now woken.

"Hey, Buck. Calm down." You had to let him settle into his place before you explained the situation. He seemed pretty thrown off by waking up in an unfamiliar setting and you couldn't really blame him. Once he'd calmed down, you took him out to the living room where the others were waiting, eagerly.

Bucky's eyes fell upon everyone and he seemed to regain and air of calmness again. That was until he noticed Matt Murdock standing, awkwardly, behind everyone waiting to be introduced. "Buck, this is Matt Murdock. He's a friend of mine that we might have to stay with for a while."

Matt extended his left hand out to Bucky before hesitating and switching to the right. Your lips turned up slightly as you realised he detected Bucky's metal arm and was doing his best not to cause any problems. "It's nice to meet you."

"Are you blind?" You nudge Bucky as his question comes out much blunter than, you hope, he intended. Bucky turns to you and shrugs, implying that there was nothing wrong with his question. Matt picks up on the hesitation and returns a polite chuckle and nod to Bucky's question. "Yes, yes I am."

Bucky nods and silence fills the room. It's uncomfortable to say the least as Bucky looks between you and Matt. "So, um, how do you two know each other?" Sam seems to catch on to the reasoning behind Bucky's question and lets out a sharp laugh before he's shoved harshly by Steve.

"(Y/N) used to live here, in Hell's Kitchen, and we were friends then. Actually she only lived a few blocks down from here." Matt gestures through his window but Bucky's glare seems to follow Matt closely as he speaks fondly of you. You feel your palms begin to sweat slightly and you're sure if Matt could see the look Bucky was giving him, he'd do the same.

From that point on, Bucky was especially wary of Matt. he would be sure to make sure he was around when Matt wanted to talk to you. At one point he even offered to guide Matt instead of you doing it because he seemed uncomfortable with the idea of Matt holding on to you as you walked around. As many times as you assured him that there was nothing going on between the two of you, he seemed to find something new to be suspicious about.

"Did you two ever date?" Everyone's eyes drifted from their plate to Bucky as he directed the question at you and Matt. Steve and Sam seemed to continue to eat their breakfast as they shared awkward glances but you, Matt and Bucky had stopped eating altogether.

"Well not really..." Matt trailed off and, although he couldn't see it, you sent him a pointed glare at the way he answered your question. "Not really?" Bucky's voice was a couple octaves higher than usual and by this point, Steve and Sam had set down their utensils, eager to hear the conversation.

"We went on one date but we didn't feel like it worked out that well so that ended there."

"We went on three actually-"

"Matt!" The conversation fell silent there and you waited for Bucky to say something but he didn't seem like he was anywhere close to forming a coherent sentence. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." You, along with everyone else, were taken aback by the way Bucky had responded but you let everyone try and finish their breakfast in peace. "So I'm guessing you two would have done it at one point then?"

"Oh my gosh, Buck. Okay, you know what? We're gonna set the record straight. I went on one-"

"Three."

"I went on three dates with Matt and you know what, they weren't bad at all," Bucky sighed and rolled his eyes, turning away, ready to leave but you full him back and clutched his arm. "But, I also left Hell's Kitchen which, I assure you, I wouldn't have done if I was in love with him. And then I got myself into more mess than I was in here but I don't regret any of that because I met you and I am in love with you."

In a melodramatic Sam fashion, he gasps and you swear you can hear Steve and Matt 'aw' but Bucky looks up, completely taken aback. "You're in love with me?" You reply with a nod and Bucky's mouth turns up in a childlike manor. "I love you too." He presses a soft kiss to your lips as the other three look on adoringly.

"You know, I think we went on four dates."

"Matt!"