𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. ( 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒 ) ✓

lxi. LATE NIGHT VISITS

[1940's]

"(Y/N), open up." You rolled your eyes, grumbling under your breath as you paced to your window, tugging at the latches until they gave away allowing your two best friends to peek their heads through the entrance of your window.

"You two can't be here," you whispered softly. "Why not?" Bucky's usual loud voice alarmed you and you gestured for him to keep it down whilst Steve reached his bony hand across to smack the back of Bucky's head. "Why not?" he repeated at a more appropriate noise level. "My parents are downstairs and I don't think they'd been too happy to know I have two boys in my bedroom."

"In which case they clearly don't know about the kind of things you enjoys." Your mouth fell open at Bucky's somewhat provocative response and even Steve scoffed with a hint of a smile ghosting on his lips.

"Go away!" Your weak response only made Bucky smirk wider so you turned to Steve in hopes of relieving the agonising embarrassment. "You can stay," you direct at Steve with a sweet smile.

"You always treat him better." Bucky huffs, fiddling with the fabric of his neatly ironed shirt cuffs. "He always treats me better."

"That is not true! I took you to the fair the other day and bought you whatever you wanted, I even threatened that group hanging around the benches who were giving you weird looks and making you uncomfortable," Bucky boasts, a pleased expression settling on his face.

"Was that before or after you ditched me for that other girl who was eyeing you up from the ferris wheel?" Steve makes a noise that can only be described as 'ooooh' as he finds amusement in the minor bickering of his completely oblivious best friends. "Sorry, doll, didn't realise you wanted to be the only one I hang around." Bucky quirks a flirtatious brow but the moment is interrupted by footsteps ascending the stairs.

You shove at Bucky and Steve, asking them wordlessly to move out of the visibility of anyone looking through the window and then hurriedly shut the window, climbing back into bed, grabbing the first book you see and opening it on a random page.

"(Y/N)?" You smile sweetly in response to your mother who hovers by the door. "You okay?"

"Just perfect." You set aside the book, allowing your mother to sit down beside you at your bedside. "I could've sworn I heard you talking to someone."

"Just reading my book aloud."

"Male voices?"

"Different accents for different characters, you know?" Admittedly, you're impressed with your own capacity to lie so quickly. It seems your mother believes you as she drops the subject. "What you reading?"

"Just a book for school." You glance at the book, only having seen the cover now after grabbing it so suddenly earlier. "How is school? We never really talk about it anymore. How are your friends?"

You tense, knowing that the two friends you were going to talk about were lingering with avid ears right by your window.

"Steve's okay. The kid is getting stronger actually, I'm pretty sure he's starting to work out or trying anyway." Whilst your mother chuckles lightly, Steve mutters profanities from a short distance away having heard your teasing tone. "And James?"

"He's...fine." Your mother's brows knit together inquisitively. "Just fine?"

"Well he's still mean to me all the time." Bucky squints his eyes in contemplation upon hearing this. "I'm not mean all the time, am I? It's just teasing." Bucky confers with Steve.

"You are kind of a douche, Buck." Bucky shakes his head, reluctant to trust his friends information and instead turns his attention back to your conversation. "But I know that he really just likes me a lot and that's just how our relationship is."

Bucky can't see your face but he knows a smile is tugging at your lips in the adorable way he always like seeing it do. "Anyway, I think I'm gonna get to sleep now," you inform your mother, eager to get her out of the room.

After practically forcing her out as subtly as you could you returned to the window, allowing the boys to resume their more comfortable position on the fire escape. "Now, you two should get out of here before she comes back up."

They nod in agreement and raise from their position, half seated on your windowsill. "See you, (Y/N)." Steve gives you a subtle wave and you shake your head, pulling him back and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek before ruffling his hair and shoving him back in the direction he was leaving in.

"Bye, Bucky." You reach for the top of your window to pull it down but Bucky's grip stops its movement, leaving you unable to close it. "Where's my kiss?"

"You don't get one." Bucky slides the window back up with ease, making your best effort to tug it back down obsolete. "I guess I'm not leaving then." Bucky shuffles back under the window, leaning against the side of the window pane.

You exhale frustratedly, crossing your arms over your chest and reluctantly giving him an incredibly rushed peck on the cheek. "What the hell was that?" he complains, teasing evident in his tone with your only response being to shove him playfully. "How was I supposed to better that?"

"Like this." He reaches a single hand out to gently grip your hair and pull your head forward, nearer to his. His warm lips envelope your own and you blink rapidly in surprise before easing into it as his other hand falls to your waist, pulling your body into his. When he pulls away you're breathless to say the least and press your lips together, easing the rapid sensations you can still feel. "Goodnight, (Y/N)." He clambers back out of the window leaving you stood in awe in your place for a few seconds longer.

"Yeah...goodnight."