Readers Assemble!

Not a Couple (Bucky Barnes x deaf!reader)

Bucky watched in awe as your hands moved at lightning speed. You were sitting at the table, talking to Thor while Bucky stood in the kitchen with his cup of coffee. He understood some of the words you were trying to say, but most of it was a blur. It was amazing to Bucky that the same hands you used to talk with could kill a man in seconds. Actually, everything about you was amazing to Bucky. There was just one problem.

Thor. It seemed like you and Thor were really close. A little too close. It upset Bucky so, he kept to himself when it came to you. He didn't purposely ignore you, but he didn't go out of his way to spend time with you. Bucky was still trying to find his place among the Avengers and he didn't want any animosity between him and Thor either. He never noticed your eyes following his every move.

"Why doesn't Bucky like me?" you signed to Thor and the Asgardian shrugged. You were impressed as he signed back to you. "I am certain he doesn't dislike you. He is very wary of everyone and I do not blame him." You nodded and sighed sadly. Thor gave you a sympathetic look before he reached over and patted your back. You let out an "oof" as he hit you a bit too hard. He quickly apologized and offered you a Pop-tart.

For months, Bucky kept his distance from you. He just didn't know how to approach you. Then came the day that you and Bucky would be the only ones in the Tower. You came to Bucky's room, thankful he'd left the door partially open. You knocked and the door opened a bit more. Bucky looked up from his book and froze a little. You started signing something, but Bucky shook his head. "Too fast," he said, letting you read his lips.

He handed you a pad of paper and a pen. "How about pizza for dinner?" you asked and he nodded. You stood there awkwardly for a second lost in thought. Then, you took the paper and wrote, "Why don't you like me?" Bucky's brows furrowed. "What makes you think I don't like you?" You gave him a look that made him sigh. "Let's order the pizza and we'll talk."

A little while later, you and Bucky were sitting down and finally getting a chance to talk. Or...write. Bucky did his best to sign, but his words were sometimes jumbled. Not to mention that his metal hand was sometimes distracting.

"I really do like you, Y/N. I do, but you're with Thor." You cocked your head to the side. "Thor?" That was one sign that Bucky actually knew. You had showed everyone the signs for their names when you first moved in. Bucky nodded again. "You think Thor and I are together?" Bucky told you that he did and you started laughing.

When you finally calmed down, you saw that Bucky didn't look amused. "Thor and I are not a couple. I spend a lot of time with Thor because he'd the only one that can sign as well as I can. Everyone tries, but Thor has a real grasp of it. He's my best friend. That's all."

Bucky just stared openly at you. You weren't with Thor? All this time he was thinking that you and Thor were a couple and you weren't. It was almost a relief. Did it mean that Bucky had a chance with you? He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice you signing again. He blinked, but once again, you were signing too quickly for him to follow. "Slow down," he said, giving you the opportunity to read his lips.

"I said...will...you...go...out...with me?" you signed again slowly so Bucky could understand. When Bucky didn't respond right away, you looked down at your lap. You felt the blush on your cheeks at your forwardness. You felt Bucky rest his hand on yours and you looked up again. He slowly started to sign. You could see how unsure he was, but you encouraged him to continue. "I'd love to, Doll."

You grinned. You could tell he'd been practicing. "How about tomorrow?" Bucky took your hand in his and kissed the back of it. "Sounds great," you answered out loud. You knew your voice was probably not the best sounding and was probably loud since you couldn't hear yourself, but Bucky smiled anyway. "Good." He leaned over the table and pressed a kiss to your warm cheek.