Brooklyn Baby || Stucky

Chapter 3

Bucky swallowed hard, turning his phone off and shoving it into his pocket. He heard the door slide open behind him and he turned to see Wanda curiously step out. She smiled and wandered over to him. She knocked his side gently, to which he smiled and pulled her into a side-hug. Her brown waves were pulled back into a tidy braid, draped over her scrawny shoulder.

    “Who were you talking to?” she asked innocently, her words wilting with her fading Eastern European accent. Behind them, from somewhere in the get together, Pietro could be heard laughing.

    “You can guess who.” Bucky smirked, looking at her. She smiled knowingly, and reached up to yank a silver hair from his long hair. They stayed out on the balcony of the house, looking out at the sea. The lights from Coney Island cast orange lights across the beach to them, and left blue sparkles in their eyes.

    “I can tell he is good for you, James.” Wanda stares up at him, a relaxed smile hanging on her lips. “You’ve been smiling so much more, and texting us at midnight less.”

    “Maybe I’m just doing better.” Bucky rebutted, stubbornly. Wanda giggled.

    “What are you guys doing out here?” The door slid open again and Pietro had his head poking out into the chilly air. A clear plastic cup of beer was in his hand, and he had a grin on his pale face. “Don’t mope at my party! You know the rules!”

    Wanda responded with a snarky remark in a language that Bucky assumed was Sokovian. He could only understand enough to laugh, because they were speaking so fast. The twins threw petty insults back and forth before Wanda walked inside, threatening to beat her brother up.

    Bucky laughed and looked at the amusement park down the beach. The violent roar of the coaster was muddled by the distance. The man yawned and turned, heading back into the small house.

*

    Natasha was walking out of the bakery doors when Bucky arrived and he smiled at her. She smirked and stopped to say hi, pulling on her jacket. He stopped, not expecting her to make conversation.

    “I thought you guys were closed today?” Bucky shoved his hands into his pockets.

    “I was doing some prep work for some orders that go out tomorrow. Frosting, fondant, y’know…” Nat shrugged. “Hey! Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

    Bucky’s chest constricted. He could only imagine that she was about to say something bad, or play the mom friend even. She crossed her arms as if trying to keep warm. Now that Bucky thought about it, she seemed a little thinner than the last time he saw her.

    “Steve’s birthday is next week,” she started. Her lips quirked up as if a joke had popped into her head suddenly. “I want to throw a surprise party for him. So, this is me inviting you to said party.”

    “Where will it be at? What day?”

    “It’s on Independence Day, actually.”

    Bucky snorted and nods.

    “It’ll be at a penthouse on Brighton. Our buddy, Tony, owns it. I’m great friends with his girlfriend.” She practically brags about the feat and Bucky nods again. “Oh, and bring friends!”

    “Will do.” Bucky smiles, already adding Wanda and Pietro to his invite list. “Anything I should bring?”

    “Um…” Natasha thinks about before hurriedly pulling a business card from her back pocket. “No, but I can text you to let you know.”