His Soulmate | Bucky Barnes ✔

Chapter Eight

I spent most of my birthday with Bucky, which I have no objections to. He let me pick a film to watch, which wasn't unusual as he had still only seen a handful at the tower, but it was a nice birthday treat nonetheless. It was around 3 in the afternoon when I felt his arm wrap around my shoulders.

"I still need to speak to you," he whispered in my ear. My stomach flipped and I turned to look at him.

"You do know that you sound a bit crazy when you word it like that?"

He smiled at me, letting me snuggle into his side. I didn't really want to talk to him. In case it was about feelings. If he knew what this was and how he felt then great, but I had been here just over a week and  I was terrified that I was feeling such strong emotions for a man that wasn't my soulmate.

We were interrupted yet again by Nat, but instead of letting me pull away, Bucky tightened his grip on my shoulders. I looked up at him and patted his chest, until he glanced down at me. His eyes were unreadable. Again.

I blushed and looked at Nat. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah I just want some help getting ready for the mission. Figured you'd want to join. That is, if you aren't busy?" She eyed Bucky and I looked up, expecting him to say something.

While it was true he still only spoke one word answers or small phrases to everyone except me or Steve, he had suddenly become protective of me. And last time Nat had asked for help Bucky had whispered to me that he'd wanted me to stay and watch a film with him.

I wasn't going to let a man dictate my life, and I'd mock argued with him about it before but we'd always ended up laughing, before the same, tense silence filled the room. We've had two near kisses now, and every time I thought back to them my head blanks and my heart starts racing against my chest.

But this time Bucky was silent, and smiled at me as he slowly raised his arm. Nat turned and walked back to the lift as I stared at Bucky.

I leant over and pecked his cheek, and as I leant back I saw a slight blush fill his face. I grinned at him, blushing too, but I stood up and followed Nat. As I turned, stepping into the lift, I could see him stroking his cheek slightly, a soppy grin on his face.

"I just don't get why I'm dressing up too," I muttered as Nat brushed the eyeshadow across my eyelid.

"I told you, I don't like getting ready alone. Wanda used to help me but then she moved out with Vision, and now that you're here..." she trailed off as she picked up an eyeliner.

"Can I at least see the dress?" I asked, but she glared at me until I shut up.

My hair was curled loosely around my shoulders, with two strands plaited and pinned against my head. Nat had done a natural look, except for the smokey eyes and winged eyeliner. I stood up as she helped me step into a dress and as I heard the zip go up and the dress tighten, I began eyeing the room for a mirror.

"Nat..." I moaned, before she rolled her eyes.

"Yes you can see now." She took my hand and led me to her wardrobe, passing me a pair of black heels and a small clutch as she did so. I stepped in and wobbled slightly, before shoving my phone into the bag.

I stepped in front of the mirror on the inside of the wardrobe door and gasped. I looked incredible! The hair was just the right amount of soft curls - not too tight that it was painful. The dress had a black bodice that skimmed over my waist. It fell out slightly and ended an inch or two above my knee.

"Nat this is..." I trailed off as she grinned at me. Her curled hair was pinned above her ear, her red dress tight against her body and stopped mid calf. Her red heels made her tower over me even more so than normal, and she wore a grin on her face.