Avengers Imagines

Bucky - Matchmaker

The sun is scorching on your face when you walk along the main path of the park near your house. It's not exactly an ideal time to be out, knowing that the weather forecast said that it's going to be extremely hot out. Your dog, however, has other ideas.

As your dog sprints around the park, you keep an eye on where he's going, when you trip over a small rock. And like any other cliche, you feel a pair of warm—wait, one of them is really hot—arms around you, ultimately saving you from your untimely death.

It's not that dramatic or romantic in reality, though. When you open your eyes, still in the stranger's arms, you're expecting to see a handsome face, but the sunlight blinds you momentarily instead. "Sorry," you manage to say without embarrassing yourself even more. "I wasn't looking—"

"When's the wedding?!" a woman asks enthusiastically, squealing. "Oh my God, Steve!"

"We're not getting married!" the man holding you says frantically, helping you back on your feet. "They fell and, you know... I had to catch them."

"It's okay, pal. It's about damn time you get someone," someone else says, and this time, you can clearly recognize who he is.

You blink in confusion and admiration at the absolute specimen in front of you, shaking your head. This has got to be a dream because Captain America himself is in front of you, and so is Black Widow? That would mean that the one who just saved you was—

"Barnes! Hold up!" The Falcon runs to catch up with the group.

"Is this park, um... Tony Stark's? 'Cause I can definitely leave, I mean— uh, I didn't know it was Stark's park. Is that even a thing?" you stammer, losing control over your words. "Sorry."

"No, please stay," Bucky says, his hand still holding onto yours. You both look down at your intertwined fingers and Bucky quickly lets go. "Sorry."

"Aw, Bucky's all flustered! My boy's all grown up," the Captain says, patting Bucky on the back.

"Ignore him," Bucky tells you, his eyes pleading. "Is that your dog?" he asks, pointing to the blur of fur still running around the park.

You nod, thoughts passing by too quickly for you to even process what the hell is going on. The whole iconic trio and Black Widow is right here, and you don't know what to make of that.

"So, um, what're you guys up to?" you ask, desperately trying to be casual.

"Bucky wanted to see the dogs," Black Widow muttered. "And you, of course. He's been telling me about this really cute person in the park and coming here almost every day."

"Me?" you ask. This can only be some kind of sick joke. Bucky Barnes—The Winter fucking Soldier—thinks you're cute? What the hell? He's cute. Extremely.

"Mhm. Barely anyone comes here, anyway. It's only been you and your dog for the past couple of days."

"Have you been spying on me?" you ask, mortified. Oh God. 

"Pfft, what? No," Black Widow replies. "Bucky hasn't had the guts to ask you out for a coffee, so I'm simply just trying to set you up."

Out of the corner of your eye, you see the three guys playing fetch with your dog, and honestly, your brain cannot digest what the hell is happening. They're so... human. You know that they are human, but you've never expected them to do human... things. Like playing with dogs, for example. You thought that they just train until they can't while saving the world in the process.

"So, whaddya say?" she asks you again. "Will you get a cup of coffee with Bucky?" She chuckles. "That rhymes."

"I um, I mean, yeah, of course," you say, surprising yourself. "What's the worst that could happen, right?"

"Exactly! He's all tough on the outside, but he's a soft little thing on the inside."

"I have to ask, though," you say, and the Black Widow cocks her head, signaling you to continue. "I thought he was smooth? I mean, not that he's not, but I— I don't what I'm saying. I mean, um."

"He's smooth to the people he's not that interested in. It's his way of convincing himself that he really is interested. In the end, though, it usually doesn't work out," she says sadly. "He's been really scared to go out there and date again." She looks at you sternly. "Please, just try. For him?"

"Yeah, absolutely. I love Bucky," you say absentmindedly. "From the news! And the stories!"

When the Black Widow sees Bucky approaching, she says a quick 'good luck' and joins the Captain and the Falcon, who are still playing with your dog. 

Bucky strolls over cautiously, his left hand in his pocket. You remember that he has a metal arm, and since his right hand is flesh, it has to be the one tucked in his jeans. "Hey," he greets you sheepishly. "Hope she wasn't too hard on you."

You blush, knowing that he has no idea about the whole date thing the Black Widow has set up for the both of you. "She's really nice," you answer. "Thanks for saving me, by the way."

He scratches the back of his neck nervously, a smile creeping up his face. "It's no problem at all. I'm Bucky," he introduces himself.

You do too, and soon you both are in a friendly conversation. He doesn't mention the coffee date whatsoever, and although the Black Widow had mentioned about him not being smooth, you still think that it might just be because he isn't interested at all.

After a few minutes (where you've both migrated from the middle of the park to a nearby bench), he stops talking. He looks down, biting his lip, furrowing his eyebrows.

"What's up?" you ask him, worried. Could it be his memories resurfacing?

"Nothing, it's just..." he trails off. "Will you go out for a coffee sometime? I know a place nearby, and you're absolutely welcome to say no."

You just smile and say yes, before explaining that his friend had just asked the same thing for him.

"Are you serious?" Bucky asks, laughing. "Nat! I swear to God—"

"Well, you look happy," the Black Widow comments, smirking. She winks at you.

"You asked them out for me?"

"I had to! I didn't think you would do it at all."

"You're unbelievable."

***

(THIS PART CONTAINS ENDGAME SPOILERS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.)

The memory of Nat asking you out for Bucky is still fresh in your mind. You can't help but let out a few pained tears as you walk down the aisle, to see that Bucky is also crying at the altar.

She would never know that you and Bucky get married in the end. She would never be there for your kid's birthday, or even when they would call her Auntie Nat.

She would never know that you both are still so madly in love with each other, and if it hadn't been for her, you both probably wouldn't be here right now.

When you reach the altar, Steve lets go of your hand and goes back to his seat, wiping tears away with his sleeve. You look up at Bucky, his eyes the bluest they've ever been, even when rimmed with tears threatening to come out. "Do you think she knows?" you ask him, your voice just above a whisper.

As painful as it is, he smiles reassuringly. "I know she does."
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Okay, so. I have no idea why my brain decided to do this but now I'm sad again :')