i think he knows | chapter ten
Summary: THE LIST
Warnings: Underage drinking.
Word Count: 1380
Series Masterlist | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Series’ Spotify Playlist
A/N: This Bucky is my everything.
Tags: @bigtreefest | @caplanbuckybarnes | @angelbabyyy99 | @mega-kittyglitter-1 | @cjand10 | @armystay89 | @itvy5601 |
As you pulled up to the corner of your street, Bucky turned off the engine but made no effort to move off the bike. He turned to you, his expression was earnest and filled with vulnerability. “I know this is a lot to process, Sunshine. I thought it would be best to hear it from me,” he confessed, his voice laced with regret, you couldn’t put your finger on what he regretted. Was it regret for betting on Steve? Was it regret for telling you? Or, was it regret for something else?
Your heart clenched at his words, the fear of being a pawn again gnawed at you. “Bucky,” you sighed as your voice began to tremble, tears threatening to spill. “Is there.. Is there any chance that I’m a part of a bet too?” The question hung in the air, the accusation heavy.
His eyes widened in alarm, getting off the bike, he turned his entire body to face you. You took the helmet off to see him better. His hand reached up to cup your cheek, his thumb rubbing away stray tears. “No,” he assured you, his voice was firm. “I swear to you, you are not and never were a part of any bet.”
“I want to believe you, I do,” you admitted, your head resting in his hand. “But.. after everything you’ve told me, I can’t help but wonder…”
Bucky’s expression softened, “I know I’ve given you reasons to doubt me, I am truly sorry for that,” he cut you off, his voice filled with sincerity. “But, on everything, I swear, my feelings for you are real, not something I’m going to gamble on.”
Tears began to well in your eyes again, the fear of him hurting you and the genuine connection you felt towards him had you torn. “ I need time, Bucky,” you whispered, “Time to sort through my feelings, I need to know for sure I can trust you.”
Bucky nodded, his gaze never left yours. “Take all the time you need, Sunshine,” he promised. His hand gently enveloped yours before you could get down from the bike. “Before you go, can I take you to show you something first?” he said softly, his eyes pleading with yours.
You hesitated for a moment, but ultimately you nodded.
~
As Bucky pulled up at Stark’s Motors, you couldn’t help but notice Pierto’s car, Wanda’s brother’s, parked outside. Confusion brought your eyebrows together, wondering what he was doing here. Before you could voice your thoughts, Bucky stopped the engine, getting off the bike he reached for your hand, helping you off and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
You followed Bucky into the garage, your eyes widening in surprise as you spotted Wanda and Peter mingling with Bucky’s friends. The most unexpected sight, you couldn’t help but feel anxious yet curious. Is this what Bucky wanted to show you?
Your friends and Bucky’s turned to greet you both, their expressions were all a mix of surprise. Natasha’s eyebrow arched as a playful smirk tugged at her lips.
Bucky sighed as he made his way over to the couches, picking up the litter of empty chip packets and beer bottles and mumbling under his breath to his friends. His jaw tenses with his barely contained anger as he takes in the scene.
Wanda and Peter approached you with their friendly smiles, their presence eased some of your tension. “Hey,” Wanda slurred, “We thought we’d come by and hang with these guys,”
Peter nodded in agreement, “Yeah, we came to talk to them and ended up having a party,” there was a mischievous twinkle in Peter’s eyes that you had never seen before.
“Fuck sake, guys,” Bucky muttered, his voice tight with irritation. He shot glances at his friends. “I brought her here to gain her trust, and you’ve got her friends pissed.”
Natasha rolled her eyes, a smirk still playing on her lips as she took another swig from her bottle. “Relax, Barnes,” she teased. “We’re just having fun,” Bucky’s temper flared at her nonchalant attitude, his fists clenching around an empty bottle.
You watched Bucky’s frustration simmer until you decided to approach him with a sympathetic expression. Sensing your presence, her turned to you, his features instantly softening as he caught sight of you. “Hey,” you whispered to him as you gently touched his arm. “Are you okay?”
Bucky’s tense demeanor melted away at the sound of your voice, a calm washing over him. “Yeah, I’m alright,” he replied, his voice softer. “Just.. this isn’t what I had to show you.” he motioned toward the mess and your drunk friends.
You nodded in understanding, casting a glance around the chaotic scene you walked into. “I can see that,” you said with a small smile as you squeezed his arm gently. “What was it that you wanted to show me, then?”
Bucky reached for your hand as he looked towards the door that had “Office” written over the frosted glass, “Let’s go somewhere more private, and sober.”
He led you toward the door at the back of the garage. Pushing it open he motioned for you to step inside. After closing the door behind him, he reached for a folder labeled “Anthony’s Stuff” and pulled out a piece of paper.
“This is what I wanted to show you,” he explained as he handed you the paper.
Your eyes widened as you scanned the contents of the page, your heart sinking at the words. It was a handwritten list made to look like a spreadsheet. At the top of the page were the words: Off Limits. You felt a lump form in your throat as you traced your finger over the names, stopping when you came across yours.
Bucky watched you carefully, his expression unreadable, he waited for your reaction. “It’s the list of people that we’ve said are off-limits,” he said quietly. “As long as your name is on that list, no one in this garage is allowed to use you as a bet.”
Your eye flickered around the paper, scanning over the dates, and names listed under initialed columns. “What do these dates mean?” you asked, your voice barely a whisper but tinged with curiosity.
Bucky hesitated for a moment before answering, “They’re the dates when each person was added to the list,” he explained. “It’s our way of keeping track, etc.”
You nodded slowly, processing the information. The date next to your name was surprising to you, you traced your finger over it again. “My first day of freshman year?” you asked, looking up at him for the first time since reading the list.
“The first thing I did after school that day was come here and put your name on the list,” he admitted, “You are the only person I’ve added to the list,” he continued as he moved to stand behind you, pointing toward information on the list as he talks you through it. “All of our names up here, then the names of who they added and when.”
You listened intently, your complete focus on him as he explained. Every word he spoke you absorbed it all, wanting to know and understand every little detail. As he finished explaining the details, a silence settled between the two of you. The only noise coming from your breathing and the noise of the ‘party’ happening out in the garage.
Finally, you broke the silence. “Why did you add my name?” you asked, searching his eyes for answers.
He took a deep breath, his gaze moving away before returning to meet yours. “Because,” he began, hesitation in his voice. “I, um, I sorta had a crush on you.” You noticed a slight flush creep up onto his cheeks. “I wanted to make sure you were protected,” he glances over to the closed door. The only thing separating the two of you from your friends. “That no one in this garage could ever use you as part of their games.”
His confessions have caught you off guard, you never expected him to reveal something so personal. You were touched by his vulnerability, “Thank you, Bucky,”
Bucky offered a smile, his fingers brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, Sunshine.”
---
Series Masterlist | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
62 notes
·
View notes
Think
@hinnymicrofic Day 13 | 288 words
With Cho, he overthinks.
He overthinks about how to ask her to the Yule ball, until it is too late and she has a date already.
He overthinks about how cool he looks next to Neville and Luna with sap from some weird plant in Neville's lap covered on his face.
He overthinks how to flirt. How to find the right funny thing to say that might make her smile.
He overthinks how to kiss her for the first time. Where he should place his hands, how much pressure should he put into his lips? Open or closed mouth? He waits for an excuse like a mistletoe to kiss her.
But with Ginny, everything comes naturally. It is innate, as easy as breathing. As if his body was wired to know how to be with her without even thinking how to be.
He doesn't think to ask her to the ball, but he subconsciously watches her all night long. How she winces when Neville steps on her toes.
He is not embarrassed sitting next to Neville and Luna with sap on his face because she is sitting right next to him, covered in it as well. She laughs at the look on his face before cleaning him with a simple charm.
He doesn't even consider it flirting with Ginny as they tease each other constantly that summer before his sixth year. Everything he says makes her smile. And everything she does makes him burst into a fit of laughter.
He kisses her without even thinking about it or without ever planning it. One look at her blazing gaze and Harry knew. He knew how to hold her, how to kiss her.
With Ginny, he doesn't think. He knows.
262 notes
·
View notes