Chapter Text
Bucky awoke to a splendid morning, clouds high and skies blue, and none other than Steve Rogers fast asleep by his side. He couldn't help the smile on his face, especially not when he had just woken from the most splendid dream he could even begin to think of. They'd been on enough dates that Bucky now needed to count using his fingers and his toes, and his dream had been a collection of the best moments of them all. From bowling, where Steve accidentally scored a strike in the lane beside theirs, to the unforgettable picnic where they kept being pushed out of the park by people performing tai chi, to hiking to the top of a mountain where a wasp fell in love with Bucky and decided to take the trip all the way up the mountain with them, to stargazing out in the country.
Not to mention convincing Moira to allow them to adopt a pet cat.
He artfully slithered his way out of Steve's grasp (although almost face-planting in the process he didn't wake Steve up) and set his microphone up for a morning episode of Bucky Barnes Daily.
"Morning all, and welcome to Bucky Barnes Daily! Wow guys, can you believe we've already made it to February of 2018? How wacky is that? I can just feel spring around the corner! Just kidding, it's still cold as balls. Steve's still fast asleep with the cat, but it's a big day today for us. I'm feeling a little nervous here, but I think I'll be alright. I mean otherwise, I wouldn't be broadcasting live the fact that I'm about to propose to my boyfriend tonight...
Oh my God guys, I just said that! I just told you guys that I'm- okay Bucky, don't panic... Well anyway, the plan is, I've reserved a booking at a restaurant tonight, and I'm going for the classic get down on one knee while he's not looking and surprise him. Is what I'm aiming for, but we'll hope it goes down well! Maybe I'll take some calls and you guys can suggest some stuff? Tell me if you think my proposal plans are terrible.
First caller, you're on the line, would you like to make your opinion known? Is this a suicide mission for one Bucky Barnes? Or am I going to make it out of this day an engaged man?"
~*~
It was a lazy morning for Steve and Bucky that February 1st. Jubilee and Ororo, his interns, had long since become permanent staff in Fury's childcare, and so, with the help of a new batch of interns, the three were now in rotation of looking after Class Daisy, meaning that he had a day off work.
Bucky was feeling antsy, as one would when they were planning to propose later that night, but he kept his nerves down watching an old replay of a baseball match, although he couldn't keep his left leg from bouncing up and down. Steve could be found sitting beside him stuffing his face with popcorn for no good reason but the fact that "look Buck, it's going to expire soon if we don't have it some time", never mind that 'some time' stood for January of 2019.
He had forgone his morning run, and now seemed to be in a couch potato mood, no sooner than later snatching the remote control from Bucky's grasp and putting a disc in to watch a movie he had hired out the night before.
Why Steve had decided to hire out something as gut-wrenching and heart-breaking as Rogue One was beyond Bucky, but he couldn't complain as he settled down, nerves finally simmering to an ignorable jitter, reaching over to steal himself a handful of popcorn.
"I am one with the force and the force is with me," he choked with Baze, face nestled heavily in Steve's chest as he let the tears stream down his face. Bucky could feel small wet droplets on his scalp, and knew that Steve was crying with him too.
Served him right for choosing the movie, though.
Once the movie had ended, all tears had dried and not a trace of popcorn was left in the house, Bucky and Steve found themselves lying side by side on the floor of their living room.
"Hey," Steve prodded at Bucky's arm. "Knock knock."
Bucky sighed heavily, but gave the man a fond smile. "Who's there?"
"Marry."
His eyebrows knit together in the middle. What kind of a joke was this? "Marry who?"
"Marry me?" Steve whispered, brandishing a ring before Bucky's face.
Bucky shot up from his spot on the ground immediately. He let curse words stream freely from his mouth as he hopped from foot to foot fuming, an accusing glare aimed right at Steve.
"Son of a bitch!" he yelled. "What am I supposed to do with the- you piece of shit I literally have the ring in my pocket right flippin' here and the dinner booking for tonight I hate you so much."
He couldn't comprehend what was happening - after all the planning he had gone through; he spent three months looking for the perfect ring! He'd even consulted his podcast-listeners to see if his proposal was good enough and now everything was positively ruined!
"So if that's a no I'll be on my way," Steve smirked, picking himself off the ground.
Bucky's eyes widened, coming to his senses, and he latched onto Steve's arm with a "wait!"
Steve turned slowly, shit-eating grin and all, and Bucky finally smiled back.
"I feel a little like this is déjà vu," he said against Steve's lips.
"Not quite," Steve murmured back. "You're still yet to say yes."
Bucky pulled himself from Steve's grasp with a soft "oh shit!" and cleared his throat.
"Yes, Stevie. I'd love to marry you."