Chapter Text
You walked the quiet halls, your hand nestled tightly in your fathers as he walked along side you, “I know your nervous star-fire, but you’ll see it’ll pass by fast, you’ll have a great time with your new teacher, and you’re going to make newer friends, it’ll be a great first day.”
You hid behind a trembling pout as you and your father continued to walk the halls behind the clacking heels of the principal, “I don’t want a new teacher daddy, I don’t want new friends either,” you stopped at a door your father kneeling down as the principal slipped into the room to get the teacher, “I want to go back home, I don’t know anybody here, I’m not going to make any friends here daddy, nobody’s going to like me.”
Your father’s lips part intent on getting those thoughts out of your head, but your teacher is slipping out of the room a bright smile on her face as she greets you, legs bending as she levels herself with you, “good morning y/n I’m Mrs. Wilson, I am so glad you are here with us, your new here right?”
You nod your head, eyes down cast as you fiddle with your fingers, “well I am over the moon to have you here,” she announces with a bright smile, “and I bet all your new classmates are going to be utterly excited to meet you and hear all about you, say,” she adds looking from you to your father, then back, “why don’t you and I head inside and we can get you situated with your classmates.”
Your lip begins to wobble as you look to your father, you hated new places, and now you were being forced to be in a place of newness without your father or mother by your side. Your teacher is quick to grasp your hands pulling your attention to her, “I know you’re frightened y/n, all this is so new to you and you’re having to start over but I’ll be right by your side, if you need anything you come to me and we’ll fix whatever the problem may be, would you like to join me?”
Looking to your dad once more he offers you a warm smile, “go on star-fire, you go and do great things, mom and I will be waiting for you as soon as the day is over.” You give your dad a nod before looking back over to your teachers awaiting eyes, “okay, we can go,” you murmur voice low.
She grins as she pushes to stand, her hands still hold yours tightly as she turns to face your dad and the principal, “I can take it from here, say star-fire would you like to say bye to your dad before we head in.” You give a single nod before you’re rushing forward your hand still in hers, the other wrapping around your fathers neck, “you be good star-fire,” he murmurs pulling back to look at you, wrapping your hair behind your ear, “and remember to always stand up for what you believe in, mom and I can’t wait to hear about your day when we pick you up, so please make the most of it.”
You gave your dad a hurried nod before you were being whisked away into the classroom the fifth graders grew quiet. Your teacher knelt by your side once more, as several eyes met yours, “I know this might all feel overwhelming, but I think I have the right person to guide you through your day, would you like to meet your desk partner?” she questioned with a warm smile.
You nodded your head, “great,” she grinned pushing to her feet, “Steve, sweetheart could you raise your hand for me, your desk partner is here.” You watched as a hand shot up in the air, a shaggy haired, blue-eyed blonde bouncing in his seat, Mrs. Wilson chuckled as she guided you to the far corner of the room.
Steve pulled open the seat for you, the brightest grin on his lips as you took your seat, “Now class as you can see we have a new student, y/f/n, y/l/n, she isn’t from here so I expect you to all be on your best behavior and be welcoming to our newest classmate, is that understood?”
A chorus of agreement rang through the room, and Mrs. Wilson was looking over at the two of you once more, “Steve if y/n needs help with anything make sure you help her, be the best desk partner I know you can be.”
“Of course Mrs. Wilson I’ll make sure y/n has the best day today!” he grinned, and Steve really had done his absolute best to ensure you had the best day, if only he hadn’t introduced you to one James Buchanan Barnes.
“Stevie she can’t play with us,” Bucky had argued during lunch, “girls aren’t supposed to play football with boys, they should be playing in the jungle gym with the other girls making up fake cheers, she wouldn’t be able to keep up anyway, and she’ll likely cry when she falls and gets a scrape, girls can’t do what boys can.”
Steve had glared at his best friend, “I can barely keep up but you still let me play,” he had argued back.
“that’s because you have asthma Steve, your mom doesn’t let you run as much so we understand, besides you’re a boy.”
Steve went to argue with his best friend some more, but you placed your hand on his arm stopping him, “it’s okay Steve it’s obvious James, is afraid that a girl will beat him at his favorite game, he’s just a scaredy cat,” you mocked.
Bucky moved towards you, his ten-year-old frame hovering over you, eyes squinting in anger as he towered over you by a few inches, “girls shouldn’t be playing with boys, girls can’t keep up with boys, and girls surely can’t do what boys can do.”
Your hands fell to your waist, hip cocked as you raised a brow at the shaggy brunette, “I can do whatever I put my mind too, and if I want to play football with Steve then I am going to play, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me, you don’t make the rules James.”
Bucky drew close enough to have you needing to look up at him, “I may not make the rules, but you’ll see y/n, girls aren’t meant to do what boys can do.”
“just let her play, Bucky, she’s probably a better player than you, she can be on my side, and we can both school you.”
You looked over Bucky’s shoulder to see another boy walking towards you a toothy grin on his lips he moved Bucky aside as he stuck out his hand for you to grab, “Samuel Wilson, come on y/n you’re on my team,” he grinned grabbing your arm as he dragged you along, you turned your head to stick your tongue out at Bucky.
Bucky grumbled from where he stood perched next to Steve, “I don’t like her Steve, I don’t like her one bit.”
Present Time
It was 8:00 a.m. on the dot, your shift was finally over, the crew from the shift change making there way through the doors you were exiting out of, Natasha stopped you in your stride when she caught sight of you, “rough night,” she questioned with a smirk.
“You have no idea,” you laughed a low groan falling from your lips at the suddenly heavy weight from your shouldered bag, you turned your head slightly to see Steve tugging on it a smug smirk on his face, “shoulda seen her out there Nat, his squadron was also called out and man I swear he was red in the face from where she wiped the floor with him, I could practically hear him muttering, I don’t like her Steve, I don’t like her one bit.”
You rolled your eyes, “Steve are you ever going to grow out of your childhood dramatics like you outgrew that teeny tiny body of yours?”
Steve tugged on your bag harder causing you to lose balance and fall into his side, “ I may have been small back then but I knew how to throw a punch, hell I still do, I mean you saw me take down the wall last night.”
Laughter falls from yours and Natashas lips, “how can anyone forget Rogers when it’s routine you bring it up whenever we hit the bars.” Natasha chided.
“I don’t bring it up all the time,” Steve murmured, “hell Bucky brings up his and y/n’s little on going feud more than I bring up my alleyway brawls.”
“Bucky only brings up their feud because he likes to see y/n get all riled up when she’s had one to many drinks, likes to see her go all red in the cheeks and then acts surprised when she gives him shit right back.”
“The two of you have probably one of the weirdest friendships I have ever seen,” Natasha adds, “like one minute the two of you are an absolute gem to be around and not even a second later the whole gang wants to tear you two apart and keep you apart the rest of the time.”
You shrug your shoulders, “guess that’s why were not on the same squadron, Wilson knew what he was doing when he offered Bucky a position in his department, probably knew Fury wouldn’t be to pleased with Bucky and I always needing to one up each other.”
Steve scoffed, “please Wilson was using that to his advantage, he likes to see you wipe the floor with Bucky, he loves to see Bucky all riled up because of you.”
A chuckle leaves your lips, and you realize how tired it sounds, how tired you actually are, “well as much as I’d love to stand here and talk more about Barnes and I-”
“You know you love it,” Steve adds, earning him a smack in the arm.
“I really do want to get some rest before we hit the bars.”
“Of course,” Nat laughs, “well I’ll let you two go,” she adds hiking her own bag higher on her shoulder, “I’ll see you all in a few hours, hopefully I’ll have a better shift and won’t be too dead on my feet like y/n,” she adds teasingly.
“I’m telling you,” Steve pipes up “it was her having to wipe the floor with Barnes last night, that punk wore her out.”
The three of you laughed, Steve slinging his arm around you already heavy shoulders, “see you at the bar Nat, you and Wanda better be there this time, I don’t want to be left alone with the three stooges.”
“Hey,” steve muttered pinching your side, Natashas laugh sounded through the quiet building, “see you two in a few hours get home safe and get some rest,” she called out over her shoulder.
It was nearing nine by the time you reached your apartment; tired, unfocused eyes trying to get the door unlocked, finally succeeding after the third failed attempt. Your bag hit the floor with a thud, fingers reaching back to slide the locks into place before stumbling your way through the hallway, straight into the your room at the end of the hall. Though the sun was shining, the drawn darkened curtains bathed your room in black.
You didn’t bother removing an article of clothing as you crawled your way into the queen sized bed, fatigued, sore, body slipping under the sheets, eyes falling in bliss once your head hit the silk pillows.
You were almost completely under when a large, warm, calloused hand was falling over your waist dragging you closer.
“Was worried you might have been added onto a second shift,” came his sleep laced voice, and even like this he sounded like heaven.
“Like Steve would have let that happen,” you mumbled back, toes curling at the feel of his bearded stubble caressing your skin.
“Mmm how is that punk,” he murmurs fingers curling into your waist.
“Same old Stevie except he’s been placed in a larger body.”
Bucky chuckled, “you feelin okay after last night, you took a pretty nasty hit when that board collapsed.”
“M’fine buck, you’re not the only one who’s allowed to have fire singed boards collapse on them you know.”
Bucky pinched your hip, a low chuckle falling from his lips, “always has to be a competition with you doesn’t it, that’s why you had to follow me and Stevie into the fire academy.”
“Ten year old me wouldn’t have let me live it down if I didn’t try and prove myself to you every chance I got.”
“Well good thing I’m always there to put you in your place.” He shoots back.
“Is that why you moved in with me,” you questioned, “to remind me daily that girls can’t do what boys can even though it’s obvious I’m not the girl your statement is meant for.”
“Smartass.” He murmurs
You chuckled snuggling deeper into your pillow, “you mean great ass.”
He pulled you closer his lips brushing your exposed shoulder, “more like pain in the ass.”
Your banter caused quiet laughter to fill your shared room till both your breaths evened out, bodies becoming lax as you melted into the bed below you.