Chapter Text
Happy
“I like the way your hand fits in mine.” He says, giving yours a gentle squeeze as you walk.
You blush at his comment, ever so slightly and turn your head away shaking it in slight embarrassment. You quickly glance down at your hand intertwined in his, as he leads you through the zoo.
While not exactly a romantic date, after a month of dating, you’ve learned to just go with the flow with this man.
He looks relaxed, that was the first thing you noticed about him today. When he got out of his Uber earlier there was something about him you hadn’t seen before. Hands in his leather jacket that he always wore as he scanned the crowd. That leather doing nothing to cover the navy blue shirt beneath it. He looked handsome. He looked happy. No, not happy, relaxed. You composed yourself when he found you, brought his hand out for a small wave, which you returned waiting for him at the entrance.
It was his smile that gave it away. Always.
Bucky Barnes has many different smiles you’ve noticed in your short time together. This one was happy.
He didn’t have a hat on this time, your first date he showed up clad in leather all the way down to his shoes, except for that damn hat.
“Disguise,” he replied cheekily. You laughed. The tension easily broke, feeling it slipping away when he smiled, leaning back in the booth of the ratty bar you ended up at after your dinner reservations were missed due to a work emergency. A full day case that was pushed back.
“Lawyers, who needs ‘em.” He said tossing back a shot.
You snort and raise your own shot, “Paralegal,” you correct him before taking your own and saluting him.
Even then, he wasn’t relaxed. Charming? Yes. Sexy? Incredibly. Relaxed? No. You could see why, his story wasn’t exactly private given his history. Even before what Thanos did to everyone, what this man’s life did to him. You could see the clouds in his beautiful blue eyes.
It was a miracle you were even here, honestly. You didn’t think there would’ve been a second date. After getting smashed, crying at his table before he slid out of his seat to join you and take you into his arms, sobbing about some lost childhood dreams triggered by a terrible day.
Yet, here you are, a month later.
“So... What should we see next, doll?” Bucky asked as he pulled you over to the map near the plaza where you had just had lunch. He stared at it closely, his right hand never leaving your own. His gloved left hand coming to his mouth as he looked at your options. “We have the hall of reptiles,” He pointed, your face making a gagging impression, Bucky smirked, “Not a lizard fan huh? Ok, actually, we may have a 2pm appointment to feed some giraffes so we should probably head over there?”
“Bucky” You exclaim, squeezing his hand so hard you thought it might hurt him, if it did he showed no signs, “You remembered.”
Bucky pulls you away as you head down the path towards their exclosure, “Course I did, you cried on my shoulder telling me it was your and I quote, ‘life’s dream’ to do it,” You roll your eyes, he laughs before stopping you and, pulling you closer, “Anything you want sweetheart” He mutters, bringing you in for a fast but quick kiss, “Whatever it is, if I can get it, you got it.”
He lets go of your hand and you are disappointed, but not for long as he tucks you into his side and kisses your head before you continue walking forward. Your hand grazes across his back and settles on his side.
Yes, James ‘Bucky’ Barnes was happy today, but more importantly, he was relaxed.