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Steve had expected many things when he’d brought Bucky into the tower. Mistrust, tension and fear being chief among them.
What he hadn’t expected was to bear witness to Jane Rebecca Barnes, former maneater and ladykiller, becoming a nervous, insecure wreck. And not because of the brainwashing either.
“Would you stop fidgeting?” Steve asked, and Bucky turned around to give him a glare that had probably sent many a man running for his life.
“I’m not!” She started pacing again, looking exactly like the nervous Nelly she’d always told him he was, complete with a scowl on her face. “What time is it?”
Steve glanced at his watch. “Why?”
“Just –” Bucky huffed. “What time?”
“You going somewhere?”
“None of your business.”
Steve raised an eyebrow. “You're touchy today.”
If looks could kill, Steve would be dead where he stood. As it was, Steve flipped a page in his sketchbook to start a new drawing. He'd had his eye on the dried flower arrangement on the window sill for a while, and it looked like today was the day he would finally get around to drawing it.
“Well?” Bucky asked, and Steve hummed as he sketched in the broad shapes of the stems and petals on the page.
“Well what?”
“Time?”
“Why do you want to know?” Bucky huffed, running a hand through her hair, and Steve had to bite down on a pleased smile. After everything they'd gone through, he'd almost thought that he'd never get to tease Bucky like this again. But apparently she was back to being annoyed by his very existence. He wouldn't have it any other way. “Are you waiting for someone?”
“No, I’m –” Bucky whipped around at the sound of the elevator doors opening, and Steve craned his neck to see that it was Toni Stark who stepped out, dressed in a burgundy pantsuit.
“– gotta give me more than that if they want to –” she paused, pulling her phone away from her ear. “Did I miss lunch?”
“No, you’re right on time,” Bucky said, and Steve raised an eyebrow at the way her hands were fidgeting where she’d clasped them behind her back, out of Toni’s view. “I just –”
“Great. Grab your shit, we’re going out.” Toni’s eyes fell on Steve. “You coming too?”
“He’s busy,” Bucky blurted out before Steve could say anything else. She gave him a half-threatening, half-desperate glare that Steve had to make a real effort not to laugh at. He schooled his features and cleared his throat.
“Actually, I –”
“Yep, we should leave. Right now,” Bucky said, drawing a finger across her throat as soon as Toni’s back was turned. Steve stuck his tongue out at her, and Bucky's frown deepened as she grabbed her jacket and flung it over her shoulders. Toni pouted as soon as she saw it.
“You're still wearing that? Where’s your new coat?”
“Um.” Bucky froze, looking like a deer in the headlights. “It’s… upstairs?”
“Did you not like it?” Toni asked, and Bucky's shoulders rose, a horrified look crossing her face.
“Did… Did you leave that in my room?”
“Who else?” Toni huffed, propping her hands up on her waist. “You won’t take my card to go shopping, so I did it for you.”
“I didn’t know you bought it for me,” Bucky said, her voice a little too high-pitched. Steve's eyes widened when Bucky lowered her lashes, looking almost bashful. Bashful.
Steve had watched her punch Nazis in the face, and now she was bashful.
“You didn't have to,” Bucky mumbled, although she was fiddling with her jacket like she was itching to take it off. Toni sighed.
“Is it a problem? Because I can knock it off if it bothers you. It’s just –” Toni made a frustrated noise, gesturing up and down Bucky's body. “Fuck, look at you! You’re a fucking bombshell, and all you wear are the same three black shirts and a ratty leather jacket! Which I'll admit works for you, but you could do so much more!” Toni folded her hands, giving Bucky the sort of puppy eyes she must’ve perfected when she was very small. “Please let me buy you some clothes? I promise they’ll match your style.”
“I –” Bucky looked at Steve like she was begging for help, but Steve just shrugged. He’d gone through the exact same thing when he’d moved into the tower. Sometimes it was easier to just let Toni have her way.
“Come on, Jane,” Toni whined, hooking her arm through Bucky's and leaning in close. “You’re killing me here! Please, just one shopping trip, I promise I’ll leave you alone after.”
Steve pressed a hand over his mouth to stop himself from cracking up at the look on Bucky's face, the stiff way she held herself as Toni touched her. Holy shit, was she blushing?
“Okay, Toni,” she mumbled, and Toni whooped, dragging Bucky into the elevator. Bucky stumbled after her, uncoordinated and clumsy in a way Steve had never seen her. Steve wished he had a camera to capture the moment, if only so he could send it to Bucky later.
So Bucky Barnes had a crush on the richest woman in America? Oh, he would never let her live this down.
Steve watched them as the elevator doors closed and was surprised when Toni’s face slipped from her usual confident smile into something a lot more real. Something Steve would almost call fond, right up until Toni smirked, her eyes trailing down Bucky's body in a way that was hard to misinterpret.
Bucky didn’t notice, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve, but Steve caught Toni’s eye across the room and raised an eyebrow at her. Toni stared right back at him, unashamed, and Steve let his eyes flick over to Bucky before he frowned, making his position known without words. Toni gave him a tiny nod, stepping a little closer to Bucky, and Steve smiled, reassured.
Poor Bucky had no idea what she’d gotten herself into. And Steve would enjoy every minute of the show.