Chapter Text
After confessing their feelings for each other, Peter and Bucky couldn’t have been happier. For months, they had tiptoed around their feelings, worried that they had misread the signs or that things would go wrong if they revealed how they truly felt. But when Kraven nearly killed Peter, everything became clear, they’d rather risk it than live with regret. The confession that followed was one of relief with a kiss that cemented what they both had been feeling for a long time.
Peter still couldn’t believe how lucky they were that their family supported their relationship. After everything that he’d been through with Quentin, he didn’t know if he would ever find the right person again, let alone the kind of love that felt so genuine and safe. Bucky, too, was thankful. He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if Steve or Tony had rejected the idea of him dating their son. But instead, they gave him their blessing, though not without a few protective warnings.
After they informed everyone about their relationship, Sam and Clint, who had always been like uncles to Peter, pulled Bucky aside for the obligatory “hurt him and we’ll hurt you” talk.
“Just know,” Sam crossed his arms, keeping his voice low, “if you do anything to hurt that kid, you’ll be answering to us.”
“Yeah, Barnes,” Clint nodded firmly, “we’ll make sure you regret it.”
Bucky couldn’t help but be amused by their protectiveness. He appreciated it, even if the thought of hurting Peter was inconceivable.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Bucky reassured them, a slight grin tugging at his lips. “But it’s good to know he’s got you both looking out for him.” He knew he could take them in a fight if it came to that, but the sentiment behind their words mattered more than anything.
As the days passed, Bucky and Peter found themselves excited with the prospect of their first official date. It wasn’t like they hadn’t spent time together before, but this was different. This was special. This was them.
Bucky decided to make it memorable, something Peter wouldn’t forget. He knew he wanted it to be perfect, so he enlisted Natasha’s help. The day before the date, he nervously knocked on her door, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
Natasha opened the door, with an eyebrow raised. “What’s up, Barnes? You look like you’re about to face a firing squad.”
“I need your help,” Bucky admitted, his anxiety peaking through. “I…I want to make sure I do this right. It’s been decades since my last date, and I want Peter to… you know, enjoy it.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Natasha’s lips. “I think it’s sweet that you’re this nervous. Peter’s gonna love whatever you do, but sure, I’ll help. Let’s start with your look.”
As she led Bucky inside, Natasha began to assess what she had to work with, circling around him as one of her targets. “Okay, first things first, we need to cut your hair.”
Bucky blinked. “My hair?”
“Yeah, your hair. Trust me, it’ll make you look sharp. Like you used to back in the day.” Natasha gave him a knowing look, one that said she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
He hesitated, but he trusted her judgment. “Alright, let’s do it.”
The next morning, Natasha brought some clippers and scissors to Bucky’s room. He sat in a chair, feeling oddly vulnerable as she worked, the sound of the clippers buzzing close to his ears. But as he saw himself change, he felt a spark of his old self returning. It was strange, seeing the short hair again, like a painting given new life.
Natasha handed him a mirror once she was done. “What do you think?”
Bucky stared at his reflection, a bit taken aback. “I look…”
“Handsome,” Natasha finished for him. “You’re going to knock the breath right out of him.”
With his hair cut, Bucky let Natasha guide him through the next steps. She picked out a sharp gray suit and paired it with a dark blue shirt that brought out his eyes. When she suggested skipping the tie, he was skeptical, but she was right. It added a casual edge that it needed so as not to make the evening feel too uptight.
Meanwhile, Peter was in his own panic of preparation. He felt like he was back in high school, getting ready for his first date with Harley. It felt silly to be so worked up, but he couldn’t help it. This was Bucky, someone he really cared about, who had been there for him, and he wanted everything to be perfect. Not knowing where Bucky was taking him only added to the excitement and the anxiety.
Peter sought out Wanda for help as usual, he knew he could always count on her for these types of things. “I need help. Bucky said he’s taking me somewhere nice, but that’s all he told me. What do I wear?”
Wanda grinned, clearly enjoying Peter’s flustered state. “Calm down. We’ve got this.”
Together, they picked out an outfit that struck the perfect balance of formal while adding a touch of his own preference, a tailored blazer over a crisp white shirt, paired with dark jeans that were just dressy enough. They then worked together, trying to tame his curls into something more manageable. She added a touch of mascara to make his eyes pop, and some lip balm, which made Peter blush when she mentioned making his lips “kissable.”
“Do you think he’ll like it?” Peter asked, turning to Wanda with a mix of excitement and panic.
Wanda smiled warmly. “He’s going to love it. Just be yourself, and everything will go great.”
By the time their date was supposed to start, Peter couldn’t help but feel nervous. He paced back and forth in the living room, fidgeting with his phone. Tony and Steve, sensing his anxiety, tried to calm him down.
“Relax, bambino,” Tony leaned back on the couch with some ice cream. “It’s just a date. You’ve faced far worse things before.”
Steve nodded in agreement. “Your dad is right. Just be yourself. Bucky’s probably just as nervous as you are.”
Peter nervously smiled. “I know, I know. It’s just… I really want this to go well.”
Before they could say anything else, Bucky walked in, and the room went silent. Peter froze, his breath catching in his throat. Bucky stood there, looking like a movie star from another era, with his freshly cut hair and his suit perfectly tailored. Peter’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt his cheeks heat up as he stared at the man in front of him.
Tony was the first to break the silence, his eyebrows shooting up as he took in Bucky’s appearance. “Whoa, when did we get another time machine? You look like you just stepped out of a ‘40s magazine cover.”
Steve also had to do a double take, his eyes widening in surprise. “I haven’t seen your hair that short since the war.”
Bucky shrugged, a bit self-conscious. “Yeah. Figured it was time for a change.”
Peter was at a loss for words as he took in Bucky’s new look. He had always found Bucky attractive, but seeing him like this was almost too much. He felt his mouth go dry, and wanted nothing more to kiss him but all he could manage was a stunned, “Wow.”
Bucky’s eyes softened when he saw Peter, taking in the sight of him with admiration. “You look… incredible.”
Peter’s blush deepened as he fumbled for a response. “You–you look amazing too.”
May, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines, nearly teared up. “You two make quite the pair.”
Bucky smiled, stepping forward to hand Peter a small bouquet of flowers. “I know it’s a bit old-fashioned, but I got you these.”
Peter’s eyes lit up as he took the flowers, appreciating the thought. “Thank you, they’re beautiful.”
With everyone giving their final nods of approval and making sure Tony promised to not have one of his suits follow them, Peter and Bucky headed out for their date and couldn’t wait for how it turned out.
When they finally arrived at the restaurant, a quaint little Greek restaurant, the owner greeted them warmly, showing them to a quiet corner table that offered a stunning view of the sunset. As they sat under some fairy lights strung around the patio, Peter couldn’t help but smile. It was the perfect blend of cozy and romantic, with just the right amount of privacy.
Bucky smiled as he noticed the way Peter’s eyes sparkled in the candlelight. “I hope I picked the right spot for our first date.” His voice was soft, hoping Peter liked the place.
“I love it.” Peter replied, reaching across the table to take Bucky’s hand.
As they talked, Peter found himself occasionally stumbling over his words, still a little nervous despite how natural it felt being with Bucky.
“It’s kind of weird, right?” Peter smiled shyly, picking at the edge of his napkin. “How different this feels now that we’ve, you know, made it official?”
Bucky nodded in agreement, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, it is but in a good way. It’s like… I don’t know, everything’s the same but better, you know?”
“Exactly. I mean, we’ve been close for a while, but now it’s… I don’t know… it feels right.” Peter’s eyes met Bucky’s as he felt a warmth in his chest.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Bucky’s voice was quiet but genuine. “I’ve wanted this for a while. I just was too scared.”
“I’m glad we took the risk.” Peter smiled as he reached over to hold Bucky’s hand.
“Me too.”
As they ate their food, Bucky’s fingers glided over Peter’s hand. “You know, I still catch myself sometimes, thinking this is too good to be true. But then I look at you, and I know this is real.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Anytime I’m with you, I feel safe, I feel… happy.” Peter smiled as he looked into Bucky’s eyes.
They continued to enjoy their date, smiling and laughing the more they talked. For them it felt like a dream come true.
After dinner they decided to take a walk on the High Line, enjoying the scenery of the city mixed with the greenery of the park that flowed through the former railroad. As they walked, Bucky noticed how Peter seemed to relax more and more, his worries melting away with every step they took.
Peter leaned into Bucky as they continued their walk, his hand slipping into Bucky’s with an ease that made them both smile. “This was really nice. I’m glad we did this.”
Bucky squeezed Peter’s hand gently. “Me too. Tonight was… everything I hoped it would be.”
As they approached a small bench overlooking the river, Peter suggested they sit for a while. The view was beautiful, with the city lights reflecting off the water, and the quiet peace of the moment made everything feel perfect.
Peter rested his head on Bucky’s shoulder. “You know, I never thought I’d get to have something so… normal again. A real date with someone I care about.”
Bucky wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close. “You deserve this. You deserve to be happy.”
Peter’s heart swelled at Bucky’s words. He turned slightly to look up at him, his eyes bright with emotion. “So do you. I’m glad you’re what makes me happy.”
Bucky’s breath hitched, the weight of those words settling deep in his chest. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Peter’s lips. The kiss was soft and Bucky could taste the vanilla lip balm on Peter’s lips.
When they finally pulled away, they rested their foreheads together, both smiling like lovestruck teenagers. “We should probably head back,” Bucky whispered, though neither of them made any move to get up.
“Yeah, wouldn’t want my dad to send a suit after us.” Peter joked, still content in Bucky’s arms.
“Definitely do not want that.” Bucky chuckled, brushing his thumb over Peter’s cheek. “I can’t wait to do this again.”
Peter grinned. “Is that a promise?”
“Damn right it is.”
They eventually made their way back to the tower, both of them filled with a sense of peace and contentment they hadn’t felt in a long time.
Bucky walked Peter back to his room, holding his hand. They stood at Peter’s door for what felt like hours as they took in everything, how well the date had gone.
“Thanks again for tonight. It was perfect.” Peter smiled as he wrapped his arms around Bucky’s neck.
Bucky grinned as he leaned in for another kiss. “You don’t have to keep thanking me. I had a great time too.”
Peter’s expression turned playful as he teased, “Just making sure you know how much I appreciated everything. I couldn’t have asked for a better date.”
“You deserve nothing less,” Bucky’s cheeks tinted slightly, though he kept his tone light. “Just wait until the next one.”
“I can’t wait.”
With one final kiss, they separated for the night. As they both laid in their beds, they couldn’t believe how amazing the date turned out. The feeling they shared was something they hadn’t felt in years and couldn’t be more happy.
The next morning, Peter and Bucky made their way to the kitchen, both of them still basking in the afterglow of their perfect first date. They held each other in the other’s arms, leaning in for a morning kiss.
As they stepped into the kitchen, they were met with an unexpected sight. Everyone. While the rest of the team watched with anticipation, Tony, Steve, and May sat at the table side by side with their arms crossed. The trio wore expressions that ranged from curiosity to mild suspicion, and it was clear they had been waiting for this moment.
“So,” Tony began, trying to sound casual but failing miserably, “how’d it go?”
Peter blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, it went great. Really great.”
“Good to hear,” Steve added, though the protective glint in his eyes made it clear he wasn’t just interested in hearing the highlights. He looked at Peter and Bucky with a careful gaze, ensuring nothing was left unsaid.
May, stepping forward, softened the moment with a warm smile. “Did you have fun, sweetie? You both look like you had a good time.”
Peter’s face flushed slightly, but he nodded. “Yeah, it was really nice. Dinner, a walk… and… uh, some talking.”
Tony almost choked on his coffee as he leaned forward, a hint of panic in his voice. “Please tell me you used condoms.”
Peter’s eyes went wide, and he practically choked on his own words. “What? No! I mean, yes–wait, no, we didn’t need to because we didn’t do anything!”
Bucky, not wanting the situation to get more out of hand, held up his hands as he helped to clarify everything up. “We had a great time, and no, we didn’t do anything more than just kissing. You can relax.”
Tony raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Relax? Who said I was tense? I’m just making sure all… safety protocols were followed.”
“Tony,” Steve chastised.
“Fine, fine,” Tony held up his hands to surrender. “I know you’re both adults but still… don’t make me have to use the suit to throw your ass in the river.”
“Tony!” May and Steve chastised in union.
Bucky chuckled, shaking his head. “I assure you, Stark, we kept it PG.”
Peter nodded vigorously, desperate to change the subject. “Yep, totally PG. Like, Disney Channel PG.”
May smiled warmly, stepping forward to hug Peter. “I’m just glad you had a good time, honey. That’s all that matters.”
“Thanks, May,” Peter mumbled into her shoulder, grateful for her support.
Steve, still watching Bucky closely, softened his stance just a bit. “As long as you both enjoyed yourselves and didn’t rush into anything, that’s what’s important. There’s no need to push things too fast.”
Peter glanced at Bucky, who nodded in agreement. “We’re taking it slow,” Bucky confirmed. “We both want this to last, and that means doing it right.”
Satisfied with his answer, Tony continued to sip on his coffee as the rest continued to enjoy their breakfast.
“So, when’s the next date? We need to make sure you’re back by curfew.” Tony teased with a slight tone of seriousness.
Peter groaned, burying his face in Bucky’s shoulder. “Please stop.”
Bucky grinned, bringing Peter closer to him. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure we’re back in time for his bedtime too.”
Steve laughed at that, while Tony was offended by that remark. “I’m not that old!”
May joined in on the teasing, patting Tony’s shoulder. “It’s okay. We’ll let you stay up past nine if you’re good.”
With that, the rest of the team joined in on the laughter. Peter felt a wave of relief wash over him. His family might be overprotective and a bit much at times, but he wouldn’t trade them for anything.
As they enjoyed their breakfast, Peter exchanged a warm smile with Bucky. The night before had been perfect but this, sitting around the table with the people he loves just felt right. And he and Bucky couldn’t be more happy to have each other.