✨ A Mess of Gorgeous Chaos✨

Your hands flew up to block the stack of photographs that flew towards you and almost hit your face, the prints drifting in the air before falling at your feet in the penthouse apartment. 

You sighed sharply, annoyed with the fact that you had just had pictures flung towards you, and annoyed at the woman who had tossed them at you, as she furiously marched back and forth through the apartment. 

You rested your hands on your sides just before the woman hissed at you. 

“You, are unbelievable!”

You rolled your eyes at the client, not wanting to go back and forth with the woman any further, as you had been for the past fifteen minutes. 

“M’am, the proof is in the pictures-“

“Pictures that were forged! That you forged!”

You pinched the bridge of your nose, your frustration growing by the minute. The woman continued her furious marching back and forth, shaking her head. 

“You just put them together, somehow,” she desperately claimed. “Because you couldn’t find anything worth reporting and needed the money.”

The woman came to a strong halt in front of you, paying no mind to the pictures that her heels pressed into. 

“You’re wrong,” she said, a bit of uncertainty in her tone, and her eyes glossy as she glared at you. “You need to follow him again.”

Another sigh left your lips as you looked at the woman, a softer one this time around. 

This was one of the hardest parts of the job. The part you hated. Clients hire you to find out whatever’s happening with their spouse or partner, only to be unprepared for the results. Sometimes, your clients could patch things up, and work their way through whatever it was they were going through. Sometimes, it was easy for the couple to part ways- as easy as it could be anyway-with no strings attached. 

But in this case, marriage was involved. And in her particular case, you didn’t think there was any hope of her and her husband working things out. If they had eventually decided to rekindle, it would be through monitored phone calls and weekly visitations. 

But you doubted her relationship even had a chance of surviving, though. 

You were willing to bet on it. 

You felt for the woman. The same as you did for the same cases-which were many- that ended in the same way. It was hard having see the woman stand before you, tears threatening to spill over, as she wished with everything she had, that you were wrong. 

But you knew that deep down, she knew you were right. And that the pictures she had launched at you in denial, were very much real. 

You reached down to pick up one of the candid photos, regret filling you. The particular photo had been the dealbreaker, and had proven your previous theory of the client’s situation, one that you had formed weeks ago. 

“Look,” you began, trying to let the woman down as easily as you could. “I know it’s not easy to hear. And It’s likely the worst shit you’ve ever had to hear or find out.”

The client averted her gaze, refusing to meet your eyes. But you had a job to do, the job that she paid you for. 

Or at least, paid you half for. 

“It’s likely this has been going on for months. And instead of using the last ounce of dignity he had left to come clean, he decided to be a piece of shit, and paid someone to deal with his problems. The only way these rich assholes know how to get through life.”

The woman’s teary eyes fell to you after you said this, and you had taken in the luxury apartment you were standing in at the moment, as well as the woman’s expensive attire, which had probably cost more money than you had ever come across. 

“No offense...”

The woman let out a light chuckle, not one that was humorous, but one that harbored defeat. 

“None taken…” she admitted, a few of the tears that had been held in her eyes finally spilling over. She was able to keep her composure though, before ultimately sitting on the floor, her eyes skimming through the photos that were scattered around. 

“I knew it…” she whispered to herself. “Deep down, I knew it. He wants to run away with his mistress and makes arrangements to have me killed…”

You felt yourself frown a bit as you watched the woman come to terms with what she knew, and a sense of familiarity hit you. You had felt for her. 

You were her at one point. 

Thankfully though, minus the murder attempt. 

And you could guess that her marriage hadn’t always been at this point. Who would ever get married if it had started this way? 

And with that in mind, you offered what you could. 

“Look, I’m sorry. But,” you reluctantly started. “I would get on the phone with the police, right now, if I were you and…” you paused, a sigh leaving you. “It’s hard. It will be, but it gets better. Eventually…”

You could visibly see your words resonated with her, and she wiped the tears that covered her cheeks, and quickly stood. 

“I won’t keep you any longer. Here,” she walked over the large coffee table where her bag purse sat, pulling out a pen and a checkbook. She scribbled on a page, before ripping it off and politely handing it to you. 

“Thank you,” she said, wiping away the rest of the tears. “And I’m sorry about the pictures.”

You nodded, assuring her that it was okay, surprised that it was the only way she had lashed out. 

You could call the case successful, as you left the woman’s apartment. The client had been searching for answers, and you delivered. You could call it successful, but it didn’t make it any less disheartening. No matter how much you had gotten paid. 

And it didn’t make each case that was similar to this one sting any less for you. 

The buzz of your phone has stolen your attention for a moment, and you stopped with a smile before pulling it out of your back pocket to read what you knew was a text from the person who always made your face light up. 

Bucky:

Hey. Are we still on for tonight?

The text made you smile grow even wider, and took your mind off the memory that threatened to ruin your night. Excitement rang through you as you answered the text, along with determination to figure out why your boyfriend had been acting weird all week.

And tonight, you finally might’ve figured out why. 

You:

Duh. I’ll be back home in an hour ; )

You let out a laugh at Bucky’s attempt and miserable fail to send a smiley face in reply to your message, noting the age joke you would have to make to him later. 

Bucky had been acting weird lately. 

Very weird. 

He didn’t think that you noticed his change in behavior, but you would’ve had to be blind not to notice. 

The two of you had missed each other all week, with Bucky either on back to back missions, or you swamped with cases. This was the first time all week the two of you had had any time to spend together, and you were soaking up every second of it. 

“Ha-Ha, very funny,” Bucky said in a dry tone, a crooked smile on his lips. “You're hilarious. Really.”

You dodged the cheese puff that had been weakly tossed at you by Bucky as he planted himself on the couch next to you, a giggle leaving your lips. 

“I’m sorry, but I had to,” you said, your laugh cutting through your sentence. “But gotta admit-that was a good one.”

Bucky paused, a small smirk forming. 

“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “That was pretty good.” 

Your laughter faded, and so did his, but his smile remained as he locked eyes with you. He looked at you, really looked at you, and there was silence. It wasn’t an awkward silence, it was warm-a comfortable one. Bucky leaned in and his lips met yours, soft but firmly. The kiss lasted all but a few seconds, but it left you breathless. 

You could feel the lingering smile that was left on Bucky’s lips as he pulled away, his eyes still on you. 

“I’ve been wanting to do that all week.”

Bucky stayed closer than usual, and just…stared at you. He looked like he was in a daze, or dream as his deep blue eyes gazed right at you, eyes tracing your face. His smile never once left his lips, and you were starting to grow concerned, when he finally spoke. 

“I love you…”

That was exactly what you were talking about. 

That was weird. 

You had heard the three words from him hundreds of times, but this one, like many other ones this week, had sounded…off. 

You squinted in confusion, speaking. 

“Uh…I love you too…?

Your words seemed to have no effect though, as Bucky continued to simply…stare at you. He must have not realized how long he was staring, or that he was staring in the first place, and when you called his name, a few times at that, he seemed to snap out of the daze he was in. 

“Sorry,” he said, as he shook his head. “Uh-What were we doing before I got completely distracted?”

Your eyebrows furrowed, confused, but you brushed the moment off. You stole a few glances at Bucky throughout the night, and ultimately decided to let it go. Until later on…

“So…” Bucky paused, a question at his lips. “Why is it called The Office, if they barely ever do any work?

Bucky’s question had you letting out a laugh as you comfortably sat under his arm as it rested on your shoulders, the sitcom running in the background. 

“Well, that’s the point,” you laughed, Bucky’s face only making the sounds of laughter louder. “It’s more of a comedy than a realistic office show.”

“Huh,” Bucky whispered to himself at your explanation, and the way his brows furrowed told you he still didn’t quite get the concept. “Anyway, enough of that…”

Bucky reached for the remote and shut the tv off, and stood up heading for the kitchen, but not before pulling you along with him. 

“Hey! I was watching that!”

Bucky chuckled at your protest, and you had tons of questions as to why whatever just happened happened, but paused when Bucky had finally stopped pulling you when you reached the dining table, and you spotted two familiar containers of a desert you loved. 

Your eyes went wide as they fell to Bucky’s blue ones. 

“Shut. up.”

Bucky’s brows furrowed at your words. 

“I didn’t say anything-…”

“No, I mean,” you pointed to the dining table. “You can only get this cheesecake downtown…”

Your eyes fell to Bucky’s again. 

“Yeah, I-uh, made the stop on the way home.”

“And we couldn’t eat these in the living room while watching the office because…?”

Bucky seemed to scramble to say something, before he actually did utter something that sounded made up. 

“Well,” he threw his hand up. “We’re already in the kitchen, so…”

You opened your mouth to speak once more when Bucky was leading you away again, closer to the table this time, and stopped you right in front of the container of cheesecake. He handed you a fork before getting one for himself, and pulled a chair out for you.

You reluctantly lowered yourself in the chair across from Bucky, a wave of confusion hitting you. 

This was exactly what you were talking about. 

This was weird. 

Bucky was acting off. You could no longer brush off his bizarre behavior, and this showed when you set your fork down, brows furrowing at your boyfriend, curiosity filling you. 

And Bucky had noticed. 

“What..?”

You continued your stance as you sat back in your chair, your head tilting to the side, determined. Bucky looked visibly confused at the sudden change in your demeanor, and in his confusion, he mimicked your stance. 

“You’re being weird.”

“You started it.”

You could tell that Bucky had been at a loss for words, and scrambled to say something. 

“I-I thought that was your favorite thing about me.”

“Yeah…” you dragged out, your brows still furrowed. “But you’re acting weirder than usual. More than I’m comfortable with.”

“Uh…” Bucky once again scrambled to say something, before eventually reaching for his fork and digging into the cheesecake in front of him. “How was work…?”

You glanced around, confused at Bucky’s decision to stonewall your question. You had a feeling that simply asking what was going on would get you nowhere, so you thought you’d humor him. 

For now, anyway. 

 “Uh…well, it was a typical case. He was cheating, of course. They had married young and in the end they despised each other…and he tried to have her murdered.”

Bucky started right at you, stunned and startled by what you had just said. 

“Huh..”

“Yeah,” you sighed, finally digging into the cheesecake in front of you, vaguely noticing the way Bucky had sat up at the action, eyes focusing on you. “I just think it’s sad. The murder attempt and the cheating of course, but… I just think it’s sad to think they hadn’t started out that way. The relationship, I mean. They were headed for disaster from the moment they said ‘I do’…”

You took another bite of your cheesecake, and once again vaguely noticed a reaction from Bucky, as he suddenly stopped eating. 

“Uh, wh-what do you mean?”

You took Bucky’s question in, and paused for a moment, poking at your cake. 

You knew exactly what you meant. 

“Well,” you sighed, shrugging. “I just think that…marriage is where good-great- relationships go to die.”

“Um, wh-what do you mean?”

Bucky asked in the same tone he had previously, a mix of both anxious and shocked, as if he was caught off guard by your words. 

“I mean, it sells you a fairytale and in the end, you just end up hating each other. The same person you would’ve done anything for…you end up wanting to be as far away as possible from.”

“But they don’t…all end up that way, right?” Bucky asked, letting out a shaky little laugh as he scratched the back of his neck. “I mean, people still get married…right?

“Yeah. First timers. Cause they don’t know any better,” your tone dripping with obviousness. “If you ask me, they’re doomed right from the proposal.”

“How so…?” Bucky asked, another shaky laugh leaving him. 

“You know, the ones that are so predictable. Like at a famous landmark, like the Statue of Liberty, or the Eiffel Tower,” you started, and Bucky leaned in seeming more interested in the particular conversation. “Or the typical hiding the ring in a champagne glass, or a cake…”

Right at that moment, you noticed that Bucky had frozen. It was just enough that you had noticed it, his cheeks flushing a bit and a strained smile on his lips. 

“In a…cake?” He repeated, his voice a little higher than normal. 

You arched your brow slightly in response to his bizarre behavior, but kept going. 

“Yeah, it's just so cliche…”

Your eyes didn’t leave Bucky’s face when you spoke, and you watched as he sat up in his chair, clearing his throat. He picked up his fork and began to poke at his cake, his eyes flicking up and darting back down, occasionally stealing a look at the cheesecake that sat in front you. 

And you just couldn’t brush it off. 

“Okay, what is going on with you?”

Bucky’s gaze shot up to meet yours, and you thought you had sensed a bit of panic in his gaze, but it quickly evaporated as he changed his expression and smiled, one you thought was forced. 

“Nothing,” he shrugged, holding a smile.

You kept your gaze on him for a couple seconds, wanting to understand what was going on because you were sure that something was going on. But the only way you would get answers were through your questions that Bucky seemed to not want to answer. And with that in mind, you brushed off another unusual moment, something that was happening too often now. 

“Okay…,” you dragged out in a questioning tone, picking up your fork. “I’ll take your word for it then, I guess…”

Just before you could take another dig at the cake that sat before you, Bucky reached across the table, quickly swapping your cheesecake with his own. 

“Hey!,” you called out, throwing your hands up. “Why would you-?”

“I just thought you’d like mine better. Tastes better.”

Your brows furrowed at him. 

“But aren’t they the same-?”

Bucky wasted no time before digging into the cheesecake, your cheesecake. He dug his fork into the cake and when he brought it to his mouth, he chewed once or twice, and the third time his chewing came to a sharp halt, and he looked as if he had jolted a bit. 

Your brows furrowed even further if possible, and when Bucky came to the realization that you were watching him, he presented that same forced smile, stiff to the point of awkwardness, his eyes reflecting a kind of tension. 

“Okay…?” You said, finally taking another bite. 

You wanted to inquire forward, but the way that Bucky had brushed the matter off only made you feel as though nothing really had been going on, and that you had even imagined the moment. 

But it didn’t stop the questioning looks you gave your boyfriend for the remainder of the night. 

 6 Months Ago ~

Bucky’s POV:

Bucky didn’t mean to stare for as long as had been. But he just couldn’t help it. It had become a habit he had no interest or intention of breaking anytime soon. 

He couldn’t take his eyes off you as he watched you try -and fail- to balance the spoon on your nose, chuckling at you as you swore that you’d get it on the next try.

Moments with you were so…peaceful. Enjoyably chaotic at times, but…peaceful. Bucky was used to the chaos of missions, the fight or flight decisions that came with it, and at times he could never really separate his home life from them. He could never shut his mind off or stop it from running, with thoughts and memories of his past. 

But with you-when he was with you, there was quiet. You were the calm in his storm, a storm that had been brewing for years, a storm he thought would only and could only get worse. 

But somehow, you made it better. 

With you, he wasn’t simply surviving…he was living. With you he could just…let go. 

His slight awkwardness and his inability to adjust to the modern world hadn’t thrown you off, at all. Instead, you had embraced it, a joke in your mind for every time he had done something to assure he had grown up in different times. And this only drew you to him even more, because it had been a deep contrast between you and the other women who had ghosted him after the second-or even first-date. 

And as he kept his gaze on you, just enamoured, the familiar feeling hit him. A feeling he had been feeling more often than not lately. 

It was something he had never felt before, something that was new to him. 

It was the urge, the deep desire to just want to…stay. 

The word had plagued his thoughts for about a year now, but he knew it about a few months in. Instantly. 

Marriage. 

It was something that he tried to push out of his mind every time it came to him. Bucky didn’t think he deserved it-a future with you, one that sounded like heaven on earth. He didn’t think he deserved it-not after everything he’d done, and all the pain he had caused others with his past as the Winter Soldier. The guilt still ate him alive, and he had let go of the possibility a long time ago. 

But how could he not have hope again when you -the girl of his dreams- stood right in front of him? Sometimes he daydreamed about what married life would be like with you-probably not too far off from what it was now. 

The lazy mornings, your confusing-but intriguing- tv shows you had forced him to watch with you…if there was a possibility that this life with you could be forever…

He wanted that. And there was no doubt about it. 

He had no idea what marriage looked like, but he was willing to figure it out together. 

Bucky’s heart sank a bit though, as he thought back to the first-and last- time he had mentioned something about marriage. 

“Do you ever think about…marriage? Not like, now, but just…in general. Like is it something you’d…consider? Again…?”

The two of you were only a few months into your relationship, so Bucky could see why it was a weird question. But marriage was a further step that couples took, and it was something he never saw himself doing but meeting you, falling for you and feeling the way he did was never something he saw himself in either. 

He had wanted to ask for some time, but had held off on it, because he couldn’t predict how you would react due to your…unforeseen past and bad experience with marriage. Something Bucky knew was a sore spot for you. 

Bucky could tell that you had been caught off guard by the question, evident by the way you had choked on the coffee you had been sipping on, instantly making Bucky feel guilty. 

“I’m sorry,” Bucky shook his head as he scrambled to apologize, guiltily. “Sorry, that I brought it up, I didn’t mean to make you-uncomfortable. Just, never mind-“

“No, it’s-it’s okay,” you assured him, wiping the coffee that had dropped down your chin. “We can talk about it.”

Bucky noticed the way your body language had changed all of a sudden, your face taut as you sighed.  

“Um…well, I don’t know if I’d try again. My first one was a shit show, but it hadn’t always been. I made the decision to get married because I thought things would get better than what it was and…it just ended up blowing up in my face,” you shrugged, your gaze focused on the coffee in your mug. 

Bucky could feel the shift in your mood, and he reached over to place his hand over yours. You acknowledged him, forcing a smile. 

“I just think…why try to change it if it’s fine-great-the way it is?”

Bucky took your answer in, nodding. 

“Yeah…yeah, I get that. Makes sense…”

The truth was that it did make sense to Bucky, but…he couldn’t lie and say that he wasn’t a bit bummed by your answer. 

He could tell that your first marriage had left you shaken and changed something in you. He didn’t think he would be able to stop himself from doing something…unpleasant to the guy you had exchanged vows with before, so he didn’t like to think about it too much. 

He hadn’t wanted to push you, or force you to accept something you didn’t think you were ready for, so he never inquired further or brought up the word again. 

But the fact still remained-that he did want that future with you. 

So what if…the two of you could get it right this time?

Grow old-older, in his case,-together? It was something he was hopeful about, and if there was a chance-any chance- that you were willing to spend the rest of your life with him…

He just had to take it. 

It was just a matter of how, though. 

You couldn’t stop smiling to yourself as you waved the old couple goodbye, putting away the container of cookies the sweet old woman insisted you take. 

This had been one of the better cases, one you didn’t normally take, but you decided you would humor the elderly couple. They had hired you to investigate their son, who they had suspected was planning on throwing them a surprise anniversary party. 

You had been…puzzled, at first. You had explained to them that your services weren’t typically used for situations like theirs, but you had to admit, they had gotten to you. Convinced you, somehow. 

There was something about the couple that just made you…think. 

And think you did, for hours, as you sat at your desk at your agency.  

You thought about how adorable the old couple was, from how the husband still heartwarmingly still pulled the chair for his wife to sit in, to how they finished each other’s sentences. You couldn’t help but to notice the pictures that had hung on the walls, older and newer. The couple had been madly in love. And you didn’t know how but, you could tell that nothing had changed between them. 

They were still the same couple that they were in those pictures, their love having not faltered. 

And it just made you think about your own relationship. 

The word had plagued your thoughts for a while now. 

Marriage. 

You had been through it before, and it chewed your previous relationship up and spit it out. You had no idea that the outcome would have been what it was. It seemed impossible at the time. 

All you knew was that you were in love, and after you got married…it was almost as if the love was never there. 

A few years after that disaster, you had met Bucky. Someone who you could confidently say was the man of your dreams. 

Marriage was something couples used to progress in their relationship, something to take it a step further. It wasn’t required, though, and you thought that relationships could thrive even without a marriage. 

And that was exactly your point. 

What you had with Bucky was amazing. Something you had never experienced before, not even in your first marriage. No one’s relationship was perfect, but to you, yours and Bucky’s was perfect. 

Why the hell would you do anything to change that?

But on the other hand, something you thought about at times was…

What if?

Sometimes you thought about it. What forever would look like with Bucky…and it sounded like heaven on earth. and if Bucky had ever asked you to spend forever with him…you would want to. More than anything. 

But the truth was…that you were afraid. 

The what if’s didn’t only apply to whether you and Bucky could get it right but what if…you couldn’t?

What if…marriage ruined everything? What if you ended up hating the person you loved the most?

The possibility scared you more than anything. 

But it also didn’t make sense. A world where you couldn’t stand Bucky. You were perfect for each other. 

So the decision you had to make was clear…

If Bucky had asked you to spend forever with him…were you willing to take the chance? The chance of possibly losing what you two had, something that was special? Were you willing to make a bet on love?

The question rang in your mind for hours on end, and you were barely able to get any work done. 

And it wasn’t long before you felt it. 

The floor had started shaking beneath you, and it wasn’t long after until your desk had begun to do the same. In the same moment, you thought you had heard screaming and the rush of footsteps, but they sounded muffled- far, but close enough so that you could hear. 

The commotion had caused you and a few of your colleagues to rise from your desks, curious. No one had to say anything, though some did, but it was apparent that everyone wanted to know what was going on. 

Just as you were about to investigate, you both felt and heard the impact that had caused the windows to shatter, shards flying, screams and panic ensuing. 

Yourself and a few others flew, with nothing but the ground to break your fall. Your body began to ache from the impact, but you had no time to even suffer from the pain when you felt the violent rumble of the floor. 

You had no time to process what was happening, and before you knew it…

 You were falling. 

You felt a rush of air as you fell through the floor, and the impact of landing had been worse than the first, your ears left ringing and vision a bit blurry. You had hit the ground, hard, and it left you breathless. You were grateful that you could move though, and you stood shakily, your body in pain. You couldn’t see much, though, and you had soon realized it wasn’t due to your vision, which was close to clearing up. 

As you glanced around, you had just taken in how dark it was. And after shuffling around in the small space that had just seemed to be surrounded by rocks, you had soon realized that you were trapped. 

Rubble had boxed you in the enclosed space, and panic had begun to set in. You used all the strength you had to try to move a rock, any rock, to create a pathway, You yelled out in hopes that someone, anyone, would hear you, and had almost given up hope when no one seemed to answer you. 

You were stuck for all of ten minutes, when you finally did hear an answer -your name- and the sound of rushing footsteps as they came closer. 

 And you would have recognized the voice anywhere.

“Bucky?”

The footsteps sounded like they’d stopped right above you, and you heard your name again, confirming who you were talking to. 

“Bucky, I’m trapped! I-I can’t get out!”

“Hang on! I’m gonna pull you out!”

Not long after, you heard the movement of some rubble above you, debris falling past your head and hitting the ground. You could hear Bucky straining as he pushed rubble aside, and soon after, light had peeked through a crack above you. You heard more straining from Bucky and with a final yank and heave, you watched as Bucky pushed aside a large piece of rubble, leaving a gap just large enough so that you could slip through. 

“Give me your hand!”

You could see much better now, and you climbed on top of some uneven rubble so you could reach Bucky’s hand that was extended out to you. You were up and on even ground in an instant, Bucky pulling you up and out of the gap with ease. 

“Are you alright?” Concern leaked through Bucky’s tone, and his hands quickly moved to your face, his metal one cooler against your face as he checked for any marks, gently holding your face. 

“I’m fine,” you said, taking notice of the concern on Bucky’s face. “Just a little bruised, but I’m fine. I promise.”

Bucky glanced over your face, letting go of a breath that you didn’t know he was holding in and your face, tension leaving him when he believed you. 

You ran your eyes over Bucky, taking notice of the tear in his jacket, and the bruise that had been forming just above his brow, sweat dripping down his forehead. And you wasted no time in asking what was going on. 

“Are you okay? What is going on? What the hell just happened?”

“Sam and I were tracking a target and things got messy…and the building ended up being collateral,” he admitted. “I rushed in the second I realized the place was hit. I didn’t know if you were still inside…”

You felt the weight of Bucky’s words, overwhelmed at the fact that he had been willing to risk his life for you. There was a moment of silence, before Bucky cleared his throat, speaking.

“Uh-We should probably get the hell out of here. The rest of this place could come down at any minute...”

It felt like a journey trying to get out of the crumbling building. You both moved quickly, and you followed closely behind Bucky as he led you down the path he came, Bucky occasionally offering his hand to pull you up or through the rubble in your path, something that had no doubt been easier for him due to his enhanced abilities. 

You and Bucky hadn’t exchanged more than a few words in a while, and you stole glances at him as you walked side by side now, and you could tell that he had been doing the same with you by the way your eyes had met every now and then. 

Even as you and Bucky made your way out and through the damaged rubble to escape the crumbling building that threatened to fall at any moment, it wasn’t what was on your mind. 

Your mind was clouded with the thoughts you had been having all day, the same one you had had before you were in this mess. Bucky looked the same way. It looked as though he wanted to say something, but just chose to keep stealing glances at you. 

The silence between you was thick, and it only seemed to be getting worse. You thought maybe you should say something, anything, but Bucky had beat you to it. You stopped just a few feet ahead of Bucky, confused, as he came to a sharp halt. 

Bucky stood still for a moment, his eyes closed as he took short deliberate breaths. And about a second later, he opened his eyes, staring straight at you. 

“I can’t do this anymore…”

Your brows furrowed at him. 

“What are you talking about? Why did we stop?”

Your question seemed to fall on deaf ears as Bucky turned with his back to you and paced around for a moment, before turning to face you again. He ran his tongue over his lips before he locked eyes with you. 

“Hypothetically…if someone were to, say, ask you a really big question…what would your answer be?

“What?” You were beyond confused, your eyes wide as you looked at Bucky. You didn’t understand what could have been so important in a moment like this. 

There was silence again. And you watched and heard as Bucky sighed. 

“…I don’t have a speech or anything prepared, but…”

Bucky looked at the ground, sighing, and locked eyes with you once again. 

“There’s a lot about me that’s…complicated. Messed up, even…but you…you just make sense. Like somehow, you’re the one thing that fits when nothing else does.”

His words touched you, and you couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at your lips. 

“I had let go of the prospect of a future a long time ago. It wasn’t like a door that had just closed- it was like a door that had been incinerated and burnt to ash. And there was nothing left to walk through. But then I met you…and that door just reappeared. Solid. Like it had never been gone…

You felt yourself freeze where you stood as you finally caught on, taking in Bucky’s words. You could have been wrong but…was Bucky proposing?

“I’ve been trying to do this all week,” Bucky pulled out a small box from his pocket, fiddling with it. “I tried to find the right words, and the right moment…and I have this ring that still has cake in it and it’s chipped from when I bit into it. Never mind that, though, -it’s a long story…”

Though confused at his words, you couldn’t help the light laugh that had left you at Bucky’s babbling. 

“I guess what I want to say is…I love you, Y/N. God, I love you.”

Bucky drew himself closer to you. 

“You’re the best damn thing that’s happened to me in a long time and what we have…I don’t ever want to let it go…”

Bucky sighed, his eyes still locked on yours. 

“I know you’ve been through a lot. And I know it didn’t go the way you had planned the first time around, and I’m not asking you to pretend that it didn’t happen. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that when I think about forever…my forever…there isn’t a world that exists where you’re not in it.”

You watched as Bucky furrowed his brows, perplexed. 

“Huh,” he whispered to himself, a small frown on his lips. “I guess I did have a speech…”

You and Bucky were left in silence. You were deep in thought, just…staring ahead. 

This was Bucky. Your Bucky. And as he stood before you confessing his love to you, words that rang true for you as well, babbling about things that you probably would never understand, the same question that had plagued your thoughts came to you again…

Were you willing to make a bet on love?

You didn’t have to ponder much to come up with an answer, and soon enough, your decision was clear. 

You thought to yourself…

That there wasn’t a world where you could ever hate Bucky Barnes. 

With the thought in mind, you bit back a smile, your eyes glancing at Bucky again. 

“Was that a proposal…?” You asked the question you already knew the answer to, and you watched as Bucky came to a realization.

“Shit-yeah. Yes-shit, I forgot to ask,” Bucky shook his head, and your loud sounds of laughter echoed off the rubble. He got down on one knee, holding out the box to you. “Y/N…will you marry me?”

Without a word, you pressed your lips against Bucky’s, the action catching him off guard. A smile tugged at the corner of your mouth as you deepened the kiss, and it said a million words that you didn’t have to say out loud. 

Bucky’s lips had held a smile similar to yours when you both pulled away, a question at his lips. 

“Um…was that a yes, or-?”

“Yes, Bucky! Yes, I’ll marry you!”

A relieved smile had painted Bucky’s face as he slipped the ring on your finger, and as he did, you couldn’t help the excitement and contentment that ran through you, as you thought about what forever with Bucky would look like. 

“So…what were you saying about there being cake in the ring…?”

“Oh-uh…I’ll explain as soon as we get out of here…”