The first time Bucky Barnes met you, you called him an arrogant idiot.
“I said flank left,” he snapped.
“And I said there were civilians!” you shot back, ripping your helmet off. “I’m not leaving people behind because you barked an order.”
“You compromised the mission.”
“You got yourself cornered.”
“And yet…” You gestured dramatically around the now-empty warehouse. “Everyone’s alive.”
The two of you glared at each other while the rest of the Avengers quietly decided now was a fantastic time to be somewhere else.
“Five bucks they end up dating.”
“What? I’ve seen this movie.”
Working together became torture.
You thought Bucky was bossy.
He thought you were reckless.
Every briefing turned into an argument.
Every mission became a competition.
“If you roll your eyes any harder,” you muttered, “they’ll fall out.”
“They’re rolling because your plan is terrible.”
“My plan has creativity.”
“Your plan has explosions.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
He noticed you always gave your jacket to people who were cold.
He noticed you skipped dessert but stole fries from everyone else’s plate.
He noticed you laughed with your whole body.
And he noticed you had a terrible habit of throwing yourself into danger before anyone could stop you.
The mission in Prague was supposed to be simple.
Instead, it became an ambush.
Gunfire erupted from every direction.
You ducked behind a concrete pillar, returning fire.
“I’m pinned!” you shouted into the comm.
“We’re coming!” Sam answered.
Bucky had almost reached the extraction point when he realized something.
“They’re not here.” Everyone froze.
You weren’t with them. Bucky’s stomach dropped.
Without another word, he turned around.
But he was already sprinting back toward the firefight.
You’d almost run out of ammunition.
Your shoulder burned where a bullet had grazed you.
You were trying to figure out your next move when someone landed beside you. Metal arm.
Dark tactical gear. Blue eyes.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” you breathed.
“I leave you alone for two minutes.”
Despite the bullets flying around you, you laughed.
He looked at you like the answer was obvious.
The escape wasn’t easy. Enemies poured into the streets.
You stumbled as pain shot through your injured shoulder. Bucky caught you before you hit the ground.
A sniper round cracked through the air. Everything happened at once.
Bucky shoved you behind him.
The bullet slammed into his metal arm with a deafening clang. Your eyes widened.
He pulled you closer against the wall, one arm shielding you while he returned fire with the other.
“I’m perfectly capable of—”
His voice softened for just a second.
“But I’m not losing you.”
The words hit harder than any bullet.
Back at the Tower, the medics cleaned the graze on your shoulder.
Bucky stood outside the medical room. Pacing.
Sam watched with barely concealed amusement.
“You gonna wear a hole in the floor?”
“You’ve been waiting for forty-five minutes.”
“So… you like them.” Bucky frowned.
He rubbed a hand over his face.
He searched for the words.
“When they disappeared today…”
His voice became almost a whisper.
“I thought I was too late.”
You stepped out of the medical room, flexing your shoulder.
“You look terrible,” you teased.
“It’s kind of part of the job.”
For the first time since you’d met him…He looked scared.
“I can handle you arguing with me,” he said quietly.
“I can handle you ignoring orders.”
A shaky breath escaped him.
“But don’t make me wonder if you’re coming home.”
Silence settled between you.
Then, without thinking, you reached for his hand.
“I’ll try not to scare you like that again,” you whispered.
His fingers squeezed yours gently.
“You’ll probably still drive me crazy.”
“And you’ll definitely ignore at least half my instructions.”
“Definitely.” A reluctant smile tugged at his lips.
“I figured.”For the first time since you’d met, there wasn’t an argument waiting between you.Just two stubborn people standing a little closer than before, both beginning to realize that somewhere between the eye rolls, the sarcastic remarks, and the impossible missions…They had become each other’s safest place.
