Borrowed Fairy Tales
pairing: bucky barnes x reader summary: You take a last-minute princess job at Morgan Stark’s birthday party expecting easy money and screaming children. You do not expect a grumpy Beast ruining your life with soft looks. word count: 6.4k warnings: fluff, mutual pining, awkward flirting, fairy tale references, mild language, bucky barnes being reluctantly soft. a/n: not me showing up after months away from this website with the most random idea i’ve ever had. i hope you guys like it :)
“You know,” Sam Wilson says casually from the passenger seat, “most people hear the words free food and say thank you.”
From the backseat, Bucky Barnes stares out the window with the expression of a man being transported directly to his execution.
“I did say thank you,” he mutters.
“No, you grunted.”
“That was a polite grunt.”
Sam snorts.
Beside him, Steve Rogers keeps both hands on the wheel, suspiciously calm for someone participating in what is very clearly an ambush.
The city lights streak across the windows while traffic crawls forward.
Bucky should’ve stayed home.
He had a system at home.
A good system.
Coffee. Silence. Alpine curled beside him on the couch like a tiny judgmental loaf of bread. Maybe a movie he wouldn’t pay attention to. Minimal human interaction.
Peace.
Instead, Sam showed up at his apartment an hour ago carrying cupcakes and bad intentions.
“You can’t stay inside that apartment forever with Alpine,” Sam says now, like he’s continuing an old argument. “That cat is starting to absorb your personality.”
“She likes me.”
“She bites everyone else.”
“That sounds like a them problem.”
Steve hides a smile.
Bucky leans his head back against the seat with a groan. “Why am I even needed at this thing?”
“It’s Morgan’s birthday,” Steve says.
Sam grins. “Family event. It will be good for you.”
Bucky flips him off without looking.
The car goes quiet for a minute.
Not awkward quiet. Just familiar.
The kind built over years of near-death experiences and too many shared memories.
Outside, the city slowly shifts into larger houses, quieter streets, cleaner sidewalks.
Rich people territory.
Bucky already hates it.
“You could try having fun,” Steve says eventually.
Bucky stares at him like he personally insulted his ancestors.
“Why are you saying that like it’s easy?”
Steve glances at him briefly. “Because staying miserable on purpose gets exhausting after a while.”
That lands harder than Bucky wants it to. He crosses his arms, glaring out the window again while they pull through the massive Stark gates.
Lights glow across the property ahead, warm against the dark evening sky.
Music drifts faintly through the air.
Too many people.
Too much noise.
He already wants to leave.
Sam unbuckles first and points at him before he can move. “And no disappearing after ten minutes.”
“I never do that.”
“You vanished through a bathroom window last time.”
“It was efficient.”
“You’re impossible.”
Bucky pushes the car door open. “Yet here you are. Voluntarily spending time with me.”
Sam throws an arm around his shoulders immediately, dragging him toward the house despite his complaints.
“That’s because underneath all the grumpy murder grandpa stuff,” Sam says, “you secretly love us.”
“I could bench press you into traffic.”
“But you won’t.”
Bucky doesn’t answer.
Mostly because Steve opens the front doors right then—
And somewhere inside the house, faint and warm and distant, he hears someone singing.
— 15 minutes earlier —
The dressing room is chaos.
Cheap rhinestones scattered across the counter. Someone in the hallway yelling about balloons. Someone else asking where the cake table went.
And Dylan is pacing.
“No, no, no,” he mutters, tugging at the ridiculous blue Beast jacket stretched across his shoulders. “I can’t do this.”
You pause halfway through putting on your gloves. “Dylan—”
“I’m serious.” He points toward the door like the answer is waiting outside. “Do you know whose house this is?”
“Yes,” you say carefully.
“It’s the Starks.”
You stare at him through the mirror. “Tony Stark is literally paying us to sing to children, not dismantle a bomb.”
“That’s worse.”
You snort despite yourself, adjusting the off-the-shoulder yellow gown. It’s prettier than you expected when the agency shoved the costume bag into your arms this morning. Layers of gold satin spill around your feet, catching the light every time you move.
For one stupid second, you almost feel like Belle.
Dylan doesn’t.
“I think I’m gonna throw up.”
“You’re not gonna throw up.”
“What if the Avengers are there?”
You stop.
Okay. Fair point.
The knot in your stomach tightens instantly.
You need this job. Rent is due in four days, your audition last week went nowhere, and the commercial you filmed still hasn’t paid you. Which means you absolutely cannot afford to panic now.
So you grab Dylan by the shoulders.
“Listen to me,” you say firmly. “You need to calm down. Do you know how much we’re getting paid for this?”
“Yes, but—”
“And if you ruin this for me, I will personally feed you to the Hulk.”
That earns a weak laugh.
“Pretty sure he’s off-world,” Dylan mutters.
“Then I’ll wait.”
Another laugh. Better this time.
You smooth nonexistent wrinkles from his jacket. “We go in there, smile, sing, wave at rich children, and leave with enough money to survive another month. That’s it.”
A knock hits the door before he can answer.
“Princess Belle? They’re ready for you.”
Your stomach flips.
Dylan immediately pales again.
You squeeze his arm once before stepping away. “Breathe.”
Then you lift your chin, paste on a princess smile, and walk out.
The Stark house looks less like a house and more like a museum designed by someone with unlimited money and zero restraint.
Everything gleams.
Soft golden lights wrap around the enormous backyard. Staff members move through the crowd carrying trays of tiny desserts that probably cost more than your electric bill. Children run across the lawn wearing paper crowns and superhero masks.
And near the center of it all—
“Mama! Belle’s here!”
Morgan Stark barrels toward you at full speed.
You barely have time to crouch before she crashes into your arms, giggling wildly.
“Oh my gosh,” you say in your best princess voice, warm and bright. “Princess Morgan! I’ve heard so much about you.”
Her gasp is immediate. “Really?”
“Of course. The castle talks about little else.”
She beams.
And just like that, the nerves disappear.
Because this part—you know this part.
You know how to soften your voice until children lean closer to hear you. You know how to make wonder feel real. You know how to turn exhaustion into magic for two hours at a time.
Morgan takes your hand immediately and drags you toward the other kids.
“Belle, can you sing?”
“Can you dance?”
“Where’s Beast?”
“Oh, he’ll join us later,” you say smoothly, praying Dylan survives the next ten minutes. “But for now…” You straighten dramatically. “Who would like to hear a story?”
A chorus of screams answers you.
Then you start singing.
And the entire party quiets.
Not because you’re loud.
Because you’re good.
Your voice carries softly through the backyard while the kids sit cross-legged around you, completely enchanted. You smile at each of them like they matter individually. Like this isn’t just another exhausting gig at the end of a long week.
Across the lawn, Bucky looks up almost by accident.
And immediately regrets it.
Because now he’s looking at you.
Fairy lights glow softly above your head while children crowd around your skirts, completely enchanted by every word that leaves your mouth. You laugh at something one of them says, bright and easy and real enough that it reaches him even from across the yard.
And for one strange second—
You don’t look like someone pretending to be a princess.
You look like one.
Then your eyes lift suddenly.
Find his across the crowd.
Bucky expects the usual reaction instantly.
The hesitation. The recognition. That brief flicker people always get when they realize who he is.
Instead, your expression softens.
Just slightly.
Like seeing him standing there alone somehow matters to you more than it should.
And the smile you give him—
God.
It’s small.
Almost shy.
But warm enough that he actually feels it.
Like sunlight slipping through something cracked open.
You hold his gaze for one tiny, suspended second longer than necessary before turning back to the children beside you.
But now your heartbeat feels different too.
Because there was something unexpectedly gentle in the way he looked at you.
Bucky watches Morgan stare at you like you hung the damn moon.
Watches you stay perfectly in character when another kid spills juice on the hem of your dress.
You don’t even flinch.
“Accidents happen,” you tell the horrified child gently. “Even in castles.”
Something in his chest shifts unpleasantly.
Or pleasantly.
He hasn’t decided yet.
Because normally, people trying too hard to be sweet annoys him.
But you kneel to talk to the children at eye level. You remember every single name they tell you. When Morgan grabs your hand during the story, you squeeze back automatically without breaking character once.
None of it feels fake.
Which is exactly the problem.
Bucky exhales slowly through his nose, already irritated with himself.
You’re midway through teaching Morgan and three other children how to properly curtsy when your phone starts vibrating inside the hidden pocket sewn into your dress.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Your stomach drops instantly.
Because only one person would call you repeatedly during a job.
“Princess Belle,” Morgan says seriously, tugging your glove, “Amelia says princesses aren’t allowed to eat chicken nuggets.”
You crouch slightly. “Amelia has clearly never met a princess after a long day.”
Morgan gasps. “You eat nuggets?”
“In alarming quantities.”
The children dissolve into laughter.
Your phone buzzes again.
Definitely Dylan.
“Excuse me one moment,” you say gently. “The castle may be under attack.”
Morgan grabs your skirt dramatically. “By who?”
You glance at the phone screen.
Dylan: I THINK IM DYING
“…the French.”
You slip away before the kids can ask further questions.
The second you push through the side doors into the hallway, you answer.
“What happened?”
“I threw up.”
You stop walking. “What?”
“I told you I was gonna throw up.”
“Oh my God.”
“Also,” he says weakly, “I think I have a fever.”
You press your fingers to your forehead.
Of course he does.
Of course this happens at Tony Stark’s house.
“Can you still come out for the photos at least?”
A miserable pause.
“…if I move too fast I think I’ll see God.”
“Great.”
“I’m so sorry.”
And the worst part?
He genuinely sounds devastated.
You sigh, leaning against the wall. “It’s okay. Stay in the dressing room. Drink water. Don’t die before I get paid.”
“That’s fair.”
You hang up.
Then immediately turn and nearly collide with Pepper Potts.
“Oh!” she says. “There you are. Morgan’s asking for—” She stops instantly. “What’s wrong?”
You try to smile professionally.
It must fail horribly.
“The Beast actor is sick.”
Pepper blinks once.
“Oh no.”
“Yeah.”
“He can’t come out at all?”
“He’s currently fighting for his life in the dressing room bathroom.”
Pepper’s face cycles rapidly through concern, stress, and the specific exhaustion only rich parents hosting children’s parties can achieve.
Because unfortunately, the timing is terrible.
Kids are already gathering near the photo backdrop.
Morgan keeps asking when Beast is coming.
And somewhere nearby, you hear Tony Stark loudly saying, “I can absolutely do it.”
Pepper turns sharply. “No.”
From the other room: “Why not? I have range.”
“You have an ego.”
“I can roar.”
“You have to greet people.”
“I can greet people as Beast.”
Pepper pinches the bridge of her nose.
You almost laugh despite yourself.
Then another voice joins in.
“…Tony’s right, though.”
You glance toward the doorway and nearly choke on your own heartbeat.
Because standing there casually like this is a completely normal Tuesday are two actual Avengers.
Captain America himself stands beside a man you recognize from the News. Sam Wilson.
You suddenly become intensely aware that you’re dressed as a Disney princess while holding a phone that still has Dylan: I THINK IM DYING on the screen.
This cannot be your life.
Sam leans against the doorway easily, looking far too entertained by the situation already.
But it’s the man beside him that catches your attention.
The same man from earlier.
The one who looked at you across the backyard like he’d forgotten, for a second, where he was.
Dark hair. Tall. Broad shoulders filling out a black Henley. Arms crossed tightly over his chest like he already wants no part in whatever conversation this is.
And yet somehow, standing this close to him now, you still feel that strange little pull from earlier.
Unlike the others, he isn’t smiling. If anything, he looks like he’d rather walk directly back out the door.
Sam’s eyes flick briefly toward you before landing on Pepper.
“All due respect,” he says, “I think we found a better option.”
Bucky narrows his eyes immediately, like he already knows where this is going.
Steve nods slowly, already betraying him. “Actually…”
Pepper looks between them hopefully. “Wait.”
Sam grins.
“Oh, this is perfect.”
Bucky straightens immediately. “Absolutely not.”
“You’re tall,” Sam says helpfully.
“So is Steve.”
Almost on cue, Morgan’s voice suddenly rings through the backyard.
“UNCLE AMERICA!”
Steve barely has time to react before a tiny blur in pink slams into his legs.
“There he is,” Bucky mutters.
Morgan grabs Steve’s hand immediately. “Come see my castle!”
And Steve actually lets himself get dragged away.
“You’re abandoning me?” Bucky calls after him.
Steve only throws him an apologetic smile over his shoulder before disappearing outside with Morgan.
Bucky looks deeply betrayed.
Sam looks delighted.
“You were saying?” Sam asks.
Bucky glares at him. “I hope your wings fall off.”
Pepper is visibly trying not to laugh now.
Meanwhile, you’re standing there clutching your phone like your entire career is collapsing in front of you.
“I really don’t want to cause trouble,” you say quickly. “I can just explain to Morgan that Beast got delayed—”
“Morgan’s seven,” Pepper says softly. “She’s been talking about this dance all week.”
Guilt hits instantly.
Bucky notices.
And unfortunately for him, Sam notices Bucky noticing.
Which means it’s over.
“Buck,” Sam says, suddenly far too smug, “you wouldn’t even have to talk much.”
“No.”
“You’d just stand there looking grumpy.”
“No.”
“You already do that recreationally.”
“Why don’t you do it?” Bucky shoots back immediately.
Sam places a hand dramatically over his chest. “Because I’m beautiful in a completely different genre.”
“I’m gonna kill you.”
“See? Beast energy.”
Bucky looks at you then.
Really looks at you for the first time up close.
The gold dress.
The nervous expression you’re trying to hide.
The way your hands twist together for half a second before you force yourself still again.
You look exhausted.
But somehow you’re still worried about disappointing a little girl.
And that annoying feeling in his chest returns.
Stronger this time.
Pepper steps closer carefully. “Bucky,” she says softly, “could you help us out? Just for a little while.”
He exhales slowly.
Looks toward the backyard where Morgan’s laughter drifts through the open doors.
Then back at you.
“…I hate all of you,” he mutters.
Sam lights up instantly. “That’s not a no.”
“It should be.”
Pepper smiles hopefully. “Bucky?”
He closes his eyes briefly like a man accepting his fate.
“…fine.”
The room goes silent.
You blink. “Wait. Really?”
Bucky points at you immediately. “This doesn’t leave this house.”
Sam nearly folds in half laughing.
And ten minutes later, you’re backstage beside a very grumpy Beast while trying to adjust the dark blue coat around his shoulders.
The costume department clearly did not account for super soldiers.
The fabric pulls tight across his chest every time he moves.
Bucky notices you staring immediately.
You step closer carefully, adjusting the fur near the collar.
“I’m sorry if the costume’s too tight,” you murmur. “The actor who usually plays Beast is… significantly less built.”
Bucky huffs quietly.
“That’s one way to say it.”
Up close, he’s unfairly intimidating.
Dark blue fabric stretched over muscle. Gloves hiding the metal hand completely.
Even the ridiculous Beast mask somehow makes him look dangerous.
Which feels deeply unfair for a Disney prince.
“You know,” you say gently while fixing one of the gold buttons, “you really don’t have to do this.”
Bucky looks down at you.
Then toward the backyard where Morgan’s excited voice carries faintly through the doors.
“…yeah,” he says quietly.
A pause.
“I kinda do.”
Before either of you can say anything else, the dressing room door swings open and Morgan storms in dramatically.
“BEAST!”
The little girl launches herself directly at Bucky.
Every muscle in his body visibly locks.
You almost panic for him.
But then, carefully, awkwardly, he catches her before she can crash face-first into the costume.
Morgan gasps, completely enchanted. “You’re so tall.”
Bucky looks at you, and somehow you know that beneath the mask, he looks completely helpless.
You grin. “That’s Beast.”
Morgan grabs his gloved hand immediately. “Belle said you were late because of a curse.”
Bucky looks down at her.
“…yeah,” he says after a second. “Traffic curse.”
You snort so suddenly you choke on air.
Morgan is already dragging him toward the doors with alarming strength for a seven-year-old.
You smooth your dress quickly before following after them, trying to slip back into character.
But it’s harder now for some reason.
Because this doesn’t feel like part of the performance anymore.
You barely know him.
You know he looks permanently annoyed at the world. You know children somehow trust him instantly despite the terrifying resting expression.
And you know he agreed to wear a giant Beast costume for a little girl he clearly adores.
Which is doing unfortunate things to your brain.
The backyard erupts the second Morgan reappears with him.
“BEAST!”
Children swarm immediately.
Bucky freezes.
Again.
You quickly step beside him before the poor man fully short-circuits.
“Oh dear,” you say brightly in Belle’s voice, slipping naturally into the scene. “The Beast seems overwhelmed.”
“I wonder why,” he mutters under his breath.
You hide another smile.
The next twenty minutes become complete chaos.
Children asking Bucky impossible questions.
“Do you live in the castle?”
“Can you roar?”
“Why are your hands so big?”
One tiny girl stares at him suspiciously before asking, “Are you hairy everywhere?”
You nearly inhale your own tongue trying not to laugh.
Bucky looks ready to walk directly into the ocean.
But somehow he stays.
He does the photos.
Lets kids hold his hands.
Even growls once after Morgan begs him to.
The children lose their minds.
Across the yard, Sam is recording the whole thing while Steve laughs so hard he has to sit down.
You catch Pepper wiping tears from her eyes at one point.
Probably from laughing.
Probably.
Then the music changes.
Soft piano drifting through the speakers.
Your stomach drops instantly.
The dance scene.
Morgan gasps dramatically. “NOW!”
Bucky goes still beside you.
“No.”
“Oh yes,” you say, smiling at him through clenched teeth.
“I don’t dance.”
“You’re literally a prince.”
“I’m literally not.”
Morgan grabs both your hands and shoves them together before either of you can react.
And suddenly—
Oh.
Your gloved hand lands against his.
His hand settles carefully at your waist.
The other wraps around your fingers.
You feel him hesitate.
Not because he doesn’t know how to dance.
Because he’s trying not to hurt you.
The realization hits instantly.
“It’s okay,” you say softly before thinking better of it.
His gaze flicks down to yours through the mask.
The world around you keeps moving, kids laughing, phones taking pictures, Sam yelling something obnoxious in the background, but for one strange second, it narrows into just this.
The warmth of his hand.
The carefulness in the way he’s holding you.
The fact that he smells faintly like coffee under all the costume fabric.
“You trust people too easy,” he says quietly.
You blink.
“That’s a weird thing to say during a Disney dance.”
“You didn’t answer.”
You should probably make a joke.
Instead, your eyes catch briefly on his gloved fingers resting against your waist.
Gentle despite the strength behind them.
Then Morgan yells, “KISS HER!”
Both of you jump apart instantly.
“Nope,” Bucky says immediately.
“Absolutely not,” you add at the exact same time.
The music softens around you, warm piano drifting through the backyard while fairy lights glow overhead.
Bucky Barnes keeps one hand at your waist, the other holding yours carefully as he guides you through the slow steps.
Too carefully.
Like he’s afraid to press too hard.
Like he’s constantly aware of himself.
His hand tightens at your waist without warning, pulling you just a little closer each time. Close enough that you can feel the heat of him even through the heavy costume layers. And whenever he leans down to hear you over the music, a shiver runs all the way down your spine.
The music softens around you, warm piano drifting through the backyard while fairy lights glow overhead.
You glance up at him just as he looks down at your feet.
“…am I doin’ this right?” he asks quietly.
His voice comes out rough and muffled beneath the Beast mask, low enough that you almost don’t hear it over the music.
The question catches you completely off guard.
Because he sounds genuinely unsure.
You blink once. “You know how to dance.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
Something warm twists painfully in your chest.
His grip tightens slightly at your waist.
“Don’t wanna mess this up.”
You smile softly. “You know, most princes are a little more confident during the ballroom scene.”
“Yeah, well.” He exhales quietly. “Pretty sure this prince skipped rehearsal.”
That pulls a laugh out of you.
Bucky’s gaze lifts at the sound immediately.
Not to the children.
Not to the crowd.
Just you.
And for one strange second, the dance stops feeling like part of the performance at all.
Then, quieter this time:
“…seriously, though,” he murmurs, thumb shifting faintly against your waist, “I’m not crushin’ your feet, am I?”
Your heartbeat stumbles embarrassingly hard.
“No,” you whisper. “You’re perfect.”
This is getting dangerous. Because somewhere between the dancing and the quiet way he keeps looking at you, this stopped feeling like part of the job.
You clear your throat quickly and pull back just enough to look over his shoulder.
“Morgan!” you call brightly.
Across the dance floor, Morgan gasps dramatically like she’s been summoned by destiny itself.
“Princess Morgan,” you say sweetly, already stepping away from Bucky before your brain completely melts, “I believe the Beast owes you a dance.”
Morgan screams.
Actually screams.
Bucky looks at you immediately.
You give him your most innocent Belle smile.
His eyes narrow under the mask. “You’re ditching me.”
“I would never.”
“You literally are right now.”
Morgan crashes into him before he can argue further, grabbing both his hands excitedly.
“C’MON BEAST!”
Bucky looks at you one last time over her head.
“You’re trouble,” he says flatly.
Your pulse jumps embarrassingly hard.
Before you can answer, Morgan drags him away into the crowd of children demanding another dance.
The second he’s gone, you exhale.
Hard.
Then across the dance floor, Morgan spins dramatically beneath Bucky’s arm while he awkwardly tries to keep up without stepping on tiny children.
And despite the giant Beast costume and permanent grumpy expression he’s laughing.
You watch him crouch slightly when she talks so he can hear her better through the music. Watch him steady her automatically every time she nearly trips over her dress. Watch one huge gloved hand settle carefully at her back while she spins herself dizzy.
The Beast mask should make him look ridiculous.
Instead, somehow, it only makes the contrast worse.
Big and intimidating and visibly dangerous even under layers of fake fur—
Yet impossibly gentle with her.
Your chest tightens unexpectedly.
“Well,” a voice says beside you, “you’re lookin’ at him exactly the same way the kids are.”
You nearly jump.
Sam Wilson grins knowingly as he reaches for a cupcake from the dessert table.
“I am not.”
“Hm.”
“I don’t even know him.”
“That’s never stopped anybody before.”
You glare at him.
He grins wider.
Somehow, hours later, Morgan Stark still has enough energy to power a small country.
“Belle,” she says for what must be the twentieth time that night, “are you gonna stay forever?”
You smile tiredly, smoothing a hand over her hair. “I don’t think your dad has enough snacks for that.”
Tony points from across the yard. “I absolutely do.”
Pepper immediately says, “No, we don’t.”
Morgan giggles.
And beside her, the Beast exhales dramatically before lowering himself onto one knee with the exhaustion of a war veteran returning from battle.
“I’m old,” he mutters.
You laugh softly. “You danced with children for two hours.”
“I fought in actual wars that were easier than this.”
“You’re doing amazing, sweetie,” Sam calls from somewhere behind him.
The Beast lifts a gloved hand without looking and flips him off.
Morgan gasps.
You gasp louder. “Beast!”
Sam nearly collapses laughing.
“Sorry,” the Beast says flatly. “The curse slipped.”
Morgan thinks this is the funniest thing she’s ever heard in her life.
Honestly?
You do too.
A little later, Pepper gently steals Morgan away, leaving you alone beside the Beast for the first time all evening.
And suddenly the silence feels… different.
Not awkward exactly.
Just noticeable.
You become very aware of the night air against your skin. Of the weight of the wig pinned to your head. Of him sitting beside you with the Beast mask pushed up, revealing his face.
Which turns out to be a mistake.
Because he’s unfairly handsome.
You look away immediately.
“So,” you say, mostly to stop your brain from malfunctioning, “thanks again for saving my job tonight.”
He huffs quietly beside you. “Wasn’t for your job.”
Your eyes flick back to him.
“Morgan?”
“Morgan,” he confirms.
A beat passes.
Then, quieter:
“…you too, I guess.”
Your heart does something deeply irritating.
The corners of his mouth twitch slightly like he regrets admitting it already.
You smile before you can stop yourself.
“Careful,” you murmur. “You’re almost being nice to me.”
“That’s the mask.”
“Oh, right. Of course.”
“The fur changes a man.”
That earns another laugh out of you.
And again, that look crosses his face.
That brief pause like he wasn’t expecting the sound but likes it anyway.
You notice it this time.
From across the yard, Steve walks by carrying three children at once somehow.
“You surviving?” he asks.
The Beast sighs. “Barely.”
Steve grins, eyes flicking briefly between the two of you.
You suddenly get the horrible feeling everyone here knows each other too well.
Including whatever this weird thing currently happening between you and the grumpy fake prince is.
“So,” you say carefully after Steve leaves, “do you always volunteer for emergency Disney prince duty?”
He snorts softly.
“First time.”
“You seemed pretty experienced.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You handled the kids well.”
For a second, he doesn’t answer.
His gaze drifts toward Morgan laughing beside Pepper near the cake table.
Then he shrugs slightly.
“They’re easier than adults.”
You blink.
“…that’s actually the most concerning thing anyone’s said to me tonight.”
That finally gets a real smile out of him. Small. Crooked. Gone almost instantly.
But you saw it.
And unfortunately for your sanity, now you want to see it again.
“Cake!” Morgan announces like a war cry.
The children erupt instantly.
You barely have time to laugh before Morgan grabs both your hand and the Beast’s clawed one at the same time.
“C’mon!”
Bucky visibly braces himself.
Morgan leads you directly toward a tiny plastic table surrounded by miniature pink chairs.
Bucky stops walking immediately.
“No.”
Morgan gasps. “What?”
“I can’t fit in that.”
“You have to sit with Belle!”
Children nearby immediately begin chanting:
“BEAST! BEAST! BEAST!”
Bucky looks personally betrayed by every child present.
You press your lips together hard, trying not to laugh while lowering yourself carefully into one of the tiny chairs.
The skirt of your dress spills around you in soft yellow satin.
Across from you, Bucky stares at the chair like it insulted his family.
“You’re doing great,” you tell him helpfully.
“I hate you.”
“That’s not very princely.”
“That’s because I’m not a prince.”
Morgan points dramatically at the seat.
Bucky sighs like a man moments from death.
Then lowers himself carefully into the tiny chair.
The plastic creaks ominously.
Every child at the table gasps.
You fully choke on a laugh.
Bucky turns toward you slowly through the Beast mask.
Morgan shoves paper plates toward both of you proudly while Pepper begins passing out cake.
And honestly?
It’s cute.
Ridiculously cute.
Children talking over each other excitedly. Frosting everywhere. Morgan sitting between you and Bucky like she personally arranged a royal wedding.
Then Morgan accidentally gets blue frosting across her own cheek.
“Oh no!” she gasps.
You laugh softly, grabbing a napkin. “Hold still, princess.”
While you wipe frosting from Morgan’s face, you completely miss the tiny streak of blue icing that ended up on your own cheek.
Bucky notices immediately.
And unfortunately—
Now he can’t stop looking at it.
You’re talking to Morgan about castles or books or something, but he’s not listening anymore.
Because there’s frosting on your face, near the corner of your mouth.
And somehow that feels more distracting than the dress.
Than the dancing.
Than literally anything else tonight.
“You got somethin’ there,” he says suddenly.
You blink. “What?”
He gestures vaguely toward his own cheek with one giant clawed glove.
“…there.”
You try wiping it away blindly.
“Did I get it?”
“No.”
“Great.”
Bucky stares at the stupid oversized Beast gloves for a second like he’s reconsidering every decision that led him here tonight.
Then, carefully, he reaches across the tiny table.
His claw brushes softly against your cheek.
Warm despite the gloves.
You stop breathing entirely.
He tries wiping the frosting away—
Except the giant fake claw only smears it worse across your skin.
You stare at him.
He stares at the disaster he just created.
Then, very flatly:
“…I made it worse.”
From somewhere behind him, you hear Sam make a noise suspiciously close to choking.
Your laugh slips out before you can stop it.
Soft at first.
Then brighter.
“It’s okay,” you manage between laughs. “You tried.”
And before you can think better of it, you lean forward slightly.
“There,” you murmur.
Your fingers brush gently against the corner of his mouth, wiping away a streak of blue frosting Morgan must’ve gotten on him earlier.
The second you touch him—
He freezes.
Completely.
Your smile falters just slightly.
Because suddenly you’re very aware of how quiet he got.
How still.
How carefully he’s looking at you now.
Like your hand against his face means something bigger than it should.
Morgan looks between both of you while happily shoving cake into her mouth.
“…you guys are weird.”
Sam immediately loses his mind laughing somewhere behind the table.
And Bucky?
Bucky can’t even argue with her.
The party finally begins to quiet down sometime after cake.
Children are asleep on couches inside the house. Half-deflated balloons drift lazily across the backyard. Someone turned the music low enough that it blends into the warm night air instead of filling it.
And Morgan Stark is fully asleep in Bucky Barnes’s arms.
It happens slowly.
One minute she’s still talking sleepily about whether Belle and Beast would survive a zombie apocalypse and the next, her head slips against his shoulder mid-sentence.
Out cold.
You smile before you can stop yourself.
Bucky looks down at her carefully, adjusting his hold automatically so she settles more comfortably against his chest.
The Beast gloves are gone now.
The mask too.
And without them, he somehow looks softer and more dangerous at the same time.
Dark hair messy from wearing the costume all night. Sleeves pushed up slightly. Tired eyes watching Morgan with this quiet kind of patience that makes something ache in your chest.
Pepper appears beside you with the expression of a woman who’s one minor inconvenience away from sleeping for three days.
“Oh no,” she whispers fondly. “She’s done.”
Bucky huffs quietly. “Yeah.”
Pepper reaches for Morgan carefully. “I’ll take her upstairs.”
For a second, Morgan stirs slightly against him.
Then tiny fingers grab weakly at the front of his shirt.
“No,” she mumbles sleepily. “Beast stays.”
Your heart actually hurts.
Bucky goes very still.
Pepper looks dangerously close to emotional already.
And after a tiny pause, Bucky murmurs:
“Alright. I’m stayin’.”
Morgan settles instantly.
You swear Pepper might love him a little for that.
Eventually, between the three of you, Morgan is successfully transferred upstairs without waking again.
And then—
The silence.
Just you and him standing alone beneath strings of warm lights while the last few party guests drift out through the gates.
The yellow skirts of your dress brush softly against your legs every time the wind moves.
Bucky looks at you for a second too long.
Then looks away.
Then back again.
“You know,” he says quietly, voice rougher now without the mask muffling it, “that dress is kinda unfair.”
Your breath catches embarrassingly fast.
Because he says it like it slipped out accidentally.
Like he didn’t mean to say it aloud.
Heat crawls up your neck immediately.
So naturally, you deflect.
“Good thing the costume covered your face then.”
A tiny smile pulls at the corner of his mouth.
Then his gaze shifts briefly past you.
Toward the tables scattered across the backyard.
Most of the candles have burned low by now. Half-empty glasses abandoned beside crumpled napkins. Flower centerpieces beginning to droop after hours in the heat.
And right in the middle of one arrangement there is a single rose.
Bucky tilts his head slightly. “Thought Belle was supposed to have a rose.”
You blink, caught off guard by the comment.
Then laugh softly. “You know the story?”
He gives you a look.
“Steve made me watch animated movies for cultural rehabilitation.”
A laugh slips out of you instantly. “That cannot be a real sentence.”
“It absolutely is.”
“You poor thing.”
“I survived.”
“Barely.”
You laugh again.
One large hand closes around the stem of a red rose tucked between candles and gold ribbon.
And without ceremony he pulls it free.
You stare as he turns back toward you, holding it out casually like this isn’t doing very dangerous things to your heartbeat. You shake your head, smiling as you take the rose carefully from his hand.
His fingers brush yours for half a second.
Warm.
Gentle.
And somehow that tiny touch feels worse than the dancing did.
“You just stole from Tony Stark,” you murmur.
“He’ll survive.”
“You’re a criminal.”
“I’ve been told.”
And for one soft, dangerous second the fairy tale feels a little too real.
And suddenly the air feels too warm.
The fairy lights above you blur softly while your heartbeat pounds hard enough to be embarrassing.
Because there’s something very unfair about the way he looks at you now.
Not like Belle.
Not like part of the performance.
Like you.
And the worst part?
You think maybe he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.
A nervous laugh escapes you quietly. “You flirt a lot for someone who looked physically offended to be here earlier.”
“I was physically offended.”
“You’re doing better now.”
“That’s debatable.”
You smile.
His eyes drop briefly to your mouth.
And there it is.
That terrible, dangerous pause.
The kind that changes things.
Your heartbeat stumbles.
One more inch and—
Bucky steps back first.
Like the thought alone startled him. He glances toward the house, jaw tightening once when he realizes he doesn’t know how to do this anymore.
Doesn’t know how to stand in soft light with a beautiful girl dressed like a princess smiling at him like he’s someone safe to be around.
Not after everything.
Not when she still looks at him with warmth instead of caution.
Someone like you should probably meet someone normal.
Someone uncomplicated.
Not a man who spent half the evening hiding behind a Beast mask because it somehow felt easier than being himself.
And maybe that’s why, after a long pause, he just says quietly:
“You should get home. It’s late.”
The words hit harder than they should.
But you still smile softly. “Yeah. Probably.”
Neither of you move right away.
Then finally, you step back.
“Goodnight,” you say gently.
Bucky nods once.
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
The nickname lands directly in your chest.
And then you leave.
Just like that.
No number exchanged.
No big moment.
Bucky watches until your taillights disappear through the gates.
And something in his chest feels suddenly, violently empty.
“…you are the dumbest man alive.”
Bucky closes his eyes immediately.
Of course Sam Wilson is still here.
“I don’t wanna hear it.”
“You didn’t even ask for her number!”
Bucky drags a hand down his face tiredly. “Sam.”
“No, seriously,” Sam says, horrified. “What was your plan here? Just suffer forever?”
Bucky glares at him. “I’m serious.”
“And I’m devastated for you.”
“I don’t—” He exhales sharply. “She’s sweet.”
Sam blinks once.
“…that’s your argument?”
“She deserves someone normal.”
“None of us are normal.”
“That’s different.”
Sam opens his mouth—
Then pauses suddenly.
His eyes drop toward the patio floor near Bucky’s boots.
“…hold on.”
Bucky frowns. “What.”
Sam points dramatically.
And there, half-hidden beneath one of the chairs, sits a pair of gold heels.
Tiny.
Definitely not his.
Bucky stares at them for a second.
Then something in his expression shifts almost immediately.
Because he remembers you wincing every few steps near the end of the party. Remembers you carrying the shoes in one hand while walking barefoot through the grass. Remembers the yellow dress brushing around your ankles while fairy lights reflected softly against your skin.
A quiet laugh escapes him before he can stop it.
Sam looks deeply offended by the existence of this emotion.
“Oh my God,” he says. “I thought she was Belle, not Cinderella.”
Bucky shoots him a look while bending to pick up the heels carefully.
They’re ridiculously delicate in his hands.
Sam watches the whole thing with growing horror.
“You are gone,” he says.
Bucky ignores him, thumb brushing absently over the gold strap.
Then, before he can think too hard about why he’s doing it, he glances toward the gates one last time.
Like maybe you’ll magically come running back for them.
Sam stares at him for a long moment.
Then slowly reaches into his pocket.
Bucky narrows his eyes immediately. “What’s that.”
Without answering, Sam holds out a small business card.
The princess company logo printed across the front.
Bucky looks at it.
Then at Sam.
Then back at the card.
“…you stole this?”
“I networked.”
“That’s not what networking is.”
Sam grins.
And after a long, dangerous pause—
Bucky takes the card anyway.
