#ambucky

Notes: so I kind of got carried away with this! the diner’s name is inspired by an Oasis song. takes place in the 40s, pre war Bucky. i might have to write a second part to this, who knows. let’s see if anyone likes it!!! thank you for the request!!! enjoy :) 

James Barnes was the most handsome man in Brooklyn. Every girl wanted him, and every guy was jealous of him. He was the total package: tall, strong, polite, and popular. Especially now that he apparently was planning on enlisting in the army. A man willing to die for his country? He was also admirable. 

And you never expected to serve him at the diner you worked at. 

“Oh, my god. Look who’s in your section, Y/N!” Brenda, your coworker shrieked as she gave your arm a squeeze. You sighed. If it was Mr. Henderson you swore you were going to take your apron off on the spot and–

“Holy shit,” You gasped as you glanced over your shoulder quickly to see the one and only James Barnes sitting at table 53. And he was by himself! 

“Well?! Go ask for his drink order!” Brenda nudged you but before you left from behind the counter, you adjusted your white paper hat in your neatly pushed back hair and straightened out your black and white checkered shirt. Well, this was as good as it was going to get. 

You looked at James for a moment before heading to the table. God, he was so dreamy. His chocolate brown hair was neatly combed back and his jaw was so sharp it could probably cut the week old pound cake the pastry chef still hasn’t thrown out. Not only was it a wonder that James was here, but how this diner was still in business. And for some reason, that’s what made you love it even more. 

You got your note pad out and walked over to the table, placing a smile on your face. James was still a customer, and you were going to treat him like one. 

“Good morning, sir! Welcome to Digsy’s Diner. My name is Y/N and I’ll be taking care of you today. Would you like a drink to start off?” You spiel in your waitress voice; God for some reason it sounds extra annoying today. 

“Hi, doll,” James flashes a bright smile at you and you really think you might just melt right then and there. “You can call me Bucky. And I’ll have a coffee to start off. 

Bucky. It sounds like music to your ears. 

“Regular or decaf?” you meet his eyes from jotting down in your note pad for a moment and up close his eyes are so damn blue. 

“Regular.” 

“Any milk or cream?” 

“Whole milk. You ‘ave any sugar, sugar?” He asks, and it’s hard for you to hide the blush on your face because did he just flirt with you?

You’re smooth though, and you think quick as you point with your pen to the end of the booth, “right there on the table,” you quirk. Bucky holds your gaze for a moment as he reaches for the sugar caddy, his eyes never leaving yours. 

“I’ll be back in a bit,” you say with a warm smile as you walk back to the counter to fetch his coffee. Brenda is standing there, seemingly to have watched the whole thing. 

She comes up to your side, expecting you to tell her what the conversation was. 

“Well?!” 

“He ordered coffee.”

“Shut up! I saw you blush from a mile away. What did he say?” 

“He called me sugar,” It sounded silly coming out of your mouth but what could you say, he was so handsome. And he was nice. 

Brenda squealed and you silenced her with a harsh glare. He was still in the diner, after all! 

The entire time you were waiting him, Bucky was an absolute dream. He was kind, conversational, and super flirty. Maybe even a little too much because you were starting to run out of retorts. He liked the way you were bantering with him. But he was making you furious–in the most romantic way possible. 

“Well, Y/N, looks like I’m done here. But I don’t want this to be the last I see you,” Bucky smiles. 

“You can catch me on Wednesday’s and weekends here,” You reply, unsure of where this was going. 

“Weekends? I hope that excludes nights and Friday’s. Because those are my days off.” 

“It does.” 

“Well, Miss Y/N,” Bucky suddenly grabs a pen from out of your pocket and scribbles something on a napkin, “I’d love to see you at this address at nine in the evening on Friday night.” Bucky slides the napkin towards you and you almost want to wipe your mouth with it as a joke but his dreamy blue eyes and dazzling smile has you frozen. He just asked you on a date. 

Brenda helped you get ready. You borrowed one of her evening dresses–it was light blue and a bit short, which you weren’t used to, but the sight of you in it had you sure that there was absolutely nothing else you wanted to wear. She gave your hair soft curls and you had brought your favorite red lipstick out. 

“I cannot believe James Barnes asked you on a date! I mean I can believe it, because, well–look at you, darling! You’re a stunner. With or without the red lipstick.” 

“Aw, Brenda, you’re so sweet. I’m so nervous!” 

You assumed the address he gave you was his house address. As you sat in the cab, you looked out the window at passing buildings and began to think about the last time you went out with a guy. 

He was terrible to you. You felt taken advantage of, like the only thing he ever wanted from you was sex, and after months of being heartbroken over what he did, you were finally with yourself again. Now, you thought you were ready to be with someone else. And if that person was Bucky Barnes? Hell, yes. 

When the cab pulled up to a club, you almost through you gave the driver the wrong address. But without any time to question, you gave him cash and he sped on his way. You guessed Bucky would be inside? 

It was a bar, actually, but also a dance club. Swing music blasted and you felt like a lost puppy in this crowd of people. Guys and girls were everywhere, either at the bar or the dance floor. No sign of Bucky. You were starting to feel let down, and more so, embarrassed. 

Then, you saw him. Sitting at the bar with a beer in his hand, surrounded by guys and girls. He had a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, reflected by the dim lights of the club. He looked handsome, and if the situation were any different, you would’ve gone up to him and told him so. But when he caught your eye, as some girl linked her arm with his, you turned around and walked away. 

“Doll!” You heard him call after you, but you pushed past a group of people and headed towards the door. You had no time for this.

You left the club, left the blaring music and drunkards, as you tried to hail a cab when a voice called for you. 

“Hey, where are you–” 

“If this was some kind of joke, I want no part of it,” You told him in a strong and steady voice. The music was now muffled as the doors closed behind him. You stood at the curb, your heart beating frantically. Bucky Barnes or not, you didn’t care. He was a fucking ass. 

“Doll, listen–”

“I have a name. Not that you would have remembered it,” You rolled your eyes and turned away from him. Where the hell was a cab around here?! 

“Y/N,” He said your name with such conviction, you almost believed him to be sorry about–whatever this was. 

“Let me explain,” Bucky says in a softer tone of voice, but you cut him off. Whatever he had to say, you knew you would believe it. You’d take his excuse as an apology. You had to protect yourself. 

“No, let me explain. Whatever it was you had planned for tonight, I blame myself for falling for it. I thought you were different. Turns out you’re just like the others.” And with that, a cab finally pulls up and you get in it without hesitation. 

Sunday brunch at Digsy’s Diner, the craziest shift you’ve ever had to work. What happened with Bucky, you got over in one night. You didn’t need him. 

“You okay?” Brenda asked you, “Your section’s completely full. Need any help?”

“No, they’re all satisfied. Just waitin’ for it to be four o’clock, honestly,” You smile. You made a mental note to yourself to get extra fries for table 51. 

“Uh…” Brenda trailed off. You heard the bells of the front door jingle as someone walked in. You ignored it and looked at Brenda with concern.

“You okay, Bren?”

A huge smile spread across her face as she points over your shoulder. You look behind you and raise an eyebrow as you see Bucky Barnes standing in the middle of the floor with a giant bouquet of flowers that covered almost half his body. 

He has an apologetic smile on his face. You cross your arms but then look nervously around you for your manager. Not even this was worth it to lose your job over! 

“Sir, you need help with anything?” You try to play it off cool as people started to look. Bucky began to speak but before he could get any words out, you’re shoving him through the back door.

“What the hell, Bucky!” You say with gritted teeth, “What do you want?” 

“I want to explain myself and apologize,” Bucky said in anguish, “I damn well screwed up.”

“And?” You raised an eyebrow, “I already know that.” 

“I’m sorry, Y/N. What you saw was not what I had intended.” 

“Then what did you have intended? You gave me an address to a club! You had girls all lined up for you.” 

A look of confusion crosses over Bucky’s face, “That wasn’t the address I gave you. Honestly, I don’t even know how you knew–Oh, God.” Bucky shuts his eyes and runs his right hand over his face, his left hand still holding the flowers. 

“What?” You urge him. 

“I didn’t realize the restaurant’s address I gave you was right next to the club. Everyone gets it confused all the time. The reason why I was at the club was because, well, I was nervous. Needed a drink, just one drink, to calm myself down. Then I ran into my friend Benny, and then–And then you came and now that I think about it, I probably should have left sooner anyways or else it would’ve ruined the set up I had at the restaurant….” He trails off, and soon it makes sense. It really, really was a misunderstanding. 

“Y/N, I’m sorry. I’m here with these flowers because I didn’t know which were your favorites so I got them all, I also wrote you a card but you don’t have to read it and–I’m here to ask you on a date again. You won’t have to take a cab, my car got outta the shop yesterday. I probably should have told you that, too… I haven’t dated in a while. This all seems new to me,” Bucky said and if you hadn’t been paying more attention, you thought you noticed a hint of sadness in his voice. 

“I forgive you, Bucky. Next time, maybe give me the name of the restaurant rather than an address? You know how confusing Brooklyn can get,” you laugh lightly, taking the flowers from him. “And these are beautiful. I appreciate this.” 

“So, you will go on a date with me still?” Bucky asked. Now he looked at you like a lost puppy with those damn blue eyes. You smiled and nodded, 

“Yes, Bucky! Of course I will.” You dip your head to sniff the flowers and as you do so, Bucky wraps an arm around your waist and spins you towards him so now he’s dipping you, holding you tightly. 

“How does dancing sound? I’ll pick you up at seven thirty tomorrow,” Bucky says in a low voice. The way his arms are holding you makes you feel like electricity is running through your body.