For your consideration: Bucky trying desperately to flirt, thinking he's apparently managed to lose all of his charm because you don't even seem to acknowledge it. In reality you're just bad with hidden meaning and social cues.
poor thing wouldn't know what to do
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Bucky Barnes could flirt once.
He knew he could.
He used to be smooth β charming enough to make dames blush across smoky bars, confident enough to wink and know itβd land. But lately? Lately, he was starting to think heβd lost his edge somewhere between the 1940s and now.
Because every single one of his attempts to flirt with you went up in flames.
βYβknow,β he tried one morning in the Tower kitchen, leaning against the counter in what he hoped was a casual way, βif I didnβt know any better, Iβd say you make this place brighter just by walking in.β
You looked up from your coffee, blinking at him. βOh β thanks! Tony installed new light bulbs yesterday.β
And that was that. You smiled, took a sip, and walked out while Bucky stood there, mug halfway to his lips, blinking like heβd been personally victimized by your literal interpretation.
That had been a week ago. He hadnβt stopped thinking about it since.
He tried again two days later.
He brought you a coffee, your usual order. Youβd been buried in work all morning, brow furrowed, lip tucked between your teeth. He thought maybe itβd make you smile.
βFor you,β he said, setting it beside your laptop with a grin. βThought you could use something sweet.β
βOh, thanks!β you said brightly, then reached into your drawer and handed him a muffin. βIβve got sweet stuff too if you want some!β
He took it, because what else was he supposed to do? Say no? He bit into it in stunned silence while you kept typing, oblivious to the way he was short-circuiting beside you.
Steve found him in the gym later that night, throwing punches with a little too much force.
βWhatβs got you so riled up?β Steve asked, ducking under a swing.
Bucky scowled. βI think Iβm broken.β
βThatβs a bold statement, Buck. Wanna elaborate?β
βSheβsheβs immune to me, Steve.β
Steve blinked. βImmune?β
βYeah,β Bucky said, throwing his gloves off. βIβve flirted with her six times. Iβve smiled, Iβve complimented her, I even tried the coffee thing, and sheβshe just thanks me like Iβm delivering mail. I used to be good at this.β
Steve snorted. βYou sure sheβs not justβ¦ yβknow, missing it?β
Bucky scoffed. βHow do you miss βyou make this place brighter just by walking inβ? Thatβs poetry, Steve.β
βMaybe sheβs not great with hints,β Steve offered.
Bucky stared. βHints? That wasnβt a hint, that was practically a declaration of affection!β
βThen maybe she needs it spelled out,β Steve said, clapping his shoulder. βYouβve met her β sheβs literal.β
Bucky grumbled but couldnβt shake the thought.
The next morning, you were in the kitchen again, humming to yourself as you poured cereal. Bucky came in, determination written all over his face.
βMorning, Buck,β you greeted.
βMorning, doll,β he said. (He hadnβt called anyone that in years, but it slipped out before he could stop it.)
You smiled faintly. βYou okay? You look like youβre about to defuse a bomb.β
He huffed. βFeels like it.β
βDid Tony do something again?β
βTonyβs fine,β Bucky said quickly. βI, uhβ¦ I wanted to ask you something.β
You looked up. βSure?β
He took a breath. βI think youβre really great, you know? Smart, funny, prettyββ
You smiled, sweet and oblivious. βThanks, Buck. Youβre great too.β
He stared. βNo, I mean, I like you.β
βI like you too!β
He groaned, running a hand over his face. βNo, I mean I like-like you. As in β I want to take you out.β
There was a pause.
βOh.β
You blinked, spoon halfway to your mouth. βYou mean like a date?β
βYes!β he said, exasperated but relieved that you were finally catching on. βLike a date.β
You stared down at your cereal, cheeks flushing. βOh. Wow. I didnβtβ¦ I didnβt realize thatβs what you meant before.β
Bucky laughed β actually laughed, tension melting off him in waves. βYeah, I kinda picked up on that.β
βI justββ you waved your spoon helplessly. βIβm not good withβ¦ subtext. Or flirting. Or any of that.β
He grinned. βI noticed.β
βI thought you were just being nice!β
He stepped closer, smile softening. βDoll, Iβve been trying to flirt with you for weeks.β
You groaned, hiding your face in your hands. βOh no. Oh no, Bucky, did I embarrass you? I did, didnβt I?β
He gently tugged your hands away, chuckling. βNah. Maybe a little.β
You peeked up at him, shy. βI really had no idea.β
βI figured that out somewhere between the light bulb comment and the muffin.β
Your laugh bubbled out, bright and unguarded, and he swore heβd bottle the sound if he could.
βOkay,β you said, grinning now. βLetβs pretend Iβm caught up. You like me. You wanna take me out. Whatβs next?β
He tilted his head, stepping into your space until the counter pressed into your back. βNow I ask properly.β
βOh?β
He leaned in, voice low and teasing. βCan I take you to dinner, sweetheart?β
You blinked up at him, heart hammering. βYouβreβ¦ asking me out for real?β
He smiled. βYeah, for real this time. No hidden meaning, no old-fashioned lines. Just me wanting to take you somewhere nice.β
You bit your lip, the corners of your mouth twitching. βOnly if you promise to warn me when youβre flirting next time.β
He laughed β warm and easy. βDeal. But I might make it obvious enough you wonβt need the warning.β
βGood luck,β you teased. βIβm a slow learner.β
He grinned, leaning closer until his breath brushed your cheek. βGuess Iβll just have to keep practicing.β
Your smile faltered β not from discomfort, but from the sudden, dizzying realization that he meant it.
βThat,β you said softly, βwas flirting, wasnβt it?β
βSee?β he murmured. βYouβre learning already.β
By the time Steve saw them later that afternoon β you laughing at something Bucky said, hand brushing his as you passed him a mug β he only shook his head.
βGuess you cracked the code,β Steve said.
Bucky grinned. βTurns out the trick was saying what I meant.β
Steve smirked. βThat and a lotta patience.β
Bucky shrugged, gaze flicking to you again β cheeks pink, smile soft. βWorth it.β
That night, when he walked you home, you stopped him on the sidewalk.
βFor the record,β you said, eyes bright, βI think youβre great too. Like-like great.β
Buckyβs grin was helpless. βYeah?β
You nodded. βAnd Iβm really looking forward to dinner. But Iβm gonna need you to explain if you do that βdollβ thing again. Just in case.β
He laughed, slipping his hand into yours. βDonβt worry, sweetheart. Youβll know exactly what I mean this time.β
And for once, you did.
