Oleander - Bucky BarnesxOC

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: NFWMB

CW: Choking, oral sex (m receiving), teasing, exhibitionism, degradation, hair pulling, slapping, gun violence, car accidents.

If I was born as a blackthorn tree
I'd wanna be felled by you
Held by you
Fuel the pyre of your enemies
- Hozier, "NFWMB"

She wakes up to the smell of fresh coffee floating into the bedroom through the crack beneath the door. Dahlia rolls onto her side to find James's spot empty. She stretches and hears soft music coming from the kitchen. Dahlia dresses in a baggy t-shirt and a pair of soft cotton shorts. She pads out into the living room with her hair a mess, her fingers trying their best to tame it without the aid of a mirror.

James is in the sweatpants and t-shirt he borrowed the first night he ever stayed over. They're a little tight, but Dahlia appreciates the view. He's frying bacon on one pan and cooking pancakes from a box on the other. Classical music pours from the speakers of his phone.

Dahlia is a little embarrassed about the state of her apartment compared to his house, specifically the fact that she and Wanda exclusively make most of their food from jars, boxes, or bags. James makes everything from scratch, including pancake batter. He's an incredible cook. Most guys make a couple of dishes really well, but James can do it all. She watches him cook without measuring cups, without recipes, it feels like he's memorized it all and he does it so well. It always tastes amazing.

This morning, he doesn't seem to mind using what she has. In fact, he looks quite happy as he whistles along with Beethoven with a box of Bisquick beside him.

"Nice ass," she says as she slides onto a stool and rests her chin on her hand.

He turns around and laughs, his cheeks turning pink. God, he's so fucking sexy in the morning. His hair is a fluffy mess, his cheekbones are sharp, and he's got some more stubble that seems to have grown in overnight.

"Thanks."

"What's for breakfast?"

He smirks.

"Well, I was going to say you."

She blushes and puts her head in her hands. James winces as Dahlia looks through her fingers.

"Was that cheesy? It's pancakes and bacon, by the way."

"Extremely cheesy," She laughs. "I love it, though."

James chuckles and hands her a can of Mountain Dew.

"Your caffeine of choice, my love."

She laughs. He thinks of everything. She didn't have any left last night and she was disappointed. James must have run out to the store across the street to get her some.

"Thank you."

He leans over and kisses the tip of her nose as Dahlia cracks the can open and scrunches up her nose at him. He does it back and they both laugh before he turns his attention back to breakfast, flipping the pancakes over.

"How'd you sleep?" He asks.

"Good," she replies. "You?"

"Okay. You snore a little."

"Sorry," she giggles.

"It's okay. It wasn't bad. I rolled you onto your side and you were fine," James replies.

Wanda's bedroom door opens and she steps outside in a pair of sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt. Her red hair is a tangled mess and she rubs her eyes.

"What's up?" She says in a raspy voice.