The Internship

IV

(Bucky's POV)

This girl, (y/n), was like no one I'd ever met before. She was fragile and delicate, yet she seemed stronger than one could imagine. She was kind and soothing, yet she had a confidence about her that was unexpected. And... she wasn't afraid of me. She wasn't afraid of my metal arm, at least.

As we stood there, swaying to the music, her head tucked into my chest, and my arm around her waist, feeling her chest rise and fall as her breathing slowed when she finally got tired, I felt...normal, for once. It was a strange feeling; to have someone you barely knew make you feel as if you finally belonged somewhere. But somehow, she did.

As the night went on, I could tell that (y/n) was getting tired, her movements slower as she got worn out. I must have been paying too much attention to her to notice the doors to the commons open as someone came in. So when I turned around to see Tony's kid, Steve, and Natasha staring at me; the kid's jaw on the floor; Steve's eyes wide with disbelief; and Nat's judging gaze, needless to say I was a bit thrown off. My posture stiffened, and (y/n) slowly opened her eyes, lifting her head and yawning as she had been half-asleep. She blinked a few times, before groggily asking:

"What's wrong Bucky?"

"Nothing doll." I said reassuringly, she hadn't seen the others staring yet. "It's just getting late. We shou- You should probably get to bed."

"Mkay." she shrugged lazily. She untangled herself from my arms, and almost immediately tripped.

"Woah there, darling." I said, catching her quickly. She was not in any position to be going up the steep stairs by herself. So, as any rational person would do, I quickly swept her up bridal style.

"What are you doing silly goose?" She said, still delirious, giggling a little bit.

"I'm taking you upstairs to bed, where you can get some rest. It's been a long day." I said, carrying her upstairs, purposefully ignoring the stares of the team. I bit back a gasp when she snuggled her head into the crook of my neck, her lips softly brushing across my collar bone as she did so. "Which one is your room doll?" I said, trying to clear my head of what had just happened.

"Hmm, I don't know. Which one do you think it is?" she said and I could feel her smile a little against my skin.

"I don't know (y/n), that's why I need you to tell me." I said. All of the bedroom doors were identical, so I couldn't exactly figure it out that way.

"Well, I'm not going to tell you." She said giggling. "It's more fun that way."

"Well if you don't tell me doll, I'm just going to have to have you sleep in my room." I said teasingly. I didn't want to go peeking in all the different rooms. I didn't want to risk Natasha slicing my throat open if I accidentally saw her room. She didn't let anyone in there, no one knew why. We didn't question it though, we knew not to mess with her.

"Hmm," (Y/n) said dreamily "I wouldn't mind that." She giggled again. This girl obviously wasn't thinking straight.

"I was joking (y/n)." I said chuckling a little.

"Well I wasn't." she said, her voice losing it's mocking tone. "Why can't I sleep in your room?"

"We just met doll, I don't think it would exactly be appropriate if we shared a bed." I said, trying to convince her that this wasn't a good idea. I wasn't exactly opposed to sharing a bed with a beautiful girl, but I didn't want to hurt her. I still got nightmares sometimes, and if accidentally turned into the Winter Soldier while she was next to me... I didn't want to finish that thought.

"Ugh, just take me to your damn room Barnes." She said, obviously fed up. "I don't care if we just met, I want to get some actual sleep."

"Okay then." I said. I wasn't expecting her to snap, but it was oddly attractive how she could command me to do something while being in such a vulnerable state.