Fandom: MCU
Pairings/characters: Bucky Barnes x reader
Words: 5683
Summary: No one thought the Avengers would be back after the final battle against Thanos. But here they are, a brand new team, moving into the shiny new headquarters right in time for Christmas. They are made to do Secret Santa for team building, and Bucky sees it as an opportunity to do something special for a certain someone…
Inspired by this prompt: i got you for secret santa so i got you this really expensive but sentimental gift that you’ve always wanted, hoping you’ll never find out it’s from me - and that i’ve been in love with you 1234567 years
Note: Last year I got the idea of writing an advent calendar for my best friend and I wanted to do the same this year. You don’t know that I’m doing it again, but I think you suspect it :P I will again reveal a little bit of story every day until Christmas. I hope you like it @iguess-theyre-mymess. Love you!
No one thought the Avengers Compound would be rebuilt after Thanos blew it to smithereens. Especially not after this long. And especially not by Pepper Potts. After Tony, everyone thought she'd stay in the cabin and raise Morgan away from all the drama that came with the world of avenging. No one thought the Avengers would reform either.
But here it was, the compound stood strong and bigger than ever. The large signature A adorning the roof of the headquarters. A group of young S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits were running laps around the small town of buildings with frost smoke circling their heads, and a shiny new quinjet landed near the hangars. And the tall glass doors of the headquarters opened, Maria Hill striding out, talking quietly to herself. As she spotted me, she smiled, tapped something in her ear and came over for a hug.
"What do you think?" Maria asked when she pulled away, glancing back towards the building she had just come out of. "Pepper designed it herself."
"Pepper did this?" I asked in awe. It was several stories high but looked much sleeker than the bulky thing that had been there before. It was still made of glass and steel, but most of it was covered in a living wall, making it look green, comfy, and eco-friendly. "It's beautiful."
Maria hummed in agreement, but then shuddered. "Let's go inside, it's freezing. And everyone is waiting in the briefing room." She nodded her head towards one of the upper floors. "The Avengers' very own briefing room."
The headquarters was just as impressive inside, it was clear Pepper had another talent up her sleeve. It was much warmer and felt comfier, and there was much more focus on a living environment with so many plants and so much greenery it almost felt like being outside. A much better outside than the actual outside, which was cold and frosty and grey at the moment.
Maria guided me to the elevator and it took us up to the seventh floor. When the doors slid open, we stepped right into the briefing room. Looking up at our entrance was Captain America, Rescue, Winter Soldier, Spider-Man, War Machine, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man and Wasp.
"Welcome to team-building," Maria said.
"Are you serious?" Bucky blurted out.
"I'm afraid so, Mr Barnes," Maria replied sharply. "That's the order I was given."
"Who gave that order?" Sam asked.
Maria made a few taps on the tablet in front of her, not even acknowledging Sam. "Team building is an important exercise for any group that-"
"Who gave the order?" Sam repeated.
"- that has to work together as closely as you, that's the order." She dodged the question and went into a speech about why this was important.
I sighed to myself. We didn't need team-building. We all knew each other, we had all fought together against Thanos, and we had all lost people we cared about. We'd had our differences through the years, The Sokovia Accords for instance. But we always managed to come together and work as a team, as a family.
"And since it's that time of year, you will do Secret Santa," Maria finished.
There was a stunned silence in the room. I gaped at her and then looked around and saw that a few of the others did the same. I met Bucky's eyes across the table, and I rolled my eyes, his lips twitched in a quick smile back.
This was like pulled right out of a bad Christmas movie.
"I know," she then said and laid the tablet down on the table. "I know... It's a bit ridiculous. But it's an easy task, just write down your name and two things you'd like for Christmas, within reason of course. And then just get one of the things for the name you pick. Then we're arranging a Christmas party for the twelve of you on Christmas Eve where the exchange can happen. You might even have fun."
"I'm game," Peter said. Scott and Rhodey nodded in agreement.
"There are worse team-building exercises," Carol added.
Some of us still looked around sceptically.
"Would it help if I said that the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents have to do it too?" Maria asked. "They're grouped after clearance levels but across departments. At least you get to do it amongst yourselves."
"Yes, that helps," I said reluctantly. "Give me paper and pen."
Maria handed out a post-it note to each of us, we wrote down our names and wishes, and dropped the crumpled-up notes into a bowl. She then set the bowl aside and drew up a hologram in the middle of the table showing the entire new compound, giving us an introduction to headquarters and the facilities and assigned us our own quarters. Then we were briefed on a few ongoing and future missions, and then dismissed.
On the way out, we each picked a name from the bowl. I waited until I was well out of the room before unfurling the note.
Peter Parker, a Santa that dance and sing when you clap, a Gryffindor scarf.
I couldn't help but smile, that was so Peter. And I was so getting him both those things. And maybe a Gryffindor hat too.
"Get anyone good?" Bucky had come over and tried to sneak a glance at my note. I quickly crumpled it up and put it in my pocket.
"Yes. It will be an easy one." I grinned. "Might even have fun with it. You?"
"Got a good one, yes," he said. There was a blazing look in his eyes that made something inside me squirm, and I wasn't sure if it was a good or bad squirm. Or both. "I think I know what to get them." Before I had the chance to say anything, his lips twitched into a smile and he flexed his metal arm before striding off.
I spent the next few days familiarizing myself with the new compound. It was much larger than the old one since it wasn't only us Avengers with optional living quarters anymore. S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters finally had a permanent base again too, and they needed a lot of space. Pepper had done a wonderful job designing it all.
And now it was also being decorated for Christmas. Some of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that were almost fresh out of the academy had been roped into hanging up lights and garlands and silver and gold baubles and red bows. Not too much, but just enough to make it feel festive. I suspected Pepper had a hand in the decorations too, I remember The Tower had always looked perfect for every holiday.
One morning I wanted to try out the training facilities made especially for enhanced individuals before going into the city to look for Peter's Secret Santa surprises. Thor and Carol had tried them a couple of days earlier and had been impressed. Walking across the large open reception area towards the elevators, I saw three of the agents tasked with Christmas decorations setting up a large tree in the middle of the room. They stood huddled together looking at Bucky who was trying to free himself from a heap of silver tinsel.
I chuckled lightly but took pity on the struggling super soldier and walked over. "How did you manage this?" I asked, stopping with my arms crossed, one eyebrow raised.
"Was just trying to help untangle this," Bucky replied gruffly.
"The tinsel got caught in..." one of the agents said and pointed towards Bucky's metal arm. It had indeed gotten caught between the plates and got worse with every move he made.
I fought down a giggle, but judging from the glare Bucky sent my way, he had noticed. "I don't think this can be saved. You look very festive though." I pulled at bits of the tinsel, and it almost came apart in my hands, a few sparkling bits falling to the ground.
"Not a word to anyone about this, especially Wilson," Bucky hissed as he tore at the long string, ripped it off and threw it to the ground.
"No promises," I said and stuck my tongue out to him before picking up the pieces he threw down. "I'll throw this away on my way to training." I left them to their decorating, but as I was at the other end of the hall calling the elevator, I heard Bucky's footsteps coming behind me. He caught up just as the doors opened.
"Okay if I join you, doll?"
I felt a flutter in my stomach as he called me doll but nodded and said: "Sure."
The elevator doors closed, and it took off upwards and then backwards. Silence fell around us as we leaned on either side of the box.
"Got your Secret Santa thing ready?" Bucky asked.
"Was planning on heading out and see what I find after training," I replied. "You? You seemed so sure about the whole thing last I asked."
He crossed his arms across his chest and as the metal arm moved, a few glittery pieces of tinsel fluttered to the floor. I pursed my lips trying not to laugh. But Bucky had noticed too, and his eyes snapped to the silver on the floor. He moved his arm around and more silver fell from him. I couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. His eyes snapped to me now and if looks could kill, I'd probably be passed out for a day or two.
The elevator reached its destination, and I tumbled out of it still laughing but trying to reign myself in. "Hold out your arm," I told him taking deep breaths. He did as I said, though with a suspicious look on his face.
I reached inside my mind and found that wisp of wind and rain that always lurked there. My laughter died down and I held my arms away from my body slightly, palms open towards Bucky. Wind started fluttering around him, his long hair moving around his face. I directed the wind towards his arm, around and around, and a tornado formed around his arm.
I vaguely registered that he was staring right at me instead of the miniature tornado and I snapped my eyes to his for a fraction of a second. The look in them had me almost losing control, but I managed to keep my focus, watching instead as the silver tinsel was freed from all the cracks and crevices of his arm. I directed the tornado up and down and it was blowing so hard his hair flapped on the side of his face, a few droplets of rain hitting his leather jacket with loud plunks. When I couldn't see any more pieces of silver around him, I let the wind die slowly down and his arm fell to his side.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
"No problem."
She looked a bit flustered and quickly turned around to take in the giant hall. Bucky had come in there a few days ago with Sam to try out the shield with Sam's new Captain America suit. It was large enough for Sam to fly fast and high and do some spectacular acrobatics mid-air. State-of-the-art Stark holographic technology for creating solid objects and obstacles to bounce the shield off of or spar with. Vibranium lined walls, ceiling and floor for those extraordinary powers. And of course, fire control and anaesthetic gasses if anyone gets out of control, and a whole lot of other safety features.
She had walked to the middle of the room and stood with her back to him. Her arms moved slowly out from her body and she rose slowly from the floor at the same time. Her hair started fluttering around her head, moving as if underwater. As her arms moved further out and up, she rose higher, the wind picking up and Bucky felt raindrops reaching him all the way to where he stood.
Bucky was excited to see her try out her powers in here, test the strength of herself and the building. He was always excited to see her in her element, ever since that mission a couple of years ago. It was right after Sam had taken up the shield and they needed her expertise.
A group calling themselves The Order of Thanos had taken inspiration from old, leaked Hydra documents and bred genetically altered rat-scorpion hybrids and it had gone horribly wrong. The Order of Thanos wanted to use this hybrid creature to kill half the world's population again, believing that Thanos' solution to a world in crisis was the right way to go.
Bucky and Sam were sent to stop the gross experiment, but what no one had expected was that the abominations had bred like bunnies and were taking over the old farm where they had been created and moving to the surrounding area. Bucky and Sam couldn't keep up and had no way to kill these things, so she had been called in.
She had first tried to use her control over the wind and air to round them up, but they were just too many, too quick and too sneaky. A fury had flashed in her eyes, she rose from the ground with her arms outstretched.
It darkened as dirt and debris and wind started spinning, faster and faster, taller and taller, reaching the high heavens. A furious tornado completely under her command, with the three of them in the eye of it, pulled the hybrids into it. Hundreds, thousands, maybe tens of thousands spun and shrieked around them.
Bucky stood there, staring up at her mesmerised. Hair whipped around her head, clothes flapping in the wind, yet she looked graceful. Dangerous and graceful.
Soon the tornado started transforming into a whirlpool. They stood dry in the middle of it, but now she looked like she was floating underwater. The shrieking hybrids became silent as they drowned in the growing maelstrom.
Then, suddenly, the water dropped to the ground and she landed lightly, turning around to look at Bucky and Sam, as if she hadn't just commanded two of the most destructive forces on the planet.
The two men looked around, the field they stood in was covered in dead rat-scorpion hybrids.
Sam whistled. "Remind me to never get on your bad side."
That's when Bucky knew.
There was no turning back for him. The windswept look of her after that display of power, the playful light in her eyes at Sam's words, the power that seemed to glow from inside her. But that glow might just be Bucky seeing her in a whole new light.
A tornado was forming around the vibranium lined room too and Bucky moved closer to her, making sure he was where the eye of the storm would be just in case. It was getting dark and wet, a tornado merging with a whirlpool, and she looked over her shoulder at him.
"Stay close," she said, and Bucky could have sworn even her voice got an otherworldly edge to it. He nodded up to her and mentally shook himself out of his lovesick puppy thoughts, but then the wind and water picked up speed and he was completely in awe again. Her arms rose higher and higher, and Bucky had to hold his hair away from his face and squint so he wouldn't get dust and rain in his eyes.
Her arms were high above her head now, but then suddenly they dropped and the vortex they had been in pushed outwards and collided with the walls in an ear-deafening bang, the ground underneath Bucky's feet vibrating with the shockwaves.
She descended gracefully to the floor and turned to him. "I think the room passed the test."
"What is going on in here?!"
Pepper suddenly burst through the door next to the elevators, looking livid. "The whole building is shaking and every alarm is going off in ops!"
"I'm so sorry! I was just trying out my powers on the room," I said walking towards her.
"She set off a full blast," Bucky explained, coming up behind me.
"We're supposed to calibrate the sensors to your powers," Pepper said exasperatedly. "We've already calibrated to mine and Rhodey's suits, and Thor's and Carol's power. Maria said this in the briefing."
"I forgot," I said sheepishly, smiling my sweetest at Pepper and hearing Bucky snigger.
"Clearly." Pepper sounded angry, but her eyes gave away her amusement. "Good to know the building is still standing though. We have to reset the system, but we can get your calibration out of the way after lunch."
"I was planning on going shopping for this stupid Secret Santa thing now anyway."
Pepper nodded and hurried off.
I turned to Bucky. "I'd ask if you wanted to come along, but what if I have you and or you have me."
"Who knows?" he said and shrugged, a small smile crossing his lips.
"See you later?"
"See you later."
It was cold in the city when I went there to find something for Peter for Secret Santa. I was glad I had a plan for what to get and where to get it, so I wouldn't have to stay out there too long. And I kind of wanted to get back to Bucky.
I'd had a crush on him for a while, a huge crush if I was honest with myself. Ever since I met him during our little skirmish over the Sokovia Accords. It was just a crush though, I kept telling myself. But there had been something different about him lately, I couldn't quite put my finger on what. He seemed to show up wherever I was, and he was just... attentive, for a lack of a better word. I was intrigued and felt drawn to him.
I hurried to run my errands for Peter's present. He only wanted a singing and dancing Santa, and a Gryffindor scarf and I'd been determined to get him both and more. I found the Santa easily, but in the store where I found the Gryffindor scarf, I went a bit crazy. I got him the hat I had planned on, but I also found a snow globe with a snowy owl inside, house elf-baubles, tiny knitted sweaters as tree ornaments, a snitch key ring and chocolate frogs.
It had been the most fun I'd had buying Christmas presents in my life, but I was happy to jump into a taxi and head home to training room calibrations and whatever was going on between me and Bucky.
Calibrating our new training facilities for my powers had gone well. Bucky, Sam and Peter had been there with me and Pepper when we tested it, apparently fascinated with my powers. Alarms didn't go off anymore when I used them, I just had to make sure to register that I was there.
I got a lot of training done in the days leading up to Christmas and got to match my powers to a few of the others as well. I had already noticed that Bucky seemed to show up wherever I was lately, but he was around more than anything when I was in there conjuring up storms and tornados and maelstroms and practising making tsunamis.
He and I sparred a bit too and I probably enjoyed that more than I should, with all the close contact and sweating and grunting. I surprised myself with how much I had fun with it and wasn't sure if I should suppress this new development or go with it.
The Secret Santa was also surprisingly becoming a big deal amongst us all, Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents alike. There was a lot of sneaking around and suspicious eyeing of any shopping bag anyone carried. I had ditched my regular purse and training bag when I noticed this and started using various kinds of shopping and grocery bags for my things when I was out running errands or going about my business at the facilities.
Thor and Bruce were the most curious and kept trying to sneak glances into my bags and always looking disappointed when they saw nothing interesting. Bucky was the only one that knew I was done with my Secret Santa, having been there when I said I was going out to get it and I sometimes invited him to look inside my bag when someone else was nearby. He played along and acted surprised or shocked or disgusted by what he saw.
I was of course curious about who had picked my name and what they would get me, but I had too much fun with these shopping bags. Maria had been right; we might even have fun with this.
The last couple of days before Christmas, I decided it was time to start watching Christmas movies and get into the spirit of the season. I was done with all my holiday preparations and there wasn't that much work to do, so I wanted to just relax. Sam had also told me that Bucky had once said he hadn't really caught up on modern culture like Steve had done. So, I had set up our common room with snacks and hot chocolate, and a wide selection of Christmas movies including my favourites.
A few people joined in for a movie and then left, and then someone else came for the next one. Bucky came in halfway through the second one and even though he scoffed at cliches and bad acting, I was glad he didn't leave when it was finished.
He actually settled down on the couch with me and soon looked to be the most relaxed I had ever seen him. If all it would take was snacks and movies to get him to relax, I would have done this ages ago.
It was getting late in the evening when everyone else had quit on the Christmas movie marathon and only Bucky and I were left. One of the silliest of the holiday rom-coms came on, and even if it was one of my favourites, I knew Bucky probably wouldn't be. He should watch at least one in his life though and I told him as much. He reassured me it would be fine, if it was a favourite of mine, he'd enjoy it too.
Halfway through it, I noticed he got very quiet. Wondering if he was embarrassed by all the sugary feelings or even mad or emotional, I glanced at him. He had fallen asleep.
Something seemed to melt inside me at the sight of him. At how calm and relaxed he looked. At understanding how much he must be trusting me to let his guard down enough for this.
Smiling to myself, I turned back to the movie.
I didn't remember falling asleep but realised I must have when I heard the upbeat song in the credits and the text rolled across the TV screen looking blurry.
I blinked a few times, took a few deep breaths, and cleared my throat to get my bearing. There was a sharp intake of breath on my right. That's when I noticed that I had slipped sideways into Bucky. I froze and he didn't move either. But then I lifted my head slightly and looked into his icy blue eyes. He was staring down at me.
"Movie is over," I whispered.
"Apparently." His voice was still a little rough from sleeping and it made my heart race. One of his eyebrows lifted and I knew he must have heard. Heat washed over my face, but I kept my gaze steady on him, only moving to his lips when his tongue darted out to wet them. My heart was beating so hard now that I was starting to feel lightheaded.
I was about to lean in when there was a sudden roar of laughter and heavy footsteps coming down the stairs from the kitchen area. We jumped apart, landing on each side of the couch. I fumbled for the remote to turn the movie credits off as Carol and Thor came around the corner talking and laughing. It didn't seem like they had a clue about what they almost walked in on.
Losing all the confidence I'd had before the other two had walked in, I said a quick goodnight to them all and hurried out of there.
Judging from the way I had reacted during that moment with Bucky, it was a bit more than a crush I harboured for him. I would have laughed at myself if it weren't for the onslaught of repressed feelings and realisations now washing over me as I walked back and forth in my bedroom, obsessively chewing a nail.
I didn't know what to do. I couldn't go to the Christmas party now. I'd drop off Peter's present to Maria and then I'd find a mission to go on. Whoever got me in Secret Santa could just give my present to Maria, she'd enjoy a fun calendar or something edible pumpkin spice.
Yes. That would work. And then I'd just find a way to avoid Bucky after Christmas.
With that thought, I went to bed.
Thankfully, I woke up in a different headspace. I was an Avengers for fuck's sake. With a simple thought, I could summon forces of nature powerful enough to level a city in minutes. And I'd always gotten along very well with Bucky, he had become one of my closest friends over the years. I had been there when Steve found him, I had been there when he freed his mind, I had been there when he got snapped, and I had been there when he and everyone else got back.
And hadn't I noticed lately that Bucky seemed to be... maybe interested in me? The way he had behaved suggested he might be moving on past friendship. And wasn't that a good thing?
I was still feeling incredibly nervous when I got ready for the Christmas party that night. But I tried to focus on how much fun we were all going to have and how delicious the food would be – the entire place had smelled so good all day.
By the time I was ready and on the way to our common area, I was feeling confident and ready for a good time. But then I dropped off the present in the box outside and went inside. Everything looked amazing and very different from last night. A gigantic tree had appeared in the centre of the room, beautifully decorated. Gently shimmering warm white lights in streamers down the top of the windows. Red, gold and green wreaths, pine garlands, bells and bow and baubles.
The sound of loud laughter had my eyes immediately searching for the source and saw Bucky laughing at something Scott was talking about. I couldn't help but smile but also felt a bit nervous again, butterflies having their own party in my stomach. How had this escalated so quickly?
Hope hailed me for welcoming drinks, and I was glad for a bit of distraction. And I needed some liquid courage before facing Bucky, I hadn't seen him since the other night and he looked too handsome to be allowed in dark jeans, a bright red t-shirt with a simple white snowflake print on it, and that signature leather jacket of his.
After chatting with Hope and Pepper for a while, the caterers brought in dinner and we all settled around the table. I was a bit startled when I thought Pepper would be sitting down on my right, but instead, Bucky appeared there.
"Hi," he said quietly and then leaned in to whisper so no one would hear. "You look beautiful."
I was surprised my face burst into flames from the heat that washed over me. I just wore a simple dark red dress I had worn many times; Bucky had even seen it many times, and I hadn't done anything special with my hair either. "Thanks," I mumbled back. "You look good too."
Dinner was just as delicious as it had smelled and dessert too, and once we were all full to bursting, Pepper had Sam help her bring in the crate with the Secret Santa presents. We moved to the couches and chairs around the room, and they handed them out the presents by the printed labels Maria had given us a couple of days ago.
I watched with amusement as Peter's eyes grew to the size of moons at the sight of the huge gift I had gotten for him. And I frowned curiously when Sam handed me the small one with my name on it. It didn't look anything like a calendar, and I couldn't think of anything pumpkin-spiced food item this small and square. I couldn't help but squeeze it carefully a few times and even shook it gently but couldn't figure it out.
We went around the room opening our presents one by one, first Carol, then Pepper, then Bucky – who got a pair of gloves with a small label saying they were made by Melvin Potter, everyone looked impressed. Then it was me.
I unwrapped gently, pulling the festive paper aside and gaped at what was revealed. It was a clear box and on a cushion inside lay a silver necklace with a whale shark pendant, its body curved slightly as if mid-swim.
A few people craned their necks trying to see what it was. I opened the box and held it up for everyone to see. "I had one of these when... But I..." I looked up at Bucky a few seats away. "You?"
He looked surprised. "Me what?"
"You got this for me."
"We're not supposed to guess until after," Scott declared. Hope hissed at him to be quiet.
"I had one of these when I was a kid, but I lost it. I was so sad. You're the only one I've told."
"Oh." A furious blush crept up Bucky's neck, his face matching his red t-shirt. "I wasn't aware of that. But yeah, I'm your Secret Santa."
A flood of different emotions swirled around in me, and all I could do just then was blink away tears and mumble "thank you", staring at the necklace in my hands.
"We can rule him out then," Thor said. "My turn."
The Secret Santa continued until everyone had opened their gifts and it took a while to guess. Some guessed right, some couldn't keep quiet that it was them and some had to be revealed. Peter said his spidey-tingle told him it was me who had gone crazy with Harry Potter merchandise.
As drinks were served again and upbeat Christmas music filled the room, I went to put my present safely in my room just in case. I had barely left the room when Bucky came after me, the door closed behind him and muffled the music.
"I hope I didn't embarrass you." He ran a hand through his hair and looked at his shoes.
"You didn't embarrass me," I reassured him laying a hand on his arm. "I was mostly just surprised you remembered. And that you managed to find it. And that you... wanted me to have it."
He looked down at me. "Of course, I remembered. I remember everything you say. And I wasn't even looking for it, I just saw it in a thrift store window a few days before Hill announced this and had to get it. Luck would have it that I picked your name, but I would have given it to you either way. It was meant to be."
"Why though?" I asked, looking up at his blue eyes that seemed to be glowing. "It just seems... Well... No one has ever..." I wasn't sure how to get my words out.
"Can we go somewhere more private?"
"I was on my way to put this away safely. Come on."
We walked in silence to the living quarters and Bucky followed me into my rooms. I could feel his eyes on me as I made room for the little box on a bookshelf. I looked at it for a moment. I visited a marine park when I was little and had seen the whale shark in a giant aquarium there and declared it as my favourite. On the way out, I got a necklace just like this in the souvenir shop and had worn it every day for years. But one day I had gone swimming with friends and laid it down with my clothes by the beach and when I came back it was gone. I had searched everywhere and combed the internet and every marine or ocean park I visited since but had never found anything just like it. All I had was an old photo of me wearing it.
I had told Bucky about it a long time ago when he talked about our childhoods to kill time during a mission. And he had remembered and found this...
I blinked away tears again before turning back to him. "Did you want to talk?" I asked.
"Yeah, I... I'm not very good at this. I was, I think. But modern times, I don't know." He was looking down at his twisting hands.
My heart started racing again and I took a few steps closer to him. "What is it?"
He closed his eyes for a moment and then looked right into mine. "I think I've fallen in love with you." He cocked his head sheepishly. "Think I have been for a while."
I grinned, feeling strangely calm when I'd always thought a confession like that would have left me feeling like I was having a heart attack. "I think I'm in love with you too."
Complete silence filled the room for two long moments and then Bucky's lips were on mine and there were tongues and teeth and hands and all my senses were filled by him. The Christmas party could do without us.