Chapter Text
“So what are you guys all doing for Christmas?”
Nat’s question was met with a few excited happy squeals, mostly from Wanda and Tony who were looking forward to spending the holidays with family, but there were also a few disgruntled sighs from the other side of the table, where you sat with Sam, Bucky and Steve.
“No plans?” Wanda turned to you,” I thought you had that yearly family thing?”
“Yeah, we do, I’m just not particularly looking forward to it this year.”
“Why not?” she asked surprised.
“Because,” you sighed,” It’s the first year I…it’s…I’m…”
Steve noticed you were struggling with your words and jumped in,” It’s the first year she’s going alone, without Ben.”
He gave you a sympathetic little smile and you nodded your head, thankful Steve saved you from having to pronounce his name.
“Oh,” Wanda realized,” I’m sorry, I forgot…but still, two weeks in a beautiful cabin deep in the snowy mountains, with your family, that’s gonna be fun, right?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“What about you, Bucky?” Steve asked, casually taking the attention away from you.
You could have kissed him but you settled for a little wink and Steve was quick to wink back at you.
“Nothin’,” Bucky answered his question, absentmindedly playing with his cigarette,” You know me, Stevie, I don’t do that sappy Christmassy shit.”
“Yeah, how could I forget?” Steve rolled his eyes but smiled.
Meanwhile Nat leaned closer to you,“ Hey, if you’re looking for someone to take your spot, just say the word, two weeks away from the city sounds like fucking heaven to me.”
You smiled and shook your head,” I look forward to seeing the family, and being away from the bustle of the city for a while is definitely a bonus. But…the thing is my mom’s been trying to set me up with a different guy at every family event I went to this year, I just don’t think I can stand another one, and being up in the mountains there really won’t be any place for me to run and hide this time.”
“Just tell her you’re dating someone,” Nat shrugged.
“Don’t you think I’ve tried that? She doesn’t believe me until she actually sees the guy.”
“Oh, you should totally take a fake boyfriend,” Wanda suggested, overhearing your conversation,” Just to get her off your back.”
“And where do you suggest I find myself one of those?”
“Just pick one of your friends,” Nat pointed across the table and suddenly everyone was looking at you. “I see a few candidates,” she added with a teasing grin.
“No way,” you quickly refused,” Besides, everyone has plans.” You shook your head and then looked up, letting your eyes meet Steve’s,” Right?”
“Yeah, me and Sam have the whole week planned,” he let you down with another sympathetic smile,” You know I’d help you out otherwise, sweetheart.”
You gave him a thankful smile and turned back to Nat,” See, everyone has plans.”
“Bucky doesn’t have plans,” Steve’s voice made you look up.
You felt like punching him in the face this time.
“No.”
The objection came from both you and Bucky and you both looked a little surprised at the other.
Bucky moved in his seat, turning towards you,” What do you mean no?”
“I mean no, I don’t want you to be my fake boyfriend,” you answered,” What do you care, you just said no yourself.”
“Am I not good enough to be your fake boyfriend?” he pretended to be offended, which you knew was only an act. Bucky Barnes didn’t give a shit what anyone thought of him.
“I didn’t say that, James,” you sighed.
“What then?” he leaned across the table now, keeping his eyes on you, daring you to answer his question.
Steve, Sam, Wanda, Tony and Nat all sat back with a grin and watched the whole thing play out without saying a word.
“It’s just…you’re not exactly boyfriend material,” you pointed out.
Bucky just looked at you and said nothing for a while. Then he looked down with a little small grin on his lips, his long hair falling across his face a little before he pushed it back behind his ear. The black leather jacket he was wearing accentuated the bad boy look he had going on and he took a long drag from his cigarette before blowing out the smoke, slowly and aimed right at your face.
“Is that so?” he then asked,” And why exactly is that?”
You waved away the smoke, a little more dramatically than necessary.
“For one, my family absolutely hates smoking,” you stated,” You wouldn’t be able to touch a cigarette for two weeks while you’re staying with us.”
In response Bucky just pushed out his cigarette into an empty glass on the table and gave you a daring look,” Not a problem for me.”
Your eyes met his and you gave as good as he did, not showing any emotion. You knew he was testing you now and there was no way you were going to let him win.
“What else?” he asked.
“You’d have to pretend to my boyfriend for two weeks, you know what that means, right?”
“Enlighten me.”
“It means no sex for two weeks, James,” you added,” If you’re my fake boyfriend you can’t flirt or touch anyone else during that time. Think you can keep it in your pants for 2 weeks?”
Bucky shook his head and grinned,” Not a problem.”
“You’re sure?” you taunted him,” I wouldn’t find you chatting up one of my nieces while I’m not looking?”
He shrugged,” Come on, doll, I do have some self control.”
You weren’t sure who snorted the loudest, you or Steve. Bucky gave him a deadly look and Steve lifted his hands and mouthed a quick “sorry” but he still couldn’t keep the grin off his face.
You shook your head and looked away, leaning back into your chair,” Just forget it, James.”
But Bucky leaned forward, not willing to give up this little fight just yet, his lips curled into a sweet teasing smile,“ I don’t see anyone else offering, sweetheart, you’re not exactly in the position to be picky.”
“Maybe I’d rather take my chances with whoever my mum picks out for me,” you threw back.
“Your loss, doll,” he chuckled.
“I sincerely doubt it.”
“Alright, kids,” Steve put a stop to your bickering and stood from the table in his apartment,” I’ll go get us another round of drinks.”
“Good, I’ll help,” you took the out and stood up to follow Steve into the kitchen.
As soon as you were out of sight from the rest you elbowed him in his ribs.
“Auw, what was that for?” he asked surprised.
“Bucky doesn’t have plans?!” you repeated while you gave him an annoyed look,” What were you trying to do there?”
“Well, he doesn’t have plans,” Steve just pointed out, acting very innocent,” I just thought…it might be an answer to both your problems.”
“I don’t have a problem,” you quickly answered.
“Okay, well, no harm done then,” Steve opened the fridge and took out a couple of beers,” I don’t know why you hate the guy so much anyway.”
“I don’t hate him, I just…can’t stand him.”
“He’s all bark and no bite, you know that.”
“I don’t want him barking or biting anywhere near me,” you took some of the beers from the counter.
“You’re really gonna let your mum set you up with another lawyer or doctor from her town then, huh?” Steve said, reminding you of the last guy she set you up with, a lawyer named Kevin who couldn’t keep his hands to himself and never let you finish a sentence.
“Ugh,” you sighed at the memory.
“All I’m saying is, despite of what you think, there are worse men out there than Bucky Barnes,” Steve pointed out, “and with me and Sam out of town and the others celebrating with their friends and family he’s got nowhere to go for Christmas.”
You leaned against the kitchen counter and looked at him, pouting your lips,”Aw, poor Bucky.”
Steve rolled his eyes at you.
“I just don’t trust him, Steve,” you then sighed.
He nodded his head and took a step closer to you, looking into your eyes,” Do you trust me?”
“With my life, you know that,” you answered truthfully.
“Then trust me when I tell you Bucky’s not a bad guy.”
You sighed annoyed, a little at Steve for trying to convince you but also a little at yourself because you knew you’d let him talk you into this and you were already regretting it.
Steve lifted one of the beer bottles in one hand. “Bucky,” then he lifted another bottle in his other hand,” or Kevin the lawyer with the grabby hands.”
You rolled your eyes,” That’s like choosing between getting buried alive or getting stabbed to death.”
“Well, pick the least painful one out of the two,” Steve smirked.
You sighed,” Why can’t I just take you?”
Steve smiled and leaned forward, putting a soft kiss on your forehead,”Because Sam would kill me if I ditched him.”
“Maybe we could send Bucky with Sam so you can go with me.”
Steve laughed,” There’s only one person in this entire world that hates Bucky more than you do and that’s Sam Wilson.”
You laughed with him,” Yeah, you’re right. Hey, maybe I should take Sam!”
Steve playfully hit your arm,” Take Bucky, he’s your best option. Your only option.”
As depressing as that thought was you knew Steve was right and you sighed defeated,” If this turns out to be the worst Christmas ever I’m blaming you.”
****