Death & Ms. Dasey
Disclaimer: The Avengers and all related characters belong to Marvel and their incredible creators. I make no monetary profit from this work it is only for entertainment.
Spoiler Warning / Author's Note: I am being a bad and lazy fandom author for this little work. I really just want to write some fluff with plot that will turn into smut with a little plot. So! This work is set after whatever "fix" there will be created by the incredible Marvel cinematic universe comes up with after Infinity Wars. I am just running with the idea that Thanos has been defeated for a few years, and now that those that normally inhabit are trying to find their new normal.
Women are meant to be loved,
not to be understood.
Oscar Wilde
Chapter 1: Hey Handsome
It was late in the evening when two men came to a stop in Brooklyn. Their powerful frames cut through the crowded streets with ease, eyes peeled for the one who was set to join them. One of the men was dressed in a canvas jacket and leather gloves, despite the early fall weather.
"Sam said he would meet us in front of the place", Steve frowned, looking at his phone.
His friend only gave a grunt, still looking about for the man in question.
In all honesty, they were only in the city for a few days for meetings at the Stark Tower. Stark had made some efforts to patch things up with Bucky, but lingering on his turf still made the ex-winter soldier edgy. They had fought side by side since then, a few times actually, but more normal activities were not as easy. There was no common enemy to distract them. Stark, for his part, seemed to be too busy celebrating his recent wedding to pay much attention to him at the first meeting, and for the sake of the team both the soldiers hoped that would continue for the rest of the week.
"How is he always late?" Bucky rolled his eyes.
Steve gave him a bright smile, and he fought to match it. Even if Sam was late and he was hungry, and he could smell the damn food inside who cares. They were back in their old stomping grounds, and that felt good.
"Hey handsome, who's your friend?" A feminine voice chirped playfully just behind them, and a distinct swat flew over his backside.
Bucky in all his years as a trained assassin, and now as something of a soldier again, had learned to trust his gut when it came to threats. The petite woman who had seemed to be approaching the restaurant and in the process them certainly was not a threat. Yet, she now stood round eyed in shock still holding her hand out from where she had playfully spanked him. Her dark blue orbs darted over his face and she took a step back as her cheeks flushed prettily.
"Not Johnny", she muttered, mostly it seemed to herself, clearly horrified by her mistake.
"No ma'am", Steve chuckled with a grin so wide it might leave his face sore tomorrow.
His voice seemed to snap her out of a reviere, and she threw her hands up as her cheeks took on a shade of cherry, "I'm so sorry! I thought…"
Her rushed apology tapered off as she took in Steve's face under his baseball cap. Her rust colored hair shifted against her shoulders as the light of recognition came to her face. Then, the process seemed to repeat for the dark haired man she had accosted. Her hands raked through her thick waves rustling them free from her leather jacket as the full extent of her crime came to realization.
Bucky felt a smile pull at his lips as the pretty young woman fretted, so he tried to reassure her, "No harm done really."
She blinked up at him, chewing her pink lips, "I'm so sorry." She looked between them and hung her head, "I'm gonna go find a rock to hide under."
Steve watched her scurry into the restaurant before turning to him with that damn grin again. He was rocking back and forth on his heels to try to contain his mirth. Sam chose that moment to arrive and Steve was all too happy to tell him just what had happened. Those two decided a table near the booth the girl had been seated at was a grand idea also. Sam and Steve declared that a threat should be watched after all. Bucky sent Sam a withering glare, but it was nice to see his pretty little attacker.
For her part, she was oblivious to them. She toyed with her phone and spoke with the waiter. Her hands occasionally fiddled with her jacket or smoothed nervously over her skinny jeans. Then, just as their own waitress was setting out their drinks a man walked in with a suspiciously similar jacket to the canvas one Bucky was sporting. He was also around Bucky's height and wore his long dark hair in a low ponytail. His brown eyes pinned the little redhead and a devious smirk rolled over his mouth.
Steve honed in on this and gaped when the man hauled her out of the booth to spin her about. He covered her cheek in a smattering of loud and foolish kisses making her giggle. He looked at her wolfishly though when he set her down and laughed.
"It's not funny Johnny!" she stomped in of her boots.
"Oh, but darling it is!" He barked out laughing again and spun her around and swatted at her well curved bottom to urge her into the booth, "Spanking a stranger!"
"I feel so stupid", she pouted while her friend happily scooted in next to her where he lounged placidly with a shark-like grin.
"Oh my love, you are not stupid. You are just prone to doing stupid things, but you are terribly charming when you do it. If you were in a short skirt I am sure the poor man would have had no choice but to buy you lunch", he purred to her.
"I blame you", she muttered.
The occupants of just a table away watched on with interest. Sam was pleased that she had moved along quietly, even after recognizing them. Steve had that look though. The Captain was thinking and it made Bucky feel oddly in reverse to when they were young men in these streets.
Sam grinned, and ripped away some of the cheese sticks. "Looks like tall, dark and scary could have had a date."
Bucky snorted, "It's a better story this way."
Sam and Steve exchanged looks, but seemed to leave it be. The girl only told her friend it was a stranger. So, the anecdote could be safely tucked away with little mess it seemed. Flirting had once been his easiest skill. He often had no trouble securing double dates for both he and Steve back in the day, and usually ended up entertaining them both when Steve found somewhere to wander off to. Now though, it was best to keep things simple. Women and simple rarely went together, and he held onto what stability he had with both hands these days.
He was happy to eat his fill and see the playful little woman do the same. Listen to Sam's jokes about the Stark tower and its ostentatiousness. Watch the little redhead laugh and smile at the man she had mistaken him for. Well, he was until his gut tightened.
A new figure walked in, and immediately he felt his muscles clench. Steve and Sam caught on quickly, and it was as though there was a countdown until something predictably bad happened. It was in those adrenaline fueled seconds Bucky noted his adorable attacker had left her seat and was wandering to the front to pay. There was a click and she back peddled into their view again, her steps cautiously backward and her hands in tight fists, with a gun pointed at her nose.
He was moving before the robbers could issues out their cliches. One he flung against the wall, and with another step he launched himself at the man holding a gun to the woman. Steve was already working on the few who had tried to scurry away, and Sam was calling in local authorities while checking the street. After the robbers were all subdued, the girl whirled to look at him, and those blue eyes were so dark and lovely.
"Are you ok?" she stepped closer and her voice was so genuinely worried he laughed.
"That's my line Dollface", he smirked as the words drew another pretty blush to her face.
She nodded with a grin, and followed the police officers orders and sat back in her booth alone. Her Johnny had to go back to work, and had missed all the action, again. She answered questions politely for the police, and he watched her leave from a safe distance. It wasn't what he wanted out of the playful encounter, but he'd take it.
"Dollface?" Sam snickered back at their suite in Stark Tower.
Steve gave a grin, "That used to be Buck's go to line for his favorite girls."
Bucky pointedly ignored them. He let Sam tell Steve he had called the girl the pet name from way back when. He just smiled to himself at the bit of fun the day had brought. It had been a damn long time since he flirted with a pretty girl, and it was enough to let him rest a little easier.
Tony lifted a brow as he skimmed the report. Steve had done a good job of wrapping it up quickly and quietly. No gun had been fired. However, the genius was far more enthused by the same thing Steve was. In one of the camera shots, you could actually see it. Bucky was smiling. He was down right grinning at the young woman who blushed and nodded along to whatever he said.
Tony pet his chin as he studied her face once the captain was gone. She was familiar, but he wasn't sure exactly from where. Pepper would know, and he was all too eager to tell her the story. As it would happen later that night, Pepper had a name for the face with no software needed.
"That's Dasey Kelly", Pepper pointed to the girl's face from where where they were settling into bed.
Tony watched her apply her lotion to her long legs, and waited for his wife's encyclopedic mind to help him, "She is that traveling photographer who works with charities. You have invited her to the gala on Friday the foundation is hosting. You should talk some of the team into going for the publicity since the benefit is for charity organizers and their work."
Tony perked at her words like a puppy to a shiny toy, "That is a wonderful idea."
Pepper scowled at him, "And why is it only just now wonderful. Not the previous two times I mentioned it."
Tony only grinned at her wickedly.
"You should try to pull the feathers out of your mouth before you talk them into going", Pepper snickered.
"Why did this suddenly become a requirement?" Sam grunted straightening his tie.
Natasha moved in to help him, "Stark wants us to draw in more people and loosen their wallets. The people he's showing off are all charity organizers and such."
"Yah, well I had a date", Sam grumbled, but allowed her to finish.
Bucky chose to keep his mouth shut, but he shifted his weight in his boots. Even if they managed to get him a suit on short notice he insisted on wearing his boots under the slacks. Dress shoes just didn't feel right. Steve convinced him to go to a barber with him, and they both had their hair trimmed and beards shaped. It wouldn't be half bad if he didn't have to go to some big function and be paraded about.
Once inside he stuck to the edges of the crowd. Tony threw a good party, and people were certainly excited to see members of the team. He just wasn't high on the list for them, and it was easy enough for him to slink away when the time was right. Steve was having a good time though. The Captain was shaking hands dutifully and smiling for photos.
Bucky missed being able to get drunk. The serum had taken that from them both, and he could use a drink right about now with all the people bustling about. Tony's voice caught his attention nearby, and he turned to see the billionaire chatting away in his normal public fashion. He cocked his head at the person who Tony was so eager to talk to though.
There stood the girl from before. The now infamous girl in his mind. She stood in heeled leather boots, but still only rose to Tony's shoulder. Her long rust colored hair was swept up on her head while her bangs drifted over her eyes and angled along her cheeks. She wasn't wearing a tight cocktail dress, but rather an a-line little number in black. It drew to her narrow waist and a sweetheart neckline swept over the pleasant curves of her chest. The skirt gathered in pleats about her thighs, but was rather short though she sported sheer tights with pin dots scattered about over lovely legs.
Her ruby painted lips were worried by her teeth as she tried to listen to the man invading her personal space. Her pretty little nose crinkled like she could smell the trap, and she shoved her hands in the pockets of her dress hidden among the skirt. Her lashes fluttered down as she found her boots suddenly interesting.
"Oh, she's awfully cute. I'd let her get a swing in on me too", Nat's voice made him jump.
Bucky rolled his eyes, but whispered conspiratorially, "Why is she here?"
Nat shrugged, "She's either part of a charity, or she's got money to throw at one."
Tony's voice interrupted, "No really, I'll introduce you!"
Bucky looked up to find Tony ushering the young woman closer while she scrambled for any excuse to move in the opposite direction. Tony seemed to find a charming way to both haul her along and cut her excuse short. Though he could see the mortification on her face.
"Ah, just who I was looking for. Nat, Bucky this is Dasey Kelly. She is just so damn clever I might give her a healthy amount of funding. What do you think?" Tony smirked when he reached the pair.
"Nice to see you again dollface", Bucky reached out his ungloved hand, and was pleased when she blushingly took it.
Dasey was clearly eager to get away from the smooth talking man who had dragged her over. Her small hand was warm and soft in his own, and he marveled at how she leaned in to whisper, "Can I just say that I am so sorry, one more time?"
He felt his lips tug at one corner, but Nat pulled her attention forcefully, introducing herself to the young woman with a wink. It was rare for Nat to be so nice without proper motivation first. The russian assassin tugged the younger woman over to a couch, and peppered her with questions.
"So, what exactly do you do?" Nat smiled gently for someone so lethal.
Dasey crossed her legs, and seemed to relax under the guise that she was just talking to Nat even as Bucky and Tony stood right next to them. She smoothed out her dress, and smiled. The soldier felt his pulse quicken at the small quirk of her lips.
"I traipse around and do ridiculous things. I take photos along the way, and the good stuff makes money." Dasey shrugged.
"And does this business have a name?" Tony asked taking a seat across from them.
"Death and Ms. Dasey", the redhead squirmed under Tony's focus again.
Tony for his part wheezed over his whiskey, "You sure you two haven't been in business before?"
Dasey lifted a brow and sighed. Her mouth opened to say something, but a sudden ring came from her pocket. Her hand fished out her phone and she swiped at the screen. A soft curse fell from her lips, and she began to shuffle away. Her cobalt eyes sent him a soft glance.
"I'm sorry I have to go", Dasey said turning to leave.
Tony was on her heels though, "I wanted to talk to you about your projects though."
She lifted a brow moving toward and elevator, "You have samples of my work and the coordinating charities. You will fund them, or you won't."
Tony gave a grin, "But I wanted to talk to you."
Dasey stepped into the elevators with a shrug, "It's not about me."
Tony watched Natasha slink up to him running a hand through her platinum bob. Upon reaching him she snarked, "Good job."
"Yah, yah. My heart was in the right place." Tony scoffed and moved back to mingle with the crowd.
"Bucky, I think you should…" Natasha's head swiveled one, twice, and then it was confirmed to her. Bucky was no longer on the main floor of the gala. A smile curled her lips, "Or you are already on it."
Bucky made short work of crossing the party and taking the opposite elevator. Something burned in him. He didn't want to just watch this time. The doors opened with a soft chime, and he spotted the redhead at coat check. She was tugging on a familiar leather jacket which looked surprisingly well placed against her dress. He approached carefully and directly, against his every instinct.
She looked up with wide blue eyes, but she smiled shyly. "Hi again."
"Do you actually need to leave?" He smirked stepping closer so he could keep his voice low.
Her cheeks colored, but she nodded. "Yea, I was planning on just popping in here for a bit. It's my last night in town for a while, and I promised my best friend I would meet him at the fair."
Bucky felt his heart tug at the thought. He remembered celebrating his last night in town so many years ago, and dragging Steve along. He managed to draw out his voice after a moment, "Sounds fun."
She blinked a bit at his tone, and she took a small step closer so that her boots almost touched his. "You don't want to be here?"
He let out a bark of laughter, "No, not really."
Her lips quirked again she reached out her hand, "Want to go with me?"
Bucky blinked for a moment, and his hesitation urged her to continue. "I never got to thank you for saving me. I'll buy you a funnel cake."
He threw down his ticket to the coat check and took her hand. In a matter of two minutes he had swapped into his canvas jacket and fished a ball cap out of the pocket. She happily guided him along toward the subway station and far from uptown. Her cheeks had that adorable flush again, and she babbled about what would be at the fair back in Brooklyn.
She huddled close to him on the crowded train, and he enjoyed the excuse to be able to linger near her small frame. He almost balked when she turned to take him by the hand again, but this time it was his left, his gloved hand. She didn't falter though, and hurried along. He suddenly felt oddly nervous. He was used to holding guns, knives, controls, and tools in that hand, not anything so breakable.
Finally, they broke onto the surface and dead into the middle of the sprawling street fair. A man broke through the crowd with a wide smile. Dasey called out to him and waved. Bucky looked up to see his "twin" in matching canvas jacket with a low ponytail. His warm brown eyes took them in with mirth, and he reached out a hand.
"Johnny, and I imagine you are the man our little Dasey manhandled earlier this week?" He had a rich voice and smooth spanish accent.
Bucky shook his hand and muttered, "Bucky."
Johnny seemed to think for a moment, "Why is that name so familiar?"
Dasey toyed with a fallen lock of hair, as horror took over the man's face. He looked between them, and then hissed, "Did you try to feel up the tin-man of doom?"
Dasey twitched and swatted her friend on the arm a few times. It did nothing to deter him though and Johnny continued forcefully cuddling her into his side, "We just can't take the little kitten anywhere."
Bucky laughed at the pair. They were an ongoing run of quips and barbs, but while Johnny seemed a little scandalized by just who his friend had accosted earlier in the week, he also seemed to be encouraging her all the same. Johnny was a strange guy by Buck's sense of normalcy. He seemed to be turned on by anything that moved, and seemed a little miffed that his wing-woman had brought her own entertainment for the night. Thus, away from the task he had in mind for her.
Bucky was happy to follow along and watch the people at the fair laugh and smile unaware of his presence. His murderous resume didn't draw the same reaction as say "Captain America." There was also some fun to getting lost in a crowd in the open air. Though it didn't take long for Johnny to find a target, and prowl after them. Which left Bucky alone with Dasey again and the funnel cakes she insisted on buying. She found a favorable stoop and plopped down.
"So, what brings you to New York in the first place?" Bucky asked, taking a seat next to her.
She eyed him curiously before she answered. "Johnny mostly. Plus, there was that gala, and I had to do the set up meeting in person for it. But I take any excuse I can get to come back and see Johnny."
"Your best friend", Bucky commented.
She nodded while she chewed. She bumped her knee against his as she swallowed, "Why didn't you want to stay at the gala with your friends?"
He smirked licking the sugar from his fingers, "No funnel cake."
She rolled her eyes, but didn't press him any further. She did giggle though, her hand motioning to him something, but her laughter prevented any explanation. She scooted closer so that she was flush to his side and leaned up. Her smile was infectious as she tried again to give him some kind of signal to no avail.
"You are as bad as my brothers", she chided with a grin.
Her delicate fingers pet at the scruff of his beard and mustache. Her nails gently combed through the area near his jaw to smooth it out. He felt the powdered sugar shake from his face at her actions, but he didn't risk a comment. She was so close he could feel the warmth from her petite frame, and he wasn't eager to lose it.
"You're a mess", she huffed giving up on her attempts.
He felt his lips tug upwards as he gazed into her cobalt eyes, "You have no idea."
She lingered as she pondered his words. He couldn't help himself. It had been years, but the movement came naturally as if it were yesterday. His right arm curled around her, pressing her just a touch closer, and she arched willingly into his side. Before he knew what he was doing his gloved hand brushed some of the fallen locks of hair behind her ear. Yet, to his utter wonder she leaned into the touch and her lashes fell closed.
He brushed his mouth over her full lips tentatively. It was just a touch, but she was so warm and soft. She sighed invitingly as he began to pull away, and he decided it wasn't enough. She met him this time with a firm press and her hands rested on his chest. She tasted like the sugar from their treat, and met his lips in a languid caress. He pulled away, but felt her tip towards him to nuzzle her nose against his just to make his chest ache.
He licked his lips, "I didn't know they still made 'em like you."
She looped her arms around his neck, her fingers toyed pleasantly with his hair at the nape of his neck. Her eyes were dreamy, and her lips a little swollen from his kiss. She was still looking at him though, and it settled oddly in his heated brain. He stroked her jawline with his gloved hand, and as he leaned down for another taste his pocket vibrated.
He pulled back with a growl, "Damn it."
Her eyes went wide at the sudden change, but she actually tightened her grip and whispered. "What?"
He deftly thumbed the phone and saw the order to come in. They were leaving. A mission was called, and he needed to be there. His grey eyes fell on the girl curled into him and her concerned expression. He shoved the phone back away, and tried to save the menacing look for the people who were responsible for ending this moment.
"I gotta go", Bucky forced a smile for her benefit.
Her features fell, "Oh."
"Sorry doll", he muttered feeling the spell around them broken.
Dasey suddenly fiddled with her pockets, and after a second she pulled a small marker from her leather jacket. She used her teeth to pull the cap off and snatched his gloved hand. She scribbled on it, and he felt absolute pride when he saw the collection of numbers in red permanent ink.
She looked at him with that adorable smile putting the marker away, "Call me?"
He pulled her close again to press a kiss to her cheek, and lingered near her ear. "Anything you say Dasey Doll."
Author's note-
So, first thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it, and I will update it soon. Got to say I am VERY nervous about this one. Bucky is such a complex and wonderfully flawed character. It is so exciting to try to give him a little bit of a happy ending (hehe), but it's hell'a intimidating to take a swing at.
This has now been put through its paces by my darling Dragon!
Reviews are incredibly important to me because they are my only real way to gauge the audience. I welcome all feedback, so please let me know how I did! Thank you so much for reading!
Love,
Persephone