"I don't do karaoke, and you know that!" Harper protested firmly. Her certainty was somewhat cast into doubt by the giggle that bubbled from her lips afterward.

"Yeah, yeah. 'I've never been drunk enough for that shit,'" Kat replied in a mocking tone. "Live a little, woman!"

"But I can't sing," Harper frowned.

Kat rolled her eyes. "Everyone here is drunk, aside from your heavyweight boyfriend."

Harper absently reached out and ran her hand up and down Bucky's forearm. "He is of impressive tolerance and self-control."

"Whatever," the shorter brunette waved Harper off. "He'll still like you even if you're a shitty singer. Right, James?"

"Of course," he replied easily. "Though I can't imagine Harper being shitty at anything."

"Sto-op," the young social worker whined, drawing out the word. She let her head drop, burying her face against his bicep.

Bucky chuckled, patting her knee affectionately. "Don't do anything you don't want to, doll. But you could have fun with this, you know."

"Harper, you would never do karaoke with me in college. And now we're together again after three years. Now's the time!"

"I disagree," Harper mumbled into Bucky's arm.

"Party pooper," Kat pouted. "Well, see ya, 'cause I'm gonna do it."

"M'kay, bye," Harper replied with a frown.

Kat stood and walked over to the small queue of people awaiting their turn at the karaoke machine. Bucky was unsure of what to say, feeling suddenly quite awkward. Luckily, Harper spoke up, "Sorry we squabble a bit. It's nothing serious."

Bucky nodded his understanding and moved his arm around Harper's shoulders. She briefly nuzzled his neck before resting her head on his shoulder. She piped up again, "You look really fucking good tonight. Like, even better than usual."

"You flatter me, doll."

"No, seriously. You're already sexy as shit, and then you shave? Fuck, James."

Bucky had to chuckle at her drunken brashness. "You like me clean shaven that much?"

"I like the light stubble, too, and I think you're obscenely attractive regardless, but yeah, clean shaven is my preference across the board, you included."

"You could've asked me to shave if you like this better," he assured.

"I wouldn't do that."

"Why not?"

"Well, first off, because I'd be pissed if you asked me to do something like that. Just as it's my body and I wouldn't want you trying to exercise your will on it, this is yours, and I have no right to try to exercise my will on it. Your body, your face, your choice."

The former assassin couldn't quite come up with a response. He had noticed vaguely in the time that he was with Harper that she had a way of protecting and encouraging his own personal choices. This was another prime example. He wouldn't have ever thought of such a request as projecting his will someone, but he supposed in a way it was. While he was coming to realize there was probably very little he wouldn't do for her, he appreciated that she was unwilling to try to change him to suit her own preferences.

"That being said, if you ever get so scraggly and ratty that it seems unhygienic, I'd say something. As much as I like kissing you, there is a line."

"Of course," he laughed lightly. "And thank you. I'll endeavor to return the courtesy, although I can't imagine what I could possibly ever request about you in regards to grooming habits. It's no secret I quite like you as you are."

Harper took a deep sip of her whiskey then supplied, "I was largely referring to the fact that you'll be disappointed if you prefer bare lady bits, because I just can't get into that. Aesthetically or hygienically."

Bucky flushed a brilliant red and tensed. "Holy shit, Harper. I'm somehow never prepared for the things that come outta your mouth."

"Point is, it's my body and I'd be upset if you wanted me to change how I'm caring for it to meet your aesthetic standards, so I'd never do the same to you," she explained.

"I understand," he nodded. Feeling less caught off guard, he assured, "And to clarify, I don't prefer bare lady bits."

A small smile turned her lips. "Good."

"If we weren't somewhere public, and if I wouldn't end up with a pair of blue balls, I'd have a lot to say on the subject of your lady bits though," he smirked devilishly, trying to return the favor of surprising her with suggestive banter.

The brunette's cheeks flushed crimson. "You a dirty talker?"

Loving this new flirtatious game, he turned his head until his lips brushed her ear as he breathed, "Would you like it if I am? If I told you about all the things I've thought about doing with my lady?" His mischievous grin grew, seeing Harper shift and cross her legs. "I'll take that as a 'yes.'"

"That's a sound conclusion," she allowed with a small nod.

Deciding to tease just a bit further, he confessed, "What conclusion could I draw about the sounds you might make if I acted on those thoughts? I'd love to hear my name, maybe, while you sing your praise of my efforts."

"Holy shit, James," Harper breathed, unable to meet his gaze. "Cool it, or I'm gonna have to rub one out before the end of the night."

Bucky hissed a breath through his teeth, trying desperately not to envision such a scene. He nodded and agreed, "Yeah, cooling it is for the best. Kat's up and we should probably not be flushed, horny messes when she comes back."

Harper gave another nod and quickly downed her drink. Bucky grinned, taking a swig from his beer. It felt nice to have caught Harper off guard, and even better to be so sinfully flirty. It felt deliciously normal, and also gave him hope that he could continue to grow closer and more intimate with the woman at his side.

The door to the café opened, and Bucky glanced up from his book. He smiled, setting the tome aside as Harper strode toward their usual table. She slid into the booth, dropping her laptop bag to the seat.

"Hey, doll," he greeted.

"Hey," she returned, leaning across the table and meeting him for a brief kiss. "How're you?"

"Good," he answered. "You? How's your day going?"

"I'm fine. The day is dragging a little since I took the rest of the week off to spend as much time with Kat as possible before she leaves Friday night."

"Have you been having a nice time with her?"

Harper nodded. "It's been more low-key since the three of us went out on Saturday. Which has been really nice, even though I do love a good night of drunken shenanigans."

"I'm glad you've been having a good time," he smiled softly. "You were definitely overdue for something good."

"Hey, I've had good," she grinned coyly. "I've had you."

Bucky laughed lightly before asking, "Do you want the usual for lunch?"

"I can get it," Harper said, reaching for her bag.

"I've got it," he cut her off, standing and moving to the barista's counter before Harper could further protest.

Bucky returned a few minutes later with a ham and cheese croissant, setting it gently on her side of the table, as well as a chocolate filled pastry for himself. Harper set her phone down and shot him a smile. "Thanks, James."

"It surprises me that this is one of your staples given your general distaste for pork and for eating cheese and bread at the same time."

Harper chuckled. "Have you not quite put together how quirky I am yet?"

He smirked and teased, "You keep me on my toes."

"Is that a good thing?" she asked, peering up at him coyly from beneath her lashes.

"Obviously; I'm pretty clearly into you, right?" he grinned.

"Clearly?" she asked with a thoughtful hum. "Well, that's relative, right?"

Bucky caught her jest, and played along, "Is it not clear?"

"Saturday night things were particularly clear," she mentioned, tearing off a piece of her croissant idly.

A laugh parted his lips, as taken off guard as usual by the young social worker. "The whiskey didn't wipe that conversation from your memory?"

"Decidedly not."

"Was it okay to have had that conversation?"

Harper smiled lightly and nodded. "Yeah, it was. It is."

"I'd never spoken to a lady like that before," he confessed. "That was definitely a new experience."

"Really?"

"I mean, not outside of in passing in bed," he nodded. "I've really tried in the past to stick to very traditional, very polite interactions with women."

"What makes it different now? Why with me?" Harper asked neutrally before popping another bite in her mouth.

Bucky thought over the questions for a moment as he chewed on the pastry. Slowly, he answered, "I think it's part of the new, modern version of myself. I don't want to be a traditionalist anymore. And I think you make me feel comfortable enough to break away from the old me. You're so… not traditional, which is scary and new and comforting all at the same time."

A smile teased at the corner of her mouth. "A traditionalist I certainly am not. I'm glad to hear that I'm comfortable in some way, though."

"A lot of ways."

Harper's cheeks flushed lightly. "You're seriously really, really good to me, James."

"Don't flatter me."

Her cinnamon colored eyes leveled him with a meaningful look. "Well, you're the only man I've found willing to deal with my thick, quirky ass, especially given the cluster headaches. It doesn't escape me how difficult it is to be with someone with a chronic, incurable pain condition. How hard it is to watch someone you care about live with pain. It means a lot that you'd even just try to be with me."

"It's a genuine honor."

Harper flushed more deeply and scoffed. "This is too heavy for a lunch conversation. Where are we going Saturday to cheer me up after Kat leaves?"

Shifting gears, Bucky leaned back in the booth with a grin. "I was thinking movies during the day to stay out of the sun and heat, but then I thought we could go to the river at night. It'll still be warm out, but there won't be many people."

"Like, to the beach section?"

The former soldier nodded, placing the last bite of his pastry into his mouth. Harper nodded slowly, eyes blank as she thought the suggestion over. Finally, she passed him the last chunk of her croissant and said, "That sounds like a really good Saturday."

"It's a date, then."

"Are you sure you're not too warm?" Harper asked, referring to his ever present long sleeved t-shirt.

"I'm fine, really," Bucky assured.

The couple walked hand in hand down the small stretch of riverbed the locals treated as a beach. It was nearly 11pm, so the area was empty of other people. All the same, Bucky wouldn't ever take the risk of exposing his arm, still permanently etched with the bright red star on the bicep, in a public place or to anyone aside from Harper.

"It's pretty," Harper observed, looking out on the water. "You think it's cold?"

"Probably a little," he guessed.

Harper stopped walking, loosing her hand from his. She lifted the bottom of the black maxi dress she wore and toed off her sandals. Lifting the hem to her knees, she walked forward, wading only up to her ankles at the river's edge. Looking back at him over her shoulder, she said, "It's like a refreshing kind of cold."

"Careful, doll, you're looking indecent. Knees in public!" he pointed out playfully.

"Oh, shush," she waved him off, turning back to look across the river. "It's dark out and you're my only witness."

"I'm flattered, ma'am, that you'll allow only me to witness you in such a state," Bucky continued cheekily, kicking off the cheap slides he had recently picked up. He stepped forward, joining her in the cool water rushing over their feet. "I can only hope that you'll continue to allow me to bear witness to such pleasurable indecency."

Harper grinned, holding back a laugh, and lightly shoved at his shoulder. "Shut up, James!"

Bucky returned her smile warmly, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Sorry, I just can't contain my admiration for such a beautiful lady."

Harper looked up at him before rolling her eyes. "I can't take that shit seriously. Especially when literally we're talking about my legs up to my knees."

"I know you're aware that I'm joking to a degree, but I don't tell you often enough how beautiful you are."

Her cheeks flushed and he gave the curve of her side a squeeze where his hand was resting. His thumb moved up and down along the downward slope of her rib cage and the hourglass dip of her side. "You flatter me more than I'd ever have expected."

He leaned down and pressed a peck to her cheek before saying, "I wish the world had been kind enough to you that your expectations were more in line with what you deserve."

Harper turned away and he felt her tense up. She muttered, "You're making me feel too many things right now."

"What do you mean?" he blinked in confusion.

"You're just… hitting the nerve of a deeply buried issue," she answered with a small sniffle.

"I'm sorry, darlin'," he muttered, wrapping both his arms around her waist. He pulled her against him.

"Don't worry about it, seriously," she said quickly. "You're so fucking kind, and thoughtful, and honest, and sometimes that makes me realize how screwed up I am, how much I still hate myself despite years of trying to accept myself. But it's not you, really. You are absolutely wonderful to me."

"I can empathize," he admitted. "Since I met you, you've been challenging me. I've been trying to be a man that you deserve."

Harper turned in his arms to wrap her own around his middle. She rested her head against his chest. "I truly didn't think I could ever be with someone like you, James."

Bucky held her a bit tighter and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He whispered into her hair, "I just realized… Your dress must be getting wet."

"Worth it," Harper replied, tightening her embrace.

"Hang on." Bucky secured his arms around her waist and picked her up. Her eyes widened in surprise. He moved his way back up onto the beach before sitting down in the sand, bringing her down with him to perch in his lap. With little pretense, he locked her into a kiss. Her lips moved against his tenderly, one hand crawling up his chest to rest on his cheek. His hands gripped her hips. Gently, he parted the seam of her lips with his tongue. She breathed a small noise of approval. Carefully, he tasted her, explored her, trying to commit the experience to memory. He never wanted to forget what he was feeling: her thighs encasing his hips, her hand splayed on his chest, the heat of her mouth against his, her openness to his intimate actions. He felt so much younger, happier.

Absently, his flesh hand left her hip, travelling upward only to stop and lightly palm a full breast. He gave the globe a gentle squeeze, the primal part of him contented with the fullness and weight of the flesh in hand. She was firm, round, and pert. His thumb teased at her nipple through the fabric of her dress.

Bucky pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. "I want to touch you so fuckin' bad."

"Maybe next time we're somewhere more private?" Harper suggested. "I'm not quite brave enough to continue this in public much longer."

"Sorry," he chuckled. The former soldier then nodded his agreement. "Let's head back."

A/N: Thank you for the reviews, follows, and favorites. I really appreciate the support. I hope that the rising sexual tension doesn't dissuade anyone from continuing this read. Let me know any thoughts on the matter. I'd appreciate feedback in general, truthfully. Many thanks again for the support.