After they made love again, Wanda fell into an exhausted sleep. Enjoying her warmth and feel of her soft skin against him, Bucky stayed awake thinking, until he knew Steve would be awake. He dressed and walked across the hall, then knocked softly.
"Hey, Buck," Steve said as he opened the door. "Come on in. I'm almost finished. Want to go running with me?" He pulled on a t-shirt.
"No, I need to talk to you about something," Bucky said cautiously.
Steve studied his face for a minute before sitting down to put on his shoes. "Sure. What's up? You look nervous. After all we've been through together, I'm concerned about what you could have done that would make you nervous to tell me." He chucked and waited.
"Hmm…" Bucky hesitated, then he sat down in the other chair. "I don't know how to say this so it doesn't upset you, but Wanda and I are… well, we're together."
His friend stared at him for a long time before saying, "Bucky, I get it. She's a pretty girl and you haven't been around women for the last few decades, but she's way too young and somewhat naïve. Not to mention, you barely know each other."
With a short laugh, Bucky pointed out, "She knows me better than anyone does, even you. She's been in my mind all this time."
"And should I assume you've been in her body all this time?" Steve said, dropping his fist onto the table as he rose. "I told…"
Bucky stood and grabbed Steve by his shirt, jerking him close, saying through clenched teeth, "Don't ever speak about her that way again. Next time, our friendship won't stop me from going for your neck."
After glaring at him for a few minutes, Steve finally held his hands up, and Bucky released him. The two were quiet for about five minutes before Steve sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that about Wanda and you know I didn't mean it. I care and respect her. I'm just… I just… I don't… Bucky, I don't think this is right."
Thinking back to the night he chased Wanda down after Steve kissed her, Bucky just got angrier. "But it was right for you? Do you not want me with Wanda for her benefit? Or your own? Because it seems like, maybe you considered her as your backup plan to Natasha. You tried to seduce her the first night we were in Germany, after all. Maybe you decided she was the path of least resistance. I've seen the way you are with her so don't insult me by denying your attraction."
Steve couldn't believe this. He and Bucky were going to fight over a woman. Not something he ever thought they would do. "Bucky, that's not true, and it's not fair to say to me. Wanda is my friend and I'm a little protective, I admit. We are close because of what we've gone through in the time I've known her. She's lovely and kind so yes, of course I think she's attractive, but it's just not like that with us. Because of my state of mind, I kissed her that night, but it didn't never went beyond kissing. And no, I absolutely don't think of her as a backup." Shallowing hard, Steve tried to ignore the hurt he felt Bucky could ever think he would do that to Wanda or any other woman. But he also remembered nights where he wanted Wanda in his bed. She was a beautiful, sexy woman who ran around the Avengers compound in skimpy clothes, and he was a man, after all. He loved and cared for her deeply as one of his closest friends, but he didn't feel the way a lover should. Desire didn't mean love. "I would never treat her that way. Wanda deserves to be someone's first choice."
"She is my first choice. And my last. She will always be my only choice. This isn't about sex or because she's one of the two females around. Or even like when I was younger and just wanted a woman's attention. Steve, I love her. I have loved no one else but her in almost a century. I think I've loved her since the first night we were in Germany. And she loves me. Can't you just be happy for us? This is the happiest I've been since nineteen forty-three."
Steve studied his friend for a long time and saw how changed he was since they first arrived in Germany. How could he have missed it? He was clearly in love. It blew him away. How did this happen and he never noticed? He'd warned his friend not to mess with Wanda because he was being protective. But he knew Bucky, and other than the Winter Soldier problem, he knew he would take good care of her and treat her well. He'd only ever known Bucky to be respectful and kind to women, even if he was a flirt in their youth. There was no reason they shouldn't be together. Except for his own selfish reasons.
After a few minutes, Steve smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, Bucky. I'm just surprised, and I handled it badly. Of course, I'm happy for you. And for Wanda, too. Both of you are two of the best people I know. I guess I'm just sad because I know you want to stop the fighting sometime soon. So, you'll eventually want to leave, settle down somewhere, and you'll take her with you. I'll lose two people I love at once. But if you're happy, I'll live with that sacrifice. You both deserve something good in your life, and Wanda obviously cares about wanting to help you and be there for you. Now I know why you continued to stay in the barn. And her late nights out there. I can't believe I missed it."
Bucky returned his smile and looking down he thought about the fact that now they could be in the open about it all now, without worrying. He hated keeping things from Steve. "I don't want you to think that we were just out here having sex this whole time. She's not that kind of girl. Last night, was the first…" He looked away slightly embarrassed that he was already so far gone over her. "This has been slowly building over time and we waited until we were sure. Honestly, I think we both knew from the start but were too scared to admit it. And she didn't tell the whole truth about Siberia. I mean, she didn't lie. She just left out part of the story. I didn't know all of it until the night we left Germany."
"What part?" he asked with concern.
"Apparently, she and I were close. Very close. But when the Winter Soldier talked the command there into keeping her in Siberia, they promised him they'd give her to him, so she messed with his mind and ended up erasing herself from my mind as well."
"Give her to him?" His eyes widened.
"No, no, he didn't rape her. That's what I asked as well. She said he was trying to win her over, hoping she would provide the end to cyro and the mind wipes," Bucky explained. "Maybe you shouldn't mention this to her. I don't know how she would feel about someone else knowing." Unable to help it, he smiled. "That's why she didn't kill you in Sokovia at Strucker's. She had mended my memories of you so she hesitated about actually hurting you and just pushed you down the stairs."
Steve couldn't help but laugh. "I wondered why I got off pretty light that time. Guess it was good that she saw me and not Stark. The next time, though, she did quite a job on my mind."
He grew happier for Bucky. He knew jealousy was a big part of his reaction. Not that he wanted Wanda for himself, but that his friend found his love and Steve was still alone. Yet he'd had Peggy until months ago, and Bucky had been mind-controlled and tortured. He deserved to be happy. "Bucky, I really am happy for you. I'm sorry I reacted that way."
"I know. I'm sorry about what I said too. You didn't deserve that. I worry that she was going to realize one day that she is too good for me and will leave me for you. I know she loves me and wants to be with me, but what if I hurt her or mess this up? I haven't been in a relationship. Things are different from the forties. What can I possibly offer her? A lifetime of being on the run from my enemies?"
"Buck, she's wanted one thing since I met her. She just wants a family to love. Being with you is all she needs to make her happy. And Wanda has been around me for two years and we aren't together, so I'm sure she will not drop you for me. That's like trading down anyway."
Bucky laughed. "Hardly. Although now you're a wanted man as well, so you don't have your clean criminal record to seduce her. But you have both arms. To be honest, I feel like a lovesick fool. I can't think of anything but her." He chuckled. "I'm not used to being happy at all so it just feels strange." Bucky dragged his hand through his hair, then smiled. "This is crazy."
Steve pulled his pocket watch out, popping it open to show Peggy's picture, and said, "Part of me dreads the day I have to remove this picture from here. Maybe that's why I have pursued no one else. Its funny, Wanda said something to me once about how I probably couldn't fall in love while Peggy lived because I'd consider myself unfaithful. I think she was right. Love is crazy, period."
Handing the watch back, Bucky said, "Peggy was a beautiful woman. I'm sorry you never got to be together. But I think she'd want you to be happy. So maybe you could take Natasha for a walk or something tonight. Go off to one of the smaller bars on the other side of the hotel. Wanda said you're stuck in the Friend Zone, whatever that is. It doesn't sound good so maybe you should get out of there."
"Knowing our luck, if I wait for a chance to take her out on a date, I'll never be with her. But I don't know if I'm ready for a woman like Natasha. She's much more…complicated." He laughed. shaking his head. "I have a fun idea, if you'll let me get my revenge on Wanda for her revenge last year."
"Oh no. I'm not getting in the middle of you two." He shook his head.
"Hey, you owe me for introducing you two, anyway. Trust me. This will be fun!"
x0x0x
Wanda woke to Steve shaking her arm. Confirming she was completely covered, she looked up at his angry expression and wondered how to explain where she was, how she was, and who she was with. "Good morning?"
"Good morning? I told him to stay away from you but I guess he couldn't keep it in his pants. He was always such a slut. Or maybe you plan to tell me he raped you, I guess I could have underestimated you. You just had to go and seduce him, didn't you, Wanda? Let me guess, your naïve act was just that: an act." His voice was rising and she had no idea what to say. "You know, he's slept with every woman that walks for seventy years. They used to bring him prostitutes in Siberia. Did he tell you that?"
"Steve! That's not true," she hissed at him. "I can't believe how you're acting. Or should I say overreacting. And do you honestly think he would rape someone? How dare you say I have a naïve act. Just because you treat me like a child, doesn't mean I am one nor am I naïve. I thought you might be shocked, possibly angry that it happened right under your nose but to slut shame both of us?"
"Slut shaming? Sounds like the perfect description to describe this situation. You know, I think I'm more disappointed in you than him, Wanda. Christ, he'd sleep with anyone. I thought you had values and morals. I knew he didn't. But here you are so what does that say about your morals. It says a lot. You should be so ashamed of yourself. Jumping in bed with the first man you could get away with sleeping with. I mean he's not an Avenger so no conflict of interest. What attracted you? His long hair? His super soldier body? Or was it his totally warped mind? And after you tried to seduce me in Germany. I mean, come on Wanda. We both know you were the one behind that: you and 'accidental' power usage."
He started to say something else and she sat up, clutching the sheet to her with one hand and forming an energy ball with the other. "How fucking dare you! I tried to seduce you? I'm just with him for his super soldier body? He'll sleep with anyone? What the fuck Steve! You say one more word Rogers and you might remain a virgin forever when I rip off your dick."
Hearing hysterical laughter from the other side of the bed, followed by Steve breaking down and laughing too, Wanda groaned and laid down on her stomach. "I hate you both. Steve, you owed me. Bucky, I hope you enjoyed last night, it'll never happen again."
"Hey! I didn't do anything!" Bucky pointed out. "This was all Rogers' idea. I told him It was a bad idea. I thought you might use your powers on him, not threaten his manhood."
"We warned you about her tendency to extract vicious revenge, Barnes. You should have thought about that before letting me do it," Steve replied with an evil look at Bucky, then left the room.
Wanda propped herself up on one arm, and he tried to kiss her. Pushing him away, she jumped up and ran to her bathroom to brush her teeth before returning to the bed. "So, I'm guessing that means he approves of us?"
"I didn't ask for his approval." He grinned and pulled her into his arms. "We're adults. We don't need his approval. So I just told him. He reacted badly at first but as you can see, he's over it. He wants us both to be happy."
Wanda was quiet for a minute before she asked, "And you discussed how you felt about him touching me?"
"No need to, because I doubt it will happen again. This is Steve, after all. He's respectful. Well, except for the whole, what did you call it? Slut shaming?"
"Yes. Now I need to plan my revenge on him again. Gosh, this is going to become a whole big time-consuming thing," she said before letting him pull her underneath him.
"Sorry, I already have other time-consuming things planned for the rest of your life." He trailed his fingers down her face before lowering his lips to hers. After a few kisses, he said, "But can we shower and get dressed first?"
"Let me guess. You're hungry." She shook her head and laughed when he started biting on her neck.
x0x0x
It surprised the others to see them being so casual and open about their relationship today. They shocked Scott and Sam because they hadn't figured it out yet. Natasha hugged Wanda and said, "Now you guys can be all touchy feely and gross with us. Make sure there is a lot of PDA. I like to see Steve squirm."
"Hey! You told me most people are uncomfortable around kissing in public, so obviously I'm not the only one!" Steve replied indignantly. "I'm a little worried, though. Natasha, you might have to give her the no revenge speech again."
"Already Barnes? What did you do?"
"I did nothing. For once it was Steve's fault and not mine." Bucky laughed and added, "He slut shamed her and she threatened to castrate him."
Natasha smacked Steve on the ass, but he caught her hand before she pulled it back. "Don't slut shame women just because you're not a slut."
"Don't disrespect your elders just because you're acting like a child," Steve said. Then, to everyone's shock, he slapped Natasha on the ass, hard. Easy enough to not hurt her, of course, but enough to sound loud.
"So, Bucky, Wanda, let's chat," Clint said as he wrapped his arms around their shoulders and began pushing them out of the kitchen, leaving Natasha to deal with Steve.
Despite all their joking, Wanda and Bucky ended up not being into the PDA much. Usually, they'd hold hands, or he'd put his arm around her. He was old-fashioned. Plus, the need to fade into the background was a hard habit for him to break, and Wanda was still shy about sharing that side of herself with everyone. But for two days they spent more time in their rooms than anywhere else, watching movies and talking in between cuddling and making love. They took a break for a week from the mind control project too. Wanda needed it desperately, but said nothing. Bucky finally realized it because she had a nightmare bad enough that she lit up their room with her energy. When Bucky tried to wake her, she woke up screaming and blew a hole through the wall.
Bucky still withdrew from her at times, dealing with the last memories she'd revealed to him. She could only distract him for short periods of time and it wasn't something they could talk it out. He just had to process it his way. But he loved that she stood by him despite his past. Steve had asked him a few times if something had happened, usually when Wanda wasn't there to distract him from his thoughts. He knew even Steve might have a hard time with him killing kids so he said bad memories.
Halfway into their week off, they got word about Scott and Clint being pardoned if they retire and stay on house arrest. Steve, Natasha, and Sam were flying them back to Maria Hill to take so they could surrender themselves. The others had things they had to take care of with Nick Fury, so Bucky and Wanda were staying at the hotel alone. Wanda tried to be happy for Clint and Scott, but she would miss Clint. And she had grown so fond of Scott. He kept them all laughing despite the cabin fever that they were all experiencing. Plus, he got Wanda out of her head, which helped her a lot.
"You going to be alright without me, kid?" Clint said the night before he was leaving. They were having a going away party and everyone but the super soldiers were super drunk.
"Yeah, you know me. I go with the flow." She smiled.
"No you don't." He chuckled, putting an arm around her. "Just be careful. I know Bucky wouldn't intentionally hurt you. But I still think you are a bit too cavalier about your personal safety when you're messing with his mind. If the Winter Soldier side of him appears, you need to not let your feelings for Barnes influence how you protect yourself."
"I won't. And believe it or not, I am careful when I'm working with him like that." She studied Bucky, talking to Steve. "Clint, he trusts me to help me, and that's what I'm going to do. No matter what."
Clint looked at her with growing concern. "That doesn't sound like someone who is going to put her safety first. That sounds like someone who is putting her boyfriend's mental state before her own life."
"I'm not saying that. I'm saying that there is nothing you can say to warn me away from trying to help him. And he's not just my boyfriend. He's the love of my life. And don't say you wouldn't risk everything for Laura," she replied sharply. "I know you mean well. But calling him my 'boyfriend' makes it sound like a high school crush and not serious. But I love him. And our future depends on me getting rid of the brainwashing. So yes, I will do whatever it takes." Without saying another word, she walked away and to her room.
Clint meant well, but she didn't appreciate the way he handled it. He also didn't seem to understand how stressful this was for her and Bucky. She felt like she was failing, and he probably was losing hope in her. The part that was so horrible was that she would risk it all for him. Of course she wouldn't put herself at risk on purpose, but if she felt like danger was a risk and it couldn't be avoided, she'd do it.
Hearing a knock on the door, she rolled over and got off the bed to open the door, suspecting it was Clint. However, it was Natasha so she let her in.
"I just got an earful about your mindset about helping Bucky," Nat said with a bit of a smirk as she studied her expression.
"I knew he'd tattle on me to someone. I just figured it would be Steve. Has he fussed at Bucky too? I swear Natasha, I cannot keep dealing with these guys treating me like a child. And I don't know if Bucky will tolerate being lectured by them."
"To be fair, he wasn't treating you like a child. He's treating you like a friend who is not thinking straight because she's in love." When Wanda started to argue with her, she rushed to say, "And he's right. How do you think Bucky's mental health would be affected if the Winter Soldier killed you?"
Tears welled up in Wanda's eyes. "I have to fix this. Or we have no chance at a future, Nat."
"You have no future if you die either. So just promise you'll be careful. More careful than you have been because I know you want it even more than before and I don't want you to be careless because of it."
"Okay, I'll be more careful. You can tell Clint that I'll be safe." Wanda lay back on the bed and Natasha climbed over her and lay beside her. "Steve is actually going to let us go into town tomorrow to buy clothes while you guys are gone. I'll so glad I can't keep wearing the same two outfits."
"Yeah, I'm getting tired of looking at the same two outfits on everyone. Its like prison uniforms or something. Steve and Sam don't know it but they're getting some more clothes, too. What are you and Bucky going to get into tomorrow besides shopping?"
"Oh, you know; sex in all the rooms, running around naked, the unusual." They both laughed. "No, seriously I don't know. He says he some surprise for me but I have no idea what it is. It is a little weird to think about being alone in this very huge and disturbing hotel. I won't be willing to run to the kitchen by myself or whatever. I'll drag Bucky with me everywhere."
"And how does that differ from normal?" Natasha laughed. "I'm only half kidding. I'm jealous as hell."
"What do you want her to drag you everywhere?" Bucky said from the adjourning room's doorway. "Am I interrupting?"
"We were talking about you and sex. Of course," Natasha said with a grin. "Sex with her, not me, of course."
Bucky chuckled and lay beside Wanda. "Are you kidding? Steve would kill me before Wanda could."
"Be careful. If he comes in here, he might still kill you for lying in bed with her," Wanda teased.
Suddenly, Natasha started calling out really loudly, "Oh Bucky! Oh Bucky! Right there. Oh, my God! That feels so good! Oh spank me again, baby!"
Wanda started laughing into Bucky's chest while he looked mortified. Finally, Natasha stopped and explained to him, "I bet that Steve's pressing his ear up against the door."
"Okay, so explain to me because I don't get it. He's attracted to you. You're attracted to him. What's the problem? It seems simple to me."
"That's because you and Wanda are both naïve to think that having a relationship in this day and age is simple. It's anything but simple," Natasha replied.
"Simple? I'm in love with a mind controlled, century-old, former assassin, super soldier. When does it get simple?"
Natasha waved her away. "Say Steve and I hook up. He wouldn't want to be friends with benefits. And I'm not ready to marry him."
Bucky propped himself up and asked, "Isn't there a middle ground? Can't you go out on a date or something? And maybe Steve isn't opposed to something less serious. Have you asked?"
"Are you just trying to get Steve laid?" Wanda laughed. "Watch out, you might be throwing yourself on a landmine."
"First, how do I approach this discussion? With my normal bluntness? Because I can't mention certain words around him without him looking like I have called him into the principal's office. I'm willing to just skip the words and jump his bones, but will you be there to comfort him if he wants something more serious than I do and he ends up with a broken heart? Second, why is everyone so invested in me and Steve sleeping together?" Natasha said, waving her hands in the arm for effect. "He and I are good. If we weren't completely on downtime, it wouldn't be so concerning to everyone else."
"So what I'm hearing is that you want to jump his bones, but you're afraid of commitment?" he asked, looking very concerned.
Wanda tilted her head and then smiled. "I should interject here. Thanks to me he was watching morning talk shows this week, including a few episodes of Dr. Phil,"
Before she could answer, there was a knock on the door and Wanda told them to come in. Steve opened the door and looked surprised. Snuggling closer to Bucky, she said, "There's room for you between me and Nat."
"Or, we'll go in my room," Bucky said, jumping up and pulling Wanda after him. He shut the door to Wanda's room. "She is going to kill us."
"It's only a problem if she hits on him and he rejects her. And I can only imagine that happening if she scared the shit out of him. Or he worries she's too drunk to consent. By the way, I'm probably too drunk to consent," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. She kissed his neck a few times, moving up to his ear. "Want to take advantage of me?"
"Oh, I plan to. Once everyone settles down and goes to sleep, I plan to defile you, completely. But I can't help thinking someone will knock on our door any minute now. Either Steve or Natasha. Or it could be your pal Clint to let me know more of his concerns about your attitude towards helping me." He gave her a meaningful look. "Is it true that you said you'd do whatever it takes?"
Wanda pulled away from him and started pacing angrily. "It's one thing to talk to me and then tell Natasha to talk to me. But it's another thing to run and tell you to make sure he really has me supervised." She started to leave and go scream and Clint but Bucky caught her arm.
"He's genuinely concerned. We all are. And if you aren't careful, we have to stop, Wanda. I can't live with the fact I might hurt you." Bringing his hands up to cradle her face, he kissed her tenderly before pulling her closer. "We need to let Steve stay out there with us again. We let it slide too much so we could be alone together, which was dangerous. But that's the past and we don't need to worry about being alone out there anymore. So Steve has to stay with us if we continue."
Wanda resisted the urge to scream. "Fine. I'll behave like a good little girl to make all of you big, strong men happy."
"Sweetheart, you know that's not what this is. At least not from me," he said, kissing her temple.
"I'm going to get another drink." Wanda didn't wait for his response before leaving the room. She wanted to go down and beat Clint up, but knew that wouldn't end well for anyone.
"Hey, Wanda. I thought you went to bed," Sam said when she passed him.
"No, we were just chatting. Everyone else gone to bed?" When he nodded, she grabbed his arm. "Come with me. I hate walking around the hotel by myself."
Sam chuckled. "I won't mind sleeping in a normal hotel tomorrow night. But at the same time, its safe for us here."
"Safe for us except the ghosts or demons."
"Except for those."
x0x0x
They spent the morning saying goodbye to the others and Steve and Clint, walking Bucky through all the various levers and switches for the power board that worked with the generator. It felt weird for them to be completely alone.
They took a shower together before getting dressed. Obviously in a good mood, Bucky held her hand as they left the hotel and kissed the back of it. "I think we should buy something special for dinner tonight. While I love that we have no worries over food supplies, I'm a bit tired of the same thing."
Scrunching her nose, she grinned slightly. "Okay but don't delude yourself into thinking I'm any kind of cook."
"I'm sure we can manage it together. Or we could get something like pizza." He let her hand go and opened her door for her.
"Yes! I love pizza." She leaned over and kissed him. "See? You're not just a pretty face."
x0x0x
Wanda placed a glamor over them so that no one saw what they looked like as projection. She always wanted to be a blonde, so that's the way she went. Bucky told her she was prettier as herself. She changed him a bit too much. It kind of freaked him out. They found a department store that had everything they'd need except food. But no one seemed to notice them at all.
She got some makeup for herself, just in case she wanted to act like a girl. They had already gotten all the toiletries that everyone needed and it thrilled her to not be forced to share Natasha's stuff or using those hotel mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Then they shopped for the clothing Bucky needed. He was so basic in picking them out. So he'd pick out one thing, and she'd pick out something more sexy or cozy. Finally he just let her take over and only objected if he hated it. Like he vetoed the tank tops because he didn't want to show off his metal arm, despite her telling him he looked hot with it, anyway. She picked out tighter jeans for him, so they went back and forth on that. He liked his jeans so loose that his great ass barely showed, but he said they were more comfortable that way. They compromised. But he insisted a couple of his t-shirts and hoodies were bigger than normal. She thought it was because he found out she'd been stealing hoodies from Steve. She'd actually done it in Germany and it was a habit she had in the compound because Steve's hoodies were so big and comfortable. She also got him some black boxer briefs.
It kept freaking Bucky out when he'd try something on and go to look in the mirror and see the glamor Wanda had put over him. He even complained about being a goofy-looking guy with freckles, but she thought it was better for him to look like a normal guy. Besides, she saw his actual face.
"This would look good on you," Bucky suggested. He was 'helping' Wanda pick out some clothes and so far, all of his choices were ridiculously old fashion or extremely short and skimpy. He seemed conflicted about how he wanted her to dress. Wanda felt like it might be a case of the old saying, 'a lady in the parlor, a cook in the kitchen, and a whore in the bedroom'. One out of three wasn't be too bad.
"I don't really like to walk around in old lady clothes." She handed him a dress he had given her. "Or like I'm a prostitute. I'm not even sure if this is a mini-skirt or a tube top." She flung it at him with a big smile.
Bucky disappeared for a little bit while she was changing clothes but since she didn't here sirens or screams, she assumed everything was fine.
Wanda got shorts, leggings, jeans, tank tops, t-shirts, a hoodie, and one mini-skirt for herself. Bucky convinced her to try on one or two dresses. It was totally impractical for her to get a dress at all, but she just let herself be a girl this one time. 'Mom' and 'Dad' didn't have to know about it. The dress was actually really simple and so much longer than she would normally wear. Very retro looking, it made her look almost innocent, white with black polka-dots and a red belt at her waist and a modest v-neck with buttons down the front past her waist. The top wasn't tight, but it tapered so it was tight at the waist and the skirt kind of flared, like it should have a crinoline skirt under it. She peeked out of the dressing room and signaled Bucky to come to the door.
"Does it look okay?" she asked, nervous because this wasn't her style at all. She didn't understand why she was having this reaction to a damn dress.
Bucky stared at her for what seemed like a long time before he nodded. Eventually, he said in a gentle voice, "You are beautiful. No, you're stunning." Then he pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it, making Wanda blush. He looked at her in a way that just made her heart beat faster. If it was any other guy, she would have suspected he was just conning her or something.
As she changed out of the dress, Wanda was mentally kicking herself. She was being such an idiot. Their whole lives were up in the air and she's in love with a hundred-year-old former mind-controlled assassin and now she's getting mushy over a damn dress. This is the reason everyone still thought of her as a kid. She lived in a fantasy world. She quickly tried the other dress on. It was more sexy, a clingy black dress with a slit that went high on her leg. It looked like something Natasha would wear, so Wanda thought it was sexier than the white. But she realized Bucky had a different version of sexy than modern males.
When she came out of the dressing room, a couple of women were shopping close to Bucky and he looked very nervous. Wanda grabbed his hand and led him away. "Don't worry. They won't see what you actually look like. To them, you're pretty plain."
"I don't care about being good looking. I just don't want to look like I'm wanted in a dozen countries or more." He chuckled under his breath.
Wanda hesitated because she had to get panties, another bra, and a nightshirt. She wasn't sure how Bucky would react to the Intimates Department. Oh well, he's going to have to get used to things like this and he wasn't as silly as Steve about things like this. At first, he started looking through the bras and examining the hooks. She almost died laughing when she realized he was attempting to figure out how the different hooks worked. Watching him for a few moments, she finally grabbed it out of his hands before she had to buy a ripped bra. "What are you doing?" she hissed under her breath.
"Practicing?" he said with his mischievous smile that she imagined was more nineteen forties Bucky Barnes than any time ever.
"Don't practice on bras in stores that will force us to pay if you tear them." She was grabbing thongs and boy shorts off the rack in her size.
Bucky pulled out a thong and looked baffled. "What is the point of wearing anything if its… I don't even know which one is the front and which is the back."
"Then maybe you shouldn't wear it." Wanda bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. She had never shopped with a man other than her brother before, but she couldn't imagine most men would act like this. He acted like he was in a toy store as he continued to go through the racks while she shopped. When Wanda walked to the night shirts, Bucky moved on to the nightgowns. "Bucky, I don't want a nightgown." He came over with a pair of flannel PJs and explained they would cover everything so she could be around Sam and Steve without exposing her legs, like normal. Rolling her eyes, she threw two regular nightshirts into the cart and removed the PJs. Then he discovered the sexy stuff, and after she vetoed the crotchless panties, she had to give in on a short silk nightie and a black lace bustier just to get him to leave. When he wasn't looking, she threw in a skimpy and short white lace camisole and boy-shorts set to go with the white dress.
After paying for the clothes, they put them in the SUV. Bucky took her hand as they walked to the large grocery store. She had to rein him in a few times inside the store. He had almost a child-like glee about the amount of variety. Apparently in both Brooklyn in the forties and Romania the last two years, they had markets and sidewalk vendors but nothing like this. Wanda mostly just let him do what he wanted. She figured he'd been forced to do what others ordered for long enough. She wouldn't try to dictate his behavior. After all, he was an adult. He was used to being on the run so he was naturally cautious. She just enjoyed his good mood.
Their shopping all done, they loaded everything up and as soon as they left the parking lot, Wanda removed the glamor. She put on the radio and found a station that played easy listening since Bucky probably wouldn't be able to handle her music. They stopped at a park on the way back because it was actually sunny despite being so cold. No one was there so she didn't bother with the glamor. It was so nice to act like anormal couple.
On the way home, Bucky saw a small dog running in the road and slammed on the brakes. A car drove on the other side of the road and, without thinking, Wanda threw her hands up and stopped the car before it hit the dog. She had a delayed reaction to the realization of what she had done. Bucky looked at her in disbelief.
"Fuck!" she groaned, knowing that the other car would have seen the cloud of red energy that hit their car. Jumping out of the SUV, she ran over to the other car, pretending she didn't do anything. "Are you okay? I've never seen anyone stop so suddenly. You saved that dog's life."
It was a young guy, close to her age, and he started rambling off in a foreign language. She kept touching his arm because Natasha told her once to distract men was easy, just touch them a lot while they are talking. Getting out of the car the man continued his tirade, but his voice was escalating so obviously the touching wasn't working. Bucky got out of the SUV quietly with an intimidating stance, but she waved him back. Stepping back to look both directions, Wanda grabbed the guy and flung a little magic in his direction.
Leading him back to the car, Wanda explained as she opened the door, "You hit a deer, which is why you have the damage to your car. You never saw me, the dog, or our car. In fact, you hit the deer because you weren't paying attention. Do you remember what happened?"
"I hit a deer," he answered his face a mask of confusion. He said it in English and she wondered if he even really spoke English. Bucky walked up behind her and said a few things, she assumed in Bulgarian or Romani, before leading her back to the SUV.
"I'm sorry," she said, so frustrated with herself. "Please don't tell the others or I'll never be allowed to leave the hotel again."
Bucky drove a minute or so before turning off the road to a dead-end street. He shut off the engine and glanced her way. "First of all, they cannot ground you to the hotel. You are an adult. You give them too much power, babe. It was a mistake, Wanda, nothing more. You're the only one who has to deal with a power that can cause such destruction from a distance."
Biting her lip, Wanda looked at him for a minute. "Are you ever going to hold me accountable when I fuck up, or are you going to be this sweet every time?"
Bucky reached out and grabbed her by the back of her neck. He lightly ran his thumb across her bottom lip before he leaned in to kiss her. Wanda felt that flutter in her stomach. His kisses were sweet, but so erotic. No man had ever made her feel this way.
"I don't need to hold you accountable. You always take responsibility and beat yourself up about it, so why should I pile on? So stop picking on my girl or you'll have to deal with me."
She smiled and said, "But I love dealing with you." Pulling her into his lap, they took time to make out like teenagers before they returned to the hotel.