𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒.

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ This is new for me.⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⎡#Marvel · #RedSoldier⎦

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

—𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙪𝙥, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝟭𝟵𝟰𝟯.

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⎡ —— ✪ ——⎦

Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes. Post-Endgame. Pre-TFATWS. Pre-planned ship.

[୭̥⋆*｡ 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵. @AGENTSEVIER]

⠀
⠀⠀⠀ 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 && 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑙
⠀⠀⠀ 𝑜𝑓 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘤𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳.
⠀⠀⠀ 𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟/𝑠𝑙. 𝟸𝟷+, 𝑚𝑑𝑛𝑖. 𝘮𝑠/𝑚𝘷 ♡+↺ ⠀
⠀

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“Man of many talents, didn’t you know?”

Flashes a grin, completely unbothered by the attention that had turned their way from others walking along the pavement.

“I’m just full of surprises.”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

Laughter spilled out in bright, musical ribbons as I clutched my stomach, earning a few curious looks from the bystanders.

“I didn’t know ya were writin’ a play ‘bout bein’… basically yerself. Ya forgot ta mention tha grumpiness. Kinda an important part o’ tha character.”

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“It’d be appreciated.”

Clears his throat — but the tell-tale signs of a grin waiting to form are all there.

“Then I can sit in the park all day and feed the pidgeons and say to passers by ‘back in my day’…”

Snickering.

“It writes itself.”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

I snorted, amusement coloring my laugh.

"Right. I'm sure yer hips an' legs can't stand tha test o' time," I quipped.

"I'll buy ya a cane fer yer birthday tomorrow, how 'bout that, Centennial Man?"

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

He paused for a moment, feigning hard thought before a long ‘tsk’ sound emitted from him.

“Hard pass on walking to Brooklyn. You’re gonna have to lead the way.”

Hums, scratching his jaw.

“I am a senior citizen, y’know. I need help.”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

"There's nothin' like a cheesy crust pizza."

A bright smile returned to my lips.

"I do. Unless ya wanna walk me all tha way ta Brooklyn."

I nudged him playfully with my shoulder, laughing.

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“It’s like you read my mind.”

His smirk only gets wider, head turning to watch her travel around him.

“Know a place?”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

Look at him being a mischievous, chaos gremlin like me. I knew he was my bestie for a reason.

Mirroring his smirk as I skipped around him.

"Double pepperoni wit' extra cheese an' stuffed crust?" Happy clown grin. "Unless ya want classic." Sad, sad clown pout.

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“Has to be pepperoni.”

Is he smirking? He might be smirking. Thank you to the poor soul whose wallet it is.

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

"Wit' someone's wallet. Yup." Waving said object proudly. "Ya choose tha flavor?"

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“Your treat?”

Wiggling eyebrows in interest.

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

Beaming. "Wanna come get pizza wit' me, Bucks?"

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

Prodding her shoulder repetitively.

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

Flicking @Vibraniumarmed's ear.

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“Needed somewhere to lay low. Too many things I’m supposed to be attending that I do not want to attend.”

There’s not a single moment of hesitation in pulling the blanket right over his face.

“Knew I could hide here. And now — super hidden.”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

"What's up wit' tha pity party today?"

Even though I was teasing, I draped a blanket over him.

"Ya sure yer neck can take it?"

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“So bad.”

The table’s fine. The couch is too soft to wallow in self-pity on. He’s lying there, eyes closed, arms folded.

“Gonna have to live here.”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

Is he a fish? Is he breathing? Is my coffee table more comfortable than my couch? SHOULD I BE OFFENDED?

Poking his side with the tip of my bat.

"That bad, huh?"

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

Flops across @In_The_Twilight’s coffee table.

He won’t be moving for some time. Not even an Avengers-level threat could move him.

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“Technically —”

Still requiring help. Send the help!!

“— two butts here. One belongs to you, one to me.”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

"NO BUTS! NONE!"

Squishing squishily.

(See? This is what happens when he forgets about me. I WILL NOT BE IGNORED!)

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“Okay, okay! But—!!!”

Help.

Heeeeelp.

He’s being squished!

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

"I'm gonna hide in yer luggage, in yer closet, in yer drawer if I hafta! Busy. Pfft! Ya ain't hidin' from me. Told ya. Glued ta me, buddy."

Cue the super, mega squishing squishy squish to his cheeks.

(Basically...)

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“Don’t worry.”

He repeated himself, bumping his arm softly against hers.

“I’m going to be there. Slacks and a button down and all.”

[𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐘. @demuretouch]

"Slacks and a button down? If that's
okay? But you don't need a tie or a coat or anything like that. I promise."

She glances down.

"But you know, only if you're not busy. If you are, please don't worry about it."

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“I’m a busy guy.”

Less busy and more of a forgetful one, really. And is terrible at keeping up on checking in.

“I am to be missed.”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

Snickering.

"I missed ya. An' since ya didn't drop by, I hadda drop by tha mountain."

Sticking out my tongue at him.

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

Cue him laughing.

“Alright — alright.”

He reaches to peel her hands away from his face, holding her wrists.

“I am the droid you’re looking for. Did you want something?”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

Now... Now he's getting both of his cheeks SQUISHED.

"Lies! Lies! Lies! Yer pants will get on fire, if I don't bring out the flamethrower first."

Squinting at him.

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“Exact replica.”

Tuts, heaving out a long sigh.

“Seen it happen in a lot of movies. I was sent to replace him. Shame. He wasn’t too bad.”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

Poking his other cheek just to be a pain in his butt.

"It certainly looks ( a lot ) like him."

Giving him the most adorable grin in history.

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

Stares so hard at her.

“This is not the droid you’re looking for.”

[Hᴀʀʟs «Qᴜɪɴɴʏᴡɪsᴇ» ⦁ (Seen BND) @In_The_Twilight]

Poking @Vibraniumarmed's cheek incessantly until he pays attention to me.

I could've texted, but I prefer this form of communication.

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

“You want to take me with you?”

He turned his attention to her, briefly, smiling to himself.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do. I’ll be there.”

That was a step forward, wasn’t it? Going to a work party with her?

“Is there a dress code, or —?”

[𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐘. @demuretouch]

"I know Mrs. Chen misses having you to help carry her groceries up."

Oh, come on. Say something better than that.

"I, uh. . . There's. . . a dinner party at work in a couple of weeks, and we're meant to bring someone. I know you're probably busy, but it's free food, if you —

[𝐁𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. @Vibraniumarmed]

𝘖𝘶𝘤𝘩.

“That’s fair.”

He shrugged to himself, fully in agreement.

“I’m working on it. Kinda miss being home.”

[𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐘. @demuretouch]

"I'm. . . getting used to it."

Oh. She regretted the words as soon as she said them.

"You're a busy guy, you know?"