Based on It Ain't Me Babe by Bob Dylan.

"Just tell them Y/N," Steve said in a blunt tone.

Since Steve had been thawed, you had been there to help him adapt to the 21st Century, and in return a true friendship blossomed. Although now he had good control over the differences from before the ice and after, he still needed a friend, and you needed one too.

Even after Bucky was found and saved, you thought that he would instantly take his role back as best friends with the super solider but Steve somehow had room in his heart for the both of you.

In the development of your friendship, Steve grew into your brother and confidant, and you trusted him with everything, even when there wasn't a special interest or knowledge in the topic from him. That is how you happened upon asking him how to tell the man you were in love with that you loved him.

It was a windy and rainy day, and far from anything remotely pleasant, but you were sat in the living room of the house you had been sharing with Steve since he thawed and more recently Bucky as well.

"It's not that simple Steve. And you know that is true. Why didn't you just tell Peggy how you felt? You clearly loved her but never told her," you said in a huff.

His face dropped, giving you a judging stare.

"Don't start, Y/N."

"You can't blame me Steve. I had to listen to every moment of your time together and take you to visit her. She is a lovely woman and I have nothing against her but it is only a fair trade that you listen to my love problems," you pouted.

He softened his expression as you could see your desperation. He understood the pain of being in love but not doing anything about it, he was the self-proclaimed face of waiting too long.

"Okay. So who is this lucky guy then?" He asked moving the conversation back to your interest.

"No one you know," you lied.

A laugh burst from the blond man's lips.

"So he doesn't happen to have a metal arm?" He grinned.

Your eyes became wide as your jaw clenched. Were you really that obvious? If Steve knew did that mean Bucky knew? You instantly questioned whether he hated you, as if he knew and liked you, he'd just tell you right?

"No. Of course not. Steve you're completely crazy," You laughed awkwardly.

He gave you a knowing smile.

"Don't worry Y/N. He likes you too, you just need to tell him because he wouldn't listen to me when I said you reciprocated his feelings."

You made a fist and let it collide with his shoulder as hard as you could, even though you knew it wouldn't hurt him really.

"Steven Grant Rogers, you do not tell your friend that your other friend likes them. That goes completely against friend code," you frowned.

"It's not like he listened to me. He thought I was joking," he explained.

"How am I supposed to tell him Steve? What if you got the wrong end of the stick and he doesn't like me? I can't just tell him. I have too much to say and I know I'm going to screw up. This won't end well," you sighed holding your head in your hands.

He patted your back with probably a little too much force leading your to glare at him through your slatted fingers.

"Practice with me."

You raised your head from your hands, slightly confused as to what was occurring.

"Pardon?"

"Pretend I'm Bucky. Tell me everything you want to tell him, try and stay coherent and you can think it through. If you screw up it doesn't matter, and nevertheless it'll simply be practice for you for when you tell him and it might give you confidence in that you know what to say to him," he smiled encouragingly.

"Don't you think that'll be a bit weird? Me confessing my undying love to you, pretending you're your best friend?" You asked raising an eyebrow.

"It's fine Y/N/N. I want you two to be happy and I shall say a lovely speech at your wedding," he grinned.

"Don't make me hit you again."

He smiled softly at you before telling you to start when you were ready. It still felt a little weird, but you chewed on your lower lip before letting out a deep sigh getting ready to speak.

"Even though I have known you for a matter of months, I basically knew you for years prior. You are a hero even if some people see you as the villain. You were manipulated and twisted but even through that your heart stayed pure and innocent. No matter what you have stayed a good man that Steve forever looked up to, and it is admirable that someone can see you in such a spotlight without distorting the truth. I know that you think you are broken and torn apart, but you have fought everything that is attacking you and I can't help but love you. You are brave and smart, and a perfect gentlemen. Anyone you are ever with will be the luckiest human to ever walk the earth and I am more than grateful to simply be your friend. You are all I can think about, and no matter how cheesy or cliché that is, I love you."

Your words were from the heart. Even though you were facing Steve all you could picture was Bucky, but when you turned to the noise behind you, you know longer had to picture him in your head as you could see his distraught face.

It wasn't clear how long he had been stood there but his face said everything. Within seconds of your eyes meeting, it was simply a fleeting moment before he fled from the room and out of the house.

You turned to Steve who looked equally as confused. Pouncing to your feet you followed Bucky out of your home into the impending storm.

"Bucky," you called out.

The brunette turned to you with a mixture of sadness and anger on his face.

"Look I-"

He cut you off.

"I'm happy for you," he stated.

"Bucky-"

"Let me speak," he said with a bitter voice.

You froze.

The rain beat against your face and hair as your breathing became unsteady. You weren't quite sure whether it was due to the icy wind and water layering your skin, or it was the nerves of Bucky actually hearing the truth, even if you weren't facing him at all.

"I love you Y/N. Plain and simple. I have since we first met. You were there for Steve and I when we had no one else, and I can't thank you enough for you protecting and caring for Steve when I couldn't. In all of the darkness, you were the light. But I can't be the person you want, need or deserve. You need someone who is strong, who can't be manipulated and lost control. You need someone who knows what they are doing and can control themselves, and I can't. I'm a weak man, I can't do anything to change that because I am forever under their control whether I want to be or not. I want to protect you. I want to make sure you never have to face the darkness alone, but I know that cannot be me. You need a reliable man, who knows they can care for you and be there for you, but I can't. I'm dangerous and unpredictable.

"I'm only going to cause you pain and strife and you deserve a love that they'd write about, a love that would prove that you are the princess of every guy's dreams. Only a man that can lie down with you at night and be there to see your beautiful face in the morning without having their past construe their idea of the truth or confuse them into violence and fear deserves you. You are pure perfection and no matter what you think or say, I can never see you as anything different. You shouldn't have to have a villain hold you and console you. You shouldn't have a monster pretend they are a prince, giving you flowers and saving you from anything you fear. I can't be there for the simple acts of opening the door or kissing your hand. I can't be the man you need. But I love you Y/N.

"Although that love is the truest and purest thing I can ever know, I know that my heart is like stone and I cannot have a normal love. I am grateful for your friendship. And although it pains me, I just want you to be happy. If that means you and Steve are together, so be it. You deserve happiness and I cannot give you that, but I needed you to know how I felt, even if this ruins our friendship."

His face was covered in pain and woe, whilst you could only imagine yours reflected your confusion and shock.

What were you supposed to say to that? He loved you. It was true. But his belief was so falsely construed you felt confused as to he could ever think of that.

This was the cheesy movie moment you could have only dreamed of. Stormy weather and a profession of love was a cliché movie ploy, but it couldn't make you happier that it occurred.

Before you could say anything you heard damp footsteps plodding behind you. Steve approached the pair of you.

"Are you okay?" Steve asked, smiling softly, placing a hand onto your shoulder in a comforting manner.

With a sudden flash of metal flying through the air, Steve was knocked away from you, making him stumble slightly. Bucky had fury on his face as he retracted his fist from his best friends face.

"What the hell?" You shouted, peeling your fringe from your face so you could look at the anger stricken man.

"Steve, I told you how I felt and of course you had to get there first. You said you didn't even like her like that," Bucky said in a near growl.

You raised an eyebrow at the brunette.

"What is going on?" You huffed, "Why the heck did you hit him, you idiot?"

"Of course you defend him," the bitter tone of Bucky spoke.

"I'd defend you, if Steve punched you for no good reason. He's my friend, of course I am defending him," you frowned.

"Well you're more than friends," he spat.

Your arms crossed over your chest as you narrowed your eyes at the man stood in front of you. Your vision was obscured by the rain and the strands of hair that clung to your face, and you presumed that Bucky had a similar predicament.

"Seriously what's got this into your head? Steve and I are friends. Nothing more. Nothing less. Granted there was that drunken night that Tony claims I attempted to make out with him, but we did our best to get over it with minimal teasing from Stark," you explained.

"I heard you tell Steve that you love him Y/N. You don't have to treat me like a child," Bucky shouted.

"If you let me bloody talk earlier you'd have learnt that I told Steve I love him because he was pretending to be you. I've wanted to tell you I love you for the longest time, but Steve was helping me practice what to say. And then you gave me your speech. And for heaven's sake Buck, you are everything I could ever want in a man. Granted if you asked me this before SHIELD I'd have thought you were pulling a cruel joke suggesting it, but I would never change a thing about you because even though you have gone through absolute shit, you've become so strong, you wouldn't be you," you confessed attempting to supress any tears that were fighting to appear.

"You can't love me. I can't be there for you. I can't be there when you need me. Steve can do that for you," he said in a near whisper.

You took a step closer to Bucky, pressing one of you cold hands to his soaked cheek.

"Don't be a complete idiot Barnes. If you don't want a relationship, I won't false you. All I want is for you to be happy. But I don't love Steve. Not like that. So either you kiss me you fool and make my cliché heart flutter or you walk away and we can be friends, we can be strangers, it's completely up to you. But you know what I want you to do."

He hesitated, resting his hand over yours, gripping your fingers lightly. His eyes searched yours for any doubt or change of heart, but nothing of the sort was the case. Bucky brushed the damp curls from your face before leaning in to press your cold lips to his. Although it was a simple and sweet kiss, the love and care in it showed you that it was going to be true.

As you pulled away the moment was ruined by the light chuckle from the blond that you both had completely forgotten was stood beside you.

"And to the bride and groom. Both of them hit me on the day the confessed their love and yet I'm still here as the best man and what Y/N likes to claim as the dude of honour," Steve chuckled pretending to raise a glass.

You rolled your eyes at him as you leaned into Bucky's arms. It may have been a messy start but you could only hope this was the beginning of a bright and happy future.

~*~

Written by Charlotte.