BRUNO AND ELLJE AHHHHHSHSHSUWIWISIAIQI
I hatehatehatehatehate this chap tho, BEAR WITH ME. this is cringe I don't know how to write lovers bro

Next chap will get into her issues! More sad after all this happy 😊

MORNING TIME AND THE SHINED
brightly through the windows of the Barnes residence, casting a warm glow across the living room. Ellie Barnes was bustling around, making sure everything was perfect for her friends' visit. She had invited Kamala and Bruno over for the day, more like, Kamala invited them to Ellie's house.

Bucky couldn't help but be proud of how well Ellie was adjusting and making new friends. However, a small part of him remained ever the protective father.

The doorbell rang. Ellie hurried to the door and opened it to find Bruno standing there, holding a small bag.

"Hey, Ellie," Bruno greeted with a smile.

Ellie returned the smile, Ellie noticed someone missing. "Where's Kamala?"

Bruno's face fell slightly. "She can't make it, she's sick, she told me to go without her."

"Well I hope she feels better, wanna come in?"

"Absolutely," Bruno said, stepping inside. "I brought some snacks and a couple of new games we can try."

Ellie led Bruno into the living room, where they settled on the couch. She noticed her dad peeking around the corner, a concerned look on his face.

"Dad, this is Bruno," Ellie called out, waving her father over. "Bruno, this is my dad, Bucky."

Bucky walked over, his protective instincts kicking in as he sized up the boy sitting next to his daughter. "Nice to meet you, Bruno," he said, extending a hand.

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Barnes," Bruno replied, shaking Bucky's hand with a firm grip.

Bucky nodded, satisfied for now. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything," he said, giving Ellie a reassuring smile before heading back.

As soon as Bucky was out of earshot, Bruno turned to Ellie with a grin. "Your dad seems cool. Intense, but cool."

Ellie laughed softly. "Yeah, he's a bit overprotective, but he means well."

They spent the next hour playing board games and chatting, the initial awkwardness of Kamala's absence slowly melting away. Ellie found herself laughing more than she expected, and Bruno's easygoing nature made the time fly by.

At one point, as they were setting up a new game, Bucky walked in to check on them. "You two doing okay in here?" he asked, trying to sound casual but failing to hide his concern.

"We're good, Dad," Ellie replied with a smile. "Thanks for checking."

Bucky nodded and lingered for a moment before heading back to the kitchen. Ellie could feel Bruno's eyes on her, and when she looked up, she saw a warm, appreciative look on his face.

"I didn't know your dad was the winter solider." Bruno said softly.

"He's not anymore," Ellie said. "He's just plain Bucky Barnes now."

As the afternoon went on, they decided to take a break from games and watch a movie. They settled on an action-comedy and made themselves comfortable on the couch. As the movie played, Ellie felt a growing sense of ease and happiness. She glanced at Bruno and noticed how his eyes lit up during the funny scenes, and how he leaned in slightly during the intense moments.

Halfway through the movie, Bucky popped his head in again, making sure everything was alright, but it all honesty, to make sure they weren't cuddling, or worse. "Need anything? More snacks, drinks?"

"We're good, Dad," Ellie said, giving him a reassuring smile. "Just enjoying the movie."

Bucky nodded, his eyes lingering on Bruno for a moment longer before he left. Ellie rolled her eyes affectionately. "He's probably going to check on us every five minutes," she said, laughing softly.

Bruno chuckled. "I don't mind. I understand to be fair."

As the movie continued, Ellie felt herself getting more comfortable around Bruno. At one point, their hands accidentally brushed while reaching for the same bowl of popcorn. Ellie felt a jolt of electricity at the touch and quickly pulled her hand away, blushing.

"Sorry," she mumbled, glancing at Bruno.

"No problem," Bruno said, his own cheeks a bit pink. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out and gently taking her hand in his. "Is this okay?"

Ellie looked up at him, her heart pounding. "Yeah, it's okay."

They sat like that for the rest of the movie, holding hands and sharing a comfortable silence. Ellie couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment and warmth that she hadn't felt in a long time.

When the movie ended, they reluctantly let go of each other's hands and started cleaning up the living room. Bucky came in one last time, taking in the scene with a critical eye. He noticed the closeness between Ellie and Bruno but decided not to say anything. Instead, he simply offered a small smile.

"You two have fun?" Bucky asked, his tone light.

"Yeah, we did," Ellie replied, giving her dad a grateful look. "Thanks for letting us hang out."

"Anytime, kiddo," Bucky said, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Bruno gathered his things, ready to head home. "Thanks for having me over, Mr. Barnes," he said politely.

"You're welcome, kid," Bucky replied, still watching him closely. "Take care."

Ellie walked Bruno to the door, feeling a mix of emotions. She didn't want the day to end but knew they would see each other soon enough. "Thanks for coming over, Bruno. I had a great time."

"Me too, Ellie," Bruno said, his smile warm and genuine. "We can hang out again soon?"

"Definitely," Ellie said, giving him a quick hug.

Ellie closed the front door after saying goodbye to Bruno, her cheeks still warm from the hug they'd shared. She turned around to find Bucky standing there, arms crossed, with a knowing smirk on his face.

"So," Bucky began, not wasting any time, "you like Bruno, huh?"

Ellie's eyes widened. "What? No, Dad! It's not like that," she stammered, trying to keep her composure.

Bucky raised an eyebrow, the smirk growing wider. "Really? Because from where I was standing, it looked a lot like that."

Ellie groaned, walking past him and flopping onto the couch. "Dad, we're just friends. Seriously."

"Just friends who hold hands during movies?" Bucky teased, following her and sitting down on the armrest of the couch. How the hell did he even see that? "And hug goodbye like it's the end of the world?"

"Dad!" Ellie protested, grabbing a pillow and covering her face with it. "You're so embarrassing."

Bucky laughed, reaching over to ruffle her hair. "Come on, kiddo, you know I'm just messing with you. But seriously, he seems like a nice boy. And he clearly likes you."

Ellie peeked out from behind the pillow, her cheeks still flushed. "You think so?"

"Oh, definitely," Bucky said, nodding sagely. "I've been around long enough to know when a guy likes a girl. He couldn't stop looking at you the whole time he was here."

Ellie couldn't help but smile a little, feeling a flutter in her stomach. "I guess he is kinda cute," she admitted quietly.

"Aha! So you do like him!" Bucky exclaimed triumphantly, pointing a finger at her.

Ellie threw the pillow at him, laughing despite herself. "I never said that!"

"Yes, you did," Bucky countered, catching the pillow and tossing it back at her. "You just admitted it."

"You're impossible," Ellie said, rolling her eyes but still smiling.

"Hey, it's my job as your dad to embarrass you and tease you about your crushes," Bucky said with a grin. "But seriously, Ellie, if you like Bruno, that's okay. You're allowed to have feelings, you know."

"I know," Ellie said softly, hugging the pillow to her chest. "It's just...weird, I guess. I've never liked anyone like this before, plus I know him, but barely."

Bucky's expression softened, and he moved to sit next to her on the couch. "It's normal to feel that way. Crushes can be confusing and exciting and terrifying all at once. But if Bruno makes you happy, then that's what matters."

Ellie leaned her head on her dad's shoulder, feeling comforted by his presence. "Yeah, I suppose."

"Well, I try," Bucky said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Just remember, no matter what, I'm here for you. And y'know, Bruno hurts you, I guess I go full protective dad on him."

Ellie laughed, picturing her dad going into full protective mode. "I don't think you need to worry about that. Bruno's a good guy."

"Anytime, kiddo," Bucky said, kissing the top of her head. "Now, how about we order some pizza and watch a movie? Just the two of us."

"That sounds perfect," Ellie said, smiling widely. "But no more teasing about Bruno, okay?"

"I'll try my best," Bucky said with a wink, pulling out his phone to place the order. "But I can't make any promises."

Ellie shook her head, laughing. "You're impossible."

ELLIE BARNES NAVIGATED through the sea of classmates, her backpack slung over one shoulder and a slight bounce in her step. The past weekend had been a whirlwind, and she couldn't stop thinking about the time she'd spent with Bruno.

As she rounded the corner to her locker, she spotted Bruno waiting for her, leaning casually against the lockers. He looked up and smiled when he saw her, his heart doing a little flip. He had been working up the courage to talk to her all morning, and now was his chance.

"Hey, Ellie," Bruno greeted, pushing off the lockers and walking over to her.

"Hey, Bruno," Ellie replied, returning his smile as she opened her locker. "What's up?"

Bruno shifted nervously on his feet, scratching the back of his neck. "Oh, not much. Just, you know, thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Ellie asked, glancing at him curiously as she put her books away.

"Well, um," Bruno began, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "I was wondering if, maybe, you'd like to... I don't know, go out sometime?"

Ellie paused, her hand hovering over her locker door. She turned to look at Bruno, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "You mean, like a date?"

"Yeah, a date," Bruno confirmed, his cheeks turning pink. "I know we haven't known each other for that long, and it's totally okay if you say no. I just thought maybe we could get to know each other better outside of school and all that."

Ellie smiled, feeling a warm flutter in her chest. "Bruno, are you asking me out?"

Bruno nodded, a nervous grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, I guess I am. I know-I like barley know you, and you can say no, this is a bit weird, I get it, but I mean, we already have a lot of fun hanging out, right? So why not see where things go?"

Ellie closed her locker and leaned against it, facing Bruno fully. "That's really sweet, Bruno. I'd love to go on a date with you."

"Really?" Bruno's eyes widened with excitement and relief. "That's awesome! I was so nervous you'd say no."

Ellie laughed softly. "We'll do something you like. Maybe go to that new arcade in town? Or we could watch a movie? Or, if you have any other ideas, I'm all ears."

"The arcade sounds like a lot of fun," Ellie said, her smile widening. "I haven't been to one before, not since I was like five."

"How about this Saturday? We could meet up in the afternoon, grab some food, and then head to the arcade."

"Saturday sounds great," Ellie agreed. "I'm looking forward to it."

Bruno's grin was so wide it looked like it might split his face. "Awesome. I'll text you the details later."

"Sounds like a plan," Ellie said, feeling a happy flutter in her stomach.

The warning bell for the next class rang, and they both realized they needed to get moving. As they started to part ways, Bruno turned back to Ellie, walking backwards. "And Ellie?"

"Yeah?" she called after him.

"I'm really glad you said yes," he said, giving her a thumbs-up before hurrying off to his next class.

Ellie watched him go, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a while. She couldn't wait for Saturday, and as she headed to her class, she couldn't help but think about how unexpectedly wonderful the past few days had been.

BUCKY OPENED the door to find Bruno standing there, looking slightly nervous but smiling politely. "Hi, Mr. Barnes. I'm here to pick up Ellie."

Bucky gave Bruno a once-over, noting the effort he had put into his appearance. "Come on in, Bruno. Ellie will be down in a minute."

Bruno stepped inside, and Bucky closed the door behind him. "So, you and Ellie are heading to the arcade tonight, huh?"

Bruno nodded. "Yes, sir. I thought it would be a fun place for our first date."

Bucky nodded approvingly. "Good choice."

"Come sit." Bruno straightened up, looking attentive.

Bucky's expression softened, but his tone remained firm. "Couple of rules, kid."

"Oh yeah...for sure."

"No kissing, that's gross, you guys are fourteen. Treat her with respect, and make sure she doesn't stay out past nine."

Bruno nodded earnestly. "I understand, sir."

Bucky's stern expression softened into a smile. "I'm sure you do, Bruno. I've heard good things about you from Ellie."

"She talks about me?" Bruno said, a smile reaching his face.

"Oh, yeah, a bunch," Bucky said with a smirk.

Just then, Ellie appeared at the top of the stairs, her smile bright and radiant. "Hi, Bruno."

Bruno's eyes lit up when he saw her. "Hi, Ellie. You look amazing."

Ellie blushed slightly and descended the stairs, meeting Bruno at the bottom. "Thanks. You look great too."

Bucky watched the exchange, feeling a swell of pride and a touch of protectiveness. "Alright, you two. Have fun tonight."

"Thanks, Dad," Ellie said, giving him a quick hug.

As they headed out the door, Bucky called after them, "Remember, be home by nine!"

Ellie turned back and nodded. "Got it, Dad!"

Bucky stood at the door, watching them walk down the driveway. As they reached the street, Ellie glanced back and waved, and Bucky waved back, a smile on his face.

"Have fun, kiddo," he murmured to himself, feeling a mix of pride and nostalgia as he watched his daughter head off on her first date.

The arcade was a nostalgic mix of flashing lights, classic game sounds, and the constant chatter of excited kids and teens. As they stepped inside, the vibrant atmosphere enveloped them.

"Wow, I haven't been to an arcade in forever," Ellie said, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Me neither," Bruno admitted. "Where do you want to start?"

Bruno pointed to the air hockey machines. "How about there? I'm crazy good at air hockey"

Ellie laughed. "Oh, it's on."

Ellie won most of those games of course.

"You've got some skills, Barnes, but I think I definitely already beat you." Bruno teased.

Ellie put on a mock-serious face. "Don't count me out just yet. I'm just warming up."

After a few more rounds and a lot of playful banter, Ellie emerged victorious. "Winner gets to pick the next game," she declared triumphantly.

Bruno bowed dramatically. "As you wish, my lady."

Ellie scanned the room and spotted the dance machine. "Dance Dance Revolution?"

Bruno's eyes widened. "Oh, you're evil. I suck at that game."

Ellie laughed. "Come on, it'll be fun! I promise I won't laugh... too much."

They took their places on the dance pads, selecting a moderately difficult song. As the music started, Ellie moved with surprising grace, hitting the arrows with precision. Bruno, on the other hand, was more enthusiastic than skilled, but his exaggerated movements and funny expressions made Ellie laugh so hard she nearly missed a step herself.

"You weren't kidding, you do suck." she said, still giggling.

"Hey, I'm giving it my best shot here," Bruno replied, trying to keep up with the beat. "And if my terrible dancing makes you smile, then it's worth it."

Ellie didn't know how to feel about that. Gross. Aw.

After the song ended, both of them breathless and laughing, they decided to take a break. Bruno bought them two sodas, and they found a quiet corner with a couple of stools to sit on.

"So, what's the verdict? Am I the worst dancer you've ever seen?" Bruno asked, taking a sip of his soda.

Ellie shook her head, smiling. "No, you're definitely not the worst. And I appreciate the effort. It's been a lot of fun."

Bruno looked relieved. "Good, because I've been having a great time too. Thanks for agreeing to come out with me."

Stop saying thank you. She thought.

They spent the next hour trying out various games, from shooting hoops to racing cars, their competitive spirits making every game more exciting. At one point, Bruno suggested they try the claw machine.

"I've never won anything from one of these," Ellie admitted as they stood in front of the machine filled with plush toys.

"Me neither, but there's a first time for everything," Bruno said, fishing some coins from his pocket.

He guided the claw with intense concentration, maneuvering it carefully over a cute stuffed panda. Ellie watched, her fingers crossed. The claw descended, grasped the panda, and lifted it ever so slowly towards the chute. They both held their breath as it teetered on the edge before finally dropping into the prize bin.

"You did it!" Ellie exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight.

Bruno reached into the bin and handed her the panda. "For you, milady."

Ellie accepted the toy, her smile radiant. "Thank you, kind sir."

As they played more games, they gradually grew more comfortable around each other. They moved from game to game, sharing laughs and teasing each other. Bruno found himself glancing at Ellie more often, appreciating the way her eyes lit up with excitement.

Ellie was sad but happy when the night finally came to a close, she was tired, social battery was gone.

"I should get home, dad said nine" she said, glancing at Bruno.

"Oh, yeah, for sure." Bruno agreed.

They sat there in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the other arcade-goers. Bruno grabbed Ellie's hand. She didn't know if she should slap him or enjoy it, she chose to enjoy it.

ELLIE CAME BACK from her first date with Bruno. Her face was lit up with excitement as she walked into the living room, where Bucky was sitting on the couch, reading a book. He looked up as she entered, closing his book and giving her a curious look.

"Hey, kiddo," Bucky said, setting the book aside. "How was the date?"

"It was cool." Ellie said, dropping her bag by the door and plopping down on the couch next to him. "We had fun at the arcade. Bruno is really sweet."

Bucky grinned, but there was a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "Oh, really? Tell me more. Did he win you a stuffed animal or something?"

Ellie rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her smile. "Actually, he did. This really cute panda bear."

"A panda?" Bucky said, laughing. "Did he give you a nickname too? Maybe 'Ellie-bear'?"

"Dad," Ellie groaned, shaking her head, though she was laughing as well. "You're terrible."

"Hey, it's my job to embarrass you," Bucky said, nudging her playfully. "So, did you beat him at any games?"

Ellie's eyes lit up. "I totally crushed him at air hockey."

"That's my girl," Bucky said proudly.

"Yeah, well, he wasn't too bad himself," Ellie admitted. "He beat me at a couple of racing games."

Bucky feigned shock. "What? You let him beat you? I thought I raised you better than that!"

Ellie giggled. "I didn't let him win, Dad. He's just good at those games."

"Sounds like you two had a great time," Bucky said, his tone more sincere now. "I'm glad. Bruno seems like a good kid."

"He really is," Ellie said, her smile softening. "He's funny and kind. And he was a perfect gentleman the whole time."

Bucky nodded, though his teasing smirk quickly returned. "Did he hold your hand?"

Ellie blushed slightly. "Maybe. For a little bit."

"Ah, young love," Bucky said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Next thing you know, you'll be planning your wedding."

"Dad!" Ellie protested, her cheeks flushing even more. "We just went on one date!"

"Sure, sure," Bucky said, winking at her. "But you like him, don't you?"

Ellie sighed, her expression turning thoughtful. "
He's cool. But we're just taking it slow, you know?"

"That's smart," Bucky said, nodding approvingly.