"So," Nat said in a faux-casual tone as she added more red polish onto her nails. "Are you and Bucky dating now?"

You shrugged, applying another coat of f/c nail polish. "I guess. Anyway it was nice knowing that he liked me too."

"Seriously, Y/N," Wanda rolled her eyes. wiggling her fingers as she used telekinesis to paint her nails. "Anyone with eyes could've told that he had a crush on you."

"I'm not really used to people having crushes on me, Nat," you said, vaguely motioning around your face. "Scars, remember?"

"Like I said, they're beautiful," Bucky said, without a pause as he rounded the corner. "Look at this one, it makes this wonderful swirl."

You looked down, and you had to admit it was kinda pretty. "I never really noticed."

"I'll help you notice, every single one of them," Bucky promised, with the kind of ease he'd carried in the 40s. "Oh, by the way, Tony told me to fetch you for something, you in?"

"We're in," chorused Wanda and Natasha.

"Get ready to be owned, children!" Tony said, singing the last part in an awful rendition of a falsetto.

Steve and Sam ran in. "We're in!"

- - -

"Y/N, I'm begging you, don't do this," Bucky said.

"I have to," you replied coldly.

"I love you," he whispered.

"Me too but-" you slammed down a plus 4 and jumped in celebration. "Winning is good. Sorry Buck."

"Damn it, Y/N," he groaned, but he hugged you anyway, and you snuggled into his shoulder as the game of Uno continued.

"Hey," Bucky whispered into your ear. "Will you go on a date with me tonight? A real date this time."

You turned and looked him in the eyes. "I'd love to."

Your faces were so close together, what else was there to do but kiss? You pulled apart after tantalising moments, gasping for breath and then you happily rested your head on his chest.

"Ahem," Tony coughs. "Forget you weren't alone?"

"Kinda," you muttered, flushing. "Well, I'm done. See you tonight."

You flashed a now trademark wink at Bucky, glad to see you can make him flush.

- - -

Finally, that evening, with the help of Natasha, you were ready for the date. Bucky had told you it was something for casual clothes that you could move in. You chose a long-sleeved outfit once again, but ... you were becoming more comfortable in your own, scarred, skin.

Bucky came to pick you up outside your room, with a beautiful flower that you placed in your hair. He wore a jacket over a red top with jeans.

"I thought, we're still kinda new to this," Bucky admitted. "So I thought a casual date."

"Anything's perfect," you promised.

You walked down the streets together, his metal arm around your waist. He took you to the newest fair, which was, you had to admit, amazing and probably the best one you'd ever even seen. You went on every single ride and visited every single stall. You and Bucky had ice cream, fairy floss, corn dogs and everything else.

Somehow, it managed to eradicate the bad memories of the last fair.

"Y/N, I need to tell you something," Bucky said on the Ferris Wheel.

"Is everything okay?" you asked nervously.

"Better than okay," he says happily, holding your hands. "When I'm around you, I feel so happy. I feel like you make me a better person, and you stand for everything that I wanted when I left HYDRA. I want to be with you all the way, Y/N."

He was so sweet, you almost cried. "I love you Bucky. With everything in my power, I promise to stay with you as long as possible."

He lunged for you, capturing your lips in his. The kiss was passionate and fiery, but also sweet. It tasted of fairy floss and sugar and everything nice. You rested your forehead on his.

Suddenly, your phone rang. Dad Stark. You groaned, apologised to Bucky and answered.

"Hey, Dad, what's up?"

"Y/N, you and Barnes need to get here quickly!" your dad says urgently. "It's HYDRA, they're attacking the Tower- FUCK! Please hurry."

You gasped and grab Bucky.

"Hydra at the Avengers tower," you panted. "I'll get us there."

"We're at the top of a carousel-"

You grab his arm, yanking him with you as you jump out of the carriage. Bucky screamed, loudly, but you were calm. You summoned a gust of air to catch you and it does. With your concentration, wind pushes the air cushion forward, and you were off to Stark Tower.

Bucky had already loaded his rifle and numerous other weapons that you weren't going to question where they'd come from. As soon as you hit the top of the Tower, you kiss Bucky and leap off.

"Be safe, Buck," you insisted.

"You too, Doll," he smiled. And then, you had no choice but to launch into battle.

You had several knives that you threw at HYDRA agents, taking them down with screams. You blasted water at some, knocked others off the Tower with air and grew a cage of roots and vines around other agents ("Oh come on, Y/N!" Tony yelled. "That's gonna take a fortune to clean up!"). But you were steadily getting overwhelmed, left with no other option than to employ the most dangerous weapon in your arsenal.

Slowly, your fingers caught fire, then your hands, your arms, until your whole body was alight. Screaming in rage, you thrust your hands forward, the fire charging from them and burning every HYDRA agent in the building alive in a chorus of screams. Not a single Avenger was touched.

Soon, it was just the flames around you, that you could easily extinguish. But you panicked, remembering the day of your parents deaths, and that terrible nightmare.

You're a monster, Y/N! All this is your fault!

The flames grew.

You're the one who should be dead!

If you had any semblance of control before, it was lost.

Your scars are so ugly! Who'd ever love you?

As you were overwhelmed, a painful sensation climbed up your arm, and you realise, for the second time ever, you were burning.

"Help!" you screamed.

You manage to summon a little water, but the whole room was on fire. Bucky ran in, calling your name, just in time to see you collapse to the floor.

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