TYLER HOECHLIN As Clark Kent Superman & Lois (2021) Season 2 Episode 6: “Tried And True”

Not So Bad

Summary: It's Bucky's birthday, but doesn't want to make a big deal out of it.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: Language. None, really just fluff. No mentions of Y/N.

Word Count: 1K

A/N: He's my second story for today. Happy birthday, Bucky! Thanks to @ordelixx for the idea and @mrsbuckybarnes1917 for read proofing it.

Masterlist

Ever since he’s rejoined society and gained the closest thing he can have to a normal life, being a supersoldier and all, there’s one thing that Bucky can’t bring himself to do: celebrate his birthday.

The more memories he regains, the more he remembers a time where he used to celebrate his birthday with his family and his friends.

Sure, they didn’t have much, but he had his mom and his sister and Steve. It was a simpler yet happier time, and he now all he feels is gloomy.

So every year he treats it like any other day. He trains and goes on missions if he has to, and if he’s in the compound he chills with a book or maybe takes a motorcycle ride, never once even making it known to the rest of the team that it’s his birthday.

“Seriously, Buck? That’s how you’re gonna spend your whole day?” Steve asks Bucky as they walk down the hallway towards their rooms.

“Yes, seriously.” Bucky answers with a roll of his eyes. Every year Steve tries to get Bucky to do something more to celebrate his birthday, but Bucky never budges. “You know damn well what I think about my birthday.”

Steve groans and stops walking, causing Bucky to stop too, and tries one last time before leaving Bucky to his sulking. “I know, but come on! Let’s at least do something together, let’s celebrate your birthday like we used to, go to Coney Island or something. Don’t spend the day alone!”

“We spend everyday together, Rogers. Sometimes it’s nice to get a break.” Bucky jokes with a smirk before he starts walking again and leaves Steve to chuckle and roll his eyes before he walks to his own room.

What neither of the supersoldiers realized is that they had stopped right in front of your room to talk, just as you were about to walk out. You stopped in your tracks and listened to their conversation.

It’s Bucky’s birthday? How did you not know that? Sure it’s not like you’re the best of friends, but you’re still pretty close. You should’ve known that.

So you decide to do something nice for him today while still respecting his wishes of having a low-key day. You take your purse and jacket and head to the garage, getting into your car and driving towards the city.

Truth is, you’ve always had a crush on the Sergeant. It was hard not to when he looked the way he did, and he was as sweet as Bucky was. 

As intimidating as he might look, you knew how shy he could be. He got flustered easily when he got a compliment, and you found him so adorable when he started blushing and stuttering.

You go to the bookstore you know Bucky loves to browse when he is in the city, it’s a small store that’s filled with second hand books. Bucky always said that he loved to give books a second chance, just like he got one after Hydra. 

You look through the books until you find the perfect one: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. The team saw the movie together when it was Steve’s turn to pick, and as you sat next to Bucky you heard him quietly tell Steve about the details they remembered from reading the book in the 30s. 

You go to Bucky’s favorite bakery next and buy two dozen of his favorite cupcakes, and when you see that they sell different colors you have to buy a gold and black one.

You drive back to the compound and, after dropping the rest of the cupcakes in the kitchen for the team, you take one, putting the candle on top of it and taking a lighter. You go to Bucky’s room, cupcake in one hand and gift bag in the other, and knock on his door. 

“Come in.” Bucky says from inside, thinking it’s Steve coming to bother him again.

You open the door slightly and look inside, seeing him sitting on his bed with his back against the headboard and a book in his hands.

“Am I bothering you?” You ask hesitantly.

“N-no, you’re not. Come in.” Bucky says quickly, closing his book and sitting up more.

You open the door completely and enter his room, taking a couple of steps towards him before stopping. “I… I got you something.”

Bucky’s eyes widen a little as he sees the cupcake and the gift bag you’re holding out to him.

“Did Steve tell you?” His eyes narrow a little, and you squirm a little under his gaze and shake your head.

“I overheard you talking about it…” You say quietly, a little embarrassed. “I get that you don’t want a party or anything, but I thought… I don’t know, I just wanted to do something nice for you on your birthday…”

You start to second guess yourself as he just looks at you and, just as you’re about to backtrack on your stupid idea and leave him alone, he smiles brightly at you, sitting on the edge of his bed and patting the spot next to him.

You sit next to him and you put the bag on his bed so you can light the candle and hold the cupcake out to him with a smile. “Make a wish.”

Bucky thinks about it for a second. He knows what he wants to wish for, the thing is he already got his wish: you in his room, sitting with him on his bed. But he makes his wish anyway before blowing out the candle. He wished for you to be his.

You smile at each other for a moment before you snap yourself out of it, shaking your head a little and picking up his present and giving it to him.

He puts the cupcake on his nightstand as he takes the bag and opens it and you can see his face light up when he sees it as he runs his fingers down the cover before looking at you with a smile. “Thank you, doll.”

You smile back at him and lean in to kiss his cheek. “Happy birthday, Bucky.” You say before getting up and leaving, letting him have his peaceful day of relaxation. 

Bucky watches you go with a slight blush, his hand over his cheek where you kissed it and a goofy smile on his face.

Perhaps celebrating his birthday is not such a bad thing after all.

Hear me out…

sounds about right.

[While decorating the Christmas tree]

Steve: Why is everybody using these tiny little lights nowadays? I remember when people used to use big lights.

Natasha: That's a good story, Grandpa.

steve’s house in the show vs. steve’s house in my head

Steve hasn't cried for years.

Ever since he was a kid, his father has chided him for crying because 'men don't cry, boy, stop that nonsense and grow up.' Even his mother would tell him that if he wanted to be the man of the house one day, he needed to learn not to be such a crybaby.

So he did.

He broke his arm in 5th grade and didn't make a sound, he was left alone in that big house for 2 weeks and instead of crying like the little boy inside of him wanted to do, he invited all his friends over and trashed the place. He didn't cry when his father slapped him for the first time or when they left and didn't come back.

They'd taught him well.

Except now he's crying and he doesn't know how to stop.

He'd come home from Eddie's funeral, admittedly a little tipsy, and the second the door clicked shut behind him, the tears started and they haven't stopped since. It hurts so bad and just when he thinks he's got a hold of himself, he remembers that he's sitting alone in the dark of his empty shell of a house and it all starts up again. He cries for his broken arm and the slap that still stings whenever he thinks of his parents, he cries for Eddie, for Max, and for himself.

He ends up reaching for the phone on the wall and, after putting in the wrong number twice, he calls Robin. She answers immediately, her soft "Hello?" bringing on more tears as Steve remembers everything they went through, everything he dragged her into.

"Robin." He sobs weakly as he lies down on the ground with the phone pressed to his ear. "Robin, it hurts."

"Oh, Steve, what's wrong? What hurts? Are you OK?" He can tell she's trying to stay calm for his sake but he can hear the slight panic in her voice and the tell tale rustling of her putting on a jacket.

"Everything hurts. I-I think I'm drowning."

"I'm coming, hold on."

Robin runs the whole way to his house. She barges through the front door and all the panic and fear that had been written on her face falls away as she lays eyes on Steve, who's curled up on the floor, still in his suit, and crying so loud it echoes through the house. "Oh, honey."

He wails into her chest as she scoops him up in her arms and joins him on the cold tiles. "I'm right here. Just let go, let it all out. I know it hurts now but you'll feel better afterwards. Trust me."

So he does. He let's every little thing that's hurt him over the years bubble up inside him and spill out.

It's been what? 2 weeks since I talked about Joe being stalked here in Italy and now i find myself to post again about it

YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE MAN ALONE

Was it worth pushing him to end his vacation sooner because your stupid need to take a picture with him?

I won't be surprised if he decide to cancel his appearance in Toronto or to not interact with his fans anymore

How about Derek Hale seeing his gf wearing his shirt for the first time?

"So you're the clothes stealer hm?" Derek smiled against your shoulder as he pulled you into his lap. He was still in bed when he noticed his shirt missing, granted it was hard to locate any clothes in the mess his room was because of last nights activities but his nose didn't lie.

"Guilty." You cupped his cheeks as you took your seat on his lap, your bare thighs pressing against his. He was still naked. Oh. "You didn't get dressed at all?"

Derek smirked and pulled the shirt down, his mouth hot against the skin of your shoulder, "I would, but someone stole my favorite shirt. You have your own."

"Oh now you want me in my clothes?" You teased as you pointed out the scratch marks on your legs that the shirt barely covered, "I need to cover these up Derek. I'm not going out in shorts."

"But you were happy to ask for them. And you seem happy to let people know we're together. Everyone saw that kiss yesterday, and they're sure as hell gonna smell me on you even if you don't walk out wearing my shirt." Part of him wanted to see you wearing his clothes, "How about you wear it only for me?" But the other possessive wolf part of him wanted you for himself.

Eddie wake up, I don't like this, Eddie wake up

“Babe?”

Eddie’s voice echoes through the house, letting you know he’s finally home from work.

Making your way down the stairs, now dressed in a pair of pajamas, your eyes take in his post-work look. A pair of coveralls with the arms now tied around his waist, after a long hot day, showing off the black tank worn underneath.

His hair thrown messily up into a bun with his black and white bandana wrapped around his head.

The smile that lights up his face when he sees you melts away some of the mess of feelings that had been simmering throughout the day.

“Hi, baby.”

Something in his hand catches your attention. You tilt your head a bit to get a better look before his arm shoots back behind his back.

You look up as he begins biting his bottom lip, watching you with a sparkle in his eyes as he sways back and forth on his feet.

“What’s that?” You question as you mirror Eddie, placing your own hands behind your back, swaying from side to side giddily.

He immediately jumps into telling you about his stop for a second coffee, “you know the little coffee shop on the corner across the street from the park?”

You nod along maybe a bit too enthusiastically.

He chuckles before continuing, “well, I saw this little guy and I knew you would love it.”

He holds up a crocheted dinosaur in front of your face. But, not just any dinosaur. A stegosaurus.

Your favorite.

With fingers reaching out, you touch the softness of the dinosaur that was shaped into an orange slice, running your fingers along the four spikes along its back as a smile spreads across your face.

“Eds.”

Your response comes out more watery than intended, the emotions from the day spilling over as you take in the fond look staring back at you.

“I just wanted to make you smile, sweetheart.”

The words left unspoken are what sent you into his arms, taking the dinosaur with you.