Jean Spangler made it just fine without your help. (goodluck_girl) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-11-01 17:39:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, bucky barnes (winter soldier), jean spangler |
Who: Jean and Bucky.
What: A date!
When: Friday, 10/1.
Where: The hills, somewhere.
Rating: PG-13 for talking around sex.
Status: Complete!
Bucky was kind of excited to see Jean, since he had her present that Midna had made. He’d had a bright idea about where to take her, too - nothing too fancy, but someplace he thought she might enjoy.
He picked her up at her place, waiting outside politely in his battered old car. He’d dressed nice but nothing crazy, in slacks and a button-down. The weather was perfect for what he’d planned, and it wasn’t supposed to rain.
She’d worn a dress that hit about mid-shin and flats, just in case they walked around somewhere. When Jean got downstairs to see Bucky looking disarmingly handsome next to his car, she couldn’t help but giggle.
He brightened noticeably when she came outside. “Hey, doll.” Bucky said, grinning at their slang. He kinda liked it, talking to her that way. It was almost like a secret code. “How’re you?” He kissed her on the cheek, smiling.
“Better now, Junior.” She kissed him back, sighing a little at the way he smelled - aftershave and clean all rolled into one. “Where are we heading?”
“Up north of here.” Bucky smiled. “Had an idea of someplace that’s a little bit different. How’ve you been?”
“Really good, actually, I’m just peachy.” Jean squeezed his hand, trying not to smile too broadly. It just seemed a bit silly.
“Good.” Bucky said, feeling a bit silly himself. He sometimes wondered what to say to her - she was just so smart and sassy that he worried he’d look dumb. He settled for, “So. Do you like more casual food when you go out? Like, sandwiches and that kind of thing?”
“I’ll eat about anything this minute. I just got finished with my run about an hour ago and I’m starving.” She squeezed his hand. “I’d murder a sandwich or three. Why, what do you have planned, boyo?”
“Look in the back.” He had an old fashioned picnic basket he’d borrowed from a friend, packed to the gills with stuff, and a heavy dark blue blanket for them to sit on.
Jean’s dark eyes lit up, and she couldn’t help herself from wrapping her arms around his neck and snogging him firmly. They hadn’t really kissed quite so hard by that point, but Jean thought he’d be okay with it.
Mmf. Bucky was glad he hadn’t started the car yet, but otherwise, he was pretty happy. “I’m glad you like it.” His eyes were shy.
“I like it very much. And you’re so thoughtful.” She bit her lower lip, feeling a little sheepish. “I just ... haven’t been out with many fellas who tried to impress me.”
Bucky stared. “Who the hell would go out with you and not try to impress you?” It made no sense to him. He started the car, smoothly backing out of her driveway.
She blushed brightly, looking down at her hands folded in her lap. “You’d be surprised, Buck. But enough about me, how was your day?”
“Can’t complain. Today was a day at the youth orchestra, and they’re working pretty hard on their winter pieces.” He smiled. “I’m just glad it’s not the Nutcracker for the tenth year in a row.”
That just made Jean laugh. “Guess what I spent all morning teaching the little ones in my class?” She took his hand and kissed the knuckles, leaning her head against his shoulder.
Bucky laughed. “I’m sure it’s not as difficult if you haven’t done it for literally a decade straight.” He liked her leaning on him, and wrapped his free arm around her. Thank heaven for bench seats. “Plus, you’ve got the patience of several saints.”
“You say that now,” she smirked. “It’s not difficult for me, or for the older students I’m sure, but I teach the little ones. Four-year-olds in groups are difficult no matter what the subject matter.”
“Like I said. Several saints.” Bucky made the turn. “I bet you like it, though.”
“I do, I can’t help it.” Jean chuckled and closed her eyes, still leaning against Bucky. “I don’t know, I just like little ones.”
“I’m not really much for little ones, but that’s only because I’ve never really been around them. Really little ones, I mean. I like kids when they can talk, but the jury’s kind of out on the tiny ones.” Bucky laughed. “I could probably be talked around.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to contribute to one.” Jean chuckled, feeling a little daring. “Could practice some, though.”
“No problem with that.” Bucky smiled faintly. He didn’t want to rule out the possibility of kids sometime in the future, but still. Not something to talk about on the third date. Sex, though.
He turned up the hill road, looking for the sign toward the scenic overlook. “Was pretty happy it isn’t supposed to rain tonight!”
“Oh, good.” Jean’s cheeks were beet red when she sat up, pulling away from him reluctantly. “You’re lucky I wouldn’t mind at all even if it were.” He was that damn charming.
“You’re just saying that.” Bucky chuckled. He pulled into the parking lot near the overlook, smiling when it seemed to be mostly deserted. “Will you set out the blanket while I get the basket?”
“I don’t just say anything, Mister Barnes.” She took the blanket, kissing him on the cheek again before going to find the perfect spot. Jean settled for a place under a tree, where they’d have some shade.
Bucky made sure nothing had spilled in the basket as he brought it out. “That’s a good spot. Staying in the shade’s probably a good idea.” Even in October, California was warm enough for sweat.
“I’m pale, don’t underestimate the way my skin can burn,” Jean chuckled. She reached out to squeeze Bucky’s hand. “This was a great idea,” she sighed. “I’m ... thank you.”
He sat down next to her, smiling. “It’s kinda old fashioned, and it’s not as fancy as going to dinner somewhere. I kind of like just ... I don’t know. Hanging around with you.” Awkward to say, but it was the truth. “You had any more dreams?”
“I like that too, Bucky. It’s why I was thanking you.” She toed off her flats, getting comfortable. “I did. I dreamed that my dream husband and I got a divorce.” She chuckled to herself. “Even in my dreams I can’t hold onto someone.”
His face fell. “Jeannie. I’m sorry. Though I don’t want you thinking I’m just going to vamoose.” He smiled a little, wrapping an arm around her. “I like you, and I’m also a man of my word. If I ever did want to split town or something, I’d be a man and at least tell you first.” He felt light and happy when he was with her.
“We’re not married,” she laughed. “So you have nothing to run away from.” She nuzzled closer to him, kissing his neck gently.
“Still.” Bucky looked stubborn. “I don’t like you thinking that way. Anybody who’d run away from you has a screw loose.”
Jean looked up and then brought Bucky’s chin in line with hers to kiss him lightly. “I think you’re sorta biased there, Mr. Barnes.”
“Aw, go on.” Bucky kissed back, smiling. “Still think you’re swell.”
“I like you a whole lot too, Buck.” She sometimes worried that it was too much; she hadn’t been over exaggerating her bad luck with men.
He got the impression she wanted to get off her own dream-life in terms of subjects, so he talked about his. “I dreamed that I really went off to war. Like, for real. Helping on missions, and there’s even this guy who’s here who was working for somebody else - I had to neutralize him.” He didn’t feel bad because Logan was obviously alive and well here.
“Oh, Buck.” She sat up a little, stroking his hair. “Are you okay? Do you know him here?”
“I’m fine. He’s alive and well here, if just as big a jerk.” Bucky made a face. “In times of war, you do what you have to. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but my dream self wasn’t hesitant and I’m not sure I would be either.”
Jean laughed at that. “Aww. Well, you’re not allowed to kill people ‘cause they’re jerks, Buck. Better to just let him be a jerk across town.” She squeezed his hand again before turning to the picnic basket. “So, what did you bring us?”
“Well, in the war, he tried to get between me and Steve - tried to make Steve look like an idiot. And he might have tried to get me killed. So I struck back.” Bucky grunted. But her next question perked him up. “I got sandwiches, potato salad, hard boiled eggs, and chips.”
“You and Steve are pretty much brothers there and here, huh.” She portioned out plates for each of them - a sandwich, a dollop of the salad, an egg a piece, and a few chips.
“I think so.” Bucky nodded. “We’re really close here, and there, they basically brought me in to look after him. i was just trying to serve my country and my Captain at the same time.” He smiled a little. “You shoulda seen the hokey outfit they put him in, though. All the war bond shows - stuff that today would just come off as silly.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Sometimes stuff like that just comes off as old fashioned. I like it.” Jean nibbled on the edge of her sandwich, motioning down at her own outfit. “Like I don’t look kinda silly.”
Bucky got out the drinks from the little cooler he’d had, handing her a glass bottle of Coke - had to be glass. “I think it’s old fashioned when there aren’t politics involved. Politics make it awkward. And you look stunning.” He made a face at her. “You’re so convinced you’re a dog, Jeannie, when you couldn’t be, ever.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’m ... I’ve just not had a lot of good experiences, Buck. I like myself. I guess I’ve always just waited for a fella to like me the way I like myself. I think I’m funny and smart before I think I’m pretty, you know?” She screwed off the top to her Coke, taking a sip.
“Well, that makes sense. And I do think you’re smart, as well as gorgeous. I don’t want you getting the wrong idea.” Bucky tipped his bottle toward hers in a mock toast. “Just, you’re self-deprecating all the time, and there isn’t much to deprecate.”
Jean clinked her bottle against his. “How the heck aren’t you taken yet?” She grinned at him, her dark eyes twinkling. “Really, what bird could kick you out of her nest?”
“I haven’t been looking much.” Bucky smiled. “My last ex-girlfriend was pretty and nice, but didn’t know what a marathon was. The one before that cheated on me, and the one before that was just ... dull.” Jean was neither stupid, nor duplicitous, nor boring.
“Cheating just baffles me. I’d much rather break up with someone and be single, if that makes sense at all.” Jean wasn’t good at being guilty. “And I don’t think I’m that stupid.” She figured she’d leave the jury to decide if she was boring or not.
“You’re swell.” Bucky smiled wider. “The bees’ knees, and all that.”
“I really like you, Bucky.” Jean looked up at him fondly, hoping he realized she wasn’t teasing.
He understood. “I like you a lot, Jeannie. You make me smile.” That was about as simple as he could make it, and the most true.
“I aim to never stop doing that, either,” she beamed. Offering him a sandwich, she sat up. She really was starving.
He took it, nodding a thank you before digging in. “I think that’s a good thing to strive for in a relationship. To make each other smile.” It was a good place to start, at least. And he loved it when Jean smiled.
“So, since you’re not playing the Nutcracker, what are you doing for holiday music?” Jean smiled to herself, stretching her legs out in front of her.
“The Hallelujah Chorus. At least, that’s what the conductor suggested.” Bucky finished his first sandwich, going for his second. “Not sure how they’re going to handle it, to be honest.”
“That sounds pretty. Can I come watch when you perform?” She ran her fingers over his hand, biting her lower lip.
“If you’d like to, sure. The choir will do most of it, but I like our parts.” Bucky smiled, picking up that hand and - after making sure his lips were clean - kissing it gently. No ham bits stuck to her palm, so that was good.
“I’d like to very much.” She moved closer to him, snuggling closer and threading their fingers together. “Do you want to come see a bunch of three to six year olds perform the Nutcracker?” She grinned lopsidedly, running her free fingers over the shell of his ear.
“I think I can make it through another listen for your sake.” Bucky smiled, going for a kiss. “I’ll do a lot for you, Jeannie.”
“Oh?” Jean chuckled and kissed his neck gently, nuzzling closer. “You’re lucky I don’t plan on taking advantage of that, Buck.”
He would let her, and it was beginning to worry him. “”Don’t want you all sad, if I die in the dreams.” He was honestly a little nervous about that. What if you died in the dreams and here?
“I don’t think you’d die here too,” Jean murmured. “I don’t want you all sad if you die in the dreams. Do you think ... “ She chuckled, ducking her head. “Would having me there help?”
“What do you mean? I don’t think you can come into my dreams. Though boy, I’d be the envy of every GI on the base.” He grinned.
“I mean when you wake up.” She was quiet, and unusually shy. Normally Jean Spangler was made of brass and sass, but somehow she cared what Bucky said in response to her.
“There are some nights that wouldn’t work out.” Their hours wouldn’t mesh when he had to get up early. “But some nights, I’d sure like that.” He smiled at her again, but it was softer this time, almost hesitant. She looked afraid, and he wanted to fix it.
“Really?” She was just so damn out of practice, sometimes it was hard to believe that the universe had dropped a handsome, kind, funny man right into her lap.
“Yeah, really. I just don’t want you to get woken up every day that I have orchestra practice, because I gotta be in Los Angeles at 8am those days, which means I gotta get up at six.” Bucky laughed.
“Fair point, I don’t get up before eleven on days I don’t have to.” Jean moved to her knees, wrapped her arms around Bucky, and gave him the firmest snog she’d given him ever.
Mm. Bucky grinned against her lips, feeling somehow excited. Like there was a new promise.
It felt a bit like they were swearing to each other, to be a bit more serious about things. Jean was pleased with it, and she sighed contentedly.
Bucky hoped he didn’t kill the mood by asking, but at the same time, he had to. “So. After this, maybe you want to come back to my place? So I can, uh, show you where you’ll be sleeping?”
Jean just answered him by kissing him again, purring a low “mhmm” as she did so. Some questions didn’t really have to be asked, Bucky.
Message received. Bucky just hoped she didn’t hate it - or him - after the evening was through.