"I'll admit Y/n, the eighties did have some pretty neat music." Bucky laughed, glancing her direction when she didn't respond. Instead, his eyes were met with her face nuzzled into the cushion as her chest rose and fell softly in slumber. He snatched the remote and jammed his finger down on the volume as the end credits rolled, blasting music. He gently stood up, avoiding accidentally shaking her much smaller body.

The mission had done a number on everyone. It's not surprising that she dozed off, even if it was only three o'clock. Bucky finally managed to make it to the kitchen, where he set the empty bowls of popcorn and candy by the sink, careful not to make too much noise. That's one skill that had become natural as a previous assassin.

He couldn't remember the last time he had felt this... solemn. Normal. It was growing on him.

He grabbed a blanket from the decorative basket in the corner and draped it gently over her. It took Bucky all his effort to not brush the piece of loose hair that fell just above her eye, behind her ear.

Ding

"ALRIGHT EVERYBODY. PARTY TONIGHT AT 8:00 SHARP, DON'T BE LATE!" Tony boomed as soon as the elevator doors slid open.

"Wha-"

Bucky's head whipped around to see Y/n rub at her eyes after being suddenly awoken by the billionaire's obnoxious yelling. He shot Tony a disapproving look.

"Oh... sorry." Tony mouthed tip-toeing into the kitchen with the rest of the team.

"I'm already awake Stark." Y/n grumbled, offering Bucky a sincere smile after noticing his gesture.

"Anywaysss." Nat pulled her hair out of the low ponytail it was in. "You heard the guy. Hope you two are all rested, because we're celebrating... what are we celebrating again?" She turned to Tony.

"You know what? Doesn't matter. See you all tonight." Tony waved them off dismissively, heading towards the lab.

"He doesn't need a reason to party Nat, this is Tony we're talking about." Y/n flashed a grin to Bucky, Sam and Wanda who were still in the kitchen.

"She's got a point." Sam gestured with a bottle of orange juice in his hand.

Bucky shook his head and pointed towards the juice. "You can't keep doing this Sam, you don't live alone anymore."

"Yeah? And what of it. If you want some orange juice, go get yourself some." He scoffed, taking a long chug.

"Do your own grocery shopping." Bucky grumbled, trudging back to his bedroom.

Sam smiled to himself smugly before noticing Y/n, Wanda and Nat's staring as they sat around the kitchen island. He rolled his eyes. "I suppose you guys have something to say about my orange juice "issue" as well?"

Nat shrugged and took a sip of her water. "What ever floats your boat Wilson."

Once he finally left, Wanda practically jumped over the island to face Y/n. "So? How was your day with Barnes? Do anything... fun?" She winked towards Nat who gave her a mutual smirk.

Y/n spun around to make sure Bucky had fully left the room. "You two are something else."

"So is that a yes?" Nat teased, earning a testing glare from Y/n.

"Well as two friends would do, we watched a movie and got to know each other, since we don't talk that often." Y/n told them as she traced her finger on the granite.

"I think it's sweet." A smile laced Wanda's lips. "Who else would Bucky willingly sit and watch a movie with?"

Y/n shrugged. "We have movie nights as a team at least once a week."

"As a team." Wanda laughed, heading towards her room. "Watching a movie with one other person is different."

Y/n lowered her head and laughed to herself disbelievingly. Her relationship with Bucky was strictly platonic, right? It was nice to finally be able to get to know him better. He wasn't the only shy one on the team after all.

"You should talk to him more often though,
Y/n." She looked up, surprised at Nat's change in tone. "He doesn't open up to anyone but Steve, who doesn't even know in the slightest what Bucky's been through. All Steve can do is listen and comfort him."

"Yeah, but what makes you think he would wanna open up with me. I'm nothing special."

"Well, he did save your life. And you basically saved his by going back into the facility for him. He has a reason to trust you." Nat watched as Y/n's expression grew softer.

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

"Of course I'm right." She chuckled. "He's like your knight in shining armor."

Y/n's face flushed crimson. "I don't wanna rely on him, or anyone else for that matter, to constantly save me. I know that wasn't his intention though." She added.

"Well, then both of you can save each other." Nat waved as she waltzed down the hall. "Now if you excuse me, I need to get ready for Tony's random party tonight."

"Hey wait Nat!" Y/n huffed. "Bucky and I are friends. Friends!" She folded her arms when Nat ignored her from the end of the hall, eventually turning the corner.

"Damn her." She ran her fingers through her hair. "Yeah... just friends."

♥︎ Later ♥︎

"What did Cap do to keep her out for a while?" Peter whispered to Y/n as they crouched behind the kitchen counter.

"He told her that Tony needed more booze. He made sure that he put on a list all the expensive kinds that are always sold out so that she was out long enough." Y/n replied, glancing briefly at the red and black balloons spread out around the room, as well as the matching streamers and Black Widow themed party favors Sam and Clint bought as a joke from the dollar store.

"She's gonna hate those." Y/n snickered quietly to herself.

"Are you sure she won't know what we have planned?" Shuri said over Peter's shoulder.

"Woah when did you get here?" Peter turned, startled by her random appearance.

"We just got here. T'Challa wouldn't let me fly the jet, otherwise we would have been here much sooner." She muttered, her sarcasm evident in her voice.

"Shh shh guys she's coming." Y/n told them as her eyes scanned the messages on the group chat from Steve.

She peaked over the countertop as their voices drew nearer.

"...why he made me get all this crap when he has that giant ass cellar." They all heard Nat say as the elevator doors slid open.

"Where is everyone? The lights are all off. FRIDAY turn the lights on." Steve crossed his arms. "Some party huh?"

"SURPRISE!"

A laugh escaped Nat's lips as everyone appeared from their hiding spots, all shouting a series of 'happy birthdays' in her direction.

"Yeah I figured. I could hear Parker and Shuri behind the counter as soon as I walked in." She pointed. "Oh and just a heads up Pietro, you ran back to your hiding place fast, but not quietly.

"I told him tha-" Wanda stopped herself, deciding it was best to not bother at that point.

"Well, happy birthday anyways! Now let's get this party started. Hit it!" Tony hollered towards the DJ.

Y/n shook her head. "Hit it? Really?"