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When; December 14th. Evening.
Rating; PG-13 (Drunkenness involved.)
Characters; Bucky Barnes (

yourbestguysgun ) & Ginny Weasley (

hexuality ).
Summary; Someone has to entertain Ginny while she works at the Blue Light.
Log; [ He's propping up the bar simply because it's one of those rare nights were Steve is working and Bucky isn't. He'd started off with beer, but now he's on the whiskey - the good stuff that makes the burn go down nice and easy. He's enjoying himself, it's a quiet night and everyone's in pretty good spirits.

Mostly he's enjoying bugging the hell out of Ginny. Especially with how she's told him Eames is out searching for a boyfriend. ]

What about that guy over there? [ Pointing to a man playing darts in the corner. ] He doesn't look like he's creating monsters in the basement.

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[Ginny doesn't work at the Blue Light as often as she used to. What with inheriting Cinna's businesses after Angela left, she's been kept busy, but she's held on to a night or two a week for sentimentality and familiarity. This was her first job in the City and it helped her get her footing after everyone had left in the first year. So, yes, she's still here once in a while.

She heaves a long-suffering sigh, smiling as she leans on the bar to look at where he's pointing.]

He also doesn't look old enough to be in here.

[Says the girl who started working at the bar when she was seventeen.]

Well, you'd cause a scandal but it means me and the doll runnin' the grocery store'd have something to talk about.

[ He's openly teasing, a little tipsy already which means he doesn't really have to hold back. Besides, Ginny's his friend. He's allowed to behave like this. ]

I don't cause scandals, Bucky. Maybe people can talk about me like I'm part of one, but— [She shrugs, easy, smiling.] Not my business otherwise.

[People spoke about her at Hogwarts, especially from the second she started dating Harry. But that made her happy, being with him, so it was no matter. Ginny starts wiping down glasses because the bartender is out on a break and her tables don't need anything for the moment.]

Though I'm sure he's a lovely man just like you. Maybe you should be my pretend boyfriend.

[ He's mid gulp when she makes her last statement, and if it weren't for the way his whiskey sloshes in the glass he'd almost come off nonchalant. But his gaze shifts to the people around them then back to Ginny.

He doesn't know why his heart picks up then. They'd agreed it didn't have to be a secret. ] Yeah, about that.

[ Leaning on his crossed arms. ] I've been meanin' to tell you something. About someone m'seeing.

[She's concerned for a half second at the shift in his demeanour until he starts speaking. And then the transformation is instantaneous: she lights up, grin broadening, and she leans onto the bar right across from him to keep this as soft and conspiratorial as possible. Or, more bluntly, she doesn't want to miss any details.]

I knew it. I bloody well knew it. Bloke like you? There was no way you were single this whole time! I knew it!

[ Ducking his head slightly, smile widening. ]

I thought I did pretty well at pretending otherwise.

You forget, Barnes, I've got brothers. Each of them too handsome for their own good and when they tell our mum that they haven't got any girlfriends, I know they're lying.

[She laughs, reaching across the bar to ruffle his hair, fond and grinning.]

Come on.

[ Swallowing down the rest of his drink in a fit of nerves. ]

See, the thing is, I'm not seeing a dame.

[Ginny pauses for a second, brows raising in surprise—not because Bucky isn't seeing a girl, not really, but because she simply had no idea. It's not new or unusual to her; after all, she went to a boarding school for six years, you learned to accept and understand most everything around you. And especially with the family she has, with the rubbish they've put up with their whole lives for simply being blood-traitors... well, a Weasley has no place to be judgmental of anything or anyone.

So she looks over him, takes in the anxiety despite how he's passing it off as nonchalance, and her expression softens with her smile and she rests her chin in hand, voice warm and easy.]

Who's the lucky bloke, then?

[ For a moment he feels it clogging up his throat - the desire to protect Steve above all else, the need to keep him safe. He trusts Ginny, of course he does, but everyone has found out by accident. He's been cursed or he's been found out. He hasn't really ever said it out loud before.

So he fiddles with his glass for a moment, gaze on the scratches on top of the bar. ]

It's.

[ Breathing out. ] It's Steve.

[No, Ginny thinks as her smile widens; she shouldn't be surprised at all. She ducks her head to catch his eye, brows raised.]

Oi. [She breathes out, laughing a little to ease the tension, understanding how important this is—how hard it might be because of course it's been a bit. She wonders how long this has been kept a secret but she won't ask because it's his business.] Bucky, that's great. You're happy, aren't you?

[ His grin is equal parts genuine relief and happiness. ] 'Course I am. [ Steve makes him happy, they take care of each other like they always have. It's just hard for him to remember that nobody's going to get into trouble for them being together. ]

Yeah, I am.

Then that's all that matters.

[No, no one will get into trouble. Hell, Ginny was with the most wanted wizard in Great Britain, a target painted on every inch of him. She knows the risks of being in a relationship with someone you truly and deeply care about regardless of the cost. She hops off the ground to lean across the bar more fully and presses a kiss to his hairline before sliding back into place.]

Don't worry. I'm glad you told me, yeah?

[ A soft smile then. ]

Figured I ought t'finally let you know. [ He runs a hand through his hair, looking younger for a second. ] We kinda decided we weren't gonna hide it anymore.

You shouldn't have to hide something like that.

[But she understands why. Not all of their worlds are the same, not all of their times, and people can be cruel and leave others uncertain. But not here, not in the City. Ginny looks over him, expression thoughtful.]

It's been awful, hasn't it, not saying a word.

Some people know. Kinda hard to keep a lid on it if you're cursed. [ Toying with his glass again. ]

I guess we were just too scared to, y'know? Being in love with another man isn't something they let you be when you're from when we're from? Hell, if it hadn't been for the curses we mightn't have ever even let the thought in.

Sometimes curses help you do or say some important things.

[She reaches over to top off his glass, glancing across the room and making sure none of her tables need her. One raises his water glass but he knows the drill by now and Ginny simply lifts her wand and refills it from where she's standing and turns her attention on Bucky.]

I understand, though. Sometimes I think this place is like one big second chance to do things we've always wanted to because home's... well, home. [She smiles, resting her forearms on the bartop.] But you know you can always tell me anything.

Yeah, I know. It wasn't that I didn't want to. We just both agreed it was for the best. [ Steve worried, Bucky mostly wanted to punch anyone who'd have a problem with it in the face. ]

It'll be a year since we first kissed soon. [ Grinning slightly. ] Gotta thank the City for its invasion of free will.

[She grins back, putting the pieces together.]

Let me guess—mistletoe? It's always mistletoe.

Yeah.

[ Nodding. ] Sometimes the curses work out.

[Her smile softens a little; that's never been the case for her, but she can understand it.]

Glad it did for you, then. [Then, teasing,] Reckon that means you can't be my pretend boyfriend?

Yeah, I guess so. [ Grinning at her. ] Wouldn't wanna upset Captain America now, would we?

[She laughs, shaking her head.]

No, I suppose not. Why d'you call him that again?

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