Author's Note: "Woman" by Kesha is the number one track on my Guilty Pleasures playlist. No matter what mood I'm in or what crap I have waded through during my day this song never fails to give me back some of my spark.

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Hell yes. Now this is what I'm talking about. You asked Alexa to pump the volume up to eleven and grooved your way across the kitchen floor. Cleaning might be the worst ever but the right playlist can make all the difference. Peeling off the ratty tee you'd been cleaning in all morning you wiped the sweat from your face and chest and tossed it into your laundry basket. This left you in a cute and comfy bralette and your favorite boyshorts, showing way more skin than you're used to but hey, this is your apartment! Your safe space, and you loved the way you felt in these clothes (even if no one would ever appreciate the view but yourself).

You attacked the last chore on your to-do list with renewed energy, swishing the mop back and forth to the music. Hips moving to the beat you really let loose, belting out the lyrics with an enthusiasm you'd never dare show in public.

Little did you know you weren't as alone as you thought....

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Bucky could hear the bass thumping before the elevator door even opened. Ah, must be cleaning day. He smiled to himself as he passed your apartment door, fumbling around his grocery bags for his keys. When he finally got his door open he nearly tripped over a package he hadn't seen leaning against his door. Setting down his bags he bent to retrieve it, laughing softly at the sight of your name. Looks like Stan the mailman is playing Cupid again. Not that he needed a reason to pop over and see you, but the occasional "misdelivered" mail sure did make it convenient. Once his groceries were put away he changed into something more casual and checked his hair in the mirror before rolling his eyes at himself. Snap out of it Barnes, she doesn't even see you that way. Still, it didn't stop him from looking over his appearance one more time before heading out.

Grabbing your package he stepped back down the hall and knocked on your door. No response. The music sounded even louder than before so he knocked again, this time with a bit more force. Still nothing. He fingered the keys in his pocket, hesitating only a moment before deciding to let himself in. Not "technically" an emergency but surely you wouldn't mind... A wave of sound nearly knocked him over as he opened your door but it was immediately worth it. The sight that greeted his eyes would be one he wouldn't soon forget.

The first thing he noticed was your hair, normally down and ramrod straight, now thrown up into a messy bun, flyaways and frizz sticking out every which way and framing your face like a literal halo. Beads of sweat dotted your makeup-free face, your eyes closed as you sang and swayed your way around the mop before swiping it across the floor again. You were the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He couldn't stop his eyes from roaming, taking in every one of your gorgeous curves from your shoulders to your hips to your ankles and back up again, swallowing thickly as every inch of you moved to the beat with grace and confidence. Gone was the shy, blushing neighbor who was always so covered up that all he had was his imagination to fill in the blanks. This... this was something else. And it was infinitely better than anything his imagination could have come up with. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he should feel guilty for seeing you like this, that you'd be absolutely mortified if you knew he was watching, but he just couldn't bring himself to care. This peek into your behind-the-scenes life was an absolute gift. Even if you ended up slapping him sideways and never spoke to him again at least he'd have this moment to haunt him (and taunt him) the rest of his days. God, how he hoped that wouldn't be the case.

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Once second you were in your own blissful world and the next thing you knew you were flat on your back, pain shooting down your arm. Tears sprang to your eyes immediately when you moved to sit up, your left arm screaming in pain at the slightest movement. Cursing through clenched teeth you yelled for Alexa to stop the music that was now doing nothing but adding to your distress. However, silence was not what your ears were met with. Instead you heard the voice of your ridiculously hot neighbor and it was getting closer to where you were lying, partially hidden between the kitchen island and the countertop.

"(Y/N)? (Y/N)! Are you okay?! Are you hur--"

"Bucky, STOP!" you shrieked, attempting to hide yourself even more. He cannot see me like this, he can NOT see me like this... "I-I'm fine, just slipped is all, no worries!" Your nervous laugh was interrupted by a gasp of pain you couldn't hold back when you moved your arm without thinking.

"Don't be ridiculous, you are definitely hurt. Here, let me help you." His footsteps were getting dangerously close.

"No! Bucky r-really you don't have to--" But it was too late, you threw your right arm over your face just as you heard him step around the kitchen island. "Please... I-I don't want you to see me like this.." you pleaded quietly.

The confusion was evident in his voice. "Like what? Hurt? Clumsy? Weak? (Y/N), this could've happened to anyone, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Now, lemme help you sit up. Where does it hurt?"

You sigh in resignation. "It's my left arm, I-I can't move it." You offer him your uninjured arm but keep your eyes tightly shut as if not seeing him would prove this is all some sort of horrible dream and any minute you'd wake up. Bucky eased you into a sitting position and gently maneuvered you so you could lean against the island, your good arm gingerly cradling your injured one.

"(Y/N)...?" Unable to avoid it any longer you opened your eyes, your vision immediately filled with the very concerned and very handsome face of one too-hot-for-his-own-good Bucky Barnes.

Not a dream. Nope, he is very real. And he's in your apartment. And you're practically in your underwear looking a hot mess. And not the good kind. That's when the tears really start to fall. All the pain and embarrassment become too much and you are powerless to stop it.

Bucky's face falls as he attempts to reassure you, "Hey, hey now.. don't cry! We're gonna get you fixed up and you'll be good as new, I promise. Everything's gonna be okay..."

At his kind words you just get more and more upset, your emotions taking over and everything you're feeling literally exploding out of you.

"NO! No, Bucky it's not, it is not gonna be okay! My arm hurts like hell and it's probably broken and I really don't have time to take off work a-and you're here-- omg you're here and you're just being so perfect and so nice and looking so GOOD and here I am looking like absolute trash-- nononono I-I can't believe you're seeing me like this, I just-- I just can't-- I-I--"

Taking your face in both of his hands, he pressed his forehead to yours. "(Y/N) stop... take a breath okay? Just breathe..."

You open your mouth to protest but he silences you with a gentle finger to your lips. "Ah, ah, ah... five deep breaths. Minimum. With me, now."

His deep voice left no room for argument and you shakily did as he said, matching your breathing with his. After a few moments you actually felt better and offered him a small smile. "Th-thank you, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here..."

He shuffled over and sat next to you, his knee nudging yours. "Well I hope you would have called me. I know that's what I would have done."

"Yeah," you laughed nervously before you paused and narrowed your eyes at him. "Wait... you're here. In my apartment.. Why are you here?" He was strangely silent as you began to put the pieces together, your eyes widening in realization. "Bucky... exactly how long have you been here?"

"Um..." His sheepish look immediately gave him away. "Just from like the second verse...?"

"BUCKY?!" you screeched as you swatted at him with your good arm. "Are you KIDDING me?"

"What? I'm sorry, okay?" He flinched and ducked to avoid your onslaught. "Stan delivered a package of yours to me by mistake and I was just returning it! You didn't answer the door when I knocked so... I let myself in..?"

"Oh my god," you cover your face with your free hand, "I can't believe you saw me like that."

"I don't know why you're so upset. I mean, I was really enjoying the sho--OW!" he yelped as you smacked his arm and went back to hiding behind your hand. "Seriously though, you have absolutely nothing to hide." You peeked at him, looking for signs of insincerity. "I for one really appreciated your... assets," he teased with a smirk and a wink.

"Stop it," you mumbled, a blush quickly creeping across your exposed skin.

"Nope. You're gorgeous."

"You don't mean that," you respond quietly, worrying your bottom lip in the process.

"Course I do, you're beautiful."

"Noooooo..." you insisted, shaking your head in protest.

"Sweetheart," he murmurs, cupping your cheek and gently turning you to face him. He waits until your gaze flickers up to meet his, those impossibly blue eyes so bright and so kind that you almost forget to breathe. "I want you to listen to me. And I need you to really, really hear me." You slowly nod your head, his face so close you can't miss the slight upturn of his smile when your tongue darts out to wet your lips. "You are undeniably, completely, take-my-breath-away, beautiful." With every word he moves imperceptibly closer to you, his nose gently nudging yours, pausing just before your lips touch, your eyes fluttering shut.

"Bucky?" you whispered.

"Yeah?" he whispered back.

"What are we doing?"

"Well... I was thinking about kissing you."

"Y-yeah?"

"Yeah."

You'd always thought if this moment ever came you'd be completely freaking out but instead you felt this overwhelming sense of calm, of rightness, of peace. The last bits of your hesitation and panic simply evaporated leaving nothing but you, you and Bucky, and this perfect, perfect moment...

"Okay," you exhaled with a smile.

"Okay?" The hope in his voice was unmistakable and it absolutely warmed your heart.

"Okay." You were ready. At least, you thought you were.

The first brush of his lips was so gentle you weren't sure if you'd imagined it or not. But the next... the next there was no mistaking it. You'd be lying to yourself if you said you hadn't dreamed about this moment countless times but this was leaps and bounds beyond anything your fantasies could come up with. Things were quickly becoming more heated as the kiss deepened and Bucky's hand slipped from your face into your hair and down your neck until---

"Aaah!" You cried out as Bucky quickly moved his hand from your shoulder. Eyes shut tight and jaw clenched you took a deep breath through your nose as you waited for the new wave of throbbing in your arm to pass.

A curse word or five erupted from Bucky as he scrambled back, hands in the air, "(Y/N) I am so, so sorry... I can't believe I got so carried away! Way to ruin the moment Barnes..." he muttered under his breath.

"I'm okay Bucky, really," he shook his head, guilt threatening to overtake him. "I wasn't exactly thinking about my arm either, that was some kiss mister." That got a grin out of him. "I promise, we'll be more careful from here on out, okay?" You smiled and reached for his hand, hoping you'd done enough to ease his mind. Bucky finally gave in and looked back at you. Seeing the sincerity in your eyes helped him to quickly shake off his guilt. He cleared his throat, straightened his shoulders, and went right back to taking charge.

"Alright, enough incredibly sexy distractions." You tried not to giggle but you couldn't help letting it out a little. "C'mon, let's get you to that hospital," Bucky picked himself up and turned, reaching down to help you up into a standing position, taking extra care not to aggravate your injury.

Steadying yourself against the counter you look down at what you're wearing and cringe, blushing again and shrinking into yourself in an effort to hide. "Ughhhh," you groan, "I can't go like... like this."

"May I remind you again, you are a knockout, and no," he stopped you before you could interrupt him, "you are not allowed to contradict me. Just take the damn compliment (Y/N)." You rolled your eyes, knowing there was no point in arguing with him and the pain in your arm certainly wasn't getting any better. "Now how about we just work on helping you feel more comfortable so we can get you taken care of."

You knew there was no point in arguing with him so you led the way to your bedroom hoping this wouldn't be yet another embarrassing moment in the mountain of embarrassment that was defining your day. "Okay, but don't judge me, my room is a mess even on cleaning day."

You could hear him chuckling behind you. "I'm sure it's an adorable mess, just like you." Shaking your head with a smile you opened your door and began to look around for something to wear.

Finding some clean, loose-fitting pajama pants and your flip flops was relatively easy, a shirt that wouldn't cause you to further injure your arm was another problem altogether. Your frustration was mounting again just as Bucky spoke up, "Here, I have an idea." You turned to see him slipping off his button up flannel, leaving him in a snug fitting tee.

Helloooo there... "Oh, um, n-no Bucky I couldn't..." but your protests were quickly dismissed with a shake of his head.

"Hush, this is the best option. Plus," he grinned, "I've always wondered what my girl would look like in my clothes." Is this guy even REAL?? Blushing anew you relented and finally fully allowed Bucky to help you out. After a few minutes of fumbling together with your clothes and trying not to jostle your injured arm you look up at him, admiring the adorably handsome concentrated look on his face as he worked on the last few buttons of your/his shirt.

"You're so sweet to do all this, you know you really don't have to..."

"Somebody's gotta take care of you doll, might as well be me," he says as he fastens the last button.

"You're lucky I like you so much," you teased rolling your eyes, that is until you locked gazes with him, stormy blue eyes holding something deep and wonderful within them that you'd definitely never seen before. Something that you suddenly realized you very much wanted to explore further.

"Yeah... I really am," he murmurs before kissing your forehead sweetly and escorting you out the door.

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Author's Note: I'm super nervous about this one for some reason? Just having a vulnerable moment idk... I've been struggling to write lately but pushed myself to finish this one. I'd love to know what you think! Comments and votes are greatly appreciated, thank you!!