Chapter Text
The courtroom was completely silent as Carol took a seat at the stand. You were shaking with nerves as it all depended on you now. Why had you agreed to this? Standing up to Pierce had sounded so good that you had totally forgotten that you would also have to win this on your own now. You were only a first-year law student and definitely not fit to represent Sharon. Fuck.
"Ms Woods, you may begin your questioning," the judge proclaimed.
Oh, God. Eyes wide, you stood up, shuffling through your papers. "Um, well. First of all, I would like to point out that not only is there no proof in this case, but there is a complete lack of mens rea, which by definition tells us there can be no crime without a vicious will."
The judge cut in. "I am aware of the meaning of mens rea. What I'm unaware of is why you're giving me a vocabulary lesson when you should be questioning your witness." She gestured towards Carol.
"Um, yes, your honour," you gulped, trying to ignore the thought of Pierce laughing at you. You lifted the folder with your notes in them before turning your attention to Carol. "Miss Carter. When you arrived back at the house, um, was your father there?"
Carol leaned forwards towards the mic and drawled monotonously, "I didn't see him, but like I said, I went straight upstairs to take a shower."
"And when you came downstairs, what did you see?"
Carol stared directly at Sharon, her voice cracking a bit. "I saw Sharon standing over his body," she looked over at the jury," covered in his blood."
You frowned. "But you didn't see Mrs Carter with a gun?"
"No. She stashed it by then."
Bucky cut in, "Move to strike that from the record, Your Honour. It's speculation."
The judge nodded, "So stricken."
Bucky gave you an encouraging nod and whispered: "Go ahead." You took a few deep breaths, feeling better by his reassuring smile.
You stepped closer to the witness again. "Miss Carter, did you hear a shot fired?"
"No, I was in the shower."
"Okay. So, sometime in the twenty minutes, you were in the shower, your father was shot."
"I guess," she nodded.
"Your father was shot while you were in the shower, but you didn't hear the shot because..." you tried to make sense of her story, "because you were in the shower?" People were starting to look confused, and most were wondering where you wanted to go with this. However, you could feel that there was something here. If only you could figure it out. Come on, Y/N!
"I was washing my hair," Carol looked at you like you were dumb.
You could hear mumbles from behind, but Bucky's voice was the only one that cut through, "Have a little faith in her." You turned towards him, wanting nothing else but to run out of the room. But he once again sent you an encouraging nod, and you knew you had something to prove here. If not to yourself, then to him. He had shown you the utmost faith, and you couldn't fail him.
"Um. Miss Carter, what had you done earlier that day?"
"I got up," she drawled, eyes glistening slightly. "Got a latte, went to the gym, got a perm and then came home." Huh!
"Where you got in the shower?" You turned with a flourish, raising your eyebrows at Carol.
"I believe the witness has made it clear that she was in the shower." The judge said, and laughter ensued behind you.
You laughed sheepishly. "Yes, your honour." You left the folder on the table and took a few confident strides toward Carol. "Miss Carter, have you ever gotten a perm before?"
"Yes," she rolled her eyes.
"How many would you say?"
"Two a year since I was 12. You do the math." You nodded at her before turning to the jury on your right.
"You know, a girl in my sorority, Kate Bishop, got a perm once. We all tried to talk her out of it. Curls weren't a good look for her. She didn't have your bone structure," you pointed at Carol before talking to the rest of the room. "But, thankfully, that same day, she entered the Beta Delta Pi wet t-shirt contest where she was completely hosed down from head to toe."
"Objection! Why is this relevant?" The prosecutor cut in.
"I have a point, I promise." you addressed the judge.
"Then make it."
"Yes, ma'am. Um, Carol," you stepped directly in front of her, "Why were Kate Bishop's curls ruined when she got hosed down?"
"Because they got wet?"
"Exactly. Because, isn't it the first cardinal rule of perm maintenance that you're forbidden to wet your hair for at least 24 hours after getting a perm at the risk of deactivating the ammonium thioglycolate?"
"Uh, y-yes," Carol stuttered.
"-And wouldn't somebody who's had, say, 30 perms in their life be well aware of this rule? And if, in fact, you weren't washing your hair as I suspect you weren't because your curls are still intact, wouldn't you have heard the gunshot?" You ignored Carol's protests, and the tears building up in her eyes and continued. "And if, in fact, you had heard the gunshot, Sharon Carter wouldn't have had time to hide the gun before you got downstairs. Which would mean you would have had to have found Mrs Carter with a gun in her hand to make your story plausible. Isn't that right?"
"She's my age! Did she tell you that? How would you feel if your father married someone your age?" Carol burst out.
"You, however, had time to hide the gun after you shot your father!" You continued.
"I didn't mean to shoot him," she cried, tears now falling freely. "I thought it was you walking through the door!" She stood up, pointing directly at Sharon.
Your eyes widened at her confession, and the room once again erupted into shocked gasps and confused mumbles. Carol's hand shot up to her mouth once she realised what she had said.
"Order!" the judge banged her gavel multiple times. "Bailiff, take the witness into custody where she will be charged for the murder of Mr Carter. In the matter of The State vs. Sharon Carter, this case is dismissed. Mrs Carter, you are free to go."
"Oh my God," you whispered as you turned around. You did it! A relieved smile fell on your face as you watched Sharon's face beaming with happiness. Maria and Wanda erupted into excited cheers behind you, inciting everyone, too. Well, everyone but Pierce, but the look on his face was a joy in of itself.
You walked towards Bucky, whose face was shining with pride. "You did so well. Good job!" His arms opened for a hug, and without thought, you crushed your body against his. He was warm and smelt of something you couldn't quite point out, but it was so good, and so him. You completely melted into his arms as the adrenaline started to wear off.
It was only when Sharon laid a hand on your arm that you realised that you were still hugging him. As you moved to hug Sharon, you looked up at Bucky, wondering if he thought the hug was too long, but he smiled so happily at you that you forgot that thought immediately.
Carol was taken out of the room as Sharon hugged you tightly. "Thank you! I always believed in you!" You grinned at her before moving to hug everyone else.
This was the best day ever.
***
A couple of interviews later, and you were now ready to go home. You got your bags and the last of your notes. You had plans to go out for a celebratory dinner with all the people who had supported you during the case. Even Natasha was invited after she called to give you a lengthy apology, and all was good between the two of you, now.
"Y/N!" Tony called out just as you were about to leave. He ran up to you, a smile on his face. "I just wanted to say that you were so brilliant in there. And that I was wrong."
You raised an eyebrow, curious to hear what he would say. "Yeah?"
"You are the girl for me," he grabbed your hands, caressing them slightly.
"Really?" You smiled.
"Yes. Pooh bear, I love you," he kissed your hands while still staring you deeply in the eye.
"Oh Tony," you smile even wider, "You don't know how long I've waited to hear you say that."
Tony's grinned at your words, thinking he had you again.
"But if I'm gonna be a partner at a law firm by the time I'm thirty. I'm gonna need a boyfriend who's not such a complete idiot." You dropped his hands, rolling your eyes as you stepped out the door. The nerve he had to think you would actually want him back after he spent most of his time belittling you.
What a douchebag.
***
Several outfit changes later and a few drinks shared with Maria and Wanda, you finally arrived at the rooftop restaurant that you had rented for the occasion. You hadn't wanted to show off your wealth while at Harvard, but this was a special occasion.
People were already seated, just waiting for the main guest to arrive which was - well, you. You took your seat at the end but didn't sit down immediately. A good host had to hold a speech.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight! I really appreciate it. It was a tough case, but we did it! So bottoms up, cause tonight we are celebrating! To all you wonderful people, I hope you have a wonderful evening. Cheers!" Everyone cheered loudly before drinking what they had left in their glasses.
During dinner, you couldn't help but glance at Bucky every minute or so. He looked incredibly hot in his black suit. But it seemed you weren't the only one who wasn't capable of looking away as you caught his eye multiple times. And each time he wore the sweetest blush on his cheeks. You really liked him. There it was. Out in the open. You must have been blind to not see all the hints he was throwing you that he felt the same, but with the stress of law school and Tony, you had completely forgotten everything you had been taught at Delta Nu. Thankfully, it wasn't for good.
And as it seemed Bucky was too shy to make the first move, it was up to you. So, after dinner and a few drinks shared with Peggy, Maria, and Wanda, you made your way up to Bucky at the bar.
"Tired, already? Is the party that boring?" you nudged his shoulder slightly as you slid into the seat next to him.
"Huh? Oh, no!" he hurried to say when he saw you.
"But it is much better now that I am here, right?" you smiled flirtatiously, even throwing in a little wink before turning to order a drink. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw him blink twice at the forwardness, and that once again sweet blush fell on his cheeks. Everything went according to plan.
"What are you drinking?" You asked as you sipped the cooling and sweet piña colada you had ordered. It reminded you of LA and the sun, a place you missed dearly. But, at the same time, you had come to love this place so much, however, mainly because of the people you had met.
"Whiskey on the rocks," he swirled the liquid in his glass around as he turned his body slightly more towards you.
"Wow, that's such a grown-up drink, but it fits, I guess. You are old," you teased him, nudging his knee with yours.
"Hey!" His eyes darted down to your bare knee that now rested against his, and travelled up your thigh as he protested. "I am not old."
"You're older than me. So, I guess it's good that I prefer older men," you shrugged nonchalantly, as you took a sip. Bucky, however, was less cool about it as he choked slightly on his whiskey.
"You okay?" You laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah," he coughed slightly, cheeks once again burning. All the tricks you knew had worked, and you were more than certain that Bucky liked you back.
The two of you spent who knows how long just talking, and though you withdrew from using the most obvious flirting tricks you knew, you couldn't help but keep flirting a little with him. You did like him, so it was difficult not to. It was sweet to see him shy and unsure of how to take your forwardness.
As the night drew to an end, the music started slowing down.
"Let's dance! I haven't danced with you yet, and I want to," You didn't even give him the option to say no, as you took his hand and dragged him out on the floor. His cheeks were once again red.
"I- uh-I don't know what to do," he admitted to you shyly, and the love you felt for him just grew larger.
"That's okay, just follow my lead." You placed his hands on your hips as you draped yours around his neck. Slowly, he began to move his feet with yours. "Just like that!"
The two of you swayed in silence for a moment, neither breaking eye contact.
"Thank you for everything, Bucky. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"No, I-" he attempted to wave it off.
"No, really! If we hadn't met that day, I would probably have dropped out, and then there's this whole case. I could not have done it without you. So, thank you," you smiled softly, mirroring his smile. "And, also, I really like you. I think I might have fallen in love with you during all of this."
Bucky's eyes widened almost comically, and his steps faltered at your words. "Wha- what? You like me?"
"I do," you grinned.
"You like me," he said mostly to himself as a huge smile broke out on his face. "I really like you, too!"
"Good." And with that, you did the thing you had wanted to do all evening. You kissed him. God, he had soft lips. He tasted slightly of whiskey, and you could not get enough of him. And when Bucky gained some courage, he pressed your body closer to his as his other caressed your cheek. Who knew that going to law school with a broken heart would have brought you to someone who had healed it without even knowing. Someone who made you so much happier than you thought possible.
It must have been fate.