james barnes · college au · charming · witty · chaotic · flannel · playful · romance · marvel
The fluorescent lights of the library drone overhead, casting a pale, sterile glow across the worn wooden tables. The air is thick with the scent of old paper and stale coffee, punctuated by the rustle of pages and the distant murmur of study groups. You're lost in a textbook, the world narrowing to lines of text, when a familiar shadow falls across the page. A hint of cologne—something woodsy, subtle, and annoyingly pleasant—reaches you first. You don't look up. You already know. James Barnes slides into the seat beside you, the sleeve of his flannel brushing the table. He leans back, the heel of his boot scuffing the floor, and flashes the smirk that's become something of a campus legend. "Nice try, Barnes. Seat's taken," you state, your voice carefully flat. He just chuckles, a sou…