Brought Us Together

Chapter 3

Natasha tried her best not to smile as you laughed. Your smile was brighter than the sun and lit her day up. It was warming and always reminded her of home. As your laughter died out, she couldn't help but want to hear more. She mentally cursed herself for having a soft spot for you but then, who wouldn't? You were perfectly imperfect. You had your flaws, but it seemed like no one could ever find them. The way you cared for everyone, even someone who had hurt you the most, just brought her into a protective mode, not wanting you to feel any pain.

Natasha glanced at Bucky who would agree with her thoughts.

A giggle brought her out of her trance and she looked to her side where you were standing with a wide smile on your lips. Natasha quirked an eyebrow, slightly amused and irritated.

You only nudged her to open her bedroom door as everyone else stood behind you and Bucky. You and Bucky smiled slightly before running off as Natasha opened the door and was avalanched by packing peanuts. Bucky held your hand, guiding you through the compound and kept his pace slow enough for you.

His feet stopped at his room before he pushed it open and let you both in.

"FRIDAY, don't let Natasha kill us," you announced before flopping onto the bed.

"Do you wish to lock the room access to Miss Romanoff, Miss [Y/S]?" Her voice echoed around the room as Bucky flopped down next to you, scrolling through the TV shows and movies.

"Yes, FRIDAY," you sighed. "That's what I mean."

"Activating protocol." You grinned as the lock made an audible click and hoped that Natasha didn't find a way to override the protocol.

"What do you want to watch, doll?" Bucky asked, passing the remote to you. You took it and quickly put on A Series of Unfortunate Events.

You snuggled closer to Bucky as he wrapped his metal arm around you. You smiled, feeling the cool metal against your waist. Your heart started to beat faster as you noticed that Bucky's instinct to wrap his arm around you didn't falter with the metal arm. Usually, he wouldn't wrap it around you, but this time he didn't notice. You felt him tense as he finally noticed the arm around you. Your eyes were on the screen but you could feel his eyes study you.

You were relaxed and smiling slightly, watching the show without any uncertainty of the ex Winter Soldier wrapping his arm around you. It made his heart skip a beat to think you accepted both sides of him. One side of him wanted you to hold him tight and tell him that you weren't going anywhere, even if the whole world was against him. On the other side, he wanted to hope that you would tell him this was just a sick joke and that you never would be friends or more someone like him. His stomach twisted at the horrible thought of you moving away from him. Both, physically and mentally.

You had him grounded and he thought that if it weren't for you, he wouldn't be here. He would be rotting away in a prison made to contain the Winter Soldier. He would still be the Winter Soldier and not the Bucky you knew him as. He couldn't come to imagine how you would react if he ever did become the Winter Soldier again. You weren't there for when he underwent therapy or when Tony got rid of the trigger words.

Getting rid of the Winter Soldier wasn't easy for Tony or Bucky. Whenever they tried some new gadget to get rid of the words, they would have to try the words. Every time Bucky became the Winter Soldier, he would rampage and fight anyone who came close to him. It would take the Hulk to knock him unconscious. After a few months, Tony made a room where Bucky could stay while Natasha said the trigger words. It took almost a year before Bucky stayed as Bucky.

You snuggled into his side as you fell asleep, still tired from the few hours of sleep you had got. Bucky smiled softly at your sleeping figure before shifting carefully, trying to make you more comfortable.

Your legs were now spread over his as your head rested on his chest, your hand resting next to your head. His metal arm wrapped around your waist while his other hand weaved through your hair. He pressed his cheek to your forehead, breathing in the comforting scent of your shampoo.

"Thank you, [Y/N]. For everything. You accept me, you help me without noticing. You smiling, laughing with me and not having a fear of me. Thank you for being you. Not giving up on me when I didn't talk much. Thank you," he whispered as you slept, not knowing any of this. He watched you sleep before your breathing lulled him to sleep too.

- - - - -

You woke up to the rapid tapping at the window. The rain was pouring down quickly with crackles of thunder and lightning. The water dripped down the window as you watched with a whisper of a smile. You had always loved the rain with thunder and lightning crossing the sky, lighting it up. You stared at the window for a few more moments before noticing the man next to you.

Bucky was sleeping peacefully, his mouth opened slightly as he took deep breaths. His hair was flattened down as opposed to his long hair which would be covering his face. His form made you wonder whether you should wake him up or leave him sleeping.

His eyes fluttered as the next crack of thunder sounded in the sky, making your decision for you. Bucky's eyes adjusted to the blue-tinged room before his gaze fell upon you. His blue eyes wandered around your face, a smile creeping upon his face.

"What time is it?" His groggy voice echoed around his room as he watched you check the time on his phone.

"Half-past two," you answered, "in the afternoon." He groaned and grabbed your waist, bringing you closer to him, your back against his chest. He spoke as he nuzzled his head into the crook of your neck.

"Natasha won't kill us now, will she?" His voice sent shivers down your spine, making you smile.

"I sure hope not." His chest vibrates as he hummed, breathing on your neck, sending shivers around your body each time. You thought that he had drifted to sleep before he spoke again.