homecoming » bucky barnes AU

chapter nine

Bucky stirred, scrunching his face up a bit as the warm, morning light shone over him, illuminating the high points of his tired face. He peeled his eyes open, blinking rapidly in attempt to stop them from being blurred. His head felt hollow and his throat and lips were dry and stingy. As his vision cleared, he saw beside him a tangly mess of blonde hair, facing away from him, also toward the large bedroom window. He smiled ever so softly, his lips barely allowing themselves to curve. He lay his hand under his cheek, shutting his eyes over once more to rest them and actually assess the hangover's severity.

Last night, himself and Laecie got a taxi home after walking toward the little town below Thor and Loki's house. They had left an hour or so after returning from the bathroom, loopy and hazy, drinking another drink or two and wobbling down the gravel roads of lush, green hill where the large home perched. Bucky didn't actually have any memory of who they spoke to or what they did upon their return from the bathroom.

Also, he was puzzled as to why they ended up at his house, not anywhere else. Laecie hadn't ever been inside, so he guessed she may be a little disoriented as she woke up. He swallowed, his mouth aching for any kind of moisture. He frowned, eyes still closed as he just felt the dry sting of nothingness slither down his throat. He opened his eyes, turning over and pulling his legs over the side of the bed. He was quiet, careful not to wake Laecie. He stood up, only in a pair of underwear he must have put on to sleep in and a pair of gym socks.

His feet dragged along the hardwood to the bathroom and he ducked his face under the tap.  He allowed the water to run over his lips before parting them slowly and taking gulps from the tap. Better.

He took one of the small cups that he and his father would use for mouthwash from the cabinet under the sink, rinsing it and filling it with water for Laecie. He crept back into the room, sliding back in beside her and snaking an arm over her, now intent to wake her up.

Laecie's eyes fluttered open, her old mascara tugging at her lower lashes as she did. Immediately she was bombarded with a burning in her throat from vodka and a pounding in the back of her skull, as if she was being hit with a sledgehammer from the inside. She furrowed her brows as she recognised the bright sun hitting her right in the face, before turning over to see where the warm touch was hailing from.

She smiled warmly as her sleepy eyes found James, looking at her silently, smiling softly to her. She looked around the room, puzzled.
"We're in your room."
She stated hoarsely. Her mouth tasted of cigarettes and alcohol still.
"Yeah."
He said back softly, licking his thumb and running it under one of her eyes. She shut them, her face to his now, sighing.
"I feel awful."
She mumbled, putting her arm under her cheek, too.
"Here,"
James said, sitting up slowly and taking the glass of water from his bedside locker.

Laecie sat up too, drinking the water quickly and placing the little glass on the windowsill to her side. They both lay back down, facing one another, just staring.

James' eyes were more awake now, brighter, twinkling as they did whenever Laecie saw them. She ran her hand through his hair, scooping any parts on the side of his head back in one direction. It was soft and a bit greasy. Her warm palm lay on his stubbly jaw.

"Are you alright?"
James asked quietly. Laecie nodded, digging her cheek a bit further into her pillow, closer to his face.
"Yeah. I had a good time. Their house is so big."
She said, smiling with some teeth now as she spoke. James nodded.
"It's nice though. Funny that you saw me half naked for the first time in a bathroom in a mansion belonging to some guys we barely know."
He said, chuckling. This earned a small beam from Laecie, her nose scrunching as she recalled what they did.
"Yeah. It was good, though. I wouldn't change it."
She used a nimble finger to gently pull some hairs out of his face. He tilted his chin up to lay a soft kiss on her wrist.
"Thank you. It was good for me, too. Really good."
He laughed at the last part, widening his eyes and raising his eyebrows teasingly. Laecie returned her hand to his cheek.