Avengers: Reader Inserts

Flinch ~ Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word Count: 2,225ish

Summary: You are hiding an abusive relationship from the team.

Warning: abusive relationship (not explicit)

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You weren't an Avenger, but you did work at the Avengers Compound in Upstate New York. You were one of the doctors there. To be honest, you were the Team's favorite doctor. And that meant that you often spent many late nights at the compound instead of going home to your boyfriend. You treated their training and mission injuries, and even their lab and roughhousing injuries. One time, Tony had even called you to his lab because of a paper cut.

You quickly formed a tight bond with the whole team. Especially those who frequented the med-bay. Bucky, Sam, and Steve were the most reckless of the team, everyone knew that. You more than anyone. And it wasn't long before the four of you were almost inseparable. Almost, meaning when they weren't on missions and you weren't with your boyfriend.

You and your boyfriend, Alan, had been together for four years. Living together for three. He was there cheering you on when you graduated and there to celebrate when you got a job with the Avengers. He was so happy for you. But that was almost a year and a half ago now, and things have changed. As you began to spend more and more time over at the compound, he became needier and needier, slowly turning manipulative and aggressive towards you.

He started beating you six months ago, after he watched Bucky bring you home from drinks with the team. Alan was furious, immediately thinking you were cheating on him with Bucky. You woke up naked in bed, alone. Bruises and marks littered your body. You stayed curled up in bed, not caring about being late to work, until Alan had gone to work himself.

Thankfully, you were a doctor. You patched yourself up, covered up the bruises and marks, and then went to work. At first, you were good at hiding it. But slowly, as the abuse continued, it started to wear you down. The light around you was slowly dimming, and the Team was noticing. Especially Bucky.

Bucky had been physically attracted to you ever since he met you. And the more he got to know you, the more he fell in love with every part of you. He know you were in a relationship, so he made sure he never crossed the line of best friend. Bucky had met your boyfriend a few times, never liking him once. There was just something about him.

Bucky was the first to notice you wearing more long sleeves than usual. He also noticed that you started wearing more makeup than usual and had started avoiding any form of physical touch. He was too scared to mention anything to you first, so he brought it up with the team. Turned out, he wasn't the only one to notice the shift. They were all pretty sure it was your boyfriend. But when asked about your relationship, you always said good things.

It was a late night, and you were staying at the compound. Mostly because it was your turn to be on call, but also to avoid going home to Alan. You couldn't sleep, too scared of what your dreams might show. So you were in the common room, sipping a drink while you were curled up in the couch. And that's where Bucky found you when he came out for a drink.

"Why are you up?" Bucky asked. You jumped, actually scared. "I'm sorry, I should have made myself known."

"No, it's okay, Buck," you responded, clearly still trying to calm yourself. "I just couldn't sleep. You?"

"Same." He plopped down at the other end of the couch. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Nothing to talk about." You gave him a small smile.

"Hm... okay. Wanna watch something?"

"Actually, I think I'm going to head to bed." You started to head away. "Goodnight-"