1476 {Bucky x reader}

15

The breath in my throat hitched when the pain flew through my side.

I've been running through trees and bushes for hours now, exploring the dirt paths that swerved through old rubble of various sizes. The foam soles in my shoes moulded around my feet as I ran further through those broken trees that lined the Avengers new compound.

It's almost been a month since I arrived on that blinding platform. No sign of Ivo, not even any assassinations were attempted or made during that time. He has simply... vanished...

The relationship between Bucky and I? It was slowly blooming into something beautiful. We may take it further and we may not, but I was comfortable with what we shared at the moment; our long talks about our past, adventures, dreams for the future. He sparked something in me that I've never felt before... peace. Though I was terrified about what laid ahead of me, the knowledge that haunted me, the sudden feelings and relationship between Bucky and I calmed and frightened me—what a contrast.

I made my way back to the compound once my body became a living flame inside. Limping and clutching my side from the heavy stitch that formed, I sat in the training room and took steady sips from my water bottle to keep me from feeling sick.

"Had a nice run?" Wanda strolls over to me with a soft smile plastered on her face.

"It was alright." Wincing and hissing were all that came from my mouth once I spoke.

"Stitch?" She raises a brow and I nod my head. Red wisps stick to my side before a rush of warmth, a soothing touch—feeling. It massaged me gently and smoothed the pain away. "Tell me what's been going on with you and Bucky? Anything new?" She calmly asked in her seat next to mine, moving her fingers rhythmically to control her magic.

"We're good. Our relationship is going slow at the moment... but I like it." A small smile tugged on my lips. We didn't hide what we had, Bucky and I. There was no need to hide it from the others. "How'd you learn to do that?" I asked as the glowing red disappears and the pain in my side is calmed into a tolerable, sore muscle.

"Overtime." She smiles sadly but never met my eyes. "I'm happy," she finally looks up at my face as she begins, "for you and Bucky. Make sure you cherish him... every moment you spend together. Good and bad." She takes my scar flecked hand in hers and squeezes tight. "For you'll never know what will come, whether it takes you or him. Remember every moment. Love him. He's been through enough pain and suffering... we all have." Her throat bobs and I blink the stinging away from my eyes. "Promise that will you? Promise me that you will love everything about him, every moment you spend with each other? It can be taken away from you so easily." Her voice wavers and a tear rolls down to her chin. I wipe it away with my thumb and pull her close in a warm embrace.

"I promise you. Until my dying days..." My voice broke to a whisper, we parted but I kept a grip on her shoulders. "I will cherish him, you... all of you. I will cherish and love every moment until my last breath. And when I am looking down upon you from above, I will still love you all. For you are my gift from the Father and Mother." A single tear of my own dripped from my eyelashes. Wanda rubbed it away as I had done with hers.

"Thank you," was all she could muster before pulling me into a tight hold as her shoulders rose and dropped unevenly in-between sobs.

That conversation and moment with Wanda made me realise. Bucky was what I was missing, this team, this family was what I was missing. I needed to tell Bucky this. I needed to tell Bucky how much I appreciated his kindness towards me, all the moments we've shared. The hugs, the conversations, the cute little date nights by the fire as we watched movies on the medium-sized screen, the little kisses and gestures of his affection towards me. Whatever Wanda had gone through, it affected her enough to almost beg me.