For Better or for Worse (Stucky)

Healing

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains descriptions and mentions of death and death aftermath/grief.

„I should start work again tomorrow." Bucky mumbled, still sitting there with Steve even an hour later, having made no attempt to move.
„We can call in that you're sick. It's what I did the last few days." Steve replied, nuzzling against his temple gently.
„I don't want to loose my job." Bucky mumbled, biting his lower lip and shaking slightly.
„You won't, love. They understand. And they will continue to understand that you need more time." Steve reassured, kissing his temple softly. „What would you like to do today?"

Bucky exhaled deeply, nodding slowly and resting his head on Steve's shoulder. „We could bake something together."
Steve smiled and nodded at that, giggling softly. „My little baker~"
Bucky just nodded, exhaling deeply. „Let's get up."
„If that's what you'd like." Steve reassured, letting Bucky help him up once he'd removed himself from his lap. Watching quietly, he bit the inside of his cheek as Bucky looked at his puffy and tear stained face in the mirror, bending down and splashing some cold water onto it before drying it off, grabbing a hair tie and putting his tangled hair up loosely.

Steve sighed softly, wishing Bucky would smile again. He missed his smile and the beautiful way his nose crunched up when he laughed.
Bucky ran his hand over his eyes again, walking over to the corner where the shattered glass still lay and starting to pick up the pieces.
„I can clean it." Steve reassured, walking over and crouching down.
„You'll only cut yourself." Bucky replied, shaking his head as he continued picking up the glass with his metal hand and then disposing of everything alongside with the toothbrushes, knowing they had spare ones in the cupboard.

„I'll get a replacement later this week." Bucky said, just as he rinsed his hands off to make sure there wasn't any glass left. „Sorry for... well."
Steve nodded, carefully putting his hands onto Bucky's sides from behind. „Thank you for apologizing. You know we don't break things when we're upset, but this was an extraordinary situation, so I understand."
Bucky exhaled deeply, nodding slowly as he looked at the sink before parting from Steve and walking to the kitchen.

„Would you like to eat breakfast?" Steve asked, smiling as he watched him move around. Glad he'd stopped lingering in bed all day. 
„Sure." Bucky shrugged, bending down when Ebony joined them in the kitchen and meowed loudly. Gently picking her up, he kissed her head softly. „My little drama queen. You're acting like you're starving. Yes, you are."
Gently setting her down again, he fed her alongside with Alpine who'd also decided to join them after taking a morning stroll.

They made breakfast together, Bucky still much more quiet than Steve liked, but he at least didn't retreat to bed again.
They ate together and talked a bit, about having Sam visit again soon alongside with Jade -Bucky patiently waiting for the two to break the news to them officially-.
„Next weekend sound good?" Steve asked, nudging Bucky's foot under the table once they just sat there drinking coffee after having already cleared their plates.
„Sounds fine." Bucky nodded, exhaling deeply. „Want to make brownies?"

„Sure, if that's what you'd like." Steve replied, getting up and checking if they had everything.
„I'll go change." Bucky mumbled, leaving without waiting for a reaction.
Steve sighed to himself as he got up, getting everything out and starting to crack open the eggs once he'd gotten them out.
„You know, it's better to crack them on a flat surface." Bucky said as he walked up to him from behind, his hands steady as he extended them to grab the two remaining eggs from Steve.

„If you do it like this..." He cracked the egg open on the counter, lifting it carefully and emptying the contents into the bowl. „Any shell that might break will not fall into your bowl, so you don't end up having to fish it out."
Steve smiled softly as he watched him, walking a bit closer and nuzzling against his shoulder from behind. „My sweet, talented baker."
Bucky hummed a bit, closing his eyes for a secomd before moving on to measuring how much oil and milk they needed. „Steve?"