Those Ocean Eyes and That Charming Smile

108

The night went by with careful movements, taking everything slow, and constantly asking if we are comfortable and okay. Bucky's hair was cut and his beard was trimmed to give him his look back and I could already see some color in his eyes when he felt his face after I sat him through my skin care routine. He didn't mind. He actually really enjoyed me taking care of him by dropping every ounce of my time and concentration into making sure he was back at one hundred. He was a little hesitant- well, he was a lot of hesitant on sleeping in the same bed with me but after some guidance and a few hours of just laying in bed watching movies, we eventually cuddled and I drifted off to sleep.

I never knew if Bucky also made it asleep and it seems like my question is answered when I suddenly wake up in the middle of the night to feel an empty bed I've grown used to but do not like when I open my eyes and sit up, rubbing the sleep out of my heavy eyelids as I shuffle out of bed and walk to the small light that peeks out of the crack of the bathroom door. I place my hand on the door and softly push it open to see the reflection of Bucky's back as he stands, looking in the body mirror with a neutral face while poking at his scars between his metal and skin. He used to do this a lot so it's not new but, there is a different look in his eyes than the 'why me?' he always had before and I can't quite make it out yet.

"Bucky?" I whisper and feel a dryness in my throat that I clear. "Whatcha doing, sweetheart?" I ask while sliding my hand up his warm back and his eyes finally connect with mine through the mirror

"Thinking." Bucky sighs and drops his right hand to turn to look at me when I step to his side

"Are you okay?" I make sure before moving on

"Oh, yeah." He waves his hand and walks over to the bathtub to sit on the edge with me following. "Just thinking." He murmurs

"Have you been to bed yet?" I ask and he glances at me before glances at his intertwined fingers

"Uh... no. Not yet." He eventually answers

"My love." I sigh and step forward in between his legs and place my hands on his face so he looks up at me. "You have to sleep eventually." I tell him like Steve told me

"I-I know." He nods and rests his hands on the back of my thighs. "I'm trying."

"I believe you." I smile softly. "And I'm proud of you for trying." I add

"Thanks, babydoll." He sighs a small smile and looks down at my thighs for a little while I brush my hands through his short brown hair. "C-can I ask you a personal question?" He hesitantly looks up at me

"Of course, honey." I nod. "What's on your mind?" I encourage his thoughts

He sighs deeply when he slowly and softly slides his left hand up my thigh and over my shorts. I know what he's doing and I don't say anything or do anything to keep him comfortable as possible as his metal hand slips under my shirt and pulls it up, tucking it under the bottom of my bra. His eyes float over my tattoo and his fingers follow, not tracing over the ink this time but the raised scars that litter my side. I look down when his finger traces the biggest one on top of my hip that is all jagged and ugly looking when it has the most tough tissue underneath. My gaze makes his fingers stop because he knows how insecure I am of that scar hidden below a leaf but I place my hand on his, reassuring him that he is okay.

"Why are yours white and mine are red?" Bucky asks in a hushed tone and I guess this is what he was thinking about

"I'm not sure, my love." I answer honestly. "If I had to guess, I would say that it's because yours have been reopened so many times there is more blood to heal while mine were only opened once and didn't need as much." I explain my hypothesis