pov- imagines

VOICEMAILS- B. BARNES

pairings: bucky barnes x reader

warnings: mentions of bucky's trauma and insecurities, but honestly just fluff

about: inspired by that thing where a dad had a voicemail of his daughter saying she loves him and he accidentally deleted it

"hey, buck," the background noise is familiar, distinct voices he can barely recognize as wanda and natasha causing a disaster in your kitchen faint behind your voice. "'just wanted to remind you i love you." a clatter and loud laughter sounds from the speaker, the sound of your name being called shortly after. bucky can catch get back to ladies night and leave your boyfriend alone from natasha before you laugh lightly, "jus' wanted to say that, but you didn't answer so i'll tell you again later, but i love you. i'll see you soon, honey."

the click of the voicemail ending breaks bucky out of the image of you huddled behind your kitchen wall, phone pressed to your ear as you sneak away from your ladies' night with natasha and wanda just to tell bucky you love him.

bucky allows himself to play it again, focusing on the sweet hush of your voice as you try to shield your words from the prying ears of the avengers in the room next to you, trying to keep your words to bucky private. just for him.

bucky's halfway through the voicemail when your voice is cut off by the shrill ringing of his phone, catching him off guard and making him nearly drop the device. his fingers only begrudgingly press the answer button when he sees it's sam calling, frustrated tone asking sam what before the man can get a word in.

"jeez, just wanted to let you know we were coming home in a little. no need to growl."

"you couldn't text me that?" bucky asks.

"seeing your history with texting? no."

rolling his eyes, bucky hangs up the phone, going to continue playing the message when he suddenly realizes the saved voicemails folder is empty. the only thing on there was your message, and as he clicks at the three little dots on the upper corner of the screen, he has never felt more technologically helpless than in that moment.

grunting, he throws his phone on the bed, running a hand over his face.

he's aware he could easily call you instead of listening to a year-or-so-old voicemail you sent him in the earlier throes of your relationship, but the entire situation of the voicemail had just taken him off guard, and it had become something he'd comfort himself with when he didn't feel brave enough to bother you. or when the demons that intruded in his mind began to win the fight he thought he had the upper hand in, convincing him that the enamored verses that you rain over him are false. broken promises.

but the sound of your voice in the recording, the situation you stepped out of just because of the pure love you had for him made him believe they were wrong. because you can't fake the sincerity of the love laced in your voice. it was just so...you. so much of everything you'd said he deserved.

he figured out how to save voicemails just for it.

and now it was gone.

the reminder sent the frustrated feeling of tears rushing to his eyes, and he reached for his phone again in an effort to see if he could do anything about it. when he realized it was probably completely gone, he wiped at wet eyes, feeling embarrassed and a little panicked.

eventually, he locked his phone in a cabinet and tried to distract himself, anxiously awaiting your return.

-

you and sam returned nearly an hour later, and while sam went to go take a shower—thanks to him making a short and easy mission dirty— you went to look for your boyfriend, excited to see him again even though you only left a couple of hours ago.