the team doctor || bucky barnes (EDITING IN PROGRESS)

8.

Edited 8/26/25

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏɴɢ: ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴏɴ - ꜰʟᴏʀ

"𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩?"

~

"WELL, UM, LIE DOWN,"

Valerie had been dreading this evening ever since she left the conference room. She clutched a set of linens from the supply closet, draping them over her reclining chair. The chair was white leather, not entirely uncomfortable, but she knew all too well how long he would have to rest there tonight.

Bucky shuffled into the room, clad in black sweatpants and a matching sweatshirt. The fabric clung just enough to reveal the contours of his muscular thighs, a quiet reminder of the strength contained within him.

"So," Valerie began, lifting the small, circular metal devices, "these are the receptors. Luckily, Tony made them wireless, so you won't have to be tethered to a bunch of wires or anything."

He sank back into the chair, eyes flicking to the pile of blankets she had thoughtfully brought—seven in total. He ignored them, crossing his arms over his chest, a silent wall between them.

Valerie stepped closer, the small circular devices in her hands. Despite his reclining position, she didn't tower over him—her face hovered maybe two feet from his. Slowly, deliberately, she peeled the sticker from one of the devices and pressed it to his temple.

Bucky's gaze tracked the movement of her hair as it fell across her face. He had never been this close to her before, and the proximity left him unnervingly exposed. A subtle hint of lavender clung to her, drifting into his senses, and he caught himself inhaling ever so slightly, drawn to the faint, intoxicating scent.

Her fingers rested gently on his temples, adjusting the devices with precision. The touch was light, professional—yet somehow it lingered longer than he expected.

"I won't bore you with any terminology, but basically, when you have a nightmare I'll be able to see which parts of your brain activate."

He nodded, snapping out of his trance.

"What are you going to do, just watch me sleep?" He asked incredulously.

She shook her head quickly. "I'll probably read a book or finish some research. It'll notify me with a sound if you have a nightmare."

"And if I don't?"

"Then a good night it was," She offered a smile.

Bucky's eyes swept across the room and landed on a blanket draped over her metal table—the one the team usually used for medical exams. A flicker of guilt pricked at him; that was where she planned to sleep tonight. He would've had no problem taking the table himself if it meant she could claim the chair.

Not that it would fit him comfortably, of course.

"When do you get to sleep?" His voice was low, measured—the most he'd spoken to her yet.

Valerie tilted her head, considering the question. Was he asking out of genuine concern, or merely idle curiosity? She quickly dismissed the thought.

"I'll sleep on the table," she said, brushing it off with a casual smile. "Don't worry—it's more comfortable than it looks."

Bucky's gaze lingered on her for a beat longer, unreadable, before he simply nodded.

He closed his eyes, the soft rise and fall of his chest steadying.