So Long || J.B.B.

10: after all these lifetimes?

Tw: verbal/ physical abuse, domestic violence, mentions of SA

It was the morning after the madness that was Manhattan. Sharon went off on her own while Bucky and I made it back to his place. It was the quiet morning hours when we arrived. I was still limping from the bullet that was still in my leg. I'm honestly surprised that I haven't passed out from the pain yet.

"Hey Buck, I'm gonna need your help getting this bullet out," I said, partially out of breath.

He let out a long sigh and agreed. He carried me to the bathroom and placed me on the sink. Thankfully, it wasn't too far in my skin and he was able to get it out with ease from his vibranium arm.

"You know who shot you," he asked. His voice was quiet.

I shook my head, almost everything was a blur. "My best guess is Karli, but everyone but me had a gun. I'm supposed to be the one who had the fastest reflexes in that situation. I should have been able to get out before I got hit. I-"

"Hey, Rose, don't do that to yourself, please," he said, holding my face with the hand that wasn't covered in my blood. "You did the best you could."

"Can I ask you a question, Buck?"

"You just did." he said, now stitching up my leg.

"Ha ha, very funny. Here's another one; why are you calling me by my middle name now?"

He had to stop and think, it seemed like he didn't even notice he was addressing me that way. "Well, I've always called you by that. In my head, I mean. And... I like the way it makes you blush whenever I say it."

I could feel my face get warm. Dammit Bucky. My leg was stitched and cleaned up and the bullet is now laying in the bathroom trash can.

I lifted myself off the counter and brought myself to the sad and empty living area. There was only one chair so I took it and turned on the TV and went straight to the news channel. Turns out the car that was transporting the rest of Karli's people to a high security prison was bombed. Bucky was in the doorway watching the news with me.

"Think Zemo had anything to do with that," he asked.

"Most likely," I answered. "Why don't you have any furniture in here, babe?"

"Doesn't feel like I need any more, why?"

"It's just so barren here. Why don't we go do some shopping to fix that?"

I could see a small smile form on his face. "So, you're gonna move up here with me? Is that what I'm getting at?"

"So many questions today, huh. And maybe, we could find a bigger place too, just so we have rooms available for guests. Like Sam and his family if they choose to come up."

He didn't hesitate in accepting. I think just having someone else close to him helps with his past traumas. I know it helps me in a way.

I took a much needed nap on the one chair while he sat on the floor. It wasn't comfortable in the slightest but I was able to fall asleep enough for me to have a nightmare. It was the first one I had in months.

The image of the man I was engaged to didn't leave my mind. It was the night I had left him.

Both of our tempers were high and he was drunk off his ass while I was packing for the war. Being an on site nurse for the army meant I had to go to Europe with everyone. And he didn't like it, drunk or sober.

"John, just stop. I have to go, it's my job. What's wrong with me wanting to do that?"

He kept putting my folded clothes that were in my suitcase back into the shared closet. "You can't leave. I'm the man of the house. What I say goes, do you hear me," he said as he raised his voice louder and louder.