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

25.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏɴɢ: ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ᴄʟᴏᴛʜᴇꜱ ᴏꜰꜰ - ᴇʟʟᴀ ᴇʏʀᴇ

"𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫."

~

VALERIE'S FACE SOFTENED. 

She took in his appearance. His shirt was disheveled, paired with loose sweatpants and socks that indicated he just walked right over from his place. His hair was messy and his regular stubble was longer than usual. He looked at her with tired eyes, obliging when she pulled him inside by his arm. 

"Bucky," She breathed. "Are you okay?" 

"I had a nightmare." He stated. 

She felt a twinge of sadness. She knew he was having them every night, just now realizing how tired he truly must be. 

"Here, sit down." She led him to her couch. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"Alcohol," 

"As your doctor, I have to advise against that." She tried to make a joke. 

"Tea?" 

She smiled. "Sure." 

She walked over to the kitchen, switching on her electric kettle. She grabbed a packet of chamomile out of her drawer and popped the bag into a Star Wars mug. As she waited for the water to boil, she went back over and sat next to him. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" 

He rubbed his face with his flesh hand. "This one was different." 

"Different how?" 

He just stared at the wall in front of him, evidently either exhausted or extremely reluctant to share. She took a risk and placed her hand on his forearm, feeling uplifted when he didn't retreat. 

"You were in it," 

"Me?" She rose an eyebrow. 

"They," He paused, cringing as if it pained him to say it. "Took you away," 

"Who did?" 

"HYDRA." 

She shook her head. "HYDRA is gone, Bucky. You're safe now." 

"And it was my fault." He turned to look at her. 

His eyes pierced hers. They were tired and scared, full of anxiety and lacking safety. She lost herself in the blue, sitting comfortably under his gaze. He sighed, holding the hand that previously held his arm. He held it tightly enough that he was sure it wouldn't disappear. 

She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the screech of the kettle. She squeezed his hand before standing up to grab his mug for him. She poured the water over the teabag and stirred it gently, walking back over to him. 

"Thanks," He murmured, taking the cup from her. 

"So, I was in your nightmare tonight?" She asked. 

He nodded, blowing on the steaming water. 

"Has this happened before?" 

He froze subtly, but she caught it. "No," 

"Bucky," 

"First nightmare you've been in." 

"But not first dream?"

He looked at her with playful eyes. 

"Oh," She blushed deeply, butterflies swarming in her stomach. He shook his head, too nervous to be amused.