Bucky Barnes Imagines Vol. 1 (BB X Reader)

Scars Pt. 2

A/n: As mentioned in the previous part, self-harm is one of the themes of this story. This part will explore that particular theme a bit more. Please feel free to skip.

10 Months Later

"Bucky! Bucky!"

You flung open his bedroom door and jumped on his bed next to him when you were close enough. Bucky chuckled at the excited look on your face and placed his book on his nightstand to give you his full attention.

"What's up, doll? Seems something exciting happened."

"It did. Raynor said I'm making progress. It's the first time she's said that since I started seeing her."

"That's great, Y/n!"

Bucky grabbed for you and pulled you against his chest. Your reaction with anyone else would have been to jerk away or flinch at the unexpected move, but with Bucky you didn't do that. With him you accepted his affection as a nurturing gesture. He had encouraged and supported you from the moment he walked into your bedroom to bring you to the compound.

In fact, Bucky was the one you went to for everything. When you had nightmares you would show up at his door and he'd welcome you in to talk. Once you were comfortable with him, he'd let you stay in his room so you weren't alone. He helped you get in with Raynor and made sure you were okay with speaking to her alone. Every small step forward that you took Bucky was the first one you told.

Bucky could be grumpy with the others, but with you he was kind and considerate. He watched the tone of his voice, kept his sudden movements to a minimum, and tried to keep his anger at bay when you were around. The way he cared for you was so different from the way Dylan treated you before things got bad. You could tell Bucky's attitude towards you wasn't just because of what you went through. He was kind hearted by nature, but only those special to him were witness to it. You counted yourself lucky to be able to see the real Bucky Barnes.

The past ten months had opened your eyes more and more to how truly awful your relationship with Dylan had been from the very beginning. Not only was Raynor helping you see that none of the abuse was your fault, but Bucky was actively showing you what you should expect from a man. You had slowly been falling for him since he appointed himself your unofficial one-man support system. Bucky was there for every setback and breakthrough. He encouraged you and picked you up when you stumbled. How could you not fall in love with him?

"Tell me what Raynor said." Bucky said, his arms still wrapped around your waist.

His icy blue eyes shone down at you with affection and you felt your entire body warm.

"I've finally been opening up about my fears of dating in the future and she said that acknowledging those out loud instead of numbing myself to the idea is progress." You smiled and then took a deep breath. "And she gave me homework."

"Raynor is fond of homework." Bucky chuckled. "What does she want you to do?"

"She wants me to ask someone out on a date. Someone I feel comfortable with."

Bucky's eyes widened and you could hear his breath catch. You felt his heart begin to beat faster underneath the hand you had resting on his chest. His reaction surprised you and, in your mind, meant one of two things. The first was that he knew you were going to ask him because he was the only man you felt comfortable with, and he didn't want to go on a date with you. The second was that he was afraid you wouldn't ask him...and he wanted you to because he felt the same way. You took a deep breath and forced the words you came to say from your mouth.

"Bucky, will you take me on a date?" You asked in a hushed whisper.

"M-me?" Bucky stuttered.

"You're the only man I trust besides Uncle Tony and, even if we aren't blood related, that's just gross."