Stucky One-shots

Heart Like Yours

"The... man... on the bridge..." Bucky's voice reverberated through the room as the HYDRA agents glared at him. Pierce shot daggers at him as he continued, "Who was he?" A memory ran through him. He knew him.

"You met his this week on an earlier mission." Bucky furrowed his brow at the response, almost not believing the words. A memory struck him.

"Bucky! Hold my hand!"

Bucky was jolted back to the present. Bucky. Was that his name? Then realisation struck him. He didn't even remember his name. His steel blue eyes showed a tint of a human. He was no longer just a machine. He was no longer just a weapon. He found the one thing that HYDRA had been forcing away from him. Living. Being human. He struggled to contain tears. Bucky knew what would happen if he resisted. They would wipe him. And all the memories he had gathered would be stolen from him. Again. But... he knew him.

"But I knew him," Bucky protested, certainty rushing through his voice. At that moment, he no longer cared about the consequences. All he wanted was the name of the man he'd seen on the bridge. Blonde hair, blue eyes. The same one he saw in the memory. The one who had tried to save him.

A tear trickled down his cheek.

*****

"NO!" Bucky screamed, his voice breaking. "'No! Please! No!" His let out a sob at the last word. And the only thing he saw was ice, and the reflection of his pained face crying back at him. He trashed on the bed, before suddenly sitting up with a jolt.

He looked around the room, then at the bed. He felt a hand on his shoulder and shouted, "Don't hurt me, please!" Steve released his hand and Bucky turned to face him. His face was contorted with fear. His face was covered in sweat and tear streaks lined his face.

Bucky stared at Steve as he whispered, "Where is he?" Steve's heart broke as he inched toward Bucky. "Where is he... the doctor..." Bucky stuttered. Then it hit him. It was just a nightmare. He whispered the first word that came to his mind, "Stevie..."

"It was just a dream, Bucky..." Steve muttered, looking at Bucky's eyes. Steel blue. Those eyes showed a lifetime of struggle that could not be put into words. They showed many things. A sergeant. A soldier. A killer. But only one thing mattered to Steve.

Those eyes were the eyes of the man that he loved, and would love forever.

"Breath deep, Buck. Know that I'm right here. You don't have to fear," Steve whispered, bringing his right hand to Bucky's hair. He ran his fingers through it while his left hand ran up and down Bucky's spine as a way to comfort him. Bucky closed his eyes and nodded, whispering for Steve to continue. Bucky sighed and hugged Steve tighter, nuzzling his head deep into Steve's neck. He let out a strangled sob. "I don't want them to hurt me, Stevie." Steve nodded, and comforted, "I'm never going to let them hurt you. Ever again."

Steve felt a few drops of something wet on his neck and realized that Bucky had started crying. He heard a quiet sob and his heart broke. Steve gripped Bucky tighter. He hated seeing the one person he loved in so much pain. It killed him to see Bucky crying like this; so much that he wanted to kill everyone who had ever done something unbecoming to his love. Bucky shook in Steve's grip and Steve was pained at the sight. He whispered, "Shh, it's okay, Bucky... I'm right here." As Bucky continued to sob into Steve's shoulder, he intertwined the fingers on his free right hand with Bucky's vibranium ones. "Don't let go, please..." Bucky sobbed. Steve shook his head. "I'm never leaving you, Bucky. Never."

Bucky's shaky breathing finally slowed and he calmed down as Steve gazed lovingly at him. He continued stroking his back comfortingly. He traced a finger where he knew Bucky's metal arm connected to his flesh. Bucky shivered slightly under the pressure and Steve held him even closer, if that was even possible. "Oh... Buck," Steve muttered as Bucky whimpered softly, as if wanting to keep the sound inconspicuous. Running his fingers through Bucky's hair, Steve noticed him beginning to finally nod off and suppressed a small smile. Looking outside the window, he saw sparkling stars dancing on the celestial stage. The sun had already set. Bucky smiled, looking at Steve lovingly, and whispered, "How could a heart like yours ever love a heart like mine?" Steve just smiled.

Bucky eventually fell asleep under the blanket of stars. Steve continued to stroke Bucky's back, feeling his breathing quicken again. "Not another nightmare, Buck," Steve whispered, and brought Bucky's body closer to his, securely wrapping his arms around him. Bucky's eyes suddenly opened wide and he breathed heavily. Then, as he felt Steve's arms around him, he smiled and buried his head in the crook of his lover's neck. Their hearts beat in sync and Bucky's arms wrapped around Steve as well. Steve drew a relaxed breath, holding his love in a warm embrace.

"I love you so much, Bucky. Without you, how could I live before?"