Open Wounds - A Bucky Barnes Soulmate AU

Chapter Twenty-Four

A/N: i didn't even read through this so let me know if there's anything glaring. 

***

You were curled up on your bed with your head in your dad's lap while the two of you talked. Your time with him was coming to an end and you were spending every moment you could with him. He kept playing with your hair reminding you of when you were much younger and he'd done it to calm you when you'd had a bad day.

Bucky was off training with Steve and making the arrangements needed for him to take an indefinite amount of time off. You'd both be available if needed but you needed to recuperate and build yourself back up and you needed your soulmate with you to do it properly.

A soft knock on the door interrupted your conversation. Clint stepped into the room with a soft smile. "How you doing, sweetheart? You look better."

"Feeling better." You bit your lip in thought before clearing your throat. "Can I..." Your voice faltered though you didn't know why. Clint was unlikely to refuse you. "The farm. Can Bucky and I go for awhile?"

He sat on the edge of the bed and rested a hand on your arm. His nod encompassed his whole being as a smile lit his face. "You don't have to ask," he said. "It's your home. You're always welcome there."

Once you'd gone over some of the details with him, he left you alone with Phil once more. It didn't take long for him to clear his throat to break the silence. "I'm glad you're heading to the farm. It's time for me to return to my team. I was worried about leaving you."

You reached up to take his hand in yours, squeezing it in acknowledgment. "I'll be okay. They had months to get into my head. It's gonna take a bit for me to get them out, that's all."

"I know, sweetheart. You'll get there." He ran his thumb over your fingers. "I put my number in your phone under 'Senior' if you need me."

You snorted at the nod to Tony's nickname for you. "I'll always need you."

"Good," he said. "Don't save all the calls for when you're in trouble."

He stayed with you until Bucky returned. You stood with your dad and gave him a lingering hug. Finally, he kissed your head and pulled away. "I love you, baby. Be good. Be happy."

You watched him leave, your eyes burning with threatening tears. Having him leave so soon after getting him back hurt more than you'd anticipated.

Bucky wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into his chest. "You okay?"

You hummed with a nod. "I'll be fine. He's just heading back to his team. I'll miss him. That's all."

He didn't say anything to try to make you feel better. Instead, he just held you, lending you his silent comfort.

***

You took another week to say your goodbyes to everyone. You didn't know how long you were going to be gone and you weren't about to invite any of them to the farm. For one, it wasn't your place. For another, it wouldn't be much of a refuge if everyone knew where it was.

Clint had offered to fly the two of you out, but you and Bucky decided to drive. You played tourist along the way and let yourself unwind. Sometimes you'd drive for hours without stopping and others you'd hole up in a hotel room for a couple of days with your soulmate. For the first time in your life, you had no agenda. No need to keep busy, to keep to a schedule.

Almost two weeks after you left the city, you arrived at the farm. The gravel crunched beneath the tires of the car as it rolled to a halt, pebbles spitting in its wake. Stepping out of the car, you closed your eyes and took a deep breath. Tension flowed from you as you inhaled the familiar odors of home. It had been too long.