Imagine Book 2

Healing in the Quiet Moments- Bucky Barnes (The Falcon And The Winter Soldier)

Fem Y/N

The quiet hum of the apartment was comforting in its simplicity. The world outside had long gone to sleep, leaving only the gentle sway of tree branches and the occasional rumble of a passing car to break the silence. Y/N sat on the couch, a well-loved book in her hands, the soft glow of the lamp casting warm light over her. It was the kind of peace she cherished, the kind that reminded her of how far they had come.

Her gaze shifted to the man she loved, her husband, Bucky Barnes. He sat by the window, staring out into the city lights, his vibranium arm catching the moonlight in gleaming streaks. He had fallen into one of his pensive moods, the ones that often took him back to a time he'd rather forget. Y/N recognized the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw was set, and the slight twitch in his fingers as if he were holding something invisible but heavy.

"Buck?" she called softly, placing the book down.

He didn't respond immediately. His focus was somewhere else, lost in the foggy recesses of his past. She gave him a moment before crossing the room and gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey," she said, leaning down to catch his eye. "You okay?"

Bucky blinked, his blue eyes shifting to hers. The intensity of his gaze softened slightly as recognition filtered in. "Yeah," he replied, his voice low and strained. "Just... thinking."

Y/N knew better than to press too hard. When Bucky wanted to talk, he would. Instead, she gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "I'm here if you need me."

He gave her a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. She lingered for a moment before returning to the couch, her book lying forgotten beside her. She kept an eye on him, sensing the storm brewing beneath the surface, but unwilling to pry it loose.

As the night deepened, the city grew quieter, and Y/N decided to call it a night. She stood, stretching before padding over to Bucky again. "Come on, let's get to bed," she said, brushing her fingers through his short hair.

"I'll be there in a minute," he replied, his voice distant.

She hesitated but decided to give him space. "Okay," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek before heading to their bedroom.

__

It was well past midnight when it happened. Y/N had just begun to drift into a peaceful sleep, her body curled beneath the soft blankets, when a sound jolted her awake. A muffled gasp, sharp and full of anguish. Her heart immediately leapt into her throat as she turned, finding the bed empty beside her.

"Bucky?" she called, her voice tinged with worry. She threw the blankets off and rushed out of the bedroom.

The living room light was still on, and there he was—curled on the floor, his knees drawn up to his chest, his metal arm twitching uncontrollably as he clawed at the floor with his human hand. His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling in erratic bursts. He was trapped in something, a place far from here, far from her.

"No," he muttered under his breath, his voice cracking. "No, I don't... please..."

"Bucky!" Y/N dropped to her knees beside him, her hands reaching out to touch his shoulders. He flinched violently at the contact, his eyes snapping open, but they were wild and unseeing. He was still caught in the nightmare, in the flashback that had dragged him into the darkness.

"It's okay, it's me," she said quickly, her voice soft but firm. "Bucky, it's Y/N. You're safe. You're home."

His breathing didn't steady. His trembling increased, and his head shook as if he were trying to shake off invisible chains. "Stop it," he whispered, his voice raw with desperation. "I can't—I can't do it anymore."