For Better Days | B.B. Oneshots

The New A-Team

Chloe should have known that things would get big if she didn't nip it the first time Bucky brought it up. Truth be told, she didn't think it would become something but then again...she should have seen the crash-out coming.

"You should be sleeping already," remarked Chloe as soon as she walked into the room and saw Bucky wide awake in bed. "You're supposed to head out tomorrow at the, like, the crack of dawn."

"Yup," was all Bucky had to respond with. He propped an arm under his head and continued to stare blankly at the ceiling.

Chloe raised a brow at him, waiting for something more...but it never came. "Okay, I'm supposed to go through more paperwork but now I kind of want to blow it all off in favor of my curiosity." With that, she walked over to their bed and sat at the foot. She gave Bucky's leg a gentle whack. "What's going on, sargeant?"

Bucky turned his head slightly to meet her gaze. "You do have work," he reminded her, and she nodded.

A small chuckle left Chloe's lips as she smiled. "Nice try. So, what's going on?"

"What isn't going on," muttered Bucky. "It's the same old shit and I'm just...I'm getting tired, alright? I'm getting real tired."

Chloe did not look so surprised. She'd known for a while — she saw it. Bucky always tried to be the stoic guy in front of everyone but with her, it was next to impossible. "Quit, Bucky," she said gently, giving him the same look. "If I worked for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, I would have killed myself a long time ago."

Bucky half smiled at her and pulled himself up into a sitting position. "I can't do that...it's the final step in this whole shindig of my process...If I quit, I'll never be able to live peacefully...with you..."

"I'm pretty content with our lives," Chloe assured him, "I would only get upset if you couldn't live contently with me. I know how Valentina can be...what exactly is she making you do now?"

"It's nothing in particular; I'm just snapping." Lies. Bucky couldn't and wouldn't burden Chloe with the details. She hated Valentina as much as he did and unlike him, she had the liberty of working away from Valentina.

"Well, hey, why don't we stop talking about that woman and relax?" Chloe suggested. She crawled up beside him on the bed and leaned against the headboard. "We could have a late night snack and watch some t.v.—"

"Nooo, you have work to do," Bucky reminded her again, "I'll just try to get some sleep so I don't look like absolute shit tomorrow."

Chloe gave him a long look, not buying it for a second.

"I'll be fine!" Bucky chuckled and reached for her hand. He kissed the back of her hand and ushered her to get back to work. "Don't have a late night. You're insufferable when you don't sleep well."

Chloe playfully rolled her eyes at him. "Have a good night, my love," she pressed a kiss on his cheek, "I'll be back later."

She stood up from bed and left the room to continue her work. She knew, however, this was not the last they would talk about it. She'd seen how Bucky was slowly beginning to lose it working with Valentina. He seemed to have triggers similar to when he was still working on the winter soldier programming in Wakanda. When she returned later in the night, she got another glimpse of it.

She had just climbed into bed when he started stirring in his sleep. He mumbled things here and there and began to turn. While she couldn't understand everything, she comprehended enough to know he was having a nightmare about his past.

Chloe sighed. This was happening more and more again and she hated it. Bucky had been doing so well and now it was going in the trash thanks to some woman who had no soul.