daybreak - b. barnes

- 𝐧𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 ; 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆

part three of "no new birthdays"
go read the first two chapters if you haven't!

it had been twenty-one days since the night that shattered you.

since the cake melted untouched, since bucky's voice sliced through your chest like broken glass.

twenty-one days since you last saw him.

the tower felt emptier without him. his laughter in the kitchen, the way alpine would follow him around — gone. even the quiet moments, the ones where you didn't need to speak, had left an echo that haunted every hallway.

you still went on missions. you still smiled when people talked to you.

but it was all autopilot.

the others noticed — your brother stopped teasing, wanda checked in often, and natasha refused to leave you alone for too long. but even they couldn't fix the part of you that missed him.

that night, the rain poured down on the tower's glass windows, streaking the city lights into blurred rivers of color.

you sat curled up on the couch, a blanket over your legs, watching the rain. alpine slept in your lap, soft purring the only sound in the room.

you hadn't expected the elevator to ding.
you hadn't expected footsteps behind you.

and you definitely hadn't expected the voice.

"hey, doll."

The mug in your hand nearly slipped.

You turned slowly — and there he was.

bucky.
drenched from the rain, hair falling into his eyes, clothes wrinkled and travel-worn. but it was him. the ghost who'd vanished had come home.

your heart clenched, anger and relief colliding all at once.

"what are you doing here?" you asked, voice cold but trembling.

he hesitated, standing there awkwardly like he didn't know how to exist in the same room as you anymore. "i... needed to see you."

"three weeks,"

"what?" he asked confused.

you rose from the couch. "you disappeared for three weeks, bucky."

he looked down. "i know."

"so do you have any idea what that did to me?" your voice cracked now, the anger giving way to pain. "you humiliated me in front of everyone, you told me we were done, and then you just—left."

bucky's jaw tightened, his voice low. "i didn't mean—"

"yes, you did!" you snapped. "you meant every single word that night. you hated me for trying to make you happy."

he closed his eyes, rain still dripping from his jacket onto the floor. "no. I hated myself for not knowing how to be happy."

you blinked, the words catching you off guard.

he took a step closer, his voice shaking now. "you gave me something good, y/n. something real. and i destroyed it, like i always do. i thought if i pushed you away, i'd protect you from me — from all the damage i bring."

you stared at him, your heart aching. "you think leaving me broken protected me?"

he flinched. "no. it killed me too."

there was a long, heavy silence.

the rain outside muffled the city, and all you could hear was the beating of two broken hearts trying to find rhythm again.

finally, you whispered, "why did you come back?"

bucky swallowed hard. "because i can't sleep. i can't eat. i can't look at anything without thinking of you. everytime i close my eyes, i see your face at that party — the way you looked at me right before i opened my mouth and ruined everything."

you bit your lip, trying to keep the tears in. "you did ruin everything."

"i know." his voice broke. "and i don't deserve a damn second chance. But i had to tell you i'm sorry. not because i expect forgiveness — but because you deserve to hear it."

he took a slow breath, stepping closer until he was just a few feet away.

"you were right, doll. i-i haven't celebrated since the forties because the last time i did, i still had people i loved. and that night... you gave that back to me for a second. you made me feel like i belonged again."

you finally looked up at him, tears streaking your cheeks. "then why did you destroy it?"

"because i was terrified." he laughed bitterly, his voice trembling. "because i don't know how to hold on to something good without thinking it'll be taken away."

for the first time since he came back, you saw it — the raw guilt in his eyes, the regret carved into every line of his face.

"bucky..." you whispered, your voice softer now.

he stepped forward, close enough that you could smell the faint trace of rain and metal. "i'm sorry i hurt you, y/n. i'm sorry i made you think you weren't enough when you were the only thing keeping me sane."

a tear fell down his cheek.

you'd never seen him cry before.

"i don't expect you to take me back," he said. "but i needed you to know i never stopped loving you."

for a long time, neither of you moved.

the only sound was the storm outside, the gentle rumble of thunder like a heartbeat.

finally, you whispered, "i don't know if i can just forgive you, bucky."

he nodded, eyes downcast. "i know."

"but..." you said quietly, stepping closer, "i also don't know how to stop loving you either."

he looked up at you, hope flickering faintly in his eyes.

"you hurt me," you continued. "but i believe you mean it when you say you're sorry. and if you're really willing to change — to try — then maybe..." you took a breath. "maybe we can start again. slowly."

bucky exhaled shakily, tears glistening in his eyes as he nodded. "i'll spend the rest of my life making it right, doll. if you let me."

you hesitated, then finally stepped forward and rested your forehead against his chest. he froze for a second, then wrapped his arms around you, pulling you in like he was afraid you might disappear.

for the first time in weeks, you both breathed — really breathed.

weeks later, you stood on the same rooftop where bucky once sat alone. the city lights shimmered below, the night air cool and gentle.

bucky came up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist.

"next year," he murmured, lips brushing your temple, "you can throw me another party."

you smiled softly. "yeah?"

he chuckled. "yeah. but maybe... fewer people. just us."

you turned to look at him, eyes shining. "deal."