Bring me home (Bucky Barnes x reader)

Try to Fix You

       "And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

You sighed as you read the line. You had memorized every last word of it. You stretched out on the couch in the common room of Stark Towers and closed The Great Gatsby for probably the twentieth time. It always had a way to make you feel at home, and that's what you needed right now.

It had been about a week since Bucky Barnes had arrived here and you hadn't seen him since the night he arrived. He stayed to himself, hardly ever leaving his room at all, you weren't surprised though. You could tell from the night that you healed his wound that he had a lot a things to sort out; something Steve still seems to think you can help with.

You were still wary about that, and while Steve hadn't mentioned it, you couldn't ignore the questioning looks he was constantly giving you, and another confrontation was inevitable. You shook your head and stood up, pulling your jacket tighter around your frame, Bruce and Tony had managed to kill the heater in the building with some experiment, and the cold was getting to you.

Just as you began to walk out you were stopped by Steve, Tony, and Clint. You tried to walk past them, but they stopped you."Hiya (y/n)!" Tony said very cheerily. You narrowed your eyes at them and crossed your arms over your chest, expecting the worst. "Right. So, everyone's favorite science project here has asked us to come talk to you." Said Tony, hooking his thumb towards Steve, who scoffed at the nickname.

You looked at each of them in turn and sighed heavily,"I thought I told you Steve.." You said tiredly and he looked sheepish,"Yes, you did." Said Tony, saving Steve from your annoyance,"but, we really think that this needs to be looked into (y/n). We all know that fully rehabilitated, Bucky could be an important asset, and that just isn't going to happen on its own." Tony said in one breath and stared at you. You shook your head and started to speak, but Clint stopped you,"Listen (y/n), I know you're uncomfortable with this, but just look into it, maybe just try to draw him out some? You're the only one of us he hasn't tried to attack. And he let you touch him." Says Clint softly. You look at him and laugh humorlessly,"He only let me touch him because there was a bullet lodged in his leg!" You protest, holding your ground. "I know, I know." Said Steve,"But just look into it, okay?" You cave at the look in his eyes and nod,"Okay." You say tiredly and shake your head, shouldering past them.

You were absolutely exhausted when you heard a soft knock on your door. You had talked to Wanda nearly all afternoon about all this mind stuff, though she couldn't offer much help, only to be as gentle as possible. There wasn't exactly a wiki-how on ways to cure someone's mind, so you were kind of on your own here.

You opened the door, expecting Steve, but instead you were greeted by Bucky. He was dressed normally now. With black jeans and a long sleeved black shirt. He looked up when you opened the door and extended his arm to you, which held the book you had left in the common room,"I found this.." He said in a very normal voice,"I assumed it was yours." He continued and you took it, a small smile on your lips,"Thank you very much. It is, I can't believe I forgot it." You take it and retreat into your apartment, Bucky already turning to leave,"Hey, Bucky." You call and he turns, his eyes meeting yours. His eyes are blue, you realize, they had looked so dark earlier."Have you ever read this? I don't know if you like to read.. But if you would like to read it.." You offer the book back to him and he hesitates slightly before taking it back from you."Thank you." He says softly and smiles some, turning and walking back down the hall.

You watched him for a minute before you closed the door, maybe you could help him. He seems better already actually. And he looks so much better, his eyes look brighter and his hair less tangled, more managed. He hasn't been what Steve or anyone else was expecting. He isn't  codependent or clingy, like Steve assumed. And he isn't going insane, having a mental break like Tony assumed.