Book Of One-Shots

Insomnia (Steve x Skylar // fluff)

I couldn't sleep.

I haven't been able to ever since I saw him at the bridge, that memory was haunting me. He was so different than I remember him to be, he wasn't the same man I had fallen in love with anymore. He went by the Winter Soldier, he didn't even know Steve or I.

Bucky.

We both had thought he was dead, having given his life in the midst of war. If I had to guess, Hydra had gotten to him. It pissed me off to no end what they've done to him. But at the same time I felt...sadness and sorrow.

As I lie awake, wrapped in Steve's strong arms, I couldn't keep the memory of that day from replaying over and over in my head.

~

I looked around frantically for Steve, Natasha, Sam. Anyone I knew, but they weren't there. I picked myself up from the harsh concrete, my whole body ached from having rolled across the rough ground. There were soldiers dressed in all black shooting down from the top of the bridge where I was. Sam was sneaking up on them, and had taken them down all before I had even steadied myself on my feet. He held one of their guns as he looks back to me while calling out,

"Are you okay?"

I nodded once and stumbled over to him, my right leg not wanting to cooperate. Reaching him, I leaned against the edge of the bridge to look down, only to see him.

The Winter Soldier.

He had what looked like a grenade launcher in hand, stalking toward Natasha who was fleeing from him and trying to get the civilians out of the way. I knew I couldn't just stand here and watch, I had to do something. Ignoring Sam's words, I grabbed one of the cables hooked to a car and climbed over the concrete railing, slowly rappelling down to the main street below. Once my feet touched down I took off, I ran as fast as I could toward him. I didn't really know what I was going to do once I got to him, just that I needed to stall him so Natasha could get away.

I ducked behind one of the abandoned cars, hoping to keep my element of surprise. My breath was heavy, didn't realize it until now. I closed my eyes to try and steady it before moving again, I was scared out of my mind, so it wasn't easy. Hell, I didn't even know where Steve had been kicked off to, but I hoped he was okay wherever he was. I opened my eyes, my lips creasing to a frown. It was time.

I pushed away from the car and started running down the street again, only to stop short once realizing the Winter Soldier was nowhere in sight. Confusion washed over me, where the hell did he go?

I got my answer as I turned around, a choked sound leaving my throat as his metal hand grabbed my neck. I could tell my eyes were wide with fear, he picked me up from the ground, leaving my feet dangling. My hands shot up to try and free myself, but it was useless. The metal was cold on my hands as I looked into his dark eyes, they showed no emotion or sign of letting up. I could feel myself getting lightheaded fast, if I didn't pass out, I was going to die of suffocation. Suddenly, I was dropped to the hard ground, the air rushing back into my lungs. I looked up while gasping for breath to see Steve had tackled my attacker, and was now in the midst of an all out fist fight with him.

My hands went up to my throat, tentatively touched the now sore skin. My body flinched at this, it amazed me I was still alive, that he hadn't crushed my windpipe when he so easily could have. Forcing myself up, I caught the end of their fight. Steve flipped him over his shoulder, pulling off his mask and sending it to the ground as the Winter Soldier recovered from the throw. He turns around slowly, a hard expression on his face.

I couldn't believe it, I blinked a few times in disbelief. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but they didn't fall.

"Bucky?"

Steve says in shock, he felt the same way I did. Neither of us thought him to still be alive, yet here he was in the flesh. I was confused, didn't know what to do or feel. Anger? Grief? Joy?

I guess my body already decided for me, as I found myself running toward him without another thought and despite how battered I was. It's been over seventy years since I last saw him, and for some reason, I didn't care that he was dangerous. I need to see him up close, to run my hands through his hair, to actually touch him.

But I wasn't able to, Natasha had come up behind me and wrapped her arms around me to keep me from moving anymore. I struggled against her, the tears finally falling down my cheeks now,

"Let me go! I need to see him!"

"He's dangerous, he'll kill you!" She hisses in my ear, I looked back toward him and Steve just in time to see them about to go at it again, but stop as Sam swoops down and kicks him away.

I could only watch as Bucky got to his feet, the sounds of police sirens and a helicopter above filled my ears. And he ran, right before my eyes. He got away just as the police and agents from S.H.I.E.L.D arrived. Natasha lets me go as they swarm around us, forcing us to our knees.

And I obeyed without resistance, in too much of a state of shock to do anything else.

~

Steve stirs next to me in bed, yawning and stretching slightly. He pulls me closer to himself at seeing I was still awake, whispering softly near my ear,

"You're still thinking about him, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I can't help it," I reply just as quiet,

"Aren't you?"

Steve sighs against my neck, I could feel his steady breathing on my back as his chest rose and fell. He buries his face against the crook of my neck, his words muffled against my skin,

"Of course I am, but it won't do you any good to not sleep. You know we're bringing him back. I promised you."

He slides one of his hands down from resting at my abdomen area, to intertwine his fingers with mine on the soft bed,

"Now go to sleep, Sky."

I felt myself relax somewhat, but also a pang in my heart. Steve knew I had always loved to hold Bucky's hand like he held mine now, I didn't mind, but...it wasn't quite the same feeling.

My eyes close slowly, I could hear and feel Steve's breathing slow down and even out, indicating he had fallen back asleep. I couldn't blame him, he must still be exhausted from being on the run from practically everyone. But he was right, and I knew Steve never broke a promise he makes to me.

We would definitely bring Bucky back together.