Bucky Baby

oh boy

It was another day that would blend mindlessly into the next. Doing housework with your headphones in on full volume usually made the time go faster, but not today. Something felt weird.

You finally sat down to watch tv as you hear the letterbox slam shut and the faint sound of a letter hitting the floor. It was your birthday tomorrow so you quickly grab the letter, confused to see a letter that is far too formal to be a birthday card. You recognise the writing but can't figure out where it's from. Nervously you open the letter.

It's the avengers again- you haven't heard from them in a while but they say they need your help with something top secret. The letter reads you have to go to the airport immediately. there should be a cab outside in 30 minutes, and that you need to pack a bag for a weeks stay. You pack extra because with the avengers, nothing's ever on schedule.

You step outside and see the cab. The driver looks familiar but you can't see him properly. Walking down the steps you get a better view, but it's just a normal cab driver.

You get to the airport and suddenly you realise- you have no ticket, or any actual idea of where you're meant to be going. Your vision starts to go blurry as the panic kicks in, but suddenly you see him.

Bucky was looking around and suddenly his eyes locked on yours. Nick knew you guys got on well. Once you got to him he handed you a ticket and the rest of your time in the airport went very quickly.

The plane ride goes slow, and When you eventually get to New York it's dusk, but it's still incredibly loud. The city never sleeps, but you really need to soon. Or are you hungry?

your eyes land on stark tower, a structure that is taller than most of the other buildings and is simplistic in design, yet also complex. Tony obviously has A LOT of money.
You turn your head to Bucky, a little uncertain because of the large crowd. He offers his arm, and you loop your arm through it.
'He used to do this with ladies before the war,' you think of Bucky doing the same for Steve or anyone other than women. He's a gentleman to everyone, obviously.
As you walk together in the direction of the tower, he bends his head down a little to speak to you. He's quiet, but just loud enough so you can hear him over the din of the crowd.

"after Steve brought me in from the cold, i was really scared of crowds and even people in general." he pauses to look around. "they still make me a little nervous, but they comfort me in a strange way."

You wouldn't have guessed Bucky still had that kind of anxiety in the back of his mind. It made you sad to think of the things he went through. It becomes apparent that your face is showing this when he turns his head to face you slightly and says "hey, it's cool. I'm cool now. Icy cool. Winter soldier" you shake your head and laugh. "That's terrible."

you're just about to turn the corner to Tony's, when he slows down. ahead of you is a food truck selling waffles and pancakes . "oh shit yes," you breathe, because you can't go to new york without eating street food. he pays for you even after you insist that you can. "My treat. Trust me."

and you're met with the really adorable sight of him eating a waffle in the street. a big, muscular assassin with a metal arm, struggling to fit the entire waffle in his mouth. He sees you staring and half chokes trying to finish it. God he's really adorable.

You eventually get to the tower and it's late. Like really late. Bucky actually had to carry you the rest of the way back because you nearly collapsed- he got some weird looks, carrying an unconscious girl effortlessly, but eventually got you to a spare room in the building and pulled the covers over you. The last thing you thought before drifting away was "the mission is on my birthday?"

You wake up, disoriented and confused. You can't remember how you got into bed, only that the last thing you saw closing your eyes the night before was Bucky. Remembering suddenly the letter, the flight and the fact it's your birthday.

Rushing to get ready you fly out the door and straight into Steve- he catches you, his expression vaguely surprised, if not panicked. "Whoa, hey I was just about to come and wake you up for the mission- we need your expertise in this area- what kind of cake would you prefer?"

You stand confused for a moment and then realise, no mission, but a surprise birthday instead.

"Well you'll have to show me what's on offer won't you. I can't believe you got me with the mission again. you get me with it every year!"

"And I can't believe you fall for it every year."

...

You shop for hours, Bucky and Steve carrying your bags even though you insisted you could. Tony gave you the money for it- "his birthday present" he claims.

You eventually get back to the tower, not quite as exhausted as you had been yesterday. You're walking back to your room when you hear a noise behind you. You turn around without even thinking and see nothing. It's dark, and you're so tired your vision is blurry. You turn back slowly and see Bucky standing in front of you, his arm stretched across your path, leaning onto the wall.

"You didn't forget about me did you?"

You stare at him momentarily, confused about what he means.

"Well, it's your birthday and I'm the cutest guy you know." He smiles and waits for you to agree.

"Well, yeah"

His smile widens and he laughs for a second.
"We have films remember? Disney films?? Jesus, we can't be heroes all the time."

"That is mostly true."
"He's my hero all the time" you think, laughing at your own joke.

"No seriously, come on we had to watch these films before it gets too late. I'd hate for you to fall asleep on me again" he says. You can tell that he'd love for you to fall asleep on him.

You scowl slightly but then reach out for his arm. He suddenly picks you up bridal style and you wrap your arms around his neck in a moment of panic. He runs down the hallway holding onto you. He is really warm. Is he always this warm?

The sofa is not fully occupied, but not empty like you'd hoped. Thor and Bruce are sat talking about Asgardian elements and seem totally absorbed. Maybe the room is as good as empty, they don't talk too loud.

They also don't pay attention to a movie playing on a huge tv- it's not your favourite film ever, but it's a good one. You squish yourself between Thor and Bucky on the sofa and they're both really warm. It's almost weird but oh god so comfortable.

It gets to the sad part and you feel the inevitable start to happen. You sniff loudly and Bucky turns to look at you, his face melting when he sees tears falling from your eyes. "No no no no don't cry because iLL CRY AND THEN WE'RE BOTH CRYING AND OH GOD IM CRYING"
You choke out a laugh and pull yourself closer to him, burying your face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry I got your sleeve wet" you mumble.

you're almost asleep when you feel someone gently guide your head in their lap. Thor and Bruce were gone, and bucky had pulled a blanket over you. he quietly asks if he can run his hands through your hair so you can sleep better. You nod your head slowly.

his fingers trace your shoulder and back, sinking lower to your hips and gliding back up again.
bucky's right hand brushes through your hair. Oh boy. This is really cute. Ohhhhhh boy.

you hear a light laugh from bucky, because you apparently said that out loud. You make the grumpiest face possible so he stops laughing. He wipes his eyes and says "I'm sorry I'm sorry. You're cuter. Is that a word? I think that's a word." then you wriggle back down to where you were the moment before.

"thank you for helping everyone today," he pauses for a few seconds, eyes on the movie. "it means a lot to me, you coming here and walking with me, and your extensive meme knowledge was great." and he smiles widely
"you're pretty rad too," he smirks. bucky is amazing with words for someone who just spent the last seventy years murdering people. You shake the thought, feeling mean. It wasn't his fault. None of it was his fault.

just as you feel yourself falling asleep, bucky leans down to gently kiss the top of your head. it's polite, yet sweetly intimate. (And really fucking cute)

you sleep with a smile and have the best of dreams. dreams of adventures and heroes, soviet assassins and overly sticky waffles.