Kick Vibe [Bucky Barnes]

Testing day 2

I wake up in an empty bed. I'm pretty sure that having Bucky in bed wasn't a dream. I sit up and take my phone off the nightstand to check the time. 7:23. So damn early.

I hear voices out the living room, and they make me get out of bed. Either T'Challa is paying us a royal visit, or Steve has arrived. I grab shorts off the ground and put them on. Leaving my room quietly was a good decision. I stay hidden behind the kitchen wall as I eavesdrop on their conversation.

"She's been looking forward to yesterday." I hear Steve say about me, "Til you got out the ice."

"Did you know she wrote in this diary for me?"

"Quite romantic, huh? Yeah, we all knew."

"The drawings between the stories are even more beautiful. Sometimes creepy, but beautiful."

"She just missed you."

"You know, I really like her." Bucky says which makes me smile, "What if she's the one?"

"Then you're lucky you finally found her."

I leave my hiding spot and enter the living room. They shut up immediately as I greet them at the windows. I peck Bucky's cheek, throwing him completely off-guard, before embracing Steve.

"How's Sharon?" I ask, leaving his arms.

"She's back in Berlin for the CIA, which means I don't know what she's up to there."

"Now that's, what I call, a complicated relationship." I state and the guys laugh.

"I'll leave you two." Steve says, "I need to ask T'Challa something."

If one didn't know Steve that good, one would think he's telling the truth. I mean, he's so bad at lying.

"I made some breakfast." Bucky breaks the silence.

"Good, because I'm starving." I smile at him.

There's a slight hint of awkwardness between us, keeping the air thick as we stumble to the kitchen. He presents a big stack of pancakes, still warm from baking them.

"Oh, my god." I gush, "So many! And it's only for me?"

"C'mon, Addison." Bucky laughs, "That's too much for you to eat on your own."

"Oh, really? You wanna bet?"

**

My stomach is full. I feel extremely nauseous, but I can't puke. I have to stay strong.

"I still can't believe you succeeded." Bucky laughs as we walk to the lab.

The awkwardness had vanished from the moment I took the first bite.

"Don't ever challenge me again when it comes to food. I'll always win." I grin.

"I can see."

He stops me before we turn the last corner to the testing area. He turns me around to face him as the desire I'd missed radiates off him. I lean in a little bit, hoping he would maybe kiss me, but he doesn't.

"How were the others while I was under?" He whispers, letting hurt crack through his facade, "I know I could read it, but how were they really?"

"Broken..." I whisper back, "Even Steve."

His face hardens as he turns around. I follow him as he turns the corner. He's talking underneath his breath, and I can't understand what he's saying. I pull his arm, so he turns to face me. Tears are running down his face, for the first time in front of me.

"Bucky..." I whisper gently as I wipe his tears away.

"It's all my fault, right? If Steve didn't ask them, and you, to help me, they wouldn't have got caught and they wouldn't have been through all the shit." He rambles.

I put my hands on his cheeks, "It wasn't your fault, Bucky. It was Zemo, remember? He drove Steve and Tony apart, and he's the reason why everything happened. You are not the reason. Don't you worry about that now. Let's worry about your own mental health and let's get the HYDRA out of you. Besides, if Sammy didn't ask me to join, you wouldn't have met me."

He closes his eyes and nods, reaching out his hand to let me lead. I take it, gently pulling him towards the testing area. The doors open as fast as Bucky leaves my grip. He walks in the room himself, somewhat ignoring everyone standing in there, and walks over to the chair.

"Let's do this." He says determined and sits down, hand and feet in place to be strapped against the chair.

Khule tightens the straps around his wrist and ankles as Faye starts the recorder.

"Testing day two." She continues, "Today we are going to continue the tests on Sergeant Bucky Barnes. Yesterday's test was successful, so we will now look if the outcome has stayed or not."

I find my way to the red book. I actually don't need it anymore, but I just need something in my hands to distract me from Bucky's sadness.

"Longing. Rusted."

Bucky's eyes close.

"Seventeen. Daybreak."

His fist clenches as he listens on.

"Furnace. Nine."

Steve comes standing next to me as I feel his worry grow.

"Benign. Homecoming."

Bucky throws his head back, trying to focus on anything but the words.

"One. Freight car."

The room stays quiet as all eyes focus on Bucky.

"Soldier?"

He looks up at me while a small smile plays on his lips.

"It didn't do anything." He laughs, "It didn't do anything at all."

Everyone starts clapping as I reach over to him to untie his arm and legs. He helps me up from the moment I detached his right leg. He wraps his arm around my waist as I hug him tightly against my body.

"It worked..." He sobs quietly on my shoulder, "I'm free."

"Not quite yet though." I smile, "We still have more tests to do."

He lets go of me, "Well, at least we know that it's working. Now, where did everyone go?"

I look around, and yes, everyone has disappeared out of the room.

I frown, "Probably Steve's idea."

"I forgot to thank you for the journal. So, thank you."

I feel the heat travel to my cheeks, "You're welcome. But it wasn't that much though."

"It helped me."

I walk to the book to close it, and to be away from Bucky for a moment. He keeps on messing with my head just by looking like that.

When I turn around, I realise that Bucky is gone. I heave a huge sigh and exit the lab myself as well. I am ready to relax a bit.