MARVEL IMAGINES

BUCKY BARNES - NIGHTMARES

"No ... no ... please, stop ..."

A voice broke through your sleep, causing you to force yourself awake. You rubbed your eyes and blearily looked over at your boyfriend, Bucky, who lay next to you. He was close enough that you could see his eyelashes, and you noticed how they contrasted starkly against his tan skin. His long dark hair hung over his forehead, and you gently brushed it off his face, careful not to wake him. A small breath escaped his lips as he slept. You watched him for a while longer before letting your eyes drift shut, reassured that he was sleeping peacefully.

Right as you started to feel yourself fall back asleep, Bucky's pained voice rang through the air. "Stop, please. Stop. Just kill me!" He whimpered, the sound shattering your heart. You quickly sat up and grabbed his shoulder, just as you had done many nights before. You shook him, calling out his name worriedly. There had been times when he wouldn't wake from his nightmares. "Bucky ... Bucky ... Bucky!"

He shot up in the bed and brought his fists up to his chest in a defensive pose, ready to fight. His eyes were wild and his breathing heavy and labored as he glanced around the room in fear, as if waiting for something or someone to jump out and attack. "Bucky?" you asked softly, eyeing him hesitantly. Some nights, it was hard to tell if he was himself when he woke up.

He jerked his head in your direction, only relaxing when his eyes locked onto yours. Surprise flooded his features as if he had just noticed you for the first time. "Y/N," he breathed, dropping his fists. He looked up at you, his blue eyes wide with worry. "Damn it ... How bad was it? I didn't hurt you, did I?" At this, he gently held your face in his hands and examined it, his eyes flitting over your features. He started to check your arms and legs before you stopped him, pulling softly on his arm. "Bucky, I'm okay. You didn't hurt me."

He stood up and ran his hands through his hair in frustration, looking at you painfully. "But I could have, Y/N. I could have hurt you."

You grabbed his hands and laced your fingers through his. "But you didn't."

He glanced over at you once again, his eyes cloudy with emotion. "But-"

"No buts," you furrowed your eyebrows, giving him a stern look. "I don't want to hear another word about it, Bucky Barnes."

He opened his mouth as if to argue, but thought the better of it and sighed, nodding his head. A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips as he looked at you. "You can be very persuasive, you know that?"

You smiled and raised your eyebrows. "I know." Leaning over, you kissed him softly, feeling his lips react against yours. "Now come to bed, I don't want to sleep alone."

Bucky wordlessly slipped under the covers next to you, the warmth from his body radiating onto you. You shivered at the familiar feeling of the cool metal on your skin as he slid his arm over your stomach, holding you tightly. He pressed his lips to the top of your head before snuggling up to you. "Goodnight, Y/N."

"Goodnight," you murmured, your eyes already heavy with sleep.