oh captain! my captain! | barnes

upstir

11:00 pm
Tower

He stood, vaguely covering himself with his hospital-like gown and sheets. He took aimless steps out of the door.

Noise in the living room.

Just around this corner. A few more steps.

He had just reached the end of the walkway when he buckled and fell into the light and onto the floor.

"Bucky!" a familiar voice shrilled before he blacked out, again.

•••

Bright lights.

He woke to sterile white lights.

"Bucky?" a small voice that traced back to Audrey. His Audrey.

He was in his own bed, in his own clothes. His friends stood around the room. She was sitting in a chair next to the bed. She took his hand.

He was propped up by pillows.

"How're you feeling?" Steve asked.

"My chest hurts," his voice sounded miles away from his body, light years away.

Audrey felt a pang. She brushed it off. Steve's message rattled inside her: he needs you more than ever.

She looked back to Bucky, who was studying her carefully. He was memorizing every detail of her face, it felt like ages had passed in those two weeks.

"Your hand," he looked at it. "Can I see it?"

She extended her left arm, he took her left hand in both of his. Their metal limbs clinked on contact.

It made her smile, which made him smile.

Steve nodded for everyone to leave them alone, they filled out and he closed the door behind him.

The two soldiers sat together.

"It's beautiful," he stated as he folded her fingers gently, only to open them again. "It matches mine."

She glanced to his arm, seeing the familiar star.

"Tony put a branding on it too," she spoke lowly, as if any sound louder would shatter him; her once-unbreakable man.

She pulled the glove off and showed the broken HYDRA symbol.

He smiled, "Like your shoulder."

"Yeah," she put the glove back on. "It was Steve's idea."

He sat up and swung his legs to the side of the bed. He took her hands in his.

"I missed you," her voice was shaking.

"I missed you too, Ace. Come here," he pulled her up and stood. He held her close, feeling her heart beat against his.

Part of her ached under his touch. And the other part felt hungry to tell him she left, only to come back.

But for the moment, she allowed herself to fold under his touch. His cold metal arm around her body and her cold metal hand pressed against his back.