avengers one-shots

b.b. - the three times 'the phrase' was used

in the process of remediation after CA: TWS, the reader finds a phrase to use to calm bucky down, and it becomes a frequent phrase for the two.

set: after CA: CW if he wasn't put into cryo

warnings: none?

wc: 3052

The first time 'the phrase' was used was just as Y/N was headed to bed. As Y/N strode down the hall of the new Avengers Facility towards her room, dismantled screams and cries of fear rang out from the bedroom of James Buchanan Barnes. Immediately, she went into protective mode and slammed into his door, quickly opening it and sprinting over to his bed. There laid a sweat- soaked super-soldier, obviously terrified and paralyzed due to his dream. This was the first time Y/N had dealt with it on her own. Usually Steve was there first and she came in afterwards, only to see Steve had calmed him down. But this time, Steve was gone on a mission with Tony, some secret SHIELD assignment, and she had no clue clue what to do.

"Bucky! Bucky, it's alright! It's me, it's Y/N. I know i'm no Steve, but i'm here to help, just wake up, Buck. C'mon!" She sat next to him, grabbing his shoulders and moving him around in attempt to break his slumber. He immediately shot up, grabbing Y/N's waist and holding onto it firmly, like he was bracing himself.

"Y/N." He sighed, leaning into her body, wrapping his arms around her torso and pressing his face into her neck.

"Hey, i'm here, you're alright. Nothing will hurt you." She began to run one hand through his hair and another on his back, helping him calm down a bit more.

"Why did they make me this thing? This... this monster?"

"James. You are not a monster. They twisted your mind and there's nothing you can do about it. Spring is just around the corner, you just have to brave the winter first." Y/N didn't know where that last sentence came from, nor why she said it. It felt right in the moment, and she felt him relax a bit when she said it.

"That phrase, where'd you get it?" His breaths fanned against her neck, making her hold back a shiver.

"It just kinda came to me. I was thinking about your 'name', the winter soldier, and then the seasons, and then it just came out of my mouth. Do you like it?"

"It helped, actually. So, yeah, I do. I like it a lot. Thanks for calming me down."

"Of course." Y/N began to get up, but Bucky lightly grabbed her hand.

"Stay. Please." He looked up at her, then to her hand, which had linked her fingers with his. Y/N obliged, walking around to the other side of the bed and got under the covers, allowing Bucky to become the little spoon as they cuddled and fell asleep in each others arms.

-

The second time was when Bucky had just finished a mission, dealing with another HYDRA base. It had been two months since Bucky's last episode, and the two had done nothing but gotten closer. They constantly talked, and practically never left each other's side. The mission had gone well, but Bucky was having a harder time adjusting to it than others.

"Y/N, I hate to say it but another two minutes and if he's not back here we have orders to leave." Tony called from the cockpit of the Quinjet.

"Tony, please, give him another five and he'll be here in time. I don't want to leave him."

"I'm sorry, Pumpkin. Director's orders." He used the pet name he had given her years ago when he brought her to the team, making Y/N feel even worse. She nodded, placing her finger on her comms to talk directly to Bucky. All comms did this, each set had a pair, and the pairs went to the team's assigned partners. Bucky was paired with Y/N because Steve was in charge of the pairs and decided the two would be a perfect fit for each other.