Better Love || A Bucky Barnes Fanfiction

- Into Battle -

Some things would never change. Despite his new arm Bucky still came to stand in front of Elena, hoping that she would pick up on the message. With a little smile she did what she had been doing for two years now: helping him get dressed. His uniform was new, straight out of Shuri's lab and designed to keep him safe yet comfortable. Piece by piece she helped him into his clothes, silently laughing at the reversal of actions. Only an hour earlier she had been helping him get out of them. With every article of clothing she added to him he copied, his fingers lingering against the skin of her hip as he helped her into her underwear, or brushing down the length of her arms as he pulled the black shirt over her head. He wasn't sure when he would next get the chance to touch her so tenderly.

"You look handsome," she murmured as she did up the last strap of his vest, looking up at him. He smiled, taking hold of her hands and clasping them tightly in his. 

"And you're looking like a badass, babydoll," he chuckled, taking her in. She was dressed in tight dark olive pants and a tanned, soft leather jacket, not exactly combat but enough to deal with action if it came her way. He prayed to God it wouldn't. "Jesus, you..."

"Gotta look the part. Might scare those aliens off, seeing me looking so frightening," Elena giggled, and she bared her teeth and growled for good measure, making Bucky laugh. He pulled her against him, burying his face against her hair and breathing her in. 

"When you get back..." Elena whispered against his chest, running her hand down his back. "When you get back, I am going to welcome you home with everything I have in my heart. I am going to wash away the war and then I am going to bathe you in my love. I'm going to kiss your cuts and bruises until they heal, until it was like none of it ever happened. I am going to love you all night long, James Buchanan Barnes."

Bucky closed his eyes, smile wide on his face as he thought about every word she said, savouring each one as they left her mouth. When she said his name it sounded like a prayer and Jesus, if they hadn't just gone at it he'd be tempted to rip off every article of clothing he had just put on her. Instead he just let out a deep, rumbling sigh that Elena felt against his chest before pulling away and looking down at her, face clasped in his hands.

"I worship you," he whispered, before leaning down and kissing her. For a minute Elena thought that maybe he wouldn't stop, that perhaps they never had to. Time didn't exist anymore, there was no war to fight, nowhere to go. They could stay like that forever. But then she heard footsteps approaching and the awed sound of their daughter catching them in an embrace. The pair pulled away and turned towards the newcomers, Shuri smiling at them while Corrie continued to stare.

"Kissy," Corrie stated, and the three laughed.

"Means they're in love," Shuri said, adjusting the young girl on her hip. Corrie grinned bashfully at that, burrying her face against her godmother's neck. "I think someone's a bit embarressed."

"Every child goes through it. It's a rite of passage," Elena joked, taking Bucky's hand in hers. Shuri smiled before nodding down the hallway.

"The captain's here along with the others. My brother is meeting them outside," she told them. The couple smiled, beginning to walk over to Shuri. Catching her daughter's attention Elena stared into her steel blue eyes, leaning forward with a smile. 

"Time to see uncle Steve, darling?" she cooed. The excitement in Corrie's eyes was answer enough for all of them.

//

He had seen them quite recently, but every time he came back to Wakanda and was reunited with them once more he couldn't help but smile with joy at being home, and for Steve Rogers home was wherever they were. Without hesitation Steve stepped forward, arms open as soon as he caught sight of the man who knew him best in the world.