Winter (A Bucky Barnes recovery story)

11. Couches

Steve walks in to see Natasha and Bucky on the couch asleep in the same position as last night. As he shuts the door Natasha looks up. "Morning." he whispers.

"Good morning." she whispers back, sitting up. Steve smiles slightly, resisting the urge to laugh. On the side of her face was some little marks from where her face had pressed against Bucky's wrinkled shirt. He watches as she pulls away, careful not to wake Bucky.

"How'd you sleep?" Steve asks.

"Pretty good. Do you think he would like it I we made him breakfast?" She says stretching.

"He probably would eat it." Steve replies, Nat nods.

"Okay. What would he like?"

"What about eggs and bacon?" Steve suggests.

"Okay. I think he has eggs..." She walks over to the fridge and finds it's nearly empty, she pulls out an untouched carton of eggs. "He has eggs and milk, but otherwise his fridge is basically empty." Steve frowns, wondering wether it had just been a while since he refilled his fridge or if he was even bothering it to do it.

"Well I have bacon." Steve says, watching Nat set the eggs and milk on the counter.

"Okay. You go get that and I'll start the eggs." She says, pulling out a pan.

"Okay. I'll be back." He goes across the street and gets the bacon from his fridge. He walks back across the street and opens the door to be greeted with the smell of eggs. He takes the bacon to Nat in the kitchen.

"Thank you." She says, she takes the bacon and turns on the burner for the other pan. Steve starts the bacon. When they finish they take one of the plates over to Bucky. Nat sits next to him on the couch. "James." she whispers.

He opens his eyes then takes in his surroundings, he groggily mumbles "Uhum?"

"We made you breakfast." She says quietly.

"You... did?" He yawns

"Yeah." Steve says holding up the plate.

"Oh. Thanks." He takes the plate and yawns again.

"How'd you sleep?" Nat asks, leaning against his shoulder.

"Good. I guess." He says, he takes a bite of the eggs. "Thanks, again."

"Your welcome." Steve and Nat say in unison. Bucky laughs softly.

"What?" they ask puzzled, Bucky laughs even harder.

"What's so funny?" Steve says, Nat gives him a look.

"You guys." He says, struggling to stop laughing.

"What's so funny about us James?" Nat says giving him a stern glare. He struggles to catch his breath.

"You guys are talking in sync." He wheezes, Nat frowns and Steve shakes his head. Bucky looks up at them having regained his composure. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Nat says, he nods and his hair falls into his face. She watches him push his hair behind his ear again. "Here." She says. She digs around in her pocket and pulls out a hair elastic. "Sit still."

He sits still, and she stands up and walks behind him. She pulls back his hair in sections gathering it all in her hand, she wraps the hair band around his hair then lets go and takes a step back admiring her handiwork.

"Thank you." Bucky says quietly, relieved not to have to push it back out of his face continuously.

"Your welcome." Nat says, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It looks good on you Buck." Steve says, a grin spreading across his face. A small smile spreads across Bucky's face.

"Yes. It does." Nat agrees, she goes and stands next to Steve. Bucky's smile widens and a small blush spreads across his cheek.

"So what do you guys want to do today?" Steve asks, Bucky shrugs.

"What about a movie?" Nat suggests, Bucky looks up at her.

"I think that sounds good. Though I will be of no use choosing." He replies, Steve gives him a questioning look. "I'm 'un-opinionated' remember."

"Yes. You are." Nat agrees, "Well, Steve you have your list right? Why don't we watch something from it?"

"Why not." Steve shrugs and pulls out his list. "Well, what about Star Wars? Sherlock? Star Trek?"

"I vote Sherlock." Nat says, sitting down next to Bucky.

"I think that sounds good." Bucky agrees, they get situated and Bucky stretches out on the couch and Nat lays next to him. Steve sits down on the couch across from them.

"You know, I'm surprised these couches don't have imprints of us in 'em." Bucky says, as Steve hits the play button and the show starts.

"Your quite right." Steve replies, Nat laughs softly then they all fall silent and watch the show. When it finishes Bucky is asleep on the couch, snoring softly while Nat is laying next to him half asleep. Steve shuts off the tv and slumps into the couch and crashes. Allowing sleep to wash over him and pull him into a dreamless sleep.