Avengers x Reader One Shots

[Bucky x Stevex Reader] The Bet (Part 3)

      You were up late blogging when you heard Peggy crying. Again....

     Steve and Bucky had been taking turns sleeping for the past three days but neither had actually gotten much of it.

      Apparently they had both finally fallen asleep because you heard a cacophony of groans coming from Steve's room down the hall. Bucky came out and headed to the kitchen with Steve and Peggy following close behind.

     "Just hurry and make the stupid bottle before she wakes all of New York up!" chided Steve.

     "What does it look like I'm doing?!" whispered Bucky harshly.

      "Well do it faster!"

      Peggy kept crying but you heard Bucky over her. " OH WHAT THE FU-" he stopped himself and you made your way to the kitchen to see what had happened.

     In the midst of all the chaos, Bucky had grabbed one of the disposable bottles and spilled formula everywhere.

     He ran his hands through his hair in distress. "WHO. PUTS A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF A FREAKING BOTTLE. Oh my God...I can't do this." His eyes went wide. "I'm a failure as a father."

     You opened your mouth to sooth him but the lights came on behind you and Tony walked into the kitchen wearing his boxers and an AC/DC t-shirt. "Yea...about the bet...It's over." He looked at Steve through half lidded eyes and reached into the baby's mouth and flicked the switch he installed. He looked back up at Steve and walked away.

     After the switch had been flipped, Loki's glamour faded instantly leaving a cold, metal skeleton in Steve's arms. 

     His mouth opened as though he wanted to say something but he couldn't get it out.

     It was clear that the baby had taken it's toll on poor Bucky who was staring blankly at the ceiling.

     "C'mon, Buck. Why don't you go to bed," you suggested walks over to him. You massaged his shoulders for a second before he walked out of the kitchen and into his room.

     "Are you ok, Cap?" you asked crossing your arms and examining him.

     He swallowed and shrugged.

     "Do you want me to go put that in the lab so you can get some sleep?" You offered walking over to him.

     "Yea...thanks." His voice was strained and his eyes looked wet.

     You offered him a gentle smile and took what remained of the baby out of his arms.

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      You were heading back to your room, after bringing the robot to Tony's lab when you passed Steve's room. He had his back facing the door which was  your first clue that something was wrong. He always slept facing the door in case of emergency.

     You gently knocked on the door jamb. "Steve?"

     He rolled over and you could see his face was streaked with his tears.

     "Oh...honey..." you padded across the room and sat beside him. "I'm so sorry...I didn't realize you were taking this so hard..."

     You were trying to help but your words only made him worse. He pinched the bridge of his nose as his face crumpled. You had never seen Steve like this. Ever. So you laid down beside him and held onto him. He heavy breathing and choked sobs shook you to your core.

     "I couldn't do it," he finally whispered. "I failed...and I couldn't even say goodbye."

     The tears sprung up in your eyes as you buried your face into his neck. You kissed it once and wrapped your other arm around his torso.

     "Will you...stay?" he asked.

     "Of course," you whisper. "Yes. Of course. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

     Steve reached up and ran his fingers through your hair. He kissed the side of your face until the both of you fell asleep.