I sat in the opposite corner of the room to Bucky, whose back was to me. His breath was heavy, catching in his throat occasionally. I crossed my legs under myself, tapping a gentle rhythm into the wood floor with my nails. I continued the tapping, hearing Bucky's breathing slowly regulate again. I shuffled about half the room closer, the tapping stopping as I shuffled. When I got comfortable in my new spot, I tapped again, keeping the same beat I had earlier. Then Bucky tapped back, once, but it was enough or me to know he was calm. I stood up and sat next to him, my right knee touching his left one as we both faced the wall. Bucky's forehead was against the wall, tears staining his cheeks.
After five minutes of being sat like that, Bucky's occasional taps moved from the floor my knee, then my splayed palm. He eventually weaved his fingers with mine, thumb tracing a pattern on the back of my hand.
"It's time to wake up Buck, come on," I whispered, squeezing his hand gently. "Can I see those eyes?" I asked, dipping my head down to catch his eye. He looked up at me, hair falling over his face slightly. I brushed it out of the way, feeling his eyes staring into me. I looked back down at him, my free hand cupping his cheek.
"I'm sorry doll, I woke you." He mumbled, hand placing itself over mine. I shook my head, soaking in his features as we sat there, the sound of our breathing filling the air.
"I'll always wake up for you Buck," I smiled, making him look down at his lap before looking back up. "You're not what they did. You are the best man i've ever met." I rubbed my thumb over his cheek, feeling his metal pointer finger run along my wrist before he leant closer, breath mingling with mine before our lips connected. He tasted like mint and slightly like salt, from his tears, but his lips moved like magic. I moved my hand from his face to his neck, playing with hair; his hands cupping my face. He pulled away from the kiss, letting us both catch our breath.
"Thank you for reminding me what butterflies feel like." He whispered, thumb rubbing the skin of my cheek gently.
"I love you, Buck." I mumbled back, leaving my fingers tangled in his hair.
"I love you too, sunshine." He smiled, connecting his lips back on mine and smiling into the kiss.
Sure, he wasn't perfect, but he was loved.
