heart tremors » bucky barnes

three

"So how was it?"

I turn around and lock eyes with Steve, who's leaning against the doorway of the facility's kitchen.

"I think it went alright, what did Bucky tell you?" I ask as I pour the hot water from the kettle on the stove into my mug and Kadyn's with a green tea pouch. Kadyn's having a bad day so she told me to take a break for the rest of the day, to which I immediately made my way to the kitchen to make some tea for the both of us.

"Not a lot," Steve replies, entering the kitchen, "If you hadn't noticed, he's a man of few words."

"Oh, I noticed, but it was okay. Gave me more room to talk all I wanted. He's a great listener, though," I throw out the tea pouch and turn to face him again, taking a sip from my mug.

Steve nods with a small smile, "That he is. You know, whatever you two did yesterday, it made him real happy. I haven't seen him in that good of a mood since..."

He trails off, presumably thinking about the times before he had the serum and even before Bucky was enlisted. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to know Steve in the 40s.

"Since a long time ago?" I offer.

"Yeah. Exactly," He replies quietly with a longing smile.

"Well, I don't really have an answer for you as to what would've made him so happy. I just took him along with me on my errands and what-not, like a dog. Then he followed me around the lab while I assisted Kadyn. He even offered to help but soon realized what being Kadyn's assistant entails. You know, he really is like a dog," I muse, realizing Bucky's instincts are rather dog-like.

Steve laughs, "I'm surprised he went out in public, actually."

"He looked on edge the whole time, I tried distracting him by talking a lot. It seemed to work," I shrug, then ask him a question, "Where is he?"

"You can always assume he's either in the gym or in his room. He doesn't usually join us for our movie nights or meals either. I'm often taking food to his room," Steve explains.

I frown, "Why's that?"

The thought of Bucky staying alone in his room while the rest of the team is spending time together makes my heart hurt.

"I don't think he exactly feels welcome quite yet. I've done everything I can but I think he just needs time... Being around people still makes him anxious."

I think back to yesterday and how he looked like he was always ready for the worst scenario to occur. When we walked down the sidewalks he kept himself closer to the streets, leaving me in between him and the shops we passed. Once we got to the park, he requested that we use the less used trails so we can avoid other people. To my understanding, these small actions help keep him a bit calm, especially if a small part of him still believes that there are threats out there.

"That's understandable, I guess. Although I am going to find him and deliver some tea," I decide and pour the rest of the hot water from the kettle into a travel mug for Bucky along with my last green tea bag.

"Buck likes tea?" I hear Steve question out loud behind me and I snort.

"Oh, yes. I think I got him addicted. He sure seems like a tea man, am I right?"

"I've come to learn that you're always right, Jo," Steve admits.

"And that," I say as I throw out the tea pouch, "Is why you're my favourite. See you, Stevie."

I carefully carry my mug in one hand and the travel mug for Bucky in my other as I walk down the halls to Bucky's room. Steve had showed me which one was his, just in case.