Winterwidow One-shots

Oreshki

A/N: This was better in my head but here have some fluff

Bucky and Natasha sat silently on their couch. They didn't know what time it was, but knew it was well past midnight. A movie played on their TV as they lay sprawled in each other's arms, but they weren't really watching. The two of them had lots of nights like this. Being two of the best assassins in the world came with lots of night terrors and some nights, it was easier not to sleep. Luckily, the two had one another to keep them company on those nights.

This evening was particularly bad for Natasha. Though she tried not to show it, Bucky had known her long enough to sense when something was bothering her. He caressed her arm and tried to think of something that would cheer her up, but making Natasha happy was pretty challenging on a good day. Then, he got an idea.

"Hey, doll. You still awake," he asked, already knowing the answer. Natasha looked up at him and pursed her lips. "What do you think, Barnes," she asked with a tinge of bitterness. Bucky sighed. He came up close to her ear and whispered "Do you want to make Oreshki? It'll be fun. Just like we used to." The corners of Natasha's lips tugged up at the mention of her favorite Russian cookies. She sighed but nodded wearily. She sat up so that Bucky could stand and begin to prepare the sweets. He'd known how to make them ever since he'd lived in Russia. One of the very few treats he got as a teacher and weapon for the Red Room were these cookies because the secretary to his master was a baker who had a soft spot for Bucky. She brought them in in secret.

One day, when he was fairly new to the Red Room, he had been sitting in his room waiting to be summoned for drills or training. While he was eating one and a girl a few years younger than him had wandered into the room. He had been about 18 and she about 15. She clearly hadn't meant to come into the room, at least not while anyone was watching. She feared she would be punished and began to leave, but even in his mind controlled state, he still had some kind of love for that girl. He could never explain why, but he put his hands up and held out one to her. Bucky still remembered how her eyes had lit up like he was holding a priceless gem.

She had been skeptical at first, but had moved forward cautiously. She reached her hand towards his and lightly took the cookie. Bucky could not talk, but he motioned for her to sit down with him. She squinted her eyes in suspicion, but joined him eventually. Both of them had known they weren't supposed to be there, but they had also both been looking for a friend. The girl had sat on the side of the cot with Bucky and just stared at the cookie for a moment.

She had then spoken so softly, Bucky could barely hear her. "These are my favorites. I think my mother used to make them." Bucky had felt a longing to care for the girl. He hadn't wanted to care for anything in a while. He had sat with her in silence while she ate the cookie. When she finished, he had shewed her back to wherever she was supposed to be so that she could avoid getting caught.

Now Bucky stood in his apartment with that girl's hands wrapped around him while he made her cookies. He moved around the kitchen, expertly finding each necessary ingredient. The butter and the salt and the sweetened condensed milk. He got out the mixer and the special molds. Natasha watched him with a smile on her face. He moved quickly, only ever pausing to look up at Natasha.

They sat in silence for a while before Natasha got up and started helping. She knew how to make them as well and set to making the filling. She took out a bowl and stirred her ingredients together. When she looked up, Bucky was slyly grinning at her. "What now, James," she asked playfully. Bucky put his hand into the cup of flour just slightly and then shook it in Natasha's direction. The was a puff of white and Natasha's shirt was speckled with whie powder. She put her hands up and looked taken aback while Bucky laughed at her.

"Oh so that's how you want to play this," she smirked. Bucky shrugged, grinning. Natasha then nodded as she grabbed a small handful of flour from the bag and flung it at Bucky. The dust went everywhere on his side of the kitchen. When it settled, Bucky was revealed with his mouth open and his dark hair now a powdery white. Natasha burst out laughing.

Bucky shook his head and grinned. "You are so dead, Romanoff," he laughed as he began to move towards Natasha. She readied herself and took a stance of power. "I'd like to see you try, Barnes," she said with mischief in her eyes. Bucky charged at her and she flipped over the counter. Now they were on opposite sides of the counter in a game of chicken. If Natasha moved one way, Bucky moved the other. When she was sure this wasn't going anywhere, Natasha grabbed some powdered sugar and tossed it at Bucky. He avoided the brunt of it this time and most of it went on the floor. He emerged smiling and grabbed some baking soda and tossed it her way.

Natasha was hit with the full force of it and now she was also drenched in white dust. While she recovered, Bucky charged at her. He grabbed her by the waist and swung her upside down over his shoulder, causing her to shriek and laugh in surprise. "Damn it, Barnes, put me down."

"Gladly." Bucky put her on top of the counter where there wasn't any baking supplies and pushed her down just slightly so that she couldn't move. Their faces were incredibly close and Natasha could feel Bucky's breath on her cheek. His hair was still a dusty gray color and his cheek was covered in some variety of white powder. He looked into her eyes and grinned softly. She returned the grin and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. She drew back and Bucky kissed her again, only slightly more passionately.

The kiss escalated from there. Natasha's hands went to Bucky's hair and his cold fingers touched the skin under her shirt and climbed her back. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he picked her up from the counter and carried her to the bed where he laid down with her and they continued kissing.

When they broke apart, they were breathing heavy and both smiling. "Thank you," said Natasha softly. "For what," Bucky asked as he tilted his head to the side. "For making the biggest mess our kitchen has ever seen." Bucky lifted his head to look at the kitchen that now looked like it had been decorated like a snow landscape with various white powders covering every surface in sight. Bucky bared his teeth. "Sorry..." Natasha laughed at him. "Don't ever be sorry for this," she said as she kissed him again.