Worth The Risk (bucky barnes x reader fanfiction)

Part Seven

You sat curled up on your small couch, one of Steve's sweaters wrapped securely around your shoulders and the large duvet from your bed laid across your lap. You'd spent the last few hours there, absentmindedly doodling in one of your many notebooks as the small TV across from you droned on and on. Even then time went by excruciatingly slow and as the hours crept by you found yourself just as awake, just as anxious, and just as lonely as ever.

You didn't quite know why you felt the way you did. Work had been quieter than usual and there were no new missions in the foreseeable future. Everybody in the tower was relaxed and happy, taking full advantage of their time off. Yet there you were, wide awake and with a hollowing feeling eating away at your chest in the early hours of the morning.

Usually, you enjoyed your time alone. Showing your feelings around the team made you feel weak and vulnerable and in this line of work you were supposed to put up a strong front. That evening, however, you found yourself needing your friends' company. You placed your book on the seat next to you and stretched, reaching up for the ceiling and exhaling when you felt the small pop.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y.?" you spoke up timidly, waiting for the computer interface to reply. "Is Steve still awake?"

A small smile tugged at your lips and you sat up straighter when you heard her answer. Ready to stand, you readjusting the thick socks that had slipped down to pool around your ankles.

"Where can I find him?" you asked hopefully.

"Captain Rogers is in his room." Her voice was smooth. "Would you like me to call him for you?"

"No, no." You gushed, feeling a wave of relief surround you. "I'll go to him myself. Thank you, F.R.I.D.A.Y."

You pulled yourself up off of the couch and allowed the duvet to drop to the floor, shutting the door gently behind you as you left.

When you arrived, you found Steve's room empty. You frowned in confusion and took a step back in to the hallway to glance around. Just as you were about to ask F.R.I.D.A.Y. where you could find your friend for a second time, another door down the hall caught your attention.

You approached the door that had been left slightly ajar in silence, listening to the low murmur of voices for a second before peeking in. Both Steve and Bucky sat on the edge of the bed, clad only in their pajamas and conversing in low voices. Although you couldn't catch what they were saying, you heard how Bucky's voice cracked suddenly, angry tears beginning to stream down his face as he held his head in his hands. Steve moved to crouch in front of him, placing a rough hand on his shoulder and continuing to speak, his voice slow and steady. A glass of water sat shattered on the floor beside you. Realizing this wasn't your place to be, you took a step back and slowly retraced your steps to Steve's room, waiting for him to return.

You didn't know how long he would be, so you opted to climbing in to his bed and making yourself comfortable. You slipped under the covers as you began to wonder just how many sleepless nights had been hidden away from you. F.R.I.D.A.Y. was supposed to tell you when any of your friends were having nightmares; you could only guess that Bucky had ordered otherwise. Bothered, you snuggled further in to the warmth of Steve's comforter and as you let the familiar smell surround you, you began to relax and finally drift off to sleep.

Once Bucky had calmed back down and convinced his annoyingly persistent friend to get some rest of his own, Steve returned to his room to find you curled up on his bed fast asleep. He sighed aloud as he took in your exhausted appearance and pulled back the covers to take a seat, joining you under the blankets. You felt the dip of the mattress as he sat beside you, his low voice asking F.R.I.D.A.Y. what had happened that you were there. As he got his reply, Steve moved himself closer to you, slipping an arm below your shoulders when you shifted to drape your own across his abdomen, grabbing on to the thin material of his t-shirt and bringing him closer. As you drifted back off to sleep you felt the press of his lips against your forehead.