CHILD one-shots | james b. barnes

[ Masks ]

Masks

[ when Covid-19 strikes, the Avengers take turns buying groceries. It's supposed to be Bucky's turn, but, he has a slight problem with masks.]

"YOU CAN'T FORCE ME to wear that."

Bucky stared at the mask Steve held out to him- it was completely white with star patterns- and Steve looked about ready to throw him out the compound.

"Buck," Steve said slowly like he was talking to a baby, "if you don't wear your mask, you can't go into a store without being stared at- and don't tell me that doesn't bother you because I know it does. And you can catch the virus!"

Bucky grumbled slightly, crossing his arms over his chest stubbornly. He shook his head, glaring slightly.

"So?"

Steve gave him an incredulous look.

"So? Buck do you want to die?" He said seriously and Bucky scoffed.

"I'm sure with all the fancy chemicals HYDRA put in my body I'll be fine even if I catch it." He said confidently and Steve narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, but this is a new disease- I'm sure HYDRA didn't prepare you for world pandemics." He said.

Bucky stared at the mask, before pushing it back towards Steve.

"Just ask someone else to get the groceries." He said and Steve gave him a small shrug.

"Okay, fine, I'll ask Angelika-" he started and Bucky let out a sharp gasp.

"Are you crazy? What if some idiot doesn't wear a mask and she catches it? You'll risk her getting sick?" He said and Steve stared at him with disbelief.

"Some 'idiot' could be you if you don't wear your mask!" He said pointedly and Bucky took a moment to think, before shaking his head furiously.

"Wearing a mask is like killing someone." He said with a frown and Steve let out a small breath.

"I know it bothers you, but this is for your own safety." He said softly and Bucky shook his head.

"No, it's meant to shut you up." He said stiffly and Steve crossed his arms.

"How about this- I'll go with you, but you still have to wear a mask." He said and Bucky frowned.

"If you're going, just go alone." He said and Steve raised an eyebrow.

"Nope." He said just as stubborn as Bucky.

Angelika stepped into the living room, with a muffin in her mouth, half eaten as she rubbed her eyes sleepily. She gave one look at Steve and Bucky, then the mask in his hand. She gulped the rest of her muffin and her lips shaped into an 'o'. The pair ignored her as she watched them continue to argue.

"You haven't left the compound in a month Buck." Steve said with exasperation and Bucky threw his hands in the air.

"I was underground for fifty years, Steve, I'm perfectly fine living like I am now." He said and Angelika took another bit of her muffin, eyes flickering between them.

"But you don't need to act like you're confined anymore." He said and Bucky ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"I'm not, I just- I just don't want to wear,"  he waved his hand at the mask, "that thing."

Angelika gave her papa a small frown before grasping the mask out of Steve's hand. Steve blinked a few times, and Angelika pulled the mask over her face.

"It's not that bad, see?" Angelika said, speaking through the mask. "I can talk and there's no mouth piece inside."

Bucky narrowed his eyes skeptically and Steve gave Angelika a confused look. She gave him a small reassuring smile, before taking off the mask and showing Bucky the inside. He blinked a few times and his frown lessened slightly.

"Oh." Was all he said and Steve looked between them.

"What do you mean there's no mouth piece inside?" He asked and Angelika glanced at Bucky for a second.

"On my- my other mask had a mouth piece I would bite on, if I don't it's twice as uncomfortable." He said quietly "It's um. . .it's hard to speak. . .or scream I guess. . ." He glanced at Steve's face and instantly felt bad for how horrified he looked.

". . .Uh, I mean, like when I get shot I'd feel pain- wait, no- I mean- um, I wasn't supposed to be heard- assassin and all and I mean it wasn't that bad but I mean-" Bucky rambled and Angelika cleared her throat.

"What papa means to say is," she said firmly, "you don't need to feel bad for asking him to wear a mask."

Steve looked upset and angry at the same time. The pair waited patiently for Steve to digest this new information.

"Buck I-" Steve breathed in sharply, shaking his head apologetically.

Bucky patted Steve's shoulder reassuringly, and Angelika put the mask in Bucky's hands, taking out one from her pocket.

"We ran out of muffins and the only person in this compound who buys the right muffins is Wanda, so I'm coming with you guys." She announced, pulling the ear loops over her, well, ears.

Bucky frowned at the sight of Angelika wearing a mask- everything about it screamed wrong, and he stared down at the one's in his hands.

"So. . .do I just. . ." Bucky slowly lifted the mask to his face before pulling it away quickly, nose scrunching with disgust.

"I still don't think it's necessary." He mumbled and Angelika poked his arm.

"If you do catch it, then it has a high possibility of spreading to everyone in this compound. Do you really want to get everyone sick? It might not kill you, but it could kill other people." She said pointedly.

He cringed as he put the mask on his face, a look of discomfort crossing his eyes.

"Okay, now you can talk through it like you normally would." Angelika said and Bucky bit the inside of his lip.

He tried to talk- but he just couldn't. It wasn't like he didn't want to- it was just- every part of his body told him to, quite frankly, shut up. It was drilled into his mind, so how was he supposed to speak without being given a reason to? He didn't need to give backup soldiers orders- which rarely happened anyway- and he most definitely was not allowed to strike up a conversation.

"Papa, just say hi, or hello." Angelika said gently and Bucky opened his mouth beneath his mask- and he hesitated for a moment.

Memories of being beaten for speaking rose from the deepest depths of his mind and he tensed, shoulders stiffening as he shut his mouth once again.

Angelika knew exactly how he felt- she'd been through worse when it came to masks- and she grasped his normal hand.

"It's okay, Papa. I promise." She said reassuringly and Steve gave him a nod of encouragement.

Bucky ran a hand through his hair and let out a frustrated sigh.

"I- I can't." He said, and Angelika grinned.

"You just did!" She said and Bucky furrowed his eyebrows, before realizing he had.

Steve laughed at his expression and Bucky's cheeks tinted red.

"Hey it's not funny!" Bucky said, playfully punching Steve's shoulder.

Angelika grinned and waved her muffin wrapper.

"C'mon, let's get some food!"