Stucky One Shots

Two Sides of the Same Coin

As a celebration for hitting 700k, here's a domestic look at Hydra husbands! :) Be aware of general angst and Hydra stuff.

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"There's nothin' there, Stevie," Bucky murmurs as they sit up awake at 2:00 am, Steve shaking and Bucky trying not to feel helpless.

"I saw -- they were here," Steve breathes, voice trembling, and Bucky only squeezes his hands, heart aching with the want to do more but knowing that all Steve needs is reassurance.

"Nobody's here, you're safe," Bucky assures, his voice that same hushed promise, and Steve finds it difficult to accept. Bucky eyes the way Steve looks ready to bolt, hands trembling but trying to hide it by clutching Bucky's own.

"It'd-- it'd be silly to check the front door, right?"

"If it makes you feel better-- "

Steve nods jerkily and is quick to do a perimeter of their apartment. Bucky just... watches him, heart sinking low in his stomach. He felt awful.

There was nothing to be done about it. Wounds needed time to heal, and Steve's stay with HYDRA had been long, too long; the ramifications seemed astronomical and overwhelming, and Steve didn't know how to cope with it.

Bucky glances at his phone. Almost 2:30; he mentally curses and watches Steve pace the apartment, briefly checking window bolts and the deadlock of the door. Once he's finally assured they're going to be okay, he joins Bucky in bed once more and tries to settle in, his racing heart slowing as Bucky wraps his arms around him and kisses his shoulder.

"You okay?"

Steve closes his eyes and nods. "Sorry, Buck," he murmurs, and Bucky shakes his head against his shoulder.

"I've been there too," he says softly. "You got nothin' to apologise for."

They lay together in silence, each thinking the other has fallen asleep, each lost in their own thoughts. After maybe an hour or two Steve gently pulls himself free and starts getting dressed for a run; Bucky lets him.

Everybody needed an outlet of some kind, and Steve's happened to be running. Bucky saw him jot down a hastily scribbled note on one of their post-its: how they primarily communicated. Bucky waits for him to leave before starting his own day. He sets to work brewing some coffee and stares idly at the sunrise.

His phone buzzes to life -- Fury messaging him about a potential week-long mission, Steve too. That was either the last thing they needed, or the best thing to take their minds off the fact that they'd both been used as HYDRA's brainwashed lackeys for the past however years.

Bucky leaves him on read and slides his phone across the table. Maybe... maybe he'd extend the offer to Steve and see what he thought. He seemed pretty rattled by whatever nightmare he had; it might be a good distraction.

Or this mission could be another waking nightmare that neither of them woke up from.

Bucky pulls on a jacket and shoes, pouring coffee into a thermos or two for the both of them. He knew Steve's usual running route; he'd swing by and hand him a coffee, see how he's doing.

////

Steve slows to a stop, panting, drops his hands onto his hips and takes a brief look at his surroundings. It was just beginning to brighten, the sun peeking out from the old buildings, something that promised to be a beautiful morning.

"I can't believe you left the house without coffee," Bucky speaks as he walks down the path towards him. Steve, flushed red, grins as he meets him halfway. "Last night really got you you, huh?"