Chapter Text
Finding ones footing after months of torture and nearly killing the people you love is a rocky path.
You couldn’t look at your friends in the same way again and – in all fairness – neither could they. Although they expressed that they took no heart in your actions, they still found you packing your bags to leave the tower. Bucky had been recovering in the medical lab while Steve tried to persuade you to change your mind but Tony, ultimately, had the final say.
He remembered how his panic attacks of the New York Battle were calmed after some alone time in Rose Hill, Tennessee. Figuring that his sister would be in similar need of a quiet recovery, he agreed with your decision to leave.
You left early in the morning just to avoid forcing a smile with goodbyes and caught a cab to your apartment. You dragged the suitcase up the familiar staircase and then stared at your door.
How did it come to this? You asked yourself with a sigh.
Inserting the key and turning the locks, you returned to the place it all began. Once inside, you tossed the keys on your kitchen bench and began unpacking. While it took most of the day to reorganise your wardrobe and clean, you finally finished moving back in and relaxed on your sofa.
The sun had begun to set and you sat in silence for a minute. It wasn’t until you missed the buzz and noise of the Avengers that the heavy reminder of what you had done returned. Guilt washed over you like a hurricane and you brought your knees to your chest in an attempt to calm your raging mind.
Your body trembled at the memory of Rumlow’s severely burnt face jeering as he flicked on the machine to twist your mind. You remembered how lucky you were that the machine would often short out and be repaired for days on end, and how your heart fell into your stomach when you saw it back in action.
Knock, knock!
You jumped at the sound of knuckles against furnished wood and looked at your door with such fear that it seemed like the door could come alive and kill you at any moment.
The sound echoed through your living room once more and you swallowed the lump in your throat as you pushed yourself of the soft mattress. You knees may have buckled at first but you soon had them under control with each step that you took towards the door.
You pressed a hand firmly on the back of the wood and took a deep breath.
Swinging the door open, you were faced with black hair, gentle eyes, and a metal hand that carried three pizza boxes – James Buchanan Barnes had showed up at your doorstep.
“You shouldn’t be here.” You told him gently.
You expected Bucky to frown or look startled at the blunt greeting but he invited himself in. Had you been in your right mind, you would have hugged the Soldier. But since you were far from that, hugs were out of the question for now.
“Remember when I said the same thing to you?” Bucky asked as he set the pizza on the bench made of polished granite and turned around to you.
“You said one word: pizza.” He answered. You walked over to him but maintained a safe distance upon remembering your last encounter with Bucky in a kitchen setting.
“Listen, you need to leave.” You told him firmly. You were trying to put your foot down on the matter but it was like Bucky was ignoring you on purpose – which he was.
Bucky took a step towards you and you took one backwards in return, your mind only set on keeping away from the man you almost killed.
“I remember that day clearly because I shouted at you for trying to help me. I pushed you away so often because I was scared to hurt you. And then it really did happen.” He explained, still moving towards you at a slow and steady pace.
“That’s what you’re doing right now, (Y/n). You’re trying to push me away so I don’t have another sharp object in my chest.”
You flinched at the way Bucky described your actions. It’s like what you had done was insignificant and could be forgiven so simply. You were so focused on Bucky that you didn’t realise the direction he had you heading in. Your back hit the wall – now you had no place to run.
Bucky moved closer until you could practically smell the gentle cologne on his neck. He pushed a stray (h/c) stand of hair behind your ear and placed his human hand beneath your chin, lifting it so you had no choice but to stare into his eyes.
“You could stab me one hundred times over and I wouldn’t feel any different about you.” He said.
Bucky then closed the gap between the both of you and pressed his ever soft lips onto your own – kissing you like a delicate flower. He pulled away all too soon and rested his forehead on yours.
“I’m here for you.” He whispered.
Meanwhile, back at the tower, the Avengers carried on about their business. Tony had proposed that, in two weeks, they would call you and Bucky back to the Tower and celebrate with drinks and takeout for dinner. Usually his plans would be short-lived with Steve or Bruce commenting on the silliness of the idea but, this time around, it was different. Everyone had agreed to it being a great way to unwind and bond with one another.
As they planned away in the living room, nobody knew of the brewing trouble down in the armoury. The computers lit up and the text cursor blinked on the screen.
Commencing Ultron initiative…