Disclaimer: I don't own Captain America: The Winter Soldier or any of the characters. Just having a little fun playing around!
Summary: Bucky has a nightmare and Steve takes care of him.
Warning: Bucky has a nightmare and there is a slightly graphic depiction of blood. You have been warned.
Bucky had shown up at Steve's apartment one rainy night, soaked to the skin, and staring with haunted eyes. Steve had had little choice but to let him in. He had managed to gently maneuver the Winter Soldier into the bathroom before he flooded Steve's apartment with the rainwater steadily dripping off of him.
"Bucky…" Steve's voice was gentle as he peeled off the ragged coat and then the stained and wet t-shirt. He had no response or resistance from the normally aggressive assassin. In fact Steve would've preferred that he'd had to restrain the Winter Soldier, at least he'd know that he was still alive.
"I-I-I know you" Bucky's shaking fingers, five metal and five human, clutched at Steve.
"Yeah, you did" Steve soothed. His heart at the way Bucky stared at him. He sat Bucky down on the toilet seat and gently wiped a damp, soapy washcloth over Bucky's chest and torso, pausing as he brushed over scars, both old and new. The older ones had faded, but they still left traces on the assassin's skin and much less obvious scars on the assassin's mind.
Steve went into his bedroom and grabbed an old t-shirt, a pair of scissors, and a pair of loose pants that Tony had called "sweat-pants". He returned to the bathroom, half expecting Bucky to be long gone or at least waiting for him with some sort of weapon. Instead the Winter Soldier was sitting in what looked like an uncomfortable position on the toilet seat with his knees drawn up to his chest.
"Hey, thought you could use a haircut" Steve said after Bucky had changed his clothes.
The assassin had kept his eyes firmly trained on the floor. Steve decided to take that as a "yes" and maneuvered himself so that he was behind Bucky.
After forty-five minutes, Steve finally decided that he was done. Bucky's hair had now been cut down to about an inch and all the matted tangles had been cut away. For good measure, Steve decided to shampoo Bucky's hair as well. As he rubbed the foamy lather through his friend's hair, he realized that Bucky was visibly relaxing and his head was starting to droop forward. Steve decided that bath time was over and more or less pulled Bucky up. The Winter Soldier collapsed as soon as he was standing and Steve slid one arm under his knees and another arm behind his back, carrying Bucky into the bedroom bridal-style.
He laid his friend down on the bed, not failing to notice how skinny Bucky was and how dark and heavy the bags under his eyes were.
"Stay…" Bucky murmured, his hand fumbling for Steve. The super-soldier paused and stared down at the man he thought was dead.
He settled himself on the edge of the bed and pulled the blankets up over his friend, tucking them around the sleeping soldier.
Blood. Scarlet red blood pooling around him, leaving trails and splatters on the floor. His hands, covered in the blood of the people he had killed. No. They weren't people. They had just been targets, enemies of Hydra, and therefore enemies of him.
Yet there was a small part, a tiny tip of his heart that knew this was wrong. This senseless killing was wrong, yet the Winter Soldier was helpless against Hydra.
The scene switched and instead of faceless victims, there was only one man covered in red, white, and blue. Except there was too much red and it was quickly increasing. Bucky's- no, not Bucky- the Winter Soldier's hands were covered in his blood. In Steve's blood.
"NO!" Bucky bolted upright, tears streaming down his face. Steve was awake in an instant, immediately reaching for his shield.
He realized it was just Bucky and immediately lowered his shield. The Winter Soldier was huddled in the corner of the bedroom, slamming his palms repeatedly into his eyes. Steve immediately hurried over and crouched in front of the vulnerable soldier.
"Hey, hey, Bucky" Steve held his hands up in what he hoped was a non-threatening gesture.
Bucky tentatively lifted his head a few centimeters up. His eyes widened as he saw the man crouched in front of him and he instantly scrambled back.
"No no no no no no no no" Bucky chanted over and over again, "you're dead…there was too much…too much…too much blood."
Steve sighed and slowly stood. He went over to the first aid kit he kept in his bathroom. The super-soldier dug through the kit, grinning ruefully as he remembered Tony Stark commenting on how he was the "boy scout of superheroes" after seeing the contents of the first aid kit. Steve finally pulled out a hypodermic needle with a clear liquid. He checked the sedative's dosage and prayed that it would work. He hadn't wanted to have to do this, but seeing Bucky like this had frightened him.
He went back to Bucky, holding the syringe behind his back and resumed his position in front of the Winter Soldier.
"Bucky" he said softly, trying to catch the soldier's attention.
He took Bucky's hand in his own and carefully slid the needle into his arm. Bucky immediately flinched at the sting and Steve barely had time to pull the needle out before Bucky lashed out at him. Steve instantly pulled back as Bucky snarled, the dullness in his eyes replaced by a wild, feral look.
As Bucky huddled away from Steve, the super-soldier noticed that Bucky's eyes weren't so much angry as they were terrified.
"Hey, it's alright. I'm not going to hurt you" Steve moved forward slowly and finally placed his hand on Bucky's upper arm. The assassin froze as Steve's hand came in contact with his skin.
"S-S-Steve" Bucky mumbled, his eyelids beginning to droop heavily. He yawned and Steve took advantage of Bucky's increasing sleepiness to wrap his arms around him. The Winter Soldier didn't return the hug. He just leaned into the comforting embrace.
Steve hugged Bucky close, feeling warm tears soaking into his neck.
I just saw The Winter Soldier yesterday and the Bucky feels just…well, they just made me want to write this! Please review if you feel so inclined!