Written for: writingcalmsthemind. May 11th, 2018 Bucky/Mantis, "Were you dreaming of me?"

Bucky only slept well with Mantis around. Every morning, he awoke to her fingers on his forehead and her soft, accented voice in his ear.

"Wake up," she'd say, sweet as a songbird.

The first time they did this, he nearly took her head off. Years of mental conditioning followed by years on the run had instilled in him that anyone hovering over him while he slept was a threat and should be destroyed without prejudice. Weeks later, his fight or flight instinct had finally dulled (at least around her) and now her blinking black eyes and glowing antennae were the first thing he saw every morning.

She backed away as he sat up, stretching his tired muscles and working out the kinks in his neck. The mouthwatering scent of fresh bacon wafted in from the kitchen. His empty stomach whined, desperate to be filled.

"You are hungry," said Mantis.

His stomach rumbled again, as if in response. "Heh… guess you don't have to be an empath to know."

Bucky felt around on the floor for a shirt. He'd gone to bed without one, the summer heat smothering him even though it was only May. Mantis waited for him by the door, as unaffected by his shirtlessness as she'd ever been. He could probably strut around the room naked as the day he was born, and she'd just smile and nod like everything was normal.

"Did you have good dreams?"

He saw the question coming. She asked it every day even though the answer never changed. "I don't know. Can't remember."

He only ever remembered the nightmares.

"I hope I've helped you rest easier, Sergeant Barnes," Mantis said, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

"Mantis, you help more than you know," he said. Sometimes, he thought he could kiss her for how much she helped him get through the nights. Sometimes, he could kiss her period. "And please, just call me Bucky."

"Oh, yes of course… Bucky." She giggled like she'd just said something sinful. Given the light stirring in his loins, maybe she had. "I'm so glad. You've become so much happier."

"Course I have," he said, "I got a beautiful dame like you to light up my day."

She turned even redder. Her antennae couldn't shine so bright if it tried. "You are much more eloquent awake than when you dream of me."

Bucky started to nod, and then his brain seemed to collapse into itself. "Uh… what?"

"You have dreamed of me," she said, a little louder like she thought he didn't hear her the first time. "Many times you've called my name in your sleep. Sometimes, I answer, but you never wake up."

"I… didn't know that." He tried to think back. The last thing he remembered was going to bed last night. Then complete oblivion. Not even a stupid HYDRA nightmare. Nothing.

"Sometimes you sound like you're in pain," she said, her pitch black eyes brimming with concern. "You start moaning my name and I-"

"Hey! Why don't we go and get some breakfast?" Bucky shouted. Because they were alone and he was still shirtless and there was absolutely no way this conversation was going in that direction. Not now. "I'm starving. Are you starving? You must be starving."

He grabbed his shirt from last night. It still had a ketchup stain from his and Sam's impromptu French Fry battle to the death, but it would do for now. They walked together to the kitchen. Bucky took three steps before he realized he'd grabbed Mantis's hand to pull her along. He immediately dropped it, but out the corner of his eye, those stupid antennae were glowing.

"You are filled with passion and need," she said. "I haven't felt anything so strong since Peter with Gamora."

"How 'bout that," Bucky muttered. This was shaping up to be the worst day of his life. Maybe he should've slept in.

Without warning, Mantis took his hand again. She rubbed his knuckles, stopping him dead in his tracks. "You know, I have passion, too."

...on second thought, maybe it would be a good day.