In response to fluffghet's prompt for sick!Bucky.
Note: If there is a prompt you'd like me to do, leave it in a review or PM me, and I'll see what I can do (no promises, though)!
Summary: Bucky isn't feeling too well. His and Steve's roles in taking care of each other are, as Steve has to take care of Bucky for once.
Bucky shivered uncontrollably. He had woken up at sometime just past midnight, courtesy of one of his many nightmares. Steve had been sleeping so peacefully that Bucky hadn't wanted to bother him by waking him up. He had quietly slipped into the bathroom and sat there in the dark, huddled on the toilet seat. Sometime, Bucky fell asleep.
"Bucky?" Steve mumbled groggily as he woke up. He rolled over to see Bucky's bed empty, the sheets in a tangled mess. Suddenly wide-awake, Steve sat bolt upright.
"Bucky!" he yelled, not caring if the neighbors in the adjacent apartment heard him yelling. He strode out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, noticing that the bathroom door was shut.
"Bucky?" Steve tapped gently on the door, and when he received no answer, he pushed the door open.
Bucky was curled on top of the toilet seat in an impossibly small ball, shivering so hard that his teeth were chattering. Remembering what Bucky had done for him, Steve placed his hand against Bucky's forehead. Immediately he felt the burning heat radiating off his friend's body.
"Bucky" Steve called again, gently shaking the winter soldier's shoulder.
He was rewarded with two blue eyes slipping open and Bucky groaning softly.
"Hey, easy, easy" Steve eased his friend into a sitting position, Bucky shaking and sweating the entire time. When he was fully upright, he swayed and slumped forward onto Steve's shoulder. Steve held Bucky against him, Bucky's head lolling on his shoulder.
"Come on, let's get you back to bed" Steve helped Bucky to stand, catching his friend as his legs buckled under him. Bucky's face would've met the floor had Steve not caught him. He slid one arm under Bucky's knees and one around his back. Steve carried him into the bedroom, bridal style. Bucky's metal hand found hold in Steve's t-shirt and he buried his burning face in Steve's chest.
He rested Bucky on the bed, pulling an extra pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt out of a drawer. Steve sat on the edge of the bed, coaxing Bucky to lean against him. The winter soldier was more or less dead weight and Steve managed, after a long struggle, to get a dry shirt and pants on Bucky. He threw the sweaty clothes into the laundry basket on his way to the bathroom.
Steve filled a glass with water and soaked a washcloth with cold water and wrung it out. Returning to the bedroom, Steve placed the cloth on Bucky's forehead, gently wiping it across his cheeks and face. Bucky stirred and whimpered, twisting weakly in the bed.
"Shhh…" Steve soothed Bucky. He sat back, studying his friend's sleeping face. Bucky looked defensive and scared, even in sleep. Steve wished he could smooth out all the tension in his best friend's face.
He lay down on the other side of Bucky, wrapping his arm around Bucky's waist, figuring that if the ex-assassin woke up, he'd wake up as well.
"Bucky!" the name seemed to come from far away and Bucky was too tired to respond.
"Bucky!" the voice was growing louder and finally Bucky forced his eyes open.
His target - no, Steve, was leaning over him, looking worried.
"Bucky?" Steve's voice was gentle and quiet.
"You okay?" he asked.
Bucky nodded weakly. He didn't really remember what had happened, but Steve was obviously concerned, so something bad must have happened. And when bad things happened, Bucky knew he was usually the cause.
"What happened?" he mumbled. He almost didn't want to know, didn't want to see the disappointment on Steve's face.
"You've got a really high fever" Steve kept his grip on Bucky's upper arms.
"Sorry" the word slipped out before Bucky could stop it.
"It's not your fault." Steve's eyes held so much sadness, that Bucky felt something tightening in his chest. Steve rested his palm against Bucky's neck, frowning at the heat, he still felt. Bucky watched warily, seeing the frown crease Steve's forehead. He tensed, waiting for whatever punishment was going to happen.
"What's wrong?" Steve asked, sensing Bucky's discomfort.
"I-I-I thought you were going to hurt me" Bucky's voice was so quiet, that Steve barely heard him.
"I'd never hurt you." Bucky was surprised at the conviction in Steve's tone. He felt something warm make its way down his cheek and realized belatedly that it was a tear. Steve gently thumbed away the salty drop of water.
"It's going to be okay," Steve murmured as he held Bucky tightly in a hug.
"But what if I…if I don't remember?" Bucky's voice shook as he mumbled into Steve's shoulder.
"You will" Steve promised softly as he tightened his hold on Bucky.
Note: Thank you so much for reading this and please tell me if you enjoy this story!