Okay, this was originally for Stay In Bed Day, but I didn't get it finished in time.

"Stay In Bed"

The trouble with telling people that he had a day off in advance was that it increased the likelihood of some villain popping out of the woodwork to cause trouble by about… oh, three hundred percent?

Ordinarily, therefore, Phil Coulson tried to maintain some semblance of his usual routine until he'd be due to leave for work, and then go somewhere else for the day. Keep it between him and SHIELD.

Being single made it easier to keep up the pretence. If only it were that simple. Because one day, he woke to find the Winter Soldier in bed beside him. Phil blinked as he stared at Bucky, who immediately clung on like an octopus.

"Sergeant Barnes?"

"Don't go in to work today, Agent Coulson."

"…I have to go out. It's—"

"No, please stay in bed," Bucky mumbled into Phil's pyjama-clad shoulder. "You're supposed to."

"Am I just?"

"It's International Stay In Bed Day. Said so on the radio."

"I see. And you're here to prevent me from leaving bed?"

"Yeah." Bucky said stubbornly. Phil thought about this for awhile.

"Who sent you?" he asked.

"No one."

"Don't frown at me like that. It's a perfectly legitimate question. And there are more effective ways of keeping me in bed."

"Oh?" Bucky smirked widely, and Phil realised how that sounded. Turning red, he cleared his throat.

"Such as tying me down." Oh God, it just got worse, and Bucky's smile grew. "I mean, not in a bondage kind of way."

"You'd escape anything else," Bucky said. "This is the best way. You're not gonna throw me out of bed just `cause I'm cuddling you."

"Sergeant—"

"Please, Agent Coulson?"

"But… why are you here? Clint I could almost understand. Natasha could give me one look and I'd obey. I don't understand why you took it upon yourself to…" He narrowed his eyes. "What did they do?"

"Who?"

"Whoever is going to end up in trouble."

"Nothin'," Bucky said, turning sullen and sulky. He let go of Phil, who immediately felt colder, and turned his back on Phil as he sat up. "Just tryin' t' do the right thing."

"I've got other, non-work-related things to do today," Phil said. "I wasn't necessarily headed for SHIELD. Unless I've just jinxed myself," he added in a mutter.

"Wanted a cuddle, that's all," Bucky said softly.

"Why didn't you go to Steve?"

"`Cause I don't want it from him!"

"Alright, alright," Phil said. He was still confused, but he lay back down. "I guess I can stay in bed awhile longer. I'll have to get up eventually, but another few minutes won't hurt."

"…Right," Bucky said, and he made to stand up. Phil clamped a hand around his wrist, which probably wasn't terrible sensible, but some things were worth taking a gamble on. The Winter Soldier didn't strike out, so that was a win.

"I thought you said it was Stay In Bed Day?" he murmured.

Bucky looked back over his shoulder at Phil, and his eyes shone with hope.

Another one in the series of 'days of the year' fics. So is the next one.

Please review!