Roommate

by bellacullen166

You are Bucky's new roommate after he had posted an ad in the newspaper. The super soldier hadn't thought many people would contact him about the room available as nowadays most- if not everybody did everything online. He was right though; you had been the only one to respond in the two weeks that the ad was in the paper.

This is my first fanfic on here so let me know how ya'll like it!

Summary: You are Bucky's new roommate after he had posted an ad in the newspaper. The super soldier hadn't thought many people would contact him about the room available as nowadays most- if not everybody did everything online. He was right though; you had been the only one to respond in the two weeks that the ad was in the paper. But there is a reason you used a newspaper to find housing and a payphone to contact Bucky.

"Hey doll, how was your shift?" Bucky asks as you walk through the door coming home from your shift at the diner.

Initially you had been intimidated by James Buchanan Barnes or Bucky as he prefers to be called. With your recent history, you were weary of men in general but within ten minutes of being around Bucky, he made you feel comfortable and welcome and even safe in his presence. Three things you had lacked to feel in a long time. You moved in a couple of weeks ago so the two of you are still getting adjusted to the other for the most part, but it's been easy going so far.

"Hey Bucky," you give him a small smile as you close and lock the door. "Not bad, went quickly actually. I'm gonna shower and change, I can make dinner when I get out if you'd like?"

"Sure doll, if you tell me what to get ready, I can set everything out to help."

"That'd be great," you nod. "If you could pull out the chicken, bacon, spinach, and the heavy cream please?"

Bucky stands up and is quick to get to work, pulling out all the ingredients before frowning to himself. He'd like to offer you more help than just setting everything out so he walks down the hall to your bedroom and knocks gently, hoping you haven't jumped in the shower yet as he can hear it running. You had just gathered your fresh change of clothes when you hear Bucky knock on the bedroom door, so you open it while tucking the clothes under your arm.

"S-sorry. I just wanted to know if I could do anything else to help?" Bucky's asks shifting from foot to foot.

"You can chop up the bacon and cut the chicken into bite size pieces if you'd like," you tell him. "And then in a pot start cooking the bacon on medium high heat."

Bucky absorbs the information you give him, nodding and dunking away with a smile on his face making you laugh softly. You make your shower quick just in case he has any other questions. Going through the motions of your shower, you get out quickly to dry off and towel dry your hair before dressing in the cotton pajama shorts and t-shirt.

Bucky damn near drools when he sees you walking into the kitchen dressed in your little pair of shorts and simple shirt. He didn't think you could get any more attractive- and since he hasn't seen you dressed up aside from work… seeing you dressed so comfortably in front of him… well let's just say it does things to him that makes his jeans uncomfortably tight.

"Are you okay?" you ask Bucky as you notice he hadn't moved when you walked into the kitchen to see what all he'd gotten accomplished.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Fine," he nods. "You?"

You let out a soft laugh as you nod as well while pulling out a second pot to fill with water for the penne noodles.

"Get to do anything exciting today?" you ask while placing the pot of water on the stove to boil, getting to work on finishing up the bacon before draining most of the grease into an empty coffee container and tossing in the chicken.

"Met Sam for breakfast, nothing exciting," Bucky replies. "I think he's gonna try to get me to socialize again," he grumbles unenthusiastically.

You can't help the small laugh that escapes you. "It can't be that bad."

"I have enough friends," Bucky tries to defend himself.

"Oh yeah?" you arch an eyebrow with a smile looking at him. "How many friends do you have?"

Seasoning the chicken well, you salt the water and wait for your roommates reply patiently. From the short time the two of you have been around the other, he's told you about Sam and that's it.

"Two! And that's plenty enough for me," he smiles smugly.

"Oh?" you say in a surprised manner. "Who is this second friend that I've heard nothing about?"

Bucky smiles wider at you as you continue cooking. "Oh, uh, well she is about this tall," he raises his hand to measure your height before continuing, "same hair color and length as yours…"

You laugh and can't even hide your smile. "Yeah?"

"Mhm," Bucky nods. "Oh, did I mention the eye color?" you shake your head slightly in response. "Well, she's got the same eye color as well. Ironically the two of you have the same name."

"Huh," you pretend to think, tapping your pointer finger on your chin. "Wonder if I know her."

Bucky chuckles. "You'd know her if you saw her. She's smart, beautiful, caring…"

"Sounds like she's lucky to have a friend like you," you tell him honestly while replacing the chicken with spinach to cook that down and seasoning that as well.

"The other way around actually," he smiles while bumping you gently.

You feel your face redden with the compliment, keeping your face trained on your task for the time being with a smile. "How about we're both lucky for arguments sake?"

"I can live with that."

You're not sure when you began to develop feelings for your very handsome roommate, but with living with him for two months now and spending all your free time with him… well it's definitely taken its toll on your feelings. You haven't had a crush of any sort since going on the run from your past. Honestly, you can't afford to have a crush on anybody- much less your roommate.

"Here you are sir, is there anything else I can get for you?" you smile as you drop off your customers order of fresh hot pancakes and syrup.

The gentleman shakes his head with a tightlined smile. "No thanks."

Nodding, you give him extra napkins just in case before walking away and tending to the other customers in the diner. The bell dings, signaling someone has walked in making you look up and smile to greet the customer.

"Hey there doll," greets Bucky with Sam next to him smiling brightly with a head nod towards you.

"Hey guys! Dinning in or just a pit stop?" You question while pouring a cup of coffee for the older couple.

"Brunch today," answers Sam, shoving Bucky out of the way. "This one has been hogging you so I figured this would be the place to see your lovely face."

"Have not," grumbles the super soldier.

"Pick a table guys," you laugh with a shake of your head.

The older lady you had refilled the coffee for clears her throat gently so you look at her with a smile. "I'm sorry I kn- "

"No dear," she smiles sweetly at you as she holds her hand up and motions you closer to her so you lean down. "He's in love with you, you know." You pause, not knowing what to say but she continues with, "The bigger guy in the gloves. I can see it in his eyes. You love him too, don't you sugar?"

"He's my roommate," you say in a small breath. What did she mean she can see it in his eyes?

"Keep telling yourself that sugar," she giggles and pats your hand gently.

By the time you make it to Sam and Bucky, you're so deep in thought they give you a funny look when you actually take their order instead of placing their regular orders automatically. You bounce back when the older couple leave though and you shake it off with a grain of salt. Making your rounds again, this time with some checks, and to-go coffees, you notice the one man with pancakes staring hard at Bucky and yourself.

"Can I get you anything else?" you try to ask in your normal customer service voice with a smile.

"Just the check, thanks," his voice is hard but you quickly take out his bill to slip it to him and as you go to take his empty plate and cup he grips your wrist tightly.

Your heart lurches into your throat, palms going sweaty instantly while panic rises too quickly for your liking and your eyes shoot to his shitty brown ones. "I'd appreciate it if you let me go," you say softly as to not alert the two former Avengers across the diner.

"I was told to give you a message," the customer says. "He'll kill my family if I don't do what he wanted, I- I'm sorry."

You swallow thickly, understanding why this man was acting strangely the whole time he's been here. Your past has finally come back to haunt you… to kill you. Nodding at the man you take a deep breath and slowly release it.

"What is the message?"

Luckily the man before you releases his hold on you, slowly standing up he reaches into his pocket to pull out his wallet and takes out cash for his bill while simultaneously pulling out a note as well.

"I don't know what it says… but there's a USB drive too," he tells you.

Grabbing what he gives you, you shove it in your apron pocket. "Is he in the city?"

"I live an hour away."

Still too close for your liking. "Did you know him before?"

The man shakes his head.

"I'm sorry," your voice trembles with emotion.

Anybody who has the unfortunate luxury of crossing paths of John Walker tends to regret it sooner or later. What you didn't realize was how much you would come to regret ever accepting the help of John and how much you would come to regret his courtship. The two of you met at a club- you had been trying to wrangle off the affections of an overly drunken man at the time, but he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer. John, while looking like a knight in shining armor was just a monster in disguise.

He had taken you to turn you into one of the many women you would soon find out that would be sold on the black market. But he kept you for himself after spending one night with you. After realizing how isolated and alone you actually were. You were easy to break and mold into what he wanted you to be.

"I said no, you jerk!" you shout at the obnoxious man, trying to shove him away.

"Oh, come on sexy, let's go back to my place- "suddenly he is shoved to the side with a firm punch to the face by a tall handsome blonde man.

"I believe she told you 'no'. Beat it!" the savior growls at the drunk.

You can't help gawking at the man in front of you, where had he come from? Hell, where had he been all your life? Subconsciously you press your thighs together all the while your tongue darts out to moisten your bottom lip.

"Thanks for that," you say crossing your arms. "He wouldn't leave me alone, clearly," you huff a laugh.

"You're welcome," he smiles brightly at you. "I'm John, by the way. John Walker."

John Walker. You regret ever meeting him. But you don't know that yet.

You can't help your own smile and telling him your name, blushing when he tells you how beautiful sounding it sounds. The two of you leave the club that night together to go to a smaller bar- one where you would later find out he initially tried to drug you at before changing his mind.

The next few weeks were spent connected at the hip and not even thinking twice about when he just knew something that you hadn't thought you told him. He showered you in expensive shopping trips- ones you tried to tell him wasn't reasonable as he hadn't known you for more than a couple days when he suggested it. Everything from manicure and pedicure to hair care, and a new wardrobe with shoes to match- if you so much so as looked at something John made you get it.

You knew John had a great paying job for him to have such luxury things for himself and for him to spend so much on someone like you without batting an eye, he really must've been well off. What you hadn't known was what it was John did for work after his nine to five job. All you knew is he worked for a high-tech company and got paid more than well.

John had been acting funny after some strange man came over and made a comment about you walking around the kitchen freely. You hadn't said anything as you quietly proceeded to grab a bottle of water from the fridge before turning around and walking right back out.

"Mine to do with as I please, yes?" you heard Johns reply as soon as you were out of the kitchen.

Later, after that man John had been meeting with left, you would confront your boyfriend of six months. Slowly his true colors have been unfolding right in front of you, but his damage has taken its toll on you already. You're in too deep now as he had already isolated you from the handful of friends you had before. With no parents or siblings to check in on you, you were just a chess piece waiting to be moved into play.

Around eleven that night is when John decided to come to bed, all the while you were rehearsing what you were going to say to him. Leading up to this point, he hadn't put his hands on you… up to this point, that would change.

"John...?" you ask hesitantly, nervously as you wrangle your hands in your lap as you sit up in bed on your side.

"What?" he harshly answers throwing his dress shirt into the hamper before stripping out of his slacks.

Already the tears threaten to disrupt your vision so you are quick to blink them away and biting your bottom lip. "I- I think we should take a break," you say in a rushed breath. Even you were surprised you had managed to say it without the sentence coming out terribly butchered and/or run together.

The bedroom is eerily silent. As you look up however, you are met with John's stone-cold face standing right in front of you and in a split second, just before he begins beating every inch of your body, you see pure rage take over his face. You don't remember much from that night, it's a blur after the fourth hit to be honest.

The next day, you wake up to an abundance of flowers along with a new jewelry set and a love note telling you sorry he overreacted and that he'd be seeing you for lunch on the terrace to talk things over. You rolled over like the dog he trained you to be. You ate right out of the palm of his hand just like the good girl he taught you to be. Things changed though. The beatings became more severe, words more abrasive, different men coming to the house like the one who made you begin to question John in the first place… John kept you under lock and key- never allowing you out of sight when those men would come, however he could care less whenever they weren't around.

That's exactly how you ended up with all the dirt on John Walker. The biggest most feared ringleader of human trafficking. His specialty being women of course. Video after video and document after document you went through and made two sets of copies of, keeping the originals for yourself and stashing one set while you mailed the other to a PO Box wherever you move to. Biding your time until you could make your move, you ended up waiting until he had to take a business trip for his actual job- or so he said two months later after compiling your plan together.

The night before he left you were a wreck, your nerves going into overdrive and your whole body feeling as if it could explode with how much anxiety that seemed to be exuding from you. That is exactly why you chose to do what you did next…

"John?" you say quietly, coming to stand just behind your… soon to be ex. Your heart is pounding in your chest, hands shaking as you try to decide where to place them.

"What is it?" while John's voice isn't harsh, you still flinch out of knee-jerk reaction anymore.

'This is a dumb idea!' You think to yourself as you get flashes of previous night's here you had rejected this man of any sexual advances, they turned into worse fights than the last. John had turned around when you kept silent and was surprised to say the least when he saw you standing in such proximity to him. Narrowing his eyes at you, he tilts his head to try to figure you out.

You lick your dry lips as you watch him before mustering up the courage to make a simple request. A simple, DUMB request! "Make love to me," you whisper.

That is the last night you let his body bring you pleasure, and you can't even justify why you gave in that night when you put up a good fight all the other ones. That was the last time you slept next to John Walker, but it wouldn't be the last you'd see of him.

The USB drive contained a short video of John Walker explaining what he would do that man's family if you didn't meet him in the club the two of you had met in Arizona. You had played it on your boss's computer with his headphones in right after the man left. Right after you watched the video, you snuck out the back after telling your boss you had a family emergency to tend to. He let you go with no questions asked and helped out the other waitress with tables until someone came in to cover the last hour.

Meanwhile Sam and Bucky had been subtly checking for you after seeing you talk to the man earlier. You had served a couple other tables but hadn't gotten back to your two friends- which was fine, but after fifteen minutes of not seeing you anywhere… even Sam had thought it to be odd. So, when your manager is the one to come with the bill and not his roommate, Bucky is ready to tear the city apart to look for you.

"What happened to our waitress?" Bucky questions as your boss walks up.

"Some type of family emergency," the older man grumbles. "She's never had to leave before like this so I'm covering."

Bucky tosses cash on the table quickly, more than enough to cover their meal and tip and then some before bolting as quickly as possible out of the diner. Sam looks just as shocked for a moment before nodding at the man and running out of the diner after his friend.

"Yo, wait up!" Sam shouts after Bucky but he doesn't listen. "What's up? She had a fami- "

Bucky growls and comes to a stop in his run. "You don't get it, Sam! She doesn't have family!"

Sam frown, "Then why would she tell her boss that?"

"Run and talk Sam!" The two of you take off into a sprint. "When- when she had come here, it was under false pretenses. I sensed she was running from something," Bucky shakes his head as you two reach the apartment building and hightail it up the flight of stairs.

"Well did she tell you?" Sam pants, running out of breath. Don't get him wrong, Sam is very fit and in shape, but he is nothing compared to the super soldier next to him.

"Boyfriend. He must've found her and spooked her, she's running," Bucky damn near tramples down his apartment door.

Sam leans against the kitchen counter panting while Bucky is hardly breaking a sweat.

"Doll face?" Bucky hollers loud enough for you to hear had you been in your bedroom. "You home?"

Silence. Complete and utter silence.

Bucky doesn't bother knocking on your door, he opens it to find some items missing and a note on her bed neatly placed with Bucky's name on it.

'Hey, Buckaroo,

I'm sorry to leave like this. The crazy ex I told you about found me, and I don't have time to pack. Please don't be mad at me, I know you said you could help but there is so much you don't know. If I get somewhere safe, I'll send you a post card and note with next months rent and grocery money.

XO'

Across the city, you walk through the Avengers tower in hopes to see someone you recognize from Bucky's photos. Luckily you don't have to look long nor do you have to go too far into the building before you see the tall red head you'd been hoping for. She's even walking your way.

"Excuse me!" you shout slightly just before she is going to walk by you with another Avenger you don't think you've seen before. "Hi, s- sorry," you continue as the red head turns to look at you with a cocked eyebrow.

"Can I help you?" she asks.

"Uh- yes, hi," you stammer, pulling out your baggy full of USB's. "I- my- "

"Do you need a doctor?" she asks with a tilt of her head looking concerned as the man she had been walking with takes a step closer.

"Oh, hey you're Bucky's roommate," he comments.

You nod. "Yes. I- I mean yes, I'm his roommate- was." You shake your head with a deep sigh. "Your Natasha?"

"I am. Is Bucky okay?" Natasha asks suddenly concerned for her friend as you stand her so… weird.

"Yes, he is. Um. I- I know you don't know me but, can you do me a favor?" finally the reason you're here is thrown out as you shove the baggy of USBs into Natasha's hands.

"What are these?" she frowns down at the baggy.

"Enough evidence to put away a lot of bad people for very mundane things in comparison to what you guys do," you tell her honestly. "My time is running out and I need someone who can deal with this, who can upload everything and make sure it's taken care of. You did it once before right?" you question, your eyes begging her. "Please?"

"We'll look through it," she tells you as you look at the time for the umpteenth time.

"If you see Bucky, tell him I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"You should get started on those," you nod to the drives before turning around and sprinting out the building down half a block and hailing a cab.

The drive to the airport is nerve wracking, you wish you could go back home and watch a movie with Bucky while playing the card game 'war'. The flight itself goes smoothly, there isn't any delays and since you only have your small carry-on bag you make quick work on making it out of the airport and into the heat of Arizona.

While you had just left the Avengers Tower, Natasha got to work on the USB drives as quickly as she could get to her office upstairs. It had been Clint that was walking with Natasha and he's the one who got a hold of Bucky before the two Avengers opened the first USB drive.

"Hey, Clint, I'm sorry I don't have time for a social call right- "Bucky had picked up the phone call on the third try to be cut off by Clint.

"Shut up and listen, Barnes. Your girl was here," Clint rushes out before Bucky thinks about hanging up. "She dropped off USB drives to Nat, wanting her to go through and upload them. We're going through them now- "

This time it is Natasha that cuts off Clint. "Buck, whoever this woman is, she is up shit creek. You need to get here as soon- "

Natasha breaks off as he comes bursting through the office door with Sam who looks like he's ran a marathon and then some.

"She's running from an ex-boyfriend," Bucky has the decency to pant as he walks up. Both Natasha and Clint wear the same shocked expressions at seeing you so quickly, but they shake it off as they make room. "Tell me exactly what she said."

The pair of current Avengers tell the two former Avengers everything you had said and done.

"Wait, wait, wait, go back," Clint says to Nat. "Isn't he the one we've been after? All the missing women- he's the one behind it."

"Holy shit," Natasha whispers as she quickly pulls up the file for the job, they've been working on for six months. "It is! And… and…" Natasha looks up at Bucky.

"You can't be serious right now," Sam says, disbelief coating his voice.

"We have to find her before it's too late," Bucky says.

Entering the club, you shake off the cold chill that runs down your spine the moment you step through the threshold. When the door slams shut you are hit on the back of the head with something hard enough to knock you out. When you come back to your senses, you have a killer headache, and you are tied to a chair in the middle of the clubs basement.

"Have a nice nap baby?" John sneers, taking a swig from his bottle of scotch.

There are a couple of men in the basement with you seemingly standing guard while he continues to set up his table of torture devices. Your breaths are coming out in pants as you can't help but panic slightly.

"No," you reply.

"Good," he smirks picking up the pack of cigarettes and lighting one up before taking a deep drag and slowly walking up to you. "Where are my drives at baby?"

Straight to the point then. You shrug your shoulders. "I don't know what you're talking about John. Maybe you need to lay off the alcohol," you tell him earning you a hard smack across your cheek making you gasp.

"Make this easy for yourself," John seems to beg you. "Be a good girl and tell me where they are!" he yells.

"You always were a bad drunk, John," you say instead earning you punch in the gut this time.

You gasp for air. John walks back to his table of torture devices, carefully selecting a pair of brass knuckles and sliding them on with ease.

"Last chance baby," John sighs heavily, eyes darting to one of the guards who come walking over. You can hear a chain getting tossed around and your heart races faster for what's to come. "Tell me," his face is so close to yours that you can feel his grown-out beard.

Spitting in his face, you see the pure hatred coating every inch of his once handsome face before it turns into an evil smile.

"That's okay," he bobs his head up and down while pulling out a handkerchief to clean off his face. "Jason, hook her up."

Suddenly the man named Jason is roughly cutting the ties from the chair to quickly yank you up and has you in thick chain cuffs. Your arms are above your head, and you are stretched in a way that you have to balance on your tip toes if you don't want to pull your arms out of their sockets. John Walker begins to really show you what he had done after his nine to five job. It's not long until you can't contain your agonized cries of pain and all the while your ex-boyfriend has a sadistic smile on his face.

"They were right," he tells you after some time. "Should've just fuckin' sold you like the whore you are. Would've made me money instead of wasting it. Fuckin' bitch," he laughs.

"Fuck you," you spit a mouthful of blood at his feet.

The beating continues. Brass knuckles, kicks, and now burns.

"Okay!" you cry out in defeat. "I- I'll tell- "

You're cut off as the power to the whole building shuts off, leaving you in complete and utter darkness. Scuffling can be heard about just before a lot of what sounds like gunfire. There must've been a lot more men who had been with John than what you saw as there is a lot going on around you. It's been a long night for you up until this point, so nothing is quite clear until some lights turn back on. Bodies litter the basement floor and John who hides behind you, cocks his gun and points it to your head.

"Doll?" you hear a familiar voice ring out.

Forcing your eyes open, you see Bucky in full tactical gear looking as if he could kill with his eyes if he was able. You can't seem to keep your eyes open for too long, your body is too heavy for that at the moment and you mumble incoherently.

"I suggest you put the gun down," you can hear Bucky say.

"Seems like she's my only ticket out of here," John replies roughly. "You're going to let me- "

For some reason John is cut off mid reply and his body knocks into you, knocking you roughly forward which jolts you conscious once again.

"I thought we agreed on a signal, Nat?" Bucky says angrily as he carefully lifts you into his arms.

"His voice was fucking annoying, Buck," Natasha defends herself. "If I had to listen to one more second of it, I was going to find a way to saw off my own ears."

When Bucky unhooks you from the chains, he carefully sets the two of you to the floor to assess you over. "Come on doll, I need you to open your eyes for me," Bucky says in what sounds like a far-away voice as he very carefully and lightly taps tap the only clear part of your face.

"Mm?" you mumble. "Bucky?" Your voice is strained, he can hear the way it sounds like you're gargling with each breath you take.

"I'm going to get you out of here doll, don't worry," Bucky promises, quickly looking over you for external bleeding injuries and anything he might need to splint until they get you back to the Avengers Tower.

"Everyone is accounted for and in custody," Sam speaks over the earpiece.

The team had a doctor with a whole medical supply come along, so when you guys emerged from the club basement to the makeshift ambulance truck, he got right to work. Bucky was hovering obnoxiously close; Sam had to pull him away from you when you began to code in front of him. Sam and yourself had gotten closer, sure, so it was no walk in the park for him either watching you like you were, but Sam wasn't the one who was in love with you.

Luckily, by the time Natasha gets the truck to the Quinjet, the doctor has stabilized you for the time being. Unfortunately, by the time the Quinjet touched down at the Avengers Tower, you had coded for a second time and had been even harder to get back. While in the operating room, with Bucky not leaving the window to watch you the whole thirteen-hour surgery for the extensive internal bleeding repair among other things, you had coded two additional times an hour apart.

"She's going to be okay," Sam tells his friend confidently this time. All the other thousand times, even to his own ears it had sounded forced; sounded like a lie.

She's been in recovery for two days now, still unconscious, but at least you've been stable since the doctors finished. Bucky is made to shower and eat; he won't leave your side for nothing unless forced. When Bucky had asked the doctors when you would wake up, they had told him it'd be dependent on you and when your body was ready. Your body wasn't ready for another four and a half days. During which time Bucky stayed by your side the whole time, either holding your hand or rubbing your arm gently.

The first thing you noticed when your eyes fluttered open was that your body felt like you had been run over repeatedly. Your throat felt like it was on fire and your whole mouth felt dryer than the Sahara Desert. The third thing you noticed was you couldn't move your left hand as you find Bucky has it grasped in his own hand with his head laying on his crossed arms. Squeezing his hand startles him slightly as it was a foreign feeling that he hadn't been expecting you to wake up, let alone wake up before he could before his small nap.

"Doll!" Bucky exclaims, a smile breaking over his face while tears spring to his eyes. "Let me call the doctor in," he says, reaching over for the little button next to you.

"Oh, good, you're up!" the doctor smiles at you. "Doctor Grady by the way. How are you feeling?" he begins to examine you.

"Like shit," you manage to rasp out.

Bucky had jumped up to grab you a cup of ice water with a straw and brings it up to your mouth.

"I want to keep you here for another day or so for observation since your body has been through the wringer," Dr. Grady tells you while Bucky pokes the straw gently in your mouth. "If you are good and out of the woods, we will transfer you out of the ICU and they'll determine when you get to be set free."

"Drink, doll," Bucky demands gently.

"You got very lucky," Dr. Grady begins.

Dr. Grady spends the next hour explaining everything they had to do to save your life, not leaving out any detail as Bucky keeps a hold of your hand. You try to listen carefully, you really do, but all you can pay attention to is how nice it is to have Bucky holding your hand. His lips even gently press against your knuckles, and you can't even be sure if he is aware he's making those actions or not. The doctor leaves after checking your vitals and making sure that you get some lunch ordered.

Exhaustion hits you as you shift uncomfortably in bed, trying to get in a new position. Bucky stretches, his bones and joints cracking as he does, and your eyes can't help but stare at him. You missed him. It sounds silly, you know it.

"See something you like doll?" Bucky smirks at you.

Your face reddens, you know it does, but you don't care anymore because you could've lost all chances at seeing his handsome face ever again. There is a knock on the door just before it opens showing Sam walking through with a look of surprise on his face.

"You're awake!" he smiles. "Next time you decide to dip out on us, do me a favor and take Mr. Brooding here with you."

Your laughter is short lived as you begin coughing, tears welling up in your eyes from the pain shooting through your body. Sam comes walking up to the side of the bed and carefully slides your legs over to sit on the edge.

"How you feel short stack?" Sam asks seriously.

"I've been better," you tell him.

"Nat got every video and document uploaded." Sam has been curious as to how you would react to this news.

"Sam!" Bucky hisses harshly, his eyes hardening.

"It's okay, Bucky," you whisper sadly.

"No! You need to rest," Bucky all but growls at you as his eyes glare holes into Sam's face. "We don't need to be talking about this right now," he says definitively.

Reaching out your good hand, you are able to grab Bucky's hand in your own and squeeze for comfort. Your touch grounds him, pulling him back down to you once more allowing him to breathe better. Yawning lets the two men know just how tired you are as your eyes begin to droop closed on their own accord.

Since you had such damaging injuries and especially having to be revived multiple times, you had to stay at the hospital for nine days just to be safe. Bucky never left your side. You had to tease him that he'd be the one getting a scrub down by a nurse if he didn't go shower every couple days at least and you didn't mind one bit. Right now, Bucky is driving the two of you home and you can't help but feel a little nervous as just days ago you had fled from the very apartment leaving nothing but all your things and a note.

The two of you hadn't spoken about anything related to your ex and whenever Natasha Romanoff or Clint Barton- who was the man you hadn't known tried to ask you some questions or nonchalantly probe you for information while Bucky was in the room, he kicked them out automatically no matter what.

You needed to heal and relax and answering their questions right then wouldn't allow you the healing and much needed rest your body still needed. So lost in thought, you hadn't notice Bucky had pulled into his normal parking spot and had been watching you now for five minutes. Swallowing thickly, you turn your head to face him.

"What's going on in that head of yours doll?" Bucky questions, his voice slightly raspy.

You shake your head slightly. "I just," you feel the tears well up in your eyes. "I didn't think I'd be coming back here."

Bucky frowns at you. "You haven't gotten rid of me that easily," he lightly jokes, clearing his frown quickly.

"No, I meant… I didn't think I'd be alive to come back," you whisper looking away.

"Did you forget who you live with," Bucky arches an eyebrow. "Even if you had simply skipped town on me," there is an edge to his voice, something you can't quite figure out as he continues, "I would've found you and convinced you to come back."

Letting out a broken laugh, you shake your head while unbuckling your seatbelt. Bucky makes sure you're settled inside the apartment on the couch with a bottle of water while he brings up your guys' bags. You can't help but feel at home once more in the comfort of the apartment- subtract the fact that it is in fact your home, you would have thought it wouldn't feel the same.

"Still in dreamland, hm?" Bucky's voice draws you out of your head, making you look at him with a startled expression. He can't help but laugh at you. "Sorry," he apologizes. "I wish I knew what went on in that head of yours."

You breathe a laugh with a shake of your head. "If I make your head want to explode now, imagine how much more it would feel like exploding if you got just an inch inside."

Plopping down beside you, Bucky carefully shifts your body to lean against his gently. "I suppose you're right doll," he recedes. "Doesn't mean it wouldn't be worth it though. Now how about a movie marathon with my best girl?"

Later in the evening, when the two of you had gone to your respective bedrooms, you lay awake glaring at the door waiting for something- someone rather, to barge in to kill you. You lay away until one in the morning until you groan and shuffle your way to Bucky's bedroom. Timidly you knock on his bedroom door three times as you struggle to hold your body upright.

Bucky hadn't fallen to sleep unbeknownst to you, in fact, he had stayed up just in case you needed him but were too afraid to do anything. He was ten seconds away from saying 'fuck it' and going to your bedroom to check on you when he heard your groan just before the shuffling of your feet towards his bedroom. You don't even have to say anything for him to know what you want, instead, he ushers you inside his room and guides you onto his bed.

Something about being engulfed by this man's scent comforts you, and the way his body tucks around your own as if the two of you were made for one another is out of this world. Bucky tucks you securely into his chest facing away from him, his arm draping over your torso to reach between the valley of your breasts and palm your face. There is nothing sexual in the way the two of you are laying you remind yourself as butterflies begin to form and you exhale contently, allowing your body to relax.

"Night, Bucky," you whisper just before exhaustion overtakes you.

Bucky has to readjust himself a couple of times to keep from waking you up throughout the span of the half hour he remains conscious. He had decided while Sam and himself were on their way to get you, that he'd tell you how he felt, he wouldn't hide anymore. You were too precious to him. It took too long for him to realize it but, he did.

"I love you, doll," Bucky whispers thickly in your ear just as he allows sleep to overcome his body.

Waking up the following morning, you stretch as best you can which is a bit difficult as Bucky has not only his thick muscular arm wrapped around you still, but his leg is draped over you as well. Twisting in his hold causes him to shift slightly and grumble.

"You're disturbing my peace," he mumbles while scrunching up his nose.

You giggle. "I couldn't help it, you're basically on top of me."

"Not my fault you kept freaking out in your sleep," he peeks an eye open to gage your reaction.

Flashes of your nightmare rush through you making your breath catch in your throat. You can't help but feel bad. "I'm sorry," you whisper, diverting your eyes to his uncovered chest.

Had Bucky been shirtless all night long? You suddenly wonder what he tastes like and erase the thought to lick him like a lollipop. In a move so quick that you're not sure how he does it, he has the two of you sitting up with you between his legs facing him.

"Woah, Buck," you say grabbing ahold of his arm to steady your spinning head. "Warn a girl next time will ya?"

Laughing he nods in agreement. "Sorry doll. How about I go make us some breakfast and we sit down for a talk?"

"…A talk?" you question hesitantly. Is this when the floor is ripped out from underneath you?

Bucky's eyes softens as he cups your cheek gently. "Nothing bad. Chocolate chip?"

"S-sure," you stutter.

Bucky places a lingering forehead kiss on you, causing a ripple of butterflies to breakout in your stomach. Your face heats up as he pulls away and gently shifts you onto the bed once more before leaving the room. Letting out a breath you hadn't noticed you were holding; you make your way to your bedroom for a shower, trying to clear your head of what Bucky had unintentionally done to you.

By the time you are dressed and your hair is towel dried, you can smell the food wafting from the kitchen making you stomach to grumble. Bucky hears the sound of your footsteps walking towards the kitchen just as he is plating up the food he made. Chocolate chip waffles, bacon, and eggs with coffee already brewed and a cup of orange juice already on the table. You definitely don't deserve a guy like Bucky Barnes. But that doesn't stop the thoughts of wanting him… of needing him. Of course, you'd never tell him as to not ruin your friendship and besides, you really don't want to move again.

"Feel better doll?" Bucky shoots off as soon as you round the corner.

"Much…" you reply softly. "I'm sorry I woke you up last night."

Bucky turns around holding the two plates of food, motioning you to sit down, not saying anything yet about last night. Poking at your food, you decide eating small would be best as you don't know what your roommate wants to talk about. You do, however, drink your body weight in coffee by the time he's done with his first cup. By the time your food is cold and you feel like vomiting what little you did eat along with the abundance of coffee you funneled, Bucky is taking the plates and quickly washing up all the while you're positive he is getting off on the way your heartrate is doubling in pace and you can feel a panic attack setting in. Turning around, Bucky frowns at the state you're in and is spreading your legs slightly to kneel between them… innocently unfortunately.

"Deep breaths for me doll," he instructs in a soothing tone.

Oh. Oh! You had stopped breathing all together in your panic, not realizing that was contributing to why you began your downfall. You suck in a much-needed deep breath. Now you're just embarrassed. Can't even remember to oxygenate yourself without a reminder. No wonder Bucky is going to be dumping you out on the streets. He never said that! What else would he want to talk about?

"Concentrate…" Why is Bucky's voice sound like it's under water?

At this rate you just know he is looking up the nearest fire station to drop you off at. He lied when he said it wasn't a bad talk he wanted to have, of course he did, he wouldn't want me- Bucky isn't him!

"Fuck it," Bucky mutters under his breath before smashing his mouth against yours.

This is what he wanted to talk to you about after breakfast, he didn't want to wait any longer, but this isn't exactly what he had in mind when he thought that. It's just… well, with you so far in your head and unable to listen to him… Bucky did the only other thing he could think of and kiss you. He moans as soon as he gets a taste of you. You're his doll now. As you had been in a full-blown panic attack, it takes a few moments for your brain to process what is happening and during that time, Bucky pulls away only to reattach his lips. Finally! Your own small moan is let out and suddenly your hands are tangled in his hair tightly, his body being pulled forward closer to your own by you.

Once you had registered Bucky's lips against your own, you said 'fuck it' as well. You've wanted this moment to happen for a while it finally is, not in the moment you would've liked however, it is happening. When Bucky's tongue swipes along your bottom lip seeking entrance, you oblige. His tongue dominates yours quickly but you don't mind, you would rather him be in charge especially of your body right now…

Suddenly you are lifted into the air and into Bucky's arms where you are quick to wrap your legs around his mid-section. Next you are laid down on a pile of blankets, your head resting comfortably on what smells like Bucky's pillow. Bucky is careful to not allow his raging hardon to not come between the two of you, he's not sure how… reciprocated that would be even if he can smell your own arousal.

It seems like hours that you two are in a deep heavy make out session, before you have to pull away for proper air. Bucky's lips don't leave your skin though. They find themselves skimming across your jawbone, your ear, neck, peppering kisses all over your face. Bucky files away your small mewls and bodily reactions to certain spots everywhere his mouth wanders.

When you're calmed down enough Bucky returns to your mouth with a much more tamed kiss. Slow and sensational, dragging it out just in case you reject him which even he thinks is a long shot at this rate. With one last kiss to your now red and swollen lips, Bucky presses his forehead against yours as a content smile plays on his own lips.

"So," you pant softly, your face not only red from improper use of your lungs but, excitement as well. "What did you need to talk to me about?"

Bucky chuckles, his own face slightly heating up, his ears definitely getting painted a pretty shade of pink to show off his slight embarrassment. He hadn't wanted to do this the way he felt he had to in the moment, it's just he felt like he had no other option. He couldn't stand seeing you in such turmoil because of something he had said even though he had told you it wasn't anything bad. This wasn't the first time seeing you like this, let alone hear it and not being able to do anything about it aside from trying to be someone you can talk to. This time was different. This time he wasn't going to let you suffer alone while he watched and did nothing and while he would've liked to have at the very least had a first date before kissing you senseless, he can't say he regrets it.

"Well," Bucky begins almost shyly. "I wanted to- well I mean – you see," he huffs, suddenly tongue tied. "Wouldyouliketogooutwithme?"

You smile brightly at Bucky, almost squealing in delight. "I'd love to go out with you, Buckaroo."

Bucky groans at the nickname you've given him but it is quickly silenced with your lips pressing against his own. Yeah… you're definitely stuck with him now.