Hurtcomfortbucky

James Barnes is miserable, forced to marry a woman to satisfy his father's will and business ambitions. A chance encounter may prove to be the key to discovering his own happiness.

After his cryogenic freezing in Wakanda to recover, Bucky's still struggling to come to terms with everything he's done as the Winter Soldier. Luckily for him, Steve's there to help, and he won't take no for an answer.

Bucky has a nightmare, more of a flashback. And it causes some... issues.

"So it's over?" Steve asked.

Running into his childhood friend (literally) just might change everything. 'Just fine' doesn't seem like enough once Steve walks back into his life. The problem is, Bucky's been stuck in his cage for so long that he's not sure he can leave it on his own.

Steve tugs Bucky up from couch, and here, at home, he can slip his arm into Bucky's and pull him into the kitchen, claiming at least one small victory for the day.

Steve Rogers wants nothing more than to have life that’s as normal as possible, and maybe get up the nerve to ask that cute nurse, Bucky out. He’s finally using his medical degree for something, as well as stopping the occasional terrorist when SHIELD asks. He’s changed his name and always wears the cowl when fighting, but a certain nurse might ruin the whole cover.

Bucky Barnes was cold. He felt like he’d been cold for months now; doing nothing but experiencing one unending chill after another. He’d been cold in England, and again in Italy, and again especially in Austria – both while he was kept in an underground cell, and when he was strapped without cover to the unforgiving metal of Zola’s lab table. But Steve… Steve Rogers was sunshine. Everything about him was warm, from his crinkly-eyed smile to his white-hot rage. Steve was Coney Island on a summer’s day; lying back on high rooftops to watch fireworks on the 4th of July; drinking stolen whiskey in his parent’s living room… Loving Steve was a fact – simple and plain, like breathing air or bleeding red; loving Steve was soldered into his skin like a tattoo – it buzzed in his brain like its own kind of high. It was a part of who he was.

Bucky gets lost in his thoughts. The only one who can pull him out is Steve Rogers.