augustine

THE SUN LOWERED IN THE NEW YORK SKY, sending waves of orange and pink hues through the knitted clouds. You trudged beneath it as the honk behind you confirmed your car's locking. Muscules worn out from a long work day, you began the mighty journey up the stairs that led up to your apartment. Eyes heavy, threatening to glue themselves shut before you even made it to your bed you moved to pull your keys from your pocket. Once more gravity was in anything but your favor as they clattered against the concrete, earning a groan from you as you bent over to pick them up. The sound of your back rivaled the Rice Krispies slogan as you stood back up, finally unlocking the door and pushing inside. The dim room smelled of your (favorite) candle, the flicker reflecting the silver arm of your boyfriend sitting on the floor. Barefoot and crisscrossed on his baby blue mat, hands delicately positioned on his knees. You leaned against the doorframe with a small smile, watching his chest rise and fall in a calm and controlled manner. Every breath was intentional as the soldier straightened his shoulders, Alpine mewling and beginning to lap at his metal fingers. You bit your bottom lip, carefully slipping off your shoes and tiptoeing to slowly lower your weight behind him with not so much a creak in the floorboards.

"You don't have to tiptoe, I knew you were here before you even walked in." He rumbled, voice soft and deep with a certain sweetness that made you weak at the knees.

"I was trying to not disturb you." You huffed, pressing a kiss to his shoulder as you wrapped your arms around his sculpted abdomen and nuzzled into the middle of his back. "What are you doing?"

"Meditation. Recommended for those wishing to improve memory capacity and also those suffering from chronic insomnia. Lucky for me I double-dipped." Bucky hummed, letting out another breath as you felt the muscles shift beneath his skin as he relaxed further into your touch. You smiled at the action, peppering little kisses on the skin his tank top left exposed. Your fingertips traced his defined stomach through his shirt. "Has it worked yet?"

"I dunno, my shrink said it would." He tilted his head a bit, "Although I really do believe that woman is a sadist."

"Last I checked you had a thing for those." You teased softly, placing a kiss behind his ear before snuggling further into him and inhaling his musky scent.

"Only the ones that think their super-soldier boyfriend can't hear their hello kitty socks scuffling across the floor." He teased softly, both eyes now completely open as he reached down to place his hand on top of the one that was on his stomach. He intertwined your fingers, giving your hand a squeeze. "How was work, doll?"

"I'm too pretty to work. I should be laying on an expensive couch while my gorgeous boyfriend feeds me grapes." You huffed, running your thumb over the back of his hand. "How was your day?"

"It was fine." He chuckled softly, moving to reach around and gently prompting you with a tug of your hand to climb into his lap. You swung your leg over and sat, wrapping both arms around him. You rested your chin on his chest, sticking out your bottom lip into a pout. "Capitalism has traumatized me and I need a kiss."

Bucky snorted a bit, leaning in to press soft lips to yours as cold metal pressed into the small of your back. "I'm sorry buttercup, maybe you should join me tomorrow?"

"Finally, an invitation." You teased softly as you pressed another kiss to his lips.

"Well, the whole point is to focus and not stare at the gorgeous girl beside me who has found a way to even breathe pretty." He poked your nose, eyes creasing with the gentle smile you adored. You reached up and ran your finger along his bottom lip, the corner of your mouth twisting up into a smile as you took in his features. His dark hair framed tanned features, steel blue eyes filled with admiration. Although you did note the discoloration beneath his eyes, the footprints his night terrors left behind. You reached up and pushed his soft curtain of hair behind his ears, letting your thumbs move to trace his jaw. "I decided I need a nap."

"It's eight o'clock baby, I think that's just called going to bed early." He teased softly, dropping a kiss above your eyebrow.

"Well, I'm exhausted." You wrapped both your arms and legs tightly around him, squeezing your thighs around him a bit. "Mush soldier, take me to bed."

He chuckled, leaning down to blow out the candle before he scooped you up into his arms and carried you towards the bedroom where he gently sat you on the bed. Skilled fingers moving to pull off your shirt and pants before he turned to grab one of his shirts, not even bothering to ask if you wanted him to grab your pajamas because he knew you'd just snatch up whatever shirt he discarded when he climbed into bed for the night. You moved to pull it over your head with a happy hum, climbing up the bed and under the covers. Bucky moved to fix them around you and slowly began to stand when you snatched his metal wrist, keeping a tight grip as you glared up at him. "I know you are not about to leave me to sleep alone. The audacity."

Bucky reached up to scratch the back of his neck, giving a gentle shrug. "I should clean up out there, and then there's dishes and then uh.. that one thing you needed me to do.." He listed off, avoiding your gaze a bit as you tugged the arm closer to you. "James." You said firmly, giving him a look that communicated you both knew that all he wanted was to climb into bed with you, but anxious thoughts lead him to other ideas. Bucky sighed, moving to pull back the covers as he moved to scoot beside you. "I don't know when you forgot, but my name is baby." He mumbled as you felt the comforting duality of a warm and cold arm snaking around your waist.

"I think it's right up there with you forgetting that you don't have to act like we both know why you don't want to go to bed." You hummed, snuggling into his chest as you felt his nose press into your hair and his gentle breath on your scalp.