Lol

When you’d purchased the little fixer-upper ranch home, you’d seen an opportunity to gain a little independence. A way to work toward something that belonged to you, that you could make fit your needs. Maybe it had been a small defiance on your part, to show that you could still do what anyone else could, despite your status as a small omega.

It turned out to be quite a different story though. The little house needed far more work than you had expected, and you quickly realized you were in over your head. It was time to hire out some help. A lot of help. A few newspaper ads and phone calls later, and you’d found what seemed to be the perfect crew.

The three large alphas had started their own construction business, looking for jobs to showcase their work and get their business off the ground. They were relatively new to the area too. A retired police detective and army Captain, both gruff, hairy, and in their 30’s, as well as the younger one, fresh out of college in his mid 20’s with an English degree and no idea what to do with it yet. After they’d offered to cut you a deal, being one of their first customers, you’d agreed to hire them quickly. That was how you’d found yourself in this predicament.

—————

Your heat started slowly. At first you barely recognized it as what it was. You’d been outside in the summer sun the last two days, supervising the work the three men were doing on your home, so when the sweat began gathering at the back of your neck, you hadn’t given it much thought. And when that sweat had turned to a full body flush by the second afternoon, you figured perhaps you’d had a bit too much sun, and excused yourself inside for a cool drink.

It helped. Briefly.

Thinking you’d cured your ails, and eager to get back to proving you could be helpful, you made your way to the open front doorway where the three large men were currently arguing over the length of screws needed for the porch boards.

“What’s the prob...lem...uhm…?”

You stuttered over your query as you drew closer, the force of their gathered pheromones hitting you like a brick wall. The sheen of sweat coating their large bodies only amplified the scent, and your head immediately began to swim. Something stirred low in your belly as all three turned to look at you.

“I, uhm...how’s it coming out here? I…thought I’d...check…” your speech slowed as your core heated further and you realized exactly what was happening. Their stares intensified as their bodies turned toward you.

“You feelin’ alright darlin’?” the Captain asked, taking a step toward you, only to stop abruptly as his nostrils flared and his pupils dilated. His look of concern quickly changed to one of hunger. A quiet growl rumbled from his chest unintentionally, causing a shiver to course through your body. You hadn’t noticed the other two drawing nearer, but you heard Walter’s deep baritone wash over you.

“Go back inside, omega.”

The command had you baring your neck on instinct before you caught yourself, a breathy sigh escaping your lips.

To your right, the younger one, Michael, rested his forearm against the doorframe, leaning closer. “I don’t know, Boss...I think I like her right where she is.”

Walter’s large hand gripped the back of his neck, causing Mike’s eyes to widen slightly as he was pulled back. He growled at the larger alpha but didn’t fight, his eyes still trained on you. The Captain still hadn’t moved from in front of you, his eyes intense and dark. When he spoke, his voice was gravel, as though he was fighting with himself to pull the words from his own throat.

“Inside. Lock the door.”

You were grateful for the repeated command, because you didn’t think your feet would have moved on their own. After an eyeful of the three men, their sweat covered muscles, and the two beards that screamed virility, you’d had to fight every instinct within yourself not to beg them to help with your current predicament. You barely managed to close the door, glaring at the lock as you turned the tumbler.

———

“We clean up, we leave. No lingering,” Walter barked out, tension clear in the tendons straining in his arms as he gathered up supplies.

“Boss.”

“No, Mike. Walt’s right, time to go,” Sy stated, struggling against his baser brain to do what needed done. “We’ll come back in a few days to start working again.”

“A few days?? You’re just gonna let her suffer in there? God she smells so fucking good. She needs a knot right now.”

Walter let out a low warning growl, but Mike’s instincts were weighing over his reason. He growled back, almost instantly receiving a smack upside the back of his head from Sy.

“Walt could knock you flat in half a minute. Now get your head on straight Mikey. She’s an unclaimed omega.”

“I’ve been with omegas before.”

“You’ve never taken an omega in heat before. You’d lose your yourself quick and probably do something stupid, try to bite her.”

“I would not, come on. You scented her, I know you did. She needs us.”

Listening to them from the window, your heat-addled brain agreed vehemently with Michael. You didn’t want them to go. They could fix this for you. Why were they leaving?

Get it together, you chastised yourself, letting out a heaving sigh. They were right. You should just lock yourself up in your room and let this pass. That sounded like the right thing to do. That sounds like torture.

You nearly keened as you heard the doors of their truck slam shut and the tires crunch over gravel as they drove away.

————

As it turned out, a few days only made it worse. Their scents were everywhere, marking each area of the house they’d been working in, driving you absolutely insane. Everything was too hot and you’d reduced yourself to wearing nothing but a thin camisole and panties. Your fingers gave little to no relief in your heat. You wanted one thing and one thing only. Well...three things. You were nearly feral by the time they returned.

When the sound of voices came from the porch, announcing their arrival, you would have ripped the door off its hinges in your haste if you could have. As it were, seeing Walter standing in the opening with his fist raised to knock, biceps bulging under his thin grey tee, you were reduced to a single word.

“Alpha.” The word was nothing more than a broken whine.

His eyes darkened, seeing you no more well off than they’d left you, hair mussed and the scent of your slick heat strong around you. “Fuck.”

“Told you she needed us,” Mike growled as he shoved past Walter and strode up to you. His hand captured your chin, tilting your head to nose at your neck, dragging in a lungful of your scent. “I’m going to help you, little one. Would you like that?”

You could only manage a small whimper, nodding your head as your thighs coated with your arousal at his nearness. Your hands unconsciously gripped at his shirt, pulling uselessly at his larger frame. He chuckled darkly.

The Captain belatedly joined the other two in the doorway, surprise coating his features as he took in the sight and scent of you before his chest heaved in a large breath and he groaned.

“Fuckin’ hell. She still not out of it?”

“Not even close,” Walter gritted out, the clear outline of his erection pressing against his jeans. “It would seem we did a disservice after all, leaving her here.”

“Damn right we did. I suppose Mike had the right of it after all,” Sy said, moving closer. His large frame crowded close to you from behind, his beard tickling your cheek as he drew in a deep breath of your scent. You could feel his hard length press into your back as he leaned into you. “You smell so fuckin’ sweet little peach. Shouldn’t’ve made you suffer here all alone.”

Mike’s hands were exploring your body lazily, but he glared at Sy when he touched you, earning a rumble in response from the bull of a man. Walter, easily the largest and most dangerous of the three, seemed to exercise the most control of himself, although even he seemed to be losing the battle. “Enough. She chooses if she wants this.”

The aggression in the air was doing nothing to tame your desperate need to be fucked, so you dug your nails into Mike’s chest through his shirt. “Need you. Now. All of you.”

“Mmm feisty. Don’t worry Sweetcheeks. No more waiting,” Mike said, lifting you up, which allowed you to wrap your legs around his waist, pressing your still-clothed core against his aching bulge. “We’re gonna take good care of you.” He started toward the stairs that would lead to your room, the other two close behind.

Bodily tossing your small frame onto the bed, Mike roughly pulled his shirt over his head, his plush lips stretching wide over white teeth in a wicked, feral grin.

Leaning over you as his hands gripped your shirt and pulled it up, he murmured, “I’m gonna fill you up babe, gonna give you everything you need.”

You could only whimper in response, too far gone in your heat and the excitement of having the three of them there. You arched up as he freed you of your shirt, exposing your breasts to him, begging without words. As he took one into his mouth, a large hand snaked into your hair, tilting your head up to the Captain’s awaiting mouth. He kissed you harsh and deep, tongue tasting you, and you gripped the back of his head to keep him close. Another large hand gripped your other breast before trailing down to your soaked core.

You broke the kiss with Sy, a whine escaping your lips. “No more teasing. Please. I need...now.”

That earned a collective sound of want from the men surrounding you. Mike pulled back, shucking out of his jeans and boxers, his length jutting proudly as he took himself to hand. Walter’s exploring hands went to your panties, tearing them from your body, only to be quickly replaced by Sy’s thick fingers pushing into you.

“God damn Sugar, drippin’ wet for us. You need a knot in you?”

You whined and nodded pathetically, thrusting your hips up against his hand, earning a lusty moan from him. “So fuckin’ eager. Look at you.”

“Move your hand, Sy,” Mike growled. You watched as Sy pulled his fingers from you, using his other hand to free his erection from his jeans before coating his length in your slick, pumping his fist with a groan. Mike’s eager hands flipped you over onto your stomach before pulling your hips back so you settled onto your knees.

The bed dipped, and you looked up to see Walter’s thick, hairy thighs kneeling in front of you, his impressive cock hanging heavy and hard right in your line of vision. You weren’t even sure when he’d shed his clothes, but you couldn’t even think to question it right then. His hand tilted your chin up. Swiping a thumb over the precome coating his tip, he pressed it past your lips and against your tongue. “Suck.”

You did exactly as told, savoring the taste of him as you felt Mike press against your entrance. You bucked against him in need, mewling around Walter’s thumb. “Easy, darling. Let Michael take care of you.”

Your entrance was slick and ready, and he pressed in with a groan. The feeling of finally being full was overwhelming. You’d needed this for so long. You cried out, moving against him, pulling the most delicious sounds from his throat.

As Mike’s hips began to pump, Walter lined his cock up with your mouth, which you gratefully opened to allow him in. The rocking thrusts from behind became more fervent at the sight of you sucking eagerly on Walter’s offering, drawing forth groans from both men. The Captain’s hand played idly with your nipples while he continued to stroke himself, cock coated in your sweet slick.

“Remember, Michael. No biting,” Walt rumbled. “Careful when you tie her. She’s your responsibility right now.”

The rules buzzed in Mike’s ear as his knot began to grow. He knew he had to exercise some control, but as he felt himself swelling with each thrust, his eyes traveled to the sweet, delicate skin at the juncture of your neck and shoulder. He pressed his nose against it, inhaling deeply. Each pump of his hips was pulling the sweetest sounds from your throat, driving him closer and closer to release. He let his teeth graze over your skin, reveling in the feel of your tight warmth. His fingers gripped your hips like iron, pulling you back against his groin, begging entrance for his knot as your cunt struggled to accommodate. He nearly lost all reason as it finally pushed past your entrance and he felt your walls grip around the impossible stretch. The need to claim you overwhelmed him.

Just as his teeth began to apply pressure, he felt thick, strong fingers thread through his hair and grip tight, pulling his head back in a cruel arch. Walter loomed above you both, cock deep in your throat, his eyes boring into Michael’s. “No. Biting.”

The words rumbled from his chest, and the combined sensation of the pain in Mike’s scalp and the fluttering of your cunt were enough to push him over the edge. You cried out around Walter’s cock as Mike thrust his knot in as deep as it would go, locking himself to you. He let out a deep groan as his sac drew tight and he began to release inside you, thick ropes of come spilling into you. The searing warmth of his seed filling you made your walls clench impossibly tight, your vision whitening as your climax consumed you.

Watching you fall apart around Mike was enough to bring Walter over the edge. He thrust deep into your mouth, his cock brushing the back of your throat as he came, feeding you his come as his knot swelled outside of your lips. You swallowed eagerly, the taste prolonging your earlier bliss, causing you to clench again around Michael’s knot. He groaned, spilling more come, making small desperate attempts to thrust despite being locked in place. When he was finished, Walter moved from his place, making room for Sy as he stroked himself to completion. Mike wrapped an arm around your middle, pulling you up against his chest to expose your breasts to Sy, who came with a grunt, one hand squeezing at his knot while the other stroked in a stuttering rhythm, spattering your breasts and chin with his spend.

Walter ran his large fingers over your come-covered breasts, feeding you the other Alpha’s seed before he leaned in to kiss you deeply. When he pulled back, his lips remained on yours, his low voice whispering, “What a good little omega you are.”

Your heart warmed at his praise while your body nearly collapsed from the exhaustion of taking on the pleasure of three alphas at once. Mike’s arms were the only thing keeping you upright at this point.

Sy settled himself on one side of the bed, Walt on the other, leaving space for Mike to lower you down in the center and curl around you, still tied together. They petted and purred, praising you for taking them so well. Cuddled in a cocoon of sated alpha, your heat settled for a short time.

Bucky cursed, “Damn.”

“What?”

“I can’t find my gun.”

You sighed, “Steve locked it with his after the last mission. Something about Tony fixing security in your cell. It’s right over – yeah, right there, Buck. Now can we talk —“

“Sweetheart, I’m running late.” Bucky pointed out, securing the gun around his waist. “Steve’s probably out there having a meltdown right now. I gotta go.”

“But this...this is important –”

Bucky pressed his lips against your forehead, “I’m sure it is and because it’s so important, how about we wait to talk about it after I get back, ya? That way I can listen real well and we can talk about it for hours.”

You paused.

“Okay.”

He kissed your forehead again, “That’s my girl.”

You grabbed his hand before he could walk out and ran your thumb over his ring.

“Just be safe, okay? I want you back in one piece. I mean it.”

He smiled, “Okay, sweetheart. One piece.”

It wasn’t supposed to be a hard day. Not at all. Just a simple one where you caught up on all the paperwork Fury had sent over and listened in on some meetings. The boys were out, so it was just you and Natasha and to be honest, you liked days like this. They were some of your favorites because Natasha always made time go by fast. Distracted you from the fact that your husband was out in the field and that he could come back hurt or – or God forbid, not come back at all.

It never got easier. Never.

But Natasha made it tolerable.

She did.

On all days, except today.

Today felt long and drawn out. Like time was at a standstill and that Bucky was never going to come home. You didn’t know what to do with yourself and it was getting frustrating as hell.

Bucky felt the same.

Frustrated.

Frustrated because he felt like he was missing something, frustrated because he wasn’t able to talk with you this morning and beyond frustrated that the mission was taking longer than expected. He remembered telling the pilot to step on it once he got back into the jet. He needed to get home. Fast. He missed his girl and she needed to talk to him about something.

Something important.

Natasha gave him a sad smile when he arrived back at the compound. It wasn’t what he was expecting. In fact, he was expecting you to be standing there, all excited, and ready to jump on him with full force. Plant kisses all over his face and give him one of those smiles that healed every part of him.

You’d completely ignore the fact that he was all dirty and sweaty, all because you were excited that he was home, because you missed him.

Maybe that was why he was all frustrated too. He missed you and date night got canceled last week. All thanks to some last-minute call they received from Coulson in D.C. It was aggravating as hell, always one thing after another and Bucky just wanted to spend some time with you.

Besides, you needed to talk to him about something important.

That reason alone was enough for him to cancel Steve’s invitation to a team dinner.

“Hey, sweetheart. I’m home,” Bucky announced, walking into your shared room.

He dropped all his gear to the side of couch, making a mental note to pick it up later because he knew you didn’t like when he left stuff lying around like that. Just like he didn’t like saying I’m home when you weren’t near him. Steve teased him about it often. Even recalled that one time you went out for a girl’s night with Natasha and Pepper. Carol was in town too and Bucky was stuck with the boys for the entire night. He may have complained one too many times about wanting to go home, and Steve always remarked back by saying you are home, punk and it wasn’t until you walked through the door and locked eyes with him that he said now i am.

It was stupid and cheesy, and Bucky liked that you made him like that.

“Baby, you hear me?” he furrowed his brows, crawling between you and that book in your hands. He didn’t know what you were reading but liked that you looked all snuggled up in his favorite black Henley. “Said I’m home. Even came back in one piece.”

You didn’t respond.

“You wanna talk about this morning?”

Still no response.

Bucky looked at you then the book then lifted his head to block your book because why weren’t you paying attention to him?

You placed your book on his head and continued reading.

“Oh, so it’s like that now?” Bucky teased.

Nothing.

“Are you gonna talk to me?”

Silence.

“Y/N?” he tried again.

He pushed himself up on his arms, hovering over you so he could catch a full glimpse of your face. He couldn’t quite make out what you were feeling. Wasn’t natural because Bucky could always tell what you were feeling. One of the many perks of being married.

He tried nudging your cheek with his nose and placing a small kiss on it. You didn’t budge. He tried again and again and it wasn’t until he stuffed his face in your neck and planted more than a dozen kisses on it, that he heard you giggle. There it is, he thought to himself and kissed your skin a few dozen more times to get another giggle out of you.

“Wanna talk about it now? Hm?”

“Bucky.”

“Please, sweetheart. I’m sorry I wasn’t paying attention before. Am now.”

You sighed, placing your book on the nightstand.

Then you reached out and carded your fingers through his hair. He sighed and dropped his arms, letting his head fall into your chest. Right where it always went. Right where it belonged.

“I’m listening now,” he reiterated. He wanted to make sure you knew.

“I know you are.”

Bucky waited for you to continue.

“You didn’t kiss me this morning.”

“What?”

“You didn’t kiss me this morning,” you repeated. “When we woke up? You didn’t kiss me. Thought you might’ve remembered before you left for work, but you didn’t and I – I”

Bucky was sitting upright now, staring at you as you spoke.

“Y/N…”

“I know I’m being dramatic… and I know it’s just a kiss, but,” you breathed out. “but you know my mom said the first sign she had of her marriage failing was when my dad stopped kissing her every morning? I don’t want that to be us. It can’t be us, Buck and you –”

Bucky kissed you before you even finished your sentence. All soft and sweet and like he was sorry because God, he was. So sorry because his girl loved him too good, was too good to him all the time and all he had to do was kiss her. Love you like he vowed to everyday and he forgot. How could he? It wasn’t like him and he tried to prove that by mumbling I’m sorry one too many times through the kiss. Tried cupping your cheek and kissing you harder when you told him it’s okay because it wasn’t okay. It wasn’t. Something had been missing from him all day and this was it. You were it.

I’ll never forget again, he added.

You pulled back and stared at him.

Bucky looked down at you. At your swollen lips and shy smile and kissed you again. God, he was never going to forget ever again.

Never.

And you could tell because he perched himself back on you, between your legs with the back of his head on your chest and handed you your book. He started reading with you and you almost wanted to ask him if he had been to the clinic. Got his arm checked along with that new little gash on his eyebrow or had dinner for that matter, but you knew he hadn’t. You knew he just wanted to be here with you. Needed it more than the clinic or dinner or even a shower because five minutes into the reading he tilted his head up to capture your lips in another kiss.

You were so gone for this man.

So, gone.

But not completely because when he started to doze off and turn his body to the side, so that his cheek pressed against your chest, you shut your book.

“Oh, no you don’t, handsome. Clinic first.”

“’aby”

“Don’t baby me. C’mon clinic first,” you pushed back his short hair and pressed your lips against his forehead. “Then dinner and a shower. C’mon, we can even have dinner in bed, but you need to get checked first.”

And he listened. Went to get checked with you, then came back and had dinner with you in bed. Took a shower too because he wasn’t going to not listen to his girl.

You were his better half and he liked listening to you.

That’s why he woke up early the next morning, lips pursed and ready to kiss you before you even opened your eyes.

“You don’t talk much, do you?”

His gaze fell, “Not much to say.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

And you pushed him a lot to do so. Always asked him about the 40s and what he was like. You remembered asking if he was just as quiet then as he was now and Steve laughed from across the room saying, “You’re kidding right, Y/N? Buck was a real smooth talker.”

So, you teased him about that often. He didn’t like it, always said something about not being that guy anymore.

You reminded him that he could be any guy he wanted.

So, yeah, Bucky wasn’t a man of many words, but you two got close.

“I know you stole the remote, Buck.”

He circled around the kitchen counter, walking away from you.

“Is it because you don’t want to watch that Disney movie with me? I know you secretly like it and —“

“I don’t have the remote, Y/N.”

“Oh, yeah? Then what’s that hanging out of your pocket?”

You saw that little grin form on his face and you hurried forward and grabbed it before he could say another word.

He chased after you.

Then there were those times where he did thoughtful little things. Where he let his heart show through that thick wall of his and it made you realize just how much he spoke without speaking.

“Did you guys drink all the coffee again? Really? Does no one —“

Bucky handed you a cup.

“Two sugars, right?”

“Yeah and —“

“A dash of cream.”

That was until he added salt into your coffee one morning.

“We ran out of sugar!” he defended.

“So you added salt? Buck, that’s —“ you eyed him. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

He took a sip of his coffee.

“Oh, you’re getting brave. I can —“

You grabbed his coffee and headed straight for your room.

He chased after you again.

So, yeah you two got close.

Bucky wasn’t a man of many words, but you two still got close.

He never let his walls down completely though. Never enough to let you know what he was feeling anyway, if he was hurt. It didn’t bother you so much until you realized he was always hurt, always hurting and that stung a little too much.

“Buck…can you let me in? Please?”

“We can talk tomorrow, Y/N.”

You sighed, standing outside his door.

“I don’t wanna talk tomorrow. I wanna…we don’t have to talk at all, Buck. I just wanna be with you right now.”

No response.

“Please?”

You’ll want to talk anyway, you practically heard and you sighed because it was true.

You knew you’d ask him a bunch of questions and Steve already told you — he already told you that Bucky liked his space. That he got distant sometimes when the world got too much or people got too much for him. Sometimes his mind got too much and Bucky wanted a break. You slid down against his door and sat there for ten minutes hoping for a change of heart.

You weren’t leaving though.

“Hey, Buck, how about this?”

You continued when he didn’t respond. You knew he was listening.

“How about we create a system? One that doesn’t involve you talking or me asking. It can just be...our thing. It can our thing, Buck.”

Nothing.

“And we don’t have to do it all the time. Just when we need to. When I need to know things and you don’t feel like giving. Think you’ve already given too much, don’t ya think?”

Nothing again.

You sighed.

But then you heard the door open and you fell back a little. Bucky looked down at you, what system? his eyes read and you patted the ground in front of you, signaling for him to sit.

He sat.

“Okay so, two taps anywhere like this,” you pressed your fingers against the back of his hand twice. “Means you’re okay. That you’re fine. Three taps, however,” you pressed three times against his skin. “Means you’re not. That you’re not okay.”

He stared at your hands.

“And I don’t have to explain why?”

“Never, Buck. Not unless you want to.”

You tapped him four times.

“What’s that?”

“Four taps means you miss me.”

Bucky got up.

“Aw, c’mon Buck. Humor me a little!”

You didn’t miss the little grin on his face.

Somehow you thought he’d give you two taps just for that comment.

Bucky wasn’t a man of many words, so he liked the system.

He first used it three days after it was created.

He’d woken up and strolled in for his first cup of coffee. Wasn’t the least bit surprised when he found you already there, cup ready in hand with eggs to match because coffee isn’t breakfast, Buck. He’d usually argue about it. Coffee’s the only breakfast, he’d say, but he didn’t have that in him today.

Maybe it was because he hadn’t come out of his room in three days. Or maybe it was because you hadn’t said anything to him yet, but Bucky didn’t argue. He just found himself tapping your hand twice when he reached for the cup.

You grinned.

Bucky liked that.

And you found that was the one he used the most.

Two taps.

Two taps whenever he went off to bed. Two taps when you played that Godforsaken Disney movie for the 5th time that week. Two taps when Thor made some stupid comment about wars during dinner one night.

It was two taps.

Always two taps.

So you were more than a little surprised when your first three taps came.

It was right after a mission. A long one. One that Steve had gotten hurt on because Bucky hadn’t gotten there fast enough. It wasn’t his fault though. Wasn’t anyone’s fault because everyone was too preoccupied with the bad guys at hand to notice the knife coming for Steve’s left side. Bucky took the blame though. Beat himself up about till he got into the jet.

The words were on the tip of your tongue, are you okay? You wanted to say it. Wanted everyone to say it because how could they not notice?

You didn’t though.

Instead you sat next to him and waited for him to say something, anything. At some point, you felt yourself giving up and drifting off until you felt his hand on your thigh.

He squeezed it three times.

You rested your head on his shoulder.

Then there was that time you left for six days. Fury had you and Natasha assigned to some undercover mission in London for the next six days. It took the whole six days, while the boys jetted off to New Orleans to deal with some asshole causing a ruckus in the city.

They came back in two.

“Buck!” you shouted, waking through the compound and dropping your bag at the front door.

“Buck, I’m back! Where are —“ you grinned, finding him resting at the bar stool in the kitchen. He was reading some file and you dropped your head onto his shoulder from behind.

“Hey, Buck. Miss me?”

He stopped.

“No? Ouch, well, I missed you,” you turned your head, kissing his cheek. “Look, I even brought you back a keychain. Nothing fancy. Just has a cat waving the British flag and when I saw it, I thought of you. The cat looks grumpy.”

Bucky didn’t say anything and you removed your head from his shoulder. He must be really into the file, you thought and you didn’t want to bother him so you left the keychain on the table and turned around to head to your room.

Bucky grabbed you and tapped your waist four times.

You launched yourself at him and covered his face with a series of kisses. Everywhere. Anywhere you could reach and each one was followed by a string of  I knew it, I knew it, I knew it’s.

Bucky never wanted to use the four taps again.

Except he did. All the time.

Bucky wasn’t a man of many words, but he thinks he was starting to fall for you.

Because he did four taps whenever you left the room for too long. And when Steve briefed them for too long that one time about some mission, Bucky found himself tapping your leg four times even though you were right there.

Right there. You were right there.

He even recalled nudging his nose against yours four times when you fell asleep on him during that damn Disney movie the previous week.

“Miss you,” he mumbled.

But it was okay because when you woke up the next morning, you nudged your nose against his cheek four times.

Bucky woke up with a bright gleam in his eyes.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“Missed you, obviously.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, Buck.”

And then there came a time where Bucky decided he wanted to create a new one.  A new tap.

Bucky wasn’t a man of many words, but he knows he finally found love.

“Sweetheart, damn, can you slow —“

Because you were stuffing popcorn in his mouth. You were laying in front of him, in between him to be more exact, and throwing popcorn behind like it was nothing.

Most of it didn’t even make it into his mouth.

“Shh, this is the best part.”

“You say that everytime. We’ve seen this movie a —“

“Shh, Buck!”

Bucky laughed and pulled you up so you were closer to his chest. It wasn’t anything special that made him realize it. Thinks it was the familiarly and the comfortability that made him put the pieces together, but Bucky leaned down and pressed his lips against your hair three times. Just three and that was enough for you to tear your eyes away from the screen and look up at him.

“Buck?”

He didn’t say anything.

“Did I throw too much popcorn again? You know I get excited when Lucifer gets on screen. He reminds me so much of —“

Bucky tightened his arm around you and tapped his thumb against your stomach once.

You knitted your brows.

“One? Buck, one doesn’t mean anything. We don’t have —“

“One means I love you.”

“What?”

“One tap means I love you. It means I love you, Y/N.”

It took a few seconds for your brain to register but once it did you jumped up in his lap and turned to face him. Bucky's sure the popcorn bowl had spilled all over the floor, but he didn’t care. Not when his girl looked at him like that and leaned in to kiss him like that too. So fiercely and full of love.

“Okay, okay, baby! I said one tap.”

“One tap gets you a million kisses each time.”

“Mhm. I’m okay with that.”

You giggled, I know you are, you mumbled against him and kissed him a little harder. He felt brighter, more happy and he knew he wasn’t one to say much, but his eyes always did and that was enough for you to pull back for a quick second before leaning in to give him one, long, seething kiss.

One kiss.

And at that moment, Bucky knew the kind of guy he wanted to be.

Your hair was still messy, smile still soft, and you were drowning in clothes. Bucky’s heart skipped a few beats. He might of looked too excited to see you or had some look on his face because you ignored him and took a seat at the table instead.

“Wanna sit on my lap, Y/N? I know you must be tired of Barnes over there,” Sam flirted.

You laughed, shaking your head. Bucky wanted to punch the wall because sitting on his lap was your thing. Your morning, having breakfast, and sitting on his lap thing. His favorite part of the day thing.

It didn’t help that later that day when he walked into the training room, you walked out.

You took one glance at him and walked out.

Bucky was getting frustrated.

And it didn’t seem to stop. When the team came together for their usual hike, you took a spot next to Sam and walked next to him until you reached the top. Bucky stayed close behind and clenched his fists when Sam made a stupid joke to make you laugh.

Bucky was getting really, really frustrated.

He thought maybe when he leaned down to tie your shoelaces that some of the tension would go away, that he would feel better.

“Bucky...”

“Got it, sweetheart. Lift your foot up for me.”

You did.

“I can tie it myself; you know?”

He didn’t say anything.

“James.”

“Y/N,” he mocked.

You rolled your eyes.

“Keep your hand on my shoulder or you’ll fall.”

“I’m fine.”

“Y/N,” he sternly said. “I know you’re mad at me, but you can’t walk around like this. Just hold on to me.”

“You’re taking a long time and I can heal if…,” you mumbled. “and I’m not mad at you.”

“Really?”

You glared at him, “I’m not, Buck.”

Bucky sighed. “Seems like you are, and I know you are because I know you. Came to your room last night and it was locked. F.R.I.D.A.Y said you didn’t want to see anyone.”

“Had a nightmare?”

“Couldn’t sleep without you.”

You almost responded, almost, but Natasha came, and you didn’t know what to say. Couldn’t in fact, so you pulled away and walked away.

Bucky thinks he’s finally figured it out.

It was movie night the next time Bucky saw you and he’s wondered if you’ve asked F.R.I.D.A.Y for new routes so you could avoid him. Bucky was slowly losing his mind and he couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t, so when you walked out of the room and headed to kitchen, he decided to follow.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m getting popcorn.”

“Y/N,” Bucky breathed out. “I’m being serious.”

“Bucky, I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Well, I want to talk about— where are you going? Can you just stop — “

Bucky lifted you up and placed you on the kitchen counter. Placed himself right between your legs so you couldn’t move.

“Talk to me, sweetheart,” he placed his forehead on yours. “We haven’t talked in weeks. Did I do something wrong? Is it Natasha?”

“No. No, why would you think that?”

Bucky stared at you. God, he’s missed you — your eyes, your hands and your touch. Why wouldn’t you touch him? You always did and now…now it had been so long since he felt it, you, and he missed it. He missed how good it felt, how you felt against him.

You started playing with his dog tags.

Bucky swears his heart stops beating for a second. Swears he’s stopped breathing too because you weren’t touching him, no, but you were touching a part of him that meant a whole deal to him.

“Y/N, I — "

“Buck, you’re missing the movie. Steve’s about to have a oh— "Natasha interrupted.

You released your hand from the chain, “We should go.”

“Y/N.”

“Bucky, we need to go. Please let me go.”

He did.

He hated that he did, and he thought about it for the next week, till he was on his next mission. Maybe that’s why he was so distant with the team, why he didn’t pay attention to the briefing and Steve’s speech. He didn’t care, he didn’t.

It showed on the field.

Steve was mad.

“Why did Steve just tell me that you didn’t listen to the plan? That you ran into open fire? Let some guy punch you?”

Bucky didn’t respond to you. Just took a spot on the empty clinic chair.

“Is that what we’re doing now, Buck? Letting people punch us?”

Us.

Bucky shut his eyes and opened them back up to look at you. My God, you looked so angry. His girl was so angry at him.

Us.

Your hands were on his wounds in seconds and in seconds, Bucky was healed and, in more places, than just the parts that were beaten or bruised. You always reached more places than anyone else could, healed more parts of him than anyone else could.

“Are you going to talk to me?” You muttered, pressing your hand against his chest. “Buck?”

You slowly removed your hand, but Bucky grabbed it and placed right back on his chest.

“Just keep touching me, Y/N.”

You paused. Bucky watched as you got more red.

“Keep touching you? I thought you never wanted me to use my powers on you, thought the serum could heal it all. Are you even going to tell me what happened?" your voice was strong. "Did you really let this guy punch you? Beat you purple? Are you kidding, James? How could you let him?”

“How could you not talk to me?”

That shut you up. Bucky didn’t know if you understood what he was trying to say, hoped that you did because he really didn’t want to explain it — didn’t want to explain that he let himself get punched and beaten to have your hands on him.

“Never again, Buck. Never let anyone hurt you like this again.”

“Never not talk to me,” he admitted and pulled you onto his lap. His hands stayed on your hips, while your legs dangled off his lap.

You continued to place your hands on his wounded parts.

“She’s always near you.”

“Natasha?”

“Yeah…yeah and she’s always touching you,” you placed your hands on his dog tags. “Touching these and I know — I know how much they mean to you. How important they are, and you’ve never let anyone but....but”

“But you,” he finished, moving some strands of your hair away from your face. “Never let anyone but you touch them.”

“She has.”

“Never noticed. Too busy focusing on you.”

You shook your head.

“Sweetheart…”

Then you heard footsteps and out of corner of your eye, you saw that bright red hair and black bodysuit approach you and you almost got up — almost, but Bucky held your hips. Kept you in place and you heard him tell Natasha that he was busy, that he was doing something important.

You heard her walk out.

Then you wanted to say something, anything. Anything to get out of this situation, anything to fix all those red and purple spots on his body. Just anything, but you couldn’t. Walking away would’ve been so much easier.

“She’s nothing compared to you, sweetheart,” he confessed. “Nothing, okay? You’re everything.”

“Yeah, but — “

Then Bucky slipped off his dog tags and placed them around your neck.

“Everything,” he repeated.

You’re sure your world stopped. He was so good at making you speechless, always had been. Sometimes you wondered if he was made just to make you speechless. His lip was still a little busted and you reached up and ran your thumb across it, healed it in seconds.

“Promise you won’t do this again?”

“Promise you’ll talk to me?”

“Yeah,” you looked up at him, ran your hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’ll talk to you.”