#dp5

Bucky’s brow was furrowed again, high fingers picking at loose balls of fuzz on his gloves.

“When I walked into your apartment, a lot of memories just started flooding back to me. I remembered seeing a pregnancy test in the garbage. I remember the feelings I had when I saw it … the excitement, the fear. But I never got to share that with you, I haven’t been around for James I-” He hung his head in his hands, tears beginning to prick at the corners of his eyes. Your heart was breaking, just like the shattered mug on the floor. You crouched down next to Bucky, putting your hand over his forearm.

“Look, this is not your fault. You weren’t here because of… something we don’t know yet. Please don’t beat yourself up. You’re here now, that’s all that matters, okay?”

“Okay…”

“Good, now help me clean this mess up?”

Bucky nodded and got up from his chair, kneeling down next to you to pick up the shards of ceramic with his gloved hands. You went back to the kitchen to grab a few paper towels, turning around to return to the dining room and finding Bucky discarding the broken pieces in the trash. His brow was no longer furrowed, and you saw life coming back into his cheeks.

“I got it,” he said, reaching out his hands to take the paper towels from you. You followed him into the dining room and watched as he wiped up the spilled water with ease. Throwing them in the trash, he rejoined you, standing so close to you now you could feel his body heat radiating off of him.

“Thank you,” you replied, running your hand along his left arm. It felt hard, and you watched as slightly recoiled, looking anywhere but at you. “Bucky, I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything. Please don’t feel like you’re being a burden or–”

Suddenly, he was closing the distance between you, wrapping his strong arms around you and pulling you close. He hesitated for a moment, his icy blue eyes looking deep into yours, his cheeks flushed red with anticipation. Your breath left your body, as his lips connected with yours; the sweet scent of his shampoo and the mintyness of his toothpaste making your head swim.

Your body went slack, as you let his tongue explore your mouth. You reached your fingers up to glide through his hair, so much longer than you remembered, but still soft as silk. You had waited for this moment for so long, dreamt of it, thought it would never come, and yet here he stood alive and kissing you. After what felt like an eternity, he pulled away from you, backing up quickly to make a gap between you.

“I-I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No, I wanted that,” you quickly interjected, closing the space between you and placing your hands on his face, his scruff rubbing against your palms. “I needed that, Bucky.”

“So did I, doll,” he smiled, nuzzling his cheek into your palm.

“Take your gloves off, I’d like to hold your hands,” you said, reaching down to help him remove the gloves. It was so hot in your apartment (or maybe that was just your nerves), you had no idea how he was still wearing them. He pulled his hands away from you quickly, and backed up towards the kitchen.

“No,” he stated defiantly, shoving his gloved hands in his coat pocket. What could he be so afraid of?

“Bucky, please,” you said becoming brave, peeling the glove off of his right hand. His skin was tanned, but it looked normal, your finger absentmindedly tracing the veins. “You have to trust me.” He nodded, but you could see his body tensing as your hands reached for his left hand. You could feel through the glove that this hand was different - harder, heavier. Looking up at him you gave him an encouraging smile, before leaning up to place another soft kiss on his cheek. “I will never love you any less.”

Slowly, you peeled back the glove from his left hand. What emerged from underneath was not what you were expecting, but you didn’t gasp or scream. You cried, fat tears falling down your cheeks as you took in what he’d been hiding this whole time. His hand was made of a silver metal, reflecting off the light as he flexed his fingers.