#softbiker

You woke up to darkness and an empty bed. There was a rustling sound and you rolled to see what was happening. There in the shadows you saw the figure of a man quietly putting on their clothes.

“Sam? You’re going?” You asked quietly and he gave a jump.

“Hey, I wasn’t trying to wake you up, but Steve just sent me the info for an urgent mission.” Sam explained as he finished getting dressed.

You stuck your lip out in a pout, “But it’s late, do you have to leave right now?”

Sam gave a small nod, looking at you softly, “I know I always come and go, but it’s out of my control. You know we can’t schedule when missions come in.”

You nodded back at him, “I know, but I was having a really nice dream,” you laughed, “Just tell Steve I expect to be reimbursed for loss of cuddles.”

Sam leaned over and kissed your forehead, “I’ll be sure to tell him that. Go back to sleep, Sunflower. I’ll be home before you know it.”

You let out a soft hum and looked up at Sam, “You better be. How long are you going to be gone?”

Sam looked at his phone again for a moment, “Looks like it should be a quick one, if everything goes well, two days tops.”

You nodded at the information, “Good. I’ll see you in two days. Don’t be late.”

You pulled Sam down to kiss him again, and he gave a low groan, “Every time I’m leaving on you, you don’t make it easy.”

You gave a giggle and pushed Sam back up, “Go, don’t make Steve mad at me.”

Same gave you another quick kiss and picked up his go bag before heading out the door.

__________________________________________________________

While Sam was gone, you did your best to stay occupied. Going to the gym for training was the best option. You were able to get your frustration out and you were able to keep yourself in fighting condition.

That’s where life found you four days later, sparring with Wanda, and getting absolutely wrecked. Every move you made; she was countering. And you were taking quite the beating, red tendrils of power shooting out and blasting you back. Luckily, the walls were padded, but it still hurt.

You were already frustrated about the mission going longer than expected. Everyday that Sam was gone was a day that you worried about him. And now you were getting thrown around by Wanda, and she was taunting you about it. She knew your mind was preoccupied and she was taking advantage of it.

You finally got your opportunity to strike, and you lunged at Wanda, dagger drawn. She was able to get a shield up on time, but you kept going at her, striking again and again, letting out all that frustration. You didn’t realize how much frustration you had been holding on to until Wanda yielded, and you fell to the ground, overcome with emotions.

You felt comforting arms wrap around you and heard a soft voice, “Don’t worry Wanda, I’m keeping her in check.”

Wanda replied out of breath, “She was all bad-bad, especially after your mission got extended.”

You felt a hand brush through your hair, and you looked up into the comforting eyes of Sam. Sighing, you let your self lean into him before you looked between Wanda and Sam.

“Alright, I’m calling it quits now, Baby, I’m a wreck,” you said as you squeezed Sam’s hand.

Sam nodded at laughed lightly, “You can crash at my place, Baby you’re a wreck.”

You lightly hit his hand, “Hey! Only I’m allowed to say that!”

Sam laughed again and picked you up. Carrying you off to his room.

__________________________________________________________

You and Sam were able to spend the rest of your day together, lounging in his room.

The peace and tranquility was interrupted when your phone went off and you saw the notification from Steve.

Groaning, you opened the mission details, “Baby, I got to go. Mission time.”

Sam helped you off his bed and started getting his stuff together, “I’ll come with you, in case you need backup.”

You smiled at him, “It’s ok, Love, it doesn’t look like it’ll be too hard. And you just got back from a mission, you need to rest up. Plus, Bucky is coming with me. I’ll be ok.”

Sam grimaced when you mentioned Bucky, they still had a bit of a tense relationship. He watched you while you gathered up your go bag and extra supplies. “Be safe, don’t let Bucky use his old man ruse to get you on his side.”

You laughed, “Babe, that won’t happen, you know I only have eyes for you.”

You leaned down to give Sam a kiss before turning to head out the door.

“Wait! You forgot something!” Sam yelled after you.

You paused and turned around, “Every time I’m walking out, I can hear you telling me to turn around. What did I forget this time?”

Sam gave you a coy smile, “You forgot to give me a kiss, the most important thing!”

You rolled your eyes and went over to Sam, leaning over and giving him a deep kiss, “Make sure you miss me.”

Sam grabbed your wrist lightly, “Already do. Now go kick some ass.”

You gave him a nod and hefted the bag back over your shoulder. As you walked out the door, you felt the nerves creep up in you. Missions always got the better of you at first, but as soon as you got on the jet, the nerves melted away, but something about this one was keeping you on your toes.

__________________________________________________________

You had been in the field for 10 days at this point. The good news was that you had a roof over your head, the bad news was that you were supposed to be home a week ago.

Today, you were chasing a Hydra agent through the dense forests of some European country. You were pushing yourself to the limits trying to catch up to this agent. You were so focused on the person ahead of you that you didn’t notice the tree root sticking out of the ground, but your foot made sure to find it.

You felt yourself tumble to the ground and roll forward a few feet. A strong hand grabbed your arms and yanked you back to your feet without missing a beat.

You looked up to see the harsh eyes of Bucky Barnes glaring at you. As if he couldn’t believe you let yourself trip. It lasted a few seconds then he was off again, following the Hydra Agent. You immediately followed and after chasing for a while, you were able to apprehend the agent and collect all the information that they had on them.

__________________________________________________________

You were back in the hotel, resting before packing everything up and heading home, when you heard Bucky enter the rooms with a huff. He was grumbling to himself as he packed, and you were not in the mood to deal with that at all.

“What the hell is your problem Winter Boy?” You asked, looking at him from your spot on the bed.

“Just can’t believe you fucking tripped in the field. Aren’t you supposed to be the graceful one out of the group?” He spit out at you, venom lacing his words.

“Well, actually, I think Nat is the graceful one.” You joked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Whatever Y/N, you’re just lucky I was there. You know, you’ll be left in the dust if you keep that up. You’re just lucky that I stuck by ya.” Bucky said, throwing his clothes into his bag.

You rolled your eyes, not letting yourself get sucked into this argument, “We got the job done, that’s what matters. I’ll train more when I get home.”

Bucky gave you a grunt of approval and finished his packing. When you were both packed, you called for the jet and met them at the pickup sight.

As soon as you were on board, you pulled out your sat phone and dialed Sam’s number. He picked up on the second ring.

“Babe? You ok?” He asked.

“I’m fine, just gone longer than I wanted to be, and the Century Man is getting on my nerves.” You explained, trying to ease his concern.

Sam gave a light laugh, “Wish I could be there for you Babe. But you can do it, you’re the Sunflower, if anyone can make it through, it’s you.”

You smiled, “Thank you, that’s all the hope I needed to get through, sometimes I think your love would be too much, and then you do things like this, and I know that could never be a thing.”

Bucky rolls his eyes across from you and holds out his hand, “If you’re done being gross, I’d like to talk to him, update him on what’s happening, you know, proper procedure.”

You stuck your tongue out at him quickly, “Babe, Bucky wants to talk to you. But don’t worry, I’ll see you soon.”

You handed the phone to Bucky and he gives the mission report before informing Sam of the ETA to the compound. You reach your hand out to get the phone back so you can say your goodbyes to Sam. Bucky looks at you and hits the end button on the phone before handing it back to you.

You glared at Bucky before taking the phone. The brief thought of hitting him crossed your mind, but you thought better, knowing that he would never let you live it down if you did.

__________________________________________________________

When you got back to the compound, you immediately went to debriefing and then straight to Sam’s room, flinging yourself onto the bed and curling into him. You both fell asleep quickly in each other’s arms.

This is where Nat found you when she came to invite you down for a family dinner. As she poked her head in, she couldn’t help but smile as she took in the sight.

Nat went back down to dinner and informed the group that you would not be joining and that if anyone went to interrupt the two of you. She personally would the one to, as she said, “Fuck you up.”

Bucky was fully ready to let this day pass like another, he’s already had 102 birthdays, more than the average human. What’s one more? 

Not if y/n had a say in it. 

  She had been planning this for months, ever since she stumbles across his birthdate on his personnel file. March 10th, 1917. She drilled the date into her mind, trying to keep her plans as low key as possible. As much as she wanted to surprise Bucky with with the whole nine yards, a giant cake and maybe even some fireworks, she decided not to push it just yet. 

  Then came putting the plan into action. Cornering Steve in the compound’s kitchen two weeks before Bucky’s birthday she grilled the captain on his plans. 

“Oh well…” he mumbled sheepishly, running his hands through his hair. “You know how Buck is with birthdays. I’ll probably just give him the night off- you know how he likes his alone time.” 

  “Not good enough. Come on Steve! When’s the last time Bucky got a cake on his birthday? Scratch that- when’s the last time someone even wished him happy birthday?” 

  “Alright, you got me there,” He says with a smile, and raises him arms in mock defeat. But noting big, Tony just redid the rec room and we don’t Bucky taking down a wall because he got spooked.” 

  She turns away with a smile; “All you have to do-“ 

  “Is keep him busy. Got it. Oh and y/n?” 

  “Yeah?” 

“He really likes his strawberries.” 

 *** 

She takes full advantage of Bucky being away on a mission, with Thor and Bruce stocking the fridge with the Avengers’ favourite beers, and enlists Wanda and Vision on cooking duty. She has Tony dig up a record player and borrows some era-appropriate records from Steve. She sets Nat and Clint to putting the room together for the night’s most important ingredient.

 Bucky’s cake. 

  She recalls a no-nonsense vanilla cake recipe from her childhood, a dessert that always tasted like home. Perhaps, on some level, she wanted him to feel just as at home as she did on the compound. She wanted to tell him what she never felt was her place to say. You’re home now Bucky- let the guilt fall away from you. 

Four cups of flour, a spoonful of sugar, multicolour sprinkles hidden in the batter. Silent reminders that he was loved and cared for. 

  Lowering the cake in the oven, she pulled out her phone and shot a text to Bucky. 

  'Dinner tonight? I’ve got too much Chinese food on the way.' 

‘Perfect, sounds like a plan’ 

  The team sets to work in the common area, under the strict instructions of y/n- No Decorations! Tucking the food away in cabinets and doing away with the messes in the counters and the sink. 

  Heavy footfalls climb the stairs to the living room, the sound of tac vest being unbuckled, a long private sigh of relief. 

  ‘Hey y/n- you there? Smells great in here? Steve making bread again?” 

  ‘Hey! Welcome back.’ She calls around the corner. ’Sit down, I’m reheating the noodles.’ 

  ’Need any help?’ 

  ’No I’m good! Put your feet up’ She ducks behind the kitchen island and gestures to Steve, hiding (as best as he could) in the corridor. He straightens, and whistles nonchalantly to the fridge.   

‘Hey Buck.’ 

  Bucky grunts in acknowledgement, waving a hand from the couch where he lies reclined, eyes closed. 

  ‘Beer?’ Steve calls, head buried in the fridge. 

  Another eloquent grunt, and Steve withdraws from the fridge with an optimistic thumbs up. 

  ’Say Buck- what day is it today? Might need to tape the game for later.’ 

  A single eye opens, with a raise of the eyebrow. ‘It’s Tuesday, no game today.’ 

  ‘Funny you say that, distinctly thought there was something special today.’ 

  ‘Oh for- Steve, come on man!’ Bucky shoots up from the couch just as the team pops up from their hiding places, unearthing the not so well hidden snacks. 

  ‘Happy birthday old man,’ Sam calls from across the room, clapping a hand on y/n’s shoulder. 

She pulls the cake, unfrosted but still steaming from the oven. Sticks a single candle into it, and presents it proudly. 

  ‘What? They didn’t have enough candles.’

  They gather for strictly one song and that’s it- under Bucky’s stern warning, and they light the candles. He still shuffles awkwardly in his seat, and she swears his hands brace against the table. 

  She stares too long at the way the light of the candle makes shadows under his jaw, when she works her way back up to his eyes, he’s staring right back at her. He mouths a silent thank you, a sincere, stolen moment that your heart aches to freeze. 

You’re forced to acknowledge how your body tenses but your heart races when he pulls you into a hug later that night in the kitchen, just the two of you. The way his hand rises to trap your chin between his thumb and forefinger, the lingering glance, the agonising wait as he hesitates, expecting you to push him away. He leans in to kiss you and all the blood in your body rushes to your ears and you burn bright red. You cling onto to him, grounding him to the earth.

As he pulls away, you whisper the word you’ve longed to say.