#thunderbolts!reader

bucky barnes is closed off— everyone knows that, his new team included— but whatever had gone wrong during tonight's mission had seemed to shut him down completely.

it was supposed to be a clean in and out according to valentina. the team had been sent to san fransisco to retrieve a stolen cache of experimental technology from the ship yard before it left port. she'd given them very little information other than there'd be security and that she wanted it done clean and quickly.

but with not enough preparation, horrible coordination, and valentina's lack of any real intel, the mission had gone sideways and they'd almost been taken out several times. bucky had come dangerously close to losing his other arm, and when they finally got a look at what they'd risked it all for, he'd realised the 'stolen tech' was really just old stark industries prototypes.

after several grenade explosions, being shot at, being chased across a container yard, and falling into the bay, the team sat in complete silence in the jet on the way back to the watchtower completely empty handed.

yelena and alexei sit on one side of the jet, trading bitter looks and unamused complaints while ava sits just opposite them looking equally as annoyed. walker sits on his own a little further back, holding a rag to his leg where hot blood runs after a bullet had grazed him.

although they all sat apart with exhaustion evident on their faces after screaming their heads off at each other, nobody dared to sit anywhere close to bucky.

but then alexei breaks the silence, his voice irritatingly casual and loud. "you know, if you think about it, that really wasn't a horrible first mission."

yelena turns to alexei with the most confused face she could make. "that was complete dog shit, alexei. did we go on the same mission, or were you dissociating the entire time?"

"i'm just saying, it could have gone a lot worse!" he tries to defend himself, "we did our very best, and nobody died—"

"but we failed the mission." walker cuts in as he glares at alexei from across the jet, "look around, man. we didnt grab shit and now valentina's gonna be on all of our asses."

ava groans as she slides down in her chair, her arms crossing over her chest, "ugh, don't remind me."

"but we will have another mission to prove ourselves! we will be more successful and more strong next time." then alexei turns to the other side of the jet— the side where bucky sits on his own staring at the wall— and he gestures to him like he'll help. "right, bucky?"

bucky doesn't give them the light of day. he sits perfectly still, the dim jet lights catching on the grime caked onto his face and the tension hiding underneath his suit, his metal fingers tapping against his leg like a ticking bomb set to explode if they even looked at him wrong. there's something in the way he holds himself— unmoving, unblinking, and completely silent— that makes the rest of the team shift in their seats when alexei drags all of their attention to him.

"i just wanna get back and get away from you idiots." he mutters, voice flat and low, his eyes still locked onto nothing in particular.

although a little mean in hindsight, the team was a big part of the failure. they were uncoordinated, yelling into the coms, and trying to compete with each other the entire time. they were fighting each other more than they were fighting the opposition and bucky felt he had been left to pick up the pieces.

then ava scoffs. "yeah, i wanna get away from you guys too."

"tell us something we don't know." walker shoots back.

yelena groans, loud enough to cut through the hum of the jet engines. her arms fly up and fall back to her lap in a fit of annoyance. "alright, we all wanna get away from each other, so how about we all just shut up about it so we don't have to listen to each other?"

all of their grumbles and idle complaints die under the hum of the jets. even alexei slouched down into his seat, quiet for once as the weight of the mission and their dislike for each other presses down on him as well as everybody else.

bucky still sits in silence. his right arm flexes periodically, the flesh tough and corded beneath his sleeve. it's a conscious thing, something he'd been taught to true and relieve tension. his eyes are dazed and a little hazy, but it's not the fault of the fight— it's more like he's retreating inwards, like maybe his mind is on something else— or someone else.

only a few hours later, the jet touches down on the watchtower's helipad with a dull jolt, and it's only when the ramp slides out that the team pushes to their feet, dragging their tired bodies as best as they can towards the doors.

the elevator is painfully quiet, and the tension that sits in between them only makes the ride feel longer than it actually is. its a box full of glares and shallow breathing, and the moment the doors to the main living area open, the team topples out of the torture box, and the familiar quiet they stumble into is a sight for sore eyes.

the living room is dimly lit, most of the light coming from a small table lamp in the corner of the room and the night light of new york's skyscrapers outside of the window. you and bob are sitting on opposite sides of the coffee table playing a card game, and from the look on his face, you'd been winning.

and bucky, the man who'd been sitting in silence wearing a permanent scowl on his face ever since they stepped foot in the jet, suddenly looks a little... happier.

his shoulders drop a fraction. the soft frown crease in his cheek softens. the noise in his head dulls, like someone's turned all of the negative volume down for once. the mission, the arguing, the stress that wraps itself tight around his bones melts away at the sight of you.

at the sound of the teams shuffling boots and the soft thud of the elevator doors opening, the two of you glance up.

bob's face drops, a little caught off guard with how tired they all look. "what happened to you guys?"

and although bob continues to stare from his spot on the ground and his horrible hand of cards sit neglected on the table, you're already on your feet. the second your eyes land on john's leg— blood darkening the fabric of his suit and the rag clutched uselessly in his hand— your expression shifts, all of your warmth sharpening into focus as you reach for your lab coat draped over the back of a chair and pull it over your arms.

bucky shamelessly follows your every move from the moment you stand up to the moment you quickly walk on over to assess the damage that's been done to the team. your eyes land on his for only a moment, but the soft smile you send him is enough to make him feel better. then you turn to john.

"is that a bullet wound?" you ask calmly,?leaning down to get a closer look at his injury even though you already know your answer.

john moves the rag over so you can get a better look. "somethin' like that." he mutters.

"yeah, thought so." you hum, unimpressed. you straighten, already poking around in your pocket for supplies. "alright, let's go to my office."

you and john sweep past the team towards the elevator, you walking with confidence and purpose like this is routine for you— and it is— while john hobbles behind you, trying to best to keep pace with you.

the rest of the team parts for you without comment and watch the two of you pass, but bucky's eyes follow as you and john begin to leave, and his heart aches a little— not because he's jealous, but because he can't stop himself from wanting to be the one you're walking away with. every instinct and selfish part of him to yelling at him to just push through and take your arm like it always does when he decides you're where he needs to be.

so he does, because he's never been good at denying his urges when it comes to you.

"i'm going first." he cuts through the silence. the words are steady and low, and it's evident that it's more of a demand than a request.

you and john both turn, a little surprised— after all, bucky looks visibly fine and john's on the urge of collapsing. why would he need to go to your office first?

irritation flashes on john's face. "i've been shot, bucky."

bucky starts walking towards the elevator doors, hyperaware of the way everyone's eyes are on him, but only caring for yours. he presses the elevator button to the floor where your office is, and the doors open right away. he holds a hand to them to stop them from closing, then turns around to see everybody staring at him.

"if you can still walk and talk, then you're fine. i'm going first." he says to john, a little stern and annoyed, but then softer, he turns to you with a gentle smile. "right, doc?"

you blink, glancing between bucky and john. a tightlipped smile sits on your face, a little embarrassed because you know the team is going to make a big deal of this later.

"if that's okay with john, then it's okay with me." you say.

john scoffs, taking a weak step back and already turning around as if uou'd just personally insulted him. "fine. whatever. not like i'm gonna bleed out or anything."

bucky follows you with his eyes as you step into the elevator, every inch of him attuned to your movement, and he follows closely behind. and as soon as the elevator doors close, you turn to bucky with an incredulous glare.

"what was that?" you ask, your brows raised.

bucky turns to you, lip curling like he's unsure what you're talking about. he blinks a few times before he speaks, a little inflection in his voice giving him away. "what was what?"

"don't play dumb, bucky." you fondly roll your eyes. "why did you wanna get checked up on first? unless you've got some injury i cant see, it would've been better for me to see john first."

bucky turns his head away at the mention of john's name. if you didn't know any better, you would've thought they were sworn enemies. "walker's fine. it was just a graze. probably got hit on purpose because he wanted to spend some time alone with you."

you cross your arms against your chest. "he was bleeding pretty bad, buck, i dont think he did that on purpose."

there's a tick in bucky's jaw, and his metal fingers flex at his side.

"he's conniving. you don't know him—" bucky murmurs.

"i know him well enough." you counter gently, and bucky hates that it works. then you smile, teasing and trying to ease the tension. "and plus, john knows better than to try and take little old me from you of all people. he knows who'd win in a fistfight."

bucky turns to you, his brows knitted together. there's a long moment where he just stares at the side of your face as you stare at the floor sign, like hes recalculating everything he thought he'd been hiding so carefully.

the elevator door dings and they slide open. you waste no time in stepping out and setting pace down the darkened corridor, your office the only room illuminating any light. bucky is quick to follow you just as you knew he would.

"what are you—" he blinks, a little embarrassed as he falls into stride next to you. "nobody knows about us. i like to think i was good enough at keeping it between us like you asked."

you sigh. "i know you have, and i appreciate it, bucky— i really do— but you make it pretty obvious that there's something between us."

you push open your office door, the sterile light flooding the corridor. you gesture with your head for him to step inside, and he does without hesitation. this office is as familiar to him as it is to you, the smell of antiseptic and the scene of neatly organised chaos making him feel at home with you.

"i mean come on... i'm going first? you might not think so, but they're smart." you continue as you close the door behind you. "they probably think your hand is down my pants right now."

"it's not." bucky says immediately, almost defensive as he watching you walk over to your already prepped tray and pop open a new box of gloves. then quieter and with a tilted smirk on his lips, he adds, "but it could be if you wanted it to be."

you dont even look at him as you gesture towards the exam chair.

"real charming, barnes." you say dryly. "now sit down before i make you."

and he does, because for all of his bravado, he knows that when you use that tone, he has to listen.

bucky sinks down into the chair with a quiet huff. he reaches up and undoes the intricate clasps of his suit, the clicking noise filling the silence as you prepare your equipment. he removes his chest plate and places it down beside him, revealing the black tactical shirt underneath. you take into account the tears in the fabric and the dried blood near the fraying, and decide that's where you'll start.

you step closer, and the first thing that bucky noticed is the smell of your perfume covered by the scent of strong antiseptic. you start methodically, glove-covered fingers pressing into his skin and pausing whenever he tenses.

but he doesn't do that much, and he doesn't complain. he just watches you as you work, eyes fixated on your face while yours are fixated on his body, and you can feel his gaze burning into you as you work.

"what've you been doing while we were gone?" he asks, his voice soft as to not disrupt you from caring for him.

"nothing much. valentina wanted me to do some testing on bob, but i felt bad and i ended the session early." you dig your thumb into his collarbone, feeling some kind of crack underneath his skin. "does this hurt?"

"no." he says immediately.

you look at him, unimpressed. "bucky."

"a little—" he concedes, "but it'll heal in no time."

you sigh knowing he's right, and then you continue. "got some written work done, then bob got bored and call me down to teach me how to play 31, but then he got upset that i was better then him at it."

"that tracks." bucky says. there's a ghost of a smile sitting on his face, something warm and real that hadn't been present during the mission or on the jet.

you place a band-aid on a small cut on his jaw, a futile effort to patch up a cut that'll disappear during the night.

the smile fades and his shoulders sag a little in an almost boyish way, like the question alone weighs on him. "horrible. too many things going wrong at once. nobody knew what they were doin' and it was just... it was a mess. val's never gonna let us hear the end of it."

you frown. "i'm sorry, buck. that sounds like it sucks."

"it did." he nods, exhaling slowly like he's finally letting all of the tension and stress drain out of his body. his gaze flicks back to you. "but i feel better now."

your brows raise the slightest bit, and a small part of you thinks you already know why. "and why is that?"

"because i'm here now," he says simply, then softer— more certain— he adds, "and nothing feels better than comin' home to you."

his words hit deeper than you'd expected, and the bashful smile that creeps up on you is anything but subtle, the kind you dont wear around anyone but bucky. you duck your head, pretending to fuss with your equipment.

"this place is your home now? i thought you hated it here— especially my office." you tease as you pull off your gloves and toss them into the trash. "you said it smelled like old people, which is rich coming from someone who's lived three times longer than i have."

bucky's smile mirrors yours— soft, slow, and a little taken aback at your out-of-the-blue jab.

"it might as well be home. i mean, we do everything here— eat, sleep, watch movies..." he pauses as he thinks of something else you frequently do, eyes flicking to yours, "have mind blowing sex—"

"oh my god, bucky." you whisper as you try to restrain yourself from slapping a hand over his mouth. "there's cameras in here!"

his brows knit together like he couldn't care less, and he honestly really couldn't. it felt so normal to him— and he was proud of being able to do that with you— that he couldn't understand why you'd care about anyone knowing you have sex. "so?"

a breathy laugh slips from your mouth and you reach out to shove his shoulder. "you make it so hard for me to stay professional."

bucky grins, unapologetic and entirely pleased with himself as he reaches out for your wrist and pulls you in for a kiss, the tension of the day finally bleeding out the moment your lips press against his.

he couldn't care less about the cameras. he honestly hopes valentina sees it and knows that he's managed to swoop her smartest employee out of her hands.

but right now, bucky doesn't care about vengeance or stupid superiority over val; he cares about you and your warmth, about how you manage to feel like home no matter where he is, and how he can exist beside you and still feel like he belongs.

and maybe he'll take you up on that offer of sticking his hand down your hands later— who knows!

Bucky and you had been dating for almost a year now, and the fact that still nobody in the tower knew made both of you really proud of yourself — and also very disappointed in your superhero roommates. You had been careful, even though keeping your relationship a secret for this long wasn’t the plan. At first, it had been because both of you had decided to keep it low due to the way your relationship started. And honestly, even considering that you really thought it would last as a secret for less than a month.

It has just been a few months after the events that joined the team when the tension between Bucky and you finally snapped. You had been dancing around each other since you met. But apparently it only took a couple of months of forced proximity and a mission with only you both.

All thanks to a heated kiss shared after almost dying during the supposed simple recon mission that had ended in an ambush.

He had been watching your six when the ambush started, both moving in a newfound synchrony. Shoots, kicks and strikes were exchanged making the enemy drop like flies, and for a second you almost laughed at how easy it was. But your lucky ran out quickly. An agent you had thought was unconscious had reached for a forgotten gun and stood up just when the last agent had been knocked out.

"Hey, Barnes, we should do this more often. That was so easy, for a moment I thought…" You said over your shoulder, just in time to see the gun pointed at your head. "Fuck-"

Three things happened at the same time: Bucky yelled something, two guns went off, and you felt a weight pushing you to the ground.

You were breathing heavily, your brain quickly scanning your body to find the bullet injury. But you were fine, just a couple of bruises and some muscles that were going to hurt more once the adrenaline dropped. The HYDRA agent was on the floor, his blood quickly pooling under him. And Bucky…

"Are you okay, doll?" Bucky’s voice sounded over the ringing sound in your ears. His body was still over you, one hand on your waist and the other reaching to caress your cheek.

You had almost been shot in the head if it wasn’t for him.

He waited for an answer, but the words couldn't went past the knot in your throat. So you just nodded even though you were far from okay. It wasn’t as if you had never been in this type of situation before, in your line of work you never knew when it was going to be your last fight.

But today had been different. You had been reckless; your usual laser focus in the fight was forgotten because you had felt invincible next to him. Him fighting next to you, making quick calls while looking dangerous and heavenly at the same time. You had been distracted, even just for a second and that almost costed your life.

You wanted to cry.

You wanted to punish yourself.

You wanted to kiss him.

The rest of the mission was a blur. Bucky never left your side, you could feel his eyes scanning your body constantly every couple of minutes, almost as if a wound would magically appear while he wasn’t looking. And he only left you alone after you mumbled that you needed a shower.

You cried the moment the water hit your skin. Hoping that the sound of the running water was enough to drown your sobs. It wasn’t. Bucky had listened every single one of them, his own eyes glistened.

He had almost lost you.

If only he hadn’t been distracted by you.

The moment the ambush started, long forgotten was the mission, his only goal had turn in getting both of you out of there safe. Getting you to safety.

He tracked every single out of your movements while he himself was fighting. More focus on the hits you were taking on his surroundings.

That had been his mistake.

Instead of checking that the enemy was really unconscious, he looked at you.

Bucky saw the exact moment the agent got up and aimed at you. Before he knew it, he had pulled out his gun while pushing you out of the way. Your name leaving his lips as if it was a war cry.

You were alive.

But the look in your face and the shakiness in your hands while you thought you were going to die was now engraved in his mind.

When you got out of the shower, eyes red and puffy from crying, he was waiting for you. His hands cupped your face, tilting your head so you would look at him. He hesitated for a second before smacking his lips against yours.

It wasn’t a soft kiss. His arms tightened around your waist and lifted you, placing you against the wall. You could feel his desperation. The fear that if he stopped, you would disappear. Your hands found their way to his shoulders and hair while his pulled you closer to him.

"I don’t want to loose you," he mumbled between kisses.

"You won’t," you replied.

When you were back at the tower, the nightmares only pulled you closer. You would tiptoe to his room since sleeping in his arms seemed enough to chase out the ghosts. He didn’t tell you at first but you helped him too. His own nightmares stopped — at least the ones that included you, resting assured that you were safe in his arms.

And just like that, your relationship started. At first, you feared that it had been thanks to the near-death experience that the coldness in your heart was a trauma response that only went away when he was around with his warmth.

So you kept it a secret. Afraid that one day he would wake up and told you that it was over. You treasured each moment as if it were going to be the last because it could be. Convinced that one day the nightmares would stop and so would the kisses and your nights together. You knew that you had a crush on him before all of this. You knew that your feelings had only grown since that first kiss.

But even though he told you over and over that it was real, it was something difficult to let go and trust. Trust that he felt something deeper for you and that he wouldn’t hurt you. Trust that he was truly yours, since you were already his.

But the nightmares stopped, and you still wanted to be together. You still sneaked out of the Tower to have your dates. His lips and touch still linger all over your body. Trusting became easier. And then you allowed yourself to love and be loved, just like he had learned to do with you.

The fear of losing you had only rushed what both of you had hoped in silence to happen since you met. What once both of you thought would be a crush evolved to something deeper.

And none of your teammates suspected a thing. Which, in retrospect, what the fuck? Your roommates were trained spies, soldiers, and Bob, who wasn't officially trained but was perceptive as fuck. How on earth do you manage to keep it a secret?

Bucky always laughed when you pointed the fact that your teammates where oblivious to the fact that you both had been sneaking to each others rooms every single night for months. How they seemed to not see how he basically undressed you with his eyes whenever you used your gear and strapped guns, since quote "It made you look more deadly and that was so fucking hot"

"I think that it just tells how we make such a great team. Don’t you think, doll?" He would say while wrapping his arms around you and kissing your neck.

Part of you wanted to say something, to be able to kiss each other, hold hands, and just be together around the team. But you couldn’t lie how addictive was the rush of adrenaline that cursed through your veins every-single time you would make out while the rest of the team was in the other room.

The stolen glances and touches that lingered more than necessary when you were around the team only made your hunger for each other grow each time you were alone.

Of course, there had been close calls. Like that time you were coming back from a gala and Bucky had stopped the elevator to fuck you against the wall. That night had been fun. You knew the effect that your dress had on him, just as he knew how seeing him in a suit made you feel.

He even managed to convince the team that dancing with you wasn’t the highlight of the event. Arguing that Val had said that they had to be nice and appear well-adjusted. What better than dancing to jazz music?

Both of you deserved an Oscar award for your performance for the way you had managed to stop yourself of kissing right there on the dance floor. You had mumbled that it had been a bad idea and he agreed since he didn't count that the moment you looked up at him he wouldn't want more than to keep you against his body and dance the whole event. Just you and him.

He had said goodbye before midnight and you followed minutes later, he drove you to the tower and once you were inside the elevator, he was on you. He kissed you, hands moving blindly to help him lower his dress trousers and boxers. Soon your legs were wrapped around his waist, your underwear hanging from your ankle and he was inside you.

The rang of his phone mixed with the echoes of your moaning. "Bucky!" You exclaimed, pulling his hair to try to remove him from your neck, but even you couldn’t tell if you were asking him to stop to answer or to keep going and ignore it.

"You feel so good," he groaned, still attacking your neck, deciding to ignore the interruption.

Thank God you had bought more concealer, and a tube was currently in your purse.

Fuck, you were so close.

Unfortunately, your phone rang, and that made him stop. You looked at him with your eyes wide open. Him not picking the phone was usual, but you? That was another story.

With your legs still wrapped around his waist, he reached for your forgotten purse and pulled out your phone. Mel’s picture flashed on the screen. You looked at Bucky, and after taking a deep breath, you picked up. With him still inside you.

"Hi, Mel!" Your voice sounded breathy and you hopped that she wouldn’t notice.

"Hey! Are you at the tower? Bob called me and told me that the elevator isn’t working," you put your free hand over your mouth to drown your moans since the menace that you had for boyfriend kept grinding his hips against you, "but I’m checking with maintenance and it seems that someone pushed the emergency button. John said that Bucky and you were the only ones that left before Bob so-"

"Oh, yes!" You let out with more enthusiasm than intended. Bucky only grinned against your neck, leaving kisses and a playful bite, "I’m sorry, I guess I took more drinks that I thought, I had to stop the elevator because I felt sick."

"Oh, I see, let me call Bob and tell him that everything is fine and just wait until you feel better"

Bucky tilted his hips and made you see stars. You could feel your orgasm building fast, and since the little shit could feel it, he met your eyes, a question in his eyes — naturally, you nodded, encouraging him to keep moving like that.

"Yes, yes, do that!" Bucky kept thrusting with enthusiasm, his vibranium arm held you against him while the other found its way between your legs. "I’m feeling so, so much better. I-I think I’ll restart it soon," You stammered, biting your lip to stop you from making another sound.

Bucky kept making tight circles over your clit. A silent gasp left your body, your mouth hung wide open.

"Okay, are you sure?" You didn’t hear what else she said because you hung up just as you reached your orgasm, Bucky following close behind you, moaning each other’s names.

"Fuck, that was hot," Bucky mumbled, peppering your face with kisses. "You good, baby?" He asked, caressing your face.

"Mhm," you nodded, pulling him close to kiss him. "You’re so much trouble, Sergeant Barnes," you said against his lips making him groan.

"And so are you, calling me like that with me still inside you, knowing that we need to get out of here soon." You laughed.

"Then let’s go," you wrapped your arms around his shoulders, "Take me to bed, Sergeant."

The next morning, you had faked a hangover, and while the team thought you were in your room alone, they failed to notice that a certain super soldier wasn’t in his.

The closer you got to a year together, you wonder if your teammates would ever find out. It was beginning to be alarming. How none of them had noticed something? Bucky and you had even made a bet about who you thought would be the first to know. You were sure it would be Yelena, since she was always showing up unannounced in your room. Both had developed a sister bond, and that meant that she would come to you for advice or to borrow some of your clothes. That and she was also a spy. Bucky thought it would be Ava, with her powers, it would be pretty easy for her to phase through the wrong wall and catch you on one of your many make-out sessions.

Said bet was looking less promising by each day that passed.

That changed one night, two weeks before your anniversary, Bucky and you were preparing some tea since you couldn’t sleep. You had just come back from a mission in Seoul with Yelena, and the jet lag was killing you.

Bucky was standing next to you. He looked sleepy but since you were struggling to turn you brain off he had made he mission to stay up with you. He had his own untouched tea in front of him ready but instead of drinking it he was looking at you. The scene was cozy, so domestic that warmed your heart.

"You’re staring," you whispered loud enough for him to listen, while you prepared your tea.

"It’s not my fault. You’re so damn pretty, doll." He replied in the same way you did, almost afraid of breaking the bubble that had formed.

"I’m surprised that Yelena didn’t suspect since I kept smiling like an idiot every time I checked my phone." That made him chuckle.

Missions without the other were usually hard; anxiety was common to the one who stayed at the tower. But a couple of weeks ago Bucky —and you, but your teammates couldn’t know that— adopted a stray cat. White as snow with bright blue eyes, Bucky named her Alpine.

"She reminds me of snow. My new therapist said that it can also help me to associate it with something less traumatic."

During your mission, every time you would check your phone to send him a message to confirm you were still alive and well, a new selfie of him or a close-up of Alpine with a brief recap of their latest adventure would be waiting for you.

Doll, I’m telling you, she’s so smart, I can’t wait for you to be here and show you the new tricks she learned. Hi baby, we’ve been missing you so much, we hope that you’re okay. Just so you know, once you get here im afraid you’re going to have to endure us clinging at you for at least the first 24hrs, you’re warned. DONT BE MAD !! I thought I had lost Alpine, I came back from training and she wasn’t in my room nor the common area, guess where our little queen was? I dont know how she did it but I guess it’s thanks to our spy x ex assassin genes but she got into your room. Bob helped me searching for her and I found her snuggled in your pillow. Now guess where we are? Yeah… we miss you baby, please come back safely

"It wasn’t the same, we missed you so much having you here, with us," he approached behind you, wrapping his arms around you and resting his chin over your shoulder.

"I missed you, too, baby."

"Next mission we’re going with you, no excuses," he mumbled after kissing your cheek.

"Alpine too?"

"Of course, she has us as her parents. I’m pretty sure we can train her to attack on command. Our baby is so smart, like you."

He turned you around so he could face you, "I love you so much, doll," he whispered, pressing his forehead against yours.

You tilted your face to see his eyes, hearing him say it always felt as if it was the first time. The warm feeling in your chest, the knowledge that you could relax and let your guard down, knowing that you had each other and you were safe. You made each other so happy and something you learned almost a year ago was that you couldn’t take that for granted. God help whoever dared to get you apart because you weren’t going down without a fight.

"I love you too, my love." He looked at you with a bright smile.

Bucky closed the distance between you and kissed you. A passionate and hungry kiss that mirrored the one you shared months ago in that safe house. He kissed you as if you were the only source of oxygen to his lungs. As if you were sacred and deserved worship. His hands moved from your sides to your hips and lifted you until you were sitting over the counter, him standing between your open legs.

"Baby," he groaned against your lips when your hand tugged his hair, breaking the kiss to allow your lips to move over his jaw and neck, leaving open-mouthed kisses. "Fuck, sweetheart, I need you. Right now."

His hands traveled under your shirt, leaving goosebumps behind. Your hips moved forward, trying to find some friction against his growing bulge. "Bucky, please."

"Tell me what you need, doll."

"You. Just you."

He whimpered against your mouth, his hips grinding against you. Your hands moved over his chest and down until you felt his waistband. You were going to start to move it away when you heard someone screaming.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Yelena's voice made you break apart with a gasp, your hands frozen in his body and his under your (his) oversized T-shirt dangerously close to your breasts, and the other one gripping your ass close to him.

"What’s going on?" Ava appeared from the hall, yawning. Yelena's loud voice had been enough to wake her up since her room was one of the closest ones. "Were you guys really going to fuck in the kitchen? Where we make food?" she exclaimed, taking in the scene before her.

Bucky and you were frozen in place, heavy breathing and flushed, "We—" Bucky tried to say something, but whatever he was going to say was left unsaid when Bob entered the room holding Alpine in his arms.

"Is everything okay?" Bob asked, "Oh, oh, I see, finally the cat is out of the bag, and I'm not talking about this girl," Alpine purred and snuggled in his chest.

"There's another cat?" Ava asked, while Yelena kept looking at you with disbelief.

"They are together," Bob pointed at you with an accusing finger. What he said was enough to break your trance.

"Wait, you know?" You asked Bob, your eyes wide open.

"Mhm, you are not as sneaky as you think, guys, makes me question your undercover skills," Bob said with a proud grin.

"Wait, wait, what?" Yelena looked stunned, eyes jumping from you to Bob, "What are you talking about?"

"I’m too sleepy for this," Ava mumbled.

"Bucky and her had been together for almost a year."

The room erupted with noise, Yelena started shooting questions in Russian and English while Ava kept asking Bob different versions of ‘What do you mean? Bob, seriously, you’re joking’ ‘What do you mean a year? Twelve fucking months?’ Bucky and you exchanged looks and explained yourselves or at least tried to.

"Yeah, we are together. How didn’t you notice? We have to keep working on y’all skills," Bucky said with an innocent smile, but you knew better.

"Stop trying to make them mad!"Bucky gave you a wink that if the situation were different, you would have reciprocated with a kiss, "We were going to tell you!" You exclaimed.

"Technically, eleven months and two weeks," Bob corrected after Ava kept mumbling ‘A year’.

That brought even more chaos.

"Bucky! Do something!" You pushed him away from you, at least you tried to, he looked like he was enjoying the situation. "Baby!"

"YOU JUST CALL HIM BABY?"

"Oh my God"

You looked at him, exasperated, and he just gave you a quick shrug and kissed the top of your nose. Someone groaned.

"I can’t do this right now, jet lag is killing me! We are going to have a team meeting tomorrow and you two are going to explain yourselves!" Yelena scolded like a mother would do — a sleepy and sassy russian one.

Bucky laughed, "I don’t think we need a team meeting for me to tell you that I love her. Maybe the topic can be that we have a new room unoccupied since we basically share one."

"Tomorrow, Bucky, right now my head is all mushy. And I’m pretty sure your girl’s too." She rubbed her temples with her eyes closed. "And I’m talking about the fact that we just came back, not thanks to whatever was going on before I got here."

Bucky snapped his head at you so fast you were afraid he was going to get whiplash, suddenly remembering what you were doing up in first place. "Let’s go, my love, we have a meeting tomorrow and you need to sleep." He helped you to jump out of the counter and grabbed your mugs while you put away everything else, trying to leave the place clean — knowing really well that your teammates would ask you to bleach it or incinerate it when they hear about your nocturnal activities.

"I just realized that we’re gonna have to get used to that." Ava pointed at the counter and then looked at you and to the 6 foot super soldier that was smiling at you softly. "Who are you, and what did you do to our grumpiest member? Don't you care about balance?"

"Love, Ava, it’s love," Bob said with a shy smile, padding barefoot towards you so you could take Alpine. "They say love is like a drug and who better than me to know that." That made you snort.

The girls said their goodbyes and walked out of the kitchen area, leaving just Bob, Bucky, and you.

"We’ll see you tomorrow, buddy. Have some sleep you too," Bucky told him before starting to walk away. You gave Bob a quick kiss on his cheek and followed your boyfriend, only to stop a few seconds later.

"Hey, Bob?" You called, Bucky stopped too. "What else do you know?" Curiosity was obvious in your tone. He had been very specific about the dates.

"Well, I know that you started dating after your mission together last year. One night, I was coming back from the kitchen and saw Bucky tiptoeing to your room. At first I thought nothing of it but then I started noticing how you looked at each other, before it was as if you wanted to know how a kiss between you would be and then it was as if you knew exactly how it was and wanted to keep doing it." He shrugged.

"After that, it was even more obvious, like the elevator incident" He added a beat.

Your eyes widened with a gasp, Bob noticed your panic and chuckled, "Mel told me you said you were drunk, lucky for you I didn’t tell her that during the gala you weren’t drinking and were making me and Yelena company so we wouldn’t get tempted to drink. I saw Bucky leaving first, then you. It wasn’t that hard to put two and two together."

"Damn, Bob." Bucky said, sounding impressed.

"And then there was that mission where the comms were failing and Bucky almost stabbed John for implying that they couldn't go to search for you, that the mission was more important. Even though he tried to play it as if he would act like that for any of the team, I knew that it was because he couldn’t reach you. And then, when Bucky was on that week-long mission and you couldn’t sleep—"

"You told me you were feeling down." You whispered.

You remembered that week. You were a mess, the anxiety of not being in the field next to Bucky to assure yourself that he was indeed okay. You couldn’t eat and barely sleep. The second night Bob knocked on your door and told you he could feel his depressive symptoms starting so you went to the kitchen with him and baked together, once you were done you sat on the couch of the common area and watched with him some silly movies that he enjoyed. You had thought you were helping him, keeping him company and distracting him. But he was helping you.

He knew and came to help.

"Knowing that my friends are feeling bad makes me feel bad," he shrugged again, "I knew that it was going to be a difficult week, and I couldn’t tell you that I knew 'cause I respect your privacy. So I lied — I’m sorry if I made you worry."

"It’s okay, Bob. You’re a good friend." You have him a watery smile.

"You’re too, the best," he patted your shoulder, you could tell that he wanted to hug you, but since you had Alpine in your arms that hug had to wait, "but, don’t tell the rest, they are going to kill me if they know."

"We won’t say anything," Bucky said fondly, knowing that his girl was in good hands when he was away made him feel better. Even Alpine, who seemed to like Bob a lot, let him pet her and hold her.

Which reminded him.

"Wait, Bob, when Alpine was missing—"

Bob nodded and interrupted him, knowing exactly what was going on in Bucky’s mind, "Yeah, I couldn’t tell you to check in her room, again, I respect your privacy and Alpine had been here for so little so there wasn’t a way for me to know that she would be searching for her but I thought ‘If I was Alpine and my mom wasn’t around and I were missing her so much, where would I be?’ So I told you to check the places where she would usually be, and that meant something to her."

That did it, you let Alpine go and hugged Bob, he held you close and kissed your temple, "Go to sleep, you need it," he reminded you, and let you go.

"Thank you, Bob, for everything."

"Don’t worry, we’re family, aren’t we? But if you really want to pay me for keeping your secret and help you with what I could, you can always ask me to be your best man at your wedding."

Bucky snorted, "I’m sure you would have to fight Sam for that title, but we’ll think about it."

You shook your head, "See you tomorrow, sleep well, Bob!"

Bob called your name after a brief moment, "I'm happy for you, guys." He said with a smile and turned away, making his way back towards the kitchen.

Once you got to Bucky’s room, he gave you your mug, and both walked to the couch and sat together. One of his arms wrapped around your shoulders, pulling you closer so you could rest against his side. Your legs tucked under you while Alpine took her place in Bucky’s lap.

"For a second there I thought I had won," you broke the silence, after sipping your tea.

"Mmm?" He asked, placing his cup down.

"Yelena was the first to show up, then Ava… but who would have thought that Bob would be the one to figure it out."

"And so early in our relationship, too."

"Yeah," you kept drinking your tea in silence, enjoying the bubble of comfort that had formed. It was cozy, and you found yourself wondering about the future. One thing was clear, you wouldn’t mind expending the rest of your days with Bucky by your side. "So, weeding, huh?" You asked him after placing your empty mug next to his in the coffee table.

"Only if you want to," he said sheepishly, his free hand brushed his hair and scratched the back of his neck, both of his nervous tells.

"Let’s first survive tomorrow to their interrogation. Can you imagine what they would do if not only they didn’t realize we had been together but also that we’re engaged?" You teased.

"Some yelling, threats, maybe some stabbing and intent of homicide?" He turned a little bit and encouraged you to place your legs over his legs after Alpine moved to her bed.

"I was thinking more like heart attacks and fainting." You snuggled against him after yawning, your head resting over his chest, feeling the effects of the tea and his hands doing circles on your back.

"Go to sleep, baby, I’m here." He kissed your hair and you allowed your self to close your eyes.

"Buck?" You mumbled, snuzzling closer.

"Yes, my love?" His voice sounded drowsy, and you knew that it wouldn’t be long before both of you were asleep.

"Ask me again tomorrow."

You weren’t sure if he heard you until you felt another kiss in your head and how his hold tightened around you.

You had managed to keep a relationship a secret for almost a year. It had take them this long so, how long it will take them to find out you're engaged?

Only time would tell.

Bucky was walking back to his bedroom after working out when he heard your voice coming from your bedroom. He could tell you’re talking to someone on the phone.

“He’s a great guy, Y/N. You need to make a move before it’s too late.” Your best friend says.

“I’m going to make a move. I just want to do it when the time is right. I can’t just walk up to him and say “I have a crush on you.”.” You say.

“You could do that. It doesn’t hurt to be blunt once in a while.” She says.

“You think so?” You asked.

“He’s the kind of guy who you want to be blunt with.” She says.

“He is like that.” You say, giggling a bit.

Bucky couldn’t help but get jealous the more he hears you talking about your crush. It’s also making him think that he doesn’t have a chance with you at all. The plates on his vibranium arm shifted when he balled up his fists. His jaw clenches. He couldn’t listen to another word about your crush. Instead of going into his bedroom and taking a shower, he storms back to the gym to take his anger out by working out again.

“I’m going to tell him now.” You say.

“Let me know how it goes.” Your best friend says.

“Will do.” You say before hanging up.

You got off of your bed and left your bedroom to go talk to Bucky. You assumed that he might be in his bedroom so you knocked on his bedroom door. He wasn’t in there. Then you looked all over the tower for him, but you couldn’t find him. The last place you checked was the gym and you found Bucky in there. You saw a couple busted punching bags on the floor with sand leaking out of them. You didn’t think much of it when you saw them.

“I was wondering where you were.” You say as you walked further into the gym.

“What do you want?” Bucky asks rudely.

You frowned at his tone. Bucky has never talked to you rudely.

“Are you ok?” You asked.

“Peachy.” He says.

“You know you can talk to me if you’re not ok.” You say.

“Shouldn’t you be talking to the guy you have a crush on?” He asks, changing the subject.

“What?” You asked.

“I heard you on the phone with your best friend.” He says.

Bucky eavesdropping on your phone call with your best friend is the furthest thing on your mind. This whole time, you thought you’ve been making your crush on Bucky obvious.

“You are an idiot.” You say.

Bucky stops punching the punching bag and looks at you.

“Excuse me?” Bucky says.

“I said, you are an idiot. A jealous idiot.” You repeated. “You’re my crush.” You confessed.

Bucky blinked. He wasn’t sure what to say.

“I thought I was making it pretty obvious. I’ve liked you for a while. I just wasn’t sure how to tell you. My best friend was helping me work up the courage to tell you.” You say.

Bucky still didn’t know what to say.

“Are you going to say anything, Bucky or am I just pouring my heart to you for nothing?” You asked.

Once again, Bucky didn’t say a word. Instead, he closed the distance between the two of you and kisses you, heatedly making out in the middle of the gym.

“We should do this in private.” You say against his lips.

“Right.” Bucky says.

Bucky grabs your hand, taking you to his bedroom. You two started making out again as you two walked in his bedroom. Bucky closed the door with his foot. You two walked towards his bed, the back of your knees touching the edge of the mattress. You two broke the kiss to stripped yourselves of your clothes.

That’s when you did something that caught Bucky by surprise. You turned the two of you around so now he’s the one standing next to the bed. You used all of your strength to push him on the bed. Bucky props himself up on his elbows as you got on top of him, straddling him and your pussy hovering just above his hard cock. You reached a hand in between the two of you, wrapping your hand around his cock and stroking it a few times before lining it at your wet entrance. Your mouth falls agape as you slowly sink down onto his cock.

“You’re so big…” You moaned softly.

Bucky’s hands found their place on your hips when you started to ride him. He didn’t guide you up and down on his cock. He just left his hands there, wanting to touch you. Your hands are on his chest to steady yourself.

“You’re such a jealous idiot that you couldn’t be quiet for a few seconds to let me to you that you’re my crush, huh?” You teased.

“I’m your jealous idiot.” Bucky grumbles softly.

“You’re my jealous idiot?” You asked in a cooing voice.

Bucky bites his bottom lip and nods.

“Damn right, you are, baby.” You grinned.

You leaned down to kissing him, which quickly turned into a heated make out session. Your hips continued to move against his as you rode him. Bucky’s hands moved down lower to your ass, his hands giving your ass cheeks a squeeze, which made you gasp. He took the opportunity to slide his tongue past your parted lips, exploring every inch of your mouth with his tongue. You thought you would take it up a notch by biting his bottom lip as you pulled away from the kiss. That made him want more.

“Fuck…” Bucky moans. “You really know how to make a man go crazy, doll face.” He says, almost breathlessly.

“That’s what I do best, baby.” You say softly and seductively.

Bucky is mesmerized by the way you’re bouncing on his cock. His eyes are zeroed in on your breasts bouncing as you rode him. That’s when you grasped his jaw with a firm grip and leaned down to give him a filthy kiss. Then you moved your lips down to his neck and marked him. Bucky moans each time your teeth bite down hard enough on his skin to mark him up.

“You have no idea what you’re doing to me, doll face.” Bucky moans.

“Actually, I do.” You grinned against his neck.

You two continued went back to making out as you rode him. Your orgasm was building up at the same time as Bucky’s orgasm. Bucky’s grip on your hips and your nails dug in his skin, leaving red scratch marks on his chest as you two got closer and closer to coming. You pulled away from the kiss to look deeply in his blue eyes. Bucky watches your facial expressions change and your head tilt back, moaning his name as you came.

“There you go. Good girl.” Bucky praises softly.

You didn’t stop bouncing on his cock till he came inside of you, a deep moan leaving his lips as he did so. Your bouncing came to a stop and you got off of him, his cock slipping out of your pussy and his cum dripping down your thighs. You two laid next to each other with grins of satisfaction on yours and his faces as you two caught your breath.

“Do you want to go on a date with me on Saturday?” Bucky asks softly, turning his head to look at you.

“I would love nothing more than to go on a date with you, Bucky.” You smiled and kissed him softly, making him smile against your lips.

You’ve perfected the art of slipping through rooms without being noticed, of answering only when necessary, of observing everything and offering nothing unless it matters. It isn’t loneliness. It isn’t sadness. It’s choice. Silence lets you hear things other people miss—the hesitation in someone’s voice, the lie wrapped in a joke, the patterns buried in data no one else has patience for.

It’s why they keep you in the Tower.

Intel. Patterns. Eyes where others have none.

And it’s why no one—not even Bucky—has ever heard you sing.

---

You wait until the quinjet is long gone.

You’d watched it take off from the window in the operations room, arms folded, expression neutral as always while the rest of the team filed out with their usual chaos. John tossed you a two-finger salute. Yelena told you not to miss her too much. Bucky lingered a second longer than the others, like he always does, like he’s about to say something—

He never does.

Just a nod. A quiet understanding.

Then he’s gone too.

Or so you think.

---

The water is hot, almost too hot, steam curling thick against the glass and fogging the mirror until the world disappears into something softer. Quieter.

Yours.

You rest your forehead against the tile for a second, letting the tension drain out of your shoulders. This is your other kind of silence—the one you keep just for yourself.

And then, slowly, it breaks.

It starts under your breath. Barely there. A hum, soft and careful like you’re testing whether it’s safe.

It always is.

Your voice isn’t something anyone expects from you. It isn’t sharp or clipped or efficient like the few words you offer during briefings. It’s warm. Full. It moves. It fills the space in a way your presence never does outside these walls.

You close your eyes and let it build.

The song spills out of you, something old and soft, something you don’t even remember learning. It echoes gently off the tile, wraps around you with the steam, turns the bathroom into something private and fragile and entirely yours.

You don’t hold back.

Not here.

Not when you’re alone.

---

Bucky wasn’t supposed to be there.

He’d doubled back—forgotten gear, or maybe it was instinct, or maybe it was that quiet pull he doesn’t quite understand yet. The jet hadn’t taken off by the time he realized, and John had rolled his eyes and told him to be quick.

So he’d come back.

Expecting silence.

Expecting you.

He always expects you.

Just…not like this.

He hears it before he even reaches your door.

At first, he thinks it’s music playing somewhere down the hall. Soft. Faint. Pretty enough to make him slow his steps without realizing.

Then it hits him.

It’s not a speaker.

It’s you.

He stops dead outside your room, hand hovering midair like he forgot what he was doing entirely. The door is slightly ajar, and the sound—your voice—spills through the gap, unguarded and impossibly you in a way he’s never seen.

He doesn’t move.

Doesn’t breathe.

Just listens.

Because he’s heard you talk—short answers, quiet observations, the occasional dry comment that catches him off guard—but this? This is something else entirely. Something softer. Something that makes his chest feel too tight.

You sound…free.

And he realizes, with a jolt, that no one else has ever heard this.

That this is yours.

And he’s standing here, stealing it.

He should leave.

He doesn’t.

---

You don’t hear the door.

You don’t hear anything but the song, the water, your own voice filling up the space you’ve carved out just for yourself.

By the time you step out, wrapping a towel tight around your body, your hair dripping down your shoulders, you’re still humming the last note under your breath.

You push the bathroom door open and freeze.

Bucky is standing in your bedroom doorway.

Just…standing there.

Looking at you like the world tilted.

For a second, neither of you move.

The silence that follows is deafening.

Your brain catches up all at once, horror flooding your chest so fast it almost knocks the air out of you.

“Oh my god—”

You clamp your mouth shut immediately, like you can shove the moment back in.

Too late.

Bucky blinks, like he’s snapping out of something. His mouth opens, closes, and then—

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Your stomach drops.

You grip the towel tighter. “You weren’t supposed to be here.”

“I know,” he says quickly, hands lifting like he’s surrendering. “I—I came back for something. I didn’t know you were—” He gestures vaguely toward the bathroom. Toward everything.

Your face burns.

“I wasn’t—” you start, and then stop because there’s no version of that sentence that doesn’t make this worse.

He takes a step forward, cautious, like you might bolt. “You sing.”

You look like you want the ground to swallow you whole.

“No, I don’t.”

“You do,” he says, softer now. Not teasing. Not pushing. Just…certain. “And you’re—” He huffs a quiet breath, shaking his head like he doesn’t have the words. “You’re really good.”

You close your eyes.

“Please don’t tell anyone.”

It comes out quieter than anything you’ve ever said to him.

That gets him.

Really gets him.

Because you don’t ask for things.

Ever.

He softens instantly, something warm settling into his expression. “Hey. Hey, I wouldn’t do that.”

You open your eyes just enough to look at him, searching for any hint of a joke.

There isn’t one.

“I mean it,” you insist, stepping forward now despite yourself. “If Walker finds out, he’ll—”

“He won’t,” Bucky cuts in gently. “No one will. It’s not… it’s not mine to tell.”

You exhale, shoulders dropping just a fraction.

“Okay.”

A beat passes.

He doesn’t leave.

You don’t move.

And then, quieter—almost like he’s asking permission—he says, “Can I hear you again sometime?”

Your eyes widen.

“No.”

He huffs a soft laugh, the sound low and fond. “Worth a shot.”

You roll your eyes, but there’s no bite to it. Just embarrassment, still lingering, still warm under your skin.

He shifts back toward the door, like he’s finally remembering why he shouldn’t be here. “I’ll, uh… go. Let you—” another vague gesture, less awkward this time. “Do your thing.”

You nod, grateful and mortified all at once.

He pauses in the doorway.

Glances back.

And then, softer than you’ve ever heard him—

“Hey… it was really beautiful.”

The door clicks shut behind him before you can respond.

You stand there for a long moment, heart still racing, the silence settling back into place around you.

It feels different now.

Not broken.

Just…shared.

And somewhere down the hall, Bucky leans against the wall, dragging a hand over his face with a quiet, disbelieving smile—

The team is all lounging around the common room, enjoying a rare night off with no missions or the PR stunts Valentina is constantly cornering you all with.

Eva is reading in an arm chair, John on a beanbag chair watching the game with Alexei in the couch with Yelena leaning against him as she plays Animal Crossing on her Switch along with Bob who’s sitting on the floor in front on her.

Bucky is on the other couch, chatting with you as you lay with your head on his lap and he plays with your hair.

“You have to cut yourself some slack, Buck.” You scold him gently when the topic of his amends comes up. “You’ve come a long way.”

“I know, I just…” Bucky sighs and borderline pouts at you. “I feel like a fraud. Like I didn’t actually make any progress because it was all built on a lie.”

“It’s not a lie.” You shake your head. “It’s an oversight, at most. And I knew Tony, he changed a lot too, especially after Morgan was born... He probably would’ve forgiven you eventually.”

“We don’t know that.” He says defeated. “And we never will.”

“You could reach out to Pepper—“ Before the words are even out of your mouth, he’s already shaking his head.

“No.” He says firmly. “It would just be selfish of me to put them through that just to ease my own guilt.”

“It’s better than carrying it until it crushes you.” You argue.

“Not for them, doll.” Bucky says quietly and you can see in his face that he’s not gonna budge.

You know he’s right, of course. It would be selfish of him to try and ease his guilt by going to Pepper and Morgan, logically at least. You just hate that it weighs so much on him and the only person that can help him is gone now.

“It’s really a shame, though.” You say quietly after a moment of silence. “Living here, you know?”

Bucky frowns a little and looks down at you. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… This was supposed to be part Tony’s legacy, even after he sold it.” You point out. “Everyone knows this was a Stark building, then the Avengers first headquarters… Then Valentina bought it and kind of tarnished that with the whole Void thing.”

“Again, I’m sorry for that.” Bob pipes up with a sheepish expression, almost a reflex even after you’ve all told him it wasn’t his fault.

“Anyway,” You continue as the others chuckle a little at Bob. “It’s not Stark’s legacy anymore. Even renaming it The Watchtower, it kind of took something from its history, you know?”

You look up at Bucky again but he’s not looking at you anymore. He’s staring straight ahead like something just dawned on him.

He looks down at you with a wide grin and pulls you up. “You’re a genius, doll!” He gives you a kiss on the lips, which he’s definitely never done before, and stands up without saying anything else.

He just marches out of the common room like a man on a mission, all of you dumbfounded as you watch after him, none more flustered than you. Your face is red, your eyes wide and your fingers brush your lips like that’ll make the memory of Bucky’s against them less real.

“… Okay, what?” Yelena breaks the silence, confused as everyone, but she seems amused by your reaction more than anything.

“Not a fucking word.” You say quickly with a glare as they all start to snicker and Alexei and Yelena whisper excitedly in Russian.

Bucky walks right up to Valentina’s office, ignoring Mel’s warning about her being in a mood as he pushes past her and walks right in.

“We need to talk, Valentina.” He says simply, his voice firm and leaving no room for argument.

Valentina, already knowing he’s too stubborn to brush off, groans under her breath and sighs before she puts on that fake politician smile of hers and folds her arms on her desk. “Regarding?”

“The Watchtower.” Bucky walks up to her desk. “You had no right to rename it.”

“I have several legal documents that say otherwise,” She says unfazed. “But you go ahead and make your case.”

Bucky sighs and sits down on the chair in front of her desk. “Look, I know you bought this place and whatever, but this is Stark’s legacy. Even if he sold it, nobody should forget it was part of Tony’s story.”

“This is New York City, toots.” Valentina leans back on her chair. “Property changes management faster than the White House. Nobody cares who had it, what matters is who has it.”

“That’s very cynical of you.” Bucky crosses his arms, ignoring her nickname. “I think people would appreciate knowing we’re not here to replace anyone, like the original Avengers. We’re here to honor them and carry on their legacy.”

Valentina tilts her head with that calculating look Bucky has come to dread. After a full minute, though, Valentina just nods.

“That’s… Not a terrible idea.” She says thoughtfully.

“What?” Bucky frowns, not expecting it to be this easy. “Really?”

“Yeah. We’re all aware of the new Avengers’ image problem.” She shrugs. “This will definitely help. While Sam Wilson is taking the shield and name of Captain America, you guys are going to have a rebranding ceremony where you make a point of honoring Tony Stark.”

“You’re just doing this for publicity?” Bucky’s face falls a little.

“Does it matter?” Valentina chuckles and stands up. “Cheer up, toots. You’re getting what you wanted.” She pats his shoulder.

Not even a full week later, the ceremony in front of the tower is ready with stage, podium, microphones and about a few dozen journalists. Valentina works fast where there’s a good photo op.

You’re behind the curtains with the rest of the team, all of you in your tactic suits. As you help Bucky adjust his, you can see this isn’t exactly what he expected. Bucky’s more the type of guy that does things quietly, not one for flashy declarations of his actions and praises.

“Hey…” You say softly to get his attention. “This isn’t so bad, Buck.”

“It’s not right.” He says quietly while looking down at you, his eyebrows furrowed just slightly.

“Valentina may be doing it for the wrong reasons,” You reach up and smooth over his furrowed eyebrows. “But you’re not. That’s what matters… And at least it’s happening, right?”

Bucky looks at you for a moment before he sighs. “Right.” He nods at you once just before Valentina calls the team on the stage and you all, a little reluctantly, go up in front of the cameras with practiced smiles.

“And, here to say a few words, the man that had the brilliant idea, Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes.” Valentina gestures to Bucky before stepping back clapping.

The cameras snap away as he walks up to the podium, the team flanking him at either side. You all have your own issues and basically the entire team suffers from some type of anxiety, so you tend to keep close ranks when making Valentina’s ridiculous public appearances.

Bucky grabs your hand behind the podium and clear his throat before speaking into the mic.

“We’re not here today to boost our own image,” He starts firmly, ignoring Valentina’s quiet sound of displeasure. “We’re here to honor the brave men and women that came before us. The people that paved the way for us to be here today, and defended the entire Universe until the very end…”

He looks around the team, knowing that it’s not just Tony that left a legacy, it’s the entire Avengers team.

“Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark. They’re the Avengers we lost… They were heroes, but they were so much more than that. They were sons and daughter, brothers and sisters… They were friends and, for a moment, one of them was a father.”

Bucky looks out at the crowd and he falters for a moment when he sees Pepper, along with Happy and Morgan sitting on his shoulders. You gently squeeze his hand, grounding him and he squeezes back as a silent thank you before he goes on.

“Today we remember them, we pay our respects and we honor their legacy. Just because they’re gone, it doesn’t mean we should stop talking about them, forget their history or replace them. They are never forgotten, not by friends, not by family, not by the trillions of lives they died saving. So, this is our team’s way of keeping Tony Stark’s legacy alive and his story remembered.”

He gestures up and the people in stand-by up in the higher floors of the building uncover the old new insignia.

Valentina had the Avengers’ circled A put back, only now, to Bucky’s insistence, it’s part of the original Stark insignia.

Everyone ‘ooh’d and ‘aww’d, Valentina made the team take some more pictures before he allowed you all to step off the stage.

You immediately hear Morgan’s little voice calling your name and turn just in time to see her running up towards you and jumping in your arms.

“Hi, Monkey!” You chuckle and shower her with kisses while she giggles.

“Mommy said to come say hi to you.” Morgan says innocently, pointing back at Pepper that’s talking to Bucky with a soft smile.

You melt when you see her hugging him while Bucky awkwardly hugs her back, only to snort when Happy drags Bucky into a much more emotional hug, visibly teary-eyed at the memory of his best friend, even more than Pepper was as his widow.

Once Happy regains his composure, you carry Morgan to them and she makes grabby hands at Bucky. He looks a little concerned but, when he gets a nod of reassurance from Pepper, he picks her up.

“Mommy said you made them put daddy’s name on a building even though you didn’t get along.” She whispers to him and Bucky nods. “Why?”

“Well… Because your dad was a hero and he deserves to have everything he did celebrated.” Bucky says carefully. “He made this building himself. That’s worth remembering… Does that make sense?”

Morgan just nods, fiddling with his beard in a way that’s weirdly calming to Bucky. “Thank you for being nice to my daddy.” She says softly. “Even when he was mean to you.” She kisses his cheek before reaching for her mom, that puts her down and Morgan takes off running with Happy trailing behind her.

Pepper just smiles at Bucky and hugs you since you haven’t seen each other since Tony’s funeral. “You guys should come by. All of you.” She looks around at all the team.

“You’re always welcome.” She adds before squeezing Bucky’s arm one last time and then going after Morgan and Happy.

“See?” You say quietly to Bucky, a smile on your face as you see his shoulders drop with relief. “They forgive you. Just as Tony would’ve.”

Bucky turns to you with a small smile and grabs your hand again, interlocking your fingers together. “You were right, doll.”

“And you did the right thing.” You look up at the giant letters spelling Stark on the tallest building in New York. “Tony would love it… That drama queen.”

You, Bucky, and the Thunderbolts were sitting around the living room area of the tower. The TV was on with the ball drop, but it was more of background noise. It has been for most of the night. The Thunderbolts are either talking amongst themselves or Yelena and Alexei are making interesting alcohol drinks. You were on the balcony, leaning against the railing. Bucky saw you shiver as a night breeze blew against you. He grabbed his jacket and went out onto the balcony. You turned around, smiling when you saw him.

“You look cold so I brought you my jacket.” Bucky says sweetly.

“You’re such a gentleman.” You complimented and smiled.

Bucky, being the gentleman he is, push his jacket on you and zipped it up, making sure you’re nice and warm. That’s when you two got lost in each other’s eyes. You opened your mouth to say something, but no words came out. You forgot what you were going to say. Your breathing makes a hitching sound when Bucky’s right hand gently caresses your cheek. You leaned into his touch and his warmth.

“You look beautiful tonight.” Bucky softly says after a moment.

Cue the blushing.

“I- uhh- I’m dressed in comfy clothes. I wouldn’t call that beautiful.” You say.

“You look beautiful in everything.” He says softly.

The blushing continues. You two didn’t even hear the Thunderbolts counting down to the new year. You and Bucky were to focused on each other. That’s when Bucky kisses you softly and passionately. It wasn’t even the new year for another few seconds, but you weren’t complaining and neither is Bucky. Then you two heard them cheering in the new year.

“Happy New Year!” They all cheered.

You and Bucky tuned them out and kept kissing. Fireworks went off in the sky to ring in the new year. It set the perfect setting for you and Bucky.

“Where’s Y/N and Bucky?” Bob curiously asks, looking around the living room area of the tower.

The Thunderbolts looked around the living room area themselves, curious to know where you two snuck off too.

“They’re making out on the balcony.” John says, pointing at you and Bucky on the balcony.

Everyone looks outside to see that you two are in fact kissing. You and Bucky don’t know how long you guys have been kissing and you two haven’t pulled away to take a breath. If you two are being honest, you two don’t want this moment to end, but then it didn’t when the Thunderbolts started cheering you two on.

“THAT’S WHAT I TALK ABOUT!” Alexei shouts.

You two laughed and smiled against each other’s lips before pulling away to look over at the window to see them looking and waving at you guys.

“Happy New Year!” They all said.

“I guess it’s the new year.” You say to Bucky.

“I guess it is.” Bucky says.

“Thank you for being my New Year’s Eve and New Year’s kiss.” You say softly.

“Thank you for being my kiss.” He says softly.

Bucky kisses you softly once more, not caring that yours and his teammates can still see you guys. Getting kissed by Bucky is the best way to start the new year.