pairing : Bucky Barnes x Reader
Warnings : Just general fluff
Summary : When you call Bucky āJamesāāa name no one else dares to useāhe reveals to a stunned Steve and Sam.
Authors Note : Hey yāall iām back!!! Enjoy this fic š
You stood quietly in the doorway, arms crossed as you watched him. His hair was damp with sweat, clinging to his temples, and his jaw was set in that stubborn way it always was when he refused to admit he was hurting. You let out a soft sigh. You hated seeing him like thisāso hard on himself, so weighed down by things he didnāt deserve to carry.
He didnāt notice you at first, too lost in his own storm. But you stepped forward, not hesitating for a second.
Your voice cut through the room like a blade, soft yet sharp enough to reach him. The sound made him freeze mid-punch, his metal fist stopping inches from the bag. His head turned slowly, his stormy blue eyes locking onto yours. And in an instant, the tension in his shoulders melted. His gaze softened in a way that made your heart ache, because you knewāyou knewāno one else ever got to see him like this.
āHey,ā he murmured, his voice rough from exertion but laced with something warmer. Something vulnerable.
Steve, halfway through a set of sit-ups in the corner, dropped to the floor in disbelief. āWaitāwhat?ā
Sam, leaning lazily against the wall with a water bottle in hand, nearly spit out his drink. āHold the hell up,ā he said, straightening. āDid she just call you James?ā
Steve sat up fully now, wiping his forehead with his shirt and glaring at Bucky like heād just witnessed a miracle. āShe did. Andāā his voice faltered as he pointed a finger at Bucky, āāyouāre okay with it?ā
Bucky glanced at Steve, then at Sam, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. But when he looked back at you, something in his expression shifted. He shrugged, completely unbothered. āYeah. So?ā
Samās jaw practically hit the floor. āSo? You nearly ripped my arm off when I tried calling you that one time!ā
Steve nodded furiously. āHeās not exaggerating. You said, and I quote, āDonāt ever call me that again unless you want to find out how fast I can break your jaw.āā
āExactly!ā Sam threw his hands up. āAnd now she just waltzes in here, says James like itās nothing, and youāreāwhat? Cool with it?ā
Buckyās gaze hardened, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. āSheās not you.ā
āOh, no, we get that,ā Sam said sarcastically. āBut why the hell is she the exception?ā
Bucky didnāt answer right away. His hand flexed at his sideāflesh and metal bothābut his focus stayed on you, his eyes tracing the curve of your face as if grounding himself. Finally, he said, quietly but with conviction, āBecause sheās mine.ā
The silence that followed was deafening. Steve and Sam exchanged a lookāa mixture of shock, disbelief, and maybe even a little amusementābut neither of them dared to speak.
You, however, raised an eyebrow, lips twitching as you fought back a smile. āYours, huh?ā
Buckyās ears turned a faint shade of pink, but he didnāt back down. His gaze was steady, unwavering. āYeah. Mine.ā
āGod,ā Sam muttered, dragging a hand down his face. āThis is so disgustingly soft, I think Iām gonna puke.ā
āAgreed,ā Steve said, though there was a small, knowing smile on his face as he stood up. āYou two can have yourā¦ moment. Weāll leave.ā
As the door closed behind them, you turned back to Bucky, who was already watching you like you were the only thing that mattered. His expression had softened completely now, the rough edges smoothed out into something raw, something real.
āJames,ā you said again, stepping closer, and you saw the way his shoulders relaxed, the way his lips parted slightly like he needed to hear it just one more time.
āYeah?ā he murmured, his voice quieter now.
āYouāve been at this for hours,ā you said softly, reaching up to brush a strand of damp hair away from his face. āCome take a break.ā
He hesitated, his eyes scanning your face like he was searching for something. āI justā¦ I didnāt want to bother you. I needed to work it out.ā
āJames,ā you said, firmer this time, and his breath hitched like the sound of his name from your lips alone was enough to shake him. āYou donāt have to do this alone. Not anymore.ā
His chest rose and fell with a deep breath, and his handāmetal and warm and steadyāreached up to wrap around yours. He held it there, against his cheek, like he was afraid you might pull away. āItās not just the name,ā he said quietly, his voice barely audible. āWhen you say itā¦ itās different. It feelsā¦ good.ā
Your heart swelled, and you gave him a small, reassuring smile. āThatās because I love you, James. All of you. Even the parts you donāt think are worth loving.ā
His eyes closed briefly, and when he opened them again, they were glassy, like he was fighting to keep the emotions at bay. āI donāt deserve you.ā
āStop it,ā you said gently, stepping closer until your foreheads touched. āYou deserve everything. And Iām not going anywhere.ā
For a moment, he didnāt say anything. He just held you there, close, his arms wrapping around your waist like you were the only thing anchoring him to the world. And maybe, in some ways, you were.
āSay it again,ā he whispered, his voice cracking slightly.
āJames,ā you murmured, brushing your nose against his. āYouāre safe with me. Always.ā
A soft, broken laugh escaped him, and he pulled you closer, burying his face in the crook of your neck. āYouāre all Iāve got,ā he whispered, his voice muffled but full of emotion. āAnd youāre all I need.ā
You held him there, running your fingers through his hair, and for the first time in a long time, he let himself just be. Vulnerable. Loved. Yours.
