BARNES // SOLDIER

my pet passed away very suddenly yesterday and i’m just...not okay.

i might post things sporadically or queue things if i need a distraction but i won’t be around for a while.

i’m very very sorry.

if i come back here for shorter replies or my starters before i have some icons are done, kick my ass off here with enough force that i get launched into space pls

“yes...and?” he took a drink from one of the glasses he’d...borrowed from tony’s cabinet. don’t worry about the liquid inside it, it’s definitely not top shelf, why would you ask? “if you want help, gotta ask nicely.”

he didn’t look up from his phone, nonchalantly tapping every few moments. his metal hand continued to rub behind alpine’s ears. “’s a cat.” the feline mrrped gently at the mention. he’d spent half an hour trying to get himself comfortable around alpine, since apparently every cat needed to be treated as if they were bastet herself. the white fur would be stuck on bucky's clothing for weeks. “we’ve seen them before, steve.” bucky couldn’t help the laughter that tried to wind itself through his voice.

sam was incredibly endearing when rambling.

his movements and voice became wrapped with an energy that only he could bring to the conversation. it brought passing glances towards him when strangers caught movement in the corner of their eye. it almost made bucky feel pride over the fact he was lucky enough to experience this behavior on a normal basis. 

it gave him the ability to focus on something that wasn’t silence, to constantly remember exactly why he had fallen in love with sam in the first place. his energy was both contagious and comforting. it allowed bucky to feel like a bit like a security blanket was constantly available. especially when sam grounds the soldier with physical contact.

their fingers intertwined instantly, warmth welcome in bucky’s palm. he looked down at their hands purely out of instinct. rough skin offered such a soft touch that buck hadn’t even thought he’d feel again. his thumb brushed over sam’s knuckles as he stared. it was hard to tear his eyes away. something so small, so casual, was so so important to the soldier.

he felt the entire world around them essentially melt away as his attention focused entirely on sam. nothing else mattered. this man was his grounding force. through everything that had happened since their paths crossed, from a brainwashed soldier attempting to kill him to the two of them being the last two fighting behind the iconic shield, sam was still there. still willing to be by his side no matter what else they happened to face.

bucky squeezed sam’s hand during a brief moment sam stopped to breathe. an easy way to remind sam that he was listening, was holding onto every word. but also an easy way to remind himself that this was real. this was what he got to wake up to and live with every day. he was human. he was here. and that’s all bucky really needed.

due to this, bucky’s main pda habits are fairly subtle. he’ll place gentle kisses on your temples, cheeks, or forehead depending on where you’re at. he’ll only do a deep kiss in public if it’s a serious moment or he’s emotionally compromised for whatever reason.

usually, however, he busies his hands with yours. fingers lacing with yours. thumb tracing over your knuckles. shapes drawn on the back of your hand or your palm with digits that shouldn’t be as cold as they are during a summer afternoon. he finds a comfort from it, yes, but it’s his foolproof way to show affection on a level others wouldn’t notice or think about.

"you don’t ruin everything.” bucky held an indifferent look on his face as he pulled fries out of the bag sam brought home. “you’re like a red wine. you have a lovely, full taste with depth that only ruins some things when spilled on clothes and furniture.”