Avalance
The day after their beach getaway, the compound felt like it was slowly settling back into its usual rhythm. The Avengers had returned to their usual routines—missions, training, and team meetings—but there was something different in the air. The kind of quiet that followed a moment of peace, lingering like a breath held a little too long.
Arthur was in the common area, sipping his morning coffee and flipping through a photography magazine. The tranquility felt nice, like the calm after a storm. He’d spent a few hours earlier helping Peter with some tech stuff, and now, he was looking forward to the day ahead.
It was when Bucky walked into the room that he noticed the difference.
Bucky’s usual presence—calm, composed, and ever-present—was missing. Instead, he walked in with his head down, his posture slightly slumped as though the weight of the world had suddenly become too much for him. His movements were sluggish, as though he was dragging himself through the motions.
Arthur immediately recognized the signs. It wasn’t the kind of thing that could be masked for long. Bucky was having a bad brain day.
“Hey, Buck,” Arthur called softly, setting his mug down. He knew that voice. The one that was quieter than usual. The one that meant Bucky wasn’t feeling like himself.
Bucky glanced up, offering a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He didn’t say anything at first, just walked over and sat down on the couch across from Arthur, rubbing a hand over his face.
“Everything okay?” Arthur asked, trying not to press too hard, but knowing that if he didn’t ask, Bucky might just bury whatever was going on.
Bucky hesitated before replying, his voice low and steady, but there was an unmistakable heaviness to it. “Not really. Just... a lot of noise in my head. Can't seem to get rid of it.”
Arthur nodded, his leg starting its familiar bounce without him even realizing it. He recognized the feeling. It was the kind of day where the weight of everything—the past, the present, and the endless thoughts—felt like too much to carry. He understood that kind of exhaustion all too well.
"Anything I can do?" Arthur asked, the words slipping out before he could think. It was a reflex, the same impulse that had made him reach out to Bucky when his own anxiety hit hardest.
Bucky ran a hand through his hair, looking over at Arthur with a mixture of gratitude and frustration. “I don’t know, man. Just... trying to get through it.”
Arthur thought for a moment, his mind bouncing from thought to thought, but then he decided on something. “Do you want to go for a walk? Just... out of the compound, get some fresh air? Sometimes it helps me. No pressure, just... movement, you know?”
Bucky looked at him, eyes weary, but then, surprisingly, he nodded. "Yeah. Maybe that’ll help."
They stepped outside together, walking side by side without saying much. The compound grounds were quieter today, with most of the team in various parts of the building, working through their own projects. It was just the two of them, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and their footsteps crunching on the gravel.
Bucky’s mind clearly wasn’t in the walk. His gaze was unfocused, like he was seeing things without really looking at them. Every now and then, he’d sigh softly, his fingers twitching, as though he was trying to ground himself but couldn’t quite manage it.
Arthur felt the urge to do something, anything, to help. He didn’t want to push Bucky, but he didn’t want to leave him to deal with this alone either. He had seen the struggles Bucky went through, and he could sense when the weight of his own thoughts was starting to overwhelm him.
“You know,” Arthur said, his voice soft but steady, “I get it, sometimes. When everything feels like it’s... too much, and you can’t get the noise to stop.” He glanced at Bucky. “It’s okay to have days like that. I mean, we’re all allowed them, right? Even superheroes.”
Bucky chuckled faintly, but it didn’t have its usual bite. "Yeah. I know. But it doesn’t make it easier. Feels like the past is... pressing down harder on me. Every time I try to push it away, it comes back."
Arthur nodded in understanding. He knew exactly how that felt—like you were constantly being reminded of your worst moments, like you could never escape the weight of everything you had done, everything that had been done to you.
“But you’re not alone, Buck,” Arthur added, his voice steady. “You never have to go through it alone. Not here. Not with us.”
Bucky turned to look at him, his eyes softening. “I know. Just... sometimes it feels like it’d be easier to deal with this on my own. Like I’m letting everyone down if I... can’t just get it together.”
Arthur’s leg was still bouncing, but now it was a gentle rhythm, almost in sync with Bucky’s steps. He looked at Bucky, his chest tightening with something like empathy. “I get it, man. But... none of us expect you to be perfect. We all have our moments. And we’re here, you know? For the rough days. You’re not letting anyone down.”
Bucky didn’t say anything for a long moment, but Arthur could see the tension in his shoulders start to ease just a little. It was a small thing, but it was enough. Bucky didn’t have to fix everything in one go. Just being there, just taking it step by step—that was enough.
They walked in silence for a while longer, the cool air helping clear their heads. By the time they returned to the compound, Bucky was still quiet, but there was a small shift in his demeanor. He wasn’t as tense. His gaze wasn’t as far away.
As they stepped inside, Arthur turned to him, offering a soft smile. “Feel any better?”
Bucky gave a small shrug but smiled back. “Yeah. A little. Thanks, Arti.”
Arthur nodded, his leg finally stopping its bouncing for the moment. “Anytime, Buck.”
Bucky’s smile lingered as he clapped Arthur on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re around, man.”
Arthur watched him go back inside, feeling a sense of quiet pride. He didn’t need to fix everything for Bucky, and he didn’t need to have all the answers. Sometimes, all you needed was someone to be there, to listen, to walk with you through the hard days.
And Arthur was more than okay with that.
To be continued…