you need a hug?
steve walked into the avenger's meeting room, a man trailing behind him. this man was in fact james buchanan barnes, american soldier turned russian assassin and also steve's very best friend.
"hey guys, this is Bucky. Bucky, these are the avengers. i think you know most of them already...besides Stark's daughter, back there. hey (y/n), are you even paying attention?"
he sighed, used to them disassociating through meetings all the time. "nat, bring them back down please."
nat turned to the kid, who was staring absentmindedly at a spot on the table, though their eyes were unfocused and their vision looked hazy. "hey kiddo. Steve is here with a new friend," she said, placing a hand on their shoulder cautiously. "you okay? coming back to us?"
the hazy look gradually disappeared from their eyes, a more focused, genial look about them. they flickered over to Steve, raised a hand in greeting, and then went pale when they noticed bucky. their hands both splayed out on the table, tense and ready to rumble at any given moment.
"so im guessing, tony, that you told them about buck? cause i don't remember them being so hostile towards any of our other members. or any of our friends besides maybe Loki. but Loki is a..." Steve's voice trailed off as he tried to think of a word.
"asshole?" Clint offered helpfully, causing an eyeroll from Steve. "c'mon, cap. gotta give it up sometime."
"anyways-" Steve began before he was cut off by tony.
"yeah, i did tell them about Barnes. they deserved to know. but it's all resolved now, so it's whatever. hon, you can stand down. he won't hurt us." tony placed a hand on (y/n)'s, a noticeable change running through the teen's body. she assumed a more relaxed position, at ease within her team.
Bucky nudged Steve quietly. "yeah?"
"is she mute?" he whispered, knowing no one else could hear them.
"no, they just are nonverbal occasionally. selective mutism, i think. she only speaks when comfortable."
bucky nodded. "okay."
Steve turned back to the rest of the team. "we're cool?" he asked, giving everyone a thumbs up.
the response was a clamouring of "yes" and "sure!" and one very distinct "yeah, yeah, whatever, capsicle."
***timeskiiip***
it had been about a month since Bucky had been officially introduced to the avengers. they all seemed to be cool with his presence, a feeling that bucky had not felt much prior to his living there. he had also gotten (y/n) to warm up to him, and she occasionally talked to him or smiled at him in the hall. but the thing was, the kid loved hugs. loved physical affection. he'd see them sitting with Thor as they watched a movie, curled up into him with his arm slung around her. or, he'd see her standing next to nat, her head resting on the assassin's shoulder, a small content smile gracing her face. he had seen her cuddling with Sam and Steve at the same time during a baseball game, unbothered by Steve's loud complaining while Sam happily braided her hair.
bucky really didn't mind all that, not at all. but when she tried to touch him, he always tensed up. it was a reaction he had had for years, because touch meant pain. touch meant he had done something wrong and was being punished.
(y/n) realised that without him noticing. she adapted herself to fit his needs more, instead of prolonged, tight hugs, they would dance their fingertips across his skin gently. and they always approached from where he could see them coming. they were so good about it. but the affection was more than bucky could handle at the moment.
one day, he was in a particularly bad mood. grumping around the compound, he hadn't gotten up til 3 pm or bothered to shower or anything. he angrily grabbed a piece of bread and shoved it into the toaster, clomping over to the fridge to get some butter and strawberry jam in hopes he would feel better.
as he was buttering and jamming his toast, (y/n) came waltzing in, humming a song he didn't recognise. she came up next to him. "heya Buck!! whatcha up to?"
he internally groaned. was it that difficult to see? "making toast." he replied shortly.
"ooo, yum. maybe I'll make some too." she scooted over to the other end of the counter and began making herself some toast while she talked to bucky. he had all but tuned them out when they came and sat down next to him, nudging his shoulder and giggling. "what's got you so down, buck?" they asked.
"nothing." was his reply, harsh and unmotivated.
"there is something, but if you dont wanna tell me, i won't make you. but i will offer you a hug. you need a hug, man?" they explained and then questioned, causing bucky to turn to face them out of annoyance. once he came eye to eye with them, he was done for. there was a sincerity there he had never known since Steve before he got the serum, the kind of way he used to be so happy around bucky. he held out his arms defeatedly, letting (y/n) envelop themself in his arms. he relaxed for the first time he had in forever, a small smile creasing his face. he pulled the teen tighter against him, savouring the warm embrace. when he finally let go, they placed a hand on his bicep. "hey, don't be afraid to ask for a hug or cuddles, okay? that's what I'm here for!"
bucky glanced into those bright, smiling eyes.
"ok, kid."