Shadows
You wake up to darkness. Only the streetlights making their way in through the curtains give you any hint at your surrounding. It was unreal to be waking up in your own bed after all this time away from it, and for a split second it caused you to panic. The familiar low lighting of the hospital room was never this dark. Or this quiet. You turn over and realize that the pain must be the reason for your waking up. Slowing your movements to keep your discomfort to a minimum, you finally make it onto your other side, only to be greeted by more shadows.
As much of a fuss you’d made about him being around, you never expected him to just up and leave in the middle of the night. Though, this wouldn’t be the first time he did something unexpected and overly drastic. You listen carefully, hoping to hear him shuffling around the apartment, unable to sleep himself.
Silence.
You roll out of bed and walk out of the room, trying to remember where Bucky had set your stuff from earlier. Pain meds were your priority right now, then more sleep. Worrying about what was going on with Bucky was a problem for morning.
Before you even make it to the table, you can make out the various pill bottles and sit down to figure out which was which.
Take one from the bigger bottle. Need to wait till morning before taking those other two. you think to yourself, trying to twist open the cap.
Sharp pain increased through your fingers and radiated out towards your hand and up your arm as your grip tightened on the bottle.
“Here, let me get that.”
Startled by the voice behind you, you jump and drop the bottle altogether. Bucky reaches over your shoulder, picks it up from the table and opens the lid. He hands you your medication before getting you a glass of water. You just stare at the pill in your hand until the sound of the glass being set onto the table breaks you away from your thoughts.
“You weren’t in bed,” you say quietly, “I thought you left.”
“Took the couch,” he states, sitting in the chair next to yours.
“Couldn’t sleep?” you asked, knowing it was more likely than not.
He shifted in his seat. “I slept fine, considering how well I fit on that thing.” Pointing back to your couch with a grin. “Didn’t get up until I heard you messing around.”
You almost didn’t want to ask, didn’t really want the answer, but you knew it would eat away at you until you did.
“Bucky? Are you afraid to sleep in-” you start, but he cuts you off.
“You’re still healing, just got home. You could hardly make it up the stairs yesterday.”
“I made it up those stairs just fine,” you defend yourself, voice flat.
He all but rolls his eyes before continuing, taking your hand “My point is, it wouldn’t take very much for things to become dangerous.”
“I find it hard to believe that’s the only reason,” you say softly.
When he doesn’t say anything, you stand up to head back to bed. Just a few steps away from the bedroom door, he finally speaks.
“That pill bottle bested you, too.”