Back to Work
Over the following weeks, Bucky was able to find various reasons for not spending the night in your room. He flat out refused to let you even set foot back in his own bedroom.
Sam had mentioned there still being damage to the wall from the last time you had stayed there. Damages that Bucky refused to let anyone repair.
On the rare occasion the two of you did fall asleep together, or even rarer, in your room together, Bucky was always gone before morning, having left undetected sometime in the middle of the night.
Your recovery was progressing, you even had your first health screening scheduled with SHIELD and were hopeful that you’d be back to work soon.
You return to the tower that afternoon and immediately sought out Bucky to tell him the good news. You find him, along with Sam and Steve, lounging in their living room.
Bucky smiles as you sit next to him, noticing the excitement on your face.
“That went well, I take it,” he says before placing a kiss on your cheek.
“Very. I’ve been cleared for desk duty. They’ll evaluate me in a few more weeks to see if I get to go back into the field or have to wait it out some more.”
The look of concern on Bucky’s face was unmistakable, so you clarify what field work would mean for you.
“Oh. No. Nothing like that. Just the occasional trip to see the larger or unmovable tech in person.” You could feel the heat rising to your face, and lean into Bucky both in an attempt to comfort him and hide the redness in your cheeks. “I’ve had my share of action.”
When you were being honest with yourself, you could admit that your previous actions had been idiotic. Though every action you took, every decision you made while on that mission was the very best you could do, you never should have gone. Never should have volunteered for it in the first place.
While you usually didn’t like to talk about it, shortly after moving into the tower you had found the courage to bring it up with Steve. He let you know that SHIELD had successfully extracted both you and the only other surviving member of your team. Only her condition had been far worse than yours. She held on for a few days, but with her passing Bucky’s mental health had begun to backslide. Not only worrying about whether or not you’d be able to pull through, his guilt intensified, blaming himself more and more for the situation you were in.
“I can start moving my stuff back to the apartment-”
“You’re moving back?” Bucky interrupts.
“We talked about this being temporary. That’s why I’ve still been paying my rent. Without even living there, I might add,” you remind him.
Truth is, you had thought about moving in more permanently. Wanted to, even. But every time you would fall asleep with Bucky by your side, just to wake up alone, it would reassure you that moving back to your own place was the right thing. For both of you.
Reaching out, you take his chin in your hand and turn his head to face you again.
“Don’t worry. You can still come by whenever you want,” you tease, giving him a quick peck before letting go.
Most of the others were out, either on missions or living their own lives, and the four of you had decided to go out to dinner as a mini celebration to your being able to return to work. And partially because Bucky had been in a funk, sulking ever since you reminded him that you would be moving back out.
By the time everyone’s food had arrived, he seemed to be back to his usual self.
Not being too terribly far from the tower, you and Bucky decide to walk back after dinner.
You had been chattering away about how good it was to see everyone at work earlier that day. Telling Bucky how much your lab looked exactly the same as when you left and how excited you were to get back to it.
He put his arm around you and pulled you into his side. Forehead pressed up against your hair, he says, “Tired of me already?”
“Never.” You intertwine your fingers in the hand that’s resting on your waist, your smile broadening.
The two of you walk another block before either of you say anything.
“You don’t have to move out,” he begins, looking anywhere but at you. “You could stay.”
“Bucky-”
“I want you to stay.”
With that statement he’s finally able to make eye contact with you.
“Please,” he continues, “please stay.”