Confident - BB x R
In the 6 weeks that you’d been living at the Avengers Tower you’d never shown anyone your powers.
Well except Wanda and Steve.
They were the only ones you trusted not to freak out and make a thousand ‘Frosty the snowman’ jokes. You knew how creative they were with Bucky and knew you didn’t want to become a second target of the gang’s ridicule.
It was an average Friday night, the Avengers were all sitting around the living room enjoying their various take out dinners and once again the conversation had turned to who would kick whose ass in a fight. After much debate it had been decided that Wanda was insanely overpowered and could knock any of them on their asses, and now the topic of conversation had shifted to you.
“Please” Clint scoffed into his pizza. “I think we all know (Y/N) would be the bottom of the barrel” he teased and your mouth fell open.
“That’s rich coming from you, Robin Hood” you snapped back pointedly. “If you came up against me one on one you’d be on your ass before you could say ‘oops’”
The rest of the group let out a collective woo at the challenge. Your sudden change in attitude sparked even Bucky’s interest. He looked at you, a single eyebrow cocked in your direction.
“You reckon you could take down old Father Time over there?” Tony asked, using his chopsticks to gesture to Bucky who pretended to not hear the jab.
“His ass would be grass” you replied simply, taking a bite of your pizza. The team ‘woo’ed once again.
“You better keep that attitude in check, (Y/N)” Bucky murmured, keeping his eyes on his food. “If you let your head get much bigger you won’t be able to fit through the doorways”
“Is that a challenge, Barnes?” you asked, leaning forward over the coffee table. His steely grey eyes met yours and you saw no hint of backing down within them.
“Gym. 10 minutes”
True to your word, ten minutes later you were standing in the largest training gym, decked out in your training gear that consisted of plain black track-pants and a grey t-shirt with the signature A on the chest. Bucky was standing at the opposite end of the gym decked out in his full combat gear. Apparently that boy meant business.
“On your marks” Clint shouted from the side of the gym where the rest of the group was congregated.
“Get set” Sam yelled out, excited to finally see you in action.
“This is a bad idea” Steve muttered to Wanda before Natasha shouted -
“Fight!”
Bucky made the first move, using his superior speed to race up and throw the first punch. You managed to dodge it, but you could feel the air kiss your cheek where his fist had almost collided. Bucky definitely meant business. You swung out your leg, attempting to knock the super soldier off his feet but he jumped over you before leaning down and tackling you to the ground. A loud gasp of air escaped your lungs as you collided with the hard wooden floor. He raised his fist to hit you, but the elevation of his chest gave you just enough room to bring your legs and up and kick him in the stomach as hard as you could. Taken by surprise he stumbled backwards, attempting to regain his balance.
“Gonna give up, (Y/N)?” he taunted, that usual cocky edge still in his voice. You smirked, feeling a dull ache in your ribs.
“I’m just getting started, Sarge” you quipped back, straightening up. Stretching your hands you opened up your senses to the water molecules in the room. You could feel all of them. The ones hanging in the air between you and Bucky, the sweat dripping off your forehead, the tears of laughter in Clint’s eyes. Pushing your hands forward you felt each molecule replicate exponentially until a tidal wave of water appeared behind you and surged towards Bucky.
Shock was all that covered the handsome soldiers face as he was washed to the other side of the gym. A loud thud echoed as he crashed into the opposite wall. The only sounds that could be heard was Bucky’s laboured breathing and the ever so eloquent comment of ‘What the shit!’ from Clint.
Your opponent looked up, fire burning behind his eyes. He raced forward, rage etched into the lines on his face, but you simply clicked your fingers and the water covering the gym floor turned into a smooth layer of ice. Bucky lost his footing and slid across the floor on his side.
“Now, I think I said your ass would be grass” you mused out loud, walking around his stunned figure. “I guess I should rephrase that. Your ass is mine, Barnes”
A guttural growl escaped between his lips as attempted to get up from the floor. Swinging your hands up, the ice sheet covering the floor folded up to encase the solider. Clenching your fists the sheets thickened, obscuring Bucky from your view.
“This girl is a badass!” you heard Sam remark loudly to Steve. There was a moment of silence, the only noises that could be heard was the scratching of Bucky’s metal hand against the ice cell.
“(Y/N)” Steve called out. You looked up to see him looking at your handiwork, concern etched all over his face. You looked back in confusion at the ice, and you noticed that red marks were beginning to appear on the smooth glass. Ragged screams of desperation, though muffled by the enclosure, permeated the air.
Suddenly realising your mistake you flicked your hands to the sides, immediately dissipating the molecules back into the air. Your heart hurt as you looked at Bucky. He was kneeling on all fours, chest shaking with tortured breaths. The tips of his human hand were bleeding scarlet onto the wooden floor.
“Bucky” you started, taking a half step forward.
“Of course. Of course” he muttered to himself before rising to his feet. With one tortured glance in your direction he stumbled out of the gym, the heavy door slamming as he exited.
An hour later you found yourself outside Bucky’s door. He’d refused to let anyone see him, including Steve. Guilt sat like a lead weight on your chest as you raised your hand and knocked gingerly on the grey door.
“Go away” came a soft voice from within and you felt it stab through your chest.
“Bucky it’s (Y/N). Please let me in” you begged, but you heard no movement inside the room.
Using your power for the second time that day, you condensed the molecules in the surrounding air and directed them under the door. You could feel them take hold on the lock and clenching your hand they solidified, formed a large enough weight to turn the lock.
Pushing the door open you peaked inside to see Bucky sitting on the edge of the bed, facing the window. The late afternoon light shone onto his hands, illuminating a bright white bandage that was wrapped around his flesh hand.
“I -” you started to say, feeling your throat tighten with nerves. “I’m sorry” you choked out, holding your hands tightly in front of you. “I didn’t think…I’ll never do that again”
The silence in the room was deafening. Every cell of your body was telling you to leave. He didn’t want you there. But he was hurting. And it was your fault. “I understand why you don’t like it” you murmured, taking a few steps forward to sit on the end of the bed. “I should have thought about it more. But - to me” you started, swirling your fingers until a small snow flurry appeared out of thin air “it’s magic” you murmured. “It can be hard, and cruel, like you know all too well” you continued to ramble, watching his silhouette carefully for any response. “and it can be. But it can be soft, and gentle” you said softly, willing the snow to drift over the windowsill, right in front of Bucky.
Employing the control you’d been practising with Wanda, the snow slowly took the form of a small teddy bear who started to walk up and down the windowsill. You made the bear wave at Bucky and you swore you saw his shoulders move with a small laugh.
“What did you mean…when you said ‘of course’?” you asked gently, feeling your heart rate accelerate. You waited with baited breath, hoping the silence would pressure him into speaking. It worked.
“I meant…of course you of all people would have a power that terrifies me” he said in a low voice, still watching the bear that you were making do somersaults in front of the glass. “You terrify me in every other way”
“Bucky” you said flatly “I am about as terrifying as a marshmallow”
“You scare me” he muttered, twisting the end of his bandage around his metal fingers, light dancing off the silver plates. “You’re so fragile. And caring and innocent and you make my heart…hurt” he added the last word in a whisper and you felt your cheeks flush red. Could it possibly be true that the Winter soldier actually had feelings for you? Like the ones you harboured for him?
“Maybe…maybe it’s okay to be scared” you offered, sliding across the bed so that you were sitting next to him, his arm brushing your shoulder. “It means whatever you’re afraid of is important” Bucky looked sideways at you and you swore his lip twitched into a smile. “Here, let me fix that” you said, gently grasping the lose end of his bandage and tucking it firmly into the rest of the bandage.
Your hand lingered in his for a moment, and Bucky fingers twitched to capture yours in his. A furious red blush crossed your cheeks, but your hand relaxed, holding onto his injured palm tenderly.
You sat there for a moment, holding each other and looking out the window, the bear still performing for you on the sill.
“I like the bear” he murmured, the lightness returning to his voice.
“Thanks” you grinned shyly. “I call him Bucky-bear”
This roused a deep, gravely laugh from your companion, and you swore it was the best sound you had ever heard.