okay please do 17. “stop making empty promises!”?? i'm ready for that ANGST AND FLUFF I NEED IT
ANYTHING FOR YOU MY DUDE. I THRIVE ON ANGST. no, but seriously, i’m listening to this one sad song on repeat right now to get some inspo for all the other sad fics i’m writing at the moment and ngl it kinda works so GET READY. also, you can send in more requests for these prompts if you like what you read. i look forward to every single (1) request i get
Bucky’s words echo through her head when he’s done.
Her smile fades, alongside the mischievous glint in her eyes after pondering about a memorable, unique theme for Stevies birthday party that doesn’t just revolve around the day he was born. Slowly, the hands that had gesticulated wildly beside the words tumbling out of her mouth in a flurry, sink to her sides and her lips stay just a little parted.
She wonders if she hasn’t heard him correctly but Y/N can’t think of anything that sounds quite similar to I’m going to war, doll.
He’s going to war. He’s going to leave.
Y/N doesn’t know what to say or what to think but what flits through her mind briefly is that he’s going to miss their first Christmas together as them being them. And then she feels the overwhelming urge to slap herself.
He’s going to leave, selfish idiot. He’s going to leave and he’s going to suffer and he’s going to get hurt and you’re thinking about Christmas.
Her heartbeat picks up in pace and floats up into her throat, making her entire body feel like its pounding painfully and it becomes hard to breathe.
“Sweetheart…” he starts, and that’s when she realizes how long it’s been since he’s shattered her whole entire world with five simple words. No, not simple. Five earth-shattering, torturing words. And then she notices how long it’s been since she’s taken a breath.
Harshly and sharply, she gasps for air. With a hand on her stomach - that’s covered in the dress he’d surprised her with not even a week ago - she stumbles a few steps backward and turns away from him. The tears haven’t come yet but she knows, once he leaves there will be no stopping her from crying herself empty.
Her boyfriend, her soldier, rushes forward to steady her by looping an arm around her waist. That’s all it takes for her to finally realize the weight of his words.
He’s going to war. He’s going to leave. He’s going to get hurt. He’s going to suffer. He’s going to die. He’s going to war.
Frantically, she grabs fistfuls of his white shirt and forcefully pulls him as close as she can.
Bucky’s arms around her tighten as well and she feels light kisses being pressed to her forehead, her temples, the top of her head. He’s everywhere around her right now and she can’t bear the thought of him being gone.
“Doll, I’ll come back to you. I promise, okay?” Hot breath fans over her neck and cheek makes a shiver go up her spine. “I’ll come back and then I’ll help you plan Steve’s party. I’ll take you to that restaurant you love so much every day if you say the word. I’ll give you the whole damn world, doll. I promise.”
His voice is getting more erratic and panicked with each word he utters in her ear and the pressure on her chest makes her squeeze her eyes shut. “Stop…” she pleads, the choked word going under in his rambling of promises.
“I’ll make the cake you and Becca like so much and I won’t even complain about having to bake,” he continues.
“Stop…” she repeats, tightening her trembling grip on the fabric of his shirt.
“I’m gonna…” His voice breaks, but after swallowing once, he continues, “I’m gonna take you to the beach and we’re gonna dance under the stars, just like you said. I promise, darling.”
“Stop!” Bucky staggers backward from the force she puts behind shoving him away. “Stop…” Tears flood her eyes now.
“No! Stop making empty promises, James. Don’t do that to me…” she almost begs. “Don’t give me so much hope that you’re going to catch me if you’re only going to let me fall…”
Bucky walks closer to her again and takes her hands in his. Pulling her close, he rests his forehead against hers, noses bumping against one another. “I promise, sweetheart. We’ll do all of that. I swear to you.”
Silent tears glide down her cheeks and she slightly shakes her head. Bucky mirrors her movement. “I promise, my love. I promise.”
He kisses her and for a split second, she feels alright. But a kiss can only do so much. Keeping promises is not one of them.