Summary: You can hold your ownâalways have. But that doesnât stop your husband from going full Winter Soldier mode when he sees someone laid a hand on you.
Warnings: Language, injuries, soft-but-intense husband!Bucky, protective behavior, possessiveness, comfort, fluff, violence mentioned (not graphic), "who did this to you?", lots of banter.
Word count: 1.3k+
A/n: this fic is from my poll where husband au and who did this to u prompt won. I will do the enemies to lovers in my next fic. Thank you for reading <3.
Divider credits: @saradika
Night- 1:47 AM
You turned the front doorknob with all the delicacy of a trained assassinâwhich, to be fair, you were.
No sound. Good.
You stepped inside, sliding your shoes off silently and tiptoeing like the floorboards might narc on you. You could practically hear your heartbeat in your ears.
Heâd be asleep. He had to be.
You could get to the bathroom, clean up, hide the worst of it. He didnât have to know. You didnât want him to worry, to spiral. Not again.
You made it three steps down the hallway.
Thenâ âDonât move.â
Shit.
His voice cut through the silence, low and lethal. It came from the living room.
You closed your eyes. "Hi, honey. I'm home."
A light flipped on.
Bucky stood by the couch, arms crossed, half in shadow. The sight of himâbarefoot, hoodie loose over his broad chest, hair tousled from waiting upâwouldâve been comforting, if not for the look in his eyes.
His gaze traveled from your face to your arms, your ribs, where blood had started to seep through your shirt.
He didnât say a word.
You tried to play it off. âBefore you say anything, it looks worse than it isââ
His voice dropped to a whisper.
âWho did this to you?â
You exhaled slowly. âBuckââ
âDonât. JustâŠâ His jaw clenched. âStay right there.â
âBucky, itâs fine. I dodnât even need stitchesââ
âYouâre bleeding.â His voice trembled with something dangerous. âYouâre limping. You snuck into your own damn house like a thief because you knew Iâd lose it if I saw you like this. And guess what? You were right.â
He was in front of you in three long strides.
His handsâwarm, shakingâcame up to cup your face, careful to avoid the bruises.
âYou werenât supposed to see me like this,â you whispered. âYouâd only worry.â
âI worry when youâre five minutes late for lunch. You think this is gonna lessen that?â
âIâm not made of glassââ
âYouâre made of everything I live for.â
Your breath caught.
He scanned your injuries with haunted eyes. âWho did this?â
âItâs not important.â
âIt is to me.â
You sighed. âI didnât want you to spiral. Last time you saw me with a busted lip, you threatened to drown a guy in the Hudson.â
âI shouldâve.â
âBuckyââ
âTell me his name.â
You met his eyes. âIf I do, youâll find him.â
He didnât deny it.
âAnd if I donât?â you added.
âIâll find him anyway.â
You groaned. âYou are the most dramatic man Iâve ever met.â
He lifted you into his arms like it was nothingâlike you didnât have two working legsâand carried you down the hall.
âIâm intense,â he corrected. âNot dramatic.â
âYou literally brooded in the dark waiting for me to get home.â
âYou really thought I wouldnât notice? Like my wife could come home hurt and I wouldnât feel it in my chest?â
You let out a weak laugh. âGod, youâre annoying.â
âYou married me, doll. Thatâs on you.â
Twenty Minutes Later...
You sat on the bathroom counter while Bucky dabbed antiseptic over the cuts along your ribs, his brows furrowed like each mark physically hurt him more than it hurt you.
He hadnât stopped touching you.
Even now, his thumb rubbed soft circles into your thigh as he worked.
âDoesnât even sting,â you said.
âThatâs not the point,â he muttered, placing another bandage carefully. âYou came home bleeding. You flinched when you took your shirt off. You snuck in.â
âI didnât want to see your sad little kicked puppy face,â you teased.
He glared. âYouâre lucky I love you.â
âNo, youâre lucky I love you. Youâre high maintenance.â
âSays the woman who took on a six-foot mercenary solo and got cracked in the jaw for it.â
You raised an eyebrow. âYou think I didnât win?â
He paused. âWait. You won?â
âCracked three of his ribs and made him cry.â
He stared.
Thenâslowlyâhe grinned.
âThatâs my girl.â
You tried not to bask in it, but you totally basked in it.
Still, he wasnât done.
As he finished wrapping the final gauze, he stood between your legs and stared at you like you held gravity in your hands.âI breathe for you,â he said, voice barely a whisper. âThatâs it. Thatâs the only reason I get up in the morning.â
Your throat went tight. âBuckyââ
âYou come home hurt, and it feels like the worldâs off its axis. I canât think. Canât function. Youâre not fragile, babe. Youâre the strongest person I know. But the thought of losing you? Iâd lose everything.â
God.
You buried your face in his chest, arms tight around him.
âIâm sorry,â you whispered. âI didnât mean to scare you.â
âToo late. You did. You always do.â
You looked up. âYouâre a menace, you know that?â
âYou love it.â
âUnfortunately.â
He grinned and kissed your forehead.
Next Day â 2:00 PM
You woke up to an empty bed and a note on the pillow:
Had to step out. Be back soon. Donât move too much or Iâll find out and carry you around like a baby until you learn your lesson. I love you more than oxygen.
âB <3
You rolled your eyes.
And sighed.
And smiled.
He came back at sunset. Calm. Too calm.
You didnât even have to ask.
âYou found him, didnât you?â
He dropped his jacket. âYeah.â
âAnd?â
âHeâs not gonna be walking straight for a while.â
âBuckyâŠâ
âAnd probably wonât be talking much either.â
You stared at him.
âHeâll live. Probably,â Bucky said with a shrug. âI was nice. For the first ten seconds.â
âJesusââ
âHe laid a hand on you. You really think I wasnât gonna rearrange his face?â
You huffed, arms crossed, but you were secretly touched. And maybe a little turned on.
âYou are so dramatic.â
âNo. Dramatic is you sneaking past your literal super soldier husband with blood dripping down your shirt.â
âFine,â you muttered, walking toward him. âYou win.â
He caught you easily, arms pulling you in.
âI always win, doll,â he murmured, kissing your bruised temple. âEspecially when it comes to you.â
The Next Morning â 9:07 AM
Sunlight filtered lazily through the curtains, painting golden stripes over the bed where you were curled up like a cat. One leg over the sheet. A little sore. A little achy. But warm.
Bucky stirred beside you, his metal arm slung protectively over your waist.
âYou awake?â you mumbled.
âWas watching you breathe,â he rasped, voice still sleep-rough. âYou twitch your nose when youâre dreaming.â
âYouâre creepy.â
âYou married me, sweetheart. This is your fault.â
You snorted, rolling to face him, wincing a little. He was already awake, already watching you with that look. Like you were sacred. Untouchable. His.
âYou hurting?â he asked immediately, shifting to sit up. âNeed painkillers? Water? I can carry you to the bathââ
âBucky.â
He blinked.
âIâm okay. Itâs just a bruise, not a broken limb. Stop hovering.â
âIâm not hovering.â
âYouâre three seconds from spoon-feeding me cereal.â
ââŠIs that an option?â
You groaned and buried your face in his chest.
âYouâre insufferable.â
He chuckled, warm and smug, tucking you tighter under his chin. You stayed like that for a while. Tangled limbs. Warm sheets. His fingers trailing soft patterns on your back like he couldnât stand not touching you.
âDonât do that again,â he whispered finally.
You didnât pretend to not hear it. âOkay.â
âI know youâre strong. I know you can take care of yourself. But if something happens to youâI stop breathing. You get that?â
You swallowed hard. âI get it.â
âI love you so much it makes me a little insane.â
âOnly a little?â
âI toned it down for your sake.â
You giggled. âYouâre cute when youâre crazy.â
âGood. Because youâre stuck with me.â
You looked up, brushed the hair from his forehead, kissed him slow.
⊠Pairing: husband!bucky barnes x wife!reader
⊠Genre: fluff, domestic married life, comedy, soft angst turned mush
⊠Summary: newlyweds you and Bucky get into your first dumb fight, and you decide to ignore him. He doesnât take it well.
âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ
You werenât even sure what started it. Something small, something stupid. Youâd been married less than six months, and it wasnât even a fight so much as a flare of stubbornness that lit up between the two of you.
âYou never listen,â youâd muttered, folding your arms after he rolled his eyes about how you loaded the dishwasher.
âBecause you do it the wrong way,â heâd said with this infuriating shrug, like it was fact, not opinion.
And that was that. You stopped talking to him.
Bucky noticed immediately. At first, he thought you were joking. When you turned your head in silence as he leaned down to kiss your cheek, he blinked, confused.
âUh⊠doll?â
Nothing.
âSweetheart, câmon, what is this?â
Still nothing.
It wasnât until you walked right past him without a glance, grabbing your phone and curling up on the couch like he wasnât even in the room, that realization dawned.
âOh, youâve got to be kiddinâ me,â he muttered under his breath. âSheâs givinâ me the silent treatment.â
The Winter Soldier, feared assassin, man whoâd survived wars and Hydraâs torture chambers, could take a bullet without blinking but his wife not talking to him? That, apparently, was his breaking point.
The first hour, he hovered âYouâre really not gonna talk to me?â he asked, leaning over the couch. âOver a dishwasher?â
Nothing.
âDoll, I fought Nazis. I fought aliens. You think Iâm afraid of a little silence? Hah.â
The way he checked your face every thirty seconds gave him away.
The second hour, he started bribing you âHey, uh, I ordered Thai food. Extra spring rolls. For you.â
You nodded thanks to the delivery guy, not to Bucky.
He narrowed his eyes. âOkay. Thatâs how weâre playinâ this.â
The third hour, he upped the dramatics.
You found him in the kitchen, standing with a bouquet of sunflowers heâd somehow gotten delivered. He held them like a man making a last plea.
âLook, I panicked,â he admitted, pushing the flowers toward you. âThey didnât have roses, and I thought maybe sunflowers are brighter, and you love bright things, and I love you, soââ
You took the flowers, set them in water, and walked away. Without a word.
âJesus Christ,â he groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
By dinner, he was a wreck.
You were scrolling your phone at the table, eating calmly. He hadnât touched his plate. He just sat there, chin in his hand, staring at you like a kicked puppy.
âSweetheart,â he said softly, like the word itself might save him. âPlease. Just yell at me or somethinâ. Donât just⊠not talk. I canâtââ He broke off, sighing. âI canât stand it.â
You raised an eyebrow but stayed silent.
That night, when you went to bed, you half expected him to sulk on the couch. But when you slid under the covers, you felt the mattress dip, then a heavy arm wrap around your waist.
âNot lettinâ you sleep without me,â he mumbled against your neck. âNot happeninâ.â
You didnât push him away. But you didnât answer either.
He groaned dramatically, tightening his hold. âDoll, this is torture. Actual torture. You could stab me and itâd hurt less. Say somethinâ. Anything. Please.â
Still, you stayed quiet.
The next morning, you woke up to a surprise.
Coffee brewed, pancakes on the table, bacon crisped just right. Bucky stood there in an apron that read âKiss the Cook,â holding a mug out toward you.
âI googled âhow to apologize to your wife after being a stubborn jackass,ââ he confessed sheepishly. âThis was step three. Step four was jewelry, but I thought maybe that was overkill.â
You bit back a smile, taking the coffee without a word.
Buckyâs eyes widened like he might actually die on the spot. âYouâre killinâ me here. Iâm not kiddinâ, sweetheart, Iâm losinâ years off my life. Just tell me Iâm an idiot. Tell me you hate me. Tell me the sky is blue. I donât care what it is, justâsay something.â
You let the silence stretch, sipping your coffee with exaggerated calm.
Finally, his jaw set, and he stomped over, grabbing your face in both hands.
âFine. You wanna play hardball? Then listen up.â His voice cracked just slightly. âI canât stand when youâre mad at me. I hate it. It makes me feel like I canât breathe. You donât talk to me, and itâs like Iâm right back where I used to beâalone. And I canâtââ He stopped, swallowing hard. âI canât go back to that. Not with you. So if I gotta beg, if I gotta crawl, if I gotta spend every day provinâ Iâll never take you for grantedâIâll do it. But donât shut me out, sweetheart. Please.â
You blinked up at him, stunned by the rawness in his voice.
And then, finally, you smiled. âYouâre ridiculous.â
Bucky froze. Then his face broke into the brightest grin youâd ever seen. âShe speaks!â
âYou are ridiculous,â you repeated, smacking his chest lightly. âFlowers, pancakes, puppy eyes? All because I didnât talk to you for one day?â
âOne day too long,â he said seriously, before crushing you into his chest. âDonât ever do that again. My heart canât take it.â
âYouâre such a drama queen,â you teased, laughing into his shirt.
âDrama king,â he corrected smugly, pressing kisses all over your face. âMr. Barnes, drama king, husband of the year whatever you wanna call me, doll, Iâll take it, as long as youâre talkinâ to me again.â
You rolled your eyes, but your smile gave you away. And when he kissed you again, soft and slow and so very Bucky, you decided maybe next time youâd let him win an argument faster.
After all, watching your super-soldier husband unravel like that? Kind of adorable.
Pairings: bucky barnes x reader. Bucky x wife!reader. Bucky x fem!reader.
Tags: husband bucky. Fluff & comfort. Secret marriage. New Avengers!bucky. Thunderbolts spoilers. Short fic until I finish chapter iii of my main series.
Synopsis: Bucky has kept his marriage secret for three years now. He always intended to keep it that way. That was until a mission went sideways, and he found himself having to resort to the one person he swore to protect.
Warnings: possible grammar and spelling mistakes. Not proofread. No use of y/n. Worse than my usual work, something quick & written w my phone.
I do not consent for my work to be uploaded onto other platforms or translated. Reblog to support. PART TWO
James Buchanan Barnes had a secretâscratch that, he had many secrets. His past as the Winter Soldier and his time in HYDRA had caused so. However, there was one peculiar secret that nobody could ever imagine the Sergeant held.
Bucky Barnes was married. Had actually been married for three years now. He had never made too much of a fuss about it; given the life he held, it was better to keep it private.
The ceremony had been held on a small garden, not many witnesses; just Sam, Isaiah Bradley, and your brotherâwho was why you had met Bucky in the first place.
Your brother worked for SHIELD and the Avengers for some time, mostly managing files and taking care of debriefs. He had, somehow, managed to get on Buckyâs not-unfriendly side.
You had so happened to be visiting your brother at work when you stumbled upon the man himself. You had apologized, fixing your hair, and picking up the lunch you had brought for your brother.
Despite being fully aware of whom the Winter Solider had been, you had treated him with a rare amount of normalcy. Not as a weapon, not as someone to pity, and not as someone to be scared of.
Through a combination of your kind smiles, witty jokes, and the rush of the moment, the ex-assassin had found himself utterly charmed.
You baked, and you sold flowers. You smelt of petals and vanilla extract. Despite what anyone may have thought, Bucky had been completely softened. In your presence, at least.
Gone was the brooding super soldier the moment he stepped into the apartment. He would come home, kiss your temple while whispering âHello sweetheart,â and proceed to sit on the dinner table with his Congress files while you cooked dinner.
Thanks to you, he had found it possible to sleep in a bed. Most nights, he wouldn't wake up in a cold sweat. He got to feel the warm sun in his face, the weight of your head of your head on his chest, and the little white paws at poked at his face and begged to be fed.
The almost comical domesticity of his day-to-day life was something the rest of the team couldn't ever fathom. The 'New Avengers' knew Bucky for his brooding persona and skillful fighting. He was the one with the most years of experience on him.
The doting husband was a sight reserved for you and only you.
His plans of keeping you a secret of his heart shattered the moment he realized exactly how much the mission had gone to utter shit.
Bucky pressed his eyes shut, fists clenched and rested on his hips. The team was bursied and tired. Nothing major, but they were being chased. They all needed to gather their strength.
Yelena held her side, and Alexei was surprisingly running out of jokes. The tension between Ava and John grew by the secondâif Bucky didn't intervene now, they would likely jump one another.
This was probably a terrible idea, and Bucky already knew he would hate himself for what he was about to do. But, damn, he cared about that dysfunctional group of criminals.
He sighed, stepping closer to the group, "I know a place," he huffed, catching the team's attentions. "You know a safehouse?" John asked, clearly exhausted. "Hm, yeah, let's say that."
They all followed him through the empty streets of New Yorkâall civilians had left, the team had made sure nobody would be injured.
It didn't take too long until they arrived in the driveway of a small, baby-blue house with a fence and gardenias in handmade flowerpots.
Everyone couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the certainly strange choice for a safehouse, but none of them dared question Bucky.
The moment he rang the doorbell, the door swung open, you jumping into his arms. "You're okay! I saw the newsâ" your husband lightly cut you off, patting your back. "We're alright, sweetheart, just need somewhere to stay for a bit."
The Thunderbolts started at you, mouths shut, body still. You bit your lip, and glanced at Bucky, who sported an expression of resignation. "Come on in..." you managed to voice, moving to the side, and allowing everyone to step into your beautiful house.
Immediately, a fluffy white cat jumped off the kitchen counter, sniffing the shoes of all these new visitors. "Alpine, darling, careful," you moved to pick the small furrball up.
Bucky cleared his throat, "Cat's out of the bag, I guess. This is, uhm, my wife." Everyone went quiet, taking their time to process the information they had just been given. "You are married?" Ava asked incredulously.
"I am, yes. Have been for three years," the ex Solider's answers were short and dry, not wanting to spend a second longer than necessary indulging in his personal life. "Stop asking questions and get yourselves cleaned up."
Cotton and wraps lied scattered across the coffee table, the team having taken different locations across the couch as they cleaned their wounds.
You were by the kitchen, cleaning the last few bits of flour off the counter, making sure it was all gone before Alpine managed to lick it all away.
The room was quiet, tense, until Alexei decided to break the silence, an attempt to soothe the strain. "Well, isn't this a nice house, Mr Soldier." He mused, elbow rested on his knee.
"Thank you," you smiled, walking towards your husband. "I really tried." You placed a hand on Bucky's shoulder while the other ran through his hair. Unable to fight the comfort, his eyes fluttered shut.
There was something about watching the apparently stoic and unfeeling Bucky Barnes melt under a woman's touch. Perhaps he was even more human than the team thought.
"How about I make some food, hm?" You chimed in, leaning down to place a gentle peck on your beloved's scalp. "She makes amazing food," and then, a smile. Not just for you to see. But for the entire team to admire.
Summary: Bucky Barnes x fe!Reader -> You and your husband are trying for a baby.
Disclaimer: Mentions and descriptions of potential infertility, slight smut, brief mentions of dangerous missions, fluff, Bucky being a caring husband who can cook, angst, hurt/comfort vibes, happy ending.
âWhat if itâs negative?â You turned around to face your husband, nervous as hell to even look at the test.Â
âThen weâll keep trying.â
âBut what if it is?â You pressed, too afraid to look.Â
Bucky took you by the shoulders, leaning down to keep his eye level with yours. âThen weâll keep trying. Not a lot of couples have success the first time.â
You nodded. âOkay. Yeah, okay. We can keep trying.â
Bucky nodded before pulling you in and kissing your head.Â
Youâd been married just over two years, and had been trying for a baby for around three months. Each time, youâd gotten your period so there had been no point in testing. Until now.Â
The timer rang from Buckyâs phone. âDo you want me to look?â
You stayed still for a moment, debating it. âNo, Iâll look.â
It took you a minute, but Bucky remained patient. For a moment, he leaned against the bathtub as you walked closer to the counter.Â
One line.
Negative.
You shook your head and turned around with the test in your hand. âNegative.â
There was a punch to his heart, but he stood nonetheless. âWeâll keep trying.â
You nodded before swallowing the sadness and looking at your husband. âYeah.â
âHey, I love you.â
You smiled. âI love you, too.âÂ
Pressing three kisses to your lips, he wrapped you in his arms and lifted you from the ground for a moment.Â
It was another two months before you tested again.Â
You used to be thankful to see your period. Now it just felt like it was Mother Natureâs way of mocking you.Â
Bucky was in the kitchen cooking dinner when you came in from work. âHey! Just in time,â Bucky said. âSam finally gave me the recipe for his-â
âI think I need to do another test.âÂ
The sentence just fell out of your mouth. It had been on your mind all day and youâd stopped off at the drugstore on your way home.Â
Your period was two weeks late. Youâd never exactly been spot-on when it came to your cycle, but it had been getting better. So fourteen days overdue had to be a sign, right?
Bucky tried not to seem too excited since he could read the fear across your face. âOh, okay.â
âI just- itâs been on my mind all day and Iâm late andâŠI donât know.â
Folding the heat-proof pan squares away, Bucky turned to you. âDo you want me to run down to the store-â
You held up the box from your bag.Â
Bucky nodded. âLetâs go and see.â
Bucky watched as you paced up and down the bathroom as the timer ticked away. âWeâll be okay.â
You chewed on your nail, keeping the test in the corner of your eyes. âYeah.â
Your mind was somewhere else.Â
Standing in front of you before you sent both yourself and him dizzy, he held you close to him. âItâs gonna be okay.â
You looked at your husband, a little dejected. âWeâve been trying for almost six months and itâs notâŠwhat if something is wrong with me?â
Bucky felt like heâd been stabbed in the heart. Heâd rather take all of Hydraâs torture again than see you feeling hurt.Â
Bucky shook his head. âThereâs nothing-â
âBut what if there is?â You stepped out from your husbandâs arms for a moment, trying your best to keep your tears at bay. âWhat if I canât have children?â
Bucky didnât fully know what to say. âWe donât know that. If there is something wrong, and that is a big âifâ,â Bucky stepped closer to you and you held onto him. âThen thereâs a chance it could be me.â
âShuri did your labs. Youâre as healthy as a horse.â
Bucky shook his head. âItâs not like they tested me for fertility issues.â
You closed your eyes for a moment. âWhat if this doesnât happen for us, Bucky?â
Your husband hugged you and you wrapped your arms around him, holding on for dear life. âThen weâll look into it. And, you know, thereâs always IVF and adoption. Something this century grants us is more options. You know, back in the 40s, it was sex or going down to the docks.â
You chuckled, hitting him on the arm. âStop trying to make me laugh.â
Bucky smiled, leaning back to look at you. âCanât help it. I love your laugh.â
You smiled before he wiped away your tears.Â
âI love you.â
You smiled, kissing him. âI love you, too.â
The kiss broke when the timer went off. âYou look this time. I donât think I can.âÂ
You moved away from the counter and stood away from your husband before he reached out for the pregnancy test.Â
One line.Â
Negative.
He held it up to show you. âNegative.â
You knew. Youâd had the feeling in the back of your head. âOkay.â
Bucky looked at you, giving a little sigh for both of your frustrations. âCome here.â
He pulled you in, holding you tight.Â
Youâd both keep trying. And if that didnât work, there were always other options.Â
Three weeks later whilst you were at work, Bucky made a call.Â
âWhite wolf,â Shuri said as she answered. âIn need of a new suit? Iâve just made a discovery that if I-â
âI-I need you to run some tests.â
Shuriâs voice dropped a little as she turned at her desk. âIs everything okay?â
Bucky sighed. Shuri had been the first person heâd properly talked to about this. âY/n and IâŠweâve been trying for a baby.â
Shuri sounded excited. âReally? I expect to be Godmother. You know, I could make it a suit for itâs first-â
Bucky chuckled. âMight be getting a little ahead. Uh, weâŠweâve been trying for a while and I justâŠI want to make sure there isnât an issue withâŠme. Us, even. Y/nâs really worried and if it is me, I justâŠI want to knowâŠâ
Shuri nodded. âIâve got you. Iâve still got some of your DNA samples in my lab. Iâll start running the tests now. Itâll be okay, Bucky.â
âThanks, Shuri.â
âHow many people know?â
Bucky scratched his head. âUh, SamâŠkinda. He knows weâve been talking about having kids soon. But no-one knows weâre trying yet.â
âWell, your secret is safe with me. You know, maybe you and Y/n could come to visit soon. I can run more developed tests for both of you and, you know, a bit of relaxation has never killed anyone.â
Bucky nodded. âThatâŠthat actually sounds great. Iâll talk to Y/n when she gets home.â
âItâll be okay, Bucky.â
âThanks.â
He hung up the phone not too long after and by the time you got home from work, youâd agreed before he could even finish telling you.Â
Bucky was on annual leave anyway since his last mission had taken up more case hours than anyone had been expecting. And you needed a break from work.Â
Yourself and Bucky ended up spending three months in Wakanda. Shuri ran every test she could think of.Â
âYouâre both incredibly healthy. I canât find anything.â
You and Bucky had looked at each other, shocked more than anything. âSo, what? Itâs just the universeâs way of saying, âno, you canât have a childâ?â
Shuri kept her eyes on the medical tablet. âIt doesnât make any sense.â
âButâŠwe can have children?â Bucky asked.Â
Shuri looked up and nodded. âYes. By all means, your egg shouldnât reject the sperm.â
âEven with the serum?â
Shuri nodded again. âHave you ever been pregnant before?â
You shook your head. âNever.â
Shuri hummed and started walking around her lab. âItâs just a theory, but it could be that your body has to get used to the chemical difference. As everything is being done, I assume, naturally.â
Both yourself and Bucky felt a little embarrassed but nodded anyway.Â
âIt could possibly be down to something such as that-â
âOr it could just be down to timing.â
âMother.â
Yourself and Bucky bowed. âYour highness.â
âHaving children is a wonderful thing, but often, it can simply be down to timing. The universe will let you know when youâre ready.â
Yourself and Bucky kept trying. And trying. And trying. And trying.Â
âHave you been testing?â Yelena asked you one girlâs night.Â
You shook your head as you stirred the cookie dough and she snacked on it. âI think Iâm just gonna wait until one pops out of me. I just feel like my period is mocking me. And everytime I see that one lineâŠit hurts too much.â
âWell, whenever it does happen, you and Bucky will make great parents.â
You smiled at her. âThanks, Lenaâ.â
A week later, you were standing in your bathroom looking at the opened box of pregnancy tests. From where you were standing, you could see Bucky. He was fast asleep on his front, his arms wrapped around his pillow.Â
But as you pulled one test from the box, your phone started to ring. And so did Buckyâs.Â
Haphazardly, you threw the box and test back under the sink and answered. âSorry to call so late- early.â Yelena stopped herself. âThis is an all hands on deck situation. Are you okay being in the field with us?â
Bucky had groggily pulled his phone to his ear. You could hear Samâs voice talking.Â
Two hours later, you were cleaning your weapons on the jet whilst Bucky tightened your holster to your side and your thigh.Â
âPromise me youâll be safe?â
Bucky nodded. âAlways. Same goes for you.â
âI wonât let anything happen to her, Bucky.â Yelena said as she passed you both by.Â
Bucky stood up, pressing a kiss to your lips as you cupped his cheek. He pressed his forehead to yours and closed his eyes. âI love you.â
You did the same. âI love you, too.â
The next fourteen hours were spent running and fighting for your lives, whilst also fighting for others.Â
At one point, something had rocked the earth as it exploded to the south of you. Exactly where Bucky had been running to when youâd seen him last.Â
âBucky?! Bucky?!â
The relief that came over you after two minutes of dead silence, hearing the crackly voice of Bucky over your comms. âIâm okay, doll.â
âOh, thank God.â
Samâs voice spoke next. âIâm heading your way, Buck. Be ready.â
With helicarriers packed full, you and Bucky had gotten separated.Â
âHeâs with Sam. Heâs okay,â Yelena assured you.Â
You didnât relax until you finally saw him. Having gotten back at different times and helping those to the medical bay that needed it, Yelena had sent you home.Â
âWhen he gets here, Iâll send him home, too. Go.â
You couldnât relax. The dead silence over comms kept running through your mind until you finally heard the door unlock. Within seconds, you were running towards the door.Â
âHey,â Bucky felt the weight get lifted from his chest once he saw you. But he didnât talk much after that since you planted one on him, immediately.Â
âWeâre never doing that again. I thought I lost you.â
You kissed him again.Â
âI promise,â Bucky said between the kisses and as he moved you further into your home. âWeâll stick together next time.â
âWe work better as a team anyway.â You said quickly, feeling Buckyâs hands grip your hips steadily before softly kissing your neck.Â
His mumble of a Russian, âAgreed,â rippled through your skin.Â
You needed him.Â
And he was more than happy to provide.Â
Peeling the jacket from you once heâd hoisted you onto the side cabinet, you unbuckled his belt and jacket. And somewhere between the rough kisses, the strewn clothes and the scuff marks being made against the floor and walls, Bucky fucked you like you were both on borrowed time.Â
Your relationship was loving, slow and filled with soft kisses. Heâd spent a lot of his life being the tortured pet for Hydra, being forced into the brutal being they created him to be.Â
Hard, fast and rough was rare in your relationship.Â
But when it wasâŠ
You pulled him in closer to you as you climaxed, Bucky finishing as you whimpered into his ear.Â
Between heavy breathes, Buckyâs tongue dragged across your collar before you felt his teeth beside your neck.Â
âWe both need a shower,â you eventually said.Â
âGood. Because Iâm not done with you yet, doll.â
As dirty handprints were washed away from the shower glass with the rest of the blood, ash and dirt, you fell asleep against your husbandâs bare chest, his arms wrapped around you and his fingers tracing your spine.Â
A few weeks later, you woke up in a similar position, only fully clothed.Â
When Bucky had gotten back from work, heâd joined you on your bed and both of you had been asleep within minutes. However, when you woke a few hours later, you managed to peel yourself from his grip without waking him so you could go to the bathroom.Â
As you were looking for a spare roll of toilet paper, you saw where youâd previously thrown the box of pregnancy tests. You hadnât tested in a few months, and youâd hadnât fully been keeping track of your cycle.Â
Just as you were waiting to surprisingly give birth, you decided to just wait for Mother Nature to send Aunt Flo your way when she was ready.Â
From the bathroom, you could see Buckyâs sleeping frame. It was probably going to be negative, but you decided to take one anyway.Â
Only after three minutes had passed and youâd washed your hands and tidied the bathroom counter, you decided to look at the test.Â
Two lines.
TwoâŠlines.Â
âOh, my god.â
You pulled the box out from under the sink to triple check youâd read it right.Â
âOh, my god.â
Walking out of the bathroom, you went straight towards your husband.Â
Bucky woke up to you lightly shaking his shoulder. âEverything okay?â He asked, a little groggily.Â
âIâm pregnant.â
The tiredness was still heavy on him, but his eyes snapped open as he looked at you. âWhat?â
As you sat on the edge of the bed, he sat up and looked at the test you handed him. And, as clear as day, in front of him were two very prominent lines.
He looked up at you. âYouâreâŠitâs positive?â
You nodded. âItâs positive.â
You were on the verge of tears before Bucky almost beat you to them and pulled you on top of him. âWeâre having a baby?â
From behind you, Bucky held the stick up. You choked a laugh. âWeâre gonna have a baby.â
Pulling back so you could see your husbandâs face, you found him with the biggest smile on his face. âWeâre gonna have a baby! Weâre gonna be parents!â
Laughing out of joy, Bucky kissed you until you wiggled off him to lay beside him. You both looked at the test stick.Â
âIâm pregnant.â
Bucky smiled. âYouâre pregnant.â
âYouâre gonna be a dad.â
âYouâre gonna be a mom.â
Looking up at your husband, to find him already looking at you, you smiled.Â
âI love you.â
âI love you, too.â Bucky said before kissing you and laying a gentle hand on your belly. âI love both of you.â
dad bucky who get's all cocky when you guys find out you're pregnant with multiples? thinks he really does have super sperm or something silly like thatđž
Bucky looked too damn smug walking into the doctor's office.
He wasn't nervous. Not emotional. Smug.
You were only eleven weeks along, fingers laced with his as you sat in the dim ultrasound room while the technician spread warm gel across your stomach. Your husband stood beside the table with the kind of confidence that made you narrow your eyes immediately.
âYouâre awfully cocky for a man who nearly passed out buying the pregnancy tests,â you muttered.
Bucky grinned without shame, broad shoulders shaking with quiet laughter. âI didnât pass out.â
âYou sat on the pharmacy floor.â
âStrategically.â
âMhm.â
The technician hid a smile behind her mask while turning toward the monitor. âAlright, letâs take a look at baby.â
Buckyâs entire demeanor softened instantly at the word baby.
God, you loved him like this.
The former assassin who could dismantle a gun in seconds and stare down world-ending threats without blinking had become ridiculously emotional the second youâd handed him a positive test three weeks ago. He kissed your stomach every morning. He downloaded three parenting apps. Heâd cried in the cereal aisle because âour kid might like Froot Loops someday.â
But right now?
Right now he looked suspiciously self-satisfied.
His thumb rubbed over your knuckles. âIâm tellinâ you, doll. Barnes genes are elite.â
You snorted. âThat is not how genetics work.â
âSays you.â
âSays science.â
He leaned closer, lowering his voice dramatically. âSuper soldier serum, baby.â
You laughed so hard the technician had to pause. âYou are impossible.â
âNo, seriously,â he continued. âEnhanced strength. Enhanced healing. Enhanced staminaââ
âOh my God.â
ââenhanced fertility maybe.â
The technician made a tiny choking sound like she was trying not to laugh.
âYou cannot be flirting with me while I have ultrasound goo on my stomach,â you informed him.
âCan and am.â
âBucky.â
âWhat? You married me.â
âUnfortunately.â
âVery fortunately.â
The machine crackled softly as the technician tilted the wand, eyes narrowing at the screen.
Then she blinked.
Paused.
Tilted it again.
âOh,â she said.
You immediately went still. âOh?â you repeated nervously.
The technician laughed outright now. âCongratulations. Youâre having twins.â
You turned so fast to look at your husband you nearly got whiplash.
He looked stunned for exactly two seconds.
Then the most unbearable expression of triumph spread across his face.
You pointed at him immediately. âNo. Absolutely not.â
âOh my God,â he breathed, staring at the screen like heâd personally accomplished the miracle of life through sheer determination. âHoney.â
âNo.â
âTwins.â
âI see that.â
His blue eyes snapped to yours, horrifically smug. âSUPER sperm.â
The technician burst into laughter.
You groaned loud enough to echo through the room. âIâm divorcing you.â
---
âHe canât stop saying it,â you complained later that evening while Natasha nearly fell off the kitchen stool laughing.
Across the compound kitchen, Bucky stood proudly at the stove making grilled cheese sandwiches like a man whoâd won an Olympic medal.
âSuper sperm,â he repeated helpfully.
Sam looked physically exhausted already. âYouâve known for six hours.â
âAnd Iâve been right for six glorious hours.â
âYou were not right,â you argued.
âI kinda was.â
âYou made up fake science!â
âSCIENCE CANâT EXPLAIN ME.â
Steve walked into the kitchen at the exact wrong moment. âCanât explain what?â
Sam pointed immediately. âDonât engage.â
Too late.
Bucky turned with the spatula still in hand. âWeâre havinâ twins.â
Steveâs face lit up instantly. âBuck, thatâs amazing.â
âAnd apparently,â Sam interrupted dryly, âthe serum migrated directly into his balls.â
Steve nearly choked.
Natasha was openly crying laughing now.
Meanwhile your husband looked entirely too proud of himself.
âLook,â Bucky said, setting down the spatula. âYou all laughed when I said I had enhanced fertility.â
âNo one laughed,â Sam corrected. âWe begged you to stop talking.â
âBut was I wrong?â
âYes,â you and Natasha said together.
Bucky ignored you completely. âTwo babies at once. Thatâs efficiency.â
âYou are never using the word efficiency about my uterus again.â
He rounded the counter immediately, grin softening as he came toward you. His hands settled carefully at your waist, all teasing disappearing beneath something warm and awestruck.
âSorry,â he murmured, though he was clearly not sorry at all. âJust excited.â
Your irritation melted instantly because that was the real problem.
Bucky was impossible to stay annoyed at.
His eyes had gone glassy again â emotional, overwhelmed, so deeply happy it radiated from him.
âYou happy?â you asked quietly.
His expression crumpled a little around the edges.
âSweetheart,â he said softly, âI spent seventy years thinkinâ Iâd never get any of this.â One hand slid gently over your stomach. âNow I get you⊠and two babies?â
Your chest tightened painfully.
âOh.â
âYeah,â he whispered, smiling shakily. âIâm happy.â
Natasha immediately looked away to give you privacy.
Sam pretended to suddenly become fascinated by the fridge.
Bucky rested his forehead against yours carefully. âThough,â he added, voice turning smug again, âthis is historic evidence that my genes are powerful.â
You burst out laughing.
âThere he is.â
âCâmon, doll,â he teased. âYou know itâs impressive.â
âYouâre never letting this go, are you?â
âAbsolutely not.â
And he didnât.
---
He became exponentially worse over the following months.
Every tiny pregnancy symptom somehow became proof of his âsuper sperm.â
Morning sickness?
âMeans the babies are strong.â
Craving pickles at two in the morning?
âEnhanced babies need fuel.â
The fact that your bump got big quickly?
âTwo Barnes babies. Legendary.â
âYou are literally making things up as you go,â you told him one night while he rubbed lotion carefully across your stomach.
Bucky looked up innocently from where he sat between your knees on the bed.
âAm I?â
âYes.â
âCounterpoint,â he said, kissing your belly gently, âtwins.â
You rolled your eyes.
Then he grinned against your skin and whispered toward your stomach, âDaddyâs a medical marvel.â
You laughed so hard you snorted.
Bucky looked absolutely delighted with himself.
âDid you hear that?â he asked your stomach seriously. âYour mama thinks Iâm funny.â
âYouâre ridiculous.â
âBut you love me.â
Unfortunately, he was right about that too.
Especially later that night when you woke up half tangled in blankets and found Bucky already awake beside you, one large hand resting protectively over your stomach even in sleep.
His face looked softer these days.
Lighter.
Like every broken part of him had finally started healing the second he realized heâd get to be somebodyâs dad.
Your heart swelled painfully as you watched him.
Maybe he was cocky.
Maybe heâd been insufferable for months.
Maybe if you heard the phrase super sperm one more time, youâd actually scream.
But the look on his face every time he talked about the babies?
Summary:Â Youâre preparing dinner with your two daughters while suffering from a migraine. When your lovely congressional husband gets home he sees you struggling, he sends you to bed and handles it all himself, giving him a new respect for all that you do.Â
Trigger Warnings:Â Migraine; daughters; new math (hence the gif); feelings of having to do it all yourself, even when working through pain to do so, and guilt when you canât.
Authorâs Note: I'd have sworn I wrote this fic before, but apparently I only just outlined it. So I finished it. Enjoy the fluff.
Masterlist
Your migraine snuck up on you, like a shadow slipping under the door, then bloomed behind your right eye mercilessly.
You stood at the kitchen counter, one hand braced against the cool granite while the other dragged a knife through carrots that were far too bright. The overhead lights were painful. Each fluorescent hum vibrated against your skull. The steady thock, thock, thock of blade against cutting board landed like a metronome inside your brain.
It was fine. You could handle it. Youâd handled worse.
Your younger daughterâs squeal erupted from the living room, sharp, delighted, and entirely innocent, and it pierced through you like a dentistâs drill. You inhaled through your nose, slow and measured: oxygen in, pain out.
It didnât work.Â
âMama!â she announced, then squealed again right in front of you.
The sound struck your skull, and your vision flared white at the edges.
You inhaled sharply and forced your expression into something pleasant through sheer will.
âHi, Ladybug,â you said gently. âWhat do you have?â
She proudly raised a spoon and slapped it against your thigh.
Your nerves flared in brief, offended protest.
âOkay,â you murmured, reaching down. âLetâs notââ
She darted away, giggling, spoon held aloft like a trophy. She made a beeline for the cabinet you forgotten to child-lock, again because you had been juggling a million other things.
You took one step after her, and the migraine surged, hot, precise, and mean, so hard you had to stop.
Your older daughterâs chair scraped as she stood. âI can get her,â she offered, already moving, helpful in that earnest elder daughter way that made your chest squeeze.
âNo, love,â you said quickly. You didnât wanted her parenting her sister while you stood there pretending you were fine. âItâs okay. Iâve got her.â
You bent and scooped your toddler up mid-wobble. She immediately twisted to look at you, offended at being contained, kicking lightly against your hip and squealing again in protest.
It was thankfully lower in pitch this time, but it was still loud.
You adjusted her weight, tucked her closer, and kept your voice steady. âNo cabinet raids. Not tonight, my little love.â
She stared at you with solemn toddler judgment, then stuck the spoon in her mouth.
You turned back to the stove because dinner was happening whether you were in pain or not. The onions needed stirring. The pasta water needed salt. The sauce needed attention. Everything needed you all at once, and you felt pulled in four directions, with the headache as the fifth.
Your eight year old hummed thoughtfully while her pencil scratched across paper. The sound was sandpaper on bone.
You adjusted your daughter on your hip. She smelled like applesauce and baby shampoo. Normally it would have made you smile, but tonight, it was simply one more sensation.
The front door clicked open. You didnât need to look to know your husband was home. The house shifted when he arrived, as though familial gravity recalibrated around his presence.
âHello, my girls,â Bucky called, his voice warm yet worn at the edges.
He was still in his suit jacket, tie loosened a fraction like he tugged at it on the walk from his office because he couldnât stand it tight another second. His hair was slightly rumpled, his jaw shadowed with stubble that suggested a day that felt like a week. He looked like heâd been holding himself together in public the same way you been holding yourself together at home.
You straightened instinctively, smoothing your expression into something you hoped was convincing. You could get through dinner. Just dinner. After that, you could collapse.
He stepped into the kitchen doorway, his gaze finding you first, like always.
But his smile didnât linger in admiration and love like it usually did. You could tell he was assessing you.
You turned back to the stove before he could study you too closely. âYou just got home, sweetheart. Go take off your jacket and relax.â You stirred the sauce, though you couldnât remember adding salt. Had you added it?
The words sounded smooth, but silence stretched behind you. You felt him step closer.
âDoll,â he said, low and quiet.
You hated that tone. It meant he saw right through you and already made a decision.
âIâm okay,â you insisted without turning around. The kitchen lights pulsed; your stomach rolled. âItâs just a migraine. I took a pill. Itâs nothing I havenât before. Let me finish dinner for you and the girls.â
He moved into your space with gentle certainty, his large hand settling at your waist.
âYouâre squinting,â he said. âAnd you havenât blinked in about thirty seconds.â
You forced your eyes wider to prove a point. It made everything worse. âIâve got it handled.â
âYeah,â he murmured. âI can see that.â
Your daughter squirmed in your arms, reaching for her father. Buckyâs vibranium hand slid securely beneath her and lifted her from your hip in one seamless motion. The sudden absence of her weight made you sway.
âI can still cook,â you protested. The words come thinner now. âButterfly needs help with her math, and you just got back from work. Youâve been in meetings all day.â
âAnd Iâm home now,â he said, making it sound simple.
âDinnerâs halfway doneââ
Your toddler patted his cheek and babbled something happy. Bucky pressed a distracted kiss to her head without looking away from you.
His voice softened. âGo,â he said quietly. âPlease? Let me take care of it.â
The words struck your heart tenderly, because even though he was tired himself from a long day, he was willing to take over and let you rest. Because your well-being was important to him.
You hesitated, because you always did, because youâd trained yourself not to be a burden, because your brain still insisted that handling everything yourself was safer than letting go.
He reached past you and took the wooden spoon.
âUpstairs,â he said gently but firmly. âDark room. Ice pack. Iâll bring you water.â
âI canât justââ
âYou can just.â He leaned down and pressed a careful, featherlight kiss to your temple. âYou donât get points for suffering through it.â
Your older daughter appeared in the doorway, wide-eyed. âIs Mom okay?â
Bucky shifted the other higher on his hip. âMomâs got a headache,â he said easily. âSo Iâm taking over. Think you can be my sous-chef tonight?â
Butterfly straightened immediately, solemn and proud. âYes, sir.â
You wanted to argue again, to insist on finishing dinner, on being helpful, on being useful, but the room tilted, and the relief of letting someone else carry the evening was so strong it made your eyes sting.
You felt his warm hand settle at the small of your back, guiding you toward the stairs.
Your legs felt heavier than they should have.
Halfway up, guilt clawed its way through the pain. You were supposed to handle this. Other mothers handled worse. Youâd handled worse. You hated feeling fragile, hated needing rescuing in your own kitchen.
At the top of the stairs, you turned back. He was still there, watching to make sure you made it the rest of the way. He shooâd you onward with a tilt of his head.
And so you let the bedroom swallow you: blackout curtains drawn, blessed darkness wrapping around your aching skull.
Downstairs, you heard your toddlerâs delighted babble, your oldestâs earnest questions, and cabinet doors opening and closing.
And under it all, Buckyâs steady, capable voice, entirely at ease.
A different kind of quiet settled over the house as you finally closed your eyes.
*****
Bucky stood in the middle of the kitchen for a full three seconds after steering you upstairs, toddler balanced on his left hip, oldest hovering at his right elbow, and simply took inventory.
The onions were soft but threatening to burn. The carrots were half-chopped. The cutting board looked like youâd been mid-motion when he walked in. The pasta water hadnât quite boiled yet. The sauce was bubbling.
He exhaled slowly through his nose.
He fought aliens on battlefields where goats had grazed the day before. He survived HYDRA brainwashing and found love. Heâd run for elected office with his shadowy past and won.
This should be easy.
The little one buried her face in his shoulder and gripped his shirt with both fists like she was afraid he might evaporate.
âOkay,â he muttered to himself. âWeâre good. Weâre fine.â
The older reached for a wooden spoon before he could stop her.
âNope,â he said automatically, taking the spoon from her. âNot near the stove.â
âIt needs stirring,â she said, offended.
He given her a look. âYou are eight.â
âAnd I know when itâs burning,â she replied with your signature sass, like only someone 8-going-on-18 can, and held up her worksheet. âAnd I need help.â
He glanced down at the paper like it might bite him.
âShow how you use eight and five to get ten,â she read, tapping the line with her pencil.
Bucky blinked at it.
âTen?â he repeated. âEight plus five is thirteen.â
She nodded vigorously. âThatâs what I said.â
He felt a surge of completely irrational vindication for something so simple. âRight. So weâre correct.â
âBut it says get ten,â she insisted.
He squinted at the worksheet, shifting his daughter higher on his hip when she started to slide. She immediately grabbed his loosened tie and shoved it toward her mouth.
âAbsolutely not,â he muttered, gently prying it away. âThat tieâs already a long day.â
Butterfly watched the exchange, unimpressed. âDaddy.â
âRight,â he said, dragging his attention back to the page. âTen.â
He looked at the numbers again. Eight. Five. Get ten.
âWhat the heck is this?â he muttered.
She brightened like sheâd been waiting for that line. âMy teacher says itâs âNew Math,â but that itâs not ânewâ. Itâs just better.â
Bucky furrowed his brown and huffed a quiet laugh. âBetter for who?â
He glanced toward the stairs instinctively, like he might call up to you for backup.
âDoes your mother understand this?â he asked.
She nodded immediately. âShe understands it, but she said she doesnât like it.â
âOkay,â he said slowly. âIf your mother understands it, then it to make sense. Somewhere.â
The pan given a warning hiss.
He turned a âshââ under his breath into a âshootâ and pivoted, using the wooden spoon and stirring the onions one-handed.
The toddler objected to the angle change by leaning back dramatically, threatening to throw herself out of his arm like a tiny, uncoordinated protester. He tightened his hold without looking, enhanced reflexes compensating for her wobbly rebellion.
âYou are clingy tonight,â he told her quietly.
She pressed her face into his shoulder in response, as if that settled it.
Butterfly sighed loudly. âDaddy.â
âRight. Math.â
He turned the heat down and scanned the rest of the counter. Carrots. Pasta. He could do this.
âOkay,â he said, pointing at the numbers on the page. âMaybe it meant you take eight⊠and needed two more to get to ten.â
She looked at him quizzically. âOkayâŠâ
âSo if you have fiveââ He paused, letting her work it out herself.
Her pencil hovered. âYou take two from the five? That makes eight into ten.â
âYup. Then you have three left,â he said slowly. âBecause five minus two is three.â
She started writing. âSo itâs ten and three?â
âAnd ten plus three is thirteen,â he said automatically.
Butterfly looked up at him, brows furrowed. âThatâs what we said before.â
âOkay,â he said. âSo maybe the point isnât to get ten as the final answer. Maybe it was to show how you made ten first. Like how you rearranged the numbers to make it easier to do in your head.â
Butterflyâs eyes narrowed in thought. âOhh⊠Mrs. Mulligan said something about making ten.â
He pointed at the worksheet with a grin. âThere. Thatâs it, then. You took two from five, added it to eight, that gave you ten. Then you three left. Ten and three made thirteen.â
She slowly smiled. âSo theyâre teaching me how to do the math I do in my head, but making me do it on paper.â
Heâd be damned. The little bugger was right. âYeah, Butterfly,â he muttered. âThatâs school for you.â
He turned back to the stove, juggling one kid on his hip while reaching for the half-chopped carrots. He scraped them into the pan one-handed, missing a few that scattered across the counter. He grabbed them and tossed them in.
The pasta water finally begun to bubble. He dumped salt in, then the noodles, stirring awkwardly while trying to keep the littlest Barnes away from the steam.
âNo,â he said firmly, angling her away. âThatâs hot.â
She pouted.
He kissed her hair automatically, watching the stove like it was a volatile negotiation.
He could feel the tempo of the kitchen now, the way you must: what needed stirring, what needed lowering, what could wait thirty seconds and what couldnât.
And beneath it all was the steady pull of two kids needing different things at the same time.
His oldest cleared her throat. âCan I show you the next one?â
âSure,â he said, not looking away from the pan.
She waited for him.
He sighed and turned, giving her his full attention like he seen you do when you make them feel like the only person in the room even when three things are on fire.
Ladybug chosen that exact moment to squirm violently.
He adjusted without thinking, tightening his hold, bracing her against his chest.
*****
Dinner was slightly overdone by the time he plated it. The onions were darker than intended, the carrots softer.
He set a plate in front of the oldest, then maneuvered the toddler into her high chair with practiced efficiency. She protested the transition from hip to seat.
âI know,â he placated her. âI know. Iâm the worst.â
He spooned pasta onto her tray, blew on it, and popped one elbow noodle into his mouth to test the temperature.
She immediately grabbed a fistful and smeared it across her tray.
He intercepted the second handful mid-air on the way to her hair.
âFood goes in your mouth,â he informed her solemnly.
She grinned at him like he was hilarious.
By the time both plates were mostly empty, Buckyâs tie was speckled with sauce, his sleeve was sticky, and the babyâs face looked like sheâd lost a fight with a tomato.
He wiped her down with a damp cloth in swift, precise motions: cheeks, chin, hands, between fingers. It was military efficiency applied to pasta cleanup.
His oldest watched him with open amusement. âYou missed a spot,â she said.
He narrowed his eyes. âWhere?â
She tapped her own cheek.
He wiped away the imaginary spot of sauce and sealed it with a kiss to her cheek. âThere,â he said, âall clean.â
Ladybug leaned forward and pressed a sloppy kiss to his jaw in response, leaving a wet mark behind.
He snorted softly.
Bedtime was mercifully short; pajamas were put on and teeth brushed with minimal argument.
Until his oldest handed him a hair tie.
âMom does it,â she said, sitting cross-legged on her bed.
He looked at the hair tie and sighed.
âHow hard could it be?â he muttered.
Five minutes later, she was staring at her reflection with mild concern.
The ponytail was functional, if slightly to the left and angled. The hair was in the elastic, so he counted it as a win.
âItâs kind of lopsided,â she said.
âItâs fine for bedtime,â he replied defensively.
She studied herself another second, then shrugged. âOkay.â
He kissed the top of her head. âGoodnight, Butterfly.â
âGoodnight, Daddy.â
The toddler had already been half-asleep when he laid her down, thumb tucked into her mouth, hair a mess against her forehead. He was grateful she didnât need her hair done for bed.
When he finally made it back downstairs, the house was quiet.
The kitchen was a mess, but a manageable one. He moved through it methodically: plates into the dishwasher, counters wiped, backpack checked.
He paused with his hands braced on the counter.
This constant recalibration, tracking heat and hunger and homework and moods, never made the news. It wasnât flashy. It simply got done. Every single day.
He looked around the kitchen one more time. It was mostly clean. A slightly crooked stack of plates didnât fit in the dishwasher, a wooden spoon was abandoned in the sink.
He rubbed a hand down his face, exhaustion settling into his bones in a way that felt different from battlefields or Capitol Hill.
âI never thought fighting aliens would be easier than raising two girls,â he muttered to himself.
Then he turned off the kitchen light and headed upstairs.
*****
The bedroom had been dark for hours.
You werenât sure when the sharp edge of the migraine had dulled into something survivable, only that the room had stopped spinning and the pulse behind your eye had receded to a distant, manageable throb. The curtains were drawn tight, sealing out the streetlights. The air smelled faintly of lavender from the diffuser youâd turned on in desperation.
You were floating somewhere between sleep and awareness when the mattress dipped.
The sheets shifted as Bucky eased himself under them, slow enough that the bed springs barely protested. Even exhausted, he was so careful with you.
You stirred anyway.
Your body knew when he was near.
âHey,â you murmured, voice thick with sleep and the remnants of pain.
âHey, sweetheart,â he answered softly.
The fatigue in his tone threaded through you more effectively than any alarm. Your eyes opened to the dark, adjusting just enough to trace the outline of his shoulders.
âIâm sorry,â you said immediately.
The words came like muscle memory. âI didnât mean to just leave everything to you. Dinner and homework andââ
âStop,â he said. You felt his hand find yours under the covers, squeezing once. âDonât,â he added, gentler now.
You swallowed. Guilt had been waiting for an opening all evening. âI hate when I canât just push through.â
He shifted closer, the mattress dipping again as he turned toward you fully. His fingers slid into your hair, slow and careful, like he was untangling your wayward thoughts. His thumb settled at your temple, brushing lightly over the place that had hurt most.
âHowâs it now?â he asked.
âBetter,â you admitted. âDull. Manageable.â
He kept his thumb moving in small, steady arcs, not pressing too hard. The pad of it was warm and soothing. You let your eyes close again as his hand continued its slow rhythm through your hair. His other arm slipped around your waist, palm spreading against your back.Â
âThe girls okay?â you asked.
âAlive,â he replied dryly. âFed. Clean enough to pass inspection.â
A small smile tugged at your mouth. âHow bad was it?â
There was a pause, just long enough for honesty.
âNothing catastrophic,â he said. âDinner was a little overdone. Ladybug thinks gravity is a joke. And apparently eight and five make ten before they make thirteen.â
You laughed softly, the sound barely more than breath. âYes, they do.â
âYeah, well.â His thumb paused, then resumed. âIt took me a minute, but we got there. You know, you are so smart. How do you just understand this new math stuff?â
Even in the dark, you could hear the genuine bewilderment under the teasing.
You opened one eye. âOf course Iâm smart,â you said lightly. âI married you. Math is much simpler compared to figuring you out.â
He snorted under his breath, the sound warm against your forehead as he leaned in to press a kiss there.
âThat logic feels suspicious,â he murmured.
âItâs airtight.â
His hand slid from your temple down to the curve of your neck, then back into your hair again, slower now.
âYou do so much that I donât even see.â He said, his palm at your back rubbing once in a thoughtful line. You felt something in your chest loosen.
âItâs just⊠stuff,â you said, though without conviction.
âItâs not just stuff.â He didnât say it dramatically or turn it into a speech.
You turned your face into his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of him: soap, starch, a faint trace of the outside world he carried home every night. His body relaxed into you, matching your own.
âI donât like sitting out,â you admitted quietly. âIt feels like Iâm failing.â
His hand stilled at your back, then pressed you closer.
âYou going upstairs before you pass out in front of the stove?â he said softly. âThatâs not failing.â His thumb brushed once more over your temple. âThatâs having a limit and respecting it.â
Down the hall, the house was silent. No small footsteps, no requests for water. Just the low hum of the heater and the steady cadence of his breathing.
âIâve got it,â he added, quieter now. âWhen you canât. Iâve got it.â
You believed him. Not because he was strong or capable or frighteningly competent when he decided to be, though he was all those things.
But because he didnât keep score. When you couldnât handle something, he stepped in. When he dropped the ball, you picked it up. You were partners in life and in love.Â
Your hand slid up his chest, curling into the fabric of his white undershirt. His heart beat steady beneath your palm. You matched your breathing to it without thinking.
For a while, neither of you spoke.
There was only the warmth of him along your front, his hand resting wide and sure against your back, and his thumb tracing idle patterns through your hair.
The migraine faded further into the background.
After a while so did the guilt.
In the dark, wrapped in the quiet of a house youâd both built and held together in different ways, you let yourself simply rest.
And he stayed awake just long enough to make sure you did.
Summary:Â Surprising Bucky in lingerie didnât go as planned because youâre too sleepy, but that didnât stop him for pleasuring you.
Warnings/Tags: 18+ mdni, smut with no plot, kinda somnophilia, congressman!bucky, soft dom!bucky, female reader (she/her) with female anatomy, oral (fem receiving), praise, use of the term 'my girl', slight infantilization, aftercare included, Thunderbolts era, pre-established relationship, no use of Y/N
Word count: 829 words
Bee's Note:Â Yâall gave my last Bucky smut fic so much love that I just had to write another one. Again, the kink part of this was supposed to be used for Kinktober, but we all know what happened with that. I was reminded of it by the Galentines Party event created by @wildflowersandvibranium and @pinksplace. This is for the spicy day nine prompt, lace/lingerie. Also, I am aware that somnophilia is not everyoneâs cup of tea, but it is mine. Feel free to skip this one <33
Marvel Masterlist
Your husbandâs meeting had gone much longer than either of you had been anticipating. Earlier in the night, youâd found the lingerie from your wedding night and put it on to surprise Bucky. Youâd been told that he was coming home sometime after nine, but that was not the case. It was closer to midnight when he finally arrived.
Already under the assumption that you were asleep, Bucky tiptoed into the bedroom and froze when he saw you. You were laid across the sheets and your skin was decorated in white lace. He recognized the outfit immediately, and guilt bloomed in his chest. Youâd gone out of your way to dress up for him, and heâd completely forgotten to tell you that the meeting had run late. He needed to fix this.
The first order of business was to move the sleeping kitty that was currently draped across your back. Careful not to wake you, Bucky picked up Alpine and gave her a few good head scratches. He held her close and slowly carried her out of the bedroom. Setting her in the hallway, he whispered to her before shutting the door.
âIâll be back, pretty kitty.â
In the past, youâd given Bucky permission to either get things started or to just âtake what he neededâ while you slept. The idea had always been thrilling, but heâd never acted on it. That changed tonight. Approaching the bed, he slipped off the underwear portion of the lingerie and double-checked that you were still asleep. He slid his hand between your thighs and lightly stroked your cunt. You were already damp, and he let out a small curse beneath his breath.
âDamn, youâre already soaked for me, sweetheart.â
Settling himself at the foot of the bed, Bucky pulled you closer and rested your legs on his shoulders. You started to stir, and you blinked down blearily at him. Your husband was positioned right above your bare cunt. He instantly shushed you and rubbed your side.
âShhh. Just lay still, baby. Iâve got you.â
âMâkay.â
Bucky waited until your eyes shut to get started. There was little chance of you really falling back asleep, but you were willing to pretend in order to fulfil his fantasy. His fingers pressed small indents into the flesh around your hips, while his mouth finally made contact with your aching core. He moaned between greedy strokes of his tongue.
One thing that he was always going to do was to eat you out like he was starving. Bucky had to force himself to take breaths between strokes. His lips found your clit and he sucked harshly. You were still faking your slumber, so you had to bite down on your lower lip to prevent yourself from crying out. He couldnât resist teasing you.
âYou were so sleepy, huh? Couldnât even wait for me to get home.â
Your head was lolled back against the pillow, and you were fighting every urge to jerk your hips. Bucky's ministrations never faltered, but he kept glancing up to see your reaction. Your cheeks were flushed, and your hair was fanned out like a halo. God, you looked like a fucking angel. Between grunts, the words fell from his lips.
âMy perfect, sleepy girl. Youâre being so good for me.â
In an effort to maintain the illusion of you being asleep, you were taking measured breaths and doing your best to not audibly react to the overwhelming pleasure. Bucky was only pushing you closer and closer to that edge. It didnât take long for the orgasm to wash over you. He made sure to coax you through it. His metal hand had reached up to carefully card through your hair.
Once he was finished, Bucky pulled back and wiped his damp beard with the back of his hand. He had a stupid grin on his face and he looked pussy-drunk. After youâd caught your breath, it took him a moment to realize that you were actuallydrifting back off to sleep. He still needed to clean you up, though. Not wanting to wake you, he quietly went into the roomâs conjoined bathroom and wet a rag.
He returned to you and began wiping between your thighs. Usually, heâd change the sheets, but you were already asleep. There was no point in doing that, now. He moved the warm wash cloth in soft circles on your skin. The heat of the fabric was even more soothing, and you were fully out. Finished cleansing you, he tossed the rag to the side and went to go fetch Alpine. The fluffy white cat would scratch at the door all night if he left her.
Coming back with the cat, he laid beside you and pulled you to rest your head on his chest. You sighed softly, and he kissed the top of your head. Youâd been absolutely perfect for him, and he had to whisper more praises.
âThank you for that, baby. Sleep well.â
Taglist: @sunday-bug @onyx8514-blog @death-in-a-tar0t-card (comment to join!!)
imagine bucky having a really bad day, like maybe business went wrong and itâs causing a lot of stress and problems, then he takes it out on fairy đ± how would she react?
this probably isn't what you'd expect but
a man's place
18+
Bucky's having a bad day. He makes the mistake of taking it out on you.
Warning: Mob!Bucky x Wife!Reader, mature themes, arguing, angry!bucky, bucky is an asshole, physical violence (not from bucky!), brief mention of abuse.
Series Masterlist
Seventeen million dollars.
Seventeen million dollars just got flushed down the toilet because of an avoidable mistake. Because of an over-sensitive arms dealer that got offended at a joke one of Bucky's men made.
Bucky's pissed. He feels as pathetic as he probably looks, lying on the couch in his office with a bottle of whisky held to his chest. He's yelled at everyone in sight today, making sure they all know how incompetent they are.
But they're only a reflection of his leadership.
Today marks thirteen years since his father died. Thirteen years since he was forced into a position of power that no teenager should have been burdened with. And all that Bucky feels is the heavy weight of disappointment.
He will never live up to the name George left behind. He's a failure. Destroying the legacy that generations of Barnes men and women put into place. His empire is falling apart at the seams, and Bucky fears he doesn't have the strength to keep it together.
Deciding his mindset won't lead to any productivity today, he goes home. Seeing his men just makes him even angrier.
The drive home does nothing to dissipate his anger. When he gets there, he still can't shake off his frustration from today. Usually, his stress melts off the second he enters the home he shares with you, but the events of today are too heavy for him to drop.
You're in the kitchen when you hear him come home, and you're surprised when he doesn't call out to you straight away. You decide to give him some space. Maybe he's tired.
When he goes straight upstairs without looking for you downstairs first, you know something's off.
Patiently, you wait for him to return downstairs, not wanting to push him if he's seeking alone time. You know he's been feeling on edge recently with George's death anniversary fast approaching, and he needs to process his nuanced grief in his own way.
When you hear him go into the lounge, you walk in, refusing to leave him alone any longer. You walk in to see him sitting on the couch with a glass of whisky and his laptop on his lap.
"Hey, you," You greet him, expecting him to start complaining about his day and asking you to make it better.
He grunts.
That's it. That's all you get back.
"Shit, okay," You utter, not impressed by his blatant disrespect. "Dinner's gonna be ready in ten; I used the rest of the chicken to make enchiladas."
"Not hungry," He utters bluntly while typing on the keyboard.
Alright. You understand he can get into a bad mood sometimes and it's a tough time for him, but by now, he knows better than to take it out on you.
"You could at least look at me when I'm talking to you," You tell him sternly, patient no more.
"I'm busy, alright?" He spits harshly, taking you aback.
"Who the actual fuck do you think you're talking to, right now?" You ask him with a glare, appalled by his tone.
He slams his laptop shut and gets up to his feet. "Can you just leave me alone?" He seethes.
You see red. "Are you fucking kidding me?" You ask, storming over to him.
"Leave me alone, Y/N," He demands, using your real name for the first time in a long, long time. "I don't have time for your shit today, alright?"
"Don't be such a cunt," You yell, infuriated by the way he's talking to you.
Bucky takes a step closer to you, his eyes filled with fury. "Watch your fucking mouth, and get out of my sight, now," He yells back at you, stepping even closer as if he could ever intimidate you- as if you could ever believe he'd hit you.
It seems he's forgotten who you are to him. Who you are, full stop. So, you set out to remind him
You kick him in the balls.
He keels over with a groan immediately, falling to his knees at your feet. His cheeks flush pink as he falls onto his side, clutching his crotch with both hands like a pathetic piece of shit.
"Don't you ever speak to me like that, you fucking prick," You spit as you glare down at him. "I am your equal. You do not talk down to me or treat me like I am subordinate."
He blows out air through his gritted teeth, looking up at you. "Fa- fairy, I'm sorry."
"You may be the big bad Barnes out there, but in here, you are my husband. Remember that," You state frankly. "You do not intimidate me. I'm not a fucking punching bag."
"I am so sorry," Bucky says, as he slowly gets onto his knees. "Fairy, you know that it would never go that far. I would never lay a hand on you. No matter how angry I get."
"Maybe you've been thinking about your dad a lot recently, and you're trying to be more like him," You say coldly. "But it is not a man's place to disrespect his wife the way you just did."
"You're right," He says, looking up at you with wide eyes. "I fucked up. I shouldn't have-"
"I don't wanna hear it," You cut him off, taking a step back. "I'm going to Banita's. I'll be back when I want to be back."
"No, don't leave," Bucky begs you, shaking his head.
"Goodbye, James," You utter bluntly, before leaving the room.
don't mess with fairy >:-[
part two >
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