My left shoulder hurts so much since physio therapy this morning (it's been 10+ hours), and I can't stop thinking about Bucky bonding with a Reader who injured their shoulder during a mission (the story's halfway written, I just need to find a good ending) and now struggles with rehabilitation.
I mean, you can't tell me that his shoulder doesn't hurt sometimes. Sure, it's a lot better since Shuri replaced the metal that had been so brutally attached to him by HYDRA, with a new vibranium technology that connected with his nerve endings, stopping sudden bursts of pain shooting through his whole body. But it still aches sometimes, so over the years he has figured out all kinds of small tricks on how to get that ache under control, a few well controlled movements, a small massage he can give himself, or some heat via a hot bottle.
And when he sees you suffering, again and again rolling your shoulder trying to ease the ache, a furrow on your brow and then an almost subconscious reach up to massage your shoulder that Bucky knows won't help, not really anyway, he decides to offer his help. The first time it's in the same grumpy way in which he talks to all agents, but then you start talking a little more and he begins enjoying the conversation, his caring side becoming more and more obvious. The next time, it's you who calls for him, thanking him for his advice. And now he keeps looking for excuses to ask how your shoulder is doing but your progress is good, so he can't really keep asking that. Luckily you told him about a potted plant you bought the other day, so he'll start asking about that, until he has the courage to ask you out.
