Did I spend my night working on bachelor parties??
Yes.
Yes, I did.
You guys know my writing is chaos, so like even tho the bachelorette/bachelor parties won't show up for like at least five more chapters, that's where my attention was drawn last night lol
That's actually one of the reasons that posting as I write is really challenging for me, cuz I don't write in order, like from start to finish. I write random scenes whenever they come to me and then I just piece them all together.
Anyways, Bruce and Bucky play a game of red light, green light at the bachelor partyđđ
.....
"You ever play red light, green light when you were younger?"
Bucky nodded, confused.
"Course."
Bruce hummed, his hand trailing up Bucky's thigh and brushing over the thick line in his jeans. Bucky's eyes fluttered shut for a moment and he stifled a groan.
"Whatâ Are you for real, right now?"
Bruce chuckled.
"Let's call it a test run, lemme take you for a drive and see how well your brakes work."
Bucky cursed, his hips jerking up into Bruce's touch.
"You gonna ride me?"
Bruce snorted.
"You wish. No, I'm just gonna play a little game. I figure if you can control yourself when you're drunk, then I won't have to worry about it when you're sober."
Bucky's eyes snapped to him and then darted away. There was actually some logic in that.
"Yeah, okay, let's play."
.....
Guys, you have no idea how much I'm enjoying writing ace characters rn!
Like with Tony in Little Stories who probably falls somewhere between sex positive and demisexual depending on the situation, and Bruce in Tempting who is probably closer to sex neutral. It's just really fun to explore their sexualities and play around with it.
I feel like most of the ace characters in fics are sex repulsed and while that's totally valid, it's not something I personally relate to. I also think it's just really cool to have variety. So there's that lol
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media Types, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Bruce Banner/James "Bucky" Barnes
Characters: Bruce Banner, James "Bucky" Barnes, Hulk (Marvel), Shuri (Marvel), Steve Rogers, Tony Stark
Additional Tags: Hurt Bucky Barnes, Trauma, Running Away, Homelessness, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Mutual Pining, Protectiveness, Healing, Not Canon Compliant, Bruce Banner Needs a Hug, Bruce Banner Feels, Bucky Barnes Feels, Bonding, POV Alternating, Bathing/Washing, Facial Shaving, Haircuts, Sharing a Bed, Fluff, First Kiss
Summary:
Just as he had done every night for the last four months, Bruce dreamed of Bucky.
Bruce wasnât angry; he was so incredibly sorry that he could hardly breathe with it.
I finished it! Woohoo (moves from WIP folder with glee)
Hope you have enjoyed my side trip into rare pair land. If youâd rather read a Stucky fic, try this one: Winds of Change (Bucky recovers⊠and runs into Steve in the last place he thought heâd find Avengers).
Even if this pairing isnât your cup of tea, please reblog - maybe it will find its way to the small group of fans who want to read anything with Bucky in it (um, yeah, that would include me!) (And this has a sweet letter to Steve at the endâŠ)
Chapter Four (read from the beginning here)
Thankfully Sam and Natasha inform them that night that theyâre taking off on another mission, and so Bucky doesnât have to face Natashaâs know it all gloating. Â Heâs glad she was right about how Bruce feels about him, but he doesnât need her to know it quite so soon.
 For the next few days, Bucky feels like heâs in a dream, or a rom-com montage.  Their daily routine doesnât change much, but now when Bucky finishes his morning workout and finds Bruce for lunch, heâs greeted with a warm embrace. Itâs amazing how it changes Buckyâs mood, knowing that Bruce welcomes his touch, whether it be a hand on his cheek as they kiss, or an arm around his waist as they walk down the street. They sit together on the couch to watch movies at night, Bruce massaging Buckyâs back, or cuddled up with Buckyâs head on Bruceâs chest, bare feet tangled together. Â
 At night they still go to their respective bedrooms, usually after a make-out session that lasts just long enough to keep them both wanting more.  And oh, how Bucky wants⊠heâs dying to get his hands all over Bruce and tease that shy smile off his face.  But for now, this is perfect.
 The one morning Bucky comes out into their living area and finds Bruce perched on the edge of the couch, clearly waiting for him.  By the look on his face, he isnât there to suggest a flirty coffee date.
 "Dr. Mubaru called,â Bruce says.  "He wanted to know why you havenât returned his messages.â
 Bucky stiffens.  "What did you tell him?â
 "I told him heâd have to ask you."Â
"Oh.â Â Bucky tries to make himself relax. Â He has been avoiding Dr. Mubaru, no question, but he had hoped to continue avoiding him for the foreseeable future. Â And the last thing he wants to do is talk to Bruce about it.
Bruce stands and rubs the back of his neck.  "Iâm sorry.  Itâs, um, a little awkward, him calling me as your doctor when weâreâŠâ Â
"Itâs fine.â Â Itâs not. Â Itâs weird, but he still doesnât want to talk about it. Â Bucky searches for the right words to get him out of this, but all he comes up with is a lame âIâm late for P.T.â Â He tries not to see the hurt on Bruceâs face as he books it out the door.
Needless to say, P.T. is less than productive. Â Bucky goes at it too hard, pulls a muscle in his side, and his therapist ends their session early, frowning and sending him to take a hot bath. Â Bucky pouts all the way back to his room, where he promptly throws himself face down on the bed and pouts some more. Â After a few minutes he gets tired of smelling his own sweat and gets up to shower, but he canât unscrew the cap of his new bottle of shampoo with one hand. Â Turns out slamming it into the side of the shower head doesnât work so well, either.
Twenty minutes later, heâs dripping on the floor of their little kitchen, glaring at the coffee machine with his towel around his waist, when Bruce comes in. Â Bucky immediately hustles back into his bedroom, muttering something about needing to get dressed. Â He takes as long as he can reasonably spend finding a clean tank and wrestling on some jeans, then pads back out into the living room to face the music, feeling lousy.
Bruce is at the kitchen table, two cups of black coffee in front of him. Â His hair is disheveled, like heâs been running his fingers through it. Â Bucky grimaces and sits down next to him. Â This isnât going to get any easier.
âYou know why Dr. Mubaru wants to talk to me,â Bucky says. Â Itâs not really a question.
âI assume it has to do with your arm.â Â Bruce is calmer than he has any right to be, and it makes Bucky wince. Â Itâs not great when you feel like you have the emotional capacity of a toddler compared to the man youâre crushing on.
âLook, Iâm really sorry about before,â Bucky says, although he can hear that his tone isnât quite sincere.
âObviously this is a source of anxiety for you.â
No shit. Â "Could you maybe act a little less like my doctor, here?â
"How would you like me to act? Â Like the guy who you stormed out on this morning?â Â Bruceâs voice is still calm, and itâs pissing Bucky off.
âMaybe that would be a little more honest, yeah.â
âIf youâre waiting for me to get angry, to justify getting angry back and shutting me out, itâs not going to happen.â Â Bruce puts a spoonful of some natural sweetener that Bucky has discovered doesnât taste at all like sugar in his coffee and stirs it. Â "I canât get angry. Â And I certainly am not going to get angry at you for acting less than politely when challenged about a stressful situation. Â But it would be nice if you could remember that Iâm on your side, here.â
Bucky simultaneously feels like he wants to throw a chair through the window and like heâs about to cry. Â He turns to Bruce, ready to toss a snappy retort back at him, when something in Bruceâs face shifts. Â Before he knows it, Bruceâs arms are around him, holding him close.
It takes Bucky a minute to get with the program, but then he sags against Bruce, breathing in the scent of his herbal shampoo as he presses his face into his neck. Â "Iâm really sorry,â Bucky mumbles. Â "Iâm a fucking idiot.â
"Youâre not an idiot,â Bruce says, rubbing a hand in circles on Buckyâs back. Â "Itâs okay.â
"Itâs not,â Bucky protests. Â He squeezes his eyes tight, and feels his chest hitch. Â He wishes he could wrap <i>two</i> arms around Bruce, and the thought just pushes him closer to the edge. Â
Bruce threads his fingers through Buckyâs wet hair and doesnât say anything about how Bucky is struggling not to cry, which Bucky appreciates almost as much as the way Bruce holds him so gently, like heâs something precious rather than a moody former assassin lacking any purpose in life.
âWant to watch a movie?â
Bucky blinks up at Bruce, realizing that he no longer feels like bawling, and that they have apparently been clutching each other at the kitchen table for ten minutes or so. Â Not surprisingly, his pulled muscle still hurts.
âA movie?â
âSure.â
Itâs not even lunchtime.â Â Bucky realizes the inanity of this argument as the words leave his mouth, but he figures Bruce will get it. Â They usually donât watch tv in the middle of the day - in fact, Bucky should really be heading to the gym about now.
âThatâs okay.â
"You donât want to talk aboutâŠ?â  Bucky asks, shrugging his metal shoulder.
âIf you want,â Bruce says noncommittally. Â "Or, movie first, discussion about significant trauma later.â
Bucky snorts out a bitter laugh. Â "Iâll snap out of it. Â Itâs not that big a deal.â
Bruce looks at him like he wants to wrap Bucky up in a blanket and keep him there all day, which, come to think of it, is kind of what he has just suggested. Â âWhat?â
âBucky, donât ever let anyone tell you that. Â Including yourself. Â It is a big deal.â
For a moment it feels like Bruce is staring straight into his battered soul, and Bucky wants to duck and hide. Â Because having to make a choice about what to do with his missing metal arm has him paralyzed. Â When he thinks about it, his brain spins in circles.
Why should he get a new arm? Is it really necessary? Â As Bucky is now, as heâs been since he came out of cryo, heâs still an enhanced warrior. Â His skills are undeniable. Â And it much as it sucks, not having two arms, he wonders if maybe itâs his due. Â If he doesnât deserve a replacement for the arm that made him into a deadly weapon, especially not the powerful vibranium model Dr. Mubaru has engineered for him.
He canât imagine why the world would want to give him back such a weapon.
Bucky shakes his head and focuses on Bruce, who is still gazing at him with concern. Â âYeah. Â Whatever.â He stands up and inclines his head towards the living area. Â âYouâre right. Â A movie sounds good.â
Bruce nods and holds out his hand. Â Bucky lets Bruce lead him over to the couch and pick out a movie, not trusting himself to say anything more. Â After a few minutes he lies down with his head on Bruceâs lap. Â Bruce pulls a blanket over them both and combs his fingers through Buckyâs hair. Â Itâs incredibly soothing. Â Bucky closes his eyes, focuses on the feeling of safety and comfort, the warmth of Bruceâs leg under his cheek, and falls asleep.
Later, after dinner, in the middle of a conversation about whether to walk down to the new shaved ice place Sam told them about, Bucky suddenly canât keep it inside any more. Â
"I donât know if I want it.â
Bruce doesnât ask what heâs talking about, just takes his hand and threads their fingers together.
"I donât know if I <i>should</i> have it,â Bucky goes on, his voice trembling.
Bruce looks at him with sad understanding. Â "Youâre not obligated to.â Â He puts a hand on Buckyâs metal shoulder, follows it down to the temporary cap. Â "You can stay just the way you are. Â But donât say no just to punish yourself.â
âWithout the arm⊠itâs safer.â
âYour arm isnât responsible for those killings. Â Neither are you.â
âDo you really believe that?â
Bruce looks at him steadily, and for a moment Bucky wonders if the Hulk is in there too, weighing in on the question.
âAre we still talking about you?â Bruce asks.
Yup, the Hulkâs in there.
âIs it the same thing, though, you and me?â Â Bucky asks. Â "âCause I donât think it is. Â Iâve got a choice, now. Â Shouldnât I use it? Â Shouldnât I choose not to have a weaponized prosthetic.â
"I donât think they built lasers or anything into it,â Bruce says, with a touch of humor, before his voice takes a more serious tone.  "The arm isnât the weapon, and you know that.  And⊠no, you and I arenât the same.  Not exactly.  I canât choose not to have the other guy be a part of me.  I tried, and it didnât work.  But I can choose to do everything I can to control what he does.  I can choose to stay home, when battles are being fought.  Or I can join in.  Those are the kind of choices that matter.  And you can make them now, however you want.  Having the new arm or not isnât going to change that.â
Bucky shakes his head. âSo youâre saying Iâm always going to be the Winter Soldier, no matter what I do?â
Bruce looks pained. âNo, Bucky. Â Youâre not the Winter Soldier at all. Â That wasnât you.â
Bucky taps his metal shoulder. Â âEvidence says otherwise.â
âYou can get rid of it all, you know.â
âWhat do you mean?â Bucky feels a tremor run through him.
âThe metal.  I studied your scans, came up with a plan, before you woke up.  Thereâs enough of your body left under the shoulder casing, if you wanted to remove all the metal plating.  It would require several surgeries, some skin grafts⊠probably result in some weakening of the area, at least at first.  Thereâd still be significant scarring, but you should retain function, and the muscles can be strengthened with rehab, although not necessarily up to your former strength.  We could actually do better if I got Dr. Cho involved â she could likely rebuild some of the lost skin and tissue and heal some of the scars, but I didnât want to contact her without your permission.â
Bucky clutches his metal shoulder, flexes his muscles underneath. Â Thinks about how it would feel to have skin there, on his chest, too, instead of cold metal. Â âWhy didnât you tell me?â
âI gave my results to Dr. Mubaru. Â I figured heâd tell you when you talked to him about your options.â Â Bruce huffs out a laugh. Â âI didnât realize you were avoiding him.â
âBruce.â Â Bucky stands up and paces around the kitchen. Â âShit.â
âYou donât have to decide now, Buck.â
âI know, butâŠâ  Bucky takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, running his fingers over the metal on his chest.  âI didnât think⊠ I could be normal, again.  Less of a monster, or a robot. Less of what Hydra made me.â
Bruce comes over to Bucky and puts his hands on his shoulders. Â Bucky stills, thinking about the different way Bruceâs hands feel, on his skin and on the metal. Â
âYouâre perfect the way you are,â Bruce says softly.  âThis-â Bruce places his palm over the metal on Buckyâs chest, slides his fingers under his tank to touch the edges of it where his skin is thickly scarred, âthis doesnât mean anything.  Itâs just surface.  It doesnât change you.  And you, Bucky⊠you are strong, and brave, and altogether the most amazing person I know.â
Bucky squeezes his eyes shut, overwhelmed.
âBut if you want to be rid of this, just say the word. Â Iâll help you. Â Or â if you want the new arm, Iâll be there for that, too. Â Whatever you choose, Iâll be there.â
âWill you come with me to see the doctor tomorrow? Â I think heâs been looking for me.â
Bruce smiles. Â âSure, Iâll come with you.â
Bucky leans his forehead against Bruceâs, and Bruceâs arms go around his back. Â He feels Bruceâs breath puffing against his skin, and shuffles closer, his hand coming up to cup the back of Bruceâs neck. Â Bruce tilts his head and brings their lips together, softly at first, then with more intent.
They kiss for what seems like forever, Bucky getting more and more worked up. Â He runs his hand down the front of Bruceâs chest, around to his back, and then slides it up under his shirt. Â Bruce is doing the same to him, and soon both of them are twisting and pulling off their shirts, then pressing back together, skin on skin â and metal on skin, but Bucky even doesnât care at this point. Â Bruce clearly doesnât, and Bucky just wants Bruce close any way he can get him.
Bruce finally pulls back, breathing hard. Â âBedroom?â
Bucky grabs his arm and they practically run into Buckyâs room, slamming the door behind them. Bruce climbs up on the bed and pulls Bucky after him, and they land in a pile, arms and legs tangled together.
Bruce squirms away from Bucky for a moment with a laugh, taking his glasses off and placing them more or less carefully on the night table. Â Bucky crawls over Bruce while heâs turned away, kissing up his back and nipping at his shoulder. Â The position puts Buckyâs hardening cock almost directly over Bruceâs ass, and Bruce rocks up into him, the pressure making Bucky gasp.
Bruce flips on to his back, and the look of pure delight on his face floods Bucky with happiness. âYouâre fucking amazing,â Bucky murmurs, peppering his face with kisses.
âWhatâd I do?â Â Bruce slides a hand down to Buckyâs ass and tugs him closer, letting Bucky know heâs not the only one fully committed to this particular activity.
Bucky gets his hand into the waistband of Bruceâs drawstring pants and tugs. Â âOff?â Â Bruce raises his hips and lets Bucky do the honors, Bucky grinning as he brings Bruceâs boxers off with them. Â He kneels on the bed for a moment by Bruceâs feet, enjoying the view.
Bruce squirms a little, shy all of a sudden, and Bucky doesnât waste any time taking off the rest of his own clothes (somehow this time having just one hand doesnât slow him down too much) and flopping back down on the bed next to Bruce. Â Theyâre both on their sides, smiling like dopes, and Bucky rubs his nose against Bruceâs. Â
âIâm really happy,â Bucky says, filter completely gone. Â He runs his hand down Buckyâs side, to the jut of his hipbone, and back up again. Â
Bruce doesnât make a joke about how he can tell just how happy Bucky is, just kisses Bucky, long and deep. Â âMe too.â Their kisses turn sloppier, more desperate, and Bucky throws a leg over Bruceâs hip, bringing them even closer. Â
Bruce shifts them, pushing Bucky on to his back, and kisses down his neck, stopping to suck and tease, and then drags his mouth down his chest. Â When Bruce latches on to a nipple and gives it a little tug, Bucky moans with pleasure. Â Bruce keeps it up until Bucky is peaked and hard, then does the same to the other one. Bucky is trembling all over, clutching at Bruce wherever his hand can reach. He feels like heâs soaring.
Bucky wants to explore Bruce everywhere, maybe do the same to Bruceâs chest, but Bruce has other ideas. Bruce rolls them to their sides again and gets his hand around both of them, and Bucky decides heâs going to have to save worshipping Bruceâs body properly for another day. Â Bruce gets a rhythm going, stroking over and over, with just the right amount of friction. Â His breath is hot and damp as he pants into Buckyâs neck, and heâs making little incredible noises of appreciation. Â Bruceâs hand on him is a little dry at first, but not for long, and soon they are both crying out as they go over the edge, one after another.
Turns out Bruce likes to cuddle after sex, too, and isnât that just the most wonderful thing. Â Bucky would think heâs died and gone to heaven, but his past near-death experiences havenât been anything like this good.
Six months laterâŠ
 Dear Steve -
 Sorry if this is a little rushed, T'challa just told me he could get a message through to you if I got it to him in the next twenty minutes.
 First of all, I canât believe you told Sam to get "the deetsâ on me and Bruce.  Catching up with the times is one thing, sounding like a frat boy from a bad movie is quite another.  But even though youâre a dork, Iâm gonna answer your question.
 Things with Bruce have been, and continue to be, awesome.  He teases me about falling for an older man, although we canât really agree on which of us is older.  Thanks for helping me get that book on Asgardian meditation practices for his birthday, by the way.  From the look in his eyes youâd think no one ever gave him a decent birthday present.
 In answer to the question you asked in your last letter, I think for now the answer is no.  Iâm training and staying in shape, but Iâm not ready to commit to fighting any bad guys right now.  T'challa is having me spar with his soldiers to expose them to some different fighting styles, and Iâm working with his sharpshooters, but Iâm also getting kind of addicted to Wakandan yoga.  And Bruce is enthralled by the research facilities here.  Itâs kind of nice to have this time just to be together, without any life threatening events adding unnecessary drama.  Get back to me in a year or so, and weâll see.  (Of course, if you actually ever really need me, you bet your ass Iâll be there.  Just send an interplanetary pigeon or something.)
 Try and make it home sometime, pal.  I miss you.  And Bruce makes a tofu curry thatâll knock your socks off. Â
The first touch of his lips was decidedly more rough than he was expecting. Â Bruce reached around and grasped the back of his neck, his hand moving up to tug at his hair. Â He kissed him like he was worried Bucky was going to run away. Â
And Buckyâs heart broke a little when he realized how many people probably did run from Bruce. Â He knew how it felt. Â
He wasnât running. Â
He let his hands move up Bruceâs chest, let the metal one move around behind him, pull him closer. Â Hold him tighter. Â