Rapid Recovery (Bucky Barnes x Reader)

Chapter 27 : Improvement

Bucky and Y/n were now headed up the docks with a case that contained Sam's new suit from the Wakandans. Y/n observed her surroundings, watching the small crowds of people scattered around the docks, busying themselves with their own jobs. They were all smiling, laughing, talking, it surprisingly warmed her heart. Y/n had been a very reserved person, but her time with Bucky and Sam helped her out of that state. Besides, a few near death experiences, then the fear of judgement seems smaller than it used to be.

They walked up to Sam who seemed to be in a little trouble with lifting something off of the back of a truck.

"What are you doing?" Y/n asked Bucky when he handed her the case, moving over to the truck in silence. She watched him grab the machine off of the truck and set it down on another surface with a loud thud. She knew he was strong, a super soldier, and had the advantage of having a vibranium arm, but he just seemed to lift it so easily.

"What's up, Wilson?" Y/n nodded to Sam, who was standing with two, friendly, older men beside the truck, watching Bucky make his sudden appearance.

Sam nodded back to Y/n in acknowledgement as Bucky said to him, "You're welcome," much like the time that he had punched the Flag Smasher away from Sam, the day of the big fight.

Bucky grabbed the case from Y/n and lifted it onto the back of the truck to present it to Sam, "Just dropping this off. You can sign for it and we'll go," Sam and Y/n walked closer, Sam possessing a slightly confused yet serious facial expression. He placed his hand on the case, examining it when Bucky said, "I called in a favour from the Wakandans."

"You better like it. You know how long we had to wait for that to be made?" Y/n added in outrage, coming up to stand beside Bucky with her arms folded across her chest.

"She's...impatient," Bucky shrugged with a small smile when he turned to look at Y/n at his side.

Suddenly, a woman called out, "Sam," jogging over when a pipe burst, white flurries of water coming out of it.

Sam quickly went over to the pipe, immediately attempting to tighten it with a wrench, while Bucky and Y/n turned around in his direction, watching him.

"I think he needs a little help," Y/n said with a small laugh, tapping Bucky on the arm twice to signal for him to follow her and help Sam.

She walked down with Bucky, but turned to her side when Bucky had suddenly stopped to greet the woman who had called out to Sam. She returned the greeting paired with a smile before Y/n also sent her a polite smile, then walked down to help Sam, with Bucky.

"Hold on, hold on, hold on," Bucky said, quickly, patting Sam on the side twice to indicate that he wanted to take over, "You gotta go up," he advised, grabbing the wrench and tightening the pipe.

"'I'm Bucky, I can do everything. I'm Bucky, I'm so strong," Y/n mocked with an eye roll at how Bucky so easily fixed the pipe.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Bucky chuckled at Y/n, glancing at her before Sam asked a question.

"Why didn't you use the metal arm?" Sam glanced down at the arm before looking up at Bucky. Y/n was also now curious.

"Well-" Bucky stumbled on his words a little, slightly lifting his metal hand and looking at it, "I don't always think of it immediately. I'm...right handed."

Y/n laughed at the fact that he'd had a metal arm for so many decades and he still hadn't gotten used to it. The innocence behind his words made her smile. He'd used his left arm for so many wrong things, it was an instinct to use it when he fights, but now...it was like he never even had it. Like that wasn't the Winter soldier's main weapon.

Sam let out a small laugh through his nose, leaning down against a wooden stake while Y/n and Bucky peered around at the boat.

"So this is the boat huh?" Bucky asked, looking up and squinting due to the sun that beat down on them.

"This is it," Sam confirmed with slight pride of his family's boat and looking around, himself.

"Looks good," Y/n commented, turning around to look outwards at the people on the docks.

Bucky nodded in agreement, admiring the boat and turning around in the same direction as Y/n and Sam, "It's nice."

"Looks like you've got a big crew here," Y/n observed, still looking out to the people before glancing at Sam who nodded with a smile.

"Needed all hands on deck."

Bucky and Y/n continued to observe their surroundings and admire the boat, until Bucky turned his head to Sam, his hands on his hips and asked, "You want any help?"

Y/n smiled at the fact that Bucky had taken the initiative in their friendship to help Sam. She thought of all the times that she felt like she was babysitting them, because of their constant bickering, but now, their friendship really had improved...not that they'd admit it.

Y/n looked at Sam with hopeful eyes, she didn't want to leave. The environment was breathtaking and she had finally had the chance to feel comfortable somewhere, away from New York, and away from her mother. She didn't want to feel that way towards her mother, but she couldn't help but feel better, the further away she was from her. She had been broken down, piece by piece, and now she finally found an escape with both Sam and Bucky. The pressure was alleviated.

Sam looked at the both of them in thought, before nodding his head with a barely audible, "Yeah," and taking off, Y/n following him, although Bucky had stayed behind for a second.

"I'm Bucky," Y/n heard him say from behind her, both Sam and Y/n turning around in confusion to see Bucky introducing himself to the woman with a smile.

"Sarah," she introduced herself with a bright smile, Y/n slightly narrowing her eyes at the two while Sam looked at the pair with furrowed eyebrows.

"Sarah..." Bucky repeated, softly, to himself, as if her name was one of an angel's.

Y/n's stomach churned at the exchange, it was so simple yet Y/n couldn't help but feel a sharp, disgusted pain within her.

"Flirtatious asshole," Y/n muttered under her breath with an eye roll, turning back around to Sam while Bucky began to follow them.

"Someone's jealous," Sam teased her in a low voice so that Bucky wouldn't hear, although still slightly annoyed that Bucky had just tried to subtly flirt with his sister. Y/n knew who she was immediately, remembering when Sam had talked about her before.

"Shut up, Wilson. Might I remind you, that's your sister," Y/n shot back, pairing it with an eye roll.

"Oh trust me, I definitely didn't forget," he said, narrowing his eyes at Bucky who was following behind them with a smile.