Marvel Imagines

Promise (Pt. 3)

Bucky Barnes

"Bucky?"

You didn't know how to feel. Happy? Sad? Excited? Confused? Surprised?

There were too many emotions at once so your face remained blank and your body frozen. The words you so desperately wanted to say were stuck in your throat and you couldn't seem to push them out.

Everybody around you seemed to have the same reactions; all frozen in place. The only sound was soft breathing, the air conditioner turning on and the Mario Kart music playing in the background.

He was really here. He was standing only feet away from you; he looked tired as hell and could probably use a shower but you didn't care. His hair was messy and not in his normal styled way, he looked like he hadn't shaved a few weeks but he still looked like Bucky.

He was wearing a black tshirt, a pair of dark jeans and black shoes. A duffel bag lay at his feet and looked like he had lazily dropped it. He was looking directly at you, his blue eyes staring deep into yours.

It was as if both of you couldn't believe the other was there.

Suddenly it was like something clicked in you and you darted around the couch and flung yourself into his arms. He stumbled a bit but was quick to wrap his strong arms around you, pulling you close against his chest.

You clung to him, your hands grabbing a fistful of the back of his shirt and refusing to let go. You were afraid that if you let go, he would go away. He would leave you again.

So you held him tighter and closer. Inhaling his scent, he smelled like lavender and rain. His scent calmed you. He made all the tenseness that had built up profusely over the past year disappear. All the worry, stress and pain that had caused your bones to hurt and ache all went away with a touch of his arms and a whiff of his scent.

"Bucky." You repeated once again, this time your voice was muffled in his shirt but you knew he heard by the way his throat hummed. He had his chin resting on your head and his arms still hugging your waist and back tightly.

"It's me, doll." He whispered, his voice rough and tired. Oh how you missed his voice. It had been so long since you had heard it, hearing old voicemails or videos wasn't the same as hearing him talk in the moment.

"Bucky." You wanted to say more but all that would come out was Bucky. You couldn't stop saying his name, the past year when you've said his same it rolls off your tongue sadly or tense. But this time it was relaxed and loving.

"I told you I would come back." He mumbled, rubbing his cheek against the top of your head. "I promised you, didn't I?"

"Y-yeah, you did." You whispered, the tears in your eyes were threatening to pour. "I missed you, I m-missed you Bucky!"

"It's okay now, doll." He soothed, rubbing your back gently. "It's okay, I'm here. I'm not leaving you, I'm right here. I'm with you."

"I love you." He pulled back slightly just so he could press a kiss to your forehead. Before pulling you back against his chest and resting his chin on your head again.

"I love you too, Bucky." Your voice cracked and nose was starting to tingle, the way it always did before you cried. "You promised me."

"I promised you." He whispered. "I promised I wouldn't leave you, how could I? You're my best gal."

You smiled into his shirt even though he couldn't see it.

"You're my doll. I love you. I will always love you." He kissed the top of your head. All you wanted to do was pull back and kiss him on his lips but you couldn't seem to find the encouragement to let go of him just yet. You just got him back, you weren't letting him go.

"I promise you, I will always come back to you." You smiled softly and felt one single tear trail down your cheek and drop onto your hand. You could feel his chest moving up and down as he breathed. You could hear his heartbeat beating rhythmically against where your ear was pressed on his chest.

"Doll, I promise you, I am coming home." His voice was in such a whisper that you had trouble hearing but you knew what he said.

"Y/n?" And you knew it wasn't real.

"Y/n, hey are you okay?" Natasha nudged your shoulder softly.

The movement snapped you back into reality and you looked over at her, wrapping your arms closer to you. Your eyes looked distant and off, Natasha could see that. Your body language became tense and you swallowed thickly.

It all wasn't real. It felt so real, you could feel him hugging you and hear his heartbeat. But you knew the painful truth.

Bucky wasn't here.

Bucky was gone.

"Y/n." Natasha looked at you with worried eyes, her eyes snapped to the tear streak on your cheek but she didn't say anything about that directly. "Are you okay?"

You looked around the room, noticing that the Mario Kart title screen was still up but nobody was playing. Most of the group were talking to each other, the winning team bragging to the losing team. They were planning something embarrassing that the losing team would have to do and figuring out what they wanted for dinner that night. Everybody was laughing and smiling.

All expect you.

You looked at Nat and for a brief moment she saw it. The pained look in your eyes, the sadness and the grief that was laced within your previously happy eyes. But then you turned away and looked down at your sleeves.

Natasha's phone buzzed in her jeans pocket and she tore her worried gaze away from you.

From Wanda: She had her breakdown

To Wanda: When?!

From Wanda: Just now

Natasha looked up from her phone and across the room at Wanda who was already looking at Natasha, worry clear in her eyes. Both girls looked over at you, who wasn't even aware two of your best friends were having a conversation about you. You were too busy staring off into space with another glazed look in your eye.

This time, Natasha swore she saw another tear creep down your cheeks but you were quick to wipe it away before anybody else could really notice it. Natasha leaned closer to you, her hand squeezing your forearm gently in a way to be comforting.

"You good?" She had never gotten an answer out of you the first three times she asked but this time she was determined to get one out of you, especially after what Wanda had just told her.

"Yeah." You nodded, pulling your sleeves tighter over your fists. Your voice was dead, showing hardly any emotion. "Yeah. I'm fine."

But you weren't. And Natasha knew that too.