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When you were personally recruited to the Avengers in America, you couldn’t believe it. You were so excited, but you were also conflicted. You confided with Pearl about your situation and she replied with “Ikaw gaga?! You’re going! This is a great opportunity!”
She was right, it was a great opportunity. So, unfortunately, you had to say goodbye to Pearl, to the Agents of Atlas, to your family, your friends, your homeland.
Coming to America, it was a bittersweet feeling. You spent your first few months adapting to the environment and the people. Sam, being that he was Captain America, took it upon himself to help you with the transition as much as he can. But while he was away on missions, Bucky took his place.
Being that you were working in the lab, you saw him often to check on his arm. While checking the wiring and updates, you two would chat. Bucky would share some of his mission stories, and you would share your stories about your work with Pearl and the Atlas team. You couldn’t see it, but Bucky would always find himself smiling whenever you talked about the Philippines and your life there. He could see how much you loved your job, your people, and your work. But he could also see the sadness, how the distance was taking a toll on you.
So he always did the best he could to bring a smile to your face, to cheer you up, and because he loved it when you smiled.
Also, because you were new to the team, you felt like you had to prove yourself. Working long hours, longer than required, just to prove you deserve to be there and to stay with them. But it seems like these longs hours were taking a toll on you because when you woke up this morning, you felt terrible.
You slowly put your work clothes on, dragging yourself into work. You were there for less than an hour when Bruce finally took a good look at you and saw how sickly you look.
“Y/N, I think you should take today off.”
You swayed as you turned to Bruce’s green hulking figure, “I’m fine. Promise.”
He grabs you by the shoulders to steady you, “You’re clearly not. Take today off. Rest. Take some medicine, eat some soup. You’re not working today.”
“But-”
“Nope.”
You sigh, rubbing your sweaty head with your clammy hand, “Okay.” you take your things and head back up to your room.
You weren’t sleepy, and you didn’t feel too dizzy anymore, so you decided to make yourself some soup, specifically sinigang. You recall your lola making it for you whenever you were sick or even if you were feeling down. It was your comfort food.
You take out the ingredients one by one, setting them onto the counter. You chop up the beef, onions, and tomatoes. Afterwards, you toss them into the pot with some oil to brown and saute.
As you stand before the stove, moving the ingredients around, you start feeling dizzy again. You try holding onto the counter for balance, but it doesn’t work. Soon enough, you feel yourself falling and you’re waiting to meet the floor, but it doesn’t come.
“Y/N, are you okay?!”
You look up and see a blurry version of a familiar blue-eyes super soldier, “Bucky?” you murmur, trying to focus your eyes, but it isn’t working.
Bucky pulls you up, wrapping his metal arm around you to keep you from falling. With his free hand, he feels your head with the back of his hand, “Geez, sweetheart, you’re burnin’ up. Bruce told me you weren’t feeling well. I came to check up on ya. Good thing I did. You nearly bashed your head into the counter.”
“I’m….I’m..ffffine. Just need…..sin-sin-soup,” you point to the pot that’s sizzling with meat and veggies inside.
Bucky shakes his head, “You’re not cooking in your state. That’s a definite safety hazard. I’m taking you to bed and I’ll finish cooking the soup for you.”
“Bucky, no-”
“Bucky, yes. You need to rest, Y/N or you’ll get even worse.” As if you weighed nothing, he scoops you up and brings you to your room. Using his foot, he opens the door, and pushes it open. Then he places you onto your bed, pulling back the covers and helping you under them.
As soon as he pulls the blanket over you, you sigh. Your eyes flutter shut and your head luls to the side. You’re out like a light and Bucky quietly chuckles to himself.
He stands there, watching you sleep for a little bit, but then he remembers the food. He quickly and quietly rushes out of your room, leaving the door ajar in case you call for him, and head to the kitchen.
He lowers the heat and looks inside the pot to find some browned beef, translucent white onions, and tomatoes. He’s not exactly sure what kind of soup you were making.
“Uh, FRIDAY, what exactly was Y/N trying to make?”
“Miss L/N was in the process of making sinigang, a traditional soup that originates from the Philippines.”
“Right. Uuuuhhh, do you mind if you could assist me in making this?”
“Not at all, Agent Barnes.”
______________
When you wake up, you’re a little bit groggy. Your body feels a little heavy, but at least your head isn’t spinning anymore. You look at your window and still see sunlight peeking from the blind. You turn to your bedside and see that it’s half past noon. You were asleep for nearly five hours.
“How’re you feeling?”
“AYE!” you scream in fright and turn to the other side of your bed to see Bucky sitting in a chair, with a book in hand, “How long have you been there?”
He chuckles, setting his book onto your bedside, “Since you fell asleep. Well, a little less than that since I went to go finish making your, uh, sinigong?”
You giggle at his pronunciation, “Sinigang. But good try.”
“Hey, I don’t make fun of you when you attempt Russian.”
“Yes, you do!” both of you it there, chuckling with each other. A silence falls upon both of you, but it’s not awkward. It’s comforting.
But you still clear your throat and break the silence, “So, you made the soup. How’d that go?”
“Uh, alright, I guess? FRIDAY helped me out. Also, I honestly didn’t even know tamarind was a thing until now?”
You nod, “Yeah, that’s what makes the sinigang sour.”
“Um, are you hungry? I brought some to you earlier, but you were still asleep. I could get you some?”
“I could get it my-”
“No no, you stay in bed. By order of Doctor Banner.”
“He came by?” you gave him a confused look.
Bucky nodded, “Yeah. You were out of it, so I’m not surprised you don’t remember. Also, you’re not working for the next two weeks.”
“WHAT?!” You shoot up from the bed, “But-”
“I’ll tell you why in a sec, okay? I’m gonna get you some soup and a glass of water. Okay? Stay right there! Don’t move!”
You roll your eyes and lay back down, “Whatever you say, tay.”
“Don’t know what tay is, but okay.” he shoots you a wink and exits the room. You lay there giggling to yourself like a school girl who has a big crush. Well, to be fair, you do have a big crush on Bucky.
Minutes later, Bucky comes back with a steaming bowl and a large glass of water. He sits beside you and offering you a spoonful. You look at him with a glare and he rolls his eyes, “Humor me.”
You sigh and accept the spoonful of soup. You feel your throat warm up from it and you smack your lips together, “It’s good!”
He snorts, “Don’t sound so surprised.”
You place a hand on his thigh and gave him a grateful smile, “Thank you, Bucky, for making the soup and taking care of me.”
“Anything for you, sweetheart. Just-Just easy on the workload from now on, okay? Bruce says you’ve been working so much that that’s probably what got you sick.”
“Well, maybe I’ll keep getting sick so you can take care of me,” you playfully bat your eyes at him and he laughs.
“I’ll do anything you want, doll. Don’t gotta get sick for it.”
You giggle and pat his leg, “Okay. Deal,” and then accept another spoonful of sinigang from Bucky.