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There was some peace you felt when you were alone at the compound. The team had gone on a mission, but you were still recovering from some injuries and had to stay behind. Though, it wasn’t as though you had a say on the matter- Steve had decided for you and you weren’t going to argue with him.
So you enjoyed your time alone. You felt like a teenager whose parents had left them with the house all to themselves. You could do whatever you wanted. Not like you planned on throwing a party or something like that, but the excitement was all the same.
It was a dark and stormy night. You were wrapped in your soft blankets, ready to sleep when you heard someone scream, startling you in your bed. What was that? You were supposed to be alone. Was there someone else here and you didn’t know? Has someone broken in? Why would a thief scream anyway?
“F.R.I.D.A.Y, is there someone else in the building?”
“Yes, Miss Y/L/N. Mr. Barnes is in his room.”
Bucky was here? How come you hadn’t seen him?
“Is he the one who screamed?”
“Yes. He had a nightmare. Would you like me to inform him you are here?”
“No,” you responded quickly to the AI. Instead, you got up from the bed and made your way to Bucky’s room.
Steve had told you about his friend’s nightmares and how he had trouble sleeping. Memories of HYDRA and the Winter Soldier still invading his mind.
You knocked twice, “Bucky?” You opened the door only to find him on the floor, a sheet wrapped around his sweating body. He was panting, you noted, walking carefully towards him.
“Bucky?” You squatted down before him, “are you okay?”
He looked at you and nodded, but his face told a different story. His heart was still beating fast.
“Wait here, I’ll bring you some water,” you exited the room and a few seconds later you returned with a glass of water.
“I didn’t know you were here,” he said after a while, “I’m sorry I woke you.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m a light sleeper ”, You noticed how his bed was still made, and then you saw the pillow and the sheets, “Do you sleep on the floor?”
You wished Steve was here. He would know what to do. You barely knew Bucky and you didn’t know if your presence was going to help him or aggravate the situation.
“Want me to stay with you?”
“You don’t have to-”
“Steve stays here with you, right? When you have a nightmare.” Although the second part was worded as a question, it was a statement of fact.
“You’re not Steve,” Ouch. He must have noticed you misinterpreting his words and he quickly added, “I mean… I’m not your responsibility. Don’t feel obliged to.”
“I don’t feel obligated. I’m worried about you, Bucky.”
“Why?”
“Why what?” you asked, confused.
“Why are you worried about me?”
You didn’t answer him, you took the other pillow that was still resting on his bed and laid on the floor with him. He stared at you wordlessly.
“You’re going to have to deal with me tonight,” you muttered, hoping to ease Bucky’s mind.
He felt the need to reply to you. He didn’t want you to sleep on the floor just for him. But he didn’t say anything. He just laid beside you, and fell asleep within minutes.