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It's nearly 9:30.
Esie should be in bed. Her teeth have been brushed, her curls are still damp from her bath, and shes got her pajamas on.
Instead, Bucky's trailing behind her as she runs around the tower with her plush falcon clutched under one arm.
He sighs, "Esie. Bedtime!"
"Night night Bobby!" she calls out instead, flinging herself into Bobs legs. Bob, still holding up a brownie pan, crouches down and lets her hug him.
"Goodnight, Esie," he replies softly, hugging her back with his free arm.
She grins, squeezing his neck before taking off again.
"Night night Avie!" she yells, bolting across the hall. Ava turns just in time to catch her when she jumps up.
"Careful," Bucky groans, jogging after her.
"Night night Lena!" She wraps herself around Yelena's legs.
Yelena just holds her wine glass out of reach and pats her head. "Night night, goblin."
Next, Esie rushes over to the training room.
"Night night Lexei! Night night John!" She opens her arms, struggling to hug both of them at once.
"Night night, malyshen'ka," Alexei replies, squeezing her back.
"Goodnight, Es," John mutters, patting her head.
Bucky finally picks her up with a sigh. "Alright, Esie. Bedtime."
Esie leans a head on his shoulder as he carries her back to her room, smiling sleepily. "Night night tower."
Bucky finally gets her under the covers. She's hugging her plush falcon in one arm as she clutches Bucky's jacket with her free hand.
"Okay," he whispers, "That's everyone."
She squints.
"...I didn't say night night to Sammy."
Bucky sighs, sitting on the edge of her bed. "Esie its late. Sam's probably-"
"I didn't say night night to Sammy." She repeats, firmer.
Bucky stares at her.
Then he pulls out his phone, grumbling slightly as she grins.
He scrolls to Sams contact, then hits video call.
It rings twice before somebody picks up.
"Hey, man," Joaquín says. He can hear talking in the background.
"Where's Wilson?" Bucky asks.
"In a meeting," Joaquín answers, confused. "Why?"
"Esie's refusing to go to bed until she says goodnight. Just put him on the phone for a second."
"Uh," Joaquín says something to someone else in the room before looking at the phone again, "He's with the president right now, Bucky."
Bucky groans quietly. "Of course he is."
Esies leans over the phone, eyes wide. "But I didn't say night night.."
Joaquín shifts, torn between national security and the sad little girl on the other end of the line. "She's really not gonna sleep without him?"
"She's already done the rounds," Bucky mutters, "Twice."
Joaquín looks up from the phone again. Then he sighs. "Gimme a sec."
Bucky mouths 'thank you' and adjusts the phone so Esie can look at it normally.
A few seconds pass before Sam's face takes over the phone screen, looking mildly panicked and very much not in a place to be on bedtime calls.
"Hey Esie," Sam whispers. Behind him Bucky can see a couple of suits turned to look at him.
"Sammy!" Esie calls out in pure glee, nearly knocking the phone out of Bucky's hand in her excitement.
"Hey, hey, shh, keep it down," Sam says quickly, glancing over his shoulder. "I'm in a… very boring grown-up meeting right now."
"Night night, Sammy," she says, suddenly serious like she understands whats going on.
Sam smile wide, "night night, kiddo. Sweet dreams, alright?"
"Okay," Esie nods. "I got my falcon," she adds, holding up the plush, way too close for Sam to actually see it. But he smiles and nods anyways. "So I'm safe."
"You're always safe," Sam says gently, "Now stop bugging Bucky and get some rest, alright?"
Esie giggles, grinning. "I love you, Sammy."
"I love you too, Es." Sam waves, then hangs up.
Bucky finally sets the phone aside and looks down at Esie. "Satisfied?"
Esie shakes her head. "One more."
Bucky sighs, "Who?"
She hugs him, "Night night, Bubba!"
Bucky freezes for just a second, then sighs softly, wrapping his arms around her. "Night night, Esie."
He carefully pries her off him, standing and tucking her in properly.
He waits for her doze off before finally tiptoeing out of the room, flicking off the light as he does.
Bucky shuts Esie's door gently behind him, exhales slowly, and walks back into the common area.
"Night, Bob," he mutters, wrapping an arm around him for just a second in a hug. Bob chuckles, leaning into him as he finishes the dishes. "Night, Buck."
"Night, Ava," he says next, offering her a quick, awkward half-hug over the couch back.
She arches a brow, leaning up to he can hug her. "Yeah, night night."
Yelena gets a similar half-squeeze as he mumbles into her hair, "Night, Yelena."
She doesn't look up from the brownie she's eating, just hums. "And you wonder where she gets it from."
Bucky shrugs, walking over to alexei and clapping his back. "Night, man."
Alexei pats his shoulder. "Spokoynoy nochi, Bucky!"
Bucky gives Alexei a nod, then turns like he’s headed toward his room.
But he pauses. Right in the doorway. Hand on the frame.
He glances back—just once.
"Tell John I said 'night' when he gets back from his run."
Bob nods, still drying his hands on a dish towel. “Will do.”
Ava tilts her head, resting it on the back of the couch as she eyes him. “You want us to tuck you in, too, old man?”
Bucky snorts, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Only if there’s a bedtime story involved.”
Yelena raises a brow. “I have a story about the time I stabbed a man with a pencil. Very calming.”
Alexei beams. “Ah, yes! Classic. She was twelve.”
Bucky huffs a soft laugh and shakes his head, the tension in his shoulders finally easing a bit.
He lingers for a second longer.
"Alright," he says, softer now. "Good night, everyone."
Bucky disappears down the hall.
It’s quiet for a few beats.
Then Bob glances at Yelena and murmurs, “And he wonders where she gets it from.”
Yelena doesn’t even look up. Just smirks faintly and says, “Takes one to raise one.”
Ava chuckles under her breath. “Honestly? Kinda sweet.”
Alexei nods. “Very fatherly. I am proud.”
“You’re not his dad,” Yelena mutters.
Alexei shrugs. “No, but someone has to be proud. I've taken initiative.”
Bob chuckles, tossing the dish towel over his shoulder. “Don’t let him hear you call it sweet, Ava. He’ll brood about it for a week.”
Ava snorts. “Please. He’d pout for about ten minutes, then go journal about it.”
Yelena laughs, taking another brownie. "You're not wrong."
Alexei leans back in his chair, crossing his arms with a satisfied grunt. “He journals?”
“Definitely journals,” Ava confirms, grinning. “You think Esie talks to her notebook like that on her own?”
Yelena points at her with the brownie. “I’ve seen it. Whole pages. Big blocky letters. Very dramatic.”
Bob mimics Bucky’s gravelly voice, “‘Saw a bird today. Thought about freedom. Ava said I looked tired. Pretended I didn’t hear.’”
They all burst out laughing, Yelena nearly choking on her bite.
From down the hall, a muffled voice calls, “I can hear you, you know.”
Alexei immediately straightens up, trying to look innocent. “Good night again, Bucky!”
Yelena raises her voice, grinning. “Sleep tight, Barnes. Don’t let the existential dread bite.”
Bob cups his hands around his mouth. “Dream of birds and freedom!”
Ava smirks and says, quieter now, “See? Pouting incoming.”
Bucky falls silent for a second, then yells back, "I'm not journaling about this."
Alexei lifts his mug. “To ex-assassins and their bedtime routines.”
Bob clinks his glass of water against it. “And to the kids who copy them.”
Ava raises her mug of tea. “And to us, because, damn it, we’re raising her right.”
Yelena clinks hers last. “Weirdest family ever.”
Alexei grins. “Best one, though.”