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It was one of those bad nights for Bob Reynolds
John Walker was supposed to get a glass of water, but he found him in his little corner by the window at the common area. It was past midnight so even with the kitchen light on, Bob was still in the darkest part of the floor. So dark that if it wasn’t for the light of the full moon beaming against the window, John could’ve mistaken him as The Void. He was not in his usual chair. He was sitting on the floor with his legs crossed. His head was down. His dark locks covered his eyes. He let out of pathetic shudder.
The blonde sat down in front of him, meeting him at eye level, “Hey.”
John’s voice made him flinch.
“Hey, how are you?” Bob tries to sound jovial but failing as he looked up at him. His blue eyes glistened with tears. John shook his head. With his face neutral, he closed his eyes and sighed. Bob could’ve sworn he was counting to ten in his head before speaking. Must be a new technique that his government-mandated therapist taught him to do.
“I should be asking you the same question,” John puts his hands on him, forcing Bob to look him into his fierce eyes. There’s something warm and heavy about his hands, “Are you?”
“I shouldn’t bother you with my problems,” his voice cracked.
“I been through worse,” he pushed the hair out of Bob’s face.
There was a laugh. More like a weak chuckle. That was a start.
“Should I get Yelena?” Even though she had a hard day after a mission that she needed her sleep.
Bob shook his head. He put his hands over John’s. The super soldier felt that his hands were just as rough as his own. It was no secret that he led a hard life.
“No, please stay.”
John responded with a nod. They were quiet. Bob’s forehead leaned against his. He didn’t flinch nor pull back. Instead, he let out a cleansing exhale.
After a while, John was first to speak, “It’s okay to change your mind. You know my bedside manner sucks,” he joked.
There was another laugh. A real textbook laugh. That was progress.
John’s face was little serious, and his voice was gruff, “I’m here. Whatever this is, we will go through it together. All of us. You got that, Bobby?”
Bob smiled a little, “you’re right. Your bedside manner sucks.”
The blonde smiled and whispered, “And you think I’m the asshole?”
As they go back and forth from making a few words to each other to getting lost in the calm quiet. They didn’t notice that they were not alone.
Bucky witnessed the whole thing from a good distance so they wouldn’t notice his presence by the elevator door. He didn’t get to be the dreaded Winter Soldier by stomping his boots around.
He knew the two men were dancing around their feelings for a while. They were getting close. Closer than two hostile strangers turned friends will ever be.
Still, the connection feels familiar. Like with him and Steve.
His heart stings a little at the thought and looking at John and Bob’s more-than-friendly intimacy.
He had so much regret for not telling Steve how he felt during the time they had together. Whether it’s before the war or during. Or after he regained his memory. Now Steve was living his own life in a post-war timeline with the real love of his life in a nice house to grow old with.
His eyes were downcast and let out a forlorn sigh before leaving them alone.
He would make a mental note tomorrow to have a serious talk with Walker to get his head out of his ass and tell Bob how he feels.
Before it was too late.