Work Text:
“ARGH!”
Steve’s head whips around from where he is relaxing on the couch.
“You okay in there?” he calls casually, as the shout coming from the other room seemed annoyed but not necessarily urgent.
Bucky had just come out of the shower, drying his hair with a towel and looking absolutely pink and wet and delicious. He was walking from the bathroom to his bedroom when suddenly…
“OUCHIE” The distinct sound of his little alter, the voice high and wobbly. Steve shot up to see Bucky on his bottom in the hallway, holding his big toe, face screwed up in a silent scream. Steve panicked, rushing over, trying to assess exactly what had happened.
“Aw, baby, you okay? Did you stub your toe?” He knelt down beside him, trying to get his attention. His face screwed up, eyes slammed shut and face turning red as he holds his breath in pain
“Breathe, honey, take a breath, you’re okay baby” Steve murmurs, rubbing Bucky’s back softly and pulling him towards him until Bucky is sitting in his lap. He takes a gasping breath as if breaking the surface of the water before crying out a long wail.
“Shh, shh, shh, it’s okay, I got you.” Steve starts rocking him back and forth. Bucky presses his hot, tear stained face into Steve’s neck, and sobs “ ‘s hurtin’ meee” he cries “ow, ow, owwww” he stammers between sobs and gasping breaths.
Slowly he starts to calm down as Steve rubs his back, rocks him and shushes him, slowly mimicking Steve’s breathing patterns, calming himself. Finally, as he hiccups to himself, Steve can feel him suck his t-shirt into his mouth and suck on it to sooth himself. Steve wishes he had a chewy close by but this would have to do for now.
“Will you let me see your toe Buck? I wanna see if we need to go to the Dr and make sure it’s not broken” Steve whispers into his hair. Bucky immediately shaking his head no and burying his face into Steve’s chest yet again.
“It’s ok baby, I’m just going to look and see” He whispers, kissing his forehead. He gentle pulled Bucky’s hand from his big toe to inspect the damage. Seeing absolutely nothing, Steve breathed a sigh of relief. “Guess what baby, I have some magic that will fix your boo boo.” He whispered into Bucky’s ear. Bucky looked up at his face for the first time, cheeks red and blotchy, eyelashes still wet with tears. He snuffles his nose “really?” he whimpers.
“Uh huh, Dr. Strange gave it to me, its a special band aid that makes all ouchie’s go away. Do you want one?”
“Yes, yes, yes” Bucky chanted happily, wiping his nose on his sleeve. Steve chuckled standing himself and Bucky up and leading him to the bathroom. He brought out the Paw Patrol bandaids and let Bucky choose one. After the Rubble bandaid is wrapped around his big toe securely Bucky stands on one leg to admire it at all angles.
“You feel better?” Steve laughs.
“Uh huh!” Bucky smiles.
“I’m glad baby,” Steve says turning back to the medicine cabinet to put away the bandaids. “You need help getting dressed sweetheart?” He asks over his shoulder.
“I got it from here Steve” Bucky says, clearly James is back to fronting. “Thanks for the magic bandaid, where you’d learn that one?” he says rolling his eyes
“A kindergarten teacher on Tiktok- and hey, it worked!” Steve laughs