Steve is at the end of his rope now. He's so worn out and desperately, emotionally exhausted that even Bucky is feeling it as though it were his own. His question...his statement, actually. It hurts Bucky deep in his heart. Fuck, what Steve has gone through. First the train. Then his lost memories. Then the deep freeze. Now disintegrating before his eyes. Steve has lost Bucky so many ways. Of course he's going to be terrified of it happening again. Bucky would be, too. God, he doesn't know if he'd ever be able to sleep again.
"I am going to be here. From now on. Alright, sweetheart?"
The word just falls out of him. But far from being embarrassed, it feels right. It feels like the sort of tenderness that Steve needs right now. Not handling him with kid-gloves but just moving the line of acceptable behavior for them both so that it included this new level of close intimacy. Still looming over Steve, Bucky bends forward and kisses him on the forehead, hand still smoothing over his hair and his face.
His first instinct is to pull Steve close and hold him tight. Show him that he's here and that Bucky's got him. But as he thinks more about it, he's not sure that's what his friend really needs. So instead, Bucky lays down, his head resting right next to Steve's neck, breath tickling against it.
"Hold me," he orders gently. His own arms wrap around Steve's middle, tight and possessive. He's still practically on top of the other man, but they're both strong and they can more than handle this. He settles in closer, stroking up and down Steve's side.
"Hold on tight to me. Alright? I'm not gonna go anywhere without you knowing it. Okay? Just hold on tight and don't let me go. You can sleep, then, right? You've got me right here. Right here with you.... Waiting to make you pancakes when you finally wake up again, sweetheart. Maybe even with chocolate chips if you're good and get twelve hours. Deal?"
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"I am going to be here. From now on. Alright, sweetheart?"
The word just falls out of him. But far from being embarrassed, it feels right. It feels like the sort of tenderness that Steve needs right now. Not handling him with kid-gloves but just moving the line of acceptable behavior for them both so that it included this new level of close intimacy. Still looming over Steve, Bucky bends forward and kisses him on the forehead, hand still smoothing over his hair and his face.
His first instinct is to pull Steve close and hold him tight. Show him that he's here and that Bucky's got him. But as he thinks more about it, he's not sure that's what his friend really needs. So instead, Bucky lays down, his head resting right next to Steve's neck, breath tickling against it.
"Hold me," he orders gently. His own arms wrap around Steve's middle, tight and possessive. He's still practically on top of the other man, but they're both strong and they can more than handle this. He settles in closer, stroking up and down Steve's side.
"Hold on tight to me. Alright? I'm not gonna go anywhere without you knowing it. Okay? Just hold on tight and don't let me go. You can sleep, then, right? You've got me right here. Right here with you.... Waiting to make you pancakes when you finally wake up again, sweetheart. Maybe even with chocolate chips if you're good and get twelve hours. Deal?"