Steve pressed a soft kiss on Bucky's forehead, tucking back a few loose strands of his hair. "Let's go back to bed," He softly suggested, trying not to think about how painful it was for Bucky to have to go back to those memories– back to the war and HYDRA every time he closed his eyes, "It's alright, you're alright."
Bucky nodded a little, following Steve's lead back to the bed, sitting down on the edge and looking up at Steve. His blue eyes still looked so fragile and unsure.
"You okay with sleeping on a mattress?" Steve asked, holding Bucky's face in his hands as he met his troubled gaze, "I'm just checking cause…you…well…I dunno. I want you to feel safe."
Bucky nodded a little. "I…I think so…" he said slowly, looking up at Steve and leaning into his hands, closing his eyes for a moment.
"Okay, okay." Steve quietly replied with a gentle nod, staring down at Bucky's frightened face for a moment longer. He sighed, wishing for the ache in his heart to go away as he slowly brought his hands away from Bucky's face, reaching to turn off the lamp nearby.
Bucky took a deep breaht, curling up a little as he waited for Steve to come to the bed.
Steve sighed as he made his way to his side of the bed, frowning as he slowly shifted under the covers, turning to Bucky and tucking away a stray lock of his hair. "You're safe, Bucky," He told him, looking down at his face, almost frozen in fear and still visible in the blue darkness of his room, "You don't have to be afraid."
Bucky pressed up close to him, closing his eyes and nodding faintly. "Sorry." he said quietly, unsure what he was even apologizing for but feeling like he needed to anyway.
"No, don't apologize," Steve said, almost whispering as he ran a slow hand through Bucky's hair. "It's perfectly okay. You don't ever have to be sorry about needing something like this."
Bucky leaned into that gentle touch, closing his eyes. "Alright." He said softly. "Thank you, Steve."
"Don't worry about it," Steve said, softly nodding as he let out a quiet sigh, gazing at Bucky with a softened expression, "You just try and sleep, yeah? I'll be right here if you wake up again."
Bucky nodded a little, closing his eyes and pressing close to Steve, trying to go to sleep again.
"Yeah, it's alright," Steve said in a hushed tone, staring at the ceiling with heavy eyelids as he sleepily combed a gentle hand through Bucky's hair, "It's all…right. You're safe…and nothing's gonna hurt you."
"Sorry." he whispered again, knowing Steve had said not ot apologize but unable to stop himself from doing so.
"Shh," Steve sighed, letting his eyes close for a moment as he held him, "Don't be sorry, Buck. I've got you, always."
Bucky nodded faintly, his eyes closed as he stayed close to Steve, curled under the blankets.
Steve let out a long breath, finding comfort with Bucky next to him as they lied in bed. "Yeah…" He said, feeling his mind start to drift away from his worries and closer to sleep, "…Everything's alright."
Bucky let out a faint breath, trying to get some more sleep. Eventually, he started to drift to sleep, but the tension never left his body. He never relaxed again.
Steve let his thoughts wander into a hazy state of rest, trying not to give into the tiredness that weighed down on him as he fought to stay awake; just in case Bucky woke up again. But soon he was too tired to protest against his weariness, and he fell asleep.
Bucky fell asleep, body stiff and tense even in sleep. He clung to Steve, too, not letting go or relaxing his grip at all.
Steve's breaths were quiet and steady through his dreamless sleep, keeping close to Bucky as the hours went by and the light of the morning sun peeking through the curtains brought forth a new day.
Bucky stayed asleep, eventually relaxing just a little bit, but staying pressed up against Steve for comfort.
Steve shifted as the room grew lighter, moving the arm around Bucky and fighting to stay asleep as the world outside grew louder, with the muffled sounds of cars and busses circling the block.
Bucky took a deep breath, still sleeping, but beginning to wake up a little bit. He was still curled up with Steve.
Steve could feel his dream start to slip away as the minutes went by, slowly coming out of his rest as he let out a long sigh, thinking of nothing but the softness of the bed and the warmth of the body next to him.
Bucky was still curled up close to Steve, holding onto him, though not quite dreaming. Just drifting, mostly asleep but slightly awake.
Steve sighed as he slowly blinked his eyes open, missing the heavy comfort of sleep and trying to ignore the hazy light of the room as he sleepily glanced down at Bucky's arm around him. With a tired smile, he reachd to tuck away a few locks of dark hair that had fallen in Bucky's face, half-hoping that he wouldn't wake him.
Bucky shifted faintly, but did not awaken, just lay curled against Steve. His brown hair was fanned out across the pillow in tangled locks.
Steve's mouth curved into a faint smile at Bucky's peaceful expression, debating between not moving and letting him sleep or attempting to get out of bed without waking him. After a quiet moment, he figured that he might as well make breakfast for them, ever so slowly slipping out from under Bucky's arm and trying his best to stay quiet.
Bucky shifted again as Steve's weight left the bed, curling into himself a little bit once he was alone on the mattress.
