Sleeping next to Bucky was your favorite part of the day. He made you feel so safe in his arms and he was always so warm and cuddly. He liked to play with your hair or trace patterns into your back, especially if he couldn't sleep because doing this actually relaxed him as much as it relaxed you. No matter how bad the day may have been, it wasn't anything that couldn't be fixed by sleeping next to your boyfriend.

Being a SHIELD agent, you sometimes helped the avengers on missions where they needed a little extra gunfire. Although being out on the field took a lot of bravery, you were always pretty reserved and shy, especially after meeting the infamous avengers. They were all so nice and welcoming but you didn't want to mess it up. You were immediately drawn to the piercing blue eyes of James Buchanan Barnes. The both of you tended to be quiet and somehow that drew you to each other. You knew of his traumas and he felt safe enough to confide in you. He was quickly your favorite person on the team. Slowly the two of you became closer, admitted your feelings, and here you are now sharing a bed during a rainy fall night.

You drifted off the sleep with Bucky's cool metal fingers tracing patterns on your bare back, he used to be so afraid of his metal arm around you because he didn't want you to be scared, and he was afraid that he would hurt you. It took a lot of reassurance to get him to feel comfortable, but now he knows you trust him with every bone in your body. He was also very hesitant to spend the night together because of his nightmares. HYDRA really messed his mind up and you have never been so angry at something the way you are angry at HYDRA for dimming the light in his soul. He deserves all the good in the world but his memories followed him into the night.

You could feel the coolness of the sheets over your body as well as Bucky's body radiating heat towards you. You started to feel the bed move a bit causing you to groggily try to open my eyes. Then you noticed the feeling of sweat on your back coming from Bucky's chest. "No, stop. Please. I'll do anything." You heard Bucky mumble, his voice cracking. Slowly turning over so that your faces were towards each other, you cupped your hands over his face gently, careful not to startle him. "don't hurt her!!" He suddenly screamed causing you to flinch and you were now fully awake. "Hey buck, it's me, I'm right here you're safe." You started to whisper reassuring words into his ear, but this nightmare was clearly a lot more terrifying and hard for him to shake.

You placed your hand on his shoulder shaking it slightly to try to bring him out. "Baby, it's me, it's Y/N, it's not real!" You said raising your voice above a whisper this time. Next thing you knew he shot up sitting on the bed and pulled you with him, his metal hand wrapped around your wrist causing you to wince in pain, "Bucky it's me! Please wake up!" You started to shout now fearing the inevitable pain your wrist would have the next few days. "Don't lay a hand on her!" On who? He screamed again now holding both your wrists, his human hand hurt far less but still painful. You felt the tears prick at your eyes, you wanted to be strong, you knew this wasn't him and that he was going to feel awful when he woke up. But you didn't want him to distance himself again, it's not his fault he went through unimaginable torture for 70 years.

"BUCKY!" You screamed and somehow managed to wiggle the wrist he held with his human hand out and slapped him across the face. His eyes shot open and even in the dark you could see those pained blue eyes searching for safety. His hair was matted to his forehead covered in sweat, his breaths were rapid as his chest heaved up and down. "Y/N?" He questioned once he realized you were sitting just inches from him, you couldn't control the tears streaming down your face as his metal hand still gripped your wrist tightly. He looked down to see his hold and immediately gasped, letting go. He scrambled out of the bed nearly tripping over the sheets. "Dear god Y/N I-i'm so sorry o-oh my god."

You could tell he was trying to distance himself from you as much as possible but eventually his back hit the wall in the corner of the room. You looked down to your wrist already noticing the purple and blue color coating it. You shook it off and tried to control your tears. "Buck, it's okay, it was just a nightmare you didn't know." You slowly walked over to him as he tried to sink further away. "B-but I hurt you, I-I hurt the only person I care about." He sniffled, tears filling his eyes, he wrapped his arms around his body trying to hide away. "I know baby but it's not your fault, I'll be okay really."

He hesitated but allowed you to hold his hands and bring him towards the bed again. You sat him down before pulling your body on top of his, arms wrapped around his neck and your head buried in his shoulder. "I can't hold you, I might hurt you." He hesitated, keeping his arms by his side. "You could never hurt me." You instantly responded, "let me help you." You could feel his heartbeat slowly falling back to normal as he gently wrapped his arms around your waist his cheek dropping to the top of your head. The two of you sat there for a few minutes, "do you want to talk about it?" He let out a big sigh, "It was HYDRA, t-they took you. They were going to h-hurt you and I couldn't do a damn thing about it." He spoke out trying not to cry. You squeezed your eyes shut trying to keep your tears in and just be there for him.

You pulled your head back, held his face in your hands, and stared into his eyes. "Well guess what? They don't have me. They haven't hurt me. And I know you'll never let them." His eyes were looking between yours as he slowly nodded. He tenderly grabbed your forearms to examine your wrists, a look of pain and regret crossing his eyes causing him to look away. "Hey I'll be okay, it'll heal. I've been shot in the leg before... I think I can handle some bruises." You tried to make light of the situation letting out a chuckle. It took him a moment but you could see he cracked a smile.

"I'll go sleep on the couch" he started to remove your body from his but you firmly placed your hands on his chest. "No the hell you are not. Buck, I know you're scared you'll hurt me but no one has ever made me feel as safe as you do. I want to be the one protecting you from your nightmares." He stared at your eyes before looking down to your lips. He gingerly placed his hands on the small of your back before softly placing his lips on yours. You both sighed into the kiss feeling instantly relaxed. "You have no idea how much you mean to me, I will never love someone the way I love you Y/N." He whispered as you placed your foreheads together.

Bucky insisted on getting you some Advil and water to ease the pain of your wrist. He layed down on his back and you snuggled your body to his, resting your head on his chest. You rose your arm up and starting rubbing his chest trying to soothe him. "Bucky, thanks for choosing me to help you." You whispered as you felt your eyelids get heavy from sleep. He whispered back, "Y/N, I will choose you every day for the rest of my life... sweet dreams my love."