The Wrong I Did

Bucky has a nightmare and wants cuddles with reader 🥺

The Wrong I Did

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Bucky has a nightmare and needs you for comfort.

Warnings: Bucky has a nightmare so minor angst, Bucky needs cuddles and of course you’re there for him

Author’s Notes: Thank you so much for sending me this request! I really hope you like it! ❤️ Thank you to my wonderful friend @becca-e-barnes for the supportive words and encouragement to post my stuff once again because your enthusiasm makes me so happy and excited to even do this!!!!🥺

Word count: 1,270

Bucky was gasping for air when his nightmare jolted him awake in the middle of the night. The sweat that was gathered on his forehead steadily dripped down his face and into the sheets that were bunched around his waist. It’s the same nightmare every night, it plagues his mind every time he closes his eyes and tries to find rest.

For a long time, Bucky had nobody to talk to through the night. Before you and him became friends, he would sit in his armchair and read a book, just to use something as a distraction. It was always the same until one night when he stumbled into the kitchen anxiously and saw you on one of the footstools sipping some tea. You offered to make some for him, he accepted and you’ve been there for him ever since.

Bucky just didn’t like coming to you and ruining your good night sleep though. You shouldn’t have to stay up late just because he needs you, though you disagreed strongly with him about that and told Friday to wake you if any distress sounds were coming from his room.

Friday kept her promise, alerting you that Bucky was awake and his breathing was worrying. You wasted no time getting out of bed and heading towards his room in the dark, knowing the journey by heart. You spend so much time in his room you often joke about just moving in with him, something he laughs off but has considered. There was something about you that was an instant calm for him, you kept him grounded and here. Something not even Steve could do.

You didn’t knock when you got to his room, knowing it would be unlocked just in case you needed him too. You never told him, but you always needed him. Bucky became that friend that you needed to be around 24/7, you needed his company, his cuddles, his forehead kisses. He loved to shower you in compliments and make you feel special, and with him you always felt special.

“Bucky?” Your voice was above a whisper as you entered his room, the curtains were opened and Bucky was slouched on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. From the moonlight that poured in, you could see his back was covered in a sheen of sweat, and his sheets were twisted and torn all over the place. He had clearly been suffering here alone for quite a few hours.

“Hey Buck.” You said again, keeping your footsteps quiet as you joined him on the edge of the bed. The closer you got to him, the more clearly you could hear his whimpers and sobs. It broke your heart because all you wanted to do was fix him, and allow him one night to sleep without the nightmares invading his mind.

Gently putting your hand on his back, you started to rub in a soothing manner. You shushed him and told him everything was going to be okay, you were here and he’s safe.

After what felt like hours, he finally took some deep breaths. Wiping his eyes with his palms and wiping the excess tears and sweat into his pyjama bottoms. He turned to look at you, an embarrassed smile on his face as he sighed.

“I’m sorry Friday woke you.” He said, his voice croaky from crying and tiredness. You clicked your tongue, still rubbing his back.

“I’m not sorry. I’d rather be here with you always so you’re not alone.”

“I know doll, I just didn’t want to disturb you. I’ve done that enough this week.” He sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.

“I don’t care about sleep, Buck. I care about you and I care about your well-being. Listen, why don’t you take a shower and I’ll change the sheets?” You offered, taking his hand in yours and giving it a reassuring squeeze to let him know you didn’t mind and you didn’t, Bucky needed you and you had no intentions on leaving him.

“Will–will you still be here? I kind of want to cuddle if–if you’re comfortable.”He asked nervously, dreading spending a few more hours alone and having more nightmares coming back for him.

“Of course! Hey, I don’t plan on leaving you. I’ll just change the sheets and I’ll stay for as long as you need. I don’t know if I snore, that’s the only thing.” That made him chuckle lightly, pride and joy beaming within you that you managed to make him smile. Bucky shook his head and bit his lip.

“Alright. But if you’re gone when I get back I’m coming to your room and dragging you back here.” He teases, grateful that the tension in the room was slowly but surely disappearing.

As you promised, you were still in the room when he emerged from his bathroom in a shirt and clean boxers. Clean bedding was neatly made on the bed and the curtains had been closed again.

“You stayed.” He said, almost in a whimper. Droplets of water dripped from the strands of his hair onto his broad shoulders. You patted his usual side of the bed and pulled the duvet covers back for him to get under. He sighed as the clean sheets felt fresh against his sweat-free and clean body. You waited for him to lay on his back and get comfortable before snuggling in and resting your head on his shoulder, your arm over his stomach.

“I don’t know who made you a promise that they would stay and didn’t, but I promise I’ll never leave you need me.” You whispered in the dark, your fingers circling on his stomach over his shirt.

“What if I always need you?” You almost missed the words he said them so quietly, you were sure he could hear your heart racing in your chest.

“Then I’ll always stay.”

—

Bucky didn’t remember the last time he slept so soundly. But he woke up the next morning with your legs tangled up and your face buried in his neck. The sunlight was just barely peeping through the joining of the curtains. He turned to check the time, surprised it read 8:00am. He would usually stay awake through the night after a particularly bad nightmare like last night. With your body so close to him, sleep found him quickly and it was as if you were holding some kind of protection because he dreamed only of good things. His nightmare didn’t return like he had suspected it might. He was embarrassed enough when he cried in front of you last night.

You stirred awake, sighing into his neck and stretching your limbs.

“Good mornin’.” You croaked with a smile, breathing in his wonderful and intoxicating scent.

“Good morning, doll. Did you sleep okay?” If you hadn’t, he wouldn’t have known.

“Oh I did! So, so good! How about you?”

“I slept incredibly well. I had a great dream.” He smiled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. You pressed a gentle and light-feathered kiss on his chest. “I feel like you need to stay with me every night because it seems you might keep the nightmares away.” He chuckled lightly and sighing. His adam’s apple bobbing as he stared up at the ceiling.

“I told you before, if you wanna be roomies we can be!”

“I do want to be. Roomies I mean.” He kissed your forehead, and you snuggled in closer to him.

“Me too, I like your company.” You smiled. “Now come on, get up, I wanna get breakfast!”