'til the end of the line

"And who am I to deny her?" Bucky asks in a playful drawl, shifting easily onto his back and putting his metal arm up under his head as the other one curls around her back. His hand strokes slowly up and down the curve of her hip, watching her face as she touches him.

It's a peaceful moment, something that could only be called afterglow if they were made to put a name to it. He hopes that it lasts, because it's rare that he's so relaxed. While he wouldn't presume to know Sylvie's mind, he thinks that she looks relaxed, too. They bring each other peace, even if only for a little while at a time.

"I left bruises," he murmurs once he notices the deep red marks on her hip, smudges in the shape of fingertips. They'll probably heal before turning purple, but he still lightly drags the pads of his fingers over them, apologetic and intrigued all at once.

She's a god, and he knows that it's a stupid question before he asks it, but he can't seem to help himself. Even though he rationally knows the answer, he feels like he needs to hear her say it, so he asks it quietly and pulls his bottom lip into his mouth. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"