for sylvie

[semi_stable]

[From here.]


“Yes, an actual bed,” Bucky says with a genuine laugh of his own, spurred on by lovely sound of Sylvie’s own laughter. He finds himself wanting to make her laugh again and again.

They get dressed and the blanket disappears back from wherever it came, and the walk back to Bucky’s building is pleasant and calm, even if he does feel anticipation rising in his belly. Sometimes she makes him feel as if he’s on fire, her and Loki both. He hasn’t felt like this since he was just a dumb kid whose only concern was trying to figure out which girl at the dance hall might let him under her skirt.

Once they make it into the building and inside the elevator, Bucky hits the button for his floor and then stands next to her with his hands behind his back, trying not to touch her, not because he doesn’t want to, but because he wants to so much that he’s afraid that he won’t be able to stop once he does.

Comments

[semi_stable]

Bucky hums in agreement, eyes closing at the feeling of Sylvie's lips pressing softly to his skin. After a few quiet moments, Bucky kisses the top of her shoulder as he gently pulls out of her, rolling onto his back next to her and huffing out a cleansing breath.

Unlike the last time they did this, Bucky feels no desire to get up and leave before things can get awkward. This is his apartment, for one, but things are different this time. This is more than just sex, more than just blowing off steam.

"I think you might have actually worn me out," he admits with a laugh, turning onto his side and loosely curling an arm around her waist, nosing at her shoulder.

[the_variant]

"Good," she says, her tone smug. "You're exhausting most of the time."

Her tone is fond, her hand on his arm gentle. She's making no effort to get up and take herself home, even though she thinks she might sooner or later. It isn't that she doesn't want to be here, but she isn't sure what Bucky expects, if he's waiting for her to leave, uncomfortable with sharing his space.

Something has changed tonight, she's just not sure the extent of it.

[semi_stable]

"How do you even put up with me?" Bucky drawls out in response to her teasing, smiling as he holds her. She doesn't try to get up but she isn't entirely relaxed, and for a moment he isn't sure what to do. But they've been honest with each other tonight, so he doesn't see a reason to try and hold himself back.

"I would like it if you stayed the night," he says after a moment, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her jaw. "But I would understand if you'd rather be in your own space. I know it's a lot. I-- yeah, I can't even remember when I slept next to another person."

[the_variant]

"You don't want me to leave?" she asks. This is a difficult question to ask, one that makes her wary and vulnerable, like he might suddenly take it all back and tell her he doesn't want her to stay.

Slowly, every so slowly, she's learning how to step out of her comfort zone with Loki and now with Bucky. It won't be easy, but she's trying.

[semi_stable]

The vulnerable tone to the question resonates with him, like his own feelings have been reflected back at him, which is something that seems to happen often with Sylvie. They're so alike in some ways, so different in others, but they get each other.

"No," he says with quiet conviction, shifting up onto his metal so he can look down at her, resting his good hand against the center of her chest, thumb sweeping back and forth as he smiles down at her, hair spilling over his forehead. "I really don't want you to leave. I want to get you breakfast."

[the_variant]

She doesn't quite smile, but something changes in her eyes and Sylvie nods. "Then I'll stay." She wants to. It isn't only that she's staying for him, but because she doesn't want to leave. She's comfortable and content and she's had a lovely night.

She doesn't want to go.

"But now you've built up the expectations," she continues, finally breaking into a smile. "I'm going to expect this breakfast be impressive."