Marvel/Avengers One-Shots!

Hard to Explain [Bucky - Fluff]

A/N - This was my first request by the lovely snowfckingwhite98
Thank you for requesting this, I had a lot of fun writing it and I really hope you like it!
- Katie🐻

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"So, who's that?" Bucky asks, pointing briefly over to you fixing yourself a sandwich in the kitchen.
"That's (y/n). She's been an agent here for years, she's one of my closest friends." Steve answers.
Bucky hums in approval, scared to say too much.
"Why'd you ask?" Steve encourages him.
"Just wondering."
Steve gives Buck a glance that signals he doesn't believe that for one second.
"She's pretty, that's all." Bucky mumbles.
Steve smiles happily. This was the first time Bucky had shown interest in anyone - or anything for that matter - since Steve had rescued him from HYDRA.
"Let me introduce you!" Steve jumps up, dragging Bucky over toward the kitchen.

----

That was over a year ago, and it's safe to say you and Bucky had became quite close friends since. You were one of the only people he trusted, second to Steve of course.
However, lately he seemed a lot more reserved than usual and it concerned you. You worried that he'd fall back into solitude and shut everyone out like he had once before.

He first started acting suspicious a few weeks ago, when you walked into the training room.
Bucky was lifting weights and you greeted him as you entered. You were wearing a sports bra and yoga pants and got to work on the punch bag. After about 4 minutes, Bucky got up, quickly heading for the exit. You stopped him as he passed you.
"Leaving so soon?" You joked, a little out of breath from the exercise.
Bucky just looked at you blankly for a few seconds, eventually mumbling a "I've got to go" and leaving.
You found this unusual but brushed it off. Everyone has off days now and then.

However, this kept happening. You would walk into the kitchen to grab a drink and even if he was halfway through eating he'd just get up and leave.
Whenever you sat down in the lounge he'd awkwardly fidget about until he inevitably excused himself to his room.
You started to think you had done something wrong and tried to think back to anything you might have said or done to upset him, but nothing came to mind.
Eventually, you confided in Steve about it and he promised he'd talk to Buck.

The next morning you walked toward the kitchen, only to be stopped in your tracks by the voices that came from the very room you were headed to.
It was Steve's voice, his tone sounding so serious it intrigued you.
You stood still, listening to what he was saying.
"Ignoring her won't help, Buck."
"I don't know what else to do." Bucky's voice sounded strained, but you revelled in just being able to hear him speak properly once again. After all, he hadn't said a full sentence to you in nearly a month, and you were starting to miss that deep, husky voice of his.
"Just act like usual, flirt a little bit."
Bucky huffed in response. "Like I'll be any good at that."
"You used to be really good at it!" Steve chuckles.
There's a brief silence before you hear Steve begin to apologise. "Buck, I didn't mean-"
"I don't know if you've noticed but I'm not him anymore! I'm not the Bucky Barnes who could sweep a girl off her feet! Scare them away? Probably. But seduce them? Definitely not."
You hear heavy footsteps inching closer so you slide into the closest room, avoiding getting caught. After he passes, you cautiously walk back out.

Entering the kitchen, you see Steve standing with his head in his hands.
He notices your presence and mutters a "I messed up."
"It's okay Steve, he'll come 'round." You encourage.

---

Days pass and Bucky had barely even left his room. He seemed to be locking himself away from everyone, maybe as a self-defence mechanism so he'd stop getting hurt.