Requested by: @divingty HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

Setup: Y/N and Bucky are a fresh couple; haven't even said their "I love you"s yet. But tonight is different. Bucky comes home after being beaten up and looks like hell. Y/N is worried and offers to ease his pain.

Warnings: Mild cussing 

Y/N's POV

I pace back and forth anxiously. When will he be back? It's been a couple hours since the man of your dreams, James Buchanan Barnes, left for the gym. I hear a weary knock on my apartment door and rush over to open it.

"Bucky!" I gasp. "You look like hell!"

"Thanks," he mumbles, walking inside. He was bruised and bloodied, limping and groaning. I lead him over to the couch, because he needed to sit down as soon as possible. "What happened??" I demand, and fetch him water and ice.

"Gym. Fight," He coughs, his eyes, oh those eyes that were sometimes bright blue and sometimes a dark blue-gray clouded with pain.

"Lemme massage and rub you, fix you up." I offer, but he puts his hand up.

"I'm fine," he protests, but I could tell he just didn't want to be a burden.

"Let me help--"

"Y/N, it's fine, I'm--"

"Let me help!" I put my hands on my hips. "You're not a burden, you're my boyfriend!"

He sighs and gives in. After I start the treatment, he winces, "Boyfriend huh?"

"Well--yeah," I blush, feeling my fingers over his now bare back. Even though he was beat to near death, I had to admit he was hot. "I mean, we're a couple. . ." I guess we hadn't really verbalized this stuff, at least not that often.

He nods with a grunt, but I see a faint smile on his perfect lips.

"Mm, how's it feel?"

". . . Really good. . . Thanks babe. . ."

I blush instantly at the nickname he'd only used once or twice before. I rub him gently and make sure he's comfortable, then get up to change out his ice. As I walk back, I hear him murmur sleepily, "You're pretty Y/N."

My cheeks turn rosy again. "Thanks Bucky," I whisper. I giggle softly, "You're handsome even like this."

"Thanks," he didn't have much energy left.

I rub him softly and slowly, massaging him. He relaxes under my tender touch, and I smile slightly. I'm glad to be able to help him, somewhat at least. He had me so fricking worried!

I continue massaging him, and I listen to his quiet mumbles of him slowly relaxing as I ease his pain.

"You're so sweet, I don't know what I ever did to deserve you," He whispers, eyes flicking open and close.

"You're a good man, Bucky," I whisper back. He grunts in response, and I continue massaging him gently. I would keep on, but I didn't want to keep him up. I feel him drifting off ever so slowly. Once I feel convinced enough he's asleep, I have an idea. Softly, slowly, I take my pointer finger and write on the top of his back in invisible cursive, three words, eight letters. Three words and eight letters I hadn't yet verbalized.

Then I feel him breathe, and I see his eyes flick open and close again, and I realize he was still awake. It wasn't until I hear him murmur something softly that I realize he had felt what I wrote.

"I love you too, Y/N." 

(580 words, hope you enjoyed flames! Ash)