A slice of life with The Doctor & The Winter Soldier
(Ft. Fugitive!Bucky Barnes x doctor!blank female insert)
After a long day of work at the hospital, Y/N returns home with a new pot with a sunflower for her greenhouse. It was a usual routine, where she would reward herself with a new plant on every last Friday of a month. What wasn’t usual was what she stumbled upon once she entered the greenhouse , - strange man lying passed out in the middle of the place. While still taken aback, her clinical intuition kicked in soon after, and she checked the man’s vitals.
His heart was thankfully beating, but his breathing was ragged. He was pale with dry lips, clear symptoms of dehydration. She shook him awake and was met with eyes staring back at her, guarded. Ignoring his glare, she asked gently if he could stand up so she could carry him inside.
He was cooperative when she brought him into her guest room, where there were medical supplies already displayed as if someone else had been living there not long before. The man complied in undressing himself without saying a word, assumingely knowing she was only trying to help him. Deep cuts revealed itself beneath his suit, and she quickly got to work, but he took her by surprise when he refused using any anesthesia. Instead, he clenched his fists as she sewed the deep wounds together after cleansing them from potential infections.
The metal arm seemed familiar, as many news outlets had come up about last week’s scandal of the year, being that S.H.I.EL.D. had been compromised by HYDRA. Reading upon the scandal, it didn’t take long for Y/N to learn who this man was through the leaked HYDRA files. Although a normal person would turn the man in, Y/N became too sympathetic when reading about the torture he among so many had endured for the past decades by the fascist organization, and what he was forced into.
The man didn’t even know who he was, so surely turning him in wouldn’t do any better. Being a doctor, she naturally took it upon herself to take him in as a patient , - someone to help recover.
Bucky didn’t talk before a few days later. He was testing her patience, but she didn’t seem to mind his silence. The only thing she was worried about was whether he was capable of hurting her. He probably was given by his history, but surely he was striving to live a new life, free from HYDRA’s rule. He would confirm this once he finally started to talk. Bucky didn’t know what purpose he had anymore, but he knew he didn’t want to go back being what he was forced to be for so long. Y/N offered she could help him. Apart from work, she spent her days at home, tending to her greenhouse and reading by herself. She could use the company after loosing someone dear to her not long ago.
The following weeks would be spent with Y/N and Bucky reading books about the most recent historical events, and about the modern world. Y/N would read out loud for him to listen as she didn’t want to leave him alone with his thoughts, and she thought it was a good way for him to feel comfortable around her too. She showed him how to cook simple meals, explained how to work the washing machine and dishwasher. Bucky eventually carried on with the chores while Y/N was out working, to make her life easier. It also gave him a routine, one of an ordinary citizen which helped him adapt a little.
A month and a half passes since Y/N first found him in the greenhouse, and she decides to encourage Bucky to go out and explore for himself , - to get a taste of freedom. He has grown so much from being detached from reality and himself, to being aware of his situation and the world he lives in. Despite still struggling with his identity, he has found some ground to stand on thanks to Y/N’s guidance, and Y/N fully believes he’s ready to go on his own if he’d like. Bucky is gifted new clothes, ones that would make him look like a completely different man compared to the one the government is after.
But even with all this, Bucky was still scared. He doesn’t know how to handle himself once he steps outside among citizens. He doesn’t know what social cues to follow, and the thought of being surrounded by people fires up his anxiety. He’s had that programming forced in his head of being like a shadow , - out of sight and invisible. And what if something happens ? What if he’s triggered by memories in the middle of the street ? What if he sees something, or someone that makes him snap ?
What if, what if, what if ?
In the end, Y/N decides to take the day off and spend it on walking around town with Bucky, making him familiar with the area. He was relieved to learn he had winded up in a quiet town where police were less likely to patrol. But Bucky wasn’t naive either. He knew he had to be cautious regardless. However, he felt less the need to be guarded as soon as Y/N took his hand in hers. He had been practicing his grip control and felt safe holding her hand now, even though it gave people the impression they were a couple. That altogether threw suspicions away of him being a threat, as he was ‘clearly’ the beloved doctor’s boyfriend.
Bucky decides he likes this new simple life, and he likes Y/N. He feels safe with her and feels he can trust her despite only knowing her for what will soon be two months. He knows he’s not free from all the trouble, and he’s prepared to be chased and hunted down any day. He’s prepared having to run away again even though he desperately hopes that won’t be the case. But even so, he hopes it doesn’t happen before in the distant future. Because until then, he will happily pick up a new plant with Y/N on the last Friday of every month.
This is the first and probably the last time I do this much writing alongside my artwork. It wasn’t my intention in the first place, but I got carried away and took forever perfecting the text. (o´▽`o) Thank you @imyourbratzdoll for helping me with it ! (づ｡◕ w ◕｡)づ
