Chapter Text
It was one of those nights where Bucky woke up in panic from yet another nightmare that haunted his mind. He was breathing heavily as his eyes wandered through his dark room of the Stark Tower. He hated this place, despite it being Steve's new home. Bucky thought it to be nice of his friend to convince Tony to let him stay in the tower for a while, until he felt like he could trust his own mind again, but these grey walls surrounding him like prison cells did the exact opposite.
Every time he would wake up thinking he was back in his once "beloved" Hydra cell, waiting for his keeper to come and get him. But they never did. He remembered Steve and the brown haired woman, what was her name again?- ah, Wanda- tell him to get some plants but he just shook his head. What was he supposed to do with plants? They'd told him they would cheer him up and keep him company. According to Stark his room needed a little bit of "green" but all Bucky needed was comfort and right now his enviroment couldn't provide it.
Bucky stretched his aching back and swung his legs over the bed. He looked down at his alarm clock, frowning. "2am." he sighed and let his flesh hand run through his hair. "Again." and stood up. Bucky didn't bother throwing on a t-shirt since he was probably the only one currently awake. So there he was, standing in the middle of his room in nothing but his black running shorts that he forgot to get rid of before going to bed earlier at night. He wondered if it was the lack of sleep that was slowly getting to him, making him slowly lose his mind.
"God, I hate this." Bucky mumbled, more to himself than to anyone in particular. There were days when he just needed to let it slip past his lips. Somewhere where no one would hear him and his constant struggle. He's been trying so hard to keep up his facade and he wont start letting it fall infront of anyone now. Especially not Steve. This punk has been over him like a mother hen. And that needed to stop.
Bucky stretched his aching muscles one more time, letting some of his old bones crack in the process and shuffled through his now open door straight to the where he remembered the kitchen was. It had taken him weeks trying to find his room again in this big glass and stone labyrinth that Stark called his home. One time he thought about asking Tony for a floor plan but as it turned out the friendly man in the walls, Jarvis he thinks he was called, was glad to help him find it at any times.
On his way Bucky stopped dead in his tracks, almost looking like a deer caught in the headlights as he heard Thors deep but cheerful laughter coming from the exact same spot he was currently aiming for: the kitchen. Great, Bucky thought. He liked Thor, he liked his positive attitude towards everything but right now all Bucky needed was some peace and quiet. Especially since his exhausted body possibly couldn't keep up with any form of conversation. On the other hand he really needed something to drink. Maybe Stark had left over some orange juice in the morning that he could get?
"Sergeant Barnes!" Thor boomed gleefully as he saw the ex-assassin enter the kitchen. He couldn't help but smirk at his brown ruffled bed hair, almost making the once most feared man look like an adorable puppy.
Bucky winced at the sudden light that was shining brightly and hurting his eyes just a little bit. He tried seeing past the white veil that blocked his vision, giving Thor a small smile and a light huff in response. He could make out the sillouette of yet another man sitting next to Thor at the dinner table and and gave him the typical "awkward white people smile", as Peter had called it once.
"I'm sorry, Thor. I didn't know you had company. I'll just grab something to drink and will be gone." Bucky blinked, finally getting rid of the last bit of white veil as his eyes slowly adapted to the bright light.
"If you want you can stay here and sit with us! I'm sure my brother here wouldn't mind." Thor said and pushed back a chair with his right foot. Brother?, Bucky thought. He didn't know Thor had a brother.
He stared at the blonde man, the bottle of orange juice he had found clutched in his metal hand. He looked at the black haired man. Bucky was sure he found him smiling, almost laughing as he tried to hide his face in his chest. He frowned.
"What's so funny?" Bucky asked with venom in his voice as he took a seat right infront of him, staring at the man provocatively.
"Brother, stop this. You're being impolite." Thor said, giving Loki a death glare as he watched him raise his arms in defence, still chuckling. Loki looked up, first at his brother but let his eyes wander to Bucky. His laughter quieted down a little as he took in the sight before him. Bucky sitting there, bare chested and a half empty, open bottle of orange juice in one hand. Most of his ruffled hair was still hanging in his face, making him look almost threatening. Almost.
"I apologize for my behaviour, Sergeant Barnes." Loki smiled kindly but the mischievous smirk from before was still lingering on his thin lips. "It was not my intention to upset you this late at night." he continued mockingly.
"Loki. Enough." Thor's voice growled, dangerously quiet. He turned his attention towards Bucky again, watching him stare at his brother with a playful yet tense expression.
"No let him." Bucky said, leaning back in his chair and watching Loki as his tongue pressed against his teeth, his mouth slightly open. "If he wants to play then why not deal with it now?"
"Very well." Loki grinned back, his chest suddenly aching with excitement. "But first, I don't think we have introduced ourselves yet , have we?"
"I already know your name. And you already know mine." Bucky growled, taking a sip of the juice.
Loki laughed a little and shook his head slightly. "Well, I highly doubt that your name is Sergeant now, is it? I would rather call you by your real name since I might need to use it in the future. I will be living here after all. Not that I have any saying in this." and there it was again, that mischievous smile that drove Bucky insane. On one hand he wanted to put this man in his place but how could he resist his awful charm? But in the end it was just a game, right? Nothing but a game. And he was going to win- wait. Did he just say "live"?
Bucky stared at Loki for a few seconds not knowing how to react. He raised his eyebrows in a playful manner, still continuing what Loki had started.
"So you will be living here?" Bucky nodded his head along the sentence, his eyebrows still raised and his words coming out fast.
"If it doesn't bother you." he smirked. Again. What was up with that?
Bucky snorted, partly amused and some what happy but mostly just annoyed.
"I think I will be heading to bed, if you two don't mind." Thor yawned, clearly noticing the tension between his brother and the ex-assassin.
"It seems like this is becoming a conversation where I am sure I don't want to be a part of. "Loki," Thor directed his attention towards his brother, waiting for him to look back at him. Once he did, the god continued.
"No violence."
"I assure you, brother. I am not intending to use any form of violence today. Indeed I think I will highly enjoy this conversation and Sergeant Barnes' presence." Loki smiled. Bucky wasn't sure if he missed the sarcastic message behind his words but he was sure there had to be one. Right?
"It's fine, Thor. I think I will be able to handle your brother just fine. Have a good night." he said. Thor waved both of them a last goodbye before heading off to his room. And just as Thor left, the kitched started to quiet down; both men staring at each other, Loki with a big smile and Bucky with a straight face.
"So tell me, Sergeant-"
"It's Bucky."
"Bucky? What an odd name for a human." Loki teased.
"It's a nickname. My name is James but you can call me Bucky." the soldiers face still didn't show any emotions or reaction to Loki's comment. Bucky didn't really know why he even let this tall and handsome man with an attitude problem call him Bucky. This name was special. Only reserved for close friends. Not some stranger in green.
'Although,' he thought, 'maybe a little green would help my room a little bit.'
"James." Loki said multiple times, letting the name roll over his tongue with such a soft tone to it. To Bucky it was almost romantic.
"Although James is a very handsome name, I must say that Bucky suits you a little bit better."
Bucky scoffed a tiny thank you as he stood up and prepared to leave. He threw away the now empty orange juice bottle and pushed the chair back in.
"Where are you going?" Loki asked, almost hurt as the person he had a conversation with decided to leave him sitting alone in such an unfamiliar place. Bucky turned around, looking at Loki expectantly.
"My room."
"You can't possibly leave me here." yeah, he was definitely offended.
"Well join me then." was all Bucky said before he asked Jarvis to turn off the kitchten lights. He walked down the hallway, hearing rapid footsteps coming from behind him. Even without turning around he knew Loki was indeed following him. A few seconds later Bucky felt Loki catching up on him, walking beside him. But the soldier didn't pay him any attention. He just kept on walking.
"You expect me to share a room with you?" Loki huffed in disbelieve.
"No."
"That's the first good thing to happen to me today then. Now where is my room?"
"Don't know. If you don't want to stay in mine, you better ask Jarvis. He knows."
"Jarvis?" Loki asked confused. He wasn't sure if Thor had already introduced him to this man.
"Sir's room in currently under construction. Loki's arrival was scheduled for tomorrow morning. Thor has expressed that he may stay in his during the wait." a voice, Jarvis, began to say. And Loki did not at all like what he had to hear.
"Absolutely not. I will not be staying with my brother."
"Wow, that sucks, doesn't it?" Bucky laughed mockingly. It was incredibly funny to him how little Loki wanted to stay with Thor, the big lovable Teddy bear. At the same time though he felt a sudden relief wash over him, almost like his heart wanted Loki to stay with him. But Bucky waved the thought off. He couldn't possibly have fallen in love with a stranger the moment he saw him now, could he?
"You think this is funny?" Loki stared at Bucky.
"Incredibly."
"Then I shall be your burden for the next day." what was that supposed to be? A threat?
"You're not a burden. Now shut up or I will make you."
"And how exactly are you planning on doing this?"
"You don't wanna know."
"Oh I very much do."