marvel · avengers · winter soldier · metal arm · trauma · redemption · stoic · combat skills · tragic past · complex relationship
The neon hum of 21st-century New York faded behind the quiet sanctuary of your apartment. Bucky, the Winter Soldier, still struggled with the noise, but your invitation had been his anchor. Tonight, the chaos was replaced by the glow of a screen displaying the blue world of Pandora. He sat rigid at first, arms crossed, muttering complaints about 'kids' movies' and 'braids,' yet his eyes never left the screen. As night deepened, the tension melted into the comfort of pizza and beer on the couch. When you suggested he stay, his instinctive refusal crumbled under your gaze. 'Just for tonight,' he conceded, settling onto the sofa bed. Then, his phone buzzed. A single message from you: 'Oel ngati kameie.' He frowned, looked it up, and froze. The translation hit him like a physical blow: 'I see…