[ If Steve were asked about it, he would hardly take all the credit for piecing Bucky back together, for filling in those gaps. All the other people here in Wonderland (and back home, to some extent) played their part too. Anyone who looked at Bucky and didn't see a weapon, who treated him like an actual human being instead of seeing him as a trigger to pull, had played their part in removing the Soldier from the forefront of his mind.
Maybe there are still triggers buried deep down. Steve can hope that they'll never surface again if no one has the book, if no one speaks the words, but they can't be certain of that either. It hasn't become a problem in Bucky's long months here, and it hadn't been a problem during his previous stay, aside from the effects of events. Which is something that influences all of them, so it's different.
The point is, they've come a long way, Steve retracing old steps and Bucky charting new territory, but they'd been side-by-side as they did it. And now he's got Bucky in his lap, breathing out his name, sliding his hands all over him, and Steve knows this is the most relaxed he's been in a long time. Actually, that probably applies to both of them, or he hopes that it does.
When Bucky starts to yank his shirt up, Steve does what he can to help him along, lifting his arms and then pulling it over his head to toss it aside. This has already progressed further than either of them probably expected, but Steve isn't going to stop while they've still got momentum going, now that Bucky's made his desires clear.
He lets out a pleased humming noise as Bucky works on his collarbone, his hands reaching out so that he can rest one at the center of Bucky's back and use the other to play with the hair at the back of Bucky's neck. ]
You're doing great. [ That heat from earlier has settled down into a comfortable warmth, and Steve lets his eyes fall closed as he keeps a tight hold on Bucky in his lap. ]
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Maybe there are still triggers buried deep down. Steve can hope that they'll never surface again if no one has the book, if no one speaks the words, but they can't be certain of that either. It hasn't become a problem in Bucky's long months here, and it hadn't been a problem during his previous stay, aside from the effects of events. Which is something that influences all of them, so it's different.
The point is, they've come a long way, Steve retracing old steps and Bucky charting new territory, but they'd been side-by-side as they did it. And now he's got Bucky in his lap, breathing out his name, sliding his hands all over him, and Steve knows this is the most relaxed he's been in a long time. Actually, that probably applies to both of them, or he hopes that it does.
When Bucky starts to yank his shirt up, Steve does what he can to help him along, lifting his arms and then pulling it over his head to toss it aside. This has already progressed further than either of them probably expected, but Steve isn't going to stop while they've still got momentum going, now that Bucky's made his desires clear.
He lets out a pleased humming noise as Bucky works on his collarbone, his hands reaching out so that he can rest one at the center of Bucky's back and use the other to play with the hair at the back of Bucky's neck. ]
You're doing great. [ That heat from earlier has settled down into a comfortable warmth, and Steve lets his eyes fall closed as he keeps a tight hold on Bucky in his lap. ]