Bucky bolted up in bed, his sweat-slicked brunette locks sticking to his neck and face. Another nightmare. The ex-assassin attempted to shake the feeling the nightmare had brought but could not. After a while, Bucky gave up on going back to sleep and left his room. There were two other bedrooms on his floor. One belonged to Steve, who was away on a mission and the other belonged to the only other person in the Tower who would be awake so late at night. You.

It wasn't until Bucky knocked and opened your door that he remembered that you were gone. The room was empty and quiet. Bucky walked softly into the room and sat down on the bed. As he picked up your pillow and brought it to his chest. It still smelled like your shampoo. It brought back the memory of the very first time you ever comforted him.

*flashback*

Bucky woke when he punched the lamp from his bedside table during his nightmare. A moment later, you burst through the door. "Bucky? Are you alright?!" He looked up at you with fear in his eyes. "Go away. I don't want to hurt you." You scoffed and came further into the room. "You won't hurt me, Bucky. Was it a nightmare?" He nodded and shirked back as you approached his bed. Without asking, you climbed in and pulled him to your chest. His head rested there while you ran your fingers through his hair until he fell back asleep.

*end flashback*

He sat there on your bed wishing that you were there. You weren't there to pull him close. To whisper that everything was alright. To run your finger through his hair as you read to him with your soft voice to lull him to sleep. He realized that he needed you there with him. You were the only person that truly made him feel like he wasn't a monster. He could feel the tears pricking his eyes as the door opened again. "Bucky?"

His head shot up. He could not fight the grin that spread across his face. "Y/N!" He cried. He was up in a flash and pulled you to him. "Buck...can't breathe!" He let go and looked down at you. "Geez, Bucky! I've only been gone a week!" You laughed as his grin turned into a pout. "But you were gone." You shook your head, your (h/c) hair falling in your face. "I wasn't even on a mission, Buck. I was visiting family. What are you doing in here anyway?"

Your (e/c) eyes met his mesmerizing blue ones and you sighed. "Another nightmare?" At his nodded you gestured toward the bed. You kicked off your shoes and joined him in your bed, pulling him to you as you laid down. You began running your fingers through his hair and humming a low tune. Bucky knew then that as long as you were there, he was at home.