Bucky Barnes imagines

Work of Art

Request by 

A/N: Friendly reminder that requests are still open! This imagine is inspired by an imagine I read on Tumblr. Enjoy! 

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Bucky never let anyone near his left side, particularly his left arm. Sure, part of it was an insecurity problem. He lost count of how many times people gawked at the sight of the silver material of his left hand, even if it was only because his sleeve pulled up only a few inches. But insecurity wasn't the only problem. In fact, it was hardly anything compared to the other reason.

Many people had died because of it...

Buildings had crashed down, families in swarms of panic, simple chaos...

All because HYDRA found him, nearly dead and with one less limb than he had the previous day, and turned him into their weapon... with a new arm.

The screams echoed in the back of his mind whenever anyone touched it, and he could hardly look Tony Stark in the eyes anymore after he saw the video of himself killing his parents. In fact, it took a long time before they could even be near each other.

Months had passed since that dreadful day, and he had since returned to the Tower with Steve. Bucky kept himself locked in his room most days, except to work out in the gym early in the morning while everyone else was still asleep.

Well... almost everyone.

Bucky walked into the gym one early morning a few minutes before 5, when he heard soft grunts of exertion coming from the far corner. A familiar (y/h/c) haired girl was in front of one of the punching bags, jabbing harshly at the surface in front of her. She wore a pair of black leggings and a pink sports bra. For a split second, Bucky's heart fluttered, but he looked away.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your gym time." She turned around and smiled, panting softly. "I couldn't sleep. Thought a little work out would be a better use of my time than rolling around in my bed."

Bucky's eyes widened slightly, but remained silent for a moment before responding, his voice slightly cracking. "It's fine."

"Bucky Barnes, right?" She walked closer and held out her hand. "Y/N Y/L/N. We've met, but haven't talked much."

Hesitantly, he reached out his hand and shook hers gently. "Nice to see you."

He saw her eyes flicker down to his other arm, which was completely exposed in his black tank top. Bucky immediately felt the insecurity and the need to keep her safe sink down onto him, pushing him to stay away from her. "I should probably get going."

"You just got here." Y/N's voice rang with confusion, and her eyebrows furrowed.

"I... I forgot that Steve needed me to look over some papers for the briefing today." His words were rushed and rambled. "I'll see you around."

As he turned to leave, a warm hand grasped his metal wrist and he froze in his spot. He turned slowly, and looked at her. She wasn't scared. If anything... she was just the opposite.

Her eyes were slightly sad as she looked at his arm before looking at Bucky again. "I'm not afraid."

He closed his eyes as he felt her hand move up from his wrist to his bicep, almost shivering as her fingers brushed lightly against the scar that connected the metal to his body. His eyes flashed open again to look down at her.

"Why not?" Bucky's voice was a low whisper, cautious as he waited for her response.

"You are not an object to be controlled anymore, Bucky." Y/N's hand slowly started to trail back down his arm. "HYDRA doesn't own you. You are free."

"I hurt so many damn people." A lump formed in his throat and he fought back tears. "I can't add any more people to that list."

"I know you well enough to know that won't happen." Her fingers intertwined with his, and his heart jumped slightly. "Because I'll be with you the rest of the way."

His fingers moved gently and squeezed her hand gently. It was silent for a few more moments before conversation broke out once again.

"I don't know if you'd want this... but I have an idea to change the way your arm looks... you know, if you want it to be less intimidating."

"Show me..." Bucky smiled, and Y/N nodded before leading him out of the room and down the hall. After a few twists and turns, they reach a door that Bucky does not recognize. After swiping her card, and punching in a few numbers, the door opens.

The room is dark, and Bucky can make out a few shapes that look almost unrecognizable. The lights turn on, and his eyes widen. At least twenty easels were set up, each with an extraordinary painting in the works or completed resting on it. As he looked around, Y/N cleared her throat softly. He turned to see her standing with a few brushes and a few pallets of paint. "So... Want to try it out?"

6 MONTHS LATER...

Bucky could not say that he had ever been happier, even in the 1940s. In the span of six months, Y/N had made him the happiest man alive. From that night on, Y/N used her washable paint and created illustrations on his arm, transforming it from a symbol of HYDRA's doing to a reminder of what life lay ahead of him.

Bucky kept the paintings on his arm for about a week before scrubbing it off in the shower with a sponge and soap. Sure, it took some work and a good forty to fifty minutes, but it was sure as hell worth the time. Every Monday morning, at five AM, he would find himself wandering into her little artist nook, where she sat waiting with her paints and brushes, and told her some ideas for a new painting. It was like their own little date... which eventually led to real dates, outside of the building and not in the early hours of the morning.

One date led to another, and here they were... five months into a healthy and beautiful relationship, and now currently, back in the art studio.

Y/N laughed as Bucky put a blindfold over her eyes. "I can't believe we're doing this."

"I just wanna try it... maybe it'll be my new hobby." The humor in his voice suggested otherwise, and Y/N couldn't help the giggle escaping her lips as she sat down on the stool he led her to. "Or... maybe not."

"Well... let's see what you can do, Mr. Barnes." Y/N rolled up her sleeve and held out her arm.

For the next hour or so, Y/N sat there grinning as she heard little curses slip past his lips as he tried to open the containers of paint and began to paint the skin of her arm. Eventually, he let out a sigh of relief and chuckled. "Alright, doll. The master piece is complete. Ready to see?"

"I was born ready. Take off the blind fold." A moment later, the fabric slipped from her eyes, and she glanced down.

Y/N had to bite back her laughter as she took it all in. Lots of colors were used, and lots were mixed together in a messy fashion. There were a few animals, some that she could distinguish as cats and dogs, and some that almost resembled what she might thought aliens looked like. But... the one part that was perfect was the red heart on the inside of her wrist, with the letters "B+ (your initial)" delicately painted.

"You can laugh, I know it's bad."

"It really is." Y/N laugh, and Bucky rolled his eyes. She moved to where he stood and leaned up to kiss his cheek softly. "But I love the heart. And I love you."

His cheeks turned slightly pink, but a big grin lit up his face before he leaned down and kissed her softly. In the moment of distraction, he picked up a paintbrush and pulled away to swipe it across her cheek. "That's what you get for saying my art work sucked!"

"Hey!" Y/N squealed before picking up another one, and dipping it in paint before lunging at Bucky. He dodged the attempt, and ran out the door, laughing all the way. Y/N followed him down the hall at a full spring, passing by both Steve and Tony as they walked the other direction.

They stopped for a moment and just watched as the two ran at full speed down the long hall way.

"What the hell just happened?"

 "Language!"

(A/N 2: Oh God, this ending is so bad. XD I'm sorry lmao)