Probably a good idea. You're not the only one who comes back here bleeding.
[ bucky just means himself, but there's a chance it sounds like he's hinting at other visitors. in the meantime, though, there's his palms laid flat against her thighs as she rucks up her shirt — and he swallows once, hard, adam's apple bobbing as he tries not to linger too much on the sight. and while yelena hitches a breath, he reaches for the bottle of saline solution and washcloth, and starts carefully wiping at the wound to clear it of blood and grit and any sticky fabric threads it's picked up from her shirt. the armchair will be wet with water and blood by the end of this, but it was that or invite her into his shower with him or something— and look, there are limits to this kind of forced intimacy.
he gets absorbed in the task, though, and leans even closer to be sure the cut is clear before he switches to dabbing it with antiseptic. at a hiss of breath from her, he murmurs a small apologetic "sorry", and then presses the antiseptic harder. it stings, but he maintains that firm pressure against the gash, his fingers splayed against the curve of her side, brushing over the arch of her ribs. there's warm bare skin beneath his hands, and he's struck by the unexpected intimacy of not having gloves between him and another person, for once— it feels as exposed and naked as if he'd had to rip off a whole layer of clothing in front of her, too, some of his physical armour gone. she can feel his uncovered fingers thumbing against her skin, soft and human, in contrast to the cold chill of the vibranium.
he can't remember the last time he was this close to someone. piecing together another footsoldier in HYDRA who was injured, probably — except back then, the winter soldier had been harsh, silent, an automaton who only looked after his comrades because he was ordered to. here, in contrast, there's a contemplative hesitation to the way bucky handles her; surprisingly gentle, for all that he could snap bone with that metal hand. ]
So. What happened tonight?
[ his voice is low, his gaze now riveted to her side so he doesn't have to glance up and realise how close they are now, how he's way too near yelena's face. ]
no subject
[ bucky just means himself, but there's a chance it sounds like he's hinting at other visitors. in the meantime, though, there's his palms laid flat against her thighs as she rucks up her shirt — and he swallows once, hard, adam's apple bobbing as he tries not to linger too much on the sight. and while yelena hitches a breath, he reaches for the bottle of saline solution and washcloth, and starts carefully wiping at the wound to clear it of blood and grit and any sticky fabric threads it's picked up from her shirt. the armchair will be wet with water and blood by the end of this, but it was that or invite her into his shower with him or something— and look, there are limits to this kind of forced intimacy.
he gets absorbed in the task, though, and leans even closer to be sure the cut is clear before he switches to dabbing it with antiseptic. at a hiss of breath from her, he murmurs a small apologetic "sorry", and then presses the antiseptic harder. it stings, but he maintains that firm pressure against the gash, his fingers splayed against the curve of her side, brushing over the arch of her ribs. there's warm bare skin beneath his hands, and he's struck by the unexpected intimacy of not having gloves between him and another person, for once— it feels as exposed and naked as if he'd had to rip off a whole layer of clothing in front of her, too, some of his physical armour gone. she can feel his uncovered fingers thumbing against her skin, soft and human, in contrast to the cold chill of the vibranium.
he can't remember the last time he was this close to someone. piecing together another footsoldier in HYDRA who was injured, probably — except back then, the winter soldier had been harsh, silent, an automaton who only looked after his comrades because he was ordered to. here, in contrast, there's a contemplative hesitation to the way bucky handles her; surprisingly gentle, for all that he could snap bone with that metal hand. ]
So. What happened tonight?
[ his voice is low, his gaze now riveted to her side so he doesn't have to glance up and realise how close they are now, how he's way too near yelena's face. ]