#james b. barnes | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dollface619 · 1 month ago

Text

safety between you

pairing: alpha!steve rogers x omega!reader x alpha!bucky barnes

word count: 6.4k (this is rough, and i mean rough, guess. i wrote this on tumblr on my phone and it wouldn’t copy and paste nicely, so i c&p roughly half para by para and then just doubled it)

cw: a/b/o au, au-typical power dynamics (not with steve and bucky, only talked about), swearing, brief mentions of sex/sexual feelings but no actual smut, fluff, cuddling, steve and bucky change reader while she’s sleeping (nothing happens or is even mentioned, don’t know if it matters to anyone??), a definite overuse of italics (and probably parenthesis)

You were the first Omega SHIELD sent out on field operations, aiming to tear down the claim that Omegas are weak.

The plan was to start with one Omega, you, then, as it proved that everyone responded well, SHIELD would start hiring more Omegas as field agents.

It was safe to say that there’s a heavy burden on your shoulders. The fate of other Omegas futures is in your hands.

You went through dozens and dozens of tests and challenges to get your job, more than the average entry level Alpha at SHIELD. But still, even then, most Alphas questioned your presence, your worthiness.

Your team was all Alphas, aside from you. The overbearing Alpha scent was everywhere. It felt like you couldn’t escape it, even taking your suppressants. But you managed. It was just another test, you told yourself, just one more thing to prove that you belong. That you’re strong enough for this job.

It took your team some time to open up to you, to accept you. Most of the Alphas thought you didn’t belong, ordering you around like a mere servant instead of an equal. And when you bit back at their attitudes, they snapped, getting up in your face and expecting you to cower. And you wanted to, your instincts screamed to. But you held your ground, needing to prove that you can do this.

Usually, whichever Alpha got into a spitting match either you had to be restrained from attacking you- usually by Steve or Bucky.

You didn’t know why they were the first to accept you into the team, but they did. They’d pull whoever it was back and tell them to cool off, then, lecture you about your stupid comments.

“You’re begging for a fight you can’t win.” Steve would say, giving you that disapproving look he was so good at.

You’d roll your eyes and brush them off, unwilling to accept their help and attempted guidance.

But you couldn’t get rid of them.

Since they were the first to be open to the presence of an Omega on the team, you got put into a car with them for missions- usually, smushed between the two.

And it was fine.

They’d try and talk with you, which was ignored or scoffed at. One time, Bucky dared to ask if you needed to help getting to the hospital floor of SHIELD when you got back to headquarters for a nasty cut you’d taken during the mission. You nearly bit his head off for thinking you were weak. He just laughed it off and played it off with that stupid smirk he always wore around you, the one that made you want to punch him in the face.

Or beg him to drag you back to your nest and fuck you until it was guaranteed you wouldn’t be able to walk the next day. Until his scent completely masked your own, smelling only of him.

He’d always laugh it off and say that you’re an anomaly of an Omega, always quick to the defensive, the first to challenge anyone who thought lower of you because of your status.

But this mission was… different, to say the least.

Everyone on the team felt it.

From the start, it was different. The whole team was involved, not just the small teams of two or three.

It made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It was a sign, yelling at you to back down. To finally accept that you weren’t cut out for the job, after all. But you were too stubborn to back down, you wouldn’t even entertain the thought, as hardheaded as ever.

Halfway through it, everything flipped over on its side.

You were raiding an old HYDRA base. It was abandoned, they told you guys, no one has been there for years.

It wasn’t.

There had been some secret tunnel or hidden passage way, whichever movie escape route worked best, that HYDRA agents had been using. It had the updated technology to hide their heat signatures, throwing off SHIELDS carbon dioxide sensors. It perfectly mimicked the abandonment you thought was there.

When the HYDRA agents finally made their claim, it rattled all of you. You were severely outmatched, it was three HYDRA agents for every one of you.

You stuck out like a sore thumb, noticeably shorter and smaller than the rest of your team. It made you a target.

Every turn of your head, every swing of your arm and kick of your leg, there was another one. Thats what it felt like. They’d only pull away from you once another one of your team members made a move at them.

It was nothing short of a miracle that you all made it out, battered and bruised, but alive.

The energy between the team was off. Everyone was slightly shellshocked by the unexpected attack, even more so at the sheer volume of it.

You’d never been more thankful for Tony Stark than when he made self driving cars for SHIELD.

It was just you, Steve, and Bucky in the car. No nosey driver or worry of gossip at your state, your Omega instincts not taking kindly to the surprise.

Smashed between Steve and Bucky, you were staring ahead with slightly wide eyes. The feeling of your breath in your throat not going away. You were only being kept upright by the tight space between Steve and Bucky’s shoulders.

You couldn’t care about looking tough right now, strained breaths racking through you.

Usually, you’d hide any fear or trepidation from your teammates, patiently waiting until you were alone in your room at SHIELD headquarters to let your feelings consume you.

Right now, you let shuddering breaths rack through you. Your hands wringing together anxiously in your lap.

The unexpected attack didn’t sit well with your Omega instincts. They craved security and stability, the exact opposite of your job. HYDRA agents attacking so rapidly put you on edge, your body and mind begging for your nest at headquarters. To just curl up in the mass amount of blankets and pillows and sleep away the discomfort clawing at your throat.

You didn’t think your internal struggle was that obvious. You were always pretty good at hiding it and assumed this time was like the rest.

It only became known to you when you smelt the change in the pheromones in the car.

You had been able to smell the effect the attack had on Steve and Bucky up until now. Now, you could tell they were trying to comfort you somewhat with a calmer scent in the enclosed space.

The on-edge feeling had dissipated and changed into a relaxing scent, meant to placate you.

You couldn’t find the will to be upset with them for treating you like an upset, delicate Omega this time.

Instead, you slumped back in the back, dropping your head against the flattened part of the middle of the headrest. The angle was a little uncomfortable, twinging the muscles in your neck, but you couldn’t find the care. You were not-so secretly embracing the this moment of weakness and care from them.

Slow, steady breaths left you as you tried to lower your racing heartbeat and calm your mind.

In for four seconds. Hold for four. Out for four. Hold. Over and over and over until your body couldn’t physically be stressed out.

“You okay, Omega?” Bucky’s quiet voice cuts through the thick air in the car, causing you to tense slightly before relaxing back into your spot.

He always called people by their status. The first time he called you ‘Omega’, you tore him a new one. Mouthing off about how he was degrading you for your status and diminishing all the work you’ve put in for something uncontrollable. Bucky’s cheeks flushed when you lectured him, not expecting your passionate response and not meaning to offend you. The way he apologized and explained himself to you was so un-Alpha-like you nearly stumbled back.

“M’so sorry, Om- … I-I didn’t meant to offend you. I swear! I don’t even realize it sometimes. I do it to everyone, no matter their status. I know you probably won’t believe that- but I swear, it’s true!”

Once you saw that he really did call everyone by their status, it didn’t bother you. He called people by their status in place of their name or a term of endearment— only breaking the norm to call Steve ‘punk’. Never once had it come across as derogatory or disrespectful.

You faintly nodded in response to his question, not trusting your shaken state to be able to form a solid response.

Their gaze was heavy on you, you could feel the intense way they looked at you. You knew they were concerned, this was probably the worst they’d ever seen you.

After a few moments of silence, their gazes still trained on you, Steve broke the silence.

“You can be affected by that. You don’t have to hide it from us. We’re your… team.”

The hesitance wasn’t missed by you. You knew the questionable relationship between you three. The longing gazes on all sides, the touches that last for a moment too long, the small gifts they’d you leave anonymously. It was just a breath away from a courtship, a touch away from a mating bond.

You also knew that they could easily read your emotions at all times. They’d only pretend they couldn’t for your benefit. (It became obvious when a plate of your favorite food was left in front of your door after a rather rough mission.)

“I’m fine.” You said, snapping at them harsher than you really meant you. You were just trying to hold on to your composure, fighting for your sense of stability. Quietly, you added, “…Sorry.”

Even if you were a rather insolent Omega, you still knew how to be respectful. You only get upset with people when they were purposefully being rude to you or others.

They were just trying to help you.

“Sorry.” You repeated, forcing a slow breath to leave you.

Steve shifted in his seat, twisting his torso to give you more room in a way that has to be uncomfortable for him. “Thank you.”

You knew it was his Alpha ego that made him thank you. That part of him craved respect and obedience, especially from an Omega.

You slid down in your seat, resting your head more comfortably. A slow breath left you.

A weak hum leaves you as finally give in and let yourself get comfortable.

The GPS monitor in the car showed you still had roughly four hours and why strain yourself for that much longer?

You let yourself shift in the seat, your head tilting onto Bucky’s shoulder. It wasn’t an intentional move, but you also didn’t try to stop yourself or pull away. Bucky’s shoulder tensed under head as you rubbed your head against his shoulder to get comfortable.

It was the clearest sign of affection they ever got from you, the closest reciprocation of their advancements on you.

Bucky’s arm quickly relaxed under you, yet stayed unmoving. A small breath slips past your lips as you close your eyes.

The cramped car still felt thick with their calming pheromones as the time passed. You suck in a deep breath, letting them do their job and calm you.

Steve’s hand gently rested on your shoulder, digging his thumb into the muscle softly. “Sleep, Omega. You’re safe.” His voice was just as gentle as his hand rubbing your shoulder.

Steve didn’t call people by their status, like Bucky, his usage of it was more endearing. He was using it to remind you that even though you’re stronger and very capable of keeping up with them, you were still different. Genetically speaking. Your instincts and emotions craved stability and protection- everything this mission was not.

And he knew that you needed to let yourself relax to deal with it. If you kept yourself in a contact state of trying to be strong, you’d only make yourself worse. You’d turn into the dependent Omega you were trying so hard not to be, running yourself to the ground that you had no energy left to be the person you wanted to be.

You’d have to let yourself be weak so you could gain the strength to be strong. Steve knew that sometimes you needed to be reminded of that fact, you needed that environment provided for you. You needed to be encouraged to take advantage of it.

To take advantage of them and the safe space they consistently offered you. To take advantage of them.

The low hum that left you was the only sign of acknowledgment you gave them, too tired to try and speak— your throat still felt tight with anxiety that you didn’t even know if you could speak right now without croaking pathetically.

You could hear them shift slightly, moving just enough to get more comfortable without jostling you too much.

Bucky’s hand awkwardly rested on your thigh, your head on that shoulder limiting his mobility. He patted your leg lightly before squeezing and rubbing your thigh over your uniform.

Two soft clicks broke the serenity you felt, followed the sound of metal sliding across metal.

With a disgruntled sound, you picked your head up from Bucky’s shoulder to see Steve pulling the headrest out from the seat, tossing it into the empty passenger seat of the car.

“Shh, what did I just say?” He said gently, raising his brows at you, “Sleep. I’m just getting comfortable.”

The stress made you too tired to try and fight with him, not wanting to willing give into his direct orders in a domestic situation. Instead, another small grunt left you as you dropped your head back to Bucky’s shoulder, wriggling your arm under his and pulling it into your chest like you’re cuddling the limb.

Again, he tensed for a spilt second before relaxing under you.

You could practically hear the look they share, their scents jumping away from the comforting one that was slowly lulling you to sleep to ones of surprise and excitement.

Before you grumbled your discontent with their change again, Steve’s fingers slowly work their way onto your scalp, massaging the area with a gentle pressure that made your head fuzzy.

The sound you were forcing out to show your upset morphed into one of contentment, a soft hum-like moan leaving you.

“Jerk.” You breathe out, eyes slipping closed as his fingers keep massaging your head. The words lack any true venom and the usual fire that you reserved for Alphas trying to bully their way through you.

“Quiet.” Steve said. He was trying to sound stern but the low chuckle that left him a moment later contradicted the attempt.

The car went quiet for a moment again, save for the soft purr of the engine before Steve continues, “The car’s locked and bulletproof. No one’s getting in. You’re safe in here, just keep using Buck as a pillow and sleep. We’ll wake you when we get back to the Tower, Omega.”

The slow, thoughtful words sunk into your consciousness, giving you the comfort you needed. Repeating your safety seemed to quell the panicked Omega instincts swirling around your head.

You could feel your mind slowly to a stop as your breathing slows, falling into that state of semi-consciousness right before sleep.

“Good Omega.” Bucky whispered to you as your body goes heavy against his side, a low hum leaving you in response that fades away.

You’re out for the rest of the car ride. The car pulling into the compound, the engine coming to a stop doesn’t jar you. Your body is completely wiped out, collapsed between the safety of Bucky and Steve.

Even if there was nothing official between the three of you, there was some sort of bond. It was quiet and comforting in the way that silently crept into their actions, dropping things off in your room (gifts, it was always small gifts of things that reminded them of you or things you had talked about), and, most especially, the way they never expected anything in return.

Did they want something in return? Yes. Of course they did, but they knew how head strong and stubborn you were. You’d never accept their affections if they tried to force you to. Slowly, you’d make your way to them like a feral stray, building rapport and trust with them.

Maybe that was why you didn’t wake when Steve got out of the car and slowly pulled your sleeping form off of Bucky. Your instincts recognizing him and his scent as some sort of safe haven, not sensing a need to disturb your much needed rest.

And maybe that budding bond between you three was why you stay knocked out when Bucky helped Steve maneuver your body so we’re were hugging him like a koala so he could carry you easier. Your legs wrapped around his waist as your arms were around his middle, head resting against his shoulder.

“I got her, I got her.” Steve said softly, giving Bucky a somewhat territorial look as he kept nitpicking the way Steve was holding you. “I’m not gonna drop her. She’s not gonna fall, Buck.”

Bucky simply glared at him and used all his will to not bare his teeth and growl at Steve.

Even if they were the ones pursuing you together, it was still abnormal for two Alphas to try and be with one Omega, their possessive instincts quick to fight for what they thought of as theirs.

Bucky grit his teeth and hissed out, “I didn’t say you were gonna drop her, punk. M’just trying to make sure she’s comfortable against your stupid chest.”

Steve was just about to grumble something sarcastic back to him as you shifted, burying your head into Steve’s neck, mumbling breathily.

“Shut up. Shut… up.”

The two headstrong Alphas shared a dumbfounded look at your movement— your smartass comments they were used to, but you willing moving closer to Steve’s scent gland, however unconscious it was, was incredibly new.

“Sorry, Omega.” Bucky said, his rough immediately melting to something soft and docile as he moved behind Steve to brush hair away from your face.

He looked to you for another smart comment, but you were already sound asleep again, breathing heavily against Steve.

“She’s out.” Bucky muttered, his fingers tucking hair behind your ear, still pressed against Steve, “Tired little Omega.”

Steve adjusted his grip on you, getting his hands more securely under your thighs. “M’gonna take her—“

“Is she okay?”

Natasha’s raspy voice suddenly cuts Steve off as she slowly makes her way towards them. Her car was parked right behind theirs, Bruce getting out of the car as well.

The other two Avenger’s cars were pulling up into the driveway and Bucky and Steve knew they only had a few moments before everyone would be up here.

They didn’t want to run the risk of them seeing you slumped like this. Steve and Bucky knew better than anyone how protective you were of your image, they’d be eaten up inside if they were at fault for you being seen as weaker because of this stupid mission. However, they were more worried about Tony, or any of the Avengers, but mainly him and his smart mouth, waking you up and disturbing your peace— especially because they didn’t know when you’d let them get this close again.

“She’s fine. Just tired.” Steve says with a tight voice.

It was obvious to anyone with eyes and a nose how on edge he was, Bucky too.

Why did Nat, another Alpha, need to know if you were okay? You were their’s. Their’s! It didn’t matter if it was still unofficial, everyone knew it already.

Bucky takes a half step closer to Steve as the blond adjusts you, pulling you impossibly closer to his chest in an attempt to hide you from Nat’s— and now Bruce’s— prying eyes.

“You— You should take her up to the hospital. That amount of stress in her system can’t be good for her, let alone any Omega.” Bruce says, pointing at you in Steve’s arms with a tentative finger. His voice was soft and uncertain, knowing how quickly Bucky could react if he felt challenged. “The raise in the amount of cortisol and adrenaline in her system could alter the equilibrium of chemicals in her and result in—“

“She’s fine.” Bucky snapped, glaring at Bruce.

Nat’s brows shot up as Bruce took a step back.

Bruce may have been a Beta, but the Hulk provided him with a unique exception, elevating him above most Alphas.

Nat took a half step forward, mimicking Bucky, and put her hands out in a calming manner.

“Hey, hey. He didn’t mean anything by it.” She said coolly, giving Bucky a look while trying to defuse the situation. “He’s just trying to help her, just like you. We’re all a team. No one wants your girl, Barnes.”

“I didn’t say—“ Bucky snapped, getting cut off by Steve.

“Buck.”

It’s short and quick with enough force to remind Bucky of what’s more important here— you.

Bucky’s head shot over to look at Steve, a fiery look in his eyes that was ready to lunge at the next person who tried to tell him what to do with you.

Raising his brows again, Steve gives Bucky a soft yet stern look, silently chastising him in that quiet way they’ve shared since they were kids.

Steve’s gaze drifts back to Nat and Bruce, then behind them, seeing Tony and the others making their way out of the cars and towards them.

“We’re going to take her up.” Steve said shortly. He looked back to Bucky before nodding towards the complex.

Without even waiting for a response, the two Alphas started making their way up the long drive way.

As they walk away, Tony’s sarcastic voice rings out with that same dry sarcasm as normal,

“Going to mate with your girl?”

You had been given a room in a different wing than the rest of the team.

It was a safety measure, really, but you preferred it.

If your heat were to randomly start, not only would you be a mess and indisposed, but the scent of that lingering in the same area as the top group of Alphas in the world lived could cause some… issues, to put it lightly.

Or, if one of there ruts were to do the same.

Sure, Tony was mated with Pepper and Bruce was technically a Beta, but the rest of them were unmated. And even though they were sworn to protect and help, they were still subjected to their chemical reactions.

There was no telling what could happen.

It was safer that way.

You argued at first, seeing it as another thing that was dictated by your status. Hissed words and wild threats thrown dangerously from you for the first months of joining the team were all they heard from you.

Until, you realized how much you actually liked being removed from them.

You weren’t subjected to the reeking scent of Alpha all the time. Your door could stay open all night to help with air flow in the sticky summer months. The volume of your music and TV was never a question— you had no neighbors to worry about!

Along with the added bonus of during your heat, you had no worry about being too loud or too obscene.

Steve and Bucky had been the only two on the team to actually go to your room, but never inside.

They’d only ever drop off meals and small trinkets at your door, like cats bringing things back to its owner to thank them and show their love.

With Steve still cradling your slumped form against his chest, him and Bucky share a look before tentatively entering your room.

It felt wrong. Forbidden.

This was your space, untouched by anyone other than you.

Their eyes greedily raked over your room, absorbing everything small detail and item they could see like dry sponges thirsting for water.

Your room was large, bigger than both of theirs. Your closet and bathroom doors were both cracked, allowing a small glimpse into the tidy spaces. A book shelf and desk were tucked into one corner of the room, loaded with books, files (presumably mission reports), and the odd object. The small, warm toned lamp was on, providing a soft glow throughout the room.

However, what really drew their attention in was tucked in the corner, a bed that had to be bigger than a king, fluffed up and overflowing with blankets, comforters, pillows, and clothes.

A nest. Your nest.

Bucky groaned lowly, eyes hungrily taking in the sight.

“I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do this, Steve.” He mumbled, unable to look away.

Bucky felt like he was staring at the core of you. This was the place that meant the most to you. You had made this space, carefully curated and tweaked until you deemed it as it was now. It was the place you’d curl up in every night, the spot you lay in to decompress, feeling safest there.

Where you’d go during your heat.

“Just— don’t.” Steve said slowly, clearly struggling with the same issue. “We’re doing this for her, Bucky. Not us.”

“Yeah… yeah. No, I know that. I do. But, Jesus— you’re telling me this isn’t driving you crazy, punk?” Bucky asked, taking a half step towards your bed, motioning to it.

Steve adjusted you again, your tactical gear scraping against his chin. He sent Bucky a stern look, one that he usually reserved for another Alpha that tried to get too pushy with you.

“Bucky.”

Bucky dragged eyes away from your nest to Steve like it physically pained him to do so. “I know.”

“Uh-huh. Go make yourself useful and grab pajamas for her.” Steve said, taking calculated steps to your nest. He extracted you from around his neck and waist like you were a delicate thing he didn’t want to ruin with his beastly touch, setting you on the edge of your bed.

Bucky moved to your closet without hesitation and paused suddenly.

“Steve…”

“I swear to god, Bucky, if you say one more thing—“

“Steve.” He said more forcefully.

Steve’s head snapped over to Bucky, looking at what he was seeing.

It was your closet, obviously, but it was specifically what was in your closet that was capturing Bucky’s attention.

Mixed within your own mess of clothes, there was a small cubby that was stuffed full of what was obviously men’s clothes. T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, pants, a red Henley that look suspiciously like the one Bucky had been missing.

The room froze between them as they stared at your closet. Steve’s head tilted to the side slightly as Bucky took another step in, hesitantly reaching out to pull the top piece.

He held it out to show Steve.

A stretched plain white tee with a large hole around the left side of the collar.

“This is—“

“Mine.” Steve growled, finishing Bucky’s sentence. His gaze turns back to your sleeping form in the edge of your bed, legs hanging off as you lay peacefully on your back.

“You—“

“Lost it. Supposedly.”

“Yeah…”

A moment passes between them, a growing sense of excitement with it.

Maybe that weren’t as far away from earning your affections as they had thought. You had a whole stash of their clothes! No normal Omega hordes Alphas clothes without reason. And you had theirs, squirreling it away and letting them think they’d lost clothes for who knows how long! That had to mean something.

Bucky quietly padded back over by Steve, now holding a pair of navy shorts with the t-shirt.

After another look between them, they carefully, and respectfully, changed you out of your tactile gear and into the comfy clothing. Bucky tossed the worn materials onto your bathroom floor, deeming it an issue for tomorrow.

With movements as precise and as strategized for handling a bomb about to go off, Steve maneuvered you to the center of your nest.

Immediately, you curled into the plush surface, instincts recognizing the space you were in. A soft puff of air left you as your tense frame melted into the covers.

“Alright,” Steve said after a brief moment of staring at you, “We should… leave.”

Bucky hummed reluctantly, his eyes still stuck on you.

“Yeah…”

But neither one of them dared to move.

The air in the room was calm, a slow and intimate environment that you clearly went through painstaking measures to achieve.

The light’s soft glow over you made you look like a goddess to them. Your hair splayed around your head delicately and your breathing slow and steady.

Steve and Bucky weren’t ready to leave yet. They wanted to stay. Forever, if you let them.

Not only were they not ready to leave your space, they didn’t want to leave your scent.

Usually, your scent attracts them. It acts as a driving force, constantly pulling them into your orbit and never quite leaving. The delicious smell is even stronger in here, concentrated and alluring. It’s thicker and more captivating, nearly making them salivate.

Bucky swallowed thickly, the wet sound breaking the silence, hit fists tight at his sides.

“Let’s… let’s go.” Steve whispered, taking a half step back.

Bucky copied him and they made their way to the door, dragging themselves away.

It wouldn’t be right to stand here and stare at you sleep like creeps— even if that’s exactly what they had been doing. They were trying to win you over the correct way, with small gifts and patience, waiting for you to feel comfortable enough with them (or to flat out reject them, but you hadn’t yet so they had hope).

Right as Bucky’s hand twisted the door knob, a sound left you.

A whine.

Both of them tensed, turning back to you quickly with worried expressions.

They thought you’d be having some kind of nightmare— or maybe you had been injured on the mission and had found some way to hide it from them for so long.

God, how could they have missed that you were… not hurt?

You weren’t hurt.

You were fine, lying there exactly as they had left you— eyes closed and soundly sleeping.

Another saddened sound leaves you.

Why were you whining?

You weren’t hurt, or having a nightmare.

Bucky looked at Steve, his face fallen into a look of pure concern and panic. If you were hurt and they couldn’t figure what was upsetting you, he couldn’t fix it.

Bucky didn’t know what he was supposed to do if he couldn’t fix it for you. That’s what he was good at— fixing things. Whether it was with tools or his fists, he made things better.

Steve moved back to the foot of your bed quietly, padding closer almost soundlessly. His hand carefully reached out and ghosted over your calf, not putting enough pressure to scare you awake.

“Hey…” He breathed out, hand putting the slightest amount more pressure on you, “What’s wrong?”

You only whined again. It was this pained, whimpering sound that made you sound like an kicked puppy to them.

Bucky stood off the side, still wrapped up in his worry for you. He inhaled quickly and walked next to Steve.

“Omega.” He said, slightly more forcefully than Steve.

That caused you to stir, eyelids fluttering, but still sleeping.

You whined again before your lips part and you breathed out one word,

“Stay…”

For what felt like the umpteenth time that night, they both froze.

“You want us to stay?” Steve asked gently, running his hand over your leg again.

“Mhm… stay.” You mumble.

Bucky swallowed again, already moving to toe off his shoes, ready to climb into your bed with you and sleep the whole night away wrapped in you and your scent.

“You sure, sweetie?” Steve asked again, tapping the back of your thigh when you don’t respond. “You want us to stay?”

You nuzzled into the pillows, your leg shifting when Steve taps you, easily responding to his presence and touch.

“Stay.”

Your words, or just word, seemed to be enough convincing for Steve, who followed in suit of Bucky, starting to strip out of his grimy mission suit.

By this point, Bucky has already pulled all of his tactile gear off, stripped into just a tee and his boxers. His clothes created a messy pile on your otherwise pristine floor.

You were laying on your side in the center of the bed, Bucky crawled into the space in front of you and Steve behind. It took a few moments to get settled, Bucky and Steve quietly bickering about the positioning for maximum comfort.

And with all of your legs a tangled mess, one of Steve’s arms wriggled under your head to act as a pillow and the other layer over your side and his fingers dug into the space between yours and Bucky’s bodies. Bucky nuzzled his face into the space under your chin, precariously close to the tops of your breasts, his vibranium arm draped over your waist, metal fingers digging into the meat of Steve’s hip.

You seemed to melt into the space between them, quiet, content, and placid in way they had never seen you before. The snappy and defensive Omega that they had gotten used to (and definitely attracted to) melted into a soft sleeping thing between them, showing them another version of you that they already loved.

Steve’s hand slowly rubbed up and down your stomach, the moment restrained between yours and Bucky’s stomachs.

It didn’t take long for Steve and Bucky to hear the call sleep reaching for them, eyes drooping and mind’s slowing down.

But what really did them in was the soft, subtle purr that left you.

You slept for hours before stirring, woken from your mind tormenting you with memories of your chaotic mission.

Your eyes snapped open with a quiet gasp, dazed and confused about where you were for a moment. It took a few quick breaths and furious blinking for your eyes to adjust to the darkness in your room for you to realize where you were.

Then, you were confused about the added and unusual weight on and around you.

You picked your head up by only a couple inches before you realized Bucky’s head was buried in your chest. Soft, warm breaths puffed from his lips, fanning across your chest.

With your eyes tracking down his body and following his metal arm across your hip, you realized Steve was behind you too, his arm under your head and the other holding onto your stomach.

You shifted slightly between them, realizing your urgent need to pee.

When was the last time you went to the bathroom? More importantly, what time was it?

You pulled an arm out from between them are started extracting their arms from off of you when Steve grunts lowly behind you, his gravely voice breaking the silent night. His arm tightened around you, muscles flexing to keep you in place.

“Hngh— why are you awake? Go back to bed.”

“I have to piss, Steve,” You grumbled back to him, moving Bucky’s arm off of you and into the brunette’s side, “Let me up.”

Steve listened and rolled over onto his back, allowing you barely any more room, but enough to wriggle free from them.

Stumbling into the bathroom, you tripped and almost fell over your mission gear. A confused grunt left you as you rub your eyes, clicking the door shut and flicking the light on.

After doing your business and washing your hands, you splashed cool water over your face. You scratched at some of the dried grime on your skin, blunt nails scraping over the delicate expanse of your throat as rivulets of water streamed down your skin.

Your eyes trailed down and suddenly clicked in your head that someone changed you out of your Avengers issued uniform.

Obviously— it was Steve and Bucky.

You knew they’d never let anyone get close enough to you after you dropped unconscious like that on them. You’re not even surprised they stayed in your room— your nest, though? A little surprised.

With the light flicked back off, you left the bathroom and made you way back to the bed.

Steve was now sitting up, hands planted just behind him as he clearly waited for you to return. He seemed more awake now.

Bucky had taken the chance to roll over onto his back, still dead asleep in your nest.

“C’mere.” Steve grunted, you were just able to see him nod towards the bed in the darkness of the room.

You didn’t hesitate to crawl right back into your bed, slotting yourself between them again.

Steve hummed contentedly as your weight dipped the bed again before he reached over to manhandle you, positioning you how he wanted.

And you let him.

You didn’t feel like fighting back against him. There was no innate urge to snap at him and tell him that you’re not some toy for him to play with or a doll for him to adjust to fit his narrative of you. For some reason, you were content to let him roll you over and lay on you. Whether it was because you were too tired to fight back or because you just didn’t want to, you didn’t know— definitely because you didn’t want to, but Steve wasn’t going to know that any time soon.

He pushed you over so your cheek was against Bucky’s clothed chest, tucked between his arm and side. You threw your leg over Bucky’s and wrapped your arm around his middle as Steve pressed himself against your back, his face now nestled into the back of your neck. His warm hand ran up and down your hip, digging his fingers into the flesh every few drags.

“Good. Now, back to sleep.” He mumbled, pressing a kiss to the back of your neck.

Even if you were still half-asleep, you didn’t have enough control over yourself to stop the shudder the ran through you, a warm feeling running down your spine.

Steve noticed, he always did. Whether it was because he was a Super Solider or because he was an Alpha, he always noted every little shift your body language, knowing how felt about something before you consciously did.

Though, he apparently chose not to comment on it for now, letting your ego remain intact.

Thankfully was more like it.

Instead, he just said, “We still have a few more hours.”

A small hum of agreement left you as you rubbed your cheek into Bucky’s shirt, taking a fists worth of the worn material.

You were choosing to ignore the implications this had on your relationship with them until morning. For now, like Steve said, you could sleep for a few more hours.

a/n: alright, first off, hiii. this is my first official post on tumblr. i have written fanfic before on wattpad and posted it, but never on here. i started this like DURING covid and never finished bc i fell out of tumblr and recently ‘rediscovered’ the magic and serotonin that this app gives me! so, i re-read the short amount and had written and decided to finish this before i try anything else! that’s why there’s a shift in writing style (i notice it at least). sorry, for the rambling, i’m just really excited bc i love this idea and have never really written fluff for three characters before (sorry if some parts are weird!) and really like this! lmk if you like it (or what you hate so i can improve!) <33