It was long hours sat in the quinjet as the engines roared and the jet flew through the clouds, then it was checking in to a dingy motel with lukewarm water and a creaky bed. After that - days spent tracking down potential enemy agents roaming hidden bases, camping between trees and concrete walls, keeping out of the line of fire as he worked through the buildings, gathering intel and taking down anyone in his way.

Another night in that same motel, then the long quinjet ride home. The mission was a success, but Bucky was tired. He couldn’t wait to get out of this sweaty and dirty outfit and come back home, back to you. He could text you, of course; call and hear your voice on the other end - albeit a little crackled with his shitty signal, but it just didn’t feel like enough.

He practically rushed to the apartment once he landed and debriefed, slotting his key in the door and heading inside. His boots were quickly untied and tossed to the ground, jacket and duffel thrown down into a heap beside them.

He then paused, looking around in silence. You weren’t around to greet him, but he could hear a soft humming coming from the bathroom, and the sounds of water splashing in the shower.

He smiled softly to himself at the familiar sound of your voice, and he quietly approached the bathroom door, gently turning the knob to push it open. He took a moment to breathe in the smells of your shower products, and the steam in the air was a perfect welcome gift for him, however unintentional.

He was soon out of his clothes, wincing slightly as a few cuts and bruises finally made themselves known, but he’d deal with those later.

With silent movements, he slipped into the shower behind you, and his arms immediately found their way against your waist, his chin resting on your shoulder as the front of his bare body pressed against the back of your own.

“Missed me?” He murmured, rubbing his stubbled cheek against your own. The warm water cascading down his dirty and aching body felt like heaven compared to the motel shower, but it didn’t even hold a candle to how it felt to finally hold you again.