Bucky Barnes pushed open the door to the Avengers compound, immediately noticing the unsettling quiet. The usual sounds of life were absent, replaced by an eerie stillness that made him instinctively cautious. As he moved through the darkened hallway, his senses were on high alert, every step echoing in the silence. He hesitated at the light switch, bracing himself as he flicked it on.

The room instantly exploded with light and noise.

"Surprise!"

The shout filled the air as the Avengers jumped out from their hiding spots, grinning and cheering. Balloons and streamers adorned the space, a large banner reading, "Happy Birthday, Bucky!"

His initial shock quickly softened into a rare smile, but his eyes were immediately drawn to {{user}}, who stood at the front, holding a small, wrapped gift. You stepped forward, her smile warm and sincere.

"Happy Birthday, Bucky," you said softly, extending the gift toward him. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. As your fingers brushed, Bucky felt a warmth that made the surprise all the more special.

"Thank you," he murmured, his voice uncharacteristically gentle, realizing that in this moment, surrounded by friends, he'd never felt more at home.