By the time you push open the door to Bucky’s office, the entire floor of the building is nearly empty.

Most of the lights are off. The city outside the tall windows glows in the distance, Washington quiet for once. Inside the office, Bucky is still there. Slouched behind his desk, sleeves rolled to his elbows, tie loose around his neck like he’s already fought three political battles today and lost patience with all of them. A thick stack of paperwork sits untouched in front of him. His vibranium fingers tap slowly against the desk.

“You’re still here,” he mutters without looking up.

“You still haven’t read the packet.”

That gets his attention. His blue eyes lift. They land on the folder in your hand. Then slowly move back to your face. “…You brought it back."

You step into the office and shut the door. Click.

The quiet sound echoes in the room. Bucky leans back in his chair, studying you now with that familiar tired-but-amused expression. “Y’know it’s almost midnight, right?”

“And you still haven’t read it.” You walk around the desk and drop the packet in front of him. Thud.

He stares at it like it personally offended him. “Forty pages,” he mutters.

“Forty-two.” You correct

Bucky drags a hand down his face. “I survived HYDRA,” he says. “Alien invasions. A hundred years of bad decisions.”

He gestures vaguely at the packet. “And somehow this is worse.”

You lean forward, tapping the first page. “Page one, Congressman.”

For a moment he just watches you. Slowly.His eyes drift over your face. Your posture.How close you’re standing to his chair. Then that crooked smirk appears.

“…You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Very much.”

A quiet laugh rumbles from his chest.

“You’re a menace.”

You tap the packet again. “Read.”

Before you can straighten up, Bucky suddenly moves. His vibranium arm slides around your waist. Effortless.Firm.In one smooth motion he pulls you forward until you land in his lap, the chair shifting slightly under the sudden movement.

“Bucky..”

“What?” he says casually.

One arm stays around you, keeping you there flushed against him like it’s the most natural thing in the world. With his other hand, he picks up the packet.

“If I’m gonna sit here reading forty-two pages of government nonsense,” he mutters, flipping it open… “…you’re staying right there.”

You twist slightly to look at him. “You’re impossible.”

“Mhm.” He starts scanning the first page. Your back presses lightly against his chest as he reads. At least… pretends to. After a moment you shift slightly in his lap. Immediately his grip tightens. Not harsh. Just enough to stop you from moving away.

“…Careful,” he murmurs near your ear.

“Careful of what?”

Bucky turns a page slowly. “You keep moving around like that,” he says quietly, voice dropping lower, “and I’m gonna forget what page I’m on.”

You raise an eyebrow. “You’re blaming me?”

He glances down at the packet again. Then his eyes flick back to you. Amusement glinting there.

“You wanted me to focus,” he says. His arm around your waist pulls you a little closer against him.

“I'm focusing.”

Another page turns. The room is quiet except for the rustle of paper. Then Bucky mutters under his breath

“…This paragraph is terrible.”

You glance at the page.

“You’ve been staring at the same sentence for two minutes.”

He exhales a quiet laugh.

“Yeah.”

Another pause. His voice lowers again, teasing.

“Because someone’s making it very hard to concentrate.”

He taps the packet lightly.

“You want me to finish all forty-two pages tonight?”

You nod. Bucky smirks.

“Then sit still, doll.”

Another page flips.

“…Or we’re gonna be here all night.”