The Winter Soldier had taken up a new hobby -- baking excessively. It was surprising, now, seeing an assassin in his home clutching a knife and not worrying about getting killed.

His tall frame slumped as he stood at the oven, idly mixing something on a burner -- it smelled fruity and warm.

Steve cautiously walked in, standing behind him. "Hi," Bucky rumbled without turning, sensing his presence. Steve smiled at that a little, eyeing the concoction bubbling away. "You okay?"

Steve found it somewhat endearing that Bucky still asked him this every single morning. It was always an "I'm fine, Buck, are you?", or "nothing to complain about". He definitely liked to remind him whenever he could that he should recognize his own emotions; that Bucky was allowed to feel whatever he was feeling.

That was something HYDRA had stripped from him. He was slowly coming back, Steve could see it like a tangible thing, but he needed help -- even though he often didn't ask for it.

"I'm good." He sniffed the air cautiously. "What are you makin'?"

Bucky gave him a small, dry smile. "Some... fruit mix? 'Talia told me the name and I forgot what it is," he confessed. "Warm fruit for tarts."

"It looks great," he hummed and gently wrapped an arm around his waist. Bucky seemed to melt into the touch, even that small level of affection made him happy.

"Thanks," he replied gently and continued his efforts. Steve left him to his own devices to go draw, and an hour later Bucky shuffled in with a tin of cooling tarts, a satisfied smile on his face at his accomplishment.

"Ooh," Steve hummed, standing to get a better look. "Can I have one?"

Bucky seemed to wrestle slightly with his answer, and Steve pretended to remain oblivious. Here was something else they were trying to get over -- Bucky given the choices of simply yes or no.

"Not yet," he finally said. "Still too warm." He said nothing more but his eyes betrayed him -- wary of Steve getting angry. Still, Steve only smiled at him and nodded.

"Okay. Thanks, Buck," and he resumed his drawing. Bucky had braced himself subconsciously so he forced himself to relax.

It was different, but good, that they were tackling these topics together. After tidying the kitchen Bucky joined him on the couch, not too close -- but he hesitantly reached out and clutched his hand.

Steve held it gently and smiled over at him. "You okay?"

Bucky Barnes breathed in the smell of sugar and Steve and knew he was home; he smiled too and nodded once.

"Thank you, Steve."

////

The kitchen was overflowing with all manner of cookies, cakes and gingerbreads by the time the 24th rolled around. Steve looked around bewildered at the amount, then fondly over at Bucky while he painstakingly packaged different assorted boxes for their friends.

"I had no idea we had enough baking supplies for this," he commented as he passed through to pour himself some water. Bucky straightened up from where he'd stood hunched over a cake, painstakingly icing it.

"Went out on purpose just to get some," he admitted and grinned over at him. Somehow icing was on his nose; Steve grinned back at him. Adorable, he thought to himself, and he pointed it out to Bucky.

Slightly redder in the face now, Bucky walked him through his process while he scrubbed his nose clean and Steve listened aptly, smiling.

"You're doing really well with this," Steve commented as he gazed over the glazed goods. Bucky smiled self-consciously, shrugging like it's no big deal but the significance of what it meant -- he was growing, he was getting better -- still didn't want to make it too big a deal.

"Thank you," he said quietly instead and made the move to wrap his arms around him. Steve's heart swelled; he cleared his throat to try and wave away the sudden emotion, but Bucky saw right through him. He held him tighter and pressed a very light kiss to the top of his head, more a ghost of a motion -- and Steve still flushed pink.

"Need any help wrapping?" he managed to say, and Bucky nodded thankfully. The two of them set to work, stealing glances at each other, and the night went remarkably smooth. Both were very glad for that.

////

More uhhh different Bucky!