Between the creepy fuckers and the stupid injury that he had obtained during the whole ordeal - who the hell trips over a goat? - on top of the general insecurity that came with leaving your infant daughter with someone else for the first time since she came into their lives, Bucky had been fully ready to cancel his anniversary night with Nyx.
But with one look at the other man and how exhausted he looked from re-warding their home and properties, he had felt an immense amount of affection and love for the other man. Nyx deserved a night away from responsibilities, he deserved to be lavished with love and attention and who else would do that, save for Bucky?
So despite all the crap they had just dealt with and the worry over leaving Lucy alone for a whole night - potentially two, though who were they kidding? - the two made it out to Galdin Quay and spent a lovely dinner together, before heading to the suite Nyx had booked for them.
It was in the soft lighting of the bedroom that Bucky was reminded by how young Nyx still was, as he watched his husband start to loosen the tie he had on. "I forgot how good you look dolled up and not covered in spit up," Bucky laughed, as he popped the bottle of champagne they had ordered during dinner for them to enjoy in the room. Not bothering with glasses because they were classy like that, he lifted the bottle out of the ice bucket and strode over to where Nyx was removing his watch and weapons by the nightstand.
Offering him the bottle for the first sip, he took over weapon removal duty and started to pay Nyx down for what Bucky knew to be a stupid amount of weapons on him. Though it wasn't like he was one to talk, with how many he had on himself
Nyx forgot that himself too more often than not. How young he was. Too many years fighting a war and losing friends, weighing him down and making him feel decades older than he was. But it was easier to remember on nights like these - basking in the company of his husband, making all sorts of ridiculous heart eyes across the table and enjoying celebrating that despite all the crazy Vallo threw at them they were both still here. Married a year, parents, living an actual life.
It was nice.
And while it had felt a bit strange sitting the last Vallo bullshit out for the most part - mostly only being on call in case it got real bad and ensuring their own little neck of the woods was safe - it had its merits. Easier on his stress levels at least. Even if the clean up had been a tiresome few days.
He took the bottle with a grin as his husband patted him down. "Is this where I should say the biggest one is in my pants?" he asked with a raise of his brows and he took a long sip from the bottle.
Removing the last of the weapons from the small of Nyx’s back, Bucky snorted inelegantly, before pressing in close from behind so he could press a kiss to Nyx’s neck as he drank. His hands went from the other man’s waist to the front of his pants, teasingly touching the weapon in question. “I think I’ll let you keep that one. Maybe you can show it to me yourself later,” he teased, as he moved to nip Nyx’s ear while moving up to unbutton his husband’s dress shirt.
They needed more nights out like this and they would have them too, as soon as they got more comfortable with leaving Lucy overnight with someone other than them. Tonight would prove if they could do it.
“You smell good,” he muttered into Nyx’s neck, as he buried his face into it and inhaled the smells he came to associate with his husband - his soap, cologne, his unique spicy smell, with just the smallest hint of baby powder. “I could probably stay here just like this with you all night.”
"Oh I'm planning on it," was the reply with a wink as Bucky's hands roamed. "Several times," was added as a hand slipped into the hair at the nape of Bucky's neck. And while Nyx would never say anything about their sex life was bad, there was something to be said about the evening that stretched out in front of them and all its promises of being interruption free.
He laughed softly and dropped his head on top of Bucky's. "It's the distinct lack of spit up and other things," he said lightly.
Nyx lifted his head and gently pushed off Bucky's jacket. "Happy anniversary," he said before leaning in to kiss his husband.
"Happy anniversary," Bucky murmured back, as their lips met.
It would be several hours later, clothes forgotten and a few empty bottles of champagne discarded around the room, before they really spoke again. Bucky was partially dozing, comfortably wrapped up in his husband's arms, when he said, "You think the boys are okay with Luce?" It was a miracle and sheer stubbornness that Bucky hadn't called his brother-in-law yet to check in.
It wasn't as if he didn't trust Noctis and his boyfriends, but those new parent instincts were hard to resist.
Nyx's hands were idly brushing up and down Bucky's back. He'd let a little heat come to his fingertips as he did, content to just bask in the moment. Like Bucky he was only about half awake, content and sated.
The sudden question though brought a small laugh and Nyx reached a hand for his phone on the nightstand to check the time. "You lasted about two hours longer than I thought you would." he teased Bucky lightly. Though some of that might have had to do with what the last couple hours had entailed. He shot off a quick text though and dropped the phone, his free hand still dragging up and down Bucky's back.
"It is weird though," he admitted. "Being away from her this long." Sure they'd had family over to watch while they caught a nap, or caught up on work on the house and property, or a couple hours out to do errands. But this was the first time it had extended much past the two hour mark.
The warmth from Nyx’s fingers felt nice. The touch of heat and magic that was uniquely Nyx always brought a sense of serenity to Bucky whenever he was preoccupied or stressed. And it wasn’t that he wasn’t having a good time, but their lives since October had been flipped so completely that he was still feeling a little out of depth with being a father to such a young baby. It was hard to stay in the quiet moments in the present, when his mind so quickly drifted to the small baby that had brought them to a new level in their relationship.
It put him at ease to see Nyx message the boys about Lucy though and he let himself focus back on them and being together. “I hope it gets easier because I plan to have more nights like this with you. Remember when we actually went out in public together without wearing a baby? I miss sneaking off into corners and closets with you.” As dumb as it felt to think, but it made him feel young and carefree in a time where he felt responsible for too much and sometimes felt like he wasn’t qualified to be surrounded by the people he was.
"So you're saying I should have dragged you into the ice machine room before this one," Nyx replied with a laugh. But he got it. There was always something about acting dumb and as young as they theoretically were.
He lifted his phone up as the text reply came in. The text saying Lucy was fast asleep and a photo followed it up. He turned the phone so Bucky could see.
“I wouldn’t have said no to that,” Bucky laughed, which turned into a soft smile and relief when he saw the picture of their daughter. He was sure she wouldn’t stay asleep for long, but it was good to see Noct taking care of her so well. Taking the phone out of Nyx’s hand and putting it back on the stand, he pillowed his arms across his chest and tucked his chin on top, so he could look up at the other man. “Let’s stay one more night.”
It wasn’t in the plans, but if there was a time to take a weekend away, it was probably their one year wedding anniversary.
Nyx's hand moved to card lightly through Bucky's hair, a playful smile on his lips. "Well, we can always go take a little stroll later," he suggested. Though moving wasn't that high on the priority list at the moment.
He raised a brow at Bucky's suggestion. "Yeah?" And it wasn't as though Nyx didn't want to go home to their daughter, but the idea of extending this little break did sound nice. Especially since they knew she was in such good hands. "I could be convinced," he answered and gave his husband a little wink.
Listen, Bucky was a supersoldier, but even he had limits and they had been going at it for hours. Still, though, at the suggestive tones and wink, parts of his body started to wake up in interest. “Give me about five minutes to fuel up and then I’ll go about convincing you,” he laughed, pressing his lips to the closest piece of Nyx he could reach and then nipping that part of his chest playfully.
Then he rolled off Nyx and went in search of the food cart that had been sent up two rounds ago with snacks, showing off all the scratches and bite marks that Nyx had gifted him earlier. It was turning out to be the perfect anniversary.