𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓷𝓲𝓪𝓬 ❖ 𝓫. 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼

C H A P T E R (2) - B R U I S E S

It had been a few days since Cassie's 2-day long hibernation, yet her sleeping had failed to normalise. She was still struggling at night, those two days had just served as a booster.

She found herself sat in a park, leaning against the trunk of a tree. She watched on as Steve and Bucky sat closer to the lake, suffering blindness from the harsh sun. Cassie chuckled to herself, she had protection from the tree she sat beneath, the leaves and branches acting as a cover.

Cassie sighed and inhaled slightly, taking in the soft scent of Summer: wood, grass, flowers and a faint smell of food being sold somewhere in the park. She felt at peace and rested her head on the tip of her knees that she held to her chest. She let her eyes close slightly, still unable to fall asleep, but closing them felt better than having them open.

She stayed like that for a few minutes until a shadow clouded her and a familiar voice sounded from above her.

"Are you sleeping or just enjoying the back of your eyelids?" Bucky asked, staring down at her from above.

"The latter," she responded with a soft smile.

Bucky perched himself on the grass beside her, outstretching his legs and putting his head against the wood of the tree. He was silent for a brief moment before he turned his head in Cassie's direction.

"What do you find so peaceful about this?" He questioned.

Cassie turned her head abruptly, as if it was obvious. When met with a raise of Bucky's eyebrows at her shocked expression, she shook her head.

"Close your eyes." She muttered.

"What? No-"

"Just close them asshat." She giggled.

With a slight groan and a shake of his head, he closed his eyes and sighed.

"Now what?" He asked.

"Listen to the way the birds chirp, how their voices are a soft melody in your head. Listen to how the wind howls ever so slightly and brushes through the grass, moving the blades like feathers. Listen to the slight ripples of the water in the distance, and how calming it is." She explained with a smile, looking out at the scenery.

Bucky was silent as he did as he was told.

"Now open your eyes," she whispered, placing a finger under his chin and turning his gaze from her to the beautiful landscape before them, "And look."

Bucky smiled to himself, more so at how she had explained it, giving him an alternate view from how he had originally seen it. He used to see it as flatland filled with screaming children and nature. With Cassie's influence, he could see the beauty it held. He just had to drown the negative things out.

He turned his head to see Cassie looking up at him with a big smile on her face, her white teeth showing in her delight.

"You're right." He mumbled quietly as he looked back at her.

"I always am." She muttered in response with a giggle.

The pair were silent as they looked in each others eyes. Cassie dared a look at his lips before her gaze returned to his eyes hastily. Bucky did the same. The only noise to be heard was their synchronised breathing: all other noises had been drowned out. Including the beautiful ones Bucky had been made so aware of.

Then a loud thud sounded in front of them both, causing Cassie to press her lips into a thin line and then her turned head. Bucky put his head down before doing the same. The pair were met with a skinny Steve lying on the floor, two men stood above him, saying things that were unclear to Cassie and Bucky.