Battle Scars (A Bucky Barnes Fanfic)

Fifteen

Bucky and I have been in Romania for about two years now, both of us still dealing with our issues but doing better than we were. Our relationship has grown stronger and I really couldn't live without him.

I stand in the bathroom, only in my bra and jeans, looking at my body. I look over the scars and stretch marks and bit of stomach and thicker thighs and hips. The hatred and disgust over my body growing as I look at it in the mirror.

Before I fully register what I'm doing, I pull my fist back and slam it into the mirror, tears falling down my cheeks.

"Vega!" I hear Bucky call from the other room, and I break into sobs. I hear him rushing towards the bathroom as I slide down to the floor, holding my hand to my chest. He appears in the doorway, looking at the shattered mirror first, then me.

I meet his eyes, tears falling from my own. His gaze softens, and he kneels in front of me, gently taking my slowly healing mangled hand.

"What happened?" he asks softly.

"I couldn't stand looking at my reflection anymore"

"I happen to like your reflection," he says, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear.

"You clearly don't see what I do"

"What do you see?"

I look down and he lifts my chin "A broken girl who deserved the scars and pain because she wasn't strong enough to save her mom"

"I told you that none of that was your fault," he says against my temple as he kisses it.

"Old habits die hard"

Bucky helps me stand, then helps me clean the blood off my now healed hand. He makes me stand in front of the mirror; I look down.

"Look in the mirror," he says gently.

I hesitate but do and meet his eyes "What are you doing?" I ask him, raising an eyebrow.

"Showing you how much I love you" he smiles and kisses my shoulder.

His warm flesh hand and cool metal one rest on my sides "I see a woman who has been through hell and back and despite the pain, she still was kind. A woman who fights for what she believes in and for her friends and family. I see a woman that, despite her past relationships, trusted an ex-assassin and loved him despite his faults. I see the woman I can't live without. I see the love of my life." he turns me towards him as a few tears fall down my cheek, his eyes are glassy and he wipes my tears away "I see my future and my starlight in the darkness"

I pull him in for a kiss. "I love you," I say.

"I love you too, doll," he says and kisses my nose "and happy birthday"

I smile "Thank you. I can't believe I made it to 21"

He chuckles "I'll have breakfast ready when you're done"

He kisses my cheek before leaving the bathroom and I smile. After getting dressed, I meet Bucky in the other room.

Bucky looks at me as I enter and smiles "Foods ready, I didn't know what you wanted to drink so you'll have to pick"

I walk over and kiss his cheek, the smell of my favorite breakfast foods: French Toast and bacon filling my nose.