The Beauty of Winter. (Fanfic)

7

You hear someone whistle in the darkness, before a familiar voice begins to sing, "run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run RUN!" You get up and start running through the darkness, unable to see whats infront of you. You can feel the ground agains your bare feet, the chill on the night bringing goosebumps to your skin. You feel the concrete under you change to something softer. Mud? No, leaves. You think as you carry on running. You see a light in the distance, running towards it. You watch as vines begin to cover the opening, stopping in your tracks. As you turn back you see roots and vines trapping you, the space getting smaller and smaller till your surrounded. Slowly being suffocated as the vines tighten more and more.

You wake up in cold sweats, gasping for air for the fifth night in a row. Sleep had become a chore. And the lack of it was catching up to you as you felt the dark circles under your eyes grow with the increasing exhaustion. Coffee became your best friend as it was the only way for you to gain any energy anymore. You make your way to the coffee shop once again, thinking you might aswell try a new type of coffee today.

"Back again so soon dear?" The bell rings as you walk in, making your way over to Angie. "What can I say, nothing beats your coffee." After placing your order, you go to a booth in the corner of the diner, tucking your legs up, under your dress. You sit and read again, watching people come and go. Feeling your eyes grow heavier as sleep overtakes you.

"Good afternoon sweetheart!" Bucky walks into the diner, towards Angie as she pours him his regular coffee. Before he could say anything else, she nodded in your direction. After being asked every day for the past week if you had been in, Angie knew he would no doubt ask again today. He turned to face the corner of the room, his face growing soft as he saw you curled up, tucked away in the corner, fast asleep. "Were closing soon dear." Angie said quietly to Bucky as he stood looking at you, his heart melting despite the cold weather.

"Hey doll", he made his way over to you, you simply grumble, still fast asleep. "Okay, let's get you home," he takes your arm, placing it over his shoulder, scooping you up into his arms, "c'mon darlin'." You cuddle up to him sleeping soundly for the first time all week. He carried you home, taking your shoes off and laying you under the sheets in bed. As he left, he shut the bedroom door behind himself.

When he got outside, he bumped into Evelyn, "is y/n alright?" Bucky wondered why she sounded so concerned, but when he asked, she told him about how you couldn't sleep. About the nightmares. "She hasn't told me what happens in them but i-" Suddenly they both look towards the house as they hear you shouting and crying, Bucky bolts to the door almost instantly. He runs to your room, seeing you scratching at your skin, leaving it red and bleeding. He grabs your wrists, holding them tight as you thrash your arms about, still in your nightmare. As you wake up, you stop moving your arms, breaking down and sobbing instead. Bucky puts a hand behind your head, holding you tightly in a hug. "Shhhhh, you're okay... you're safe." He whisperes in your ear till you finally feel as though you can breathe again.

He just holds you, for what felt like hours, wrapped in his arms. Finally feeling safe. Without a word, you get up and walk to the kitchen, putting the kettle on the stove. "Coffee?" You dont turn your head; you know Bucky is stood behind you.
"Y/n..." you cut him off before he can continue, "don't do that." Your bubbling frustration taking over.
"Do what?" And instantly, both of your walls were up, as he went on defence mode. The high pitched squeak of the boiling kettle growing louder as you fight with Bucky. "Don't pity me, don't pretend you care. Don't treat me like one of those girls who fall at your feat when you smile at them! I AM NOT, NOR WILL I EVER BE THAT GIRL!" He banged a clenched fist down onto the table, causing you to flinch slightly.

His face instantly grew soft, his walls crumbling. "Oh god no, y/n- I wouldn't- I'm sorry darlin, I would never hurt you." You feel your heart sink alongside his at the sight of his sadness. You wrap your arms around his shoulders  standing on your toes to reach, "I know you wouldn't." You whisper as his arms curl around your waist.
"I know you're not," he said quietly , catching you off guard.
"Not what?" You look up at him, arms still around his shoulders.
"One of 'those girls' who bats her eyelashes to get what she wants. That's why I like you so much." Hearing him say it causes your heart to do backflips.

He takes your hand, sitting you down at the table before grabbing a damp cloth. He aits down beside you, dabbing at the scratches and cuts. "Are the nightmares about what happened last Sunday?" He didn't meet your gaze, staying fixated on making sure you were okay.
"Yes, well they start off that way. Back there. I always end up alone, in the dark, stuck." You dont go into much detail as you feel the lump in your throat grow. Bucky is silent for a moment, before you see a light spark in his mind. "I have an idea, do you trust me?" He says, looking out of the window at the setting sun. "What are you planning Buck?" He gets up, walking to the front door, "I'll be back in an hour!" The excitement in his eyes was back and once again the ability to say no to him had gone. "Oh and wear something warm!" He shouted as the door shut behind him.