Perception

~CHAPTER 18~

FLYING TO SIBERIA a few minutes later

Seph took deep breaths trying to calm herself down, Steve couldn't go help her because he was flying the Quinn jet, so she headed to the back of the jet and dug through supplies to find a medic kit. she could barely see from the tears building up in her eyes, and she held back sobs as she began cleaning cuts on her shoulders.

Bucky didn't know what to do to help, he remained still sitting a few seats away watching as she attempted to remain calm, but he could hear soft crying and sniffles as she finished cleaning her wounds. turning back around and going to find a seat, she leaned gains the wall, and slid down it, pulling her feet into her chest. Bucky watched as she hid her face in her messy curly hair and continued crying he didn't catch what Tony had said to her, but whatever it was, it seemed to be getting to her. without hesitation, Bucky stood and walked towards her leaning against the wall and slowly sliding down it to sit beside her. she lifted her head to acknowledge he was there, but remained quiet and allowed tears to continue streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry," He said. it was quiet Seph could barely tell if he had said anything at all.

"It's not your fault," She said after a few moments of silence. he looked forwards and clenched his jaw.

"It is," he stated. She turned her face to look at him. "If I hadn't listened to the Doctor, none of this would have happened, those incent people at the prison would still be alive," He said his voice cracking slightly. She shook her head and wiped her eyes.

"Buck, none of that had anything to do with you, that was out of your control." She said looking into his eyes. He looked down at her and they both shared a quiet moment.

"I'm just terrified that my father will never accept me again," she said shakily a part of her dying from saying those words. Bucky looked into her eyes and watched as they welled up with tears. he acted quickly and turned his whole body to face her. without saying anything, he carefully pulled her small body into his arms and they shared a hug. he assumed this was helping Seph, but it was helping him more. as of yesterday, he had never had physical contact and now he was rejoicing in her touch. he had, since meeting her denied feelings he felt for her to be pushed into the back of his mind, but now in her embrace, they resurfaced and he finally realized he respected Persephone in a way different from Steve. from the first glance they shared in his apartment in Bucharest, to the faint way she rested her head on his shoulder. thinking of this he hugged her body even tighter until she rested against his body asleep. he took her small body and cautiously carried her bridal style to a wide bench against the wall of the jet. he laid her down and covered her with a blanket he found on the shelf above the bench. he looked at her resting peacefully her red nose from sniffling her swollen eyes from crying.

He felt so out of place, he turned to face Steve, his head pounding from the rush. He had finally understood what all the confusion, and emotions had been about. He just wished he could forget about how he felt so he could focus on everything going on. He needed to find the other super-soldiers, he needed to rid himself of the winter soldier, and he needed to regain his past. But here he was letting his emotions control him. and forgetting what was more important all for a girl, a girl he had just met. Bucky walked towards the front of the jet and took a seat behind Steve.

"What's going to happen to your friends?" He asked Steve, Steve sighed and kept his eyes on the view infront of him.

"Whatever it is, I'll deal with it," He stated confidently. Bucky thought for a moment. he looked behind him at Persephoney who remained asleep.

"I'm not sure I'm worth all this Steve," He said quietly, tired.

Steve clenched his jaw slightly, he sat up in his chair and looked over his shoulder. "What you did all those years," Buckys lips quivered. "It wasn't you," Steve continued on. "You didn't have a choice." he finished.

"I know," bucky stated, he paused for a moment and then looked over to Steve, "But I did it,"

hearing his friend state the obvious should have made Steve sad, or regretful for his friend. but on the inside it made Steve angry, he was angry Hydra had taken his best friend, he was angry Bucky was now emotionally scarred from it all, and he was angry it took this much just to get his friend to safety and to stop the other soldiers. All he could think about was to get to Siberia, find the soldiers.

"Stop," Persephone said shoving her sister's hand away from her face, she wasn't annoyed with her, she was stressed. She goes on stage next, and she couldn't find her pointe shoes. Beth was backstage with her, and was trying to help her finish up her makeup,

"Hey Seph," Steve said leaning against the doorway. She acknowledged he was there but continued to tie her hair up into her bun. Beth ran out of the room to help find her shoes. "Are you okay?" Steve asked her. she finished her hair and began touching up her makeup.

"I'm fine," She said, Steve smiled and walked up behind her.

"You've got this, I'm gonna go get my seat, best of luck," He said reaching out to give her a fist bump, she kept her eyes on her reflection in the mirror but still reached her hand out and fist-bumped him back. no matter what Steve did, he could always find a way to make her feel better. Beth and her Ballett teacher rushed into the room and helped her get her shoes on.

standing in the wings, Seph fixed her shoes, she watched the performer before her and took a deep breath, she wasn't scared. she looked up and in the wings across the stage was Beth she was giving her a thumbs up. Seph nodded her head and took a deep breath. When the soft music of swan lake began playing, She stood straight and gracefully walked on stage. keeping her head up she refused to look into the audience, she knew if she did she would see Steve, her dad, and all the other Avengers giving her a big grin. so she remained calm and only focused on her dance. the bright lights blinded her but she loved it as the music began more loudly and she began dancing she forgot about pressure or fear. she was in the moment having fun and dancing her heart out. one, two, three after another she spun. she knew the ending was coming she ran and leaped across the stage landing gracefully and turning to face the audience she took her bows. the room lit up, the audience clapped and applauded her, and she smiled the biggest toothy smile she had ever in a long time. when she spotted her family she started giggling. Tony playfully threw a rose at her, and she picked it up and kissed it before throwing it back into the audience. She was so happy, she remembered everything about that day, that moment. it was a time when she was truly happy with her family.