A Little Butterfly- The Other Soldier (Bucky Barnes x reader) (they/them reader)

The Lullaby [Bucky's POV]

Tw: Bucky being super adorable and amazing, mentions of abuse

I don't remember all the words to the lullaby, but luckily y/n falls asleep before they can hear me messing up the words. This situation is so familiar, it's almost comforting. I'm not sure how, but y/n was able to get even the Winter Soldier side of me to care for them.

I hear the door open and Sam comes in. "Oh hey Buck. I didn't realize you were in here, I just wanted to grab the shield to go train with it."

I see Sam's eyes glance down at y/n. His face suddenly being one full of confusion. "What's going on here?" Sam asks with a laugh.

I look down at y/n. "They're so young, but Sam, they've been to hell and back."

"How long were they at Hydra with you?" I look at Sam as he sits down on the floor across the room from me.

"I don't know... It must've been at least a few years. And they've had to live every single moment of it. With me, when they didn't need me, they'd freeze me until later notice, but they're so young that they knew doing anything like that would only make them weaker. They were up and alive every moment they were there. I mean they didn't even try to brainwash them, they just told them if they didn't listen..." I trail off. I mean Zemo didn't really try talking things out with y/n, he just switched straight to violence.

I look over at Sam and see that his face is screaming about how sorry he is for them. Y/n would not be very happy that I've now gotten Sam to pity them, they already get enough pity... "It wasn't easy for you guys, was it?"

I know Sam isn't actually expecting an answer to that. He knows. Being Hydra's experiment took such a toll on me and I know Sam can see that as well as the next person. I start running my fingers through y/n's hair again. I guess I forgot that Sam was even in the room, because I started singing the lullaby again, but I immediately stop when I hear Sam stifling a laugh.

"You sing to them too?" Sam asks, through a laugh.

I roll my eyes and flick him off. "Shut up Sam. Just get your shield and leave."

Sam doesn't move, instead he just looks at me. "It's good what you're doing for them Buck."

I give him a small smile as he stands up, grabs the shield, and leaves.