Summary:
Little Bucky - age 3
Caregiver Natasha
Natasha comes home to find Bucky, little, hurt, and scared, hiding in her apartment.
Translation: Солнце - Sunshine
Natasha unlocked the door to her apartment, desperate to get out of the pouring rain. She stepped inside and set the groceries she'd just gotten onto the ground. She could still hear the rain clearly. She glanced up to find one of her windows open.
Natasha sighed in frustration, thinking that she had left it open a crack and her cat may have squeezed under and gotten out, opening the window more. Not a moment later she noticed a trail of footprints coming from her back window. A sickening mix of dirt and blood.
Natasha immediately grabbed her gun from her waist and raised it as she followed the trail. It wasn't long before she recognized the shoe treads as her boyfriend's size nine boots. She kept her gun raised. Bucky knew better than to just show up at her apartment unannounced. Something was wrong.
She followed the prints to the bathroom, where Liho sat pawing at the door. The cat looked up at Natasha and meowed. Natasha took Liho's presence as a good sign and slowly opened the door. Liho bolted inside and hoped onto the lid of the toilet.
Bucky, lay still in the bathtub, he was awake, but clearly not aware of the situation. His gaze distant and his eyes glossy. Natasha couldn't tell if the blood on his uniform was his, or only from whomever he'd been fighting. It didn't matter. Whatever had happened it had been too much for Bucky.
Natasha silently set her pistol on the counter top and knelt down next to the tub.
Bucky quickly raised his arm and swung a knife at Natasha. She grabbed his wrist, stopping the blade just inches from her face. He stared at her breathing heavily, his eyes wide and fearful. They held a sort of innocence she rarely got to see from Bucky. Right now he wasn't the feared assassin, the Winter Soldier, he was no more than a scared little boy.
"M-Mama..." Bucky whimpered, his big, innocent brown eyes filled with tears.
Natasha gently stroked the soldier's hair, "Shh. It's okay now, Jamie. Mama's here. I'm right here." She whispered, "Can you hand me your knife, Солнце? I promise, no one is going to hurt you."
Bucky loosened his grip on the blade and Natasha gently took it from his hands, setting it down out of his reach. She wrapped her arms around Bucky's shoulders, he began to shake. Soon the bathroom echoed with pained sobs.
"I know, baby. I know." Natasha whispered, "Listen to Mama's breaths, try to breathe with me."
Bucky gasped, choking on his heavy breaths. He reaches for Natasha, gripping her shirt tightly in his fists when his hands find her. His sobs grew louder.
Natasha stroked his hair, whispering soft nothing's into his ear. Bucky's breaths began to steady. He buried his face into Natasha's shoulder, trying to hide away from everything that had happened that day.
"That's a good boy." Natasha praised.
"'m tired, Mama." Bucky whimpered.
"I know you are. Can Mama change you out of those icky clothes and give you a bath?" Natasha asked, "Once we're all done we can cuddle and take a nap, okay?"
"Okay..." Bucky nodded.
"Give me your hand." Natasha instructed, holding her hand out to Bucky.
Bucky hesitantly reached out and took her hand. Natasha hauled him up to his feet. Bucky screamed in pain. He quickly placed his hand on the wall, trying to support himself, so he wouldn't collapse onto Natasha.
