THE CHAIN, B. Barnes daughter

5. nightmares

y'all ain't ready for this chapter 🫡
DONT GET MAD AT ME IT GETS BETTER.

WHEN SOLDAT GOT BACK, the sight of Seven stopped him cold. She was sitting in their cell, bruised and battered, her face marred with cuts and bruises. Her arm was wrapped awkwardly in a makeshift bandage, and her clothes were torn and stained with blood. His anger flared instantly, a cold, burning rage that made his hands clench into fists.

"Seven," he whispered, his voice tight with fury and concern.

Seven looked up, her eyes widening with a mix of relief and fear. "Papa," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry."

Soldat rushed to her side, kneeling down and gently taking her injured arm in his hands. "Who did this to you?" he demanded, his voice a low growl. "Tell me, Sev."

Seven flinched at his tone but tried to hold back her tears. "It was the guards. They came and... they hurt me. But I fought back, Papa, I did what you said."

Bucky's heart ached at her words. He gently brushed her hair back, his touch tender despite the rage boiling inside him. "You did good, Sev. I'm proud of you."

She sniffled, tears finally spilling over. "But I couldn't stop them. I wasn't strong enough."

Bucky shook his head, his expression softening. "It's not your fault. You did everything you could. You fought back, and that's what matters."

He carefully examined her injuries, his hands gentle but efficient. The sight of her bruises and cuts only fueled his anger. "I'll make them pay for this," he muttered under his breath.

Seven clung to his arm, her small hand gripping tightly. "No, Papa. Please don't get in trouble because of me. I don't want you to get hurt."

Bucky looked at her, his heart breaking at her plea. "I won't, Sev. But I won't let them hurt you again. I promise."

He helped her sit up more comfortably, then reached into his pack, pulling out medical supplies. He began tending to her wounds, his touch careful and precise. Seven winced but didn't complain, her trust in him evident.

As he worked, he kept talking, his voice soothing. "You did everything right, Sev. You fought back, and you showed them that you're not weak. That's important."

She nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of pain and determination. "I tried to remember everything you taught me."

"And you did," Bucky assured her. "You did exactly what you should have. We'll keep training, and you'll get even stronger. But remember, it's okay to be scared. It's okay to ask for help."

Seven nodded again, her small body relaxing slightly as Bucky's words soothed her. He finished bandaging her wounds and then pulled her into a gentle embrace.

"I missed you, Papa," she whispered against his chest.

"I missed you too, Sev," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm here now, and I won't let anyone hurt you."

He held her for a long time, the weight of his promise settling heavily on his shoulders. He knew that protecting Seven was his most important mission. As she drifted off to sleep in his arms, he silently vowed to do whatever it took to keep her safe.

THE NIGHTS IN A HYDRA facility were often filled with an oppressive silence, broken only by the occasional distant footsteps of guards patrolling the halls. In the small, dimly lit cell, Bucky held Seven close, both of them finding solace in each other's presence. The bond they shared was forged in the fires of their captivity, and it was this bond that sustained them through the darkest moments.