THE CHAIN, B. Barnes daughter

7. scars, scars, scars

TW: BURNING. OMG IRINA FUCK U.

y'all Bucky and Seven are so sweet

AS THE NIGHT GREW DARK, Bucky looked around the room and sighed. "There's only one cot," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "You take it. I'll manage on the floor."

"No, Papa," Seven protested, shaking her head. "We can share it. Please."

Bucky hesitated, but the pleading look in her eyes made him relent. "Alright," he said softly. "We'll make it work."

They moved to the cot, which was barely big enough for one person, let alone two. Bucky lay down first, positioning himself against the wall. Seven climbed in next to him, snuggling close. Bucky wrapped his arm around her protectively, drawing her into the warmth of his embrace.

Seven rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "I missed you so much, Papa," she whispered.

Bucky kissed the top of her head, his heart aching with both sorrow and joy. "I missed you too, my little girl. More than words can say."

Bucky held Seven close, his large frame enveloping her tiny body. He stroked her short blonde hair, feeling a mix of sorrow and relief. "I'm so sorry, Seven," he whispered again, his voice filled with regret.

Seven nestled closer, her small hands clutching his shirt. "It's okay, Papa. I knew you'd come back to me." She looked up at him, her eyes—so much like his—shining with a mixture of sadness and contentment.

Bucky kissed her forehead, feeling the weight of the lost years pressing down on him. "I should have protected you. I should have been there."

"You couldn't help it," Seven reassured him, her voice soft but firm. "HYDRA made you forget. But you're here now, and that's what matters."

They lay in silence for a while, the steady rhythm of their breathing bringing a sense of calm. Bucky's thoughts drifted to the life they could have had, free from HYDRA's clutches, but he pushed those thoughts away. They were trapped in this place, and wishing for a different reality would only bring more pain.

"Tell me about your training," Bucky said eventually, needing to know what his child had endured. "Was it... was it hard?"

Seven hesitated, then nodded. "Irina was tough. She hurt me a lot when I made mistakes. But I tried to remember what you taught me. It helped."

Bucky's jaw tightened at the mention of Irina. The thought of anyone hurting Seven filled him with a cold fury. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that," he said.

"It's okay, Papa," Seven said, her small hand reaching up to touch his face. "You taught me how to be strong. I knew I had to be strong for you."

Bucky felt a tear slip down his cheek. "You're the strongest person I know, Seven. I'm so proud of you."

He held her tighter, keeping her warm and finding solace in their closeness. The harsh reality of their situation couldn't diminish the comfort of their reunion. For the first time in years, they both felt a flicker of hope.

"Do you think we'll ever get out of here?" Seven asked quietly, her voice tinged with both hope and resignation.

Bucky sighed, pressing his lips to her hair. "I don't know," he admitted. "But as long as we're together, we'll get through this. I promise."

Seven nodded, snuggling closer to him. "As long as we're together," she echoed.

They lay in silence again, the steady beat of their hearts synchronizing. Bucky's thoughts wandered, the weight of their situation pressing down on him. He knew escape was unlikely, but he couldn't bear the thought of losing Seven again.