THE CHAIN, B. Barnes daughter

9. flowers

bitter sweet chapter, this chapter is scarily short ahhh
TW: KILLING

THE DIM, sterile light of the HYDRA facility buzzed overhead as Bucky and Seven stood in the cold, metallic room. Seven's small hand clutched Bucky's tightly, her eyes wide with fear. She had never seen him look so defeated, and it scared her even more.

The door creaked open, and two HYDRA operatives entered, dragging a man between them. He was disheveled and looked terrified, his eyes darting around the room, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Seven recoiled, pressing closer to Bucky.

One of the operatives, a tall man with a cruel smirk, stepped forward. "Soldat," he said, addressing Bucky with a mocking tone. "It seems your little protégé failed her task. She was supposed to kill one of the targets, and she didn't. Now she needs to learn."

Bucky's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with anger. "She's just a child," he said through gritted teeth. "This isn't necessary."

The operative laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "HYDRA doesn't tolerate failure, Soldat. She needs to understand that."

The other operative shoved the man they had brought in towards Seven. The man stumbled and fell to his knees, looking up at her with pleading eyes. "Please," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I have a family..."

Seven's heart pounded in her chest, her whole body shaking. She looked up at Bucky, her eyes begging for help. "Papa, I don't want to do this," she said, her voice breaking. "Please, don't make me do this."

Bucky knelt down, cupping her face in his hands. His eyes were filled with anguish. "Sev, I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I'm so, so sorry."

The operative pulled Bucky up and then a gun was handed to Seven, shoving it into her small hands. "Do it," he ordered. "Prove that you're not useless."

Seven stared at the gun, her vision blurring with tears. She looked back at the man kneeling before her, his face a mask of fear and desperation. Her hands trembled so violently that she could barely hold the gun steady.

"I can't," she sobbed, dropping the gun to the floor. "I can't do it."

The operative's face twisted with anger. He grabbed Seven by the arm, yanking her forward. "You will do it," he hissed, pressing the gun back into her hands. "You failed your mission, this is a punishment. "

Seven would rather be burned.

Seven's sobs grew louder, her whole body shaking uncontrollably. "No, please," she cried. "I don't want to..."

Bucky stood, his fists clenched at his sides. "Enough!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the room. "She's not ready for this."

The operative sneered at him. "Then she will learn to be ready," he said coldly. "Or she will die."

The old man scoffed, and ordered the operative to hold a gun up to Seven. He turned to the other operative and nodded. The man stepped forward, grabbing Bucky and forcing him to watch. "No," Bucky growled, struggling against the grip. "Leave her alone!"

Seven's cries echoed in the room, her fear palpable. She looked at the man kneeling before her, then at Bucky, her heart breaking. She didn't want to disappoint him, but she couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger.

"Sev! Do it! Just do it!" Bucky shouted, desperately.

The operative's patience wore thin. He grabbed the back of Seven's head, forcing her to look at the man. "Do it," he snarled. "Now."

Her papa's words echoed in her ears. She had to do it, or she would die. Who would her papa have?

With a final, desperate cry, Seven squeezed her eyes shut and pulled the trigger. The gunshot rang out, deafening in the small room. The man crumpled to the floor, his eyes staring sightlessly at the ceiling.