THE CHAIN, B. Barnes daughter

21. happy birthday

Sev is so cute guys, anyways short less then 2000 words BUT YEAH

BUCKY SAT ON A WOODEN STOOL,
in their tiny kitchen, a pair of scissors in his hand and a cape draped over Seven's shoulders. The small house in the Romanian village was their haven, a place where they could be free, even if only temporarily. Seven sat on another stool in front of him, her hair falling in uneven waves around her shoulders.

"Alright, hold still, Sev," Bucky said, focusing on the task at hand.

Seven fidgeted slightly, but Bucky's gentle hand on her shoulder stilled her. "Sorry, Papa. I'm just a little nervous."

Bucky chuckled. "You've been through worse than a haircut, kiddo. Just relax."

As Bucky carefully snipped away at her hair, he couldn't help but think of how much had changed since they escaped HYDRA. Seven was blossoming in their newfound freedom, but her blonde roots were starting to show. They needed to maintain their low profile, so dyeing her hair was a necessity.

"How short do you want it?" Bucky asked.

"Above my shoulders, please," Seven replied, her voice steady.

Bucky nodded, continuing his work. "You got it."

After a few more precise snips, he stepped back to admire his work. "There we go. Now, for the color."

He mixed the dark brown dye, carefully applying it to her hair. Seven sat patiently, the smell of the dye filling the room. Bucky's hands moved deftly, years of experience in survival and necessity making the task seem easy.

"How does it look?" Seven asked, peering into a small hand mirror.

Bucky smiled. "You look perfect."

Seven grinned, her blue eyes sparkling. "Thanks, Papa."

Bucky cleaned up the hair clippings and dye supplies, setting everything aside to dry. As he glanced at the clock, he realized it was already past midnight. Tomorrow, or rather today, was Seven's birthday. Her first birthday out of HYDRA's clutches.

"Alright, off to bed with you," Bucky said, ruffling her newly dyed hair.

Seven yawned and nodded. "Goodnight, Papa."

"Goodnight, Sev."

IT WAS ONLY WHEN SEV FELL ASLEEP,
Bucky got to work. He carefully crept out of the house, making his way to the small village store. It was quiet at this hour, the village asleep under the blanket of night. He picked up a small box of birthday candles and a set of colored pencils and a sketchbook he had noticed in the store earlier. Seven loved to draw, and he wanted to encourage her creativity.

He returned home, the sky beginning to lighten with the approaching dawn. In the tiny kitchen, he began baking a cake. The recipe was simple, one he had memorized during his time on the run. He mixed the ingredients, poured the batter into a pan, and slid it into the oven. The smell of baking cake filled the air, a sweet promise of the day to come.

As the cake baked, Bucky prepared the frosting, making sure it was smooth and creamy. Once the cake had cooled, he carefully decorated it, writing "Happy Birthday, Seven" in neat, chocolate letters. He added the candles, stepping back to admire his work. It was 4 am, and he was exhausted, but the sight of the cake filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction.

He glanced at the clock again. Only a few hours until morning. He cleaned up the kitchen, making sure everything was in its place. Finally, he allowed himself to rest, dozing off in a chair near the kitchen.