THE CHAIN, B. Barnes daughter

22. panic

again, short, I've pre-written this whole on the run era, and all 5 chaps are under 2000 words or just a little over than 2000 words. 😭 also this whole little era has 0 storyline so bear w me

AT THE MARKET of Romania was bustling with activity. Stalls lined the cobblestone streets, offering everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts. Bucky and Seven had made this tiny village their temporary home, finding some semblance of peace amidst the chaos of being on the run. Life was simpler here, and for a while, they could almost forget the shadows that lurked in their past.

Bucky pushed a small cart while Seven walked beside him, her eyes scanning the colorful displays of fruits and vegetables. The warm sun and the friendly chatter of the villagers created a comforting atmosphere, one that allowed them to feel like any other father and daughter on a normal day out.

"Hey, Dad, can we get some of these?" Seven asked, pointing to a basket of ripe, juicy raspberries.

Seven love, love, loved raspberries. Bucky loved that she loved them.

Bucky smiled, nodding. "Sure, Sev. Grab a box."

As Seven reached for the raspberries, a flash of movement caught her eye. She turned her head and froze, her breath hitching in her throat. An elderly man with a stern expression was haggling with a vendor a few stalls away. He looked eerily similar to the old man from HYDRA, the one who had haunted her nightmares for so long.

Panic surged through her veins, and she stumbled back, dropping the box of raspberries. Her vision blurred, and her chest tightened as the familiar, terrifying sensation of a panic attack began to take hold.

Panic,

Panic,

PANIC.

Seven wanted to scream. Really loud. It had been months since she's stepped foot in HYDRA but she was so scared. She squeezed her hands shut so tightly that her nails drew blood.

"Sev?" Bucky's voice was filled with concern as he noticed her sudden change in demeanor. He quickly moved to her side, his eyes scanning her face. "What's wrong?"

Seven struggled to catch her breath, her hands trembling as she clutched at the edge of the cart. "Papa... I saw... him," she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "The old man..."

Bucky's heart clenched with a mix of fear and protectiveness. He looked around quickly, his eyes searching for the source of her panic. When he spotted the elderly man, his expression softened. It wasn't him, just a stranger who bore an unfortunate resemblance.

"Sev, listen to me," Bucky said gently, taking her hands in his. "That's not him. Look at me. You're safe. We're safe, you're safe."

Not safe...

But Seven was too far gone, her breaths coming in rapid, shallow gasps as her vision tunneled. The memories of their time with HYDRA crashed over her like a tidal wave, dragging her deeper into the panic.

"Breathe, Sev," Bucky urged, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "Just focus on me. In and out. He can't hurt you. You're safe."

Safe?

Seven's panic only seemed to escalate, and Bucky knew he needed to do more to ground her. He gently cupped her face, his eyes locking onto hers. "Hey, look at me. It's just us. No one else. I'm right here. You're safe."

Safe.

She tried to focus on his voice, but the fear was too overwhelming. Bucky's heart ached seeing her like this, so vulnerable and scared. He grabbed Seven's clenched hand, seeing the blood seep through her fingers.