THE CHAIN, B. Barnes daughter

48. scars i love

TW: SELF HARD (it's just mentioned) BURNS (also just mentioned)
SEV PLS STOP LIE

BUCKY AND SEV were finally home, away from the chaos that had defined their lives for so long. The small apartment was a haven of sorts, a place where they could heal and find some semblance of normalcy. It had taken months of searching and battling both external and internal demons, but they were finally here.

This evening, the atmosphere was heavy. Sev sat at the kitchen table, her eyes fixed on the wooden surface, tracing invisible patterns with her fingers. Bucky sat across from her, a box in front of him filled with various sharp objects he had found in her room. There were scissors, knives, and a disturbing number of razor blades. The sight of the box had nearly broken him when he discovered it, but now he was determined to face this with her.

Bucky reached across the table and gently took Sev's hands in his. Her fingers were cold, trembling slightly as she glanced up at him. He gave her hands a reassuring squeeze, his blue eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and unwavering love.

"Sev," he began softly, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I know things haven't been easy for you. I know you've been carrying a lot of pain, more than anyone your age should ever have to bear."

Sev swallowed hard, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm sorry, Dad," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I didn't mean for you to find all this. I didn't want to hurt you."

Bucky shook his head, his grip on her hands tightening just a bit. "This isn't about hurting me, baby. This is about you, and making sure you're safe. I need you to understand that I love you more than anything in this world. Seeing you in pain, knowing that you felt you had to resort to this... it breaks my heart."

Sev's tears began to spill over, and she looked down at their joined hands. "I just... I don't know how to deal with everything sometimes. It feels like too much, and this was the only way I could cope."

Bucky reached up with one hand and gently tilted her chin so she would look at him. "I understand that, Sev. I really do. But there are other ways to cope, healthier ways. We can find them together. You don't have to go through this alone."

Sev nodded, a small sob escaping her lips. "I just feel so lost sometimes."

Bucky pulled her hands to his chest, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're not lost, Sev. You're here, with me, and we're going to get through this together. You're stronger than you think, and I'm going to help you see that."

He took a deep breath, his voice steady as he continued. "I found all these things in your room because I was worried about you. I don't want you to feel like you have to hide anything from me. I'm here for you, no matter what."

Sev looked at the box, her eyes filled with a mix of shame and relief. "I don't want to do this anymore, Dad. I want to get better."

Bucky smiled softly, his heart swelling with pride. "That's the first step, Sev. Admitting you want to change is the hardest part. And I'm going to be with you every step of the way."

He released one of her hands and reached for the box. "Let's do this together," he said, his voice gentle. "Let's close this chapter and start a new one."

Sev nodded, her grip on his hand tightening as she watched him close the box. She felt a weight lifting off her shoulders, a sense of hope she hadn't felt in a long time. Together, they closed the lid, a symbolic gesture of leaving the past behind and moving forward.

Bucky placed the box aside and pulled Sev into a gentle hug, his arms wrapping around her protectively. "I love you so much, Sev. More than words can ever express. We're going to find a way through this, together."