Damaged

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It was mid-morning one day when he felt her presence. He didn't hear her walk in. He didn't even hear her make a sound. But he knew she was there, standing in his room, waiting for him to see.

"Hi"

He looked up, sensing something different. She was searching for something.

"Hey" he mumbled.

"Would you like to go for a walk with me?"

His heart stopped. She had barely talked in months, only stuttering a few words whenever someone asked how she was doing. But, here she was. Asking him of all people to go for a walk with her.

He wasn't sure if he could do it.

He had built up this love in his head. Thinking about it for hours on end by himself in the corners of his gray room. She didn't even know that he liked her, let alone loved her. So how does he go on a walk, alone, with the only person who makes him feel like he was 15 again?

He had no idea.

"Sure," he replied. The minute those words were out of his mouth, he regretted it. He didn't even know how to be alone with her, so how the hell was he going to talk to her?

Shit. He was screwed.

They stepped outside, the smell of the air blasting his dusty nose. Bucky couldn't remember the last time he felt the sun shine on his face.

He missed it. Missed being happy. Being content. Being loved.

"You know I can feel it right? Your doubt. You are wondering why I asked you to walk with me and not Steve or Natasha."

He kept quiet.

"It's because you are like me. Broken. Damaged. You think you are hiding your pain, but everyone can see it, I can feel it. You wear it like a second skin, a skin that you don't even notice is there sometimes. You know I haven't even seen you smile once? All I do see and feel is the pain that haunts your eyes and your body. I want you to let me help you. You know I've always had someone to look after, Pietro...Vision, but now that their both gone, I feel like I'm lost. I want to help you Bucky. I need to help you. I think helping you is the best chance I have at finding myself again".

He didn't look up. He couldn't look up. All he could do was focus on their feet making fleeting imprints in the sand, one foot after the other, two small, two big. His heart was racing again, thumping so loud that he was sure that she could hear it too.

She stopped, her small feet firmly planted in the ground. "Maybe I'm being desperate, but my whole life, there was always someone. Someone who needed me. Someone who looked after me. Someone I could take care of, rely on. I don't know if this is me being selfish or stupid, but I need to help. I'm not saying you have to look after me Bucky. I'm not even saying you have to need me. All I'm saying is let me help you".

He leveled his eyes with her. "I'm not good with letting people in." he replied.

She took a step forward, her petite frame leaning toward his lean body. "It's not that your not good at it, you're scared to, and that's ok. I'm not asking for all of you Bucky. I'm not even asking for a little of you. I just want take away your pain.

He couldn't tell what she wanted. Was he her charity case? Something to keep her occupied?

And then he said something he thought he would never say out loud.

"What about your pain?"

Her body jerked away from his within a blink of an eye. He could see her trembling in tune with the slight wind that blew her long hair back.

"What about your pain? Who will fix your pain?" he repeated.

She was shaking now. Her porcelain face slowly looked up, her beautiful eyes digging into his, and for the first time, he felt it. An unspoken bond. A connection.

"I don't know".

**I have no idea if I'm doing good on this story or not so please comment :)

Hope you guys are enjoying!!