Better Love || A Bucky Barnes Fanfiction

- Handle With Care -

She was the first person he saw when he came to. And yet, he couldn't help but panic a little when he realized his arm was trapped. Making soothing noises, Elena brushed her hands through Bucky's hair, his head turning towards her. She was smiling softly at him, eyebrows furrowed in concern, blue eyes clear and piercing-

Not clear. Blinking away the blurriness that had been clouding his vision, Bucky stared at Elena intently. One of her eyes was clear, yes, but the other one... She had burst a blood vessel which was now painting the whites of her eye red, and around it, purple and black stormclouds. With a gasp, Bucky shook his head, attempting to move closer to her but only being pulled back due to his clamped arm. All he could think about were the bruises that Thomas had given her. All he could think about was the bullet he had sent into her skull. He began to panic, breathing coming in short, sharp gasps that Elena tried to calm.

"Baby, calm down, it's okay," she murmured, trying to get him to focus on her as he searched the room in a daze.

"Where are we? What happened? Did I-" 

"Hush, we're safe, we're okay," Elena said gently, taking a deep breath. "What happened... happened."

"Jesus," Bucky breathed, feeling like he was going to be sick. That bruise was new and he couldn't remember how she had gotten it - couldn't remember anything - which made him think the worst. His breathing hitched up a level, eyes wild at the thought. "Oh God. Oh Jesus, no...Did-Did I hurt you again?!"

"No! No, not... not again. I'm fine," she comforted him, cupping the side of his face. "Baby, breathe, okay? Just breathe with me. Come on, come back to me, love."

When he had calmed down enough, swallowing back the bile that had risen in his throat at the thought of hurting her, Elena chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. With his free hand he took hold of it, looking at her knuckles. They were a bright red, some of them bruised slightly, but otherwise fine. He kissed them softly as she spoke. 

"That King T'Challa can pack a punch, though. Thankfully Sam found me and was able to bring me here."

"Sam?" Bucky questioned, looking up with eyebrows furrowed. Elena turned away from him, Bucky following her gaze to where Steve and the other man - Sam - was standing. Without a word the pair stepped into the large area, Steve's blue eyes focused on him. 

"Steve," Bucky murmured, Elena shuffling around slightly so she was facing in the same direction he was.

"Which Bucky am I talking to?" Steve asked, face a blank mask as he stared at him. Searching through his mind to find something that would be able to prove his relative stability, Bucky found a piece of information that could help.

"Your mom's name was Sarah," Bucky said, before smiling, chuckling to himself with a sound that made Elena mirror his smile. "You used to wear newspapers in your shoes."

"Can't read that in a museum," Steve replied, and the couple were glad to see a soft smile appear on his face. Sam, however, wasn't as appeased, arms crossed against his chest. 

"Just like that we're supposed to be cool?" He asked, staring at Bucky carefully.

"What did I do?" Bucky asked, but Elena shushed him, shaking her head while she held his hand.

"We don't have to talk about that right now," she said, but it was too late. Bucky was already retreating inside himself again, sick with worry and guilt about what had occurred. He looked at her, pain visible in his blue eyes, and he shook his head as she tried to comfort him.

"Oh God, I knew this would happen," he moaned, Elena cupping his face with both hands, murmuring softly to try and bring him back from his mind. "Everything HYDRA put inside me is still there. All he had to do was say the goddamn words."