His Soulmate | Bucky Barnes ✔

Chapter Thirty Eight

~Bucky's POV~

Amelie slept for five days.

As soon as we got back to the Tower, Bruce set everybody up in the labs to go over injuries. A doctor stitched the bullet wound in Amelies shoulder after properly cleaning it, and checked over the various cuts across the front and backs of her legs. Once healed on her body, they briefly checked mine to make sure I healed at the same rate.

I managed to carry her to her bed without causing any more pain, and cleaned her as best I could. Wanda and Nat stepped in to try and physically clean her too, before they left and I swapped her clothes from the too tight HYDRA uniform to a pair of my pyjamas.

Our joint bruises darkened and swelled causing a horrifying tapestry of pain against Amelies skin. I was used to seeing myself beaten up, but it broke my heart to see Amelie lying so silent, so damaged.

This must have been how she looked before we met. Before, she had no explanation for the cuts and bruises and sharp pain that spread across her body. It was my fault for her suffering then, and it's my fault again now.

Peter found her phone and plugged it in on her bedside table so it would have full charge for when she woke up. She had fifteen missed calls from Eve, and when I picked up on her last call, she'd answered with a panicked frustration. I carefully explained the situation, leaving out who had taken her and why, and with that Eve had hung up with the promise of driving right over.

True to her word, an hour later she turned up on the doorstep of the Tower with her hand clasped around Nick's arm, and demanded to be let up to the living rooms. It took Tony physically going to the ground floor to let her upstairs, for her to finally see her friend.

She'd taken one step into the room and burst into tears, before sprinting to the bed and clutching Amelies hand. She stayed in the Tower, and her and Nick slept in my bed every day since. I myself slept in the chair in Amelies room, or on her sofa when Eve and Nick or Peter and Wade took turns in keeping an eye on her.

"Bucky?" Nicks Scottish lilt rang quietly into the room.

I looked up from the seat, offering a weak smile before turning back to Amelie. Her left arm was wrapped and bandaged due to the bullet wound. Her goodbye message had been washed from our arms, but every time I saw the faint bruises around our wrists, I felt so sick I could vomit.

"Eve wants to come back and see Amelie. I've managed to force her into the shower but she wants to say goodnight before we go back to your room."

Eve was closer to Amelie than I had given her credit for. I assumed they were friends from work, and whilst that was true, she was actually one of Amelies closest friends.

I nodded in reply, as Peters head bobbed around Nicks shoulder. "Bucky, go."

I shook my head, and held Amelies hand tighter. She didn't reply, or react in a single way, but it comforted me a little.

"Snowflake, go shower. You smell." Wade made up the trio of men stood in her doorway, and I ground my jaw as I considered the options. I hadn't really showered since we got home, and not properly whilst we'd been on the look for Amelie.

I sighed and stood up, rested a hand on the mattress next to Amelies shoulder, and pressed my lips to her forehead. "I love you doll," I whispered. My voice was hoarse, and cracked as a tear rolled  down my cheek. "Take as long as you need. Just come back to me."

I ran my thumb against her cheek, avoiding the small cuts and scrapes that had somehow ended up scattered there, then stood back. I gave her one last glance, then turned to the door, nodded to the three men, and left to my rooms.