Don't Hide | Bucky Barnes |

37

12 Years Prior

"Dawny, what do you wanna be when you get older?"

I sigh, continuing to braid my hair as Dean sits lazily on my bed. The muscles in my arms ache from the effort, but I continue on.

"I don't know Dean. Maybe a doctor or something. How about you?" I respond. He sighs, shrugging in response.

"Honestly? I just want to be a good dad"

I immediately 'aw' and nudge him softly. He laughs, brushing me off as I tie the braid I've just finished off.

"That's so awesome, bro" I remark seriously, smiling at him. He chuckles, nodding his head.

"Thanks, Dawny. I just hope my future kids get the best lives possible" Dean states. I sling an arm around his shoulder.

"They will," I assure, leaning into his side, "What names are you thinking?"

He shrugs again, leaning into me as well.

"I have no idea"

Present Day

He's dead.

Dean, the brother who just wanted to be a good dad, is dead.

The bullet killed him instantly, so there was nothing I could have done to save him. No amount of venom I could ever produce would bring my older brother back from the dead. I whip my wide eyes towards the direction of the bullet to see Clayton lowering a small firearm.

My blood boils.

"How could you? You promised!" I shout, lunging for him. Hands grab me and wrench me backwards as I struggle against them.

"You promised!" I scream again, a sob breaking through it.

I go to use the venom that's second-nature to me only for a metal pair of handcuffs to slap around my wrists. Immediately I feel my connection to the venom snap. Exhaustion fatigues my body and I slump into the guards holding me. My grip on consciousness slips away, and my rising panic tangled with anger and marred by sadness is left to boil on the inside while my body gives out.

"Dawn! Let her go!" Bucky yells out as I'm dragged backwards. Steve holds him back as he fights furiously to run to me.

"Sorry, my Viper. It was necessary" Clayton informs as I'm dragged away.

"You promised" I manage out before my world goes black.

The last thing I hear is Bucky screaming my name.

•••••
Bucky Barnes

I finally fall in love, and I'm going to lose the woman who means everything to me.

As I stand rooted to my spot, watching Dawn trade her life for her brother's, I know I can't lose her. Her impossibly green eyes meet my blue ones and I feel my heart crack.

"I'll be okay, Buck" she assures, her hands trembling slightly by her side. I want nothing more than to hold them until they're still.

As I stare into her eyes, I know that I might never get the chance to tell this absolutely incredible woman that I love her more than anything else. So, in a moment of spontaneity and intuition, I begin to tell her.

"I l-"

I'm cut off by an ear-splitting gunshot. My eyes widen as I watch Dr. Clayton land a perfect shot into Dean Beckett's head. Dawn's brother crumples to the ground, immediately dead, and I see her world shatter in her eyes.

There's a moment of silence before Dawn breaks.

"How could you? You promised!" She shouts, tears streaming down her cheeks. An intense anger boils within me, which is only intensified when guards wrench her struggling form back. I watch a pair of power-blocking handcuffs slap around her wrists.