again, short, I've pre-written this whole on the run era, and all 5 chaps are under 2000 words or just a little over than 2000 words. 😭 also this whole little era has 0 storyline so bear w me

AT THE MARKET of Romania was bustling with activity. Stalls lined the cobblestone streets, offering everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts. Bucky and Seven had made this tiny village their temporary home, finding some semblance of peace amidst the chaos of being on the run. Life was simpler here, and for a while, they could almost forget the shadows that lurked in their past.

Bucky pushed a small cart while Seven walked beside him, her eyes scanning the colorful displays of fruits and vegetables. The warm sun and the friendly chatter of the villagers created a comforting atmosphere, one that allowed them to feel like any other father and daughter on a normal day out.

"Hey, Dad, can we get some of these?" Seven asked, pointing to a basket of ripe, juicy raspberries.

Seven love, love, loved raspberries. Bucky loved that she loved them.

Bucky smiled, nodding. "Sure, Sev. Grab a box."

As Seven reached for the raspberries, a flash of movement caught her eye. She turned her head and froze, her breath hitching in her throat. An elderly man with a stern expression was haggling with a vendor a few stalls away. He looked eerily similar to the old man from HYDRA, the one who had haunted her nightmares for so long.

Panic surged through her veins, and she stumbled back, dropping the box of raspberries. Her vision blurred, and her chest tightened as the familiar, terrifying sensation of a panic attack began to take hold.

Panic,

Panic,

PANIC.

Seven wanted to scream. Really loud. It had been months since she's stepped foot in HYDRA but she was so scared. She squeezed her hands shut so tightly that her nails drew blood.

"Sev?" Bucky's voice was filled with concern as he noticed her sudden change in demeanor. He quickly moved to her side, his eyes scanning her face. "What's wrong?"

Seven struggled to catch her breath, her hands trembling as she clutched at the edge of the cart. "Papa... I saw... him," she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "The old man..."

Bucky's heart clenched with a mix of fear and protectiveness. He looked around quickly, his eyes searching for the source of her panic. When he spotted the elderly man, his expression softened. It wasn't him, just a stranger who bore an unfortunate resemblance.

"Sev, listen to me," Bucky said gently, taking her hands in his. "That's not him. Look at me. You're safe. We're safe, you're safe."

Not safe...

But Seven was too far gone, her breaths coming in rapid, shallow gasps as her vision tunneled. The memories of their time with HYDRA crashed over her like a tidal wave, dragging her deeper into the panic.

"Breathe, Sev," Bucky urged, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "Just focus on me. In and out. He can't hurt you. You're safe."

Safe?

Seven's panic only seemed to escalate, and Bucky knew he needed to do more to ground her. He gently cupped her face, his eyes locking onto hers. "Hey, look at me. It's just us. No one else. I'm right here. You're safe."

Safe.

She tried to focus on his voice, but the fear was too overwhelming. Bucky's heart ached seeing her like this, so vulnerable and scared. He grabbed Seven's clenched hand, seeing the blood seep through her fingers.

"Sev, let go." He said, trying to pull her hand open. She was hurting herself.

She didn't let go.

"Seven, let go right now." He said more firm, this time pulling way harder this time successfully pulling them apart.

There was blood, and a lot of it dripping down her hand now, dripping down to where he was kneeled down and onto his jeans. She hurt herself and it hurt Bucky. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close in a protective embrace.

"It's okay, Sev. I've got you," he whispered, his voice soothing. "Just breathe with me. In and out. Nice and slow."

He started to take exaggerated deep breaths, hoping she would mimic him. Slowly, very slowly, her breathing began to sync with his. The trembling in her hands lessened, and she clung to him, drawing strength from his presence.

The villagers, noticing the commotion, gave them a wide berth, their eyes filled with sympathy and understanding. One of the vendors approached, offering a bottle of water. Bucky nodded gratefully, taking it and holding it out to Seven.

"Here, take a sip," he said softly.

Bucky brought the water bottle to her mouth and tilted it back, allowing her to small sips as her breathing continued to stabilize. She leaned into Bucky, her head resting against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

"Papa... I'm sorry," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

Bucky shook his head, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "There's nothing to be sorry for, Sev. You've been through a lot. It's okay to be scared."

Seven nodded, still feeling the aftershocks of her panic attack. "It just... it just brought back everything. I thought I was over it."

Bucky sighed, his own heart heavy with the weight of their shared past. "Healing takes time. We both have scars, and sometimes they hurt more than we expect. But we're in this together, okay?"

Seven gave him a small, grateful smile. "Okay."

THE SMALL HOUSE WAS QUIET and filled with the gentle light of the setting sun as Bucky led Seven inside. She was still shaken, but her breathing had calmed, and she leaned into his reassuring presence. Bucky guided her to the couch, and they both sank down into its comforting embrace.

Bucky was kneeled down in front of her now, her hand in his hand. He was cleaning off of the blood with a damp towel.

"Sev, you can't hurt yourself like that." He told her, reaching for a bandage he set out nearby.

She sniffled, still looking at him. "I didn't know I was doing it, I'm sorry."

Bucky began to wrap her hand up, the nail marks now hidden behind the bandage. "All better." He said, kissing her hand.

Bucky sat himself on the couch and then he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "How are you feeling now, Sev?"

Seven sighed, leaning her head against his chest. "Better, but... it brought back so many memories, papa."

There was a comforting silence before Seven spoke up. "I'm starting to forget what they looked like."

Bucky's heart ached for her. He knew the weight of missing those who were once a vital part of your life. "Who Sev?" he said gently.

"My brothers and sisters." Seven's eyes filled with tears, and she wiped them away quickly. "I'm starting to forget their faces, Papa. The numbered kids. Zero, Six, One, all of them. I miss them so much, but I can't remember the details anymore. The way Zero used to tuck me in, and how Six was my best friend... it's all fading, we were family and they loved me."

Bucky's expression softened with understanding and sorrow. He held her tighter, wishing he could take away her pain. "Sev, it's okay to feel like this. The memories might fade, but the love you had for them and the bond you shared will always be a part of you."

Seven nodded, tears spilling over. "I just feel so guilty. Like I'm losing a part of myself by forgetting them."

Bucky cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing away her tears. "You're not losing them, Sev. They'll always be with you, in your heart. And it's okay to move forward. They'd want you to be happy and to live your life. It doesn't mean you're forgetting them; it means you're honoring their memory by continuing to live."

Seven sniffled, her tears slowly subsiding as she took comfort in his words. "I hope you're right, Papa. I just wish I could remember them better."

Bucky kissed her forehead, his voice filled with love and reassurance. "It's normal for memories to fade, especially when you're trying to heal. But your heart remembers, Sev. And that's what matters most."

But she wasn't healing. She couldn't heal if that meant forgetting. Now that they were free, Bucky had this whole new life, heal yourself mindset. He wasn't healing and Sev knew it.

They sat together in silence for a while, the weight of their shared memories and loss pressing down on them. But within that silence, there was also a sense of peace, of understanding that they had each other.

"Do you want to try and get some sleep?" Bucky asked softly, seeing the exhaustion in her eyes.

Seven nodded, her eyelids heavy. "Yeah. Can you stay with me for a while?"

"Of course," Bucky replied, adjusting their position so that she could lay her head in his lap. He gently stroked her hair, humming a soft tune, just as he had done so many times before.

Seven rarely slept by herself. She felt scared when she did, they usually slept together just like how they did in HYDRA. It kept them safe, it made them feel that way at least.

As Seven's breathing evened out and she drifted off to sleep, Bucky lingered, his heart full of love and protectiveness. He watched her peaceful face, tracing the delicate lines and features with his fingers.

He marveled at her strength, her resilience, and her capacity for love despite everything she had endured. Every detail of her face was precious to him—the curve of her jaw, the soft flutter of her eyelashes, the upturn of her lips.

Her mouth always moved when she slept. It was so perfect to him.

Bucky's thoughts drifted to the numbered kids, the family Seven had lost. He silently vowed to keep their memory alive for her, to remind her that she was never alone. They might be on the run, but they had each other, and that was more than enough.

He continued to trace her face gently, committing every feature to memory. He wanted to remember this moment, the peace and love they shared, and the quiet strength that bound them together.

As the room grew darker with the setting sun, Bucky stayed by her side, holding her close and watching over her. He knew the road ahead would be challenging, but with each other, they could face anything.

"Goodnight, Sev," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I love you, my baby."