IK ITS BEEN AWHILE BUT NEW CHAP CUTIES

somewhere in 2004

"ZERO! ZERO!" Zero heard little six scream out. Both Seven and One came running over, their panicked gazes not meeting until they actually made it to where they heard the screaming.

"Six! What is it!" Zero said making a full stop along with One.

"It's Seven, she's walking." Six said her smile bright as she sat criss cross behind a standing Seven.

Both Zero and One breathed out, happy she was okay. "Wow Six, that's amazing." One said, picking up Seven. "But we really have to get you to bed, according to the time teller, it's late."

One watched as Zero picked up Six, assumingely bringing her to her bed, which was really barley a bed anymore. HYDRA was too heartless to give them more then four beds, they stopped when five was born. They were small so it's not like they couldn't share.

Seven's blonde hair has just started sprouting, she was cute. One picked up Seven while Zero picked up Six, usually Six and Seven slept together. As Zero pulled the blanket up to Six and Seven, Six spoke. "How do you know if it's later or not?" Six asked.

Zero smiled. "My mom told me that the bigger the number is, the later it is. It's eleven right now and the clock only goes up to twelve so it much be super late." She answered.

"Where's your mom right now?" Six asked.

Zero cleared her throat. She smiled, not a real one, but she smiled. "I don't know, but she's gonna come get us soon." Zero explained.

Six smiled. "She will? She'll take us away and we can live together?"

Zero nodded. "Hush now, go to sleep, love."

SEVEN BARLEY REMEMBERED HER OLD
family. She remembered their names just not their faces. The way Zero would hold her, the way One would brush her hair out of her face, the way Six would play with her. Their faces were something she couldn't find, something so sacred.

Soldat came back with not even a scratch. Seven on the other hand couldn't say the same. The guards always got bored, they room Seven's hearing aids then got mad at her when she couldn't hear them. Seven was beginning to miss her old cell, where no one even acknowledged her existence.

Soldat was walked back to his cell, there were two guards standing outside his door as always. The guard stopped him and shoved Seven's hearing aids to his chest. For some reason Soldat knew they hurt her.

Bucky made a gruff noise as he rushed back into the cell to see Seven. She wasn't that bad but she had a couple not bruises and a bloody nose. A cut had also made its way onto her pale face.

When she saw Soldat she ran to him, wrapping her arms around his legs. "Papa..."

Bucky didn't know how to react necessarily. He patted her a couple of times then kneeled down so he could see her face. Seven looked just like him just blonde. Her eyes were a piercing blue and her lips curved the way his did.

He tucked her blonde hair behind her ears and placed her hearing aids back in her ears that had dried blood around them from them tugging her hearing aids out.

"Oh, Sev." He said, gently stroking her cheek.

She sniffled. "Ouch." She said.

Bucky felt a surge of anger, his muscles tensing as he looked at the blood dried around Seven's ears. He swallowed hard, trying to calm himself. It wasn't Seven's fault, and he didn't want to scare her with his rage.

"Who did this to you, Sev?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seven looked down, her small hands still clutching his leg. "I don't know their names. They were new guards. They didn't like me."

Bucky clenched his fists. He had seen too much cruelty, too much senseless violence. But seeing it inflicted on Seven, this child who had come to depend on him, made it all the harder to bear. He lifted her gently, careful of her bruises, and carried her over to the small cot in the corner of the cell.

"We're going to get out of here, Sev," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "I promise you that."

Seven nodded, her face pressed against his shoulder. "I believe you, Papa."

The word "Papa" struck a chord deep within Bucky. He had never thought of himself as a father figure, not since everything that had happened to him, but here was this little girl who needed him, who saw him as her protector. It was a role he found himself wanting to fill, despite the pain and darkness that clouded his own heart.

He settled her down on the cot and pulled a threadbare blanket over her. "Rest now, Sev. I'll be right here."

"Rest now my love."

He sounded like Zero.

Seven nodded again, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. She curled up, her small body trembling slightly. Bucky sat down next to her, his back against the cold wall of the cell. He knew he couldn't let this continue. He had to find a way to get them both out of this place.

As Seven drifted off to sleep, Bucky's mind raced. He had to figure out who was in charge of this facility, who had the power to let them go or to keep them here forever. He thought back to the guards, the way they looked, the way they acted. He would have to be careful, precise in his actions. One wrong move and it could mean disaster for both of them.

Hours passed, and the cell grew darker as the light from the single high window faded. Bucky listened to Seven's breathing, steady and rhythmic. It was a small comfort in this place of nightmares. He closed his eyes, letting his mind wander to a time before all this, a time when he was just James Buchanan Barnes, a young man with dreams and friends and a life ahead of him.

The sound of footsteps jolted him back to the present. He tensed, ready for anything. The cell door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. It was one of the guards, a man with a stern face and cold eyes. Bucky recognized him; he had seen this guard before, always lurking, always watching.

The guard sneered. "Well, well, if it isn't the Winter Soldier and his little pet. How touching."

Bucky stood up slowly, positioning himself between the guard and Seven. "What do you want?" he demanded.

The guard chuckled. "Relax, soldier. I'm just here to check on the kid. Orders from above, you know how it is."

Bucky didn't move. "She's fine. You can leave now."

The guard's eyes narrowed. "Don't get too comfortable, Soldat. The kid isn't gonna be with you forever, wait until you fail a mission."

"What the hell are you talking about." He sneered.

The guard shrugged and walked out.

DAYS TURNED INTO WEEKS, and the routine of their imprisonment became their reality. Bucky spent every moment thinking about how to protect Seven, how to keep her safe in this hellish place. They were given minimal rations, and the guards continued their torment, finding new ways to break their spirits. The same cycle.

Eat,

Sleep,

Mission,

And again,

One day, as Bucky and Seven sat in their cell, the door creaked open. A new figure stepped inside, someone Bucky hadn't seen before. This man had an air of authority, his presence commanding the room. He wore a pristine HYDRA uniform, his expression cold and calculating.

"Winter Soldier," the man said, his voice smooth and menacing. "I am Dr. Reinhardt. I've been assigned to oversee your conditioning."

Bucky's eyes narrowed. He had heard of Reinhardt, a scientist infamous for his ruthless experiments. The mere mention of his name sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened soldiers.

Reinhardt's gaze shifted to Seven. "And this must be your little companion. Interesting. I've heard she shows remarkable resilience. A perfect candidate for our next phase of experiments."

Bucky stepped forward, shielding Seven with his body. "You're not touching her."

Reinhardt's smile was chilling. "Ah, the protective instinct. It's fascinating how even the most conditioned subjects can exhibit such behaviors. But I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter."

He signaled to the guards, who moved to grab Seven. Bucky fought them off as best as he could, his training kicking in, but he was outnumbered and overpowered. The guards restrained him, forcing him to watch as they dragged Seven away, her cries echoing through the halls.

"Papa!" Seven's voice was filled with terror, and it tore at Bucky's heart.

"I'll find you, Sev!" he shouted, struggling against his captors. "I'll get you back, I promise!"

Reinhardt watched with a detached curiosity. "Take him to the lab. We have much work to do."

Bucky was hauled away, his mind a storm of rage and desperation. He had to find a way to save Seven, to keep his promise to her. But for now, he was powerless, a prisoner once more in HYDRA's clutches.

In the lab, Bucky was strapped to a chair, his head restrained. Reinhardt and his team of scientists buzzed around him, preparing their instruments. Bucky's thoughts were consumed with Seven, the fear in her eyes haunting him.

Reinhardt leaned in, his face inches from Bucky's. "You see, Winter Soldier, we are going to delve deeper into your mind. We are going to strip away the last vestiges of James Buchanan Barnes, and you will become the perfect weapon once more."

Bucky clenched his jaw, refusing to show his fear. He had been through this before, and he had survived. He would survive again, for Seven.

The machines whirred to life, and pain shot through his body. Bucky gritted his teeth, determined not to give Reinhardt the satisfaction of seeing him break. The agony was excruciating, but he clung to thoughts of Seven, to her smile, her trust in him. He had to hold on for her.

Hours later, Bucky was dragged back to his cell, his body limp and his mind numb from the torture. The door clanged shut behind him, and he collapsed onto the cold floor. He lay there for what felt like an eternity, the weight of despair pressing down on him.

But then he heard it—a faint, hesitant whisper. "Papa?"

Bucky forced his eyes open and saw Seven standing by the door, her small face pale and bruised but alive. She had been brought back while he was unconscious. He struggled to sit up, reaching out to her.

"Sev," he croaked, his voice hoarse. "Are you okay?"

Seven nodded, though her eyes were filled with tears. "They hurt me, Papa. They said I had to be strong, they said I need to fight."

Bucky pulled her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he dared. "I'm so sorry, Sev. I couldn't stop them."

"It's okay," she whispered, burying her face in his chest. "You tried. I know you tried."

Bucky stroked her hair, trying to comfort her, even as his own heart ached with guilt and helplessness. He knew that as long as they were here, HYDRA would continue to use and hurt them. He had to find a way to escape, no matter the cost.

Reinhardt walked in, flanked by two guards. Bucky's heart pounded as he saw Seven being dragged in behind them. She looked more fragile than ever, but her eyes still held that spark of resilience.

Reinhardt's cold gaze settled on Bucky. "We've decided that it's time for Seven to become more... useful. She needs to learn how to fight, to defend herself. And who better to train her than the Winter Soldier himself?"

Bucky's jaw tightened. The thought of Seven fighting, of being forced into the violent world HYDRA had created, filled him with dread. But he knew he had no choice. At least if he was the one training her, he could ensure her safety as much as possible.

"Alright," Bucky said, his voice steady. "I'll train her. But you have to promise not to hurt her during this process."

Reinhardt's smile was thin and humorless. "You're not in a position to make demands, Winter Soldier. But as long as she cooperates, we will minimize her suffering."

Bucky knelt down to Seven's level, his eyes locking onto hers. "Sev, I need you to listen to me. We're going to learn how to fight, how to protect ourselves. It's going to be hard, but I'll be with you every step of the way."

Seven's eyes were wide, a mixture of fear and determination. "I'll try, Papa. I'll do whatever it takes."

Reinhardt nodded to the guards, who released Seven. "You have the training room for two hours each day. Make the most of it."