THIS IS SHORT, like a little filler chapter cus idk anyways

TW: SELF HARM SCARS.

"HANG IN THERE, SEV," Bucky said, his voice trembling as he watched Sam push a pile of supplies off Sharon's table to make room for Sev. "I'm right here, just hang in there."

Sev lay motionless on the table, her breathing shallow and labored. Blood seeped from the wound in her arm, pooling on the table's surface. Bucky hovered nearby, his hands clenching and unclenching with helpless frustration.

Sharon moved swiftly, her movements precise as she worked to stabilize Sev. Sam ripped Sev's sleeve off, exposing the wound. As the fabric tore away, Bucky's breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he saw the numerous scars that marred her arm, the telltale signs of self-harm.

Zemo, standing off to the side, made a snide comment, his voice dripping with disdain. "Seems the girl has more issues than just being shot."

Bucky's fist clenched, and for a moment, he considered knocking Zemo out cold. But he forced himself to focus on Sev. She needed him. Anger could wait.

As Sam and Sharon worked to stop the bleeding, Bucky's mind raced. The scars on Sev's arms painted a devastating picture. How had he missed this? How had he not seen the signs?

He prided himself on being observant, especially when it came to his daughter. And yet, here was undeniable evidence that she had been suffering in silence, hiding her pain from him.

When Sharon finally managed to stabilize Sev, Bucky's knees nearly buckled with relief. She was still unconscious, but her breathing had evened out, and the bleeding was under control. Knowing she was out of immediate danger, Bucky stepped back, his mind a whirlwind of emotions.

He walked away from the table, his steps heavy, and collapsed onto the couch in the corner of the room. He buried his face in his hands, trying to process everything. The image of Sev's scarred arms was burned into his mind, a painful reminder of the turmoil she had been facing alone.

A torrent of guilt washed over him. How could he have been so blind? He had been so focused on protecting her from external threats that he had completely overlooked the battle she was fighting within herself. Every scar, every mark on her skin was a testament to her silent cries for help, cries that he had failed to hear.

The weight of his failure pressed down on him, suffocating him with its intensity. His mind replayed every moment, every interaction with Sev over the past months, searching for clues he might have missed. The long sleeves, the sudden mood swings, the times she had withdrawn from him—how had he not put it all together?

Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision. He felt a deep, wrenching sorrow for Sev, for the pain she had endured without him knowing. The thought of her suffering in silence, feeling so alone and desperate that she resorted to hurting herself, was almost more than he could bear.

A sob escaped his lips, and he didn't try to hold back the tears anymore. They flowed freely, hot and unchecked, as he cried for his daughter. His baby, the light of his life, had been battling demons he hadn't even seen. The realization tore at his heart, leaving it raw and bleeding.

Bucky's shoulders shook with the force of his sobs. He felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He was supposed to protect Sev, to keep her safe from harm. But he had failed in the most fundamental way. He had let her down, and the scars on her arms were a constant reminder of that failure.

As he sat there, crying for Sev, a resolve began to form within him. He would be there for her, no matter what. He would do everything in his power to help her heal, to show her that she wasn't alone. He couldn't change the past, but he could be there for her now, and for every moment going forward.

He wiped his tears, his breath still coming in shaky gasps. He needed to be strong for Sev, to show her that she didn't have to face her pain alone anymore.

He stood up and walked to where Sev was, his eyes red and puffy. He gripped her hand like it was his lifeline.

WHEN SEV WOKE UP, she felt a warm hand gripping hers. She was in an unfamiliar place, the ceiling above her a muted shade of white. She groaned awake, her body aching from the tension and blood loss. Her vision was blurry, but she could make out the figure of Bucky sitting next to her, his expression a mixture of relief and concern.

"Hey, easy there," Bucky said softly, noticing her attempts to sit up. He gently pushed her back down, his touch firm but careful. "You need to rest."

Sev blinked, trying to clear her vision. "Where are we?" she asked, her voice raspy from disuse.

"We're in Sharon's apartment," Bucky explained. "You lost a lot of blood, Sev. We had to get you somewhere safe."

She nodded slowly, wincing as she moved her injured arm. She glanced down and saw it was wrapped and bandaged securely. But then she noticed something else – her wrist was also bandaged, where she had been self-harming. Her breath hitched, and she felt a wave of panic rising in her chest.

Bucky saw the change in her expression and tightened his grip on her hand. "I already saw them," he said quietly, his voice laced with a mixture of pain and disappointment.

Sev's eyes filled with tears, and she stammered, trying to explain, to find the right words. "Dad, I... I didn't mean for you to see that. I... I just..."

Bucky's jaw clenched, his eyes hardening. "Why, Sev? Why would you do that to yourself? Why would you want to slice your skin open like that?" His voice was sharp, and it cut through her like a knife.

"I'm sorry..."

The words hit Sev hard, and she started to shake, her body trembling with the onset of a panic attack. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." She repeated it over and over, her breathing becoming rapid and shallow.

Bucky's anger melted away in an instant, replaced by a deep, aching concern. He knew she couldn't handle a panic attack in her current state. "Sev, look at me," he said firmly, but gently. "You need to calm down. Breathe with me, okay?"

She couldn't breathe. Nuh uh. No way.

"Sev, calm down," Bucky said, trying to maintain his composure. But the sight of her panic, the sheer terror in her eyes, made it difficult. He softened his tone, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "You can't have a panic attack right now, not in this state."

"I'm sorry," she continued, her words becoming almost a chant, her breaths coming in rapid, shallow gasps.

Bucky's heart clenched, but he couldn't tell her it was okay, because it wasn't. This was not okay.

Bucky shifted, moving closer to her on the bed. "Hey, look at me," he said, his voice gentle. "Look at me, Sev."

Her eyes met his, wide and filled with fear.

"Breathe with me, okay?" he instructed, taking deep, measured breaths. "In... and out..."

She tried to follow his lead, but her breaths were still erratic. He reached up, cupping her face in his hand, his thumb brushing away a tear.

"You're safe," he murmured. "You're safe, and I'm here. Just focus on my voice."

Slowly, her breathing began to synchronize with his. The panic in her eyes started to fade, replaced by exhaustion and vulnerability.

"That's it," he whispered, continuing to breathe with her. "You're doing great."

When she finally calmed down, he made room next to her on the bed. "Scoot over," he said softly.

She shifted, making space for him. He gently lifted her. Bucky lay down beside her, pulling her gently into his arms. He cradled her against his chest. and she could hear the steady beat of his heart, a comforting rhythm that grounded her amidst the turmoil.

"I'm sorry," Sev whispered again, her voice barely audible.

Bucky wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I know," he said softly. "But Sev, you can't keep doing this to yourself. It breaks my heart to see you hurt like this."

She buried her face in his chest, the tears flowing freely now. "I didn't know how else to cope," she admitted, her voice muffled by his shirt.

Bucky tightened his embrace, his fingers gently stroking her hair. "There are other ways," he said. "Healthier ways. We can find them together."

Sev nodded against his chest, feeling a sense of comfort and safety in his arms. "I don't want to hurt anymore," she confessed, her voice small and vulnerable.

"I know, kiddo," Bucky murmured. "And I'm going to do everything I can to help you. But you have to promise me you'll try too. No more cutting. We find other ways to deal with the pain. Promise me."

Sev looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear. "I promise," she said, her voice trembling but sincere.

"I'm sorry," she whispered again, her voice muffled against his shirt.

"Shh," he soothed, running his fingers through her hair. "We'll talk about it later. Right now, you just need to rest."

She closed her eyes, the warmth of his embrace and the sound of his heartbeat lulling her into a sense of safety she hadn't felt in a long time. Bucky held her close, his own eyes closing as he silently vowed to protect her, no matter what.

He kissed her head, trying to soothe her into sleep. Sev nestled closer to him, feeling the warmth and strength of his embrace.

The room was quiet, the only sound the soft rhythm of their breathing. Bucky held her as she drifted back to sleep, his heart aching with love and concern for his daughter. He knew the road ahead would be challenging, but he was determined to help Sev find another way to deal with her pain, even if he was going through just as much.

SEV WASN'T FULLY HEALED, but she was well enough to say she was okay. Seeing Sam out of his Smiling Tiger clothes brought a huge wave of relief. Sharon had found some clothes that somewhat fit Sev, but they weren't really her style. Still, she wasn't one to complain right now.

"Ah," Zemo said, looking at Sev. "Seven, all better? I'm sure your father talked to you about the—"

His words were cut off by Sam, who nudged him roughly. Sev knew what Zemo was trying to imply and was grateful for the interruption. "How are you feeling, Sev?" Sam asked, smoothly changing the subject.

"Like I got shot," she joked, managing a weak smile. "But fine, really."

Bucky's eyes never left Sev, his concern still evident. "You need to take it easy," he said firmly. "We're not out of the woods yet."

"Yeah, I know," Sev replied, glancing at her bandaged arm. "But I can handle it."

Sharon stepped in, handing Sam a map. "Nagel's lab is in the container yard. We should move soon. Staying here too long isn't safe."

Sev nodded, pushing herself up from the couch. Bucky immediately moved to support her, but she waved him off gently. "I'm okay, Dad. Really."