TW: SELF HARD (it's just mentioned) BURNS (also just mentioned)
SEV PLS STOP LIE

BUCKY AND SEV were finally home, away from the chaos that had defined their lives for so long. The small apartment was a haven of sorts, a place where they could heal and find some semblance of normalcy. It had taken months of searching and battling both external and internal demons, but they were finally here.

This evening, the atmosphere was heavy. Sev sat at the kitchen table, her eyes fixed on the wooden surface, tracing invisible patterns with her fingers. Bucky sat across from her, a box in front of him filled with various sharp objects he had found in her room. There were scissors, knives, and a disturbing number of razor blades. The sight of the box had nearly broken him when he discovered it, but now he was determined to face this with her.

Bucky reached across the table and gently took Sev's hands in his. Her fingers were cold, trembling slightly as she glanced up at him. He gave her hands a reassuring squeeze, his blue eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and unwavering love.

"Sev," he began softly, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I know things haven't been easy for you. I know you've been carrying a lot of pain, more than anyone your age should ever have to bear."

Sev swallowed hard, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm sorry, Dad," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I didn't mean for you to find all this. I didn't want to hurt you."

Bucky shook his head, his grip on her hands tightening just a bit. "This isn't about hurting me, baby. This is about you, and making sure you're safe. I need you to understand that I love you more than anything in this world. Seeing you in pain, knowing that you felt you had to resort to this... it breaks my heart."

Sev's tears began to spill over, and she looked down at their joined hands. "I just... I don't know how to deal with everything sometimes. It feels like too much, and this was the only way I could cope."

Bucky reached up with one hand and gently tilted her chin so she would look at him. "I understand that, Sev. I really do. But there are other ways to cope, healthier ways. We can find them together. You don't have to go through this alone."

Sev nodded, a small sob escaping her lips. "I just feel so lost sometimes."

Bucky pulled her hands to his chest, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're not lost, Sev. You're here, with me, and we're going to get through this together. You're stronger than you think, and I'm going to help you see that."

He took a deep breath, his voice steady as he continued. "I found all these things in your room because I was worried about you. I don't want you to feel like you have to hide anything from me. I'm here for you, no matter what."

Sev looked at the box, her eyes filled with a mix of shame and relief. "I don't want to do this anymore, Dad. I want to get better."

Bucky smiled softly, his heart swelling with pride. "That's the first step, Sev. Admitting you want to change is the hardest part. And I'm going to be with you every step of the way."

He released one of her hands and reached for the box. "Let's do this together," he said, his voice gentle. "Let's close this chapter and start a new one."

Sev nodded, her grip on his hand tightening as she watched him close the box. She felt a weight lifting off her shoulders, a sense of hope she hadn't felt in a long time. Together, they closed the lid, a symbolic gesture of leaving the past behind and moving forward.

Bucky placed the box aside and pulled Sev into a gentle hug, his arms wrapping around her protectively. "I love you so much, Sev. More than words can ever express. We're going to find a way through this, together."

Sev clung to him, her tears soaking into his shirt. "I love you too, Dad. Thank you for not giving up on me."

Bucky kissed the top of her head, his heart aching with love and determination. "Never, Sev. I'll never give up on you."

THEY BOTH lay across from each other on the worn but comfortable bed in of Sev's. The room was dimly lit, casting soft shadows on their faces. It was a quiet moment, reminiscent of the countless nights they had spent together in the cold, sterile confines of their cell in HYDRA.

Back then, they had found solace in each other's presence, a refuge from the horrors that surrounded them. Tonight, they were doing the same, finding comfort in their shared history and the unbreakable bond between them.

Bucky gently strummed his fingers back and forth over Sev's wrist, a familiar and soothing motion. It was a gesture that had always calmed her, even when she was a little girl. His touch was light, barely there, but it was enough to remind her that he was with her, that he would always be with her. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment before he pulled back to look into her eyes.

"Do you remember how we used to do this back in HYDRA?" Bucky asked softly, his voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and sadness.

Sev nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I remember. Those were some of the only times I felt safe. Just lying there, staring at each other, pretending we were anywhere but there."

Bucky's heart ached at the memory. He hated that Sev had to endure such a traumatic childhood, but he was grateful that they had each other. "You were so strong, Sev. Even when everything seemed hopeless, you never gave up. You kept me going."

Sev looked at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and love. "You were my rock, Dad. I don't know what I would have done without you. You were the only thing that kept me from falling apart completely."

Bucky strummed his fingers over her wrist again, his touch reassuring. "I needed you just as much as you needed me, Sev. You gave me a reason to keep fighting, to believe that there was something worth living for."

Sev's smile widened, and she reached out to touch his face, her fingers tracing the lines and scars that marked his skin. "I used to dream about us escaping, about finding a place where we could be safe and happy. I never thought it would actually happen, but here we are."

Bucky kissed her forehead again, his heart swelling with pride and love. "We made it, Sev. We're free, and we're going to build a life together, a life where you can be happy and safe."

Sev's eyes filled with tears, but she didn't look away. "I was so scared back then. Scared that I would be alone forever. But you found me. You saved me."

Bucky's grip on her wrist tightened slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "I promised myself that I would never let anything happen to you. That I would protect you with everything I had. And I meant it, Sev. I'll always be here for you."

Sev nodded, her tears spilling over but her smile never fading. "I know, Dad. I know. And I'm so grateful for that. I love you so much."

Bucky's own eyes glistened with unshed tears as he leaned in to kiss her forehead once more. "I love you too, Sev. More than you'll ever know."

They lay there in silence for a while, the only sound the soft strumming of Bucky's fingers on Sev's wrist. It was a peaceful moment, a moment of connection and understanding that went beyond words. They were no longer the frightened captives they had been in HYDRA. They were free, and they had each other.

After a while, Sev spoke again, her voice quiet but filled with emotion. "I think about my siblings sometimes. I wonder where they are, if they're okay. I hope they're happy in the afterlife. I wonder what it would be like there."

Bucky's heart ached for her. He knew how much she had loved her siblings, how much she worried about them. "I'm sure they're happy, Sev."

Sev's smile returned, a hopeful light in her eyes. "Yeah..."

As the night wore on, they eventually drifted off to sleep, still holding hands, their hearts filled with hope and love. They were no longer prisoners of their past. They were free, and they had each other. And that was all they needed.

THE COLD, dimly lit cell within the HYDRA facility felt more like a tomb than a place where humans should live. The walls were concrete, unyielding and unwelcoming, the air thick with a mix of dampness and despair. A small cot was shoved against one wall, barely big enough for a single person, let alone two. Yet, it was here that Bucky and little Sev found their sanctuary, their fragile bastion against the horrors that awaited them beyond those four walls.

Ten-year-old Sev lay beside Bucky, her tiny frame curled up against his larger one. She was trembling, her small body still reeling from the pain and fear that had been inflicted upon her.

Ir**na, one of HYDRA's more ruthless operatives, had burned her that day, a punishment for something insignificant, something Sev couldn't even remember. The burn marks were fresh, raw, and angry on her delicate skin.

Bucky's heart broke every time he looked at her injuries, knowing he couldn't protect her from the cruelty of their captors. But he could be there for her now. He could offer her comfort in the only way he knew how. He gently strummed his fingers across her arm, careful to avoid the burns, his touch light and soothing. It was a gesture he had learned calmed her, something to anchor her in the midst of her pain.

Sev's big, tear-filled eyes looked up at him, searching for reassurance in his gaze. "It hurts, papa," she whimpered, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Bucky's heart twisted at the sound of her pain. He wished he could take it all away, absorb it into himself so she wouldn't have to suffer. "I know, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice soft and filled with a tenderness that belied the harshness of their surroundings. "I'm so sorry. I'm here. I've got you."

Sev nodded slightly, trying to be brave, but another tear slipped down her cheek. Bucky brushed it away with his thumb, his touch gentle. "You're so strong, Sev. You're the strongest person I know."

She tried to smile, but it was a feeble attempt, her lips quivering. "I don't feel strong," she admitted, her voice trembling.

Bucky leaned in closer, his forehead touching hers. "You are, though. Every day you get through this, you show them how strong you are. You're stronger than they'll ever be."

Sev took a deep, shuddering breath, finding some solace in his words. She snuggled closer to him, seeking his warmth and the safety of his presence. "I wish we could leave this place," she whispered. "I wish we could be somewhere safe, somewhere nice."

Bucky's fingers continued their gentle strumming on her arm, a rhythmic motion that seemed to calm both of them. "Someday we will," he promised, though he had no idea how they would ever escape. It was a promise he made to keep hope alive, for both of them. "Someday we'll get out of here, and we'll go somewhere beautiful. Somewhere where you can be happy and safe."

Sev's eyes shone with a flicker of hope, the kind only a child could muster in such dire circumstances. "Do you really think so, papa?"

Bucky nodded, his heart aching with the need to believe his own words. "I do, Sev. We'll find a way. Until then, we have each other. And as long as we have that, we'll be okay."

Sev reached up and touched his face with her small hand, her fingers tracing the lines and scars that marked his skin. "You always make me feel better, Dad," she said softly. "Even when it's really bad, you make it better."

Bucky's eyes filled with tears, but he blinked them away, not wanting her to see. "And you make me feel better too, Sev. You're my reason for fighting, my reason for holding on."

They lay there in silence for a while, the only sound the distant hum of the facility and the soft rustling of their movements. Bucky's fingers never stopped their gentle strumming, his touch a lifeline for Sev.

After a while, Sev spoke again, her voice quieter, almost drowsy. "Tell me a story, papa. A happy one."

Bucky thought for a moment, searching for a memory that could bring some light into their darkness. "Alright," he said, his voice gentle. "Close your eyes, and I'll tell you about a place far, far away, where the sun always shines, and the flowers are always in bloom..."

As Bucky began his story, Sev closed her eyes, a small smile forming on her lips. His voice was soothing, each word a balm to her wounded spirit. In that moment, within the confines of their tiny cell, they created a world where they were free, where happiness and safety were more than just distant dreams.

Bucky's fingers continued their rhythmic motion, strumming her arm like a lullaby. As he spoke, he felt Sev's breathing become more even, her body relaxing against his. She was drifting off to sleep, her mind carried away by the tale he spun, away from the pain and fear of their reality.

He finished his story, his voice trailing off into a soft whisper. "And they lived happily ever after," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to Sev's forehead. "Goodnight, my sweet girl."

Sev's only response was a contented sigh, her small hand still resting on his cheek. Bucky held her close, his heart filled with a fierce protectiveness and an overwhelming love. He would endure anything for her, fight any battle, face any enemy. She was his reason for living, his light in the darkest of times.

BUCKY WAS IN THE KITCHEN absentmindedly stirring a pot of soup when his phone buzzed on the counter. He glanced at the screen and saw Sam's name. Setting the spoon down, he wiped his hands on a dish towel and picked up the phone.

"Hey, Sam," he greeted, a hint of weariness in his voice.

"Buck, we've got a lead on Karli," Sam's voice crackled through the line, urgency evident in his tone. "We need to move fast. Can you meet me at the usual spot in an hour?"

Bucky's heart sank. He had been hoping for a quiet day, a day to spend with Sev without the looming threat of danger. But duty called. "Got it. I'll be there."

He hung up the phone and took a deep breath, bracing himself for the conversation he knew he had to have with Sev. She was in the living room, sprawled on the couch with a book in her hands, her blonde hair falling into her eyes.

"Hey, Sev," he called, walking over to her. "We need to talk."

She looked up from her book, her eyes immediately narrowing with suspicion. "What is it, Dad?"

Bucky sat down next to her, his expression serious. "I just got a call from Sam. We have a lead on Karli, and I need to go."

Sev's eyes lit up with excitement. "Great! Let me grab my gear, and we can head out."

Bucky shook his head, placing a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder. "No, Sev. Not this time."

Her face fell, confusion and frustration flashing in her eyes. "What? Why not? I can help."

"I know you can," Bucky said, his voice calm but resolute. "But it's too dangerous. This lead... it's different. We don't know what we're walking into, and I can't risk you getting hurt."

Sev's frustration quickly turned to anger. "I'm not a little kid anymore, Dad. I can handle myself! I've proven that time and time again." She knew she was lying to herself, she couldn't fight she just wanted front row seats.

Bucky sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sev, this isn't up for debate. I need you to stay here where it's safe."

Sev stood up, her fists clenched at her sides. "This is so unfair! You always treat me like a child!"

"You are a child, Sev." Bucky rose to his feet as well, towering over her but keeping his tone gentle. "I'm trying to protect you, Sev. You're the most important person in my life. I can't lose you."

"I won't get hurt." she insisted, her voice rising. "I can fight just as well as you can."

Bucky wanted to call her out for lying to herself but he wasn't gonna do that. Bucky took a deep breath, trying to stay patient. "Sev, listen to me. This isn't about your abilities. I know you're strong and capable. But this situation is unpredictable. I need to know you're safe, so I can focus on the mission."

She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "So what, I'm just supposed to sit here and do nothing?"

Bucky softened, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "No, you're supposed to stay here and take care of things while I'm gone. Keep an eye on the place, make sure everything's okay. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Sev huffed, swatting his hand away but unable to suppress a small smile. "You're being overprotective."

He chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Maybe I am. But it's my job as your dad."

She rolled her eyes but relented, knowing he wouldn't budge on this. "Fine. But you better come back in one piece."

Bucky smiled, pulling her into a brief hug. "I promise. And hey, don't eat all the ice cream while I'm gone."

She laughed, the tension easing slightly. "No promises."

He kissed the top of her head, his expression turning serious once more. "I'll be back soon. Stay safe, okay?"

She nodded, her eyes softening. "You too, Dad."

With one last look at his daughter, Bucky grabbed his gear and headed for the door. As he stepped outside, the weight of his responsibilities settled on his shoulders. He hated leaving Sev behind, but he knew it was for the best. He had to keep her safe, no matter what.

As he walked away from the house, he glanced back one last time, seeing her silhouette in the window. He raised a hand in a silent farewell, then he was gone