Marvel One-Shots

Hiding (40s Stucky)

***TW: Alcohol, implied ab**e***

Noise. So much noise. Yelling, screaming, flinching at the sound of glass breaking against the wall. Endless empty bottles thrown in anger. Fear of being hit by one, even though he was safe in the back corner of the closet, as always.

Steve's father wasn't the nicest man alive. He had his moments, most of which were drunk and violent. Steve would come to school with glass cuts and bruises which people assumed were from his usual bouts with a group of bullies. Bucky Barnes knew better than that, though.

Bucky was going over to Steve's house that night to study for a biology test the next day. He walked through the snow, trudging along. He would walk miles in the snow just to see his small blonde friend. As he approached the house, he saw broken windows which immediately alarmed him. The door was flung open, empty bottles of alcohol covered the floor. Bucky stepped over the broken glass all the way over to the staircase where there was a sobbing Sarah Rogers curled up on the stairs. Bucky crouched by her,

"Mrs. Rogers... Are you alright? Is Steve alright? Where's Steve." To which Sarah responded silently by nodding, covering a cut on her face. She pointed upstairs to the linen closet, where Steve usually hid.

Steve had his knees hugged to his chest, rocking back and forth a little, not daring to even mutter a word as he heard heavy footsteps approach the door, not knowing they were Bucky's. He cowered back as the door opened. Bucky's heart broke to see his friend so scared. He closed the door behind him gently and went over to Steve. He kneeled so his knees were on either side of Steve's and rested his forehead on the smaller man's.

"Hey Stevie, s'okay. I'm here baby, it's alright." The brunette whispered reassuringly into the blonde's ear. Steve relaxed as he heard Bucky's voice. He kept his eyes shut tight and flinched at the sound of Sarah cleaning the glass up downstairs.

"Look at me, baby, open your eyes." Bucky whispered. Once Steve opened his eyes, Bucky covered his ears and began to mouth reassurances. He had taught Steve how to read his lips for times like these. This was not the first time nor the last that this would happen.

"I love you so so much, you're safe, I will not let anyone hurt you as long as I can help it." Bucky mouthed to Steve who nodded along softly. He calmed down a bit and curled up in Bucky's strong arms. Bucky stroked the blonde's hair and began to hum softly, doing his best to lull the smaller man to sleep. Once he felt Steve's breathing steady into a pattern of sleep, he stood up with Steve in his arms and took him to his bedroom. He tucked the smaller man in bed and kissed his forehead. He didn't leave Steve's side the remainder of the night, making sure he was safe and well protected from the many dangers of the world.