Mending Hearts

ℂℍ𝔸ℙ𝕋𝔼ℝ 𝟚𝟠

ℍ𝕖𝕣 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤

We'd been in the apartment for almost a month now, surprisingly Bucky and I didn't seem to be going stir crazy and we're getting along perfectly. Tony or Steve would drop off weekly food for us and take requests for the next drop, as well as any other essentials we needed.

Nat had given Tony the right hair dye I used so luckily I was able to maintain the red locks that sat on my head. Bucky seemed rather confused while watching the process, but kept me company none the lease. I was glad to have his company, and watching him sit on the bathroom counter swinging his legs made me smile - he looked like a big kid in that moment, and the strawberry lollipop in his mouth didn't help. It brought a grin to my face and Bucky saw it through the mirror, making him hop off the counter and wrap his arms around me, kissing my cheek carefully as to not get the hair dye on his face too.

"Whatcha smiling at Doll?" His Brooklyn accent really coming through as he spoke, making my grin somehow bigger. He poked his tongue out which broke me out in full blown fits of laughter, to the point where I'm crouched on the floor wheezing like a 15 year old who's addicted to elf bars  and gets through two a day.

Between gasps of air I manage to get out "you... are like... a... big kid..." until I start cackling again. He chuckles at me and  sits back on the counter with the lollipop back in his mouth as I calm down and continue doing my hair. He probably thought I was absolutely, and he wouldn't be wrong at all, but it felt good to laugh like that and I was doing it quite a lot since being around Bucky regularly. It was almost as if my soul felt happy around him, and yet I couldn't work out why for the life of me.

In our time together, I had told him what happened to me. I had found the courage to tell the stories I loathed so much, and it felt good to feel so comfortable I could say them without sobbing. Bucky listened carefully to the stories of my ex and my old family, most of it bad but I made sure to include some good in there too. He kept a hand on my thigh while I spoke, rubbing comforting circles with his thumb when I hesitated on a part. I was shocked how easily it all came out, but then again I'd never felt a safety like I do when I'm with my soldier so it made sense. Afterwards he embraced me and held me close while he said he'd never let me go through that again and comforted me. He truly was a softy with me and I adored every second of it.

Bucky's POV:

Strong was the understatement of the millennium when describing her. She'd endured so much - and as obvious as it was she was struggling to heal - but I never thought it would've been close to something so torturous. Holding her close to me was instinct at this point, as much as part of me wanted to keep her safe from Hydra and Winter, I knew I could keep her away from the pain she'd already experienced. It seems we both have pasts we wish to erase from memory.

The softness of her red hair and it's fruity scent were what brought me out of thought, I was subconsciously running my hands through it but judging by the hum Ellie let out she was just as glad I was doing it. We were both comfortable with eachother and it felt good to have someone again, especially one who knew everything. She was so different compared to Steve, it was easier with her somehow. She knew the best ways to comfort me, she listened so intently, and she was there 24/7. It was truly like she was an angel, my angel.

Sleep overtook her quickly, clearly recounting her stories drained her, and she slept comfortably as I rubbed her thighs and her head rested on my shoulder. It was moments like this that I could really appreciate every tiny detail about her, the slight freckles on her nose, the little scar on her forehead, and the way her nose would slightly scrunch if something happened in her dream. The difference between her and the girls before the war were immense. They were pretty at the time but now they seemed hideous compared to her.

She snuggled closer to me and I used the opportunity to wrap my arm around her. Clearly she was beginning to have a nightmare judging by the way she tensed up and her face was shrouded in a slight scowl. I kissed her head and rubbed her thigh gently, which was a trick I learnt to use in this last month that seemed to prevent her nightmares. Like normal it worked, but I'd never say that I managed to help her sleep more peacefully and I don't think she even remembered a bad dream starting by morning. The concept that someone had hurt her so much that it caused such ptsd made my blood boil, yet it also made me want to be even sweeter towards my Doll. Sometimes she displayed such an innocence that it was like even she forgot what she had been through at times.

"How the fuck could anyone hurt you?" I mumbled to myself, the idea of it completely baffling me. If I ever met the bastards that had hurt her so much I'd skin them alive for it. But for now, I'll stay here and protect her from the memories, hopefully I'll be able to replace them with good ones eventually my love.

Hello my darlings! Thank you all so much for 10 thousand reads, I cried when I saw it. I can't believe it! It means the world to me, I hope you all enjoyed so far. I love reading everyone's comments, you're all so sweet thank you!
As always, have a good day/night <3