Skye dropped the ice cream and started to panic, her heart burying itself deep in her chest.
"Cap, and Coulson are gonna skin me alive..." She ran her hands through her hair as she bolted out of the shop. "Sophia?!" She called out and looked around frantically. "Sophia! Where are you?"
Skye picked one direction and just ran. Looking, screaming, crying.
"Papa?" Sophia looked around the small apartment tears in her eyes. "Papa?" She sobbed out. Little did she remember this was her apartment not to long before. It had been the one she shared with her mother, and now she was back. Scared, and alone. Although, not really.
"Sophia. Please. Quiet Down." A male voice came from the back room. It was filled with a slight impatience.
"Take me to Papa."
"Please. Quiet Down."
"I'll scream."
"Don't you dare."
"3.. 2.. 1.." Then she started to shriek at an ear piecing rate. The man almost swore that glass in the room would shatter.
"PLEASE STOP." He yelled over the noise.
"Papa."
"You're safe here. You're Papa trusts me."
"I was safe with Skye."
"No, Grant Ward was heading towards the base. He's Hydra."
"They would have protected me."
"Coulson was trusting in him. He's almost as dangerous as Dr. Strucker."
"Who?"
"A bad guy your pops beat up."
"Who are you?"
"A friend."
"Of my papa?"
"Yeah."
"How come I've never seen you."
"You have, you just don't remember."
"What's your name?"
"Experiment 488."
"That's not a name."
"The Winter Soldier." He admitted to her.
"Bucky?"
"How'd you-"
"Papa. He told me load of stories about you. You're his best friend."
"He-He did?"
"Yeah! It's okay now Uncle Buck. I trust you now."
"You trust me... Just like that?"
"Uh Huh. If Papa trusts you. I trust you."
"You're really his kid, huh?"
"I am." She spoke with a smile.
Meanwhile...
"What do you mean she's gone?"
"Agent Skye turned around for approximately four seconds, and she was missing."
"We're almost at the base. It's to late to turn back. Coulson I want every available man out looking for her."
"I already do Steve."
This thought lingered upon his mind, and it even seemed to sift into his dream Wanda induced a little while later.
Steve looked around the room, big band music blaring. People were dancing, laughing, drinking. A flash went off and Steve flinched, and looked around. He felt his PTSD kick in and his heart this against his chest.
"Are you ready for our dance?" Peggy asked. Her voice turned him around and the pounding stopped. In her arms was Sophia. Her bright blue eyes, shining at him.
"The war's over Steve. We can go home. With Sophia."
His dreamed flashed and she was dancing with him. Then he was dancing with Sophia. Their smiling faces beaming. But just as quickly it was there, it was gone again. The room empty. Except for Sophia, mangled, beaten and lying in a pool of her own blood on the floor.
"Noo!"
He woke in a cold sweat. Clint standing over him, holding an unconscious Natasha in his arms.
"Buck?"
"Sophia?"
"When do i get to see papa?"
"Soon."
"How soon?"
"A day."
"A WHOLE DAY?"
"Yes, a whole day. We have to make sure you're safe."
"But if you have me, shouldn't I be safe?"
"Well yeah. But just incase."
"Oh. Well, I'm hungry."
"Make some food."
"I'm two." She said sarcastically. Bucky gave her a questioning look.
"You don't sound, or look like a regular two year old."
"Well, Uncle Buck. You don't sound or look like a regular ninety five year old. And.. I'm almost three."
"Touché." He gave a little smirk. "What do you want?"
"Grilled Cheese, Please."
"Easy Enough." He stated before he went into the kitchen. Sophia climbed up at the bar. She sat at the edge so she could watch him.
"Uncle Buck?"
"Yeah, kid?"
"Does it hurt?" Bucky dropped the bowl he had in his hand.
"Does what hurt?" Knowing very well to what she was referring to.
"Your arm."
"No. It doesn't hurt anymore. I just don't really feel anything."
"Oh." She looked down at her tiny arms. Feeling sorry for her Uncle. He shouldn't have been surprised by the next question, but he was. "Can I touch it?"
"Maybe later."
"When Papa says maybe later... It means no."
"Well, I'm not your Pops am I?"
"No, but I still like you." He glanced up at her. His eyes holding a small glimmer of hope. No. He was the Winter Soldier. She was his mission. To keep her safe. That's what Ste-The Captain would want.
"Do you want some fruit?"
"Yes please."
"Anything else?"
"No thank you." She said quietly.
"What's wrong now?"
"You seem sad."
"I'm always sad Soph. Might as well get used to it."
"You used to be happy."
"How do you-"
"My Powers!" She spoke with glee.
"You have... Powers?"
"Well Duh, silly."
"Sorry."
"I can do things with my mind."
"Can your dad do that?"
"Nope. I got the mind stuff from my mom. Well, sorta."
"But are you-"
"Like my Papa? Yeah."
"Oh."
"Yep."
"Does your mind stuff hurt?" He asked curiously.
"Sometimes." She responded back.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Uncle Bucky."
"Uncle Bucky?" Sophia walked into the room, tears glazed her blue hues. A hand rubbing at them sleepily.
"Yeah, kid?"
"I had a nightmare.."
"Oh."
"Can I lay on the couch next to you?"
"It's-It's not vey comfortable.."
"I don't want to be alone." She spoke softly.
"Come here then kid." Sophia walked over, and climbed up in his lap. But she started crying again and threw her arms around him in a hug.
"I love you Uncle Bucky." At first he was hesitant. He was the Winter Soldier. He had killed hundreds. People feared him still. But she trusted him, loved him. He would just have to be the Uncle she needed.
"I love you too kid.." Bucky said hugging her back. Eyes filling slightly with tears as he rocked her to sleep in his arms.
"So he's really gone?" Tony asked with a sadness filling his voice. "I was just getting used to the little roadrunner."
"Tony." Clint spat.
"Too soon?"
"Yes, I'd say five seconds is too soon."
"Well, we need to get Cap."
"He's really taking Sophia missing hard."
"Aren't we all?"
"He's not gonna find her here."
"let him look Tony. He needs some time to himself."
"I chose the world over my daughter." He looked up eyes brimming with tears. "She is my world. She's could be dead..."
"Steve-" Natasha spoke quietly.
"it's all my fault. She's dead."
"Don't be so hard on yourself Steve."
"Why not Nat?" He almost barked, frightening her. "My best friends a-wall. My daughters is missing, and most likely dead. And one of my teammates was just killed."
"Steve-" She moved closer, so she was standing in front of him.
"Don't Steve me. It's all my fault. If I hadn't woken up. If I would have just died. He would still be alive. Shield-"
"Would be in even worse shape." Natasha spoke. "New York destroyed. Sophia without her dad. Bucky without a friend. Me, without you.."
"Nat. It would have been so much easier to die, I could have let go."
"Don't say that. We all need you. I need you."
"You have Bruce.." He eased forward towards her.
"He and I are... Friends. Nothing more." She made the final step by closing off the space between them.
"Really?"
"Really, Really."
"Watch it Shrek."
"You saw that movie?"
"Clint."
"Ah."
"Yeah." He slid in awkwardly.
"Steve, I really do need you."
"I need you too Nat, without you. I don't know what I would do.."
"I've been needing to say this for a long time Steve. Ever since New York."
"You can tell me anything Nat."
"I think I'm in love with you." Her breath hitched and her eyes searched for an answer in his.
"You know what Romanoff?"
"What?" She whispered back to him.
"I think I'm in love with you too.." He pulled her in for a kiss, that was desperate and hungry. Taking out his anger, with love. She kissed back with just the same amount of passion. They pulled back for a moment, and they each gave a breathless laugh. Eyes flowing with tears.
"Let's go find Sophia."
Bruce remained in the shadows, now knowing for sure his feelings were childish. Nobody could love him. He was just a big, green, rage monster. Not even another broken piece could fix him. So he walked away quietly, a single tear slipping down his face.
Aww. Poor Bruce :( Due to a long decision process. I've just decided to continue Angel Kisses. This is not the end ;). So with that, I'm going to eventually start a series of Oneshots that go with it. Yay. Anyway. Thank you for so much love on my story. Reviews are always appreciated.