Over the next few weeks, Shuri worked hours on Bucky's brain. Cassidy sat with him every step of the way, holding his hand, as some of it was painful. She had to go through hundreds of memories to search for those words one by one.
Bucky was starting to have nightmares more often too. Shuri said that it could be a possibility, with her poking around his head so much. Most nights it wasn't bad, but there had been some nights where she had been woken up to him falling out of bed tangled up in the sheets. Other mornings she'd find hm asleep on the couch, too afraid to come back to the bed with her.
She had gotten used to hearing him whimpering in the middle of the night, tonight was no different. She rolled over to find Bucky tossing his head back and forth, whimpering.
"No." He whispered.
"Bucky, wake up baby. You're okay." Usually he woke up when he heard her voice, but not tonight. Cassidy carefully reached her hand out, placing it on his arm. Before she knew what was happening, Bucky was on top of her, pinning her wrists down on the bed. Even with just his flesh hand, he was way stronger than she would ever be.
"Ow. Bucky, you're hurting me." She said softly. She looked up at him and there was no emotion in his eyes. Something had happened in his nightmare and now he didn't know where he was or who she was.
"Bucky, wake up. Come on." Cassidy's wrists were beginning to hurt, he was squeezing them so hard. She tried to squirm underneath him but he had his knees locked on each side of hers, and there was no way she was strong enough to move them.
Cassidy was starting to lose feeling in her hands, if this went on any longer, he was going to break her wrists. She started to panic, her breaths coming out shallow and fast. Tears filled her eyes as she tried to squirm again, but she was getting nowhere.
She did the last thing she could think of and pushed her head up and connected her lips to his. Bucky froze for just a second, before he let go of her wrists and jumped back, perching himself on the edge of the bed, terrified.
Cassidy carefully pulled herself into a sitting position and began rubbing her wrists. She looked up to see Bucky looking down, eyes closed, his hand in a fist, shaking.
"Bucky." She said softly. He refused to look up at her. How could he hurt her like this. He was supposed to protect her. This is what he was afraid of. He felt the bed dip beside him and he flinched slightly when he felt her hand close around his fist, but she didn't pull away. She gently unfolded his hand and laced her fingers with his.
"Bucky, look at me please." She asked. He looked up at her and he couldn't stop the tears. She immediately pulled him to her and he clutched at her back as hard as he could without hurting her.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry doll, I didn't mean it." He cried. Cassidy ran her hands up and down his back, tears falling down her face.
"I know baby, I know. It was just a nightmare. I know you would never hurt me. It's okay." She whispered, trying to calm him down. She didn't know how long they sat there like that, but eventually he stopped crying and looked up at her. She smiled at him and wiped the tears from under his eyes.
"I love you Bucky." She said softly. He looked up at her with such awe he forgot how to speak for a second. How could she love him? He had just hurt her, and here she was comforting him and telling him that she loved him. He tried to pull away but she held hm close.
"I mean it Bucky. I love you. We are going to get through this. Together. I'm not going anywhere." She told him. He nodded and rested his forehead against hers.
"Until the end of the line?" He whispered. Cassidy smiled.
"Yes, until the end of the line." She leaned in and kissed him softly, running her hands through his hair. She pulled back and moved to lay back in the bed and patted the spot next to her. Bucky looked away and nodded his head.
"No. I could hurt you again." He told her.
"Bucky, please. It's gonna be okay, please just come back to bed alright?" She almost begged. He sat there for a minute, then nodded and laid next to her, his back to her chest. She wrapped her arm around his middle and pressed a kiss onto the back of his neck.
"We're gonna be okay Bucky. I love you." Bucky let out a deep sigh and laced his fingers with hers.
"I love you too."
Bucky was hesitant to go back to Shuri. He was afraid that all the poking around in his head would make his nightmares worse and that he'd hurt Cassidy again. Shuri assured him that they were close with getting the words out and that after that he'd feel a lot better. Cassidy went with him every day and held his hand, showing him that she was there and supporting him, that he wasn't alone.
He had two more nightmares within the following weeks, but Cassidy was able to wake him both times without trouble. She noticed he was different now. He seemed happier, carefree. She imagined this was the Bucky that Steve knew from before. He was cracking jokes more now, and his flirting game had gotten better too.
She had been shopping with Shuri in the market most of the day when she returned to the room. She gave Shuri a raised eyebrow when the younger girl told her to have fun and threw a wink her way. Cassidy rolled her eyes and pushed the door open, only to stop in her tracks.
Bucky was standing in the middle of a candlelit room, rose petals everywhere. He looked like fucking sex on a stick and she had to stop herself from drooling. He was wearing black pants and a black button up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbow.
Cassidy stepped into the room, setting her bags down, and Bucky made to her in two large steps handing her a glass of wine.
"What's going on?" She asked, glancing around the room.
"Today was my last session with Shuri. She said she got it all. It's done doll. She did it." Bucky told you, smiling.