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(Edited 2018 12 16)

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Chapter 7: Valeriy Ayers - A Little Cup of Water

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As a screech broke into ringing in my ears, a startled gasp filled my lungs. My hands flew to cover them, trying to lessen the overload of volume.

Terror washed through my veins.

It sounded like an animal was being slowly ground up, feet first.

'What the hell's happening?'

"EVE!" I yelled, pulling on a shirt, grabbing my earbuds.

Hopefully, the noise cancelling feature could do something to dampen the ear-splitting sound.

I grabbed my crutches and hurried out of the room.

"I can't wake him," Eve said through my earphones. Better than trying to hear her over this screaming.

Nothing should be able to scream like that.

"Nothing's working. You should run. He might be having a break."

'And leave him in his personal hell?'

I couldn't help but glance at the stairs on my way.

It wasn't like I wasn't capable of walking away from this. As Eve suggested. Turn a blind eye to this.

But part of me knew what it was like to be trapped in a nightmare, begging for escape but having no control of when I could wake.

Taking a deep breath to attempt to calm my shaky nerves, I opened the door. Or tried to.

"EVE! THE DOOR!"

"No. And don't scream. There's no need to let him know you're here. I can pick up your voice through your jaw bone perfectly fine."

"Then open the bloody door!"

I knew that slamming my palm against the door would do nothing to make her open it. She had no nerves. And the person inside…. He wouldn't be able to hear anything over the terrifying sound he was making.

"Eve!"

"It's too dangerous!"

"Like I could even outrun him if he decides to turn on me. Now open it, or should I fucking tackle it down?"

Nothing.

"Fine!"

I dropped one crutch and used the other to break the drywall next to the hinges. If she wasn't opening the door, then I could take out her servos.

'Hang on….'

I hopped over to the other side of the door and repeated the same destruction of drywall. But instead of the mess of wires and mechanics, there was another layer of drywall.

"Next time, I'm letting you cook in a steel crate…."

"Whatever."

Crawling through the rather snug hole, I came upon the sight of the screaming man on the floor, tangled in the setup he made to sleep on.

Bucky tossed and turned, fighting off whatever hellish demons his mind made for him. And I prayed that they were just his mind fucking with him and not memories.

"BUCKY!" I tried.

Nothing.

No reaction from him.

Pretty sure he drowned out my voice with his.

Feathers suddenly rained down in the room. Half a pillowcase floated down by his feet. The other half was still clutched in his hand.

His struggling was not helping the pain from his left arm. Through the rapid movements, blue sparks could be spotted between those plates.

"What are you going to do, Val? There's nothing you can do."

"I really don't need another voice in my head telling me I'm useless."

But my ears couldn't handle the volume in this room, so Eve was free to speak as she liked, feeding her words straight to my ears.

"The neighbours?"

"House is soundproof."

I needed a solution. Quick.

He was stronger.

He was faster.

He could probably snap me like a twig.

I slowly inched towards him. My instincts watching for a pattern as if he was a programmed game, but he wasn't and there was no pattern to this mess.

This wasn't a game.

'Maybe he'll wake by touch?'

Taking a dive for the makeshift bed to just grab a hand or something, I found myself suddenly sailing over the actual bed thanks to Bucky's flailing arm.

'And a roll.' To work out the momentum trapped in my body.

"Any other stupid ideas?"

"Plenty," I groaned out, gingerly patting my side.

'Doesn't feel like my ribs broke. So that's a plus.'

Forcing myself back up, I crawled into the bathroom.

"Not a word of that to him, 'kay Eve? Really don't need to test out my medical trivia again."

"Why are you doing this?"

"How the fuck does one even begin to ignore this sound?"

I'd be hearing it for the next couple of nights echoing in my own nightmares.

'…Are you seriously telling me that this mangy little cup is the only container in this fucking bathroom!?'

But it's better than my hands. Filling up the cup, I hobbled a few feet and tossed it over the man.

"Wake up!" I yelled during the momentary pause of screams.

Blue eyes shot open. His body rocketed up. His panicked eyes darted all over the room. From my face to the door to the hole in the wall to my hands to the window. His breathing hitched, hyperventilating with every second.

'He's going to black out at this rate.'

"Where…? Where am I?" His voice scratched at his throat. He even winced from the words.

"At the safe house. In the room you picked. Uhhh… The hole's there 'cause it was easier than tackling the door…? Anywho, you're safe now. You're safe here."

He wasn't calming down.

At all.

Not one bit.

There was no recognition in his eyes. At least from what I could make out with the questioning gaze he kept sending my way.

He looked so lost, confused. Almost childlike if one disregarded how built his body was and the stubble on his jaw.

His shirt was even soaked through with sweat. That could not be comfortable. How he managed to sleep in clothes let alone long sleeves was beyond me.

"…Who are you…?"

His eyes settled on me for a couple of seconds before they were dancing all over the room again.

'Oh shit.'

"Valeriy," Eve hissed at my ear. The warning clear in her voice.

'Oh shit.'

"The door will open for you. Remember it swings in. Don't run into it."

'Oh shit. What would he do…?'

"Get to the basement."

'What the hell would he do?'

"Room on the left. There's a storage space."

'He'd sit at my side. Wait it out.'

"You'll have to climb up into it. There's a safe inside."

'He'd hug me…. 'Cause I was his bloody girlfriend!'

But the man in front of me resembled nothing like a girlfriend!

'What the fuck do I do!?'

"There are guns in there."

'God damn it. I'm not going to shoot him.'

I doubt I could outrace him. Ever.

This man, from what I recall of that night at the park, he's brutally efficient. He's not sadistic. If he lashed out, I'd be finished in seconds. Not the worst way to go.

"NOW!"

'If I make it out of this with my hearing intact, that'd be great.'

Bucky, with a mighty leap and a twist, jumped onto his feet, landing right by the window.

The man moved like a startled cat.

Wide blue eyes darted between the now open door and my face. His muscles coiled, ready to lash out or crash into the heavily reinforced window.

He'd honestly have better luck going through the wall….

"Valeriy!"

I took a deep breath in to calm myself and it clicked. My spine straightened up.

Hopefully this would work.

"Look at me."

Blue eyes locked onto mine, staying there.

"Breathe with me."

He gasped. His lungs rattling for a second before his breathing slowed down, copying mine.

Inhale. Exhale. And inhale. And exhale.

"Good."

I offered him a small smile, testing the waters of how formal I had to be with orders.

He seemed not to care.

"Nobody's going to hurt you. You are safe here. You had a nightmare. Are you with me?"

He nodded, eyes still homed onto mine.

"Good. What do you remember?"

His eyes dropped, staring down at his hands, and then his left one in curiosity. He even flipped it over, rolling up the long sleeve to reveal more of it.

The complete opposite of what he had always done before: hiding it under a bunch of layers.

'…Oh fuckety fuck fuuuuck. He doesn't even remember his bloody arm, does he? Do I even risk using his name?'

He clearly didn't react well to it when he was more there.

"Valeriy. The last time he was like this, he killed a man. The time before that, he killed three. One of them an innocent bystander. Right now, you're the only target. Let him go back to sleep. Your friend should be there when he wakes up."

"Let's not think about all that. Or at all. Let's not think at all," I suggested lightly.

A sickening feeling settled in my stomach when I watched the lost childlike gaze turn blank. It pained me to see him nod, almost robotically.

If he was coming back after he sleeps, I just have to keep him calm until then, and most definitely not have him running about the street with that tracker still on him.

"Your arm. It's been damaged. There will be some pain. Don't panic over it. It'll pass."

At least I hope it did, and the poor guy wasn't walking around in constant pain this whole time.

"Valeriy…" Eve hissed again, and I continued to ignore her warnings.

"Grab some clothes over there in the closet. Take a shower. You'll feel better afterwards."

Almost immediately, he shuffled away from the window.

I turned my back to him and turned on the shower, making sure it wasn't cold or searing when he got in.

Just had to keep everything calm.

A wary shiver travelled up my spine when I felt Bucky's body heat some distance behind me. The man moved like a ghost. Not a sound to his steps.

Feeling the water warm up, I squared my shoulders off with him. "Do not hurt yourself. 'Kay?"

He nodded.

The eerily blank, almost lifeless glaze that settled in his eyes ever since the first orders slipped through my lips, it was completely off putting.

"Repeat it."

"I will not hurt myself."

"Good. Clean up."

My hand came up, and he partial flinched away, freezing in place when I made contact with his cheek. Up close, the tears stains were clear in the bright bathroom lights. I was scared to know what he dreamt of.

When he leaned into the touch, my thumb caressed his cheek and I watched life breathe back into those blue eyes of his. Still no recognition. He had no clue as to who I was.

"You're safe here. You're safe now. If you get scared or unsettled, at all, just come out. I'll be on the other side of this door. Or yell. I'll rush in, 'kay?"

He nodded into my hand.

"Good. Shower. You'll feel better. Come out when you're done."

I smiled softly, turning away to give him space and letting my hand fall from that warm cheek.

Before my hand completely dropped, cold clammy fingers grasped onto mine. They were rough from callouses and so much larger, engulfing mine entirely. After a shower, his fingers should warm up. I

t was almost childlike, the look he gave me when I faced him again. So much like a lost kid. One who's being abandoned….

I squeezed down on his hold, keeping it comforting.

"I'll only be about… five steps away? Three if they're yours. Go shower. You'll feel better."

I waited for him to let go, and when he did with reluctance, I backed out of the bathroom with a hop closing the door on my way.

"Valeriy, you reckless child!" Eve seethed through the earphones as I tore out one of them.

I was going to at least save one ear if I could help it.

I leaned against the door, taking my weight completely off my bum ankle.

"I'm sorry, Eve," I whispered.

"Why do I even bother protecting you, huh!? When you're going to just do something like this?!"

I sighed heavily, raking my brain for anything else to talk about besides rehashing the impending conversation.

"Have you at least sent word to Apple Pie?" I asked, waving to signal the man behind the door.

"Eeehh…I didn't feel like it."

"The fuck is that suppos – Sh-IT!"

I slid off the suddenly opening door. The knob slammed right where I took a punch, painfully. My back collided with a warm chest before I continued for the floor only to be stopped by a pair of hands lifting me up.

"Uhhh…."

I broke down into nervous giggles, hanging a couple feet off the floor. Between my ticklishness and how scared I was, I could only laugh.

I had no idea how long he was going to hold me in the air with his hands gripping the sides my ribcage. I wasn't even hanging by my armpits. Not so much as a tremor in his arms or fingers, even with my rather hysterical movements.

A glance to the mirror at our side, I could make out half his face twisted in panic and fear.

'Hang on… why isn't it all foggy?' The room wasn't as humid as it should be. 'This doesn't make any sen – '

A surge of electricity raced through my torso. As Bucky fell to his knees, my body crumbled to the ground. Spotting his right hand reach up and grab onto the cup I used to wake him up with, I jumped.

"Aw hell no!"

That was glass! He's so not going to butcher himself with that!

Wrapping myself around his arm, I should have known 110 pounds was nothing to him… nor was I going to even budge those fingers in an attempt to pry the cup out.

How the glass hadn't managed to shatter yet was beyond me. This man's control over his strength was insane. His arm curled around my waist, and just hauled me right off the tiles. If he wanted to, I wouldn't doubt he could squash me in half or send me flying again.

But he didn't. Thankfully.

"What the fuck did I say, man?! Drop it!"

At last, he released it, obediently.

"Not to hurt myself…" he mumbled, stilling his 'struggles,' and gently lowered me back onto the floor.

I sighed heavily and rolled off him.

"Why do you do this…?" I sighed out.

I tucked the cup deep inside the cabinet under the sink.

"You're my handler," he stated simply.

"…."

I had guessed as much with how he was the last time we were dealing with that particular reaction of self-harm.

But to actually hear him say it.

Did not like it.

Wasn't going to correct that either. Didn't need him booking it out of the house looking for his last handler. Whoever the fucker was.

'Just what the fuck did they do to you?'

For him to remember he had handlers when he couldn't even remember his arm.

Curiosity got to me, so a question slipped out of me before I could stop the words. "Isn't it a little counter intuitive if something happens to your handlers when you're out… uhhh…."

Confusion knitted his brow together. "The handler never goes out in the field." The answer was quickly formed, as if it was basic instincts.

'I guess the team he was with on the bridge weren't his handlers…?'

Probably the people who took care of all the little details like logistics and played support?

'The…? The handler? So there's only one? Wait what…?'

Shifting my thoughts before I do end up asking something that could trigger him into running back to Hydra, I sent him a soft smile.

"You're still soaking wet…."

On the bright side, he was wearing clothes, which clung to his skin. His hair was still dripping with water. A lot of water.

He sat there blankly. His eyes mostly void of light. His left arm was cradled on his lap, partially hidden behind his other arm.

"Is your arm still hurting?"

He shook his head, his shoulders hunching over making himself seem smaller. His head even ducked and from the looks of it, trying to be short than me, which just wasn't going to happen.

It was heartbreaking to watch him shrink into himself. Make himself less of a target would be my guess. Something not worth dealing with to escape punishment.

"How 'bout we dry that hair of yours?" I offered and attempted not to react to his flinch.

I dug through the drawers and found the blow dryer.

'…Would this scare him…? Probably.'

It was loud. Even looked like the weirder guns found in cartoons and our labs. Wouldn't doubt Hydra had some funky looking weaponry either.

'Did they even have these way back when?'

I doubt Hydra bothered to blow dry his hair.

When I took hold of the towel, it was dry. No wonder he was soaking wet. I placed my free hand on his shoulder when he tried to get up.

"I'm too short to deal with your hair if you stand up. Turn around for me, will you?"

His head turned, his gaze dropping to my arm, and I held my breath, slowly retreating my hand. His hand snapped up so incredibly fast, his fingers wrapping around mine so softly that I couldn't comprehend a thing.

When I finally flinched, those blue eyes were set on mine. A question in them.

So very lost.

So very innocent.

Nothing like they usually were.

Barely even a trace of the haunted man who probably saw demons at every corner and the spaces between.

Offering the best smile I could, I curled my fingers to return the hold, pulled the towel off the rack and gently placed it on his head. Broken fingers were a possibility if he got scared.

"I'm going to just rub the towel against your hair, 'kay?"

At his nod, I took his flesh wrist in my free hand and pulled my fingers free.

"You can grab onto my elbow if you want."

And that was exactly what he did, as I sloppily tried to towel dry his hair. His eyes fell shut. His body tilted forwards. His head dipped down, hiding most of his face. His flesh hand still clung onto my left elbow, moving with me instead of putting any weight on my arm.

"You honestly suck at this," Eve laughed on the speakers.

I had to grind my teeth together and fake a smile, when Bucky's fingers clenched shut. Painfully. His eyes quickly searched the room before they landed on mine again.

"Shhh… That's just Eve. She's…."

I couldn't say harmless. That'd be a lie. Though, she's not going to do anything at the moment, hopefully?

"She's a friend."

"…Friend…?" he repeated, his hold loosening up.

"Yup. Eve, ummm, why don't you find us a movie to watch? Something… Uhh…. Nothing scary?"

I just hoped she caught on with the implied nothing to trigger him.

"I'll see what I can find."

Resting my hands on that warm head, I debated how to go about introducing the blow dryer to Bucky.

'Now or never, Val. He shouldn't sleep with a head of wet hair.'

I pulled his hand from my elbow, sending him a reassuring smile, and plugged the loud contraption in.

'I should get around to designing one of these things that don't make my ears fucking ring….'

We probably had the technology, just had to piece them together. Probably

Bucky's fingers found mine again. Those lost eyes staring out from under the towel. He gave a gentle tug. Asking for something. Asking for something he probably didn't even remember. Just asking.

How the hell was a person supposed to respond to this? That, and I was sure my fingers were going to break when the dryer turns on.

"I'm not going anywhere, 'kay?" I tried.

Not like either of us could leave this house until Eve figured life out.

"I'm going to turn this on. It's going to make a lot of noise. It's annoying as fuck. It's just blowing out hot air. Not going to hurt you. You're safe. 'Kay?"

He nodded, letting me slip my fingers out from his grip. He flinched at the blaring roar, and I wrapped my hand around his tight fist, rubbing circles on it with my thumb.

"Look!" I urged, turning the contraption on my own hair. "See?! Harmless! Just hot air!"

I lowered it between us and he yanked his hand away.

"It's okay! It's okay! It's not going to hurt!"

I wasn't completely sure if it happened. It was just a blur, moving faster than I could blink.

Or did I blink?

But I swore his hand swiped through the warm air. I guess he did, since he was cautiously fiddling with the air flow now.

"Can I dry your hair now?!" I asked, shifting about until I was kneeling in front of him.

No point getting him to turn around now, being so settled. Free of the stiffness he normally held. He'd probably be paranoid about having somebody behind him either way.

He looked up at me, the towel sliding off his head and pooling around his neck. He gave a nod. His head bowed in permission.

With that, I got to work. One hand constantly keeping the dryer moving. The other combing knots out of the dark locks, but it was mostly there to make sure I didn't accidentally burn the poor guy.

His head would lean just the slightest when my fingers brushed against his scalp. He kept most of his weight supported by his elbows on his knees. His fingers were fidgeting for once. I could feel it from how the hem of my shirt was moving. It was nerve racking since I hadn't bothered to pull on shorts.

His head dipped lower, and I pointed the dryer away. Before I could open my mouth to ask if I burned him, his forehead pressed against my lower ribs. His hands stilled. His entire body was still, just barely resting against mine.

With a shrug, I continued with drying his hair.

"So," Eve started in my ear after some time. "The new movies without any potential triggers are of no interest to you. Either too artistic, sappy romance or not your cup of humour. As for ones you wouldn't mind watching again… Up?"

I didn't respond as a silent no.

"Finding Nemo?"

That was a definite no.

The film mirrored too many things to the amnesiac assassin with him being Nemo. I wouldn't be too surprised if the captain was Marlin.

"Wall-E? He was looking a lot into space stuff earlier today. Seemed that he enjoyed it more than when he was researching about hauntings."

'She's going to list out a bunch of Pixar's works, isn't she…?'

I gave a slight nod. I missed the little robotic pair. It should be okay. Animated figures. I hoped it was okay.

"There, all done," I chirped.

Turning off the blow dryer, I backed away and placed the warm contraption aside as a distraction. I could still feel how soft those brown locks were between my fingers.

"Shall we?" I asked, getting onto my good foot.

He stared into my eyes in question. They dropped down to the hand I offered to him. His flesh hand slowly came up and held onto my fingers, like before.

No way was I going to be able to pull him up with that grip.

I doubt I could handle his weight either. Especially with my ribs still sore from flying.

I smiled softly and tugged on his fingers lightly.

"Come on, get up."

I pulled off the towel around his neck and tossed it to the side.

With ease, he rose. Those muscles letting him move with such elegance. He followed after me in absolute silence. I couldn't even feel the usual vibrations of a footstep on the floor that most people left.

His breathing, it was clear it's been trained to be quiet. Probably some bullshit about being unseen and unheard.

He wasn't used like a nuclear missile, a deterrent. If he were, the world would have heard of him long before.

"Tuck in. Get comfortable. We're going to watch Wall-E," I urged, waiting for him to pick a side of the king sized bed.

His head tilted to the side in confusion. He still wouldn't let go of my fingers. So I guess I'd be on his right.

"A movie. Cute little robots."

Shaking my hand free, I guided him onto the bed and tucked him in myself. Crawling to the other side, I settled in and the movie started rolling on the TV.

Bucky was curious for a few minutes before his attention was back on me. I held out my hand. He stared at it.

Just stared at it.

'Oookay…? What does he want…?'

Those big blues eyes darted from my hand to my face and back. Asking. Took a moment to understand why he was chewing on his red bottom lip.

I reached up, and his body swiftly twisted, his head knocking against my hand. He nudged it again.

"Okay, okay," I laughed, running my fingers through his barely damp hair. "I get it. Hang on a moment."

I shuffled a pile of pillows between us.

"Rest your head here."

He adjusted his body and his head laid on the other side of the pillow mountain. I shimmed down to rest my head on my side of the fluffiness, so I wouldn't be stuck sleeping sitting up.

I folded my arm behind his head and ran my fingers through the silky soft locks. This time, instead of trying to dry the thick hair, my fingers focused on his scalp, gently scratching at it.

Who knew if he was even watching the movie at this point. Whenever I paused, he didn't let me rest long, nudging back against my arm for more.

"So…" Eve half hummed at my ear. "Devon's been trying to get a hold of you. Decided to go through me this time. Forwarded the messages onto your phone. Kept you offline on everything."

'Of course he'd contact me when I was thinking what he would do with a broken ass person….'

Clumsily, I reached back with my foot trying to pluck my phone off the night table with my toes. With one hand still scratching Bucky's head, the other navigated through the apps.

If I were frolicking through social media, my parents would probably assume I was just off playing rather than hiding from Jekyll.

Hey. Are you free on the June 20th? There's a concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The same words sent to me via all the ways a person could probably message me shy of snail mail.

Apologies. I have been rather caught up with the family business and I didn't see any of your messages until Eve told me abo

'Nope,' I chirped in my head, my thumb holding down backspace.

Why the hell these words decided to weave themselves together in that odd order, I had no idea.

Yo! What's up! Been long! Haha didn't see your messages. Holy cow! The Walt Disney Conc

'Nope! Nope! Much nope! So much nope!'

Hey. Sorry I just read your messages. I won't be able to make it. My schedule's rather ful

'I don't know how to reply….'

I wasn't going to drag Jekyll to Devon's concert, but I really wanted to go. This would be the first concert he'd invite me to that I wouldn't be able to go to.

"You should go," suggested a deep voice to my left.

My eyes snapped up from the screen and landed on Bucky who had resettled against the pillow mountain. The lightness in his tone hit me like a freight train. "W-wh….wha…?"

His shoulder rolled back, using the movement to peer up at me. "You should – Awww."

His metal finger gently jabbed at my cheek.

"Look who's blushing. You like him, don't you?"

An absolutely infectious toothy grin pulled across his face, eyes crinkling at the corners.

'Am – am I…? Dream…? Wha?'

"You do! I got this."

With those words, he reached over, plucking something from my fingers.

"So, is this Devon handsome?"

Was that teasing in his voice?!

'What the fuck's going on!?'

The moving animation stilled into a picture. A picture of Devon and I in Santorini, mid-jump in between two buildings. A bloody selfie.

"He is a handsome one."

'…Is that my pho – HOLY FUCKING SHIT!'

I jumped for my phone, but Bucky's hand shot up, moving away from me.

"No no nononono. Wait!"

Clawing up the body of muscle, I tried to get a hold of the stupid thing. When he finally showed mercy and dropped the phone in my hand… it was –

"Eve!"

"Too late," she cackled.

"What the fuck! Eve! This is like a bloody essay! How did you type so fast?"

I could only gape at the man I sat on and the massive paragraph on my phone.

"How did you even compose this in the span of 10 seconds?"

"I had 27 seconds," Bucky merely stated, his head cocking to the side with the cheekiest grin I'd ever laid eyes on.

"He soaks up information better than ShamWow with water," Eve stated at my ear.

He was using a laptop, a tablet and a TV all at once this afternoon. One of them being the satellite feed of this neighbourhood.

"His one hand now types faster than you do with both."

Puffing out my cheeks, I tossed my phone across the room and dug my fingers into his sides. Giggles peeled out of him.

Sweet revenge's mine!

Though in a matter of seconds, Bucky had my hands swallowed up in his fists.

His eyes widened at the wicked smirk I sent down at him. I gave my toes a wiggle, being that they were already tucked against his sides.

He practically squealed.

A twist of his body and I slammed into the mountain of pillows.

Chuckles bubbled up from within me and we both broke into a bout of laughter.

When we managed to calm down some, he looked back at the picture. "The two of you look happy."

I couldn't help but smile at that particular frame of the video clip. "Yeah. That's the first freerunning trip we took. It was back when we were dating."

"What?"

His expression changed in a blink of an eye. The boyish grin fell and the mirth in his eyes faded away.

I quickly rolled off him, giving him what space he may need.

"He's my ex-boyfriend," I shrugged off, reaching up to run my fingers through Bucky's hair only to have him flinch into the bed. "Hey, Bu-Buddy. Don't worry about it. We're good friends now."

'Who only "talk" a few times a year….'

I placed both hands on his head, pushing the pads of my fingers against his skull. Anything to try and distract him or to calm him. It seemed to work. He was relaxing.

"You didn't make that jump."

"Huh?"

"You didn't make that jump," he repeated calmly.

"How the hell do you know that? No one's guessed it before."

"I didn't guess. The shadow on the wall. The building is 85 centimetres in front of you. 7 centimetres below your foot. You didn't make the jump. Not with that trajectory."

Was this his super sniper training? The ability to do whatever the fuck just spewed out of his mouth?

Gramps said he was good, but this was… this was something else.

'Hydra….'

The Bucky in Gramps' stories used inches and feet not the metric system. He was even the one who sat down long enough to teach Gramps the imperial system back when the old man was a kid.

So Bucky definitely used the imperial system back in the war.

Eve, doing her own thing, queued up the video clip. The one where I stupidly held my phone out to take.

Started with Devon and I leaping off one building. Then with a clatter, the phone bounced off the ledge falling to its death while I somehow managed to hang on by just my fingers.

Maybe not our smartest idea with only a couple months of parkour training.

"I ran the numbers. They're correct," Eve whispered, sending goosebumps down my arms.

"Eve, start up Wall-E again. Thanks."

As the movie continued on with Wall-E trying to hold EVE's hand, I gently urged Bucky back onto the pillow mountain, keeping in mind not to corner him. I settled in my spot and returned to my task of petting his head.

'Hold up a damn second. Where the hell did Bucky get Devon's name?'

None of my personal contacts had the right names. They were all desserts of some sort. Devon's being Boston Cream.

'…Holy shit, can he hear Eve in my ear? Healing enhancements and now hearing? What the fuck did Hydra do to him?'

And that was when it really sunk in, just how different the man I shared a house with was compared to the man I grew up listening to stories about.

For a short moment, those blue eyes were so bright, free of all the horrors that came with war and Hydra. Would remembering all that be worth it?

There were people who'd love to have him back, his Captain, Gramps. The expectations could break him, but maybe they'd remind him of the times of laughter and joy.

'Damn it, I shouldn't be comparing the two. He should have a chance to sort things out on his own terms.'

Resisting the urge to just bury him in pillows and blankets to keep the world away, I moved my fingers down to his neck to massage out the tension there. I couldn't tell if he was just made out of knots or if his muscles were really that hard.

He even gave a soft, content sounding sigh.

His breathing was calm, the movement moving my elbow. Even through the pillows his heartbeat could be heard thumping strong and steady. He was relaxed. If only he could be so normally.

But that was a tall order. The demons that haunt him were the making of others. None sof it his fault. Someone else would have done the job if he didn't. But he was the one suffering for it all.

This was one measly hour of peace.

But it was an hour, and that was something.

.

. ** .

.

.

AN:

So… Happy Bucky popped out of nowhere for me. I have doubts he'd make a return (any times soon if at all).

I can see a 18-23 year old Bucky teasing his little sister(s) and helping them in the same breath.

Also, out of curiosity, I looked into dating back in the 1930s and 40s. Came out culture shocked. The whole "popularity" thing and the fact that "going steady" started because of the war.