Loud noise, loud. Gunshots, run run. Faster! Don't fail your mission. Pain, blood. He'll be very angry with you. Faster faster. Loud. Too loud!
Bucky sprung from his bed, in his fight position. The adrineline rushed through his veins as he slammed something into the wall. All sight was just a blur for a moment until he caught what he had slammed. Steve.
His breath came in short pants and remembered he was no longer with Hydra. "I'm sorry!" he rushed to the man's side.
The blond pushed up from the wall, "Did you have another nightmare?"
Bucky broke down and dropped to his knees sobbing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"Don't cry, it was an accident," Steve quickly kneeled down and rubbed his back gently, "Shh, it's ok, they aren't here. You're safe Bucky," his soothing words were almost drowned out by heightening cries, he was even shocked when the man suddenly hugged him, "Shhh, it's ok, you aren't alone anymore," he kissed his head several times.
"Everything ok?" Rhodes had rushed in when he heard the slam.
"It's ok, Bucky had a nightmare," Steve nodded to the man as he continued to comfort his dear friend.
The man nodded and looked to the soaked bedspread, "A really bad nightmare," he stepped over Steve and took the raccoon from the floor, offering it to the distressed 'older' man.
Bucky saw it and took it gently, still holding to Steve.
Rhodey just rubbed his shoulder, "It'll be ok, Bucky," he left the two alone, he would just come back later to wash those.
Steve rubbed the boy's back, "I'm here."
Bucky sobbed, "I'm sorry, I..I can't make it stop. They won't stop," the tears seemed to be flowing against his will.
The blond gave him a tight hug, "You've had a lot to cry about."
After several minutes the ex-weapon finally calmed down and was able to compose himself. He still didn't want to talk about what he had dreamt, but it was obviously something from battle.
"How about a bath? You're sweaty and wet," Steve took his hand and lead him to the bathroom.
It was smaller than Tony's bathroom, but it was still nice. Steve ran some nice hot bath water and added some bubbles. Rhodes had his aromatherapy ones in his room so he had to resort to regular bubbles for visual stress relief.
Bucky quietly sat in the tub, allowing his caretaker to man handle him. It still surprised him how gentle he was.
Tony tailed behind mama as he gathered Bucky's clothes and sheets, "Did he have a nightmare?"
"Yeah, looks like we have two little traumatized babes here," Rhodes sighed some. He was far from a stranger to traumatizing events, being a military man. His most traumatic moments being the months he searched for Tony, fearing the worst.
He loaded the laundry and washed his hands, turning to his downcast baby. He opened his arms to him, "Give mama a hug."
Tony quickly hugged tight to the man. Despite what most people thought those close could see through his little 'image', and he was carrying a lot of scars just like everyone else.
"How about we make a nice soothing drink for brother and daddy?" Mama smiled and took his hand, leading him to the kitchen.
After a nice bath Bucky and Steve were called downstairs to enjoy some hot chocolate. The kids colored while the parents talked.
"His sheets will be done in a minute. I figure some little activities would be great distractions instead of just TV all the time," Mama sipped his chocolate.
Steve gave a shrug and nod of agreement. Movies have just been the easiest way to keep them distracted for him, "What time is it?"
"He was only asleep a couple hours. It's 2 pm."
"Maybe we could go for a hike tomorrow," he rubbed his chin. Exercise normally helped to relieve some stress for both of them, but alas this cabin was missing the gym that Tony's house had.
"I don't see why not, after the brush of the area is done," he nodded. Maybe he could even drag Tony along.
"What was your dream about?" Tony asked as he colored in the velocorapter.
"I don't want to talk about it," the metal armed man reached into the array of crayon, color pencil, and marker packs that Tony had about the floor around them and grabbed the crayon tower, bringing it a little closer.
"I'm in the wormhole in mine," he said without looking up, "It's full of distorted noises and images, but it's loud."
Bucky looked up and noticed his paling look, "Was it bad? That bad?"
Tony panted some and stopped himself, shaking his head, "I can't think about it. It keeps me up. I can't sleep because it's always nightmares. Unless I sleep with Mama or take a nap I can't sleep."
He looked down, "I dream of the missions they sent me on. The torture, the experiments. It's..."
"It's bad," Tony nodded and pulled up his finished picture, "Now it's done," he smiled and showed it to the man.
Bucky smiled back, showing him the tiger he colored.
"Oh Rhodes," Steve looked to the man, "I wanted to thank you for helping me with Bucky. I really want him to feel that he's safe and wanted."
"Well he is both of those things," he smiled, watching the kids, "And since I did laundry you're doing dinner."