I guess the only trigger would be the mention of The Chair, cuz we all have a collective sympathy trauma from those scenes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bucky didn't realize he was able to dream while in stasis until recently, but it was the same one each time he went under. Each sleep revealed more of the dream and this time it had been the most vivid. It started the same way each time. He was in a small apartment. It was a plain place with a few pictures on the walls and simple furniture throughout the house. It seemed like he had just walked through the door because he was placing a military hat on a small table by the wall before he takes off his boots. Bucky recognized he is in a military uniform but is never able to place where it's from. His gaze lingered on both his hands matching. This was the first sign he noticed that told him this was a dream. After he takes off his boots, Bucky walks further into the apartment to a small living room and kitchen. His gaze turned towards the kitchen and saw a familiar but unfamiliar form moving around the small area humming a song he couldn't quite place. This moment always felt comfortable in his dream and he could already feel the smile forming on his lips before the person turned around completely. Bucky made his way over to you as his smile grew. "Hey Sweetheart." It was the same thing he said in every dream.

"Hey handsome." You would respond the same way back but it never stopped making him happy to hear.

"What's for dinner?" Bucky made his way towards the stove to see if he could make out the food.

"Nothing fancy. Just some pasta with meatballs."

His gaze returned to you with a worried frown. Even though it was a dream, he could tell this wasn't normal. "What's the occasion?"

You giggled and the worry seemed to ebb from his features. "For getting accepted into the army, Buck."

Dread filled him once those same words left your mouth in each dream. You kept the warm smile as Bucky felt his dream body reach forward to gently pull you into a hug. "I thought we were saving it for a special occasion." The sinking feeling grew into guilt.

"But it is."

Bucky avoided answering you by kissing the top of your head, but before the dream got further, he was suddenly pulled from his sleep.

The freezing cold was immediate as they pulled him from the cryo chamber. He half stumbled as he was roughly dragged by the people holding his arms. It didn't take long for him to be sitting in a chair as his mind cleared of sleep. His gaze flicked to the man holding the red book. Bucky clenched his jaw, hoping the man didn't notice the brief look of fear that he let slip through.

Thankfully the Russian didn't. "How was your sleep?"

It took a moment for his brain to catch up and switch to Russian as his body tried to wake up. Bucky didn't want to answer but did anyway. "I had a dream." His voice was still laced with sleep and the Russian syllables felt heavy on his tongue. A slight shiver ran down his spine as the last bit of the cold left his body. He supposed it was a nice perk that the serum regulated his body temperature so quickly.

"You dream while in stasis?" Bucky nodded carefully as the man read through the book. "What did you dream about?" The man glanced up. He actually seemed curious about it.

Bucky met his gaze trying to figure out how much he wanted to reveal. This handler seemed less strict than the previous ones so maybe he can tell him a little more than normal. "I was in a home with another person." The Russian silently listened which prompted Bucky to add more. "We seemed to know each other but I don't know who they were."

The Russian hummed before going back to the book. "Maybe a previous agent you worked with."

Bucky was silent for a moment. "They didn't act like an agent."

The man turned the page without looking at Bucky. "What did they act like?"

Bucky tried to remember how you acted and how he acted towards you. "Like a lover?" He wasn't too certain himself but the kiss seemed to imply you two were lovers. Bucky had turned to focus on his boots as he thought over the dream so he didn't notice the Russian pause his reading.

"What did they look like?" His voice seemed to hold an air of caution that Bucky picked up. Not wanting to get punished for lying, Bucky described you to him and his heart sank when the Russian seemed to stiffen. Bucky studied him carefully in silence, waiting for the man to speak. He cleared his throat and tried to go back to reading like nothing happened. "They sound attractive."

Bucky was certain this handler knew something he didn't and his dream might be something more. He took a chance, hoping the consequences wouldn't be too severe. "What do you know about them?" It came out more aggressive than he intended but the tone got the man's attention again. The two stared at each other for a long moment as the tension grew. Bucky caved and broke it first with a frown as he figured it out. It wasn't a dream but a memory before he got the metal arm. A time he should remember but only got the occasional fragment of before they put electricity through his brain. "I knew that person. Who are they?" This time his voice was lower, like he couldn't trust himself.

"It was no one important."

The quick dismissal made Bucky angry and he wasn't completely sure why. "Who were they?" It came out almost a growl as his features hardened. The Russian was taken back at how Bucky looked at him but didn't answer him. Bucky's anger grew and he grabbed the man's throat with his metal arm. The sound of guns cocking echoed in the barren room as Bucky pulled him until they were almost touching noses. "Who. Were. They."

Sheer panic and terror crossed the Russian's face as he stammered out an answer. "They were your wife before you left the US." Bucky slightly squeezed causing the man to continue. "I only know their name was Y/N from your file. I don't know more."

Bucky studied the man's face as he scowled. The Russian seemed to be telling the truth. It sank in as a fragment of a partial memory surfaced of you crying and asking him to come back safely. As his mind reeled from the newfound information, hands grabbed him and shoved him backwards deeper into the chair. Bucky vaguely registered something hard being shoved into his mouth as straps bound his arms to the chair while he was distracted. His mind slowly started to pull more memories of the two of you together. The last thing he remembered before the pain of the familiar shock was him asking you to marry him. Bucky wasn't sure if the first scream was from the pain of the electricity or the anguish of the life he realized he had lost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This fic was inspired by this reel:

https//reel/CpZYDbkJzpu/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA=