I faintly hear whispering around me. I can feel the stiffness of my back. I try to move, but I can’t without feeling like I’m going to break.
“Owww.” I whine, opening my eyes & seeing Tony right next to my bed. I can make out a few other body shapes behind him but the blurry vision wasn’t going away.
“Tony, I’m sorry I’m here so late, I don’t mean to intrude.” I apologetically say to him.
“It’s okay, y/n. Could you tell me what happened?” He said calmly. Pepper was standing right behind him, her hand on his shoulder & reassuring him. Tears brimmed my eyes as I remembered the horrific events that took place. I squeezed my eyes shut dropping my head.
“Tyler,” I struggled to speak, “He kicked me out in the rain. I just remember the taste of blood, that’s all. I’m sorry, I can’t remember anything else.” I croaked out. I feel the hot tears run down my face. I don’t even risk the pain in wiping them away. I saw Tony’s face turn red, standing up & whispering something to Happy before sending him out. He sits back down & turns to me.
“Y/n, would you stay here? Please, I wouldn’t feel right about you being anywhere else.” He said, holding my hand. I paused, then nodded. This place was safer than anywhere else I could’ve been.
“Let me introduce you,” Tony stood up & motioned to the tall blonde, “this is Steve Rogers, Natasha, Sam-“
“Tony,” I laughed, “I know exactly who everybody is.” The dark haired man looks up at me.
“Everybody?” He mustered. I knew exactly who he was. James Barnes. Also known as The Winter Soldier. I did a research paper on him once.
“Everybody” I say with a smile. He gives me a slight nod, then looks back down at the floor.
“We will leave you to get some rest, if you need anything call us, okay?” Pepper cooed. I smiled & agreed. Everybody walked out. Leaving me to my thoughts for the night.
Ive grown to like everyone here. Atleast everybody has come to visit me, just getting to know them feels like a privilege. Bucky & Steve in particular come to visit me a lot. Steve will bring me books to read, and Bucky will come in with him. He doesn’t say much. Nat comes in to talk to me, I think to try & calm my nerves. Today I’m supposed to be leaving the medical compound. As long as Tony gives the okay.
Steve walks in & hands me a newspaper. Usually, Bucky would walk in behind him. Not today.
“You’re all out of book recommendations?” I joke. He doesn’t look like he’s in that mood today.
“Read the front page, y/n” he says. I look at him in confusion.
I flip the page over & see Tyler’s picture under the wanted title. He had a warrant for his arrest & he’s MIA.
“What does this mean?” I question. He takes a seat beside me. He looks tired. So worn out.
“It means, it’s not safe for you out there. It means that he could be anywhere, plotting anything.”
“You’re giving him a lot of credit, Steve. He’s a high school drop out” I laugh.
“I think you’re underestimating him, Y/N. There’s a lot about him that you don’t know...”
Tony walks in, “hey, you ready to go?” Steve hangs his head, gets up & is walks out. Tony gets to my side & pulls a wheelchair out.
“Tony, I am okay, I can function alone” I joke.
“You still have a head injury & your ribs are just starting to heal. You’re as stubborn as your old man.” He wheels me a few floors up on the elevator to a quiet little apartment like set up, with a beautiful view. Fully furnished, decorated. Most likely by Pepper.
“There’s a common kitchen downstairs. If you get lonely. But yours is fully stocked. Just tell FRIDAY if you need anything. You don’t really have a door, but you have an elevator that you can make accessible to others or not, when you please. Just press this lock button & the floor isn’t available.”
“I really appreciate all this, Tony. I can’t even begin to thank you enough.” I say, standing up for a hug. The warm embrace of my father is a feeling completely new to me, something I wanted to savor for a lifetime of never having a real father. He smiles & walks into the elevator.
“Sleep well, kid” he says before the door closes.
I sit back down slowly, starting to feel the soreness hit my chest. The wheels creek across the floor, eyeballing the detail in the floor. My own living room, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen. I felt more than grateful to Tony for letting me stay here. After wondering around for a bit, I go to lay down in my new bed. The room is all white. White dressers, white curtains, white walls. The bed looks like a queen size. Big enough for me to sprawl out. Big enough to have someone else in it. I manage to lift myself onto the bed, staring towards the ground. Everything that’s gone on in the past few days was overwhelming to me. Although I was in pain, I almost saw what happened to me as a blessing. I wouldn’t have had the guts to leave my foster parents. I wouldn’t have had the courage to make that decision on my own. The universe made it for me, telling me this is where I belonged. With my real family. People who cared about me & my well-being.
I was interrupted by a soft knock, I look up to find Bucky Barnes at my door. His hair half up, but some still falling in his face. His shirt was pressed right against his body, toned arms molded like a Greek god. I realize, I’m admiring him rather than responding to his presence.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. See if you needed anything” he said softly.
“I’m alright, just... taking it all in right now. It’s all very surreal” I answer honestly, looking down at my feet. We both stay silent for a moment. I honestly don’t think he knows what to say.
“Well, if you need anything, I’ll be downstairs” he utters while walking out. He pops his head back in. “Are you hungry?” He questions. I laugh a little.
“I could eat” I say, as I go to to stand my legs give out, knocking me to the floor. Bucky hurries to me, he kneels down at eye level.
“Woah, you okay?” He looks at me with concern, looking for any scratches on my hands, turning them upside.
“Yeah I’m good. Just don’t have all my strength back yet. I’m sorry” I say, Bucky stands at the same pace as me. Making sure I steady myself. I reach for his forearms to balance.
“Don’t apologize, it’s alright. You stay in bed & I’ll grab you something.” He helps me onto the bed & I swing my feet around, burying them into my comforter. I close my eyes & lean my head back onto the head board. My mind starts to doze off. My legs feel like sand bags on my cozzy bed. Bucky comes back a few minutes later & sits on the edge of my bed, setting the plate of food on the other side of my legs.
“Thank you, Buck. I really do appreciate it. I hope you know you’re not obligated to be nice to me” I mutter.
“It’s not an obligation. I think what your going through sucks, and I know I wouldn’t want to do it alone” he cracks a grin, showing his pearl white teeth. The looming feeling of a secure family still creeps into my mind. This might be it, this could be my family.
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