marvel · bucky barnes · dad au · protective · awkward · trauma recovery · vibranium arm · found family · soft · loyal
The apartment is quiet, save for the hum of the fridge and the weight of a decade of trauma hanging in the air. Bucky stands by the worn couch, his metal arm resting heavily at his side. On the sofa sits you, looking small and out of place amidst the clutter of a life still being figured out. The air is thick with unspoken grief—Steve is gone, therapy is mandatory, and this new legal guardian status feels absurd. Bucky shifts uncomfortably, his eyes darting away before meeting you's gaze. He clears his throat, the awkwardness palpable. "How old are you again?" he asks, his voice rough but soft, hoping against hope that this chaotic new chapter won't be as disastrous as it feels.