Chapter 10
After Bucky joined our relationship, few things changed with the exception that Bucky moved his things into our shared quarters in the SSR's London base. Steve and Bucky however were soon on their way back into the front lines and the fight against HYDRA, leaving me behind to continue communication with informants they find and compiling all of the other information they collected during each invasion.
June 25th 1944
Steve and Bucky have pulled out of the front lines for a small summer break. The boys hope to organize a plan to take out HYDRA. I have at least a hundred pages of information that they had already collected throughout the last 7 months that the team would have to go through to make sure they had all the information they would need for a continued assault on the various HYDRA bases found.
July 2nd 1944
The air raid sirens were blaring as Steve, Bucky and I rushed back to one of the entrances to the SSR base in London. I glanced around us and spotted a young boy on the other side of the street. He seemed entirely unaware of the fact that there were bombers over head and that their bombs were being dropped on our heads. I snarled angrily and the boys looked over at me.
“Some assholes forced a kid from a bunker.” I said hotly jerking my head in the boy’s direction.
“The entrance is just ahead. Do you want one of us to get him?” Steve asked.
“Nah, I’ll get him.” I said before bolting to the other side of the street. I grabbed the boy by the arm and turned back to the entrance, dragging him with me.
“Unhand me you muggle!” The boy snapped.
“Not going to happen, kid. In case you hadn’t noticed, we are about to be bombed.” I answered. The boy growled as he tried to get me to release his arm from my grip.
“KANDI! Hurry!” Bucky and Steve cried. I glanced up at the sky, sure that it was the source of their worry. Sure enough there was a bomb on its way down.
“Do you know the shield charm?” I asked. The boy only grunted in affirmation.
“When we reach the bunker, I want you to use it and put as much power behind it as you can. If you don’t we are guaranteed to die.” I told him.
“I’m not going to die. You muggles can’t kill us.” He snapped.
“Do as I say and you won’t get in trouble with the Ministry. Don’t and there will barely be enough to identify us.” I snarled pulling the boy closer to my side. We were only five feet away from the bunker door when my boys’ eyes widen with fear.
“Do it now!” I instructed the child. He set his shoulders and incanted, “Protego Maxima!”
I focused on pulling the boy with me the final few steps to the bunker door. Steve had his arms around both the boy and me as the bomb hit the child’s shield. The bomb slowed down when it hit the shield and the shield shattered as Bucky shut the bunker door behind the three of us.
BOOOOM!!!!!
The bunker shook with the force of the blast and the door rattled ominously. We didn’t stay to see if the door would giveaway or not. Steve took the boy from me as Bucky was busy checking if I had any injuries, even though I had been in his sight the entire time. I patted Bucky’s arm.
“I’m fine love.” I told him. Bucky snorted before passing me to Steve and taking the boy from him. Steve also began to check me over.
“Steven Grant Rogers unhand me this instant. I am perfectly fine.” I snapped. The boy was also struggling against the hold Bucky had on him. Steve sighed and released me only enough for me to walk on my own.
“Rogers, Barnes, Emerson why is there a civilian child in the bunker?” Phillips snapped. I turned towards him as he approached us from one of the side tunnels.
“I don’t know. Maybe because some arsehole kicked the boy out of a bunker during a fucking air raid. Not that you’d give a flying fuck.” I snarled.
Some days passed by and I had begun to connect with the child I had dragged into the bunker. I was surprised to find out that I had found a young Tom Riddle, though he had made it very clear that he despised every single syllable of his name. I was even more surprised to find out that he was only 13 years old. Then again I had learned over the years that not every fact in the books of my world were correct. The time we spent with Tom was frequently punctuated by visits from Peggy, Howard and the Howlies and watching them interact with the child reminded me of my experiences in other worlds. Our odd little family group welcomed the boy just as easily as the Whitebeards had welcomed me.
July 24th 1944
I was humming softly to myself as I looked once more over my coded notes. Steve and Bucky were talking with the Commandos about their next mission and had told me that they would probably be gone for most of, if not all, night. I was in our SSR issued courters when I heard soft footfalls behind me. I turned to see Tom standing at the entrance of the little living room from our bedroom hallway.
“Is everything alright, Tom?” I asked. The boy grimaced at his name but shook his head silently. Usually he puts up a fuss when we use his given name.
“Do you want to talk about it or do you just need some company?” I questioned. Tom rarely went nonverbal and when he does it’s hard to know what he truly wants versus what he believes he deserves.
“I... I think I wanna talk ‘bout it.” He answered softly. Another alarming first because nonverbal Tom typically prefers silent companionship.
“Come take a seat, Ri. Take all the time you need to explain, okay? Don’t rush.” I told him gently as he settled down beside me on the small couch.
“I found out that my dad isn’t dead. He... he wants nothing to do with me. I’ve tried so hard for so long is it even worth it anymore? Am I really that unlovable?” He asked finally.
“Never Tom. I can think of so many people that care about you, who love you. Howard, he’s told me that I shouldn’t keep you away from the lab and that he will always make sure that you are safe. Peggy, she’s said that she has learned more about her cousin’s world from you than she has ever been told by him. The Commandos, they’ve always worked well together but every time you help, or just watch, them train they come back with more resolve to end this war. Steve, he sees you as someone to protect and a reason to protect himself so that he can return back uninjured. Bucky, he sees someone who is ready to stand up for himself. Me, I see a young man who is ready to be allowed a place at the table but I also see a little boy who has only ever wanted to be loved. That’s what I saw during that air-raid that’s how I knew you were going to fit right in to this crazy family dynamic. You are so loved by all of us because we all believe that you deserve that love.” I told him gently resting a hand on his shoulder. Tom blinked up at me, eyes glistening with unshed tears before burying his face in my chest. I pulled him more fully onto my lap, gently stroking his back, allowing him to sob out all of his hurt and broken emotions. I smiled softly at him before I began to hum quietly. As he began to regain some control over his emotions, I began to sing the song I had been humming.
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said "don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Tom blinked blearily at me his body sagging further into me as his eyes began to drift shut listening.
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window, darling
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
I stroked his hair away from his face, Tom had fallen fast asleep against me. I blinked blearily before settling into the couch allowing myself to fall asleep with my son.
Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift covered by Jackie Evancho (The Hunger Games)