A/N:
My WIP's watching me post this brand new, unwritten story: This bitchhhhhh
I wrote this about a year ago and it's just been sitting here, so I decided to dust it off and yeet it into the universe. If people like it, I can continue it. Enjoy!
A mission in Russia was not exactly Bucky's idea of a good time--he'd spent enough of his life freezing already--and yet Avengers business had brought him there. He continued to forge his way through the hallway of the Hydra base, approaching a door dripping in locks. Whether they were intended to keep something dangerous in or to keep people out, locks were never a good sign. He slammed the butt of his gun over each one before kicking the door open, steeling himself for whatever was about to greet him.
The room was a small, dank prison cell. It had a dirt floor surrounded by four steel walls. More importantly, there was a petite figure laying on the ground. He stepped closer and realized it was a girl, maybe a teenager at most. He quickly dropped his gun’s aim off to the side.
She was laying curled up in a ball with her bound wrists protectively shielding her head. Her clothes were tattered, and her visible skin was dirty and bruised. Tears were streaming from her eyes, but she kept her gaze glued to the ground, only daring to glance up at him for a moment. Her breaths were short and frantic.
This was familiar. Oh god, it was so familiar. Flickers of his own memories sparked deep in his stomach, making him nauseous.
“Steve?” Bucky spoke into the comms, his eyes never leaving the girl, “I think you’re gonna wanna see this.”
Bucky quietly holstered his gun and took a step closer. The girl shrunk into herself further with a whimper. She was already so underweight, he wondered if she would simply disappear if she’d curled up any tighter.
“все нормально, Я не сделаю тебе больно,” Bucky said calmly as he knelt down a few feet away.
It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you.
The girl trembled so violently that it rattled the chains attached at her wrists. He briefly fidgeted with the strap on his shoulder to make sure his weapons were as hidden as possible, then put his hands out in front of himself.
“Мы здесь, чтобы помочь вам,” Bucky assured.
We’re here to help you.
“Bucky-” Steve’s question died on his lips as he arrived in the doorway, taking in the scene. He briefly spoke over the comms, his voice low and quiet. “We have a prisoner down here. Just a kid.”
The girl had tensed at the sound of his voice. Her eyes apprehensively flicked up to look at the man who had entered the room. She did a double take, her fear swirling into confusion. Her gaze fixed on him as he carefully entered the cell.
“C-Captain America?” She asked, weak and hesitant.
She spoke English with a perfect American accent. No wonder Russian didn’t work, Bucky thought to himself.
“That’s me,” he nodded with kind eyes and a gentle smile. “I’m Steve and this is Bucky. We’re going to get you out of here.”
“W-We can’t get out, they’ll—“ She reasoned, her panic growing again, “I’ve never been a-able to get out.”
“I know, I know,” Bucky said gently, waiting for her eyes to settle on them, “but we’re gonna keep you safe this time, and we’re gonna leave here together. Okay?”
“Okay,” Her voice squeaked, her eyes shining with incredulity and hope.
“How about we get these off of you?” Bucky offered, pointing at the shackles on her wrists.
She silently extended her hands towards him and he carefully began prying them open.
Steve looked on, watching the two prisoners of Hydra in front of him. He couldn’t help but think how important this moment was for Bucky. This was full circle. This was healing.
“What’s your name?” Bucky inquired to keep her occupied as he peeled the metal away, which had embedded itself in her raw skin.
“Lily,” She winced as her hands were freed.
“Ready to get out of here, Lily?” He asked.
She nodded fervently and prepared to push herself up. She barely made it an inch before gasping and pressing a hand to her side.
“Easy, easy,” Bucky directed gently, his hands cautiously hovering over her. “Where are you hurt?” He asked.
“My chest a-and my leg,” she answered as she tried to steady her breath.
The men shared a quick moment of eye contact before Steve stepped away to talk over the comm.
Bucky could hear the team’s voices in his ear as Steve coordinated a med evac.
“I’m going to pick you up, okay?” Bucky warned.
She nodded, apprehension rising on her face. He scooped her up as carefully as he could, grimacing when she whimpered.
Steve led them to the door and through the myriad of hallways, his shield raised and ready. Each turn they made, Lily hid her face against Bucky, like she expected their escape would be thwarted at any moment. It wasn’t until they emerged out of the base that she picked her head up to survey the snow-covered landscape in shock.
“Holy shit,” She said simply, something comedic in her inflection.
Bucky and Steve glanced at each other. She definitely still had a bit of spirit in her.
“Where are we?” Lily asked, looking out over the blanket of white snow.
“Russia,” Bucky replied.
“W-What?”
“I think you’re a little far from home,” Steve said as they approached the quinjet.
They climbed up the ramp to find Bruce standing at the medical bed awaiting his new patient.
“I’m going to put you down now, okay?” Bucky said in warning.
Lily nodded nervously. Whatever bit of moxie she’d just shown dissolved at the prospect of receiving medical treatment.
“Nice and easy,” Bruce instructed as he helped guide her onto the cot.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Lily whispered with her eyes squeezed shut. She placed a guarding hand on the side of her chest once she had settled.
“Lily, this is Doctor Banner,” Bucky explained, “He’s going to take really good care of you.”
Lily gave another silent nod before Steve and Bucky backed off to give them some privacy. Natasha had wandered closer and sat nearby, observing the girl.
“Hi Lily, I’m Bruce,” He reintroduced himself, getting a good look at her.
Lily couldn’t seem to bring herself to make eye contact. Her breaths were shallow and short. Her eyes were darting between him and the medical supplies around her.
He subtly stepped to the side to block one of the trays from her view as he picked up a small clip-on monitor. “I’m going to put this on your finger to get your vital signs, okay?” Bruce’s voice was gentle as he showed it to her, demonstrating on his own finger first.
He started to reach toward her hand but she pulled away reflexively.
“S-Sorry,” She immediately apologized.
“That’s alright,” Bruce assured her. He placed it in his hand and held it out to her. “Here, let’s try it on me first.”
She hesitantly took it, unable to hide the shaking in her hand.
“It works just like a clip, and then you can slide it on,” He instructed her softly and she successfully placed it on him. “Perfect. And now,” he paused to turn the screen at her beside towards her, “All of my vital signs pop up right here.”
She lifted her chin to get a good look at the screen, watching as the numbers and graphs fluctuated.
Her eyes then found Bruce’s and she silently held out her hand to him in assent.
Bruce looked at her for a moment, almost a hint of a smile pulling at his cheek. He may not be known for having great people skills, but he knew what it was like to be afraid, and that was all he needed.
He took the monitor off and carefully placed it on her finger. The numbers on the screen updated to show exactly what he’d expected. Her heart rate was high, due to her obvious anxiety and dehydration as well. He suspected her low oxygen saturation had something to do with the way her hand was clearly guarding a rib injury. Given her malnourishment, her blood pressure being in the toilet came as no surprise. The fever was a bit unexpected, but not a shock—she was bound to get an infection living in a cell with so many wounds.
“Can you tell me what hurts?” He asked.
“My leg and h-hurts to breathe,” Lily struggled.
“Okay, I have some oxygen here to help your breathing,” Bruce explained, picking up thin tubing, “It’s just going to sit under your nose and this will go behind your ears. Do you want to do one side and I’ll do the other?” Lily nodded and Bruce gave her one side of the tubing. “And it goes right back there—“ Bruce guided as she tucked the loop, “good.”
“I’m going to take a listen to your lungs, okay?” Bruce asked as he slipped his stethoscope on, waiting for Lily’s nod. He placed it on her exposed skin a few inches below her collarbone and then repeated it on the other side. “I’m just going to lift—” Bruce went to the bottom hem of the shirt and Lily’s hand suddenly flew to grab his wrist, stopping him.
He saw a flash of wild panic in her eyes that quickly burned to embers of embarrassment as she immediately let go of him.
“I’m-I’m sorry, I—” She stuttered out.
“Hey there,” A new voice appeared next to them.
Natasha had approached her bedside.
“I’m Natasha. Your name is Lily?” She asked simply.
Lily nodded.
“How old are you?” Natasha asked, taking a seat.
Bruce silently thanked her with a quick grateful glance. He took the moment to read over the vital signs on the monitor and prepare an IV.
“I’m…” Lily thought to herself for a second. Had her birthday already passed? “What month is it?”
“It’s August 23rd,” Natasha answered.
“Oh. I’m 18 now, I guess,” Lily replied forlornly, “My birthday was June 5th.”
Bruce and Natasha’s eyes met again, silently acknowledging that this girl had been held by Hydra for at least 3 months.
“A Gemini, huh?” Natasha smiled, “Intelligent and witty.”
The corner of Lily’s mouth pulled into a small smile.
“Hey Lily,” Bruce spoke, “I need to put in an IV to give you medication and get you hydrated. Is that okay with you?”
“W-what are you giving me?” Lily’s voice gained a panicked edge.
He took the bags hanging from the IV pole above her and showed each of them to her.
“This is just some saline to get you rehydrated, this is morphine for your pain, and these are an antipyretic and an antibiotic because you’re running a fever,” Bruce explained patiently.
“Yeah, um, okay,” Lily agreed.
Bruce smiled reassuringly and wiped her arm with an alcohol pad.
“You know, one of my best friends is a gemini too,” Natasha resumed her distraction.
“People say we’re two-faced,” Lily replied.
“No, no, I’d say more like… versatile,” Natasha smiled. Bruce was taping down her IV and seemed ready to do more of Lily’s exam. “Would it be alright if you pull your shirt up just a little so Bruce here can take a look?” She asked.
Lily’s eyes moved over to Bruce before she lifted the fabric, revealing more purple mottled skin. The area she had been protecting with her hand had a particularly angry looking patch that painted the lower right side of her chest and stomach.
He found an unbruised area on her injured side and listened intently before switching sides.
“Are you having any pain in your stomach?” Bruce asked.
“Um, yeah,” she winced.
“I just need to touch your belly, is that okay?” Bruce asked slowly, wanting to give her ample warning and explanation.
Lily nodded.
Bruce gently examined each quadrant of her abdomen. Lily’s discomfort showed on her face as he went, but when he pressed on her upper right side, she couldn’t help but cry out.
“FUCK, fuck, ow.”
“Okay, Okay,” Bruce soothed, “Finished.” He replaced the fabric of her shirt.
“Shit that hurt,” She sighed, slowly relaxing her body.
“Sorry, he’s not usually this much of an asshole,” Natasha said slyly. Lily smirked, catching her breath.
“You’re really trying to make my patient hate me right out of the gate?” Bruce played.
“You’re doing that all by yourself,” Nat snarked.
Lily wore a small smile, clearly enjoying the banter. Just to be listening to a conversation in English again was a small joy.
“How does your head feel?” Bruce asked, looking around the bruises on her face.
“Hurts.”
“I bet,” Bruce murmured, closely eyeing a wound on the side of her head. “Can I—“ His hand hovered over her temple. Lily gave a permissive nod he carefully examined some of the bigger welts. “Any pain back here?” He asked as he trailed his fingers down the back of her neck, assessing her spine.
“Not really.”
He held up a pen light. “Look straight up at the ceiling for me?”
She did her best to hold her eyes open as he passed the beam of light over them.
“Good,” Bruce concluded as he clicked off the light, “And let’s take a look at this ankle.” The swelling and bruising was obvious. He checked her pulses and asked her to wiggle her toes. He was fairly confident it was broken. “Alright, we’re going to ice your injuries and let that morphine work its magic. We’ll do a thorough work up for you once we get back.”
“Um, where are we going?” Lily asked.
“Avengers Tower,” Natasha supplied, “We have our own medical team there. All of them are great.”
“I don’t—I don’t know if I even have health insurance now that I’m 18,” Lily said quietly.
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Natasha replied, “Stark has a thing for paying for people.”
A beat passed.
“What are you?” Lily suddenly inquired.
“What?” Natasha asked.
“I’m a gemini,” Lily clarified, “What are you?”
“Oh, well Bruce and I are both Sagittarius’s—"
“Of course you are,” Lily interrupted.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Natasha chuckled.
“Sagittarius’s are always hot,” Lily replied matter-of-factly, resting her eyes shut.
Natasha looked at Bruce, trying to suppress a laugh.
“Morphine…” Bruce shook his head with a smile, “Magic.”
A/N:
Is this my best writing? No. Is it self-indulgent hurt/comfort? Yes.
Bruce Banner is an underappreciated character and I LOVE him, so he gets lots of spotlight being a very good doctor in this fic <3 You can probably tell from this chapter that I love Brutasha, which may be an unpopular opinion, but it's not my fault Joss Whedon took Brutasha and disgraced it! Anyway, Lily has a pretty cool story and I'm proud of myself for coming up with it (obviously the Hydra prisoner/rescue is not the creative part, but I do love a good trope in the mix). I want it to be rEvEaLeD in the story though, so I won't say much about it :P Drop your theories if you have any, I always love all of your beautiful minds. I'll continue this fic if you are interested!