Machines were hooked to Bucky left and right
A prick here, a stab there, injections all over his body
There was hardly a spot on him without a prick
"Hold very, very still, Mister Barnes" Zola said with a smug grin "Who knows how much this will hurt"
***
Yet another night where Bucky woke up with a scream, panting and sweating next to Steve
"Buck, you alright?"
Bucky shook his head ever so slightly, immediately being pulled into Steve's arms
"You're safe, Buck, I've got you"
Bucky nuzzled his head against Steve's chest, trying to figuratively beat his nausea back with a stick
"Want your headphones?"
Bucky nodded
The headphones helped him go back to sleep
Steve grabbed them for him and handed them over
"There you go, Buck, you're safe"
Steve's pulled the blankets up further, making sure he and Bucky were warm
They both loathed being cold
I mean, after being cryogenically frozen off and on or a human popsicle for 70 years, most people would likely hate the cold too after such things
Steve put on one of Bucky's favorite songs, and rubbed circles on his back
"Mele Kalikimaka is a thing to say, on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day"
"That's the island greeting that we send to you, from the land where palm trees sway"
"Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright, the sun to shine by day and all the stars at night"
"Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way, to say Merry Christmas to you"