Nightshade

You got out of the shower and opened the door to let the stifling steam and heat out of the bathroom to find Burgh guarding the doorway right where you left him. He had tried to come into the bathroom earlier, but you had ordered him out.

"Guter Junge.", you murmured to him now, somberly, toweling your hair, another towel wrapped around you. He blinked and tilted his chin up slightly.

You could hear Myrna coming up the stairs, "Pancakes are ready, hon." She came into view in the doorway, halting, hands on the frame, "Everything okay? I heard Burgh whining...", she tilted her head, "Usually means something non-threatening is up."

You stared at yourself in the mirror, suspecting that Burgh had heard you sobbing in the shower, "Yeah. Thank you.", you replied, barely glancing at her and trying to smile as you hung the hair towel and holding the one on your body secure against you.

She knew you weren't telling the truth, but didn't wanna push, "Okay." She stepped in just enough to gather your pile of worn clothes from the floor, "I'll get these in the washer for you.", she grunted as she bent and straightened.

You panicked, "No!" Your shout surprised her as you urgently reached over and clutched at a specific garment, tears welling in your eyes, "Not the jacket.", you nearly whispered and stared at it, pulling it out slowly. You didn't want to lose what little of Bucky's scent was still on it. You put your nose in it and closed your eyes, taking in a deep breath. The tears now slipping from your eyes and a small sob sliding out from within your tight throat. The smell was fading more with each passing moment.

"What does he wear?", she asked softly, her face sympathetic.

You looked up, confused, having been lost in your desperation, "What?"

"Cologne, deodorant?..."

You blinked at the floor, trying to think.

"Laundry soap maybe?"

"Um...", your voice was timid as you looked at her, "it's a green box, with ocean waves on it and... um, white letters." You swallowed the pain of tears in your throat, "I don't remember the name." You glanced at the floor, ashamed, "I'm sorry for yelling." Your face scrunched up as the tears came faster.

"Jesus, sweetie.", She hugged you into her with one arm. "You're breakin' my heart." She rubbed your arm, "You have every right to be on edge. Don't be sorry, okay? I can tell how much you mean to each other. I've met him and his protectiveness over you is obvious. When it comes to you, he doesn't fuck around... And you... I know how much you rely on him to feel safe." She stepped back, with you nodding.

"Thank you.", you offered quietly.

"Now, go get some clothes on and I'll wait to wash these clothes until we make sure I have the right soap, okay?"

You nodded. She left and you went into the bedroom to put on clothes. You settled on some black jersey leggings and a charcoal colored, oversized sweatshirt. There were even bras and underwear in your size, so you put those on too. Once you came downstairs, you followed the sounds Myrna was making in order to find the kitchen.

"Hi.", you smiled a bit.

"Hey, hon.", she turned and fetched a plate with pancakes on it and put it at the seat you were pulling out before heading into a door off the kitchen and rifling around in there. "I already put butter on them, didn't know how long you were gonna be and pancakes are always better with melted butter."

"Thank you.", you called out, reaching over your plate for the syrup already on the table.

She emerged again with a small box, heading to you, "Is this it?"

Your face brightened a degree, nodding softly.

She opened it and held it down low enough for you to smell.

You leaned over it and took a long smell, looking down at the familiar little white granules peppered with bright blue and green ones. You were trying to fight crying again as you nodded more enthusiastically, smiling bigger now as you looked up, "Yes. That's it." You pressed your lips together. 'Hold it together, Bella.', you thought, 'You have to start being strong now.' "Thank you so much.", you offered, laying a delicate hand on her wrist.

She smiled and her eyes twinkled at seeing you leveling out a little. Truth be told, she could keep you safe, but you'd be a lot easier to keep safe if you weren't an emotional wreck and had your wits about you. She then got started on your laundry as you ate.
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Guter Junge = good boy