The Whole Of The Moon
Mira walked to the living room, carrying the bag with Bucky's medication in her arms. She sat down on the couch and spread out the medicine. "Come here sweetie," Mira said and patted her lap. Bucky climbed onto Mira's lap, winding his arms around her waist and burying his face in her shoulder. "It's okay Bucky, I'll be quick."
"Are you gonna tell daddy I was bad?" Bucky asked softly. He tightened his grip on Mira as she pulled up his pajama shirt and prepped the injection site. This was the part that Bucky always hated; the needle brought back memories of HYDRA and usually led to something, or someone, being broken. Bucky never let anyone near him with a needle except for Mira, who seemed to have the gentle touch he needed.
"I still haven't decided if I'm going to tell him or not. If you can be good the rest of the time he's gone, then today will just stay between you and me. Deal?" Mira drew the proper dosage of insulin from the vial and injected it just above Bucky's hipbone. Bucky flinched at the bite of the needle, a small whine escaping his lips. "I know it hurts. That's always the worst one, but at least it's done and out of the way." Mira rubbed circles on Bucky's back, soothing the little one's tears.
Mira waited a few minutes for Bucky to calm down, otherwise he would just squirm and she'd miss the injection site, causing him even more pain. "How's it coming JARVIS?" Mira wondered as she adjusted her grip on Bucky.
"I have isolated the malfunction and am correcting it as we speak. Mr. Barton will be out in no time." JARVIS stated.
"Thank you JARVIS," Phil replied, reaching up to the grate. Clint sniffled as he tried to grab Phil's hand. "I'm right here little bird. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."
Mira smiled to herself as she measured out the next dosage. Little Clint loved when Phil called him 'little bird', but if you said that around Clint when he was in his normal headspace, he'd shoot you. Tony had made that mistake once, and still had the scar from the fork in his leg to prove it. Mira looked down at Bucky, who currently had his thumb in his mouth. Steve didn't want Bucky sucking his thumb, but what Captain America didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
Mira was just about to give Bucky his next shot when a click sounded in the room and the grate swung open. Clint scurried out, tears in his eyes as Phil gathered him in his arms. "You're alright now little bird. I've got you," Phil whispered softly as he led Clint into their bedroom for his antibiotics. Clint had come down with a nasty respiratory infection during their last mission and was benched until it cleared up. But that didn't stop him from whining about it every day.
Mira paused as she went to give the next injection, brow furrowed at the dark bruise that had sprouted over Bucky's hip. He'd never had a bruise like that before, and it was further proof that the serum was breaking down. "Are you okay sweetie? Or do you need me to stop?" Mira asked, running her fingertips lightly over the bruise.
Bucky flinched away from Mira's touch. "Owie! Hurts!" Bucky muttered around his thumb.
Mira sighed, setting the needles to the side. "JARVIS, make a note in Bucky's file about the bruise. We'll need to discuss it at his next doctor's appointment. And call Steve, it's important that he and I talk."
"Contacting Steve Rogers. Steve has switched off his comm link to the tower. Shall I try contacting Mr. Stark?" JARVIS replied.
"No, Tony won't know what to do. Can you patch me through to Bruce? If he hasn't Hulked out that is," Mira paused. "Tell him it's an emergency."
Mira waited, shifting Bucky on her lap so he could rest his head on her shoulder. There was static and Mira almost cried when Bruce's voice filled her ear piece. "Hello Mira. How is everything at the tower?" Bruce wondered.
"Things could be better," Mira chuckled, the sound dry and flat. "I'll spare you the gritty details of what I woke up to, there's actually another reason why I called. I was in the middle of giving Bucky his meds when I noticed he's got this huge bruise on his hip. I-I think it's getting bigger." Mira pulled down the waistband of Bucky's pajama bottoms as she spoke. The dark discoloration had spread halfway down his thigh and had started creeping up his side. "This has never happened before, Bruce!"
"Sometimes a blood vessel ruptures after multiple traumas. How many injections have you given him?" Bruce asked in a calm and professional tone.
"That's just it Bruce, I've only given him his insulin. I was giving him a moment to calm back down and then we got distracted trying to get Clint out of the air vent, and when I went to give him his next injection is when I noticed the bruise. I'm scared Bruce." Mira rocked back and forth slowly, hoping to lull Bucky to sleep. Phil walked back into the room, dressed in his usual suit and tie. "Give me a minute Bruce."
"There's been an incident at The Hub and I've got to go in. Clint is asleep right now and should be back to himself when he wakes up. Is everything alright with Bucky?" Phil asked as he pet Bucky's hair softly.
Mira lifted Bucky's shirt, not missing the way Phil's eyes widened or his sharp breath. "He's getting worse and I don't know what to do. I'm hoping Bruce will have some ideas."
"I hope so too. I hate seeing him in pain. Keep me updated okay? I'll have my phone on so don't hesitate to call." Phil moved to the elevator. "I'll see you later. Good luck Mira."
"What you need to do Mira, is keep an eye on the bruise for the next 10 minutes or so. If it continues to grow, take Bucky to the Med right away. Simmons is there today and she'll take care of you," Bruce stated, pulling Mira's attention back to the situation at hand. "When I see Steve I'll let him know what's going on."
"Thank you for everything Bruce. I'm sorry I freaked out like that." Mira blushed, thankful that they weren't on video chat and Bruce couldn't see.
"Don't worry about it Mira, I'm glad you called. The rest of the team has been so worried about Bucky's deteriorating health. They'll appreciate the update." Bruce said before signing off. Mira could hear the sounds of battle in the background and knew the Hulk was needed.
Mira gently moved Bucky so his head was resting on her other shoulder. He still needed his medication, and so Mira would have to use the other side. She prayed that he wouldn't bruise on that side too. Mira could hear soft snores coming from the man in her lap and breathed a sigh of relief. Bucky being asleep meant that she could finish giving the meds without him feeling any extra pain.