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Thor blinked, looking confused and more than a little like a kicked puppy.
Colbie didn't seem to register his words, her gaze still locked on Thor, wound far too tight and tense. |
Maya still held Hope close, glancing from Thor to the rest of the room. She didn't want to risk making Thor angry, but the sparking electricity scared her.
"Easy," Bucky murmured, putting a hand on her shoulder. |
"Thor, relax," Steve said. "You're a little too excited."
Thor blinked and then looked chastised. "My apologies," he murmured to Maya. Colbie waited until Thor had stopped sparking and then she took a very careful step backwards. When no one stopped her, she turned sharply and left. |
Maya only reluctantly relaxed when Hope started to fuss in her arms. She rocked the little one gently, trying to soothe her.
Colbie was gone before Bucky could grab her, so he followed her out of the room. "Colbie!" |
"Easy," Steve murmured to them both. "Relax a bit. Nothing's going to happen to either of you here." He rubbed Maya's back a little.
Colbie didn't make it far before she pushed herself into a corner to have a quiet panic attack. |
Maya flinched just slightly when he touched her.
"Sparks," she managed to say, finally. "Bad. Chair." She didn't look at him. Bucky caught sight of her just as she wedged herself into the corner. He gave her a few moments before making his way over slowly and just leaning against the wall so she wasn't alone. |
"It's okay," Steve murmured to her. "There's no Chair here, and you're never going into one. I promise. You and Hope both."
Colbie took several minutes to calm enough that she could actually speak again, still shivering a little. |
Maya bit her lip, trembling a little.
"Sparks mean the Chair," she murmured. "Sparks mean a wipe." "Back with me?" Bucky asked quietly, crouching down next to her. He put a hand on her shoulder. |
"Not anymore," Steve told her gently. "You're fine, I promise you are. Take a deep breath for me, okay?"
"Yeah." Colbie's voice was hoarse, and she kept her face tucked down against her knees. |
It took a moment, but Maya eventually took a deep, shuddering breath. She was still holding Hope close, and the baby was fussing.
"You'll be okay," Bucky murmured. "I promise, nothing is going to happen to you, or to Maya, or to the baby, okay?" |
"Good," Steve praised, shifting a little closer. "One more for me, try to relax, okay?"
Colbie nodded, though she still had her face hidden. She had been caught very off-guard by that. |
Maya was still trembling, even as she tried to take another deep breath. In her arms, Hope finally started wailing, and it made Maya jump.
"I'm sorry, baby," she murmured, cuddling and rocking Hope. "Didn't mean to hold on so tight." Bucky settled down next to Colbie, his good shoulder against hers, just giving her support. |
Steve just kind of hovered next to both of them, making sure they were okay.
Colbie eventually lifted her head again, fine tremors still running through her every now and again. "That was... unexpected," she muttered. |
Once Maya got Hope's cries down to the occasional whimper, she was barely holding together herself. Her breathing was still ragged, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
"It hits you like that, sometimes," Bucky said quietly. "Happens to me too." |
"Come on," Steve murmured. "We can eat later, let's get back to your room for now." He gently started herding her along.
Colbie let out a little sigh but nodded, just sitting there and trying to relax for a few minutes. |
Maya let him herd her from the room. She was too upset to care about missing dinner; she just wanted somewhere quiet where she could get herself together again.
Without another word, Barnes reached over and put an arm around Colbie, pulling her close to him. |
Steve got her into her room and got her settled, giving her time to calm down and relax again.
Colbie hesitated a moment before she curled into his side, tucking herself closer to him. |
Maya settled Hope in her crib gently, making sure the little one was taken care of first. She barely made it into her room before she wrapped her arms around herself, sobbing.
Bucky held her, just quietly offering support. He didn't make any move to get up, just sitting there with her. |
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