PLEASE DON'T FORGET ME // FAIRYLIGHTS

[buckingham barnes]

When Buckingham went out to patrol this morning, the last thing he expected to return to camp with was a niece. Before he went out on his patrol this morning, Bucky thought he was an only child. Little Fairylights here, who seems to be around the age of nine months, proved him wrong. He hated that he caused her grief for denying her claims, but on his end, it just didn't seem possible. At least until she gave him hard, solid evidence that even he couldn't refuse- his parents, he never mentioned them to anyone before. She didn't manage to pick the right names by random.

He silently padded through the somewhat muddy territory, the younger she-cat following behind him. When he gave into the truth that they were blood related, he agreed to let her stay. She told them her father and mother died in an attack, and that she spent days searching for him. He couldn't turn her away-- even if she's more like a stranger than family, he's still her only option. Her only living relative. It feels weird in his chest to realize that his family wasn't gone like he assumed they were for months. And considering Fairylights's age, his brother was very much alive when his memories were torn away from him. It made his stomach twist into knots, he shoved the thought away as they entered the sea village.

The sea village did not look in perfect shape. Some houses were still destroyed, while others were being rebuilt. Some parts of the boardwalk needed replacing too, but he'll keep her away from any rotting wood. There are still some houses here that are in good condition for living standards. He'll locate her a home before he finds a new one for himself. "Sorry about the condition of our village, we suffered from a great deal of floods. It will be repaired in no time," He murmured as he glanced over towards Fairy, beginning to pad forward, flicking his tail as a signal to follow.

The maine coon made his way over to a house, which luckily survived the floods. Any damage it received was an easy fix. He knew that no one lived in the home- there were no scents clinging onto it. If the flood washed away the scents, during the months he's lived here- he hasn't seen anyone occupy it. Padding up to the door, the maine coon gently pushed it open with his metal paw.

Inside the house, it was mostly dark, with sunlight shining through the windows. There was a couch, a coffee table, an armchair and a lamp in the living room, a table and chairs for the kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom right near the living room. "I'm not sure how housing worked in your old home, but in Sunhaven you get to own a house of your own." He explained as he switched on a light, looking back over at Fairylights. She still seemed pretty shaken up- it's not easy to lose your parents, especially at a young age. Bucky knew what that felt like, even though it was his fault his parents died. Bucky hoped that she didn't believe he didn't want her here, or to be related to him. He knows he probably seemed just like that when he denied any relation to her, but he was stressed. He spent a majority of his living believing his memories were correct, only to learn a small, yet the most important, detail was left out that changed everything.

His head still feeling like it was pounding, the male shook his head for a quick moment. Calm down, Barnes, He thought to himself, You've already added a fuckton of stress to her plate. Don't make things even worse. "If you like this house, then it's yours," He continued on with a small sigh, his tufted ear flicking, tired eyes locked on hers.

[ [member=2973]FAIRYLIGHTS[/member] ]

[Fairylights]

―――― Fairylights wasn't sure how to feel. Already, this was a complex situation for any adult to try and manage, but she just felt... Empty. It was a strange feeling; she was distinctly aware of the knot of emotions that clogged up her chest and made her throat raw with her constant tears, but now she just wasn't sure what to feel. Numb, she was numb. Her grief had turned into hope, her hope into despair, and now, she was only simply trying to figure out how to put the pieces of her life back together, to try and shove the memory of her parents and that day out of her mind, the necklace of her mothers weighing down her body now like an iron chain around her neck. The only grace she had been given in this last week was that she now had a place to stay, and a begrudging man to call an uncle.

Maybe call an uncle. If she were honest, she wasn't sure what the man felt about her. It was a shock for the both of them, and between the weight of her own emotions, she could hardly bring herself to consider what she felt about Bucky, or what he might have felt about her. Her paws still ached with every step, despite the care that had been attended to her, and a meal given, but it only brought satisfaction to the physical aspects of her body. Her stomach stopped rumbling, her paws weren't bleeding, and she could now see clearly now that her cut had been tended to, but it felt as though her heart had been torn open and lay bleeding upon the ground.

She pulled herself from her thoughts as Bucky began to speak, taking in a small breath as she followed at his side towards his home, across the muddy terrain of the battered territory. "That's okay," she'd whisper, the words barely making it past her lips as she followed him to his house and through the door, squinting briefly to try and get her eyes to adjust as she looked around slowly. It was... Simple, clearly met for one, and yet had a sense of coziness that was somewhat alike to her own home. But it was dark. Her house had been so full of light, so full of happiness.

A house of her own. Did she even want her own house anymore? If you like it, then it's yours His old house? Her head tilted softly to look up upon him for a moment, her gentle gray eyes looking upon his metal arm and the seriousness of his eyes. He looked so much like her father in many ways, yet so starkly different. She wasn't sure what she was hoping to find in those eyes of his; perhaps the same warmth that had been in her father's eyes, perhaps the shred of her mother's smile somewhere. "I..." she started, exhaling heavily as she sat herself down on her haunches, her gaze pulling downwards to her cracked paws. "It's nice, I guess," she answered with a soft whisper. [sub]"But it'll take a lot of work,"[/sub] it would be empty. It would be only hers. Just her. Just her. Her shoulders shook for a moment and she cleared her throat harshly to try and shove it away. She wasn't even sure she had any tears left within her to cry anymore, even if she wanted to.

Fairy took a slow breath in, lifting her gaze as she eyed the dark little house once more, pushing herself up to her paws as she forced herself forward to explore, stepping over to the lamp to click it on and provide more light, then poking her head into the bedroom. It didn't need to be big. But she wasn't even sure where she was going to find anything to put in here, let alone how she would drag it all in here, and to figure it out. The bedroom was simple, and while she could imagine a tiny little cot in the corner, a nice little library nook, a soft rug just like her old room, her heart only ached further trying to imagine the soft colors of her walls and the way her mother's voice would ring in that room of hers. She shook her head to clear the thoughts, instead bracing herself to acknowledge her uncle as she took a deep breath in. "You'll... You'll help me, right? I didn't.. Bring anything here."

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[buckingham barnes]

As Bucky looked over at her, he thought of Loxley for a moment. How much does he resemble his brother? Does Fairylights see a lot of her father in Bucky's gaze, or no resemblance at all? Bucky could only make basic assumptions about him-- that he's a long furred, brown tabby maine coon. Both of his parents were brown tabbies, so it would make sense if Loxley did as well. But he still might look different, and it hurts Bucky's head when he tries to look deep into his mind. Bucky's thoughts were trailed away, as his ears picked up on Fairylight's soft voice again.

"You'll... You'll help me, right? I didn't... bring anything else."

While they might feel like strangers more than family, he wasn't about to leave her on her own with the house. There is a lot of stress on her plate right now. Leaving her by herself to figure it out wouldn't help it- it'd only pile on more weight to her chest. Anyways, Bucky would feel awful if he didn't help, as it'd look like he wants nothing to do with her. He let out a sigh, a tufted ear flicking as he opened his maw. "Of course I'll help you," He meowed with a nod, as he tore his gaze away from her for a moment to look at the empty house. It probably hasn't been used before- there are no signs that someone previously lived here before the flood. They'll probably have to dust and clean up everything, as well as bringing in any extra items and furniture that will make this house feel like home.

I don't have a house anymore. The short, simple thought interrupted his trail of thought, remembering how his boathouse capsized when the floods began to get worse. That had been absolutely awful, not only did he lose all of his items, but he got sick from all the violent swaying.

God, for a moment, Bucky was glad Fairylights arrived after the flood rather than before it. She probably would've been living with him when it capsized. He shoved that scenario out of his head quickly, as an idea took its place. He has a feeling, that Fairylights doesn't want to be alone. She isn't familiar with her new home, and considering she grew up with loving parents- she hasn't been on her own yet. If Bucky could've had his brother after their parents died, he would have taken the opportunity in a heartbeat. He can't remember why he didn't tell Loxley of their deaths, as the memory faded with him crying over his parents corpses, but it would have been better than traveling to unfamiliar groups that would change him completely. She might feel better if her lasting living relative lives in the same house as her, it can be permanent, or he can move out when she feels comfortable. It'd really be up to her.

"You know, if you'd like, I can stay here with you," He meowed as he looked back over at her, "I don't have a house to return to, mine was destroyed in the flood. I wouldn't mind sharing this house with you, if it'd make you feel more comfortable." Plus, if they shared the house together- there's more chances that they'll spend time together. Meaning they can begin to feel like family and get to know each other. It'd probably difficult to do that if Bucky lived in another house- they'd only see each other at certain times of the day. The clan is about to get a hell lot more busy- with repairing camp and the territory. There won't be as much time to sit down and talk until later on.

[Fairylights]

―――― Too much. That would have to be the answer that Fairy would give Bucky if he had ever asked that question. Of course, there were the obvious differences, like Bucky's larger stature and his metal leg, or perhaps the harder lines of his face and the deeper depths of his eyes... But otherwise? It was a near spitting image. That's what her father had always said, too. "We would have been better off as twins, similar as we looked! Mother always got us mixed up." It was strange for Fairy to hear of a family she had never even met, and yet her father had spoken so fondly about her late-grandparents and this long-lost brother of his. Of course, now Fairy knew the truth. Bucky hadn't even been aware he still had living family left out there. Obviously, he had recognized his grandparents' names, but not the name of his own older brother. She simply tried to shove the similarities away, to put more of a boundary between her aching heart and her awkwardness.

There was stress on her plate, she wouldn't lie, but she just... Wanted a home again. She wanted to accept Bucky as her uncle, just like that, yet she wasn't sure if he was willing to accept that for himself. Yet, she found herself nodding at his answer, some small touch of relief hitting her shoulders as she looked around the small room. There'd have to be a lot of cleaning, a lot of dragging her furniture and stuff in here, and a lot of trying to make it homely. That was fine with Fairylights. She could use the distraction. Of course, she would have to be equally as glad she arrived after this flood, if the muddied grounds and the shaken up interior had anything to say about the strength of the storm that had washed through here. She took in a deep breath, trying to keep her composure, but it was Bucky's voice that made her look up again, over her shoulder to try and meet the Maine Coon's eyes. Stay with her? He'd really?- Oh. His house was destroyed too. Yet, the offer was there, a genuine one. For a moment she hesitated, looking back to the little house, and then to him, before she nodded slowly, letting her heart decide the answer before her mind could work it out.

"I'd like that," she'd answer softly, sniffing briefly from the dust in the room before she stepped over to try and fold up a rather tattered rug set in the middle of the room, her mind already certain on getting rid of the thing. "It shouldn't be too much work after we give it a good scrub down," she added, at least somewhat hopeful in that fact. The interior had mostly been saved from the storms, though she imagined the outside would maybe need a few repairs. Distractions. They were all distractions, but they were also things that needed doing anyway.

There was a long pause as Fairy turned and began rifling through the cabinets of the kitchen, trying to find a bowl or a rag that she could use to start dusting the house and the floors. Her mind worked all the while, questions forming at her lips that she did not have the courage to ask, this whole situation foreign and strange. Was she really about to live with a stranger?- Her uncle, yes, but a stranger? She licked her lips for a moment before she spoke up softly, "Can you... Tell me about yourself? Anything."

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