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The chronicles of the winter || Part V

Part II  || Part III  || Part IV

continuation

of

imagine

Summary: Steve receives an information about possible Bucky's location. Bucky has to deal with a consequences of failure to perform his task. He's found by Steve and his friends. They take the Winter Soldier to Shield base, but peace doesn't last long. A mysterious envoy of Hydra is on a spoor of Bucky.

Word Count:  3338

Warnings: none

Steve was looking for Bucky since two weeks. Unfortunately, there was no signs of where he can be. Steve almost lost his hope, but some day, on Wednesday, something had changed.

He was at the daily training session with Sam and Clint, when two high rank agents approached them at the training room. “Captain” one of them spoke slowly. Steve lifted his chin up and looked at the man in the suit. “Yes?” he frowned a bit. Wilson and Barton walked to Steve and measured agents with surprised glances. “We have an information about Winter Soldier” the agent in a black suit said simply. Second man started to look for something in his case. After a while he pulled out a red briefcase with a handwritten inscription on it. “JAMES BARNES.” Steve’s heart immediately raced in his chest as he noticed the superscription. Without any words he took the folder in his hands and opened it. He started to read, turning around to the other men and walked to the nearest bench. He took a seat, still reading a dossiers. “Steve?” Sam walked to his friend, looking down at him. Steve was silent still, but after few moments he slowly lifted chin to look at his buddy. “They know where he is” he mumbled with a trembling voice.

It was a hard time for the Soldier. He needed to face never-ending pain, nearly death and angst, which they had offered him. After few days of tortures he was so tired that he even couldn’t defend himself anymore. It was a point where he was begging. About even a few drops of a water… He hated to be dependent on them, but if he wanted to survive, he just hadn’t other choice.

“You failed” his handler was standing next to the one of a generals of Hydra. Bucky was sitting at the metal chair in the interrogation’s room, he was looking at both of the men with a cold glance of his blue eyes. “We checked upon your files, Soldier” general’s voice was frigid. No emotions at his face. Bucky knew that man was rather too young for someone with such high rank. It meant he had no scruples. It was easy to advance in Hydra’s structure, the only things you had to have was perkiness and uncompromising attitude. Bucky knew also he could kill both of them within 30 seconds. But he was too exhausted to even try to fight. “And we have made our decision” a wry smile crept onto his handler’s mouth. Bucky didn’t even blink. The two men exchanged their glances in a silence. “You’ll be executed tomorrow, at the dawn” general said simply. “You know too many things. You didn’t give us any other choice, Soldier.” Bucky didn’t show any signs of a fear, but deep inside he was screaming from a dismay. After a second he cooled himself down and he started to create a plan of an escape. They wanted his death, but he wouldn’t give them a satisfaction. If they wanted to kill him, first they’ll have to break him down.

At the dawn, Bucky has been awoken by four soldiers. The captaincy had sent such many soldiers to drag him at the main square of the headquarters just to make sure he won’t escape. But Bucky was calm. Maybe even too calm, but fortunately men didn’t notice it. His plan has just started.

Once they brought him at the square he noticed, that there was a firing squad awaiting for him. But he was still calm. He let soldiers to take him at the middle of the square where they tied his hands behind his back. He even let them to put an old, stinky bag on his head so he couldn’t see anything.

After several seconds he heard a sound of a reloaded weapons. He didn’t show any fear. He was standing still, with the bag on his head, his back straight and hands tied behind. He was breathing calmly, repeating the plan in his mind. He started to count to 3.

…1… He knew the firing squad was aiming at him. …2…. The voice of the main commander who ordered soldiers to prepare themselves to shot. …3… In the last moment Bucky tautened his muscles, tearing the chains up. Second later he made a backflip, hitting the nearest soldier in chin with his combat boot. As soon as man was down, Bucky took his Makarov pistol and quickly aimed in the second soldier, killing him with a one single shot. The firing squad shot. Three or four bullets ricocheted from Bucky’s metal arm, next two bullets hit brunette in the chest. Bucky yelled loudly in a pain before he fall down on the concrete. Still holding the gun in his hand, with a metal palm he pressed the wounds on his chest, trying to catch a breath. A fear started to overwhelm him, but he couldn’t let it to happen. When four or five soldiers have ran to him, Bucky got up and started a grapple. He managed to pull the long knife from a pocket of the nearest soldier and with it he splitted man’s throat. Then he quickly stabbed another man in chest. Suddenly he felt a huge pain in his back. Bucky clenched his teeth to hold back a scream. He turned around and saw one of the commanders in front of him. Man was holding a knife in his hand, he threw Bucky a vicious gaze. “You fucking piece ofa shit!” man shouted, attacking Bucky. After few moments the two man was laying down on the ground, tussled fiercely. Bucky finally with all his strength stab the knife in commander’s throat. He felt a warm, viscous liquid on his hand. Blood. The blonde man, who was laying beneath Bucky, laughed weakly, looking straight in the blue eyes of the Soldier. “They’ll find… you… everywhere.. They don’t… like… to… lose their toys..” Bucky smiled only and hit man with his metal arm straight in face. He heard the sound of broken nose, he felt like man’s face was changing in a bloody slurry. He didn’t stop until whole bones in man’s face weren’t broken. He only atopped when man was still. He looked down and let out a sigh, seeing what he has done. But he wasn’t sorry about that. They forced him to do so. There was a blood on his hands, on his face, in his hair, he felt that his grey shirt was soaked with blood too. His chest was hurting him oh so badly, but he couldn’t stop. Not now.

When only he left alive on the square, the Soldier began calculating his strategy. How many more soldiers? Where are the weapons stored? What is his exit plan? The truth was he didn’t believe he’ll make it. But he did. And now he had to run. As far as he only could. He put a lo g knife in his combat boot, he took two more and placed them in his pants’ pockets. He took also as much magazines as he could carry, putting them in his free pockets in his military pants. He took two pistols in his hands and walked straight to the main building of the base.

As soon as he opened the door, he shot the two soldiers first, firing before they had time to suspect the Soldier is no longer their creature. Then he walked straight to where he knew the transport sheds hold the trucks he’ll need to escape. There were soldiers awaiting him between the building and the sheds and they put up stronger resistance. But he fought his way into the sheds.

He put volleys of bullets into the engine blocks of the trucks he didn’t take, so his pursuers will have to call for help, but he knew it won’t be enough. Escape will require all his skills. And more luck than he though the universe will grant him. But he’s come too far. He won’t surrender so easily. They have made a weapon on him. And he’ll use that weapon against them all.

An hour’s hard drive got him to a city, named Zhukovsky. As he entered the city limits, he could already see signs that his enemies are closing around him. Troop transports on main streets. Police and soldiers already on the streets, checking papers. He needed to move fast, to get himself out of here, out of Russia.

He parked the truck in an industrial area. He got off the car and almost immediately he feel on the ground. The sharp pain in his chest threw him on his knees.

After few minutes he managed to got up and he slowly walked into the direction of the forest on the horizon.

He didn’t know how long he was hedging throughout the forest. Finally he slowly sank on his knees, leaning back against the tree. He was pressing the metal palm to the wounds on his chest. He was breathing slowly. Suddenly he realized that with an air, the blood was exhaled with his breaths. He probably had injured lungs. He looked at his metal palm. It was covered in a blood. His own blood.

He got to fight another fight. He got to run another night. He was on his way, and he didn’t feel right. He gotta get himself back. He couldn’t be beaten, that was a fact. He’ll find a way. They ain’t gonna take him down, no way.

He didn’t even notice, when he lost his senses. Whole world has faded away in a darkness.

Steve was walking throughout a forest, he was carefully looking around. Sam and Clint were with him, safeguarding their backs. “Are you sure, Steve?” Clint asked simply, his bow was prepared to shot in every moment. It was a dark night, clouds were veiling the moon, so there was literally no light, it handicapped the search. They had to use a flashlights, but even that didn’t help at all. They erred in a dense fog. Every path they had chosen, was leading to nowhere. But Steve received a confirmed informations. Bucky had to be somewhere around. Suddenly Sam has stopped, raising his hand up, he gave a sign to rest to be quiet. Clint approached Steve and aimed ahead, he was ready to shot. A figure has slowly emerged from the mist. Steve immediately recognized him. It was Bucky. His metal arm was glistening in a light of Sam’s flashlight. Brunette was slowly walking in their direction, holding himself by a chest. He slowly sank down on his knees, letting out a quiet whimper as he did. Steve wasn’t waiting any longer, he ran to the man and knelt next to him, supporting him from falling completely on the ground. “BUCKY….” Rogers whispered, laying Soldier carefully on the forest floor. He slowly pushed man’s hand off his chest to realized there was a huge stain of a fresh blood at his shirt. Falcon and Hawkeye walked to them, lightening place up with their flashlights. “He’s injured” Sam notified quietly. Steve only nodded, slipping hand under Bucky’s arm to lift him up. “Help me, guys” Rogers asked slightly and after a while Barnes was again standing on his feet, supported by Captain America himself. “Let’s take him to the base. There they’ll look upon him” Steve announced as they were walking back to their plain.

Bucky slowly opened his eyes, looking around with a unconscious gaze.

He was in a little room with a walls in a subtle shade of sand. He was laying on a bed, covered with a warm white quilt. His head was rested at the fluffy pillow. Bucky was breathing calmly. When he wanted to get up, he felt a strong hand on his chest which brought him back down in the pillow. The Soldier looked at the side and paled.

Captain America. His former target.

He opened his mouth, but not even a single word had left them. “Shhh… You shall rest now” blonde man took hand back, looking down at the Soldier. “You has been seriously injured.”

Brunette swallowed before he finally spoke. “Who is Bucky?” That was the only one question he wanted to ask. He needed to know. His blue eyes seemed to drill through other man’s chest, reaching his soul. “You are Bucky” Steve managed to whisper after a while of an awkward silence. “Your name is James Barnes, but we all used to call you Bucky or Buck..” Brunette turned his glance aside. “I don’t remember” he mumbled under his breath. “You need a time.. Hydra was in a control over you.” Bucky let himself to close eyes for a while. “And who are you?” the Soldier asked hesitantly. “They said you’re an enemy.” Steve sighed deeply, rubbing his chin. “I’m Steve.. Steve Rogers. And I’m not the enemy. I’m your friend..” he did everything to hide a single tear which was streaming down his face. Bucky turned himself on a side. “I wanna be alone..” he splattered slightly. Steve sighed and slowly rose up from the chair. “I’m glad you’re alive” Rogers added before he left a room.

Itsy bitsy spider is climbing on the wall. Better watch your step or in her web you’ll fall. Spin you round in circles in a net of doubt. If you’re stuck, I’m done with you, beause I won’t get you out.

She was a handsome woman, built on the gorgeous lines of a Renaissance goddess. Her blue eyes, like the sea, were calm and emotionless. Long, wavy red hair, so smooth and silky, almost as if it was tailored from satin. Her pastel white flawless skin made her beautiful pink full lips stand out. The way her long lashes framed her eyes when she captured a target turning them into a stone and the way her full lips would curl into a mischievous grin every time she did so. She had a little mole next to her left eyebrow. Her shape like a rock guitar - rounded hips and very pronounced waist. Her long legs were perfect too.

She appeared in the cafe with the winter snow billowing around her short black skirt. She had a tight lacy blouse under a black coat. Most of people inside did pay an attention to her beauty. She was literally stunning. The clicking of her high heels added rhythm to the soft classical music that played onward without pause. Her eyes scanned the room with determination in search of someone. She walked to a counter, with hipnotizing swing in her hips. She rested hands on the counter, subtly leaning forward to a waiter. “Excuse me” she whispered softly, her voice delicate as a petal of a rose. “I’m looking for someone.” Man behind a bar lifted his chin to give her a look. She opened her little purse and pulled out a photo, which next she gave to a man. “Do you know maybe, where I can find him?” young woman asked. Man was looking at the picture for a while, then he gave it back to the girl. “I do know him. It’s Captain America, everyone knows him here. The easiest way to find him is to go to the S.H.I.E.L.D base, at the shore of the river. It’s a large building, you won’t have any problems to find it” he said, looking obstinately in woman’s decolletage. Redhead nodded slightly, putting the picture back into her purse, then she thanked and turned around to leave thw cafe.

But at the door, she stopped. She has slowly looked around before she pulled a gun out of her coat’s pocket. With several shots she killed everyone in the cafe. Without a blink. She didn’t want to be recognised, that was why she did so.

After all, she put her Desert Eagle Magnum back into her pocket and then redhead has left the cafe, without any witnesses. The place luckily was located at the suburbs of the city, so she was mirebthan sure that no one has seen her. Now she knew, what she has to do.

Two weeks have passed.

Bucky was slowly coming back to his full strengths under watchful eye of Steve. Not everyone was glad about the Winter Soldier presence in the base. Black Widow was constantly showing, how unhappy she is with that fact by never-ending arguments with Rogers and Barnes. Nick Fury ordered agents to keep an eye on Bucky, so there wasn’t a moment, when he could be fully alone.

That day Steve took him at the little walk. Practically, both of them have sneaked out from under the tutelage. They wanted to talk in peace, without a neighboring glances. Steve decided to take Bucky to the little park located at the other side of the river. “How’s your chest?” blonde asked with a care in his voice aa they both took a seats at the wooden bench.

The winter was rather beautiful. The snow was slowly circulating down in the gentle wind, a frosty air was gently pinching the cheeks of two men.

“It’s fine” Bucky’s low voice seemed to slit the air. Steve took a deep breath, improving his blue scarf. “Something new?” Rogers enquired. Bucky shook his head slightly. “Only the fact your mom’s name was Sarah” brunette rubbed his hands to warm them up a bit. Steve couldn’t help but smiled, putting palm at Bucky’s shoulder. “Yes. You have right, Buck.” The Soldier looked at the Captain with an  impassable sadness in those blue eyes of his. “I wish I could remember more, but sometimes.. I just can’t trust my own mind.” Steve nodded. “I know, Buck. I know.”

They spent almost half an hour, talking with each other. Then, when the sun went down, Steve commanded a way back to the base.

When the two men were at a wide path between a rows of trees, they heard some noises behind them. It was a sound of reloaded gun. They both turned around. Steve’s brows narrowed, he instinctively put a hand at Bucky’s chest, pushing him back a little.

In front of them was standing a young redhead woman. She was holding a gun in her straight hands, aiming in Captain’s head.

“Steve…” Bucky said slowly. Blonde gave his friend a sign to stay silent. “Who’re you?” Rogers asked simply. Redhead’s lips turned into a wry smile. “You’re in my way, Captain, so you better watch out” her voice was melodious. “And you’re in a possession of something, which belongs to Hydra.”

Steve looked at Bucky with a corner of his eye. She wanted Bucky.

“Who’re you?” he repeated coldly, slowly reaching to his pocket, where he had a pager. He pushed the button hoping that Sam will hear the sound of his own pager at the gym. Woman laughed shortly. “You’re pathetic. You always have been. You really thought Hydra has been destroyed, but as you can see you were wrong. Now give the Winter Soldier back to us and no one will be hurt.”

Steve slowly started to take little steps backward. He was without his shield, without a protection. They were at the open terrain, there was no place to hide. And Bucky was with him. He couldn’t lose Bucky again. Not after all those years. Not when he just got him back…

Woman was dressed in a black leather pants and a black bluse with a tactic vest on top of it. Her outfit was emphasizing her body shape, she was slim and fit.the Her combat boots had a high sole and they also were black. Her long wavy red hair were loose. She was measuring him with a cold gaze of her blue eyes.

“Who’re you!?” this time Steve yelled. He was trying to gain some precious time.

Young woman lifted her chin up a bit, looking hardly at Steve, she smiled wryly. “I’m the new generation of the Winter Soldier.”

Author: Beast

The chronicles of the winter || Part VI

Part II  || Part III || Part IV  || Part V continuation of imagine

Summary: Bucky and Steve fight together against Hydra's agents, but unfortunately not everything is going right...

Word Count: 1379

Warnings: none

“Behind you! Bucky!” Steve yelled.

Bucky saw them then. Silent as beetles, two men scuttled toward him. More followed, slipping from behind the trees. Under cover of the snow and fog, the pack had stalked in, unseen, converging from three directions. They were from Hydra. They carried knives, chains and guns.

They’d sent the girl as a honey pot to hold Steve and Bucky in place while the gang closed in. She’d smiled at them while she was planning to watch them die.

“More of them down that way” Steve dropped out of the fog, into his usual place, taking the left. They were two against that many…

Bucky quickly reached to his pocket, pulling out a little knife. He picked a target - one of men in front, where his friends would see him die - and threw his weapon. The man collapsed with a sucking, bubbling neck wound. The familiar stink of death rose in the alley. Bucky pulled his second knife. The thugs hesitated, sending glances back and forth, fingering blade and cudgel. Attack or retreat. It could go either way. If this lasts long, they’ll get killed.

“Mine on the right” Bucky threw and his blade hit badly and glanced off a collar bone of another enemy soldier. One man down. One wounded. “Waste of a knife, damn” Bucky growled in a low voice, looking briefly at Steve.

Steve nodded and ran straight at another Hydra’s soldier, after a second they both were tussling on the snow. Rogers straddled man, pinning him down as his fists were aiming blows in man’s face. He stopped only, when he felt a strong thwack in the back of his head.

Bucky’s last knife was in his boot. Not for throwing. This one was for killing up close. He forced his mind to the pattern the attackers wove, trying to spot the leader. Kill the leader and the others might scatter. And in a flash he realized. SHE WAS A LEADER OF THE PACK.

There was no way to get the woman. She stayed in their shadow, using Hydra’s soldiers as a shield. Then he didn’t think about her at all. Chain whistled past him. Bucky turned around and grabbed it and jerked the man off balance and drove his knife through a gap in the leather waistcoat, up under the breastbone, to the heart.

For an instant Bucky stood locked, face to face, with the man he’d just killed - a thickset red-head with pale skin and vicious, gleeful, mad blue eyes. Outrage and disbelief pulsed out at him and drained away. Man’s eyes went blank. Then the dead bastard thrashed, rolled with the knife, and took it down with him as he fell. There was no time to get it back. A crowbar cracked down on his shoulder with a bright, sour, copper pain. Bucky fell, dodged a boot, and rolled away as Steve took down his attacker.

The woman screamed. “Take ‘em alive! THEY want them alive! Move your fucking fat asses, suckers!”

Up. He had to get up. Bucky got back on his feet, shaking his head, trying to see through a black haze. The girl was standing between two men, aiming her gun in them. The Soldier staggered through madness and confusion, fog and pain. Steve was swearing a blue streak.

Suddenly more agents appeared from different sides.

“FUCK” Bucky cursed aloud, looking at Steve. “There’s too many of them! Call for a support, Steve.” “I did” Rogers quickly looked around. He ran to the nearest bench and ripped off its back. He was going to use it to the defence.

Redhead woman was observing all that scene with a restlessness. She briefly looked at her watch. 10:12 PM. She was belated and she knew she’s gonna be punished by her leaders. If they ordered her to be back in base at 10:10 PM, she was just obligated to do so, no matter with costs. She threw a cold glance at the man on her left. “Agent 3, we can’t allow it to lasts. Use the Alsatian.” Man nodded slightly and whistled loudly.

Bucky and Steve were fighting still, when they heard a mighty roar nearby. Agents, which were attacking them, moved away apace. Bucky helped Steve to rise up from the ground. He suddenly noticed, that Steve’s face was changing. His friend paled, looking above Bucky’s shoulder with a horror on his face.

Bucky turned his head back gradually. Bucky instinctively took a step back, allignig with Steve.

In front of them, few meters away, was standing something he saw for the first time in his life.

From the shadows came a huge wolf or something similar, much more bigger than a normal wolf, yet he was no an ordinary predator. He moved to block them, staring with almost human eyes at them. The wolf had a huge scar across a right side of his face, the green eyes were glowing in a dim light of lanterns in the park. The black-grey fur was ruffled by each wind blow. The only sound was his breathing, his flaring nostrils as he took in Bucky’s scent. He curled up his gums to reveal yellow stained teeth and then let out a low rumbling growl.

Bucky slowly turned his head to face Steve. “What now, Mr Know-It-All?” Bucky asked quietly. Steve started to move backward as slowly as he could, still with hia eyes on the animal. “Slowly, Buck. Don’t make any chaotic movements…” So Bucky did as Steve said. It was until the Soldier stepped on the branch, which cracked under pressure of his boots.

But animal didn’t attack. The wolf slowly stepped back, disappearing in the shadow.

Redhead’s lips curled up into a wry smile when agents attacked Rogers and Barnes once again. The two men seemed to be tired of the fight and she knew it won’t be long.

Bucky managed to take down 3 of the agents rather easily, Steve with all his strength was fighting against the biggest of the men.

Bucky wanted to help his friend, so he walked at the attacker, but suddenly he heard something behind.

Through the darkness came the glow of two green eyes, like sallow lamplight eight feet off the ground. They moved with a slight sway, as if the unseen body prowled like a big cat. But it definelty wasn’t a cat. Bucky stopped. The eyes did not, with rapid acceleration and a more bounding motion they came right for him. In less than two seconds he was on his back gasping for air. The first strike was with a poisoned claw to slow the reaction time of the victim, after that it was play time. The monster sank his teeth into Bucky’s neck, not too deep, but deep enough to weaken brunette’s strengths with a blood loss. Bucky let out a vicious scream, with his metal hand he grasped the throat of the huge animal and squeezed it as hard as he only could. With all his strength he pushed animal back, turning quickly at his knees. Man crawled aside, pressing his wound on neck with his hand. He could easily heard that wolf was preparing himself to the second attack, but suddenly another sound appeared. A chopper. That probably was a reason he hasn’t been attacked again.

Bucky lifted his head, seeing how Steve has been pinned down to the ground by two agents, one of them used an inhibitor to make sure Steve won’t fight again. The electricity ran quickly throughout whole Rogers’ body, causing a loud yell of pain.

Bucky yelled too, from anger and helplessness. Now, when everything seemed to be coming back to normal, Hydra stepped into their lives again. In the most cruel way.

Bucky felt, how heavy his eyelids were becoming with every second. He laid himself back on the snow, on his back, looking at the dark night sky. With a corner of his eye he noticed a black military chopper landed on the small meadow behind the trees. The last thing he saw was the redhead woman, she crouched next to him. “You see, Barnes, Hydra always receives everything she wants” her voice began to fade out, blurring to nothingness as all around him.

Author: Beast

The chronicles of the winter || Part VII

Part II  || Part III || Part IV || Part V  || Part VI continuation of imagine

Summary: Bucky and Steve woke up in Hydra’s base... nothing gonna be so easy now.

Word Count: 2765

Warnings: none

He slowly opened his eyes, looking around with unconscious glance. He was in a little room. He almost immediately recognized that place. It was his room in Hydra’s base. “Fuck..” Bucky cursed under his breath, slowly sitting at the edge of bed. His head was hurting so badly, he had dizzy.

Few minutes have passed before he was able to rise from his seat. He walked to the door unsteadily, leaning his metal hand against a cold wall for a support. He put hand at a handle and he tried to opened the door, but he quickly realized they were locked.

“Not so quick, soldier” a soft voice came to his ears from behind. He turned around and frowned. From the shadow of his room appeared a figure. Redhead female. “You…” he growled, his hands clenched into fists. The woman took a lock of her hair behind her ear. She smirked, her eyes were glowing in a dim light falling to the room throughout a little window placed under the ceiling. “And who were you expecting, soldier?” she asked in a soft voice. “Someone competent” he snapped angrily in response. Another wave of a terrible headache caused, that Bucky almost lost his balance, so he leaned his back against the metal door. Female laughed, but her laugh was cold like a ice needles. “So here I am, soldier” girl without any signs of a hesitation took a seat at Bucky’s bed, her eyes were still on him. “If you think that someone from captaincy will come to bargain, you’re fucking wrong, honey.” “Don’t call me that, fucking slatch” he threw her an angry glance, what only caused another wave of her laugh. “Where’s Steve?” Woman slowly, with a grace, crossed her legs. “Our doctors are taking care of him now” she said with a shrug. “So will they about you too, soon.”

Bucky took a deep breath. He only wanted to break her neck, but it wouldn’t help at the moment. He needed to invent a good plan, if he wanted to help  himself and Steve. “Get out” he finally snarled, not even looking at the woman. “I wanna be alone.”

Redhead was sitting still for a moment, then she slowly rose from the place and with a swing in her hips, she approached him. He didn’t see a fear in her. She was a weapon. So was he. At least they had something in common… He frowned again, when her palm has rested at his metal limb. Her fingers traced a way down, to his palm. “You see, soldier. That’s our fate. To be alone” she said, her blue eyes shifted over his body to finally rest at his face.

He couldn’t bear it any longer, he couldn’t bear her glance, so gently but decisively he pushed her back. “Don’t touch me” Bucky muttered quietly, this time he didn’t run away with his own glance. He was looking hardly into her eyes. If this was a test of strength, he couldn’t gamble away…

A little smile crept onto her lips, before she nodded slightly. “Move away” she ordered coldly, so he did. He shifted aside, making a space at door. Female opened the door with a little golden key, which she pulled out of her pocket. She didn’t look at him, when she was leaving his room. She didn’t even look around, when she was walking along the long corridor, with that sweet swing in her hips. She was so hipnotizing…

Bucky was surprised that she didn’t lock his door again, but deep inside he knew it could be nothing more but trap, so he decided to not risk too much. He closed the door and he walked to his bed. He sat on the mattress, letting out a deep sigh. That woman started to annoy him. She was too confident. Too reinless. He thought that she has been through same tortures he has been through for all those years. Bucky slowly laid his head at the single pillow, looking up at the ceiling. He closed eyes, trying to fall asleep, but the sleep wouldn’t want to come to him. Bucky’s thoughts were still going about Steve. He couldn’t stop it. But finally, after several minutes, he fell asleep.

He had a nightmare. He was in a room filled with darkness. He heard a familiar voice. “Till the end of the line, Buck.” In next moment he felt a blade stabbed his heart.

He woke up, covered in a cold sweat. He had to find Steve.

Steve woke up groggy and very unsure of where he was. There were voices around him but Steve couldn’t make out what they were saying, and there were metal bands being secured to different parts of his body, locking him in place in what felt like a chair. Something was shoved into his mouth.

The murmur of voices suddenly cut off and then…

PAIN.

The most intense pain Steve had ever felt, radiating throughout his head. He didn’t know where it was coming from, but it was all consuming, keeping him from thinking about anything except the pain. Eventually, the pain stopped. And then, after a while, it started up again.

Steve opened his eyes slowly, giving himself time to adjust to the new light. When there were no more spots in his eyes he could see a tiled ceiling above him, florescent lights spaced evenly throughout it.

After a few moments of wondering, Steve sat up and looked around. He was lying in a small bed in a small room. It felt familiar, looking similar to a single hospital room.

Suddenly some unfamiliar figure entered to the room. “Captain, it’s very good to see you awake” the man’s voice was smooth and he took a few extra steps into the room. Steve stood up to greet him, and shook his hand when the man offered his. “Where am I?” Steve asked simply, trying to remember, who that man might be. “You’re in the Complex Zero” man uttered slightly. “You’re working for our organization, Captain.” Steve’s brow went up in a consternation when four armed soldiers entered the room, taking places next to the door.

Steve cleared his throat anxiously. “If you don’t mind my asking, Sir, what exactly is going on?” Man looked him over for a few moments, before he spoke. “Captain Rogers, we are going to reveal to you some information that you’re really not going to like. But, once you understand, I believe that you will see that we are on the right side of this.” Steve only felt more confusion. “Of course, Sir… I’m sure whatever you have to tell me can’t be that bad…right?” “Alright, Captain Rogers” man sighed, “the truth of the matter is that we work for an organization, in fact, I’m one of the heads of said organization, that fights against what you might consider ‘the right thing.’ We fight for the people, if you give people too much freedom, such horrible things can happen. Two World Wars, for example, and so many other wars. Our organization’s purpose is to help the world’s population in making the decisions that they are not ready to make. We do good work, Captain Rogers.”

Steve frowned. “I…don’t understand” he admitted. “Why would I be against that? I mean, it just sounds like you’re doing what a government would do, right? You’re making the big decisions so everyone else doesn’t have to. Isn’t that what our government has always done?”

One of the soldiers smiled widely. “Precisely, Captain Rogers. We’re just doing what anyone else would do.”

“So…why, exactly, would I be against it?” Everyone in the room tensed ever so slightly. After a few tense moments, man in the suit sighed. “Because we go by the name Hydra, Captain.”

For a few seconds it was so silent. Then Steve was in motion, sprinting towards the door. People cursed, and Steve felt two pairs of hands clamp down on him. He managed to yank out of three of the hands, but one had a good grip and didn’t let go of his shirt. Steve reached the door anyway, but there was nothing he could do - the door was biometrically locked. Steve whirled around, coming face to face with the soldier, who owned the hand still grasping his shirt. Steve slammed a fist into the man’s face, which made him stumble away, but then another man was suddenly there,throwing punches and kicking out.

When the two of them managed to pin him, there was the slight pinch on his neck of a needle sliding in, and after another moment, his vision faded to black.

It has been three or four days since the moment, when he and Steve have been captured by Hydra. Bucky couldn’t bear with the feeling of an anxiety about Steve, so he decided to try to find his friend. Using the fact his doors weren’t locked, Bucky slowly opened them and walked at the corridor. He looked around, but there were no guards or soldiers, so brunette apace walked ahead.

I’m wasted… All I wanna do is find you. I’m faded… All I wanna do is save you.

All the corridors were similar, but he was taking the way instinctively. He knew that place as his own pocket. It was easy for him to find a correct way to the laboratory level. He had a feeling that Steve was there.

Bucky rapidly opened the huge metal door at the end of one of the corridors and he needed to blink few times. An alburnum of the next corridor has blinded him for a while. When his eyes got used to it, he started to walk along the corridor, faster and faster with each step.

Suddenly he heard a loud scream and he recognised the voice. It was Steve. Bucky ran ahead, as fast as he only could. At the end of the corridor he fell at few guards, they were trying to stop him, but Bucky attacked them with all his might. As soon as they all were down, he forced the door in and he steeped into the small room. There was only a huge window opposite him, so Barnes walked to it. He looked through it and paled.

He saw a huge laboratory room. There was a single metal chair in the middle of the room. And there Steve was sitting… Bucky hitted in the window few times, but it was a bulletproof tempered glass. It only caused that few doctors raised their heads to give him a look. Bucky was cursing loudly, still hitting the window’s glass. He sweared to himself that he’ll kill them all. For what they did to Steve…

There was also a man, dressed in a black suit. He threw Bucky a rude gaze, a mischief grin appeared on man’s face.

Suddenly Bucky felt a strong blow in the back of his head. He fell in the ground, loosing his senses.

“Any progress?” Steve knew that voice, but he couldn’t place where from.

“It’s the same each day. The first six hours after the wipe are perfect, he’s just like The Soldier, taking orders without question, doing anything and everything we require of him. However, after that, he continuing gets better and better until, at twenty-four hours, he’s the same man he was before the wipe. We’re at eleven hours right now. It’s quite remarkable, really, the way the serum in his blood works, regenerating his brain cells again and again without fault.”

There was a sound of annoyance, and then there was a hand on his chin, lifting his head. Steve blinked blearily, his vision a little foggy, and looked up at the sort-of-familiar face now hovering in front of him. It was a man in suit, with glasses, who was looking at him curiously.

“Are you in there, Captain?” the man’s mouth moved and the words came out, but they seemed disconnected in Steve’s mind. Steve didn’t know how to reply to the words, didn’t particularly understand what they meant, so he just stared back at the man and tried to remember where he’d seen him before. Nothing was clicking, so Steve gave up on trying, it would come back to him eventually. Probably…

Steve yanked against the metal bands restraining him to the chair, glaring at all of the technicians in the room. They all seemed to be waiting for something, none of them meeting his eyes. Frankly, Steve didn’t really know why they weren’t wiping him again, that’s what they always did when he fully regained himself again. Steve didn’t quite know why, if they knew he was going to get his fully memory back after twenty-four hours, why keep trying? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Finally, the door to the room slid open and in walked man named Aiden Black, the freaking head of Hydra. He was dressed, as per usual, in a tailored three-piece suit. Redhead female came in behind him, in her normal fitted black shirt and pants, and black leather jacket. “Good morning, Captain. I trust you slept well?” Black said congenially, hands in his trouser pockets. Steve simply glared back, scowling, not giving them any response. At his lack of answer, Black simply shrugged. “Ah, well. It doesn’t matter. I’m here to talk to you about your new and complete loyalty to Hydra.”

Steve couldn’t help but scoff at that. “You’re out of your goddamn mind if you actually think that I’m going to ever be loyal to Hydra. I won’t do a single thing for you, Black.”

Black just gave a knowing smile and tilted his head. “We’ll see about that. Bring him in!” Suddenly, the door slid open again and few soldiers walked in, looking slightly smug, which was a little disconcerting considering the circumstances. Behind one of the soldiers was another man. The man had shoulder-length brown hair and a metal arm, but that wasn’t the weirdest thing Steve had ever seen and the man’s face…

Oh shit.

“B-Bucky?” Steve stuttered out.

It was Bucky, but, at the same time, it wasn’t. His face was expressionless, his eyes staring lifelessly at the wall far behind Steve. His arms hung loosely at his sides, fingers not even twitching as he stood, perfectly still. There was something so… blank about him, something so dead, that it made a shudder run up Steve’s spine.

“Quite the sight, isn’t he?” Black said proudly, going to stand by Bucky’s side. He put a hand on Bucky’s shoulder and Steve yanked against his bindings at the sight, snarling and gnashing his teeth like a wild animal. “His arm, it’s been modified throughout the years as the world had a lot of technological advances, but it’s quite similar to the original model.”

Seeing Bucky standing in front of him was life changing, even though Bucky wasn’t quite himself.

“You’re a smart man, Captain Rogers, I’m sure you can put the pieces together. How does Mr. Barnes fit into your new loyalty to us?” The blonde snarled, understanding perfectly. “If I don’t cooperate, if I don’t do everything you say, you’ll hurt him. You’ll hurt Bucky.”

Black nodded, satisfied. “Exactly, Captain Rogers, you got it in one. Now, you are going to be released from that chair, and you are not going to attack anyone. If you do, well, you will be subdued and Mr. Barnes will be hurt. Have I made myself clear?” Steve nodded, resigned and Black nodded to one of the technicians, who pushed a couple buttons on his computer and the metal bands holding Steve down snapped open. Steve immediately jumped to his feet and rushed to Bucky’s side, murmuring his name.

Black took a few steps towards the door, and then turned back. “Oh, one last thing, Captain Rogers. Hidden away in Mr. Barnes’s metal arm is not only a tracking devise that works anywhere in the world, but an explosive devise that will make him and anything within two-hundred feet of him go boom. So I want to make myself very clear, Captain, if you try to escape, whether you’re on mission with Mr. Barnes or just hanging about this facility, I will not hesitate to push a button and make sure you won’t even be able to scrape pieces of him off the sidewalk, he’ll be so demolished.”

There was a pause, and then Aiden Black smiled, completely at ease. “I look forward to us working together, Captain.”

Author: Beast

My little treasure || Teaser

Summary: Long time after events of CW Bucky returned to normal life. He even addopted little girl.  After many years of calm life girl’s old problems return.

Word Count: 832

Warnings: none

[A/N] So... it’s short... But I was thinking over this long time. I hope you all gonna like it.

Bucky sighed heavily and flopped on couch.  It was middle of the night and He just returned home… There was a reason for him to return. Bucky slowly got up and went to kitchen. Suddenly He heard loud scream from one of the bedrooms. Man quickly rushed to bedroom and opened door. Bucky looked inside and sighed sadly when He saw young girl sitting on bed.  She was the reason. The reason for him to return home every evening. His daughter. His girl. His everything.

Bucky went inside and sat on bed “Andrea… Angel, what’s wrong.” He asked and pulled girl into a hug. Andrea sighed heavily and hugged to him tight, girl started cry. Bucky only rubbed her head “You are warm… I think you have fever… Again.” He said quietly and girl only nodded.

After few hour when Andrea was finally asleep again Bucky noticed that She still had glove on her right hand, He shook his head and slowly removed glove, revealing silver metal hand. After few minutes Bucky was again sitting in living room, thinking what to do now. He got up from couch and walked to phone to call Steve. He was waiting at Steve to pick up but he only heard voice of young boy “Um… H-Hello..” Bucky blinked and smiled softly “Hey Grant… Sorry that I woke you up. Can you give me Steve… I need to talk with him.” Bucky muttered softly “Hi Mr. Barnes… Sorry… But dad still didn’t returned home.” Boy said. Bucky nodded and sighed softly “Okay, thanks kiddo. Please, when He will be back tell him I want meet with him. Good night.” He said. “Sure… No problem, Mr. Barnes… Good night.” Bucky sighed and put his phone away. He went to bathroom to take shower, later He went to bed.

At morning Bucky was in kitchen, Making breakfast when Andrea came to kitchen. Bucky smiled at girl “Good morning sweetheart. I wasn’t home really long time yesterday… So I decided to make your favorite pancakes with fruits.” He said happily but his happiness quickly faded. Girl didn’t say a word she only sat on a chair and looked at her tea. “Here you go…” Bucky said quietly and put plate in front of girl. She only nodded “Thanks dad… I will eat in my room.” Andrea said and took plate. Bucky sighed sadly and shook his head, watching his daughter.

Bucky meet with Steve at small cafe. “Hey Buck.” Steve said happily and sat at the chair “Grant told me you wanted met. Something’s wrong? Something’s wrong with Andrea?” He asked a bit worried. Bucky only nodded “Yes… This happen with her again Steve… nightmares, fevers… With every day… She close herself more.” He said with voice full of worries. Steve sighed and shook his head “Bucky… What you were expecting? You were warned that this can return… We don’t know what THEY put into her head.” Steve muttered In this moment Bucky lost his hope for support from his best friend. Somewhere deep inside him something just snapped “For fuck’s sake Steve! She was only five years old when We found her. Now she is 17 it was fucking 12 years without bigger problems… Why this returned now?! I don’t want lose my daughter.” Bucky growled. “She Is Not Your Daughter Buck. You good knew that this can return. You are only her guardian. You are not her FATHER. You will have to take her back to S.H.I.E.L.D.” Steve said. Bucky sighed and rubbed his eyes He felt so helpless. It was all true, Andrea wasn’t his biological daughter but He really didn’t cared about this. Bucky raised her  since she was small girls and He loved her just like his own daughter “But I don’t want to… I just… I can’t.” Man said sadly. Steve rolled his eyes “You will have to do this, pal. There is no other way.” Bucky just got up and left Steve alone at cafe.

Bucky returned home and saw Andrea sitting on a stairs.

“Hey angel… What’s up?” She sighed sadly with tears in eyes  “I tried to be friends with girls from neighborhood… They… They said I’m a freak…” Andrea said looking at her meta hand “Why… Why I am different dad..?” She asked looking at Bucky sadly. Man smiled at girl sadly. He knew this feeling, it took him few years to live among normal people. Guy with metal arm was big ‘attraction’ but in bad meaning. It hurt him when He saw Andrea in such a mood “Sweetheart. You aren’t different. You are special… Just like your old father.” He smiled and sat next to her, rubbing her shoulder. Girl smiled sadly and hugged to him “I love you daddy.” She said quietly. Bucky already felt that her mood change, He hugged her back “I love you too, angel. You are my treasure… My little star. I will never leave you.” Bucky whispered, stroking Andrea’s hair.

Author: Cass

The chronicles of the winter || Part VIII

Part II  || Part III || Part IV || Part V || Part VI  || Part VII continuation of imagine

Summary:  Bucky and Steve are still at Hydra's base. Days are passing by and their situation isn't changing. But Bucky seems to not care about it. He cares about something else. Or rather SOMEONE...

Word Count: 4296

Warnings: Smut, Unprotected sex

From then on out Steve’s training really began. Each day he had lessons in German, Russian, tactics, as well as weaponry training and different forms of hand-to-hand. Steve’s least favorite lessons were the ones on the organization known as SHIELD, because apparently his friends were the founders, and he absolutely hated the idea of working to destroy something they’d built, even if it was for the sake of Bucky. Steve wasn’t sure, how much time had passed since they were kidnapped. Days were blending into each other. Everyday he was wiped again, they wanted to stay in control over him, but Rogers remembered. Everything from his previous life. Steve was given a list of SHIELD’s top agents, Hydra’s own little ‘Most Wanted’ list, and forced to memorize all of their strengths and weaknesses, and how best to take them down. The months passed slowly. Steve rarely saw Bucky, since most of the time they kept him in something called cryo, which was basically them just freezing him to keep him in stasis and make him live longer. However, whenever Bucky was off cryo, Steve tried to make him feel like as much of a person as possible, sitting with him while he ate and training with him. It made Steve very sad to do, since Bucky was unresponsive to everything he said unless he phrased it as an order, which Steve absolutely refused to do.

One day, five months after seeing Bucky for the first time since they had been kidnapped, Steve had just gotten back from a mission and was grabbing a bite to eat in the small kitchen off the gym. He preferred it because he could be alone with his thoughts, instead of in the large mess hall. Then Bucky entered. It wasn’t that unusual, Bucky usually got his meals from that kitchen, too, when he was awake. So Steve said hello to him like he always did, not expecting a reply. Bucky turned and stared directly at Steve after grabbing a sandwich. Steve stared back, surprised, Bucky’s gaze rarely narrowed in on Steve, even if he was looking at him he wasn’t focused on Steve. But in that moment… he was.“Buck?” Steve ventured cautiously, putting down his bowl of cereal and taking a few steps closer to his friend. “Do you…do you see me, Bucky?”“I know you” Bucky said absently, voice rough from disuse. The words were a statement, but the way his voice went up at the end made it seem like a question.“Yeah, Buck” Steve said, unable to keep the relief from his voice. He walked closer until he was right in front of Bucky, carefully placing a hand on his shoulder. Bucky’s eyes darted from that hand and back to Steve’s eyes. “Yeah, you know me. I’m your friend."Bucky was silent for a minute, the seconds ticking away in Steve’s head, and then he spoke again."Your mother… her name was Sarah?” Steve grinned and nodded eagerly. “And my sister…her name was Rebecca?” Once again Steve nodded. “Steve?"Steve didn’t wait any longer, he pulled Bucky into a hug at the vulnerable turn of his words, holding him tightly against his chest. "I’ve got you, Buck. I’m with you 'till the end of the line.”

After that, Bucky began remembering much more, becoming more and more like himself each day. There would be times when something triggered him and he would fall back into The Winter Soldier mode, practically erasing all of their progress. But he always came back to himself, sometimes after an hour, sometimes after a week, but he always came back. They did their best to keep it hidden from the Hydra agents, but anyone with eyes could see that most of the time Bucky was there, the lifeless stare he used to adjurn completely gone. Steve didn’t know why everyone was letting it go, even Black, while talking at Bucky like he always did, didn’t comment on the new Bucky.

Bucky was sleeping in his small room at the second floor of the Complex Zero. It was one of these moments when he could has his own makeshift of a freedom. Suddenly he heard a loud, annoying noise. An alarm. Bucky slowly opened his eyes, he sat at the edge of his bed and rubbed his eyes. His door has been opened by one of the soldiers. ‘Move your fucking ass, Winter, there’s a fire in the warehouse of ammunition" man has said, before he ran further to wake others up. Bucky quickly put on a grey tight shirt and black, military pants. On top he put his tactical bulletproof vest, just in case. He left the room and apace he ran to the point of an ingathering. Most of the guards, soldiers and technicians were there yet. In the crowd Bucky immediately noticed Steve. Brunette went to the Captain, but before he could say anything, a huge explosion has interrupted them. Few men just fell on the ground covered in a snow, they have been hit by shards of a broken windows. Bucky noticed few more familiar figures on the horizon. Aiden Black, his two loyal soldiers and a redhead woman. They were running into the direction of the square, where rest of the people were gathered. Almost as soon as the lightning had struck the little building, the world became illuminated. In the distance,  everyone could see a thick gray smoke billowing into the skies. The once pale blue sky was now shielded by a veil of darkness as the smoke swallows up the whole sky. Bucky blinked few times, before he spoke.“What has happened?” he gave Steve a brief glance.“I’m not sure, Buck. I’ve heard as guards were saying it has to be someone from us who set fire to here” Steve’s voice was trembling a bit, from emotions. Bucky knew it was a brilliant chance to escape. In all that turmoil they could easily sneak out of the Complex and tried their luck in nearest wood. At the second hand, they were in a place they didn’t know. They could get lost, they could fall at one of Hydra’s little branches…There was too many options. To many potential dangers. Without a good plan even he an Steve wouldn’t make it. A plume of fire exploded into the blackness, the flame rolling outwards like the smoke of a mushroom cloud. It was an inferno fuelled by the gallons of accelerant in the warehouse. The heat was oppressive even from two hundred yards away. The onlookers had been excited at first, snapping pictures to upload to friends and generally behaving like a crowd on bonfire night. But then a subtle shift in the wind direction brought noxious smoke and ash raining down into their hair and eyes. With hands and clothing clamped to their mouths they tried to hide somewhere, while the management called for a help of firefighters. Meantime, the newborn flames licked the oxygen with their wrath and fury. Refusing to be contained, they danced orange and yellow reaching hungrily for fuel. After few more moments the fire overtook the main building. Everyone witnessed the fire swallow the entire building. Toxic fumes shot up into the air every few seconds and the thick, poisonous smoke choked everyone nearby. Fortunately, no one got harmed in the fire. Whole headquarter’s building has been destroyed completely.That was the reason, because of which Black decided to move all people to the little city named Yuryung-Khaya.

Owing to the extreme northern location, Yuryung-Khaya had a cold and dry polar climate with severely cold winters and cool summers. The village was situated on the right bank of the Anabar River, shortly before it flows into the Laptev Sea. The village economy was based around agriculture, specifically reindeer herding, fishing and other farming. It was just a perfect place to ran organization like Hydra. Villagers weren’t interested in a newcomers, they all had their own stuff to deal with. It turned, that Hydra was preparing that localization since rather long time period. A three miles behind the village a huge military complex has been built. It even had its own airport. But it was only a cover, just in case if some of the villagers would be too curious. The real base was located a mile aside of the complex. From the outside the secret base appeared to be an abandoned storage barn. Rusty barrels of noxious chemicals were littered around the entrance, each labelled with a skull and crossbones. Tall weeds grew between the stones and the fence was almost falling over, hardly high security. Nobody cared about what was above ground. Underground it was a different story. There was a maze of titanium rooms, each either buzzing with computers or loaded with the latest in weaponry. Every inch was recorded by security cameras and the staff wore electronic chips under their skin. Guards came and went through the tunnel that lead into the back of a complex. There were several different room types. Bucky quickly had to deal with one of them, namely the interrogation room. As Steve, he was suspected to set a fire to the Complex Zero and he had to be interrogated. By Aiden Black himself..The room was small and square, with two plastic chairs, a table and an empty water dispenser. The window is cracked, allowing a faint but pleasant smell of moisture into the room. The window was located just beneath ceiling. The view was at the little meadow above the underground complex. The walls were cream and bare. The light outside was now fading, the watery sun shining a single, dust-laden bar of brightness into the room. Barnes pulled out one of the chairs and sat down, his body immediately uncomfortable, his tongue already asking for a drink of water. His throat was tight and sticky with kind of a fear.

The door opened and slammed shut, making the brunette jump a little with the only slack he had. “Good day, soldier. I am here to interrogate you. Do you understand?“ it was Aiden Black, dressed in a black tight suit with a grey shirt under his jacket. Bucky nodded slowly, he didn’t want to have troubles, so he was trying to be as polite as he only could. “Tell me, Barnes, who set the fire to Complex Zero?” the man said crankily seating himself into the chair opposite to Bucky. Barnes stayed silent. "TELL ME” Black repeated sternly. Bucky felt coldness envelope him, but no darkness came. Suddenly Black rose from his chair and leaned forward, he wrapped his large hands around the Bucky’s throat and squeezed. He easily raised brunette off the ground. Bucky kicked and squirmed, but it was no use. Just as his vision went blurry, two uniformed men came in, and Black dropped him to the ground. "I know you had something in common with that fucking situation” Black growled slowly, his glance still at Bucky. After a moment of silence he was lead out while Bucky sat, panting for breath.

Several days have passed.

The winter wind howled through the desolate marsh. The bleak grey cloud overhead reflected perfectly his grey mood inside. These short days, these long nights. The world seemed to lie barren and lifeless before him as if God himself had put it to sleep.

Bucky was spending his days mostly at trainings. If he had some free time, he was walking around the Complex, trying to find himself something productive to do.

At the dinner, when all people were gathered in a social canteen, Steve and Bucky were sitting at the single table, enjoying their meal.

All talks have faded in a second, when the redhead woman entered the canteen. She was an adult, but so young that she still had the exuberance of youth. She had that movie star look, not overly tall and willowy, but more like an action star. Her muscle definition was perfect and she walked with the confidence of someone a decade older. She wasn’t just flawless in her bone structure, her skin was like silk over glass and she radiated an intelligent beauty. She was holding a cup of cappuccino in her hand and she brought a newspaper with her under her arm. She took a place at the table in the left corner of the room and she started to read as soon as she sat down.

Steve noticed that Bucky became soundless. “Buck.. is everything alright?” blonde asked carefully, not taking his eyes of his friend.

Bucky mumbled something, waving his hand. His eyes were still at the redhead. He couldn’t take his eyes of her. She was stunning and with every day he was finding himself more interested in that woman.

She was definitely his type of ideal woman. Strong, confident, but charming and delicate at the same moment.

Steve smiled sadly. “You know she’s by THEIR side” he reminded gently, putting his palm at Bucky’s shoulder. “Don’t waste your time, Buck. It’s not a woman for you”

Bucky has been dragged out of his thoughtfulness by Steve’s words. Brunette turned his head to Rogers and frowned a bit. “Stop it, Steve. Let me decide by my own, what’s good and what’s bad for me” Bucky’s face tensed as he sighed deeply, he ran his fingers through his thick hair. Steve shook his head slightly. “Easy, Bucky… I just meant you should think before you’ll engage yourself too much in that” Captain measured Bucky with his blue eyes. “I just wanted to give you my advice..” “But I wasn’t asking for it” Bucky snarled coldly and got up from the table, leaving his unfinished meal. “I wanna be alone” he added quietly.

Bucky went straight to the door to the canteen, but before he left, he stopped in a door frame. He felt a blustery glance on himself, so he turned his head to check, who was looking at him.

Bucky’s heart raced a bit when he realized, it was the redhead woman, who was observing him.

He spent rest of the evening at a workout. He worked out until his skin took on a glossy shine and the salty drops invaded his eyes. As he kept moving the sweat was a welcome addition, cooling and helping him to feel like he has been working hard enough.

That was when he heard the door has opened with a characteristic creak. Bucky lifted his head and looked back above his shoulder. He tried to keep his face straight, but it was hard.

Few steps from him a redhead woman was standing, crossing her arms at her chest.

“What the hell do you want?” He asked, trying to sound as cold as always. “I’m kinda busy.” Woman smirked a bit, standing still. “I have to drive to the city. Some kind of business. I need a help.” Bucky frowned in a confusion. “And how am I supposed to help ya?” man asked coldly, pulling up a barbells. Redhead rolled her eyes, still standing in a place. “I need a ride. I don’t have a driving licence” she explained openly, taking lock of her hair behind an ear. Bucky let out a wryly laugh before he spoke. “And what I’ll receive in a repayment?” brunette asked simply, not looking at the woman. She laughed harshly. “You’ll gain a few hours outside a base. It’s a aboveboard deal, isn’t it?” she said. “I can guarantee, that you won’t regret it.”

Bucky was thinking for a while, pretending he wasn’t interested at all. But deep inside his soul there was a war between different emotions. Call of a freedom was much stronger then he thought, though.

“Deal.” Bucky looked briefly at her. He put barbells down and stretched his back. Redhead woman gave him a little smile. “I’m glad we have an agreement.”

She was about leaving the room, but before she did, redhead turned to face brunette once again. “By the way, my name is Emily Vandom” her mouth corners raised a bit. “See you at 8pm at the main gate.”

She left him in a thoughtfulness, exhausted by a hard workout.

He came on tick.

She was waiting at him, sitting on a hood of a black old Mustang. As soon as Emily spotted Bucky, she jumped off the hood with ease. She was dressed in a tight short black dress and high heels.

She measured him with an interested glance. “Hi” she greeted Bucky, tilting her head. “Nice jacket.”

Bucky was dressed rather casually. It was something new, because he used to wear only military pants and oversized t-shirts. But now he had a black boots, tight dark jeans and grey tight shirt under black leather jacket.

Emily threw keys at him and he easily caught them. Woman turned around and got to the car, taking a passenger seat next to the driver.

When they were driving to the city, he couldn’t stop himself from asking. “Where exactly are ya going?” Bucky asked, he was focused on a gravely road. Emily, who was leaning her forearm against the window, mumbled. “It’s none of your business” she said simply, not even looking at him. Bucky was silent for a while. “Hey. I’m involved. I’m here, driving you, so I’m expecting at least a bit of sincerity” man growled with an annoyance. Emily sighed deeply. “If I will tell you, I’ll have to kill you” her voice was soft as always. Bucky rolled his eyes. They stayed silent till the end of the drive.

After some time, Emily came out of the little building. They were somewhere in a city, car has been parked at the little parking lot as brunette was waiting at her. Bucky was leaning his metal limb on a roof of the car, smoking a cigarette. He heard clicking of her Hugh heels and he turned to her. “Finally"he rolled his eyes.

They both got in the car. He put the key in the ignition and started it up. The loud rumble of the engine began to “PURRRRRRRR”.

He put the window down, turned the music up and they were off to begin their way back to the Complex.

"Wait..” Emily bit her lower lip. “Listen.. I don’t want to go back there. Not yet at least” she dared to gave him a look. Bucky lifted his brow a bit. “What do you mean?” Emily stretched her forearms. “There’s a little cosy pub nearby. C'mon. Let’s have few drinks. I need it. And I bet you do too.”

Bucky wasn’t thinking too long. He agreed on her proposition, only because he also didn’t want to go back to base. The night was still young.

They had a good time together. And Bucky had to admit, that this woman was spinning his head round and round. She even managed to pull him on a little dance floor, where they were swaying into rhythm of a music. Bucky caught himself at grabbing Emily’s hips a bit too roughly in that dance, but girl didn’t seem to mind it.

The drinks began flowing and  the sexual desire for one another became unbearable. They swiftly closed their bar tab and headed back to the black Mustang.

Once they were in the car, he grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her close. “Let’s go have some fun” he said in a low voice. Emily looked hardly into his blue eyes, she bit inside of her cheek, but she gave a nod. They peeled out of the parking lot and drove off into the night. They turned down an old dirt road. He put the stang in first gear and let off the gas.

She then leaned over, unhooked his belt and started to unbutton his pants. She unzipped his pants and pulled out Bucky’s hard dick. She wrapped her lips around the tip and began to suck on it. She slid her tongue down the side of his stiff shaft. All the way down to his balls. Up and down… Up and down his cock went down her throat. “Yes, babe that’s it” Bucky moaned loudly. She felt Bucky grabbed a handful of her hair and pull it tight. He pressed down on the back of her head, forcing his dick to slide closer to the back of Emily’s throat. She spit on his cock, making it so wet, then she opened her mouth wider and went back to work.

He yelled. “Yes, baby, yes, don’t stop! Don’t you dare to stop, little bitch!“ She felt his dick pulsating as she moved slowly up to the tip to take in his warm seamen "Oh, fuck!” he grunted and began to erupt his load into her mouth. She smiled as she swallowed his cum, slowly licking corners of her mouth. “You taste good..” she whispered, lifting herself up to kiss him passionately. He could still tasted himself on her rosy lips..

He opened the door and got out. He walked around to her side and opened the door. He got down on his knees, grabbing her legs and pulled them toward him. He pushed her back against the console. Bucky gripped her hips and pulled them closer. He slided up her tight dress and pulled down her lacy panties. Slowly he rubbed his hands up her thighs and forced her legs to open. “Now it’s your turn..” Bucky said as he began to bury his face into her yet wet pussy.

“Oh yes!” Emily moaned as he hit the right spot.   It felt so good to feel his tongue circling around on her clit. He was more than experienced. “Your pussy is so wet” he mumbled between licks. Emily felt how his strong hands were squeezing her breast tightly. She felt as he was sucking on her clit as he sticked two of his fingers into her pussy and thrusted them in and out. “Yes.. Yes.. Right there..” she begged, diving her long fingers into his brown hair. She grabbed the back of his head and forced him to go deeper. Emily’s legs began to shake as she feel her orgasm.

“I want you to cum in my mouth” he asked openly, licking still as viciously as at the beginning. Her whole body became numb as she went through her orgasm and released her hot wet cum all over his face.

Slowly he stopped moving his tongue and began to softly suck on her pussy. He gave her pussy one last kiss as he knew he has satisfied her.

Bucky stood up and took off his shirt and he pulled his cock out of his jeans. He pulled her out the car and ripped off her dress. “Mmm… you have a tattoo..” he moaned into her ear from behind.

Emily had a tattoo in a shape of a wolf between her blade-bones.

Emily felt her ass was pressed against the stang as she was forced against the front of the car. He turned her around and bended her naked body over the top of the hood. Bucky spreader her legs and slowly slided his penis into her tight wet pussy.

“Fuck!” Emily couldn’t help but yelled loudly as soon as he went into her deeper and deeper. His dick felt amazing inside her and she craved more.

“I love your tight pussy” he growled as he squeezed her ass and pounded into her deeper. “You’re fucking hot, slut” he moved his metal arm at her breasts, squeezing them harshly.

She felt his dick throbbing in her as he went faster and faster. She didn’t want him to stop…

He pulled her up and turned her around toward him. He put her on the hood of the car. As she laid down she felt him pulling her ass toward him. She wrapped her legs around him and quenched her thighs tightly.   He grabbed a hold of Emily’s hips and slided his cock back in. “Ahhhh!“ she heard him grunted as he got the whole thing in. Redhead felt like his balls were hitting her ass.

“Harder” she moaned aloud. She didn’t care there was cold outside. She only cared of being fucked harder. Emily felt her pussy was getting wetter and wetter as she was nearing her orgasm.

“I want you to cum all over my cock, slut” Bucky’s voice was nothing more than an order. "Yes, soldier” Emily closed her eyes, trying to hold a pleasure back. But she couldn’t hold it any longer.

“Fuck, I’m Cumming!” she cried heavily as she felt her warm cum was gushing onto him.

Bucky started pounding in her harder and deeper. Faster and faster “Babe, I’m gonna cum..” Bucky grabbed her hips  tightly, squeezing them hardly, especially with his metal hand. He rammed it deep in her for one last time before he cum.

Their seductive, erotic, lustful fantasies finally had been fulfilled.

Bucky leaned down and kissed her roughly, pulling her closer by her waist. “You’re so fucking hot, Emily..”

Woman blinked. He used her name.

She felt a blush appeared on her cheeks, so she gently pushed him back and jumped of the hood, grabbing her dress and putting it on as fast as she could.

Bucky also improved himself, he put on his shirt before he turned to face her. Zipping his jeans, he measured her body with lustful glance.

“Bucky..” She swallowed, standing with her back to him. “I.. we shouldn’t..” But she wasn’t able to end her sentence.

Barnes came to her, he took her into his arms and turned her to him, then he leaned down and kissed her beautiful lips. She melted in that kiss. She wanted it to last forever…

It was a new beginning. A new start. For both of them.

Author: Beast

The chronicles of the winter || Part IX

Part II  || Part III || Part IV || Part V || Part VI || Part VII || Parta VIII continuation of imagine

Summary: Steve’s mission went wrong… Very wrong.

Word Count: 2194

Warnings: Blood, injuries

Author: Beast

Since their common evening, Emily hasn’t spoken with Bucky at all.

He saw her few times. They passed each other like a ghosts at the corridors of the complex. Everytime when Bucky wanted to ask the woman, what exactly has changed between two of them that they couldn’t even talk for a while, Emily was simply passing him by, don’t even looking at him.

He easily could feel that everything has changed.

Deep inside he knew he shouldn’t have been doing that. He shouldn’t let her seduce him, it just couldn’t end well.

Bucky’s contact with Steve also has been restricted.

Their supervisors seemed to do everything to separate men from each other.

Bucky could also feel kind of a distance, which has built up between him and Steve.

Another week has passed and Bucky confirmed himself in a premonition that something was wrong.

While he was looking for Steve, he heard a conversation between two of the guards in canteen.

“… with her” one of them said simply, drinking coffee.

“I would give everything to be at his place at the moment” second man chuckled. “She’s pretty hot.” “Of course she’s” guard who was drinking the coffee stretched his back. “Rogers is a fucking lucky dude, isn’t he?”

“Don’t ya remember? He’s not Rogers anymore. They said he’s called Captain Hydra now” older guy shrugged.

Bucky frowned, listening to this little conversation. He realized that Steve has to be outside the complex. And… Was he with Emily? Have they had a mission? But Steve would tell him… Why he didn’t?

Bucky, however, felt a cold shrink in his heart.

EMILY. She also went away without farewell. Without single word. Why both of them were treating him like that?

He couldn’t find an answer.

One day, Bucky has been taken to the small room at one of the lowest levels of the complex.

There was three man awaiting at him. Two doctors and no one else but Aiden Black himself.

“Good morning, soldier” man in a suit smirked viciously.

Bucky didn’t say a word, he simply took a seat in front of the man.

“Why are you so silent, soldier?” Black pretended a concern.

“Where’s Steve?” Bucky simply asked.

Black raised his mouth corners in a haughty grin.

“He left. He has more important things to do instead sitting here with you” man said.

Bucky snapped his head to face Aiden Black again.

“Liar” Barnes gasped loudly. “Steve’s my friend. He wouldn’t…”

Black smirked again.

“Funny” Black mused with a sick smile, getting dangerously close to Bucky’s face, “wasn’t that exactly the same thing that you said the first time when Hydra found you?” he laughed harshly. “Face it, Barnes. Steve Rogers’ dead. Now he’s the Captain Hydra and he’s working for us and only for us” man in suit got up from his seat and walked slowly around the room. “Nothing can bring him back” Black finally stopped behind Bucky’s back and he put his large hands and Winter Soldier’s shoulders. Black also leaned down and whispered directly into Bucky’s ear. “And as I suppose he’s having a lot of fun with your Em.”

The last statement was like a sharp blade of a knife stabbed into Bucky’s chest.

Bucky responded with spitting in Black’s smirking face.

Of course, as always when he wasn’t behaving like they would wanted, he was greeted with violence, but that didn’t matter.

“Now, get some rest, soldier” Aiden growled slowly, wiping flecks of Bucky’ blood of off his hands. “We have work to do.”

When Black left the room, Bucky yelled aloud, hitting the table in front of him with his metal fist.

Evening had long since fallen, the chill of night picking at the edges of his meager jacket as he silently made his way through the quieting city. Captain Hydra was walking, passing closed shops and tracing streets he didn’t know.

He had a mission to do and he didn’t want to let his supervisors down. Steve had to kill a director of some organization named Robrax. It was kind of a pharmaceutical industry enterprise. Hydra was willing to do anything, just to overtake some researches results. Steve only knew they have wanted to make a new biological weapon.

He knew he should be careful, because, following the information he got, it seemed that other organization has wanted him for their own businesses.

Being in a deep thoughtfulness, he easily got at the terrain of the restricted area.

The building was oh so large. White walls and glazed doors were giving that real estate more dignity then he thought in a first moment. With a knife in his hand, he quietly slipped into a large building. He sneaked unheeded next to the guard’s place and he headed directly into the office number 10, located at the second floor.

Taking a staircase, he reached the floor and when he checked that no body’s there, he slowly stepped at the corridor. He went along it until he found a door with a gold numbers on them. Steve opened them and walked inside. Immediately he noticed the man he was looking for.

Dressed in a black suit, guy was sitting in the leather chair, making some notes. Fortunately for Steve, man was facing him with his back.

Captain Hydra walked over to his target and as quickly as he could, he put his palm at man’s mouth to cut over his throat in the next second. It didn’t take long for man to bleed out.

Steve, as soon as he made sure man’s dead, he left the room, putting his knife back into his pocket. He also easily managed to leave the building.

It was first time when he killed someone because of an order. Deep inside the last degraded ounce of his morality was trying to convince him that he was making a huge mistake. But he pushed those thoughts away.

He walked slowly along the street, heading to his apartment, which Hydra has rented for him. The barking of a dog jarred him from his thoughts, body suddenly tense and eyes, hard as steel and just as cold, scanning his surroundings for any threat as he stopped in his tracks. His knife was produced from his pocket, not as large but just as deadly in his capable hands. 

Another noise caught his attention. Footsteps, ten feet behind to the right. His mind was just methodical and calculating. Fingers tightened around the handle of the combat knife, although he showed no outward signs of realizing he was being approached; to any passersby it merely looked as if he was staring off into the jeweled skyline. The darkness would either be a great hindrance or a welcome advantage, but only time would tell..

Click. The sound of the safety switching off of a pistol was all the prompting Steve needed. Moving with a speed unexpected in his depleted state he spun around. A great blaze of light and concussive sound filled the street, the weapon discharging as Steve plunged his knife deep into the chest of his would-be assailant. In that quarter second of movement he had searched, located and struck, the metal blade deftly gliding between ribs and into a lung. The air filled with the sharp scent of copper and iron as blood poured from the wound.

Steve quickly realized it was one of the guards from Robrax.

The haphazard discharge of the weapon had blasted a round into the sidewalk, the sound of it no doubt alerting every person within a two block radius. I need to escape.

The man collapsing into a pool of his own blood, not dead but not quite alive.

If there was one there had to be more, he thought, and they had to be coming for him. He made it two steps before he heard the crack of a sniper rifle, echoing off some far-off building. The next few seconds blurred together, but he remembered being knocked off his feet, air forced from his lungs as he hit the brick wall of the building next to him, knife clamoring from his hand. Heat blossomed on his back, a burst of wet crimson that trickled down his spine as a bullet planted itself squarely into his right shoulder blade. The choking cry of surprise that escaped him startled him.

The pain hadn’t hit him yet, but his body felt like ice. His legs were sluggish underneath him as he struggled to his feet, bolting into an alleyway as he heard another bullet slam into the wall behind him. It’d been a low shot, as if for his leg. They want me alive. The thought filled him with a sick dread as he realized that they wanted to put him back on his leash, or worse, put him down so he couldn’t spill their secrets, although he had no secrets to tell. At least, not as he was now.

Shouts of men filled the street. “Down the alleyway!” and “He’s getting away!” among other things he couldn’t catch. The pain was starting to filter into his awareness, starting as an acidic heat that slowly built in on itself. His heart was pounding, lungs heaving, as he tried to lose the guard’s team in the maze of back alley streets. He needed to get to the apartment.

As he rounded a corner, two guardians spotted him, shouting loudly to others. A swear hissed under his breath, narrowly avoiding another bullet aimed for his legs. His reflexes were slowing, he could feel it, his strength draining from the wound the harder he pushed himself. A pistol was produced from his pocket, only two rounds fired with the same deadly precision he had used to change history numerous times. The first man dropped in a heap, not even getting the luxury to realize he had been hit. The other’s ribs popped wetly as the bullet tore open his side, letting out a ghastly cry as he tumbled to the ground and didn’t get back to his feet.

Without a moment’s hesitation the Steve was gone, vanishing into the darkness like the ghost he was before more of the guard’s team could arrive. Rain earlier in the day had slickened the streets, helping to hide his trail of blood as he snaked his way through the sleeping city. He had no idea how long he was running and barely had any recollection of where he was going, his body operating almost entirely on instinct by the time he reached that familiar building. His running had slowed to a staggering shamble, forcing his legs, which he lost feeling in about three minutes ago, to climb up the flight of stairs.

His breathing came with difficulty, his limbs heavy and blood like ice. The worn clothing he had been wearing was soaked through with his own blood, which still bubbled from the sniper’s bullet.

The door to the second floor apartment seemed like a nearly insurmountable obstacle. His glassed-over eyes darted from the knob to the floor, then to a small, out-of-place planter of tiny flowers. Barely a murmur of thought crossed his mind as he nudged it with his foot, exposing a key. He was too exhausted and in too much pain to question just why he believed there would have been a key there. The key was retrieved, clumsily inserted into the lock, and the door opened without protest; he could have kicked it open or picked the lock like last time, but he didn’t have the time or strength to attempt it.

With a soft clink of metal the key fell from his trembling fingers to the floor, shakily standing at the threshold taking great, heaving breaths. His vision was growing blurry and his hearing muffled, but after a moment of hesitation he stepped inside, pulling the door shut behind him, the click of the lock oddly comforting. Movement in front of him, down the narrow hall, and he knew he wasn’t alone. The pistol was still clutched in his left hand. He tried to take another step but his body had had enough; the pistol dropped to the floor, abandoned, as he tried to steady himself by pressing that palm to the wall.

Something was spoken to him but he didn’t catch it, gaze lifting to where he’d seen the movement earlier. Someone was standing a few yards away now. He didn’t need to hear to know who it was. Breath was inhaled sharply, words attempted but failed.

Emily Vandom. 

His whole body was shaking; it felt like the world was collapsing in on itself all around him. Underneath all the pain was a faint, lingering disappointment. Pain washed his thoughts away, a low whimper in his throat betraying the fact he was injured. He was going to go down, he felt it, and not a moment later did his right leg buckle, his whole body collapsing with it. He fell into something warm and yielding, not hard floor like he expected, but he had no time to ponder it as the darkness closed in on him.

The chronicles of the winter || Part X

Part II  || Part III || Part IV || Part V || Part VI || Part VII|| Parta VIII  || Part IX continuation of imagine

Word Count: 3059

Warnings: smut, unprotected sex, strong language, blood and injuries

Author: Beast

A/N: I’m incredibly sorry fellas for a such long delay! I got a lot of stuff to take care of and tbh I wasn’t really into writing Chronicles for some time. But now, with a huge thanks to my lovely lady and my friends, I decided to make this chapter. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I when I was writing it. And here’s what I wanna announce: only two chapters left. Chronicles will have 12 chapters in all. I hope you won’t mind them to be a bit longer then ever before. And for a smut scene, if some of you, my dear readers, would be interested, I was listening to song made by talented polish vocalist, Kasia Moś. I leave here a link to this song, just in case ♥ Enjoy! :)

Steve had been asleep when he heard the heavy footsteps followed by the door opening; at first he thought it might have been Emily, but then he realized there was no way she would ever make that much noise. He had slipped out of bed silently, shield retrieved from the bedside and brought into a defensive position. A million scenarios ran through his head, none of them pleasant, especially once the sharp scent of blood reached him.

To say he'd been surprised when he saw Bucky in the doorway was an understatement. He caught sight of the pistol the soldier held once he pushed the door shut behind him. He's going to shoot me, had been his first line of thought, and not a moment later he felt extremely guilty for immediately jumping to that conclusion. His body had eased a bit the moment the pistol was dropped, his own shield lowering and eventually dropped as well. There was only a moment's hesitation before he edged forward, closing the gap between them. He stopped a few yards away, not wanting to make him feel cornered.

"Bucky?" he spoke softly, tone gentle and light. His heart skipped a beat when the soldier's head lifted and looked to him, but his hope died when he saw his face. His eyes were greyed, dull and empty and so very tired. The second he saw his legs buckle Steve was right there, catching him before he hit the ground. He'd expected him to struggle, to lash out and fight, not to just lie there limp in his grasp. It'd scared him more than when he'd found his throat clasped in that metal hand. The amount of blood covering his friend was terrifying; who knew how much he could spare to lose in his state.

It'd taken him all of two seconds to get the blood-matted hoody off of the assassin, exposing a torn shirt and a devastating wound on his shoulder. He dimly recalled seeing a similar wound on a soldier Bucky had picked off of his back in the war. A sniper in the city was alarming, but not as surprising as he would have liked.

"D-don't do this to me, Buck" Steve was practically begging, fingers numbed with shock pressed against the wound to the soldier's back in a desperate attempt to stem the bleeding. His other arm gently held him up, cradling him against his body as he tried not to dissolve into fearful panic. Is Hydra after him, or is it Robrax?, Steve thought to himself, trying to calm down.

Steve put as much pressure as he dared on the wound, suddenly very conscious of his strength. Bucky looked so delicate like this, and he wasn't sure if the bullet had caused a fracture. “Emily!” Steve yelled. “Em! I need your help!”

Redhead woman stepped into the room and was about to say something, but she only covered her mouth with hands. “Buck…” silent whisper left her mouth as she quickly got to her knees besides him. “Oh God, Steve, what’s with him!?” “He was shot” Captain said simply, looking around. “I need something, like material.. We need to stop the bleeding” he ordered coldly. Girl nodded slightly getting up. She ran to the bathroom and took two towels from the hangers. Minutes seemed like hours, but eventually the bleeding slowed. Steve scarcely cared that his clothes were now stained with it, just relieved that the mortal danger was now diminished. All towels were completely soaked with Bucky’s blood. Captain didn't waste any time trying to bandage the wound. Getting up and leaving him was not an option, not even for a moment, so he cannibalized his own shirt into a makeshift wrapping. He removed the soldier's shirt first and then folded up some of the fabric and pressed it to the injury. The bullet's possible presence in the wound was dimly acknowledged, but he didn't have the skill or tools to safely extract it. He would treat it proper later, but for now his main focus was to keep the bleeding at a minimum. He broke down his shirt into strips of fabric, knotting it together and using it to secure the fabric pad to the wound. “Steve…” Emily was whispering on and on, her soft hand placed on his shoulder. “Oh my God… We can’t lose him.. I can’t..” “Hush” Steve threw her a brief glance, to take care of Bucky’s wound shortly after.

Throughout the rough medical treatment Bucky hadn't so much as twitched. Steve could feel him breathing, and a quick check told him his pulse was stable, but slower than he would have liked. The serum they had injected him with might not as been as effective as his, but it was doing a fine enough job keeping him alive.

"You're doing great, Bucky" Captain was fully aware that he likely couldn't hear him, but it made him feel a little better to encourage him. He was sure he hadn't heard a kind word directed towards him in decades, and the thought made his heart ache. "You're gonna be fine, Buck, I promise. Me and Em will take care of you.." his voice hitched slightly, hands trembling as he gathered the assassin up into his arms.

He considered moving him to the bedroom but decided against it. Instead he placed him carefully on the sofa, onto his left side so that his breathing wouldn't be obstructed and his wound easily reached.

“Emily, can you gather up some medical supplies, some blankets and a clean shirt, you can find it in my bag” blonde man looked at redhead woman. She obeyed. After some moments she came to the little living room and handled stuff to Steve. Then Steve hit the light switch. A small lamp flickered on, and the scene it revealed drew the blood from his face. The floor was smeared with so much crimson that he doubted the stains would ever lift. His spare key was abandoned on the floor, near the pistol that Bucky had dropped earlier. The ruined clothes he'd removed still lay on the floor next to the towels; he'd be sure to dispose of them carefully. If Hydra really was who had hurt him, then they would no doubt be looking for any sign of him. The light cast a horrible realization of just how awful Bucky looked as well. Now without his shirt, Steve could see every little bruise, every wound that covered the assassin. His stomach turned in disgusted horror at the painful past each scar, each little mark told. Old injuries from knives, bullets and who knew what else were etched into his skin, telling a history devoid of peace and filled with violence. 

A washcloth was produced along with a bottle of disinfectant, wetting the fabric with it before he went to work on some of the smaller wounds. He was silently thankful for his unconsciousness, as he was sure there would be no way to do this had he been fully awake.

The soldier twitched slightly under his fingers as he worked on an old, infected wound on his side, curling into himself before letting out a pained whine. The former SHIELD agent hesitated at that, unsure if he should continue. If he was feeling the disinfectant that meant he had to be regaining consciousness. If he woke up with him hovering over him, covered in his blood and with no memory of how he got there, well, Steve wouldn't blame him in the slightest if he lashed out. He bit his lip, thinking for another moment, before he continued to clean the wound, taking care to be a bit gentler.

"It's okay, Buck, I promise…" he tried to soothe, even if he couldn't hear him yet. "You're safe, you're safe, you're safe…" he repeated it like a mantra as he finished with the wound, placing a pad of gauze over it and securing it with a little medical tape. He didn't dare touch the bullet wound now that he was capable of feeling pain, and he was also rather sure he'd need specialized help with it.

Blood has been cleaned away, Steve dried his hands.

Emily was sitting next to Bucky, holding his hand and stroking it gently. “It’s them, right?” she asked simply, not paying an attention to look at Steve. “Hydra?” He cleared his throat, living the room. “Probably.”

 Steve went to the little cluttered kitchen and he opened a fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. He reentered the room and unscrewed the bottle.

“We need to keep him hydrated” he mumbled, getting on his knees next to the sofa.

Emily took the bottle and slowly lifted Bucky’s head up. Then she carefully helped him to take a simple sip, then another and another.

“What’re we going to do now, Cap?” she asked, her long red hair has fallen on her face.

“I don’t know… I don’t know…” he sighed sadly, rubbing over his temples. “But it seems we are not safe also. If they had attacked their OWN SOLDIER, it means they won’t have any problems to try to kill us either” he shrugged slightly.

Emily nodded in silence, still stroking Bucky’s palm.

“I knew.. From the very beginning.. That it will end like this. I hadn’t any other choice, Steve” she whispered and her voice turned into little weeping. “I had to join them… I HAD TO..”

Steve got up from the floor, putting hands at her shoulders.

“No one of us had” man muttered.

Two days had passed very quickly.

It was a really rough time for Steve and Emily, because they had to look after Bucky and look for a safe hiding place at the same time.

Emily was spending her time with former assassin while Steve was looking for a good place and transport.

And he managed to found something.

From the outside this house looked old, but wonderful. It has been built with cypress wood and has walnut wood decorations. Small, squared windows have been added to the house in a mostly asymmetric way. The house was equipped with a large kitchen and one bathroom, it also had a comfortable living room, two bedrooms, a small dining area and a roomy garage. The building was square shaped. The house was fully surrounded by overgrown wooden overhanging panels. The second floor was smaller than the first, which, in combination with its placement, creates an original look. The roof was high and slanted to one side and is covered with black roof tiles. A few large windows let in just enough light to the rooms below the roof. The house itself was surrounded by a modest garden, with mostly grass and a few small trees. It was a perfect place to stay for a while until Bucky’s wounds will be healed, and Steve’s too.

Emily was slowly getting ready to take a bath.

Looking at her pale, slim body covered with a shirt and fitted leggins, she felt a mix of sadness and distaste. She hated herself for things she had done to people. “I hate you” she whispered toward her reflection in the mirror. “I want you to die, tæve.”

Suddenly she heard the door being opened and shut quickly. Her heart beat faster as she could hear steps crossing the corner. She wanted it for so long… And she couldn’t deny it. Since the day she helped him with his wounds, she was craving him. So badly.

As she finally saw Steve’s smirking face, she let out a loud gasp. “You shouldn’t be in h..” “Shut up” he interrupted her by pushing her against the wall and locking his lips with hers. He could feel her resist at first, but he used his tongue to open Emily’s lips which was when she gave in and kissed him back. They were kissing each other hard now as his hand squeezed her boobs hard. After some time, he finally let her breathe. Still gasping for air, she stuttered. “W-what are you doing?.. What are WE doing, Steve..” He grinned at her and gave her a soft kiss while taking off her leggins. “Taking what’s mine, baby.” He slipped her shirt over her head and threw it on aside, where it’s quickly been joined by his own shirt. She was still leaning against the wall, still a little hesitant but definitely turned on as Steve can tell from her glowing cheeks and her rushing eyes. “Steve…” she bit her lower lip, looking hardly into his eyes.

She good knew it was one of the moments, when he wasn’t himself at all. Now he was Captain Hydra, not kind and polite Steve Rogers. Sometimes it was just like this, that he was loosing his personality for several minutes or a bit longer. And he was turning into a mess. She hated such moments, but she had to deal with it. And now, with that thick sexual tension in between them, she wasn’t even about to complain. Because she wanted him. She wanted Steve to fuck her senseless until she would be begging him to stop. She simply needed that. He grabbed her hand and guided it down his abs into his boxers. As she felt his hard cock, she let out a loud gasp and pull hand back quickly, but immediately regaining her confidence, she slided hand down again and firmly grab his cock. She noticed just now that he had undone her bra while he began to tease her hard nipples with his warm tongue, circling around and flicking against them. She began to stroke his cock slowly, as she looked into his eyes, mumbling. “We should stop, what if HE come in here?” He laughed quietly, quickly shove his hand into her lacy panties and thrust two fingers into her already soaking wet pussy. As she started to moan loudly, Steve immediately covered her mouth with his other hand and whispered into her ear. “Can you shut the fuck up now, baby? Unless you want Bucky to catch us now.”

He slipped Emily’s leggins off and turned her around, pushing her front against the cold tiles before slapping her ass and rubbing her wet pussy from behind. Steve saw that she was dripping down her leg, so he kneeled down behind her and start kissing his way up her inner thighs, licking up every single drop on the way. Having reached the top, he circled his tongue around the outline of her little pussy, causing even more wetness. Steve could feel Emily’s body shivered as he started eating her out. He digged his tongue deep into her and moved it up and down slowly but firmly. Simultaneously, his thumb rubbed across her clit, as he heard multiple soft moans escaping her mouth. “Steve, I’m gonna cum.. she moaned. He stopped licking immediately and came back up to her face. “No. You’re gonna cum when I want you to, understand?” She suddenly looked worried. “He must be wondering where I Am.” Steve slapped her ass and shoved her against the wall hard. “You should be worrying about me, nothing else. I’m gonna fuck you now and you’re gonna be a good girl.”

He took off his pants and threw them into the corner. As Emily took his cock into her hand and started to get on her knees, he grabbed her by the neck and pulled her back up, holding her face right in front of his. “None of this bullshit, baby.” He pushed her into the corner between the cold tile wall and a sink and lifted up one of her legs. Steve stood in front of her and quickly pushed his hard cock into her dripping pussy without wasting any time. Emily’s arms locked around his back and as he started thrusting himself into her, her nails digged into his butt, causing him to thrust even faster. As a loud moan tried to escape her mouth again, Captain quickly suffocated it by kissing her hard. He could feel her body losing control with every increase of pace. All her sense was his scent, his sweaty, muscular body pushing against hers, his throbbing cock pounding and stretching her tight little pussy, hitting her inner walls. Steve covered her mouth once more as her moans turned into screams. He felt her body shivered, then clenched hard around his cock for a second before shaking uncontrollably again as she bit one of his fingers that was covering her mouth. Steve pulled out his hard cock and once again Emily tried to get on her knees to make him cum with her mouth but she almost fell over, still having very little control of her own body. He grabbed her quickly and picked her up. “Did I say we’re done?” She looked a little scared as she saw the burning hunger in Steve’s eyes. He grabbed her hair and pulled her to the sink, bending her over the counter. He slapped her butt hard, before he shoved his thick cock into her again from behind. This time was much quicker. Steve immediately started to pounding as hard as he only could, while pulling her head up by her hair so she could see him fucking her in the mirror. After roughly several seconds, he felt the familiar shivering and clenching, this time causing him to cum inside her pumping pussy as well. “FUCK, STEVE!” she couldn’t hold it any longer and screamed Steve’s name loudly, not caring if Bucky will hear it. Steve waited till he felt that every drop of his cum has been shot into her, then he pulled out his cock. He turned her around, kissed her hard one last time and smiled. “Good, baby. Now I know what Bucky meant telling me you’re the rapture” blonde man rushed to put his clothes back on, then he simply left the bathroom, fastening his belt, leaving Emily shaking and naked. Trembling all over her sweaty body, she looked after him, then she quickly closed the door to bathroom and got under the shower. She felt his semen dripping down her thighs. Emily allowed the cold water to stimulate her mind and body, pulling her out of the blissful lethargy after a fulfillment in arms of Captain Rogers.

My little treasure || Part I

Teaser

WORD COUNT: 1261

WARNINGS: none

AUTHOR: Cass

Bucky was washing plates after dinner when He heard doorbell. He wiped his hands and walked to door. In open door Bucky saw young boy. It was Grant.

He literally was a mini version of Steve.

He was Just a short blue eyed boy with short blond hair, He was really skinny, just like Steve before serum. He was holding his strap from bag tight in his hands Bucky liked this boy, He wasn’t so bad but He really wasn’t happy to see him. “Morning Mr. Barnes… Is Andrea home? I want her to go on a walk with me.” Grant asked softly, trying to look over Bucky’s shoulder, looking for Andrea

Bucky raised an eyebrow Now He really didn’t liked it. “Yeah… Sure… She is in her room… I will call her. Come in and wait in living room.” Boy nodded and slowly went to living room. Grant knew Bucky very well, He was his father’s best friend but Bucky still was scary. Big guy with metal arm. Bucky walked to stairs “Andrea! Someone’s here to met with you.” He yelled and returned to kitchen.

Andrea slowly walked downstairs and blinked looking at Grant  “Grant!” She yelled happily and ran to him quickly. Grant smiled and hugged her tight “Hey, I heard you are sick… what happen? Are you okay… I’m worried now.”

Andrea smiled “Don’t everything is fine… I mean… Nightmares… they are back…. And… I’m scared.” She said sadly and nuzzled to him.

Grant sighed and hugged her really tight and stroked her back “Everything will be fine… Maybe we should go on a walk? It will be good for you.” He said and looked at her.

Andrea nodded softly and looked at him “Daddy?! Can I go on a walk?

Bucky looked out from kitchen and nodded looking at Andrea “Sure sweetheart.” He said and looked at Grant frowning. Andrea walked to Bucky and kissed his cheek “Thanks dad.” She said and then grabbed Grant’s hand and pulled him behind herself.

In park, Andrea sat on grass and sighed softly looking at the sky “You know… sometime… I wish I could be normal…” She said quietly and looked at Grant. He sat next to her “Andrea… you are normal.” Andrea smile and looked at her metal hand “Look at it… metal hand, who normal have hand like this? I’m a freak… I feel like… the worst one..” Grant blinked “Hey… and how I should feel? Look at me.” He smiled at her “I’m Sickly, skinny, weak and My father is Captain America! The guy that is as big as your dad, I look like my dad on his old photos… For me you are just unique, you aren’t weird, scary or anything… just unique.” He said and took her metal hand in his.

Andrea smiled and hugged to him “Thank you.” “You are welcome, now let’s go home, it’s getting late.” Grant said and got up, Andrea followed him slowly. During their way home They me group of girls that were always bullying Andrea.

“Hey There weirdo! Oooh! Look girls! one freak found another one. Is he your boyfriend Freak?!” Leader of group asked looking at Grant. Andrea quickly hide her hand and looked down scared “I asked you something freak!” Girl yelled at Andrea “Hey! Leve her alone!” Grant growled.

Girl smiled “Oooohh… look He is a hero now. Come on girls, let’s show him how it ends when you protect a freak with metal hand.” Girl said and She and her friends attacked. Andrea tried help him but girls without problem pushed her away.

After few minutes girls laughed “Let’s go girls… they got their lesson. Better don’t try tell anyone.” Leader of group said to Andrea and they all left.

Andrea quickly ran to Grant  “Oh my god Grant…” She said quietly and took his face in her hands “Oh my god… you look terrible… let’s go… We will help you in home.” Andrea helped Grant got up and took him home.

Bucky looked at them “What the Fu…. Heck happened to him?” He asked when Andrea helped Grant sat on couch “Just… just help him dad… please…” Andrea said and quickly went to find first aid kit. She brought it to her father.

Bucky sighed and started take care of every scratch. Bucky sighed sadly, it was like past. Well, it wasn’t Steve… but Grant looked just like his father especially now. After few Bucky looked at Grant “Okay…. I did as much as I could.” Bucky got up from couch and walked to Andrea.

“Thank you, Mr Barnes… but you really didn’t had to.” Grant said and slowly got up.

Bucky smiled and ruffled Andrea’s hair “Let’s take your hero home, I’m sure his dad and mom are worried.”

Grant sighed sadly and nodded slowly “You are right Sir.”

Bucky took both kids to car and took them to Steve home.

It was small white house, Steve was sitting on porch, waiting at his son to return home because it was getting late.

Woman walked to him and rubbed his shoulder. It was his wife. Beautiful, blue eyed young woman with short blond hair “He is with Andrea… I’m sure Bucky will bring him home.” She said softly to Steve

“Martha… I don’t care. You good know what I think about her… Maybe Bucky isn’t Winter soldier anymore… but She can be. We don’t know what they…” Steve stopped talk when he heard Bucky’s car.

He quickly got up form chair and went to. He froze when he saw Grant “What the hell Barnes! What you little monster did to him?!” He yelled. Bucky frowned and looked at Steve, hiding Andrea behind himself.

“Dad… Don’t. She did nothing.” Grant said.

“I don’t care… I good know you gonna protect your ‘Friend’. Go home now, Martha… take care of him.” He growled and looked at his wife.

Grant quickly went to his mother “Mom… it’s not her fault… The girls… I was protecting her.” Grant said. Woman nodded “I’m sure you were… let’s go home…” She said and took boy inside.

“I hope you are proud of your girl Barnes.” Steve said frowning

“She did nothing…” Bucky muttered looking at Steve.

“Oh really… look at Grand… You saw what happened? Maybe she is lying to you and Grant protect… this… little child of Hydra.” Steve said pointing toward girl.

Bucky frowned and grabbed Steve’s hand “Don’t you dare…. Call her that.” Bucky growled.

“Or what…. She gonna hurt me with this little metal hand?” Then Steve could feel how cold metal hit him right into stomach. Steve fell onto his knees holding his stomach tight.

“Not her metal hand… but my, Rogers.” Bucky said “You think you are better? You changed a lot… and not in good meaning.” Man picked up girl and sighed “I know that She didn’t did anything bad… She is my girls.” Bucky smiled and looked at Steve over his shoulder “If for you she is still a child of Hydra… than I’m still The Winter Soldier for you. Till the end of the line…” Bucky laughed “I think our line ends here, pal.”

Bucky sat girl on her seat in car and then took driver seat and drove away.

Steve growled when he got up “Fucker…” He muttered and went back inside.

After few minutes Andrea looked at Bucky form the back seat

“Dad…” She asked quietly.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Bucky asked and looked at his daughter in the mirror.

“Who Am I…?” Andrea looked at him in the mirror.

My little treasure || Part II

Teaser || Part I 

WORD COUNT: 1450

WARNINGS: none

AUTHOR: Cass

‘’Andrea! Get into the car.” Bucky said looking at his daughter “Nooo I don’t want to go to S.H.I.E.L.D, daddy... please.” She whimpered looking at him with her big blue eyes. “Sweetheart... Stop, you know you need to. Please, get into the car. It will be only few hours.” Bucky told her and stroked her hair.

Andrea nodded slowly “Okay daddy.”

Bucky sighed heavily and got onto his seat  “It will be okay, you will see.” Andrea only nodded.

Bucky took Andrea inside S.H.I.E.L.D and straight into the lab.

Martha smiled at Bucky “Bucky! I’m so glad you came.”

“I had to. It’s Andrea’s day.” Bucky muttered and looked at girl “Go, sweetheart, I will go to talk with big Director of New S.H.I.E.L.D.” Bucky rolled his eyes.

Martha looked at him sadly “Bucky.. please... He didn’t meant to.” She said.

Bucky nodded. “Yes... Just like he didn’t mean anything fourteen years ago... Since he is director of new S.H.I.E.L.D he changed... maybe you don’t see this... but I do.” He sighed. “Okay... See you later. Take care of my girl.” Bucky smiled at Andrea and left lab.

Martha looked at Andrea, girl wasn’t in great mood. “Oh come on... I can’t start our stuff when you are so sad. Let’s find something to cheer you up.” woman said.

“I’m not five years old anymore... You’re not gonna give me a toy to make me feel better.” Andrea muttered.

Martha sighed. “Who said something about toys. Grant... can you come here?”

Andrea blinked and smiled “Grant!” She ran to him and hugged him tight. He smiled and hugged her back, nuzzling to her shoulder.

“How do shoulder?” She asked and looked at him worried.

Grant shrugged. “A bit sore... but... better now.” He said softly. Andrea laughed softly and ruffled his blond hair.

Martha smiled at them “Come on Andrea. We should start. Grant can hold your hand if you are scared.” She giggled.

“I wish I could... but... Dad asked me to go see him... I want go there as soon as possible... Because you know..” Grant said and looked at Andrea.

She nodded and smiled. “Go... I will try not to ran away.” Andrea giggled.

Grant smiled and nodded, than he left the lab.

“I will go to my office now, someone will take care of small research. I will take care of bigger one. As always.” Marth smiled and went to her office.

Andrea sat on one of the metal tables. She sighed and looked around, she was used to all those reserches, but she still hated it. She was visiting this place once per month. Since she could remember.

Suddenly she saw two women. One of them was new to her and other was just Martha’s assistant.

New woman walked to Andrea and smiled. “Hello there. I’m Alana and you need to be....” She said slowly and looked at paper that she had in hand. “Object… HCH-13. It’s nice to meet you.”

Andrea blinked and looked at woman. “I…. I’m sorry… I don’t understand… My… My name is Andrea… Andrea Barnes…” She said slowly.

“No… I see this in documents… You are object HCH-13” woman said again.

Suddenly Marta and her assistant walked to woman, but Andrea was quicker and grabbed documents from woman’s hand.

She started read it. “Object HCH-13,  Found in one of Hydra’s base.  Humanoid object, looking like three years old child with metal hand (Probably Hydra’s experiment) Orders: capture, shut down in New S.H.I.E.L.D facility. Make research every month, staring at day of arrival of object into facility. Object may be highly dangerous. Signed… Director… Steve Rogers…” Than paper was ripped out of her hand by Martha.

“WHAT IS IT?!” Andrea yelled. “What this suppose to mean?!”

“Nothing you should be interested in, young lady… I told you to tell every new member about HCH-13 case…” Martha snapped at her assistant.

When Marta’s wasn’t looking, Andrea quickly ran out of lab, heading upstairs to Steve’s office.

“Steve, I told you I won’t give her away. She is with me since we found her.”  Bucky muttered.

“Buck, we talked about this… Okay maybe it wasn’t her yesterday but I still don’t trust her in 100%. We can’t be sure. She will be adult soon, maybe something will activate in her, she may be dangerous.” Steve said frowning. “I’m not a monster, I know. She is still a kid but I’m worried about safety. That’s all.” Blond man explained shortly.

“Steve… I understand… But she was too small then and look… nothing happened, whole fourteen years. Nothing, she was just a girl with metal hand.” Bucky shrugged.

Steve sighed heavily and Bucky shook his head annoyed.

Grant was waiting outside Steve’s office. He was surprised when he saw Andrea. “Andrea… What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk with your and my dad…” She growled, walking inside. Grant followed her.

Steve looked at Grant and Andrea “Sorry… Did I say that any of you can come in?”

“I don’t care what you said! Because every word from you is a lie!” Andrea said angrily.

Bucky looked at Steve and then back at  Andrea. “Sweetheart… What are you talking about?”

“About documents… about fact that someone like ‘Andrea Barnes’ doesn’t exist! I’m not Bucky’s daughter.” She said frowning.

Steve smiled “Andrea… Don’t be silly, you exist.  If you wouldn’t I wouldn’t talk with you now.”

“You aren’t talking with Andrea… You are talking with Object HCH-13.” She growled.

Bucky and Steve were silent. Grant looked at her “Andrea… What are you talking about…?”

“Truth… There is no Andrea… I’m an object… Object that ‘May be dangerous’.” She said and swallowed heavily. “Orders: capture, shut down in New S.H.I.E.L.D facility… Your own words Steve… What are you gonna tell me now?” She asked.

Steve looked at Andrea, than at his son. “That’s all true. Those were my orders… Without him.” He pointed at Bucky. “And only because he is my friend you are still alive. You are nothing more but next Hydra experiment. I should’ve killed you when I had a chance to…”

“Steve! Stop it! Don’t you even dare to say this!” Bucky yelled at Steve and looked at terrified girl. “Andrea… Sweetheart…” He said walking to her slowly “Listen to me… I know it’s hard, but… look everything is fine… you have good life, you have father, you have great friend.” Bucky looked at seriously confused Grant.

“Did you know..?” Andrea asked looking at him.

“Yes… I knew about everything, I found you… I took you home.” Bucky said nodding.

“And you were telling me that I’m your DAUGHTER! YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT I’M UNIQUE, YOU LIED TO ME. YOU WERE LYING FOR SO LONG!” Andrea’s screams were full of pain and anger.

Bucky gently touched her cheek and sighed. “Sweetheart… please… You are my daughter, not matter what you are unique.” He said.

“Don’t… Touch me ever again..” She growled and using her metal hand she punched Bucky right in chest, sending him on a floor.

Before all happened Bucky could see anger…. Or more like pure rage in her eyes. Rage that he good knew from the time when he still was fresh after “Healing from being the Winter Soldier”. Bucky tried quickly get up from floor but her hit was too strong.

“Now you..” She growled looking at Steve. Andrea started quickly walk toward him, but then she felt like someone grabbed her. It was Grant.

“Andrea.. don’t.. it’s not their fault… this all happened.” He said holding her arm.

Andrea growled and tried punch him but he caught her hand, it was hard but he did this. “Andrea… please… look… look what you are trying to do.” He said looking at her.

Andrea was breathing heavily watching him, she calmed down a bit.

Then whole rage and anger faded, it all changed into tears. She looked around and started cry “I… I…. I didn’t mean to, I… I don’t know what… Why I did this.” Andrea   broke down and slowly sat on floor. Grant joined her on floor and hugged her tight. “Shh… it’s okay now… calm down.”

Bucky looked at them and sighed heavily when  he sat on floor holding side of his chest. Steve looked frowning at doors when Martha and her assistant ran inside. Martha even didn’t asked what had happed, she good knew what happened.

Marta sent her assistant to Bucky and she walked to Andrea and Grant . She looked at them sadly. “Don’t worry Grant, I will take care of her.” She said quietly looking at girl. Andrea was hugging Grant really tight. Like he was her last hope.

Rockabye

WORD COUNT: 1115

SUMMARY: A look at that night of Tony and Pepper's first kiss - how did Tony & Pepper handle those events between kissing and being in a relationship?

WARNINGS: none, excepting a lot of fluff ☺

AUTHOR: Killer raccoon

Tony had gotten to her just in time. She could have died-but now she was freaking out and quitting and babbling and he was so confused, panicking that she was quitting and he was still going to lose her even though he just saved her life.

Tony was losing his mind over this woman.

He was in love with Pepper and he couldn't even touch her. He couldn't even beg her to stay, to be his. Ever since he got back from Afghanistan, ever since that dance, that night on the roof- he was desperate for her affection, for any sense of intimacy with her. He was different, despite a few major lapses of judgment in the face of his own mortality, he was a different man now. This was love- if she knew that, if she believed him and trusted him, would that change anything for her?

He was going out of his mind in her presence, and messing things up with her worse than usual, way beyond just his usual annoying antics he seemed to genuinely be pissing her off. But she was quitting, and he was losing her anyway. And she was babbling, and it was just so damn adorable he couldn't take it anymore. It was almost instinct, he grabbed her and kissed her mid-sentence.

For a moment it was a relief, but the panic quickly returned. Was she going to slap him? Was she going to be insulted, even after all they had been through, would she call him unprofessional? Instead she encouraged him to kiss her again and assured him it wasn't weird. And it was the best thing that had ever happened to him. But they were interrupted.

The ride back to stark mansion was a little awkward. He felt like a damn teenager on his first date, he wanted to hold her hand. He wanted to make out in the back seat. He felt so unsure of himself, but he settled for sitting beside her and resting his head on her shoulder with his hand on her knee.

When they got back to the house Tony began rambling, "I know we just kissed on the roof, it was amazing by the way. And I know that we're not, um, dating? …Yet! Which by the way, is what I want to happen, if there was any question on that. Look, we can talk about this more in the morning. But what I am really asking is, will you stay? The night? With me? Not like in a sexy way, I know you're not ready for that. Are you? You aren't. Just, stay with me tonight and we can talk in the morning and deal with the fallout from Vanko and everything, together, from here. Would you please just not leave?"

Tony was getting worked up and Pepper had to admit that she found it adorable, so she let him go on until there was nothing left to say, his question hanging in the air. The silence made him uneasy, so he added, "Pepper, I'm not trying to seduce you. Not technically anyway. I'm trying to make you fall in love with me."

Pepper was surprised by his direct admission, but she couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I'm already in love with you, Tony…Despite my better judgment. I will stay here, but NO sex and we have to talk about a few things in the morning okay? Those are the rules."

He was practically like a puppy; he picked her up, ran upstairs and dropped her on his bed before she could change her mind. And before he could remember how hurt and exhausted he was.

"I'll go get you a t-shirt to sleep in."

Pepper crawled into bed next to him after a little freshening up in the bathroom. Tony was so tired he was on the verge of passing out waiting for her, but he wanted to be awake for that moment when she came back. He wasn't going to miss that. By tomorrow he could mess everything up again, what if this was his only chance.

She was the cutest thing he had ever seen, even if he was looking through drooping eyelids that he could barely hold open. She was dressed in his t-shirt, no makeup, her hair lose. He hoped she would always dress that way for bed, it was even more appealing than lingerie, and he hoped he got a lot more chances to see it.

Once Pepper was settled beside him and the lights were off, Tony mustered up the strength to stay awake for just one question.

"Pepper?"

"Yes, Tony?"

"Can I maybe give you a goodnight kiss?"

There was a slight pause.

"Okay Tony" she finally responded.

He rolled over, hovering just above her taking in her presence. It was like nothing he'd ever experienced, she held all the cards, and he was so vulnerable. He was the one worried she wouldn't be there when he woke up.

He tenderly brushed the hair off her neck and cupped the back of her head. He licked his lips and slowly placed a soft kiss on her lips, sucking on her bottom lip gently before he pulled away.

"Goodnight Pepper" he said a little breathlessly as he pulled away to lie back down on his side of the bed.

When he lay back down he noticed her body had followed his, pressing up against his side. He felt her hand travel up his chest until she reached his chin and angled his face to look back at her.

"What are you doing?" he asked her, a little confused yet smug.

"You gave me a good night kiss….now I'm giving you one."

She smiled as she pressed her lips, her body against his. Tony had been a gentleman but she wanted a little more. She deepened the kiss and felt him suppress a slight moan as they breathed each other in, their lips clashing a little desperately. All too soon, she pulled back, her lips moist with the taste of him. If she didn't stop now she didn't know if she could, and they were both exhausted and needed to talk.

"Goodnight Tony" she whispered.

"Goodnight Pepper" came his soft reply.

She snuggled up behind him and placed a soft kiss on his shoulder blade before she wrapped her arm over his side, he took her hand and held it to his chest before he completely passed out, as though they had done that a thousand times before.

They needed to talk, but really, by the time they both closed their eyes and nodded off - they were already in a relationship.

My little treasure || Part III

Teaser || Part I || Part II

WORD COUNT: 2930

WARNINGS: none

AUTHOR: Cass

It was only two days after whole Andrea’s accident. She stayed in S.H.I.E.L.D.

Andrea was looking at white wall still lying in her bed. Suddenly she heard a voice .

“Hey… How do you feel?” It was grant. He solely sat on Andrea’s bed when she sat up.

“Good… but I still feel bad… because of this what happened two days ago.” She said sadly.

Grant smiled softly and stroked her hair. “It’s okay, nothing too bad happened. Everything is fine now.”

Andrea sighed heavily and quickly broked down. She started cry. “No! It’s not! I’m a monster! Machine… next Hydra’s experiment!”

Grant looked at her. “Hey hey hey… Shhh…” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. “It’s okay now. Andrea… please calm down.” Grant said and pulled her onto his laps.

“But… l.. look… What I did… I hurt my dad… I wanted hurt you… Why… Why you tried to stop me… I could kill you..”

Grant stroked her cheek and sighed. “Because you are important to me. I wasn’t scared… I will always try to protect you… I could die for you.” He told her.

Andrea looked at him in shock. “G-Grant… what are you saying..”

“All I’m saying is…” He said slowly and kissed her. Andrea blinked but didn’t pull away, she kissed him back.

“I just love you.” He finished after braking the kiss “I will never let anything bad happen to you.” He said and Andrea only nodded. Grant laughed softly and kissed her again.

After few minutes they both jumped surprised when they heard angry voice. “Am I interrupting in something?!” It was Steve and this time he was really pissed.

Grant looked at Steve. Andrea also looked at him, he was really scared. “Dad…. I  just… I mean we…” Grant looked at Andrea.

“I can see what you two are doing! I told you, she is Hydra’s experiment. She showed what she is capable to. She is a dangerous creature!” Steve growled in a low voice of his.

Grant let Andre sit on bed and he got up. “No! She is not! I love her! And I don’t care anymore what you think about her. Because I LOVE HER!”

“And you are my son, MY son! And as long as I’m alive you will do what I say.” Steve grabbed Grant’s arm and pulled him out of the room. “I don’t care what you think about her. She is walking monster!” Steve growled at Grant.

He suddenly saw Bucky. “And you! Keep this thing away from my son!” Steve yelled at Bucky and left hospital with Grant.

Bucky blinked confused and watched as blond man left the building. “Um… it’s nice… to see you two too..” He said slowly and went to Andrea’s room.

Girl was hiding under her blanket, Bucky looked at this really worried. He sat on bed and rubbed her back.

“Go away Grant… your dad hate me…” She whimpered.

Bucky smiled “I’m not sure if my name is Grant.”

Andrea sat up and looked at Bucky from under blanket, “DAD!” She whimpered happily and hugged to him tight.

“Calm down, or you will break more of my ribs.” He giggled and hugged her back tight, “I missed you, little one.”

“How do you feel… w-what I did to you..” Andrea asked and looked at him.

Bucky only smiled at her “For me more important is how you feel but… I only have few ribs broken. I don’t know how many… I didn’t listen. I was more worried about my daughter.”

Andrea sighed and looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I… I didn’t mean to dad… I don’t know… I was so angry, scared. This rage, it ripped me from the inside. I wasn’t controlling myself. I’m sorry.”

Bucky looked at her and put his hand on her cheek. “Sweetheart… please, shhh. It’s okay, I understand, I good know this feeling.” He told her.

Andrea nodded and hugged to him tight. Bucky spend few hours with her before he had to go back.

Martha knocked to Andreas door. “Knock knock. How’s my favorite patient?” She asked and slowly sat on Andrea's bed .“I hope you feel better, Andrea. Just I wanna you to know that Bucky will be able to take you home soon, I hope you are happy.” She smiled.

Girl only smiled sadly and nodded “Yes… I wanna go home, to dad.” She said quietly.

“Andrea… something’s wrong? I can see that you are quiet… and I’m sure that this time it’s not because the thing that happened two days ago.” Martha sighed and got up from bed. She walked to girl. “Come on tell me..”

Andrea looked at her. Andrea felt bad because of everything. Because of thing that happened, because of Bucky and Steve and because of Grant. She told everything to Martha.

Martha giggled. “Finally my son had shown some balls…” She muttered to herself and sighed. “You know what… I think you shouldn’t think about this. Everything will be fine. Things like this won’t happen again, Bucky is quickly returning to health and Steve… He is himself, but don’t worry. I won’t let him separate you with Grant. Now… It’s getting late, you should try to sleep a bit, okay?”

Andrea smiled and nodded, now she felt much better “Thank you..” She said.

Martha nodded. “No problem Kid… I will be back at morning to check upon you. Good night and see you tomorrow.”  

Andrea spent few days in hospital, after this time Bucky took her back home.

Girl happily flopped on her own bed in her own home, Andrea sat slowly on bed and looked at Bucky. “Dad… I… can we talk about me? I mean… about what I am?” She looked at Bucky with her big puppy’s eyes.

Bucky smiled sadly and nodded, he sat next to her. “Just… remember, no matter what I always love you.” Andrea nodded “Sure… I love you too, dad.” Bucky smiled sadly. “So… it was fourteen years ago..” He began.

 ~~~~~~ fourteen years ago~~~~~~

 “Everyone's down?” Steve sighed heavily picking up his shield from floor.

“Well, no one shoots to us anymore, so I think yes, Cap.” Bucky looked around and smiled at his friend.

Steve nodded and put shield on his back. “So… Agents will go there and we will go to main lab.”  Steve ordered and few agents that were with them left them alone on the corridor “You okay, Buck?”

“I just…” He looked around again, Bucky felt really uncomfortable. “Just… bad memories.. but let’s go. We should check what those sick bustards were doing here.” Man muttered and started walking toward main lab.

Steve followed his friend.

Main lab was a huge room, filled with all kinds of weird things. Many books, boxes with documents. Photos of some creepy stuff.

Bucky looked at documents. “That makes sense…” Bucky muttered.

“What is it, Buck? What do you mean?” Steve asked.

“Look at those photos, Steve… they were experimenting on people, kids… even unborn one…” Bucky put few pages of documents on table.

Steve looked at them. “Yes… Look… This woman… She got missing few weeks ago.” He picked up documents and started looking trough them. “13 years old girl… pregnant woman… Man from store… Mother and her newborn son… Everyone that ever reported missing from city below.  Just reading their treatment makes me sick…” Steve shook his head and shivered.

“I never really met with such a cruelty from Hydra… I mean I knew they can be cruel…” Bucky muttered, walking around in room, checking under tables and other place where they could find something.

“I think it’s more like new… branch of Hydra. All those adults that think they can make Hydra great again… Like we can see they left really quickly… or those few that we met were last one in here. I have no idea.” Steve shrugged “I will have to move all those stuff to S.H.I.E.L.D, and I will have to send letters to families… You know… When we were at war. I thought it is hard, but it's harder than I ever thought.” Steve said and looked at Bucky.

But Bucky wasn’t really listening to his friend, he found small room. It had working light and it was warm. There was small bed inside, some toys, small clothes were laying on floor and on a small chair. “What the hell…” Bucky muttered and walked inside. “Bucky…” Steve blinked and followed his friend slowly.

Bucky looked around, room was really small, but only now Bucky could see pink walls covered in childish drawing, whole place looked better than whole place. Bucky also saw table with long  tablecloth. He could hear some quiet sounds from there. He slowly walked to table, man got onto his knees and slowly moved tablecloth up.

There was sitting a small girl. With short dark brown hair, she had big green eyes, small pink lips and she was really skinny. Girl looked at Bucky scared and moved herself away from man.

“Hey hey… shhh… look, I’m not one of those man. They were coming to you? They were bad? You are scared of  those man?” Bucky asked quietly.

Girl whimpered and nodded three times.

Bucky smiled at her. “Hey, we are here to help you, little one. We will take you home, to your mommy and daddy. Come on now… look I have this special hand… It will protect you.” He said and pulled out his metal arm toward girl.

She looked at him but after a minute she moved closer to him.

“That’s it. You are a good and smart girl.” Bucky said softly and wrapped arm around girl. Bucky hugged girl and got up from floor. “You are safe now, no one gonna hurt you.”

Steve looked at him. “What the hell are you doing with this child?!” Steve frowned.

“Calm down Steve… She is just a child, she’s not gonna hurt us.” Bucky smiled.

“Look at her! We know nothing about her. She is Hydra’s experiment. We don’t know what sit in her.” He growled and took his shield in his hand “We can’t let her live.”

Bucky frowned. “Are you kidding me? She is just a child.” Bucky said hugging again scared girl to him. “I don’t let you kill her, she is so small.”

“She is Hydra experiment. You think why they keep her alive?” Steve said.

“Then why you never killed me, Steve? I was an experiment too. Good man changed into killing machine by HYDRA.” Bucky said and looked at girl. “Let me take care of her… I promise… I will do everything.”

Steve frowned. “Fine…” He put shield on his back. “But if anything ever happen because of this thing… it will be only your responsibility.”

Bucky nodded and looked at girl. “You see… I told you.” He smiled when girl looked at him and smiled back. Her smile was still caused by her fear but Bucky could feel that she was really happy because she was safe now.

Whole paper work in S.H.I.E.L.D took a lot of time. Bucky saw girl's documents but he didn’t like what Steve wrote there. He agreed at those words only because Steve promised she won’t ever see those documents.

Girl was sitting at big metal table in lab. Bucky stayed close, while Martha was examining her.

“She looks healthy, I mean. She isn’t sick… but there is one thing.. that made me worry.” She said and looked at Bucky.

“What is it?” He blinked, he started feel something weird inside. Since they found her, he got really attached to her. It was weird but nice feeling for him. It was something new, something that made him feel warm inside. He wanted this girl to be safe whole time. Was it because they shared similar life. Hydra's experiment, good person destroyed by sick people, loners found by good person. He had no idea… but he really liked this feeling.

“I mad X-rey. She has a metal hand…” Martha said.

Bucky looked at her and at girl. “Um… Sorry Martha.. but I don’t see it.” He said really confused.

“I also thought it but look..” She walked to girl. “Will you let me show Uncle Bucky the magic trick with your skin?” Martha asked, looking at girl.

Girl smiled at woman and at Bucky, she nodded and giggled quietly.

Bucky felt even more warm inside when he heard this quiet sound, he felt… good, he felt happy.

Martha nodded and slowly pulled off skin from girl’s hand “It’s some kind of… bionic skin, I think I will send it to Stark. He will know what to do with it.”

Bucky looked at hand “They… hide it… but why?” He walked to girl and took her small had into his hands.

Martha shrugged. “Maybe she had to be some secret weapon. We will never find out I think. But as far as I see she is fine. We didn’t find anything bad in her. She is just too skinny, but it will quickly go back to normal. You talked with Steve?”

Bucky nodded and sat on table, girl climbed on his laps by herself and put her hand on his arms. Then smiled at him. Bucky smiled softly “Yes I talked with him,  I want adopt her. Take her with me to home.” He said.

Martha blinked. “Are you sure? I mean we don’t know if she is 100% okay.”

Bucky nodded. “I was in similar situation too… Steve helped me. It’s time for me to help someone, we both are from Hydra's hands… Who else will be able to help her better than me.”

Martha smiled softly. “If you say so Bucky.” She nodded. “She is three years old but she doesn’t have a name.” She said and looked at Bucky.

“I thought about one… Andrea, I like this name. I think it will be perfect for her.” Man said and girl smiled at him.

Martha smiled. “Okay, fine. Better go home now. She needs rest, food, water and love.”

First few months with Andrea were hard. It took Bucky long time to figure out what girl like to eat and what she doesn’t like. What she likes to wear and what not.

Bucky was giving Andrea almost whole his time. When she was asleep he was preparing room for her. She was getting sick many times what meant that Bucky spent many nights with girl in his bed, making sure she is okay. It was hard, Bucky was making so many stuff at once that he slept when he could, while waiting at microwave to stop, when Andrea was with Martha at her research, during girl’s nap time.

But it all was worth it. After few months Andrea started talk, she started eat properly, she started smile more often, many night were peaceful for Bucky and for Andrea. Bucky lived moments that he thought will never come to him. Visits at playground, trips to cinema to see new move for children, walks to zoo. Bucky couldn’t be more happy than He was with his adopted daughter.

He was often leaving Andrea with Steve’s son and their babysitter. Steve wasn’t really happy because of this fact, but Martha was really good in calming down her stubborn husband.

When Andrea met Grant she was even more happy. Bucky had to learn her good manners, how to act around other people and explain girl that she isn’t weird but special.

Andrea looked at him. “Dad… m… maybe you aren’t my real dad, but I never knew my real parents… I love you… and… thank you for everything. All those sleepless night that you spend with me, all this time that you gave me trough my whole life.”

Bucky smiled and hugged her. “It was all worth it… Because now I have wonderful young lady… and she is my lovely daughter.”

“Dad… Can you do something for me?”

“What is it, sweetheart?” Bucky sighed softly.

“Can… can you do something so Grant will come here. Steve really made sure he won’t visit me… and… I miss him.” She said sadly.

Bucky smiled and ruffled her hair. “I will try my best. Now try to relax you are finally home.

Next Andrea got up really late. When she walked to kitchen she saw Bucky, Martha and Grant.

Grant saw her and quickly walked to her. “I missed you!” He said and hugged her really tight.

Andrea giggled and nuzzled to him. “I missed you too… soo much!” She whimpered happily. Grant smiled and kissed her, after a long kiss he looked at her. “I missed you harder…” He muttered happily.

Andrea giggled happily and suddenly realized that Martha and Bucky were watching them whole time. Grant saw how her face became red and looked at Bucky and his mother.

Martha was watching them, smiling gently. Bucky was looking at them with big smiled on his face. “I am puking rainbows!” He yelled and laughed “So cute. Go upstairs… She missed you. Just you two have to be quiet there.”

“Daad!!” Andrea whimpered and her face became even more red. Bucky only giggled and shook his head. “Go go, I will talk with Martha and think what to do with our cap.”

Andrea nodded and took Grant up stairs.

Martha smirked. “They look cute together… I don’t understand why Steve hate her so much.”

Bucky nodded “I don’t understand since We found her…” He said softly.

The chronicles of the winter || Part XII - The End

Part II  || Part III || Part IV || Part V || Part VI || Part VII|| Parta VIII || Part IX || Part X || Part XI  continuation of imagine

Word Count: 13559

Warnings: none 

Author: Beast

Habit and impulse were so easy to fall back on, thinking being a costly and dangerous liability. The Asset had learned that early on, it having been forced into his program, carved into his skin among the patchwork of scars so it became a part of him. This time, however, this time it was different. This time when he woke up on that familiar cold table, seeing white-coated techs hovering over him and his wounds like vultures, he didn't feel the programming trying to lull him into docility. Oh no, this time a latent instinct, old and raw and powerful, bubbled through the cracks in HYDRA's conditioning and screamed in his subconscious, spurring him to act.

Fight.

Find.

Protect.

A snarl worthy of a predator tore its way out of his throat as he shoved the nearest tech away, the force of it throwing him clear into the opposite wall. The rest of them scattered like insects, shouting in varied languages as he pulled himself into a sitting position, glaring at them from behind the mess of his hair. A half-dozen IVs were laced into his veins, a likely but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to keep him asleep. The stiffness along his shoulder told him they had likely closed the sniper's wound, and he quickly realized his dislocated joint had been pushed back into place and immobilized with thick medical tape. They'd replaced his blood-soaked shirt with a dark grey one, and as if to mock him, it bore the SHIELD logo embossed in shiny blue thread over his heart.

"где." The soldier demanded, forcing himself to his feet, the drip-lines tugged free of his arms. The HYDRA agents and techs skittered in panic, yowling like panicked animals in a hunter's trap. When he didn't get a response did he bark the word out again, this time in English. "Where." If he wasn't told, he wouldn't hesitate to tear the place to shreds to find out. Before any of the cowardly technicians could answer, however, several HYDRA agents in full combat gear poured into the room, armed to the teeth.

One moved too close, holding a syringe, and the assassin lunged without hesitation. His metal arm felt sluggish and heavy, having been in the middle of being repaired when he woke, but that didn't hinder his deadliness any as he swung with all the force he could muster at the man's jaw. A grim sort of smirk appeared on his features, feeling bone crack and give under his fist, the soldier dropping into a crumpled heap at his feet. He crushed the dropped syringe under his boot, the sound of the glass shattering morbidly satisfying.

Something was shouted in a language he couldn't catch, but he didn't give the soldiers the luxury of time to coordinate themselves. A scalpel, lifted from the near table that held the medical supplies, in his capable hands slit the throat of one of the agents before he even realized what had happened, the bleeding man roughly kicked away into another soldier. Another's throat was caught in his metal fingers when he went to prod him with a stunstick, the vertebra crunching loudly with a single squeeze. The body was casually tossed aside, a mere afterthought. Chaos erupted, which was exactly what the Asset had wanted, as he was able to easily dispatch agent after agent, until in the confusion he was able to slip out into the hall. He slammed the door shut behind him, bending the metal frame enough that the soldiers inside weren't getting out anytime soon.

Alarms began to blare, and he knew he didn't have much time. He needed to find where they were keeping Steve, needed to find out if he was alive, needed to get him out. The layout of the building was familiar, and he soon found himself tracing mental maps that he couldn't consciously remember. Identical doors in identical halls, yet somehow he knew the way, ending up in a neglected corner of whatever backwater HYDRA base this was. Detention level. He knew these rooms all too well. Broken memories of conditioning, of training and discipline flashed through his mind. It was enough to sour his stomach.

Only one of the rooms had light filtering through the dingy door window, and he just knew that had to be where they were keeping Steve. The door was thick steel, reinforced and heavy and bolted with more locks than he cared to count. It could have been made of vibranium and it wouldn't have been enough to keep him out. The Asset tore through the locks he could, picking the others he couldn't, using every skill in his considerable arsenal but his patience only lasted so long. Normally he could wait for days, one of a sniper's greatest attributes, but this was Steve and he needed inside now.

The sound of metal rending and groaning filled the level, the soldier slamming his metallic fist into the door over and over, bending and deforming the surface bit by bit. The servos and artificial tendons in his arm screamed in protest but he scarcely cared, eventually making a dent deep enough he could get his fingers inside the stop. He braced himself and pulled with all his weight, the fatigued and aged metal shredding in his hand. That just fed his ambition, and soon enough he was tearing through the door with both hands, unfeeling to the shards that sliced through his flesh and bone hand, and to the hot slickness of blood as it poured from his palm.

Desperation was beginning to claw at his mind. He knew agents would find out where he was soon enough, and he couldn't let them take him away. Not before he knew if Steve was still alive. Standing back, the assassin kicked the door with every ounce of strength he had. The metal gave way with a great resounding shudder, the hinges failing and door swinging open violently. He was inside before the door even had the chance to hit the wall when it swung wide.

Relief isn't anywhere near strong enough a word to convey the emotion the soldier felt when he saw Steve, battered and broken and still as he was, breathing and alive. At his side in an instant, the assassin assessed the Captain's condition and wounds within moments. The man was unconscious, the worst of his wounds hidden under layers and layers of pink-tinged gauze. Smaller injuries had been ignored, his skin was pallor and in some distant part of his mind the soldier recognized this. Recognized a tiny kid with a rattling cough and pale skin who always scared him half to death with the fact that he might not make it through winter.

Medical supplies still covered the table to the side of the cot he was placed on, and without a second thought or any concern for being captured, the former Soviet started to pick through the contents. He wrapped a quick bandage around the cuts to his hand to stem the bleeding, not wanting to risk getting it on Steve when who knew what had been pumped into his system. Clean gauze was soaked in disinfectant, the excess wrung out before it was pressed to a shallow cut that burned an angry red across the Captain's cheek. The serum had already begun healing his body, the wound already mostly closed, but for some reason he found himself fussing over it regardless.

The soldier hadn't patched anyone up save himself for decades. He remembered, very dimly, bandaging someone with crimson hair that glowed like a dying fire, but the memory was so hazy and distorted that it might as well have been a dream. He was used to sewing himself up, to prying bullets out of his body and mending jagged pieces of flesh back together. As a result, delicateness was not something he was intimately familiar with, yet it seemed his body remembered better than his brain, as he cleaned the man's wounds with an unfamiliar tender gentleness.

A crackle of memory fizzled in his mind, of him sitting in a muddy, snow-filled trench, tearing a scarf free of his neck and brandishing it as if to threaten some other person. He dimly recalled blood, from a wound of some kind to the arm of someone dressed in blue, and angrily muttering something about not signing up to be a mother as he wrapped his scarf around the limb. He remembered laughter from people he didn't know, or couldn't remember, and being called a jerk. The memory faded as quickly as it appeared, and within a second of its passing it was all but forgotten in favor of focusing on the task at hand.

"Well, seems like the dosage of sedative we gave you was a bit off." A calm voice suddenly broke the silence, the assassin's muscles seizing up in remembered fear as familiarity crashed over him like a wave. He didn't move for a long moment, bloody fingers hovering over another cut to the Avenger's chin, as if his stillness could be taken as a sign of submission.

There was an amused hum from behind him, one that faded into a dark, twisted sort of laugh. "At attention, воин." The order was issued sternly, and the soldier found himself turning around to face the man, posture stiff with unease and the beginnings of fear. The man, he knew him, the name Aiden provided by the bits of memory that survived each successive wipe. A crooked grin spread across the General's face and it caused the Asset's stomach to churn.

"They warned me that you were far more… damaged than we would have liked." Black spoke with all the casualness as if they were merely speaking about the weather, "It would have been easier just to put you down, but since we have Captain America in addition to our Winter Soldier…" he trailed off, malevolent smile spreading further across his face as he approached with a proud air to his movements. Once he was close enough, the suited man regarded him with all the affection one might have for a fine weapon, eyes appraising but cold and calculating, seeking only value.

"Why, I think what's left of SHIELD would do just about anything to get their hands on him, and you as well. Oh, the secrets they think you have… they'd do anything to wring them out of you, воин, but I'm never going to let that happen, don't you worry." The acidic sweetness to his voice made the soldier's blood run as cold as the river that haunted his nightmares. It was a tone all too familiar, yet for what felt like lifetimes that tone had been the closest semblance to kindness he'd ever experienced, and he'd latched onto it desperately. Now it made him sick.

Aiden brushed past him, leaning over the cot to look at the Captain's wounds. One of his hands reached out, and the soldier let out a growl that faded into a whine at the glare he received. The man's hand remained raised with a hint of threatening intent, and the assassin felt his muscles tense in the expectation of a blow. His programming might have degraded greatly due to being so long out of cryostasis, but enough of the framework was intact for him to not attack the man or outwardly resist his commands. He could only watch as he withdrew his hand, walking back towards the shattered door, his back to him.

"I see you have some… attachment to the Captain." The General's tone held the slightest hint of bitterness, something he knew was very dangerous, "That will not be tolerated. However…" his voice went quiet, that knowing smirk once again firmly planted on his features as he spun on his heel to face the soldier, "If you cooperate and let us fix all that damage Captain Rogers and his SHIELD allies have done to your mind, we might let him live. If you don't have any more of those outbursts, we might even let you see him." It was a ruse, he knew it for sure, but he had no choice but to nod in silent agreement. Arguing would signal that HYDRA's control had faltered dangerously, and he couldn't risk Steve's safety. For the first time in his memory, he found himself putting the well-being of another before his own.

"Good, good. In that case I expect you to return to medical immediately and let the doctors finish up their work. We need you in working order as soon as possible. I expect an update on your condition in three hours." With that, Aiden Black left the room. The soldier's hearing could pick up on the sound of footsteps running down the hall to retrieve him, likely signaled by the General, and he only had a few seconds. He couldn't run, couldn't try to fight or escape, as that would get Steve killed and he couldn't bring himself to even consider that possibility.

He'd have to play this game, even fall back under HYDRA's command if it meant keeping the other man alive. It was a sacrifice he was willing to make. The soldiers crowded the room a half-second later, surrounding him and shepherding him out and away from the room, away from Steve. One of them fit the muzzle-mask over his face, and with its acquainted confines the soldier felt a foreign sense of revulsion budding in his chest. The familiarity of it all, and the horror that he found himself so easily slipping back into the mannerisms and routine, made the new fear that he might lose what little fragments of himself he'd managed to gain back seem very, very real.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

The soft, rhythmic pattern of water drops pulled Steve out of the fog of unconsciousness, cutting through the static that seemed to fill his mind. He didn't feel any pain, not yet, but he felt heavy and weak and so very tired. Stagnant, stale air coated his throat, thick with a sharp, sanitized scent that settled on his tongue with a faintly bitter, familiar taste. The air itself felt dense, as if he was breathing through cotton shoved down his throat; if he hadn't known better, he would have thought he was having an asthma attack. There was a rattling, ghastly wheeze every handful of seconds in addition to the dripping that had woken him, and it took a long, sobering moment before he realized that he was hearing his own breathing.

Drip.

Drip.

His torso felt constricted, tight and immobile under what felt like a cocoon of gauze and medical tape. As uncomfortable as it was it assured him that his wounds had been tended to, but by whom the Captain had no idea. An experimental twitch of his fingers assured him that he wasn't paralyzed and could move, however difficult it may have been. Everything felt fuzzy, it was the only way to describe it, unable to feel or hear anything clearly. Everything was blurred into a mess of muffled noises and sweeping sensations, nothing distinct.

Drip.

A slight shift of his head told him just how stiff and sore his neck was. How long was I out? The thought struck him suddenly, followed immediately by the cold electricity of fear. Where am I? His eyes were forced open, but shut immediately due to the blinding light of the room. Steve groaned and squeezed his eyes shut tighter, tilting his head trying to block out every bit of that painful brightness. The movement made him aware that his head was propped up slightly, a pillow tucked behind it. It reminded him of when he'd have respiratory infections in winter and Bucky would give him all the pillows to keep his head and shoulders lifted so he could breathe easier—

Bucky. Emily.

The panic that gripped him was all-consuming, shredding through the muddled fog in his mind like iron claws. "B-Buck… Em..." the words barely left his throat, voice hoarse and rasping and lungs suddenly alight with crackling fire at the effort. The words brought the taste of copper to his lips, blood he was sure, but he scarcely cared. "B… Bucky! Emily!" His eyes shot open again, ignoring the pain of the light and he looked frantically for any sign of the soldier. Everything came crashing back in a tangle of bloody memories—the fight, the sniper, Bucky collapsing in front of him, felled by the commander—and in horror he realized they had been captured. His own pain was ignored as he tried to push himself up, the room spinning as he did so, his own weakness now undeniably apparent.

A strong, cold hand gripped his shoulder, pushing him back down onto the cot before he could even think of trying to search. Moments later a figure moved into his vision, leaning over him with a face obscured by a curtain of dark, unruly hair. He heard a hushed word of Russian, tone soft, reassuring in its sound although he didn't understand it. The Captain's vision was too blurry to see many details, but then again, he didn't need any details to recognize him.

A dozen words tried to spill out of him at once—you're alright, you're here, I was so scared for you, Buck, where's Em — but nothing left him save a wheezy exhale as he smiled in relief. He wanted to stand, to make sure Bucky was alright, to tend to any wounds he had, but he was all too aware that he couldn't do a damned thing in this state. Bucky was here and in the end that was the most important thing. Everything else could be confronted and dealt with later.

Without another thought Steve had raised his left arm, hesitantly brushing a few stray strands of hair out of the way before cupping his cheek. He wanted to make sure he was really there, that this wasn't some horrible HYDRA trick, that it wasn't the blood loss and whatever medicines he was full of making him see things. Bucky's skin was cold, rough against his fingers, but very much alive and very much real. He didn't even try to stop his smile from spreading a bit when he saw how the soldier leaned into the touch a bit instead of shying away or swatting at his hand.

"… about time you woke up." Bucky's voice was quiet and scratchy, just the barest hint of a Brooklyn accent shining through as he moved away, turning to look at what Steve guessed was the door. He let his hand fall back to his side, cringing a bit when he felt a tug at the crook of his arm. IV line; must have been what the dripping was. He tried to ask how long he'd been out but only managed to cough, tacky blood rattling in his aching lungs. The soldier glanced down to him at the sound, but quickly went back to his vigil.

"Three days" of course he'd have been able to know what he was trying to say, they'd been able to finish each other sentences in the past, "you were hurt bad, Steve, real bad. Still hurt bad, but I won't let them touch you." His voice trailed off, words carrying an edge as sharp as any blade, but also the barest hint of sadness. It was the most Bucky had spoken to him since he found him sleeping seemingly lifetimes ago, and in some distant part of the Captain his soul practically sung. He sounded more like Bucky, more like the cocky jerk he'd grown up with in Brooklyn than he ever had since he'd become the Winter Soldier. A second later just what he had said sunk in, and his optimism wavered.

"… w-who?" the Avenger just barely croaked it out, a sense of dread sitting heavy in his heart. He knew who had captured them, knew where they were, but maybe he could deny it all away. After all, Bucky was here with him, right? They would have separated them for sure...

"HYDRA." The name was spat out, deadly venom saturating his voice. Steve's blood ran cold in his veins, the room falling silent with only the constant drip drip of the isotonic IV bag keeping time between them with its ceaseless rhythm. That little bit of hope that he had been clinging to wavered, knowing just how bad a situation they were in, but it didn't go out. Emily and Sam were still out there, and he knew they wouldn't give up on him. They'd find them, somehow; Emily was clever and resourceful, she'd pick up the trail and find them, and Sam was loyal and wouldn't stop until he was found.

His lungs hurt too much to try and continue the conversation, and as his eyes adjusted he tried to make sense of his surroundings. The measly cot he was lying on was pushed against a stone wall that just seemed to exude a wet chill, meaning they were likely somewhere underground. Light buzzed blearily from a thin fluorescent fixture in the ceiling, a pitchy and irritating hum occasionally creeping over the drip drop of the IV. The walls were dingy and ill-kempt, but a glance to the door surprised him. Door was a loose term as it looked like it had been holding back a tiger, shattered glass and broken old steel littering the floor, but the door itself was made of new shiny metal. Judging from the debris, the damaged door he was currently looking at was a replacement and the first one made up the scraps on the floor. It took a few seconds before Steve realized it wasn't from Bucky attempting to break out, but from him breaking in.

That realization made his chest tighten, breath hitching slightly as he tried to breathe around the lump that built in his throat. His last hazy moments of consciousness in that alleyway, of Bucky crouched in front of him teary-eyed with gentling hands pressed to his wounds, he'd thought he had dreamed them. Thought that in his pained delirium he'd imagined hearing the soldier's meek voice saying "I'm not leaving you behind". Thought that maybe he'd mistaken seeing Bucky breaking through for those precious few minutes, and it looks like he just might have. He'd clearly torn his way out of wherever HYDRA had tried to lock him up, but instead of making an escape, he found him and broke in and stayed right by his side.

"Y-you… stayed with m-me…" Steve's voice was hardly above a raspy whisper, vision distorting as tears welled up. He wasn't sure if it was the pain or medicine or just a moment of vulnerability that brought them out, but he didn't make any attempts to hide them. Bucky protected me. He'd fought to keep HYDRA away from him instead of saving himself. Even if Buck didn't remember much of his past he had still fought to keep him safe like all those years ago. The Avenger breathed heavily, choking on his own words as he tried to say too many things at once. He knew this man wasn't the Bucky he knew so well from his past, but he was bits and pieces of him and he wasn't going to stop helping him even if the suave jerk he had spent his life with never really came back.

"Quit that" Bucky's voice was gruff, but the fingers that hesitantly ruffled his hair a moment later were gentle and familiar. "You're gonna tear that lung again if you keep talking. Get some more sleep, I'll be here when you wake up." It wasn't a command from the Winter Soldier, it was spoken too softly for that, instead it sounded more like back in their apartment in the old days, when Bucky would try to wrangle him to bed when he was sick and not cooperating. He couldn't count how many times Buck had just picked up all coughing hundred and ten pounds of him and put him to bed under every moth-eaten blanket they owned, no matter how much Steve protested. He never admitted it to him, but after his mom had died, Bucky's sometimes over-protective mollycoddling had meant the world to him. “Buck... Where's Emily?” suddenly Steve blinked, narrowing his eyebrows. “Where's she?”

Winter Soldier let out a quiet sigh, turning his eyesight away.

“Buck...” Steve felt like his heart stopped within second. “I have to know.” “She's probably dead” Bucky shrughed slightly, without a shadow of emotions on his face. “I haven't heard from her since many days.”

Bucky continued to run his fingers through Steve's hair, something he'd done countless times when the artist had been sick and confined to Buck's bed. The radiator in Steve's old room had always had piss-poor timing when it came to breaking, so whenever he had shown the slightest sign of illness Buck had surrendered his much-warmer room and they both slept curled up on that ratty old bed to try and keep warm. He wasn't sure if Bucky remembered any of that or if he was just acting on instinct or something else, but just like it had back then in their apartment, it put the Captain to sleep in only a few minutes.

With him lulled back into sleep so quickly, he hadn't had the time to notice that Bucky was dressed back into his combat gear, or see the troubled, guilty expression that he wore. Bucky hadn't wanted him to see either.

The passing of days no longer registered, the only timestamps he recalled being changes in the Captain's condition. Some days he was awake when he was bidden time to spend in the cell, most times he was unconscious or in a restorative sleep as the serum tried to patch his body back together. The tainted, imperfect serum that flowed in his own veins was doing much the same, skin and bones mending beneath his clothing. It burned with a throbbing sort of heat and sometimes hours passed as he passively observed the healing, watching his own flesh knitting back together until only scars remained.

His body was healthier, the Asset noticed dimly, his new handlers eager to get him back to working conditions as soon as possible. The constant IV drips, the strange injections, the foodstuffs he was prodded to eat, they'd all filled him out so he didn't look quite so emaciated. He halfheartedly guessed that the serum had busied itself rebuilding his muscles with the amble nutrients he was getting as much as it was healing his wounds.

With his shoulder healing up, the white-coated techs had taken to repairing the extensive damage to his prosthetic. It now moved fluidly, easily, the burn that gnashed its teeth into his artificial nerves now abated and calmed. The plates had been smoothed and repaired, the blood and grime cleaned away, although the red star he had tried to scratch off with his own fingernails and anything within reach those first few weeks remained marred and damaged. The techs didn't try to reapply it; now that he was no longer tied to the Red Room and the Soviets, they had no need to flaunt their emblem.

He knew it was only a matter of time before they'd try to deploy him, to test his programing, but he knew it was mostly due to their eagerness to try and patch the damage that had been caused by the exposing of SHIELD as HYDRA. Pierce was dead, but the saying still held true; cut off one head, two more will take its place. Aiden Black was not the new leader, but he had fallen in as his new handler, and that bit of his programming was still sound enough to prevent him from refusing orders from the man.

Today, however, he'd been granted time with the Captain after preforming well in training. He knew that Black wanted to wipe him, to rebuild the programming and perhaps even try the same with the healing Captain, but he knew that the man couldn't. This facility lacked the proper equipment to carry out that procedure safely, or to rewrite and build the programming back into his mind. It was likely why they were even letting him see the other man. It was a way to keep him under control, giving him time with him like a dog being trained and rewarded with scraps. He ought to have been offended but honestly he didn't care; any time with Steve was worth whatever hell they put him through.

His earlier thoughts were all pushed aside as soon as he entered the room they were keeping Steve in. The soldiers always left them alone, Black convinced in his control over the Asset, and he preferred it this way. He knew he was always under surveillance, but the illusion of peace he had with the Captain was enough. Despite his few hours of reprieve here he never allowed his guard to lower, never spoke out of turn or gave any indication that the programming had slipped. He couldn't allow that knowledge to fall into Black's hands. He could find some way to wipe him clean and order him to kill the man he'd fought so hard to defend. The thought alone made his breathing falter.

"… Bucky?" blinking, his focus was pulled back to the present, to the Captain laid out on the cot. The Asset straightened himself, shoved down all his disjointed thoughts, padded over to the bedside to look down at him. He might have the perfected serum but he had been wounded horrifically; he was still all but bedridden with the injuries he'd sustained. He was half convinced the only reason he survived at all was because the Captain was just too damn stubborn to die. Dim memories of back alley fights, bright blond hair matted with blood and halfhearted smiles mired by bruising and dirt flitted across his mind for a brief moment.

The Asset didn't reply with words, merely humming in response as he sat down in the empty chair next to the cot. Some distant part of him was glad to see that Steve was awake and aware, as the last few visits he'd been groggy and barely able to speak, mumbling in a drug and pain-induced haze about things the Soldier didn't remember. It was stressful, but he would rather spend his time here, questioned over things he didn't understand or know, than be primed and molded to fall back into HYDRA's command.

"… you're in gear." Steve's voice was quiet, but he could still hear the apprehension and resignation in his tone. It bothered the Asset greatly. Black had hinted at possibly sending him out on some sort of simple assignment so he'd dressed himself in his heavy Kevlar vest and armor, hiding his healing wounds and returning build. The less Steve knew about how long he'd been trapped here the better. The last thing he needed was him hatching some idiotic scheme to escape that would get him killed.

"… d'you get your orders?" the words came out of his mouth slurred and soft, his mind obviously still a bit hazed from whatever drugs they had to have pumped him full of to keep him manageable. It set the Soldier's teeth on edge, the thought of them doing something like that to Steve, but he couldn't protest or else run the risk of being separated fully. The statement did, however, fire some distant, disjointed memory. He could almost smell the musty air of some damp alleyway, blood in the mouth of his friend as he spoke and looked at him in a strange mix of admiration and sadness. It made his heart ache in a way he wasn't familiar with, even without any further context to bolster it.

"… yeah, Steve." His voice was still rough with disuse, awkward and stiff and lacking in the emotion Steve held when he talked. The last time he'd been here the other man had panicked, remembering their capture, tried to fight his way free of the web of IV line that held him. At least this way, with him lost in his own sleepy awareness, he was easy to convince all was well although every lie he told tasted bitter on his tongue.

"Be careful, Buck." Steve mumbled a bit when the Asset stood and began to pick at his wound wrappings, drawing his eyes from his work to meet his. They were hazy from pain and sleep, greyed and sick looking in a way that made the Soldier's stomach knot up. He swallowed thickly and focused on checking all of Steve's wounds, not trusting any of the HYDRA medics or their work. Most of his wounds had closed, the deepest pink with new-grown scar tissue and the lesser wounds already silvered and faded into his skin.

"I will." The response was automatic, not looking away from his task now. He was replacing the packing in Steve's side, where the sniper round had ripped his chest cavity open. Even the serum was having trouble with the wound, and if it hadn't been for that (and his damn fool stubbornness) he surely would have bled out right there in the street.

Steve made a noise halfway between a whimper and groan when he started to pull the bloodied, coagulated mess of packing out of the wound, obviously feeling it even through the fog of painkillers. He squirmed enough to make his task difficult, but at the same time it lifted his spirits somewhat. His strength was coming back, slowly, but it was a good sign. His body was starting to heal enough for his system to begin filtering the medicines in his body more efficiently; a hazy memory bubbled up of Steve complaining about Morita's morphine shot not taking the edge off a bullet wound he'd gotten in the calf. This had to be a good sign. It just had to be.

The wound still looked horrific, and he knew he couldn't chance an escape with Steve in this state. The ragged tear was having trouble healing over due to just how much tissue loss and damage he'd sustained, despite the serum flowing in his veins. Even with Steve still moving around he was able to place more sterile packing into the wound and wrap it tight with gauze and medical tape, after treating it with a potent antibacterial wash that he made sure to carry on his person at all times. That hadn't been fun. Steve had gasped hoarsely and it'd hurt him to hear, but it needed to be done. He still didn't trust these HYDRA doctors to treat the wounds correctly, even though he had little formal medical training himself. It didn't matter in his mind; his body and muscle memory knew Steve and how to treat him better than anyone else and like hell he was going to just sit passively by and let someone who didn't know the first thing about Steve Rogers try to patch his wounds.

With his work finished and Black no doubt waiting on him, the Soldier knew he had to cut his visit short. The man had mentioned something about a cleanup mission, to take care of some SHIELD holdouts that had grouped up near where he and Steve had been picked up. It would be a quick and clean mission. They'd likely pair him with the surviving members of the Strike unit to keep him under observation, but he could easily use their fear of him to make them keep their distance. He had a feeling these 'SHIELD holdouts' might be whoever Steve had alerted the night they were captured. If that was the case this mission was going to go very poorly.

"I'm leaving, don't get into any trouble while I'm gone." The Soldier mumbled a bit, not wanting to leave but knowing he couldn't stay. He gently smoothed down Steve's unruly hair with his right hand, always the right, something he felt like he'd done countless times a hundred lifetimes ago. When he was around the other man it felt like he went on autopilot, doing things he had no clear conscious memory of ever knowing how to do, yet with the ease and familiarity as if he'd been doing them all his life. He knew how to calm him down, how he liked his pillows just so, how he had an awful habit of kicking the blankets off in his sleep, things he had no business knowing yet he did.

"No promises, Buck." Steve breathed out heavily, eyes already half-lidded with drowsy exhaustion but with a crooked grin on his face. The Soldier felt a near overwhelming urge to roll his eyes and swat his shoulder but he held back, knowing he was still badly wounded and not wanting any sign of playfulness to be seen by the cameras. He merely brushed a few dirty blond strands of hair out of Steve's face instead, hiding the action by pretending to hold his palm there to check his temperature. It was a poor ruse, with his fingers lingering a moment too long, body too loose with the feeling of safety, but he didn't think it would be caught.

This mission had him nervous. It sat low in his stomach like a weight of molten lead, burning and heavy and disorienting. It felt familiar in some distant way; he remembered feeling it before, while sitting in the snow at the edge of some high cliff, the snow kept off him with a shield held above his head by the man he was leaning heavily against for warmth. The memory was pushed down as he closed the door behind him, lock clicking softly at his back before he allowed himself to be pushed by the decayed programming to report to the command center. The sooner he completed his assignment the sooner he could return to Steve's side, and that was the only thought that kept his body in motion.

"Have you heard anything back from Jarvis, Stark? We've got to narrow down our search parameters."

The past few weeks had been complete and utter hell. Without SHIELD, running a rescue mission for one Steven Grant Rogers and one possibly-hostile Winter Soldier had been, to put it mildly, completely fucking exhausting. But, this was hardly enough to make Emily Vandom crack. She'd done more with less resources and less time, and this time she had friends to help her. She poured herself another mug of coffee, glancing over to Stark tapping away at one of his fancy tablets and to Wilson and his makeshift workstation on the floor with his wingpack.

After last time when they got separated, Emily didn't know what to do and how to help Bucky and Steve, so she did the last thing that remained – she had to contact with Sam Wilson, who was (as she knew) a closest friend of Steve.

Sam, although she had known him not too long, had slotted himself into the ragtag group as easily as clockwork, as if he'd been crafted to be a part of their unit. For the first week he'd housed both herself and Barton, who'd come as soon as Emily had filled him in on the situation. It was reassuring having her partner in crime back at her side. Stark, for all his crassness and bluster, had dropped everything when she informed him of Steve's capture. As difficult as he was to work with some days, he really could be an invaluable ally as long as he kept himself occupied.

"Jarvis is going as fast as he can but there's a lot of data to go through," Tony's voice was heavy with lost sleep, as if the dark patches under his eyes and the hot coffee mug held tight in his hand weren't enough of a giveaway, "HYDRA's hiding themselves pretty well, or what's left of it anyway. They're probably disguising their shipments and covering their tracks more than usual. I doubt they'd take them out of the city yet, it'd draw too much attention, but, it is HYDRA so who knows."

Tony must have repeated that a hundred times in a hundred different ways, and she knew that the tension was getting to them all, but it didn't make her any less anxious. They'd moved into Steve's apartment and the empty next door apartment after contacting Sharon, who provided her keys to the locks which had yet to be changed. She was doing what she could to aid in the search, but with her new job in the FBI and Emily still in hot political water, she didn't want to add any fuel to that fire with her presence. If word got lose in the government that Captain America had been captured while housing the Winter Soldier, well, the repercussions were something none of them wanted to deal with.

"I'm going up to check the perimeter with Clint. Let me know if you find anything, and while Jarvis works maybe you could give Sam a hand." Sitting idle and waiting just wasn't in her nature. Sam was working on his damaged wingpack, which Tony had started to repair but had to drop to prep Jarvis for the scan of the city's information apparatus. They'd need Sam's help once the AI located whatever HYDRA hellhole Steve and the Winter Soldier had been taken to. Even though Steve seemed to trust him, there was still a wary part of her that couldn't dismiss the possibility that maybe the Winter Soldier had lead Steve into a trap, that he'd been a Trojan horse or some form of bait to lure him into HYDRA's clutches. It was a grim and farfetched possibility, but one that was all too real.

The cool air outside once she reached the roof was a welcome source of sobriety, washing away her muddled thoughts and letting her release her own tensions with a soft exhale. The last week had damn near run her ragged. To have something like this happen so soon after the fall of SHIELD, before she'd had a chance to really recover, was just not something she had ever expected to happen. She'd thought she would have had a bit more time before she'd have to pay her debt back to Steve for saving her life.

"Lower levels secure, how're things up here?" she sat down heavily near the archer, just in case he had his hearing aids turned down. He was perched on the corner of the building, goggled eyes on the building entrance and the surrounding streets. His bow was held in loose fingers, eyes never stopping their scan of the streets when he replied.

"Well, there's been an awful lot of owls around but no, haven't seen any HYDRA agents or anything unusual." Clint replied, voice a bit hoarse from not having spoken in several hours. Emily roughly shoved her half-empty coffee mug into his side, nudging him until he sighed loudly and took it with his free hand.

"You've been on watch for hours, take a few minutes." She knew he was as tense and eager to find the Captain, but with nothing to do but stand watch it had to be bothering him a good deal. "Stark has Jarvis checking shipping records and anything else we can think of to try and narrow down a few spots. We don't think they're out of the city. Sam's getting his wings ready and if we have some locales by the end of the night we can move out as early as the morning."

"Good." Clint mumbled through a mouthful of coffee, having nearly chugged the whole cup while Emily had been talking. "I've got Soviet cooties now but thanks for the coffee, 'Tasha." With an exasperated sigh Emily punched his side, which made him jump and the coffee mug to slip out of his hand and down to the street below with a muffled shattering of ceramic. "Aw, mug no."

Emily laughed, a true laugh, the kind that ended with her snorting into her sleeve. Maybe it was the tension of the night but it felt good to just laugh, and she heard Clint huff out a laugh as well. The last few days have weighed on her so much that it was nice to let off a little of the steam. She turned to make a witty comment but Clint frantically signed "quiet" at her, eyes locked down where the mug had fallen. She was up and looking over the ledge of the building in an instant, keeping low so she wouldn't be seen.

She heard him notch an arrow and draw, his breathing evening out the way it did when he aimed. She spotted in the street below within a few seconds; a shadow out of place, a brief flash of reflected light off of metal. Emily didn't hesitate to stop the archer, hand over his as he prepared to let the arrow fly, hissing out a breath between her teeth as she struggled to choose what to do. Downing him was likely the wisest option, but, if he was here, there was a chance Steve was too.

"Don't," she knew that Clint wouldn't, but speaking her thoughts couldn't hurt any, "This isn't right. If he was going to try and pick us off he would have while we were distracted. Something's going on." Clint kept his bow at half-pull, and she didn't blame him; she was cautious and untrusting herself, but as she watched the Winter Soldier looked right at them yet didn't duck behind cover. He just looked right at them.

"He could have agents all around the building we can't just sit here," he whispered harshly, pulling the bow to full-draw when the Soldier advanced until he was standing just a couple yards from the building. He was masked but lacked the goggles, dressed full in HYDRA gear with a rifle slung at his back, but hands empty.

"This isn't right, Clint." As if on cue, the Winter Soldier raised his hands, empty palms towards them. A show of submission. Emily bit her lip, not knowing what was going on in the man's head but knowing that this wasn't one of HYDRA's normal tactics. Either this was the man that had grown up with Steve or a twisted HYDRA trap, or something in-between. "… I'm going down there. Cover me."

"Emily you can't be..." she didn't give him the chance to try and talk her out of it, jumping onto the fire escape two floors down. It rattled so loud in the otherwise silent alleyway that she was sure HYDRA agents would be all over her, but seconds ticked by and there wasn't any movement, not even from the assassin in the street below. She was far from unarmed, with a pistol in her pockets, but she would never underestimate the Winter Soldier.

Being on the ground, mere feet away from the man that had shot her just a few months ago, is… tense, to say the least. Her shoulder aches. He looks different now in a way she can't really place; he's thinner than he was in her memories, eyes dark with lost sleep and weary in a way she never thought was possible from so menacing a man. He looked ragged and downtrodden and every bit as awful as Steve had described. Beneath the layers of caution and defensiveness, she admitted she felt a twinge of, pity was too strong a word but something like it, for her former mentor.

"What do you want, James." The words came out more bitter than she had intended, but then again maybe it was better to put up that façade. The man standing before her wasn't the same anymore, but hell, she changed also...

"Vitani." His voice was muffled under the muzzle-mask but that didn't diminish their effect. Vitani. Emily hadn't heard her old nickname in what felt like lifetimes. It told her that he remembered at least fragments of their past, much like her. "… I need your help." That definitely wasn't what she expected to hear him say next.

"My help?" Emily repeated the statement softly, "… Steve. How can I help?" she watched his eyes light up the dimmest bit. James slowly lowered his right hand, pulling something small and flat from his pocket. An arrow cut the tense air between them, embedding itself into the pavement a few inches from the man's foot; a clear, grim warning not to test his luck. It gave the Soldier pause before he completed his action, a small, scuffed moleskin sketchbook clutched in his hand.

"They have him." James's voice was rough and so tired, the book gently placed in her hands with his fingers lingering on her own for the briefest moment, "They think I'm on their leash still, Emily. Steve is hurt, I can't get him out on my own." His tone was almost pleading and it painfully twisted something up inside of her, "They sent me here to kill you all with the Strike team, you're not safe here any longer." Even without it being said, she knew that he had killed his own team to prevent them from hurting them.

"Where did they take him? Where are you based?" she got no clear answer, the Soldier merely tilting his head towards the thin sketchpad in her hands. When she opened the cover she realized there was a roughly drawn map, made of taken streets and turns that he must have taken to reach the building. It could lead them right to them.

"Emily, listen to me" his voice was suddenly soft, shot through with remorse, "they're trying to get me under control again. If they manage to, I need you to put me down. Steve won't be able to, and you're the only person I can trust to do it right. They might not even need to do it, I might try and hurt him if I'm not in my right mind. Please, I need you to promise." Without even seeing his reaction she knew her façade fell for the briefest of moments, blindsided by the request. She'd expected him to be hostile, to be defiant at the least, but not this.

She couldn't form the words but nodded, setting her jaw and straightening her back. The look of relief that filled his eyes was almost as heartbreaking as the whole damn situation. He started to turn but she stopped him, slipping a small object into his palm, curling his calloused fingers around it with her own hands. It was her necklace she used to wear everyday, in a shape of swan with outstretched wings. Seconds ticked by before he broke eye contact with her, looking down to his hand that she still held and then to the arrow by his boot.

"… thank you, моя любовь." She almost missed it, that softly mumbled bit of Russian that solidified in her mind that this was really James talking, and not the Winter Soldier.  She never thought she would ever hear that from him again. Emily gave his hand a gentle squeeze before she backed away, the Soldier doing the same, storing the thin metal object she had given him into one of his pockets.

"Be careful, James." Emily spoke softly, "… дорогой.." She watched him stiffen at the word, scanning her eyes for a long moment before he turned his head, breath exhaled loudly through the mask. She allowed her gaze to return to the roof, where Clint was still perched watchfully, another arrow at the ready. When she turned back to the Winter Soldier he was gone, just like the ghost he was. Her grip on the sketchbook tightened as resolve settled in. As it stood, HYDRA was holding two men from her, and they would soon come to regret that action.

His mind had always been too loud. Too loud, too busy, too full of things he had no context for. He could see them in bright flashes of vivid experience; the smell of a Brooklyn alley after a midnight rain, the feel of a stray cat's fur under his palm as it arched into his touch, the sound of a train's wheels far too close, he could remember small bits in crisp clarity but the whole picture was broken. He held the shattered pieces of a great mosaic with no blueprint, no frame of reference; the grand work it once was lost, leaving him with only a hundred million broken fragments and no way to tell how they fit together.

At least, it had been that way for the decades under HYDRA's command. He'd been out of cryo so long, his mind let go to mend without the wipes and supplied with small threads to stitch the patchwork of memories together, that now he was slowly piecing that mosaic of his former life back together. His memories were less flashes of disjointed fragments and now short contingencies; instead of just an isolated sound of pencils scratching at paper he now had a tentative picture of a skinny boy hunched dutifully over a thin sketchpad as he drew, or how a Russian lullaby now reminded him of a dozen young faces in a dim military compound.

With the tentative return of his memories came the emotions attached to them. He remembered the fluttery lightness in his stomach when he laughed loud and long around a campfire with Steve and soldiers just on this edge of familiarity, or how the fear had felt like tendrils of ice snaking up his spine when he heard a door slam shut over the rattling of train wheels. He remembered what fondness felt like, how it had bloomed with a fragile warmth behind his ribs for the first time in decades when he heard the first few unsure English words leave Emily's mouth, how she'd smiled like the sun after she held her first conversation in it with him. He remembered how it felt to have the emotions, but what he lacked entirely was how it felt to receive them, to give them freely and openly.

The strings that HYDRA had cut and mangled were slowly reconnecting, threading through the holes in the decaying programming and forming stronger bonds with each day. He hid it, he hid it deep and he hid it well. If Black knew he would be isolated, probably even forcibly wiped with what little equipment the base had even if it had a high chance of killing him. He knew how Black operated, his worth was only measured by his effectiveness in the field, and he knew as soon as that was permanently diminished he was obsolete. Just another loose end to be cleaned up, a broken machine to be discarded, a toothless wolf to be tied down and shot.

A week had passed since his meeting with Emily, since he'd given her every bit of information he could to help them find Steve. He could feel the programming responding to his HYDRA handlers, feel himself falling easier and easier into old ways and habits, found it harder to recall the broken shards of his memories. It scared him, it honestly scared him. What if tomorrow he woke up and all of the progress he had made was undone? What if tomorrow he looked at Steve and didn't see him, and saw only a target or mission or body to be disposed of? If he lost Steve, if he lost him and Emily, then he knew there'd be no saving him from HYDRA; they were the only ones who stood even the slightest chance of picking up his shattered pieces. This act of putting faith and trust in others was so foreign to him it was almost terrifying but he knew he couldn't do this on his own.

The soft sound of exhaled breath brought him back to reality, eyes cutting down to where Steve was resting his head on his thigh. The wound to his right side had healed enough for him to move around somewhat, although his definition of moving was rather singular. Steve had rolled onto his left side, using the Soldier's lap as a pillow, the thin white blanket he was wrapped in streaked with rust red from the most recent change of bandages. The Asset had deemed him well enough to chance providing him with a shirt, bright SHIELD logo across the chest of it, the sight of which made him feel sick. Steve was curled up somewhat, back mostly to the Asset, trying to shrink into himself but twisting himself up in the blanket and his own limbs in the process. Wide open to attack. The thought stung in his mind, eyes narrowing a fraction behind the thick protective goggles, and was dispelled quickly. Steve Rogers was not a target, threat or mark to him, but his programming deemed otherwise.

Even with the serum Steve's wounds were taking too long to heal for the Asset to be comfortable. The horrific gunshot to his side had only just closed up, a stark red swath of raw muscle stretched taunt over mending bones. The wound to his collarbone had healed much quicker, now a silvery patch of scarred skin that was fading with every passing day. His breathing had evened out to a wheezy constant, no longer sputtering and fluid-filled. It was a small comfort to the Asset.

The HYDRA doctors kept him sedated heavily most days now, preventing him from attempting to fight back or flee. The Asset knew the drugs well enough, as they had been used on him in the past when he woke up from cryo. It had kept him docile and pliant and it made him sick to see Steve reduced to the same state. He was burning through the dosage much quicker than he ever had, sometimes snapping to awareness with a feral sort of desperation to escape. Black made an awful point to make him be the one to administer the syrette, make him stand and watch as Steve collapsed and wheezed and tried to fight the drug, always to fail. Black couldn't wipe him, but he was trying his damnedest to break him through other means.

He'd been given less and less time with the Captain, forced into training exercise after training exercise, with little rest in between. The goggles hid how cloudy from exhaustion his eyes had gotten, how dark the patches under them had become, rendering him less and less able to fight back against orders. He wanted to gnash his teeth and lash out at every turn but he didn't have near the strength to keep doing so. He was so tired. He was never going to stop fighting but the programming was much stronger in his depleted state, the feeling of it guiding his movements almost second nature after decades under its control.

Stress sat heavy on the Soldier's shoulders, weighing him down and filling him with dread. His right hand was gently carding through Steve's hair, curling through golden strands that had grown during their captivity. He had orders from Black himself, an ultimate test for his programming, and he could feel it straining in his mind, the cogs and gears of HYDRA's control creaking and screeching in protest against his unwillingness to comply. He'd known this order was coming since his capture, known since they let Steve recover, known since they let him visit him as a reward.

The possibility of it had eaten at his mind since his first agreement to comply with Black's wishes, but now that the command had been given the reality of it all had crashed down on him. It was punishment, he knew it, punishment for not killing Emily and the small group she had gathered, for killing his own team to protect them. Black wanted him to know that he wasn't to make decisions and couldn't think for himself, and Black's sick sense of humor had been summed up in his simple order. He wanted balance; since he couldn't kill Emily and her group, he had to take another's life.

He held a knife in his metal hand.

"Kill the Captain, Soldier."

Even hours later the words still rang in his ears, a roar that threatened to drown out his own thoughts. He couldn't reject a direct command from a handler such as Black, yet he'd managed to hold out this long, kept his blade from marring the unblemished skin of the blond's neck. He could feel the press of it bearing down on his mind, burning behind his temples and tugging at his limbs, but he fought it. He gritted his teeth under the muzzle-mask and hissed out his breath, trying to will himself to throw the knife away from them but his arm wouldn't respond. He couldn't disarm himself but he found he could keep himself from moving to attack; he was at a grim stalemate with the programming.

"Slit his throat, Soldier. I want you to watch him die."

A strangled sort of noise choked in the Asset's throat, swallowed down thickly as he struggled to keep from showing his distress outwardly. He didn't even realize his hands were shaking until Steve made a confused sound, tilting his head to look up at him with one medicine-fogged eye in silent question. It just made the Soldier's hands tremble more. He'd done everything he could to try and protect the few people he knew with certainty and it was being warped into Steve's own death; everything he'd done was going to kill the man he'd tried so hard to protect.

"… Bucky?"

The Asset's whole body shuddered at the other's voice, shaking so much he could hardly sit. He pulled his hand away and watched the other's face, thankful for the first time in decades for the mask that covered his expression. Steve couldn't see the pained look on his face, see how panicked and wild his eyes were through the goggles. Black's agents had locked him in here and he could see the shadows of them through the small square window on the door; he knew that they would keep him in here until he completed his mission. He'd lasted this long, he just had to keep telling himself he just had to hang on a little longer.

He had to look away. He couldn't look at Steve without the programming screaming to lunge, to hold him down and slash the blade across his open throat. The inner mechanisms of his metal arm whirled and purred, plates calibrating and lying flat and repeating, unfeeling fingers tight around the handle of the knife that he could hear cracks forming on the resin grip. He felt like some sort of predator, a monster; Steve had done nothing but try to protect and aid him and when he needed him to return the favor here he was, holding the knife that would kill him.

Muffled voices from the HYDRA agents outside, combined with their restlessly shifting shadows through the window, set off alarms in the Asset's mind. Something was going on. It was likely Black coming to inspect his progress and the thought of it was enough to worsen his shaking. He was being pulled in a dozen different directions; Black's words tugged at him to attack, his own mind screamed at him to get Steve out of this hellhole and protect him, while the programming whispered encouragements to complete his mission and be rewarded with the quiet sleep of cryo.

The weight in his lap vanished and he didn't dare look to see; he could hear Steve straining to sit up, breath wheezing out of his still-healing lungs from the effort. The programming lurched at the opportunity like a starving animal presented with a meal, teeth bared and desperate for blood. It'd be so easy to just turn and plunge the knife into his back; the blade was long enough to reach his heart through his ribs if he aimed right, he'd bleed out if it didn't outright kill him..

"Buck."

His grip on the knife tightened, servos in his arm whirring into readiness. If he completed his mission Black would put him in cryo, would stop all the noise of the broken memories in his head and let him rest; he was so tired, he'd run and fought for so long that even the horrors of his captivity seemed like a sweet relief from the pain of remembering. The fragments of his memories had always just been background noise before, but now with time and healing they were loud, intrusive, overwhelming and smothering. He couldn't handle it on his own.

"Buck, something's going on, we need to get out of here..."

He was so far lost in his own mind, moving without knowing, drowning inside his own thoughts and broken memories. There was only so long one could fight before it all collapsed, until one gives in under the pressure. With his memories a jumbled heap, struggling to stitch together, the pain of it all was overpowering. He felt trapped inside a cage like a wild animal, desperate to get out and escape from all the noise.

The soft touch of warm fingers on his right arm triggered an immediate response, twisting and clamping his hand onto a still-healing shoulder, knife edge pressed to soft skin. He was instantly still, muscles wound tight like a spring, blade biting into his throat just enough to draw a single trickle of blood. Steve, this is Steve, stop. He was horrified, wanting nothing more than to bolt out the door before he could do something to hurt him more, but he couldn't move. He could only watch as Steve swallowed, eyes staring into his featureless goggles, confused and frightened but, God, still so bright.

"Bucky, put it down… please…"

A sound that could have been a whimper escaped him, stomach turning in disgusted horror at himself. Yet he still couldn't move the weapon away. He couldn't just ignore his mission but he could try and fight it, try to delay it, give Steve enough time to try and get away but unless he got a new command he had to complete it. It was the worst part of the programming.

"You don't have to listen to them anymore, Bucky.."

Steve sounded more lucid than he had in weeks, even with his eyes still fogged from medication and pain. He knew Steve, he'd made the connection between him and the boy with the sparrow-thin bones and bloodied knuckles from his memories, but seventy years of forced obedience and programming and control were impossible to just shrug off. Steve must have sensed it, but then again even the broken fragments of his memories told him that he had always been able to read him like a book.

He didn't show an ounce of fear as he slowly raised his hand, hovering it over his metal wrist, never breaking eye contact. He reasoned he wanted him to make sure he saw what he was doing. He remained tense and stiff, ready to slash the blade the inch it'd take to kill the man, but he waited. Steve seemed to take it as permission, lightly laying his hand over his own metal one, trying to gently push it away from his throat. He resisted at first, artificial muscles clicking and flexing before he slowly relaxed, letting his arm be guided away and down.

"You're okay, Bucky," he started, keeping his voice low and even, not even blinking at the impossibly loud sound of the knife clattering to the floor as it slipped from the Asset's grip, "you're my friend, you don't have to make it on your own."

Thank you Buck, but I can make it on my own.

The thing is, you don't have to.

Something about those string of words sparked something, a bright image flashing in his mind. He remembered Steve, so much smaller with red-ringed eyes. He remembered his hand gripping his shoulder tightly; he realized dimly that he was doing much the same now, a twisted sort of parody of a gesture that no doubt had once been based in comfort. Steve lifted his free hand, the other still cradling the metal wrist that a moment ago had been poised to slit his throat, reaching slowly towards his face. The memory was so vivid he didn't even react until he felt his goggles being gently tugged away, dropping discarded into his lap.

The Asset tried to suck in a breath through the muzzle mask but his lungs hitched as his whole body began to shake, arms dropping into his lap, limp. He had no idea what was happening. The programming had faltered, leaving him unable to complete the mission; the conflict between his programming and the memories was just too much. Panic filled every bit of him, heart hammering against his ribs and stomach threatening to retch. He'd never felt like this in any of the memories he had and it terrified him. He couldn't get enough air and he felt entirely out of control of his own body, his breathing loud and ragged and desperate under the mask.

He felt Steve's hand on his left shoulder, thumb just barely tracing the ragged seam where metal met flesh, his eyes focused on his own as he spoke although he didn't hear a word he said. Normally he flinched or reacted violently to contact but he didn't this time, merely shrinking into himself in an attempt to hide from the storm that was his mind. It was oddly assuring, the feeling of his firm grip on his shoulder, although it didn't immediately register that he was touching his left arm. He couldn't touch him with his left arm, he couldn't, he couldn't. He was dimly aware of a loud noise outside the room, an electric sort of noise that sent the panic coiling in his belly shooting straight up his spine. He needed to get away. Electricity meant pain, meant the wipe that would steal Emily and Steve and his fragile memories away again.

His legs felt boneless when he tried to jump up but he didn't make it any farther than that, Steve's grip on his shoulder turning strong as steel, pulling him back down. The Asset dimly heard him yelling at him; he heard Bucky and he heard its okay but everything in between was lost in the blur that was the panic swirling in his mind. The electric noise was right outside, it was too close. Too close.

"S-Steve, I..."

The door was blown off its hinges with a bolt of blue, slamming into the wall, and all thoughts screeched to a halt and screamed attack.

Steve flinched violently when the door exploded to his right, shards of hot metal bouncing off his side. The air was full of the acrid stench of charred metal and sharp electricity, a scent he knew like the back of his hand. Stark. Thank God, Emily had gotten help and somehow found them. They just might get out of this mess after all. He had his visor flipped open and grinned when he saw him, motioning to the two of them broadly. He didn't have enough time to warn him about Bucky, to warn him about the sound the repulsors made, to warn him about anything.

"Tony, turn off your Repulsors!" he shouted but by the time the words left his lips Bucky had already sprung, producing a knife from somewhere on his person and lunging at Tony like a bird of prey, blade like a talon aiming straight for the suit's Arc Reactor. Tony didn't even have enough time to flip down his visor before Bucky barreled into him, sending them both to the floor. Steve tried to jump up to pry Bucky off but the drugs were still in his system, making his limbs feel a hundred pounds heavier and the room spin with any sudden movement. It felt like when his blood sugar used to dip before the serum.

The screech of metal against metal was nearly ear-splitting, the knife glancing off an armored gauntlet when Tony threw his arms up to deflect the strike. Bucky jammed the blade into one of the seams, Tony actually letting out a yelp before he jerked his arm back, the knife catching and snapping from the torque. The useless hilt was discarded, fingers curling into a fist and slamming into the Arc Reactor, cracking the protective covering. Steve's heart skipped and he screamed at Bucky to stop but he watched as he raised his fist again, aiming to break the Reactor which would trap Tony in the powerless suit.

A brilliant flash of blue filled the room and Bucky was thrown off, the sleeve of his uniform disintegrating and exposing the metal underneath. The Repulsor blast had been drastically dialed back, only enough power behind it to knock him away, but it still nearly blew him into the far wall. He landed on his feet like some sort of cat and skidded back, tattered sleeve smoking and the plating of his arm mired with superficial electricity burns. His breathing was far too fast and he was still shaking, hardly able to stand on his own two feet.

"Bucky, calm down!" Steve pulled himself free of the IV drips, using the wall to steady himself as he moved closer to Tony; he was hedging his bets on the fact that Bucky hopefully wouldn't attack with him so close to his target. "Tony is a friend, he's not going to hurt you!" he could only watch helplessly as Bucky tensed himself up again, coiling in on himself like a snake about to strike. "Bucky, don't! I promise he's not going to hurt you!" he placed himself between the two, holding his hands up submissively. Tony quickly did the same, powering down his Repulsors completely.

Bucky remained crouched and ready to lunge, another much larger blade in his right hand. His eyes darted between Steve and behind him to Tony as if he was trying to judge his distance; it made Steve's stomach drop. He edged forward slowly, closing the distance hesitantly even though he heard Tony's concerned hiss of Steve be careful behind him.

"Buck, its okay, I promise. Its fine, Tony's not going to hurt you or me." he assured, reaching out and slowly taking hold of his hand with the knife. Bucky didn't let go, keeping his eyes locked on Tony over Steve's shoulder as if daring him to try and take another step closer even though he was now shaking so badly he could barely keep his stance. His eyes were still unfocused and wild, nothing like they were the last few times he'd visited him in his cell.

"Cap, I think he's having a panic attack" Tony said suddenly, visor flipping up, "try and get him calmed down so we can get you both out of here. Emily is coming down the hallway, I'm going to make sure our path out is clear but we need to leave before more HYDRA agents show up." Steve nodded back at him before turning his attention back to Bucky, hand still on the hilt of the knife to try and keep him from lunging around him at Tony.

"Buck, Bucky, I need you to look at me" Steve spoke sternly, Bucky's gaze snapping back to him in an instant, "please try and calm down. You're breathing too hard, just, try and focus on slowing it down." He'd talked Tony through his panic attacks in the last few months when something triggered them but Tony had never had a penchant to try and kill him during them.

The knife came loose from his grip a moment later, Steve quickly tossing it out of reach onto the abandoned cot. Bucky was shuddering so much he looked like he was about to shake apart, breath heaving in and out. He wanted to get the mask off of him but he didn't think it was a good idea with him still so flighty. He could easily end up hurting him or himself.

"James, теперь ты в безопасности."

He felt Bucky jolt to look over at the remains of the door where Emily was now standing silently, the shield strapped to one arm. Steve would have spun around himself but he didn't dare make any sudden moves with Bucky in his state, knowing he was teetering on the edge of attacking him or attacking anyone who so much as came within three feet of him with a weapon.

"E-Emily." Bucky's voice was painfully weak, hardly audible over his breathing. Steve heard her walk over, she deliberately making enough noise so not to startle him, reaching out to lay her hand on his arm gently. It seemed to ease his shaking a bit, having two grounding points, but they didn't have the time to get him completely calmed down. They still had to get out of this nightmarish place and get to safety.

"You're going to be fine." She reassured him soothingly, her voice softer than he'd ever heard it before, "we're going to take you and Steve somewhere safe." Bucky seemed to calm a bit at her words, tentatively nodding in agreement as his tremors subsided. He still looked pale and nervous but he didn't seem to be on the verge of passing out anymore. "Steve, Stark has the hallway clear but we need to go now. More agents are inbound and we don't have the head of the base pinned down. Do you think he's good for extraction?" Steve turned to look at the Soldier at her words, and he mirrored the action.

"Do you think you can make it out of the building, Buck? We need to go." Steve asked and was relieved when he saw the slight nod he got in response.

"Good. Clint and Bruce are outside in a Quinjet. Let's get you both home." Emily whispered with a little smile in the corner of her lips.

FOUR YEARS LATER

 “Mommy!? Mommy, mommy, mommy!!!” a squeaky voice has spreaded its echo around a cottage.

Little girl ran through upper floor, heading towards stairs leading at the ground floor. She ran into the living room, looking around, but there was no one, so she ran further. Girl spotted the black chow-chow, who was laying at the dog bedding near the main door.

“Hey! Xena! Have you seen Ma?” girl, laughing loudly, went to the dog and pet dog's head playfully. The animal only barked lazly, so girl shook her head and decided to ran to the garden.

But at the door a pair of strong hands had caught her and she had been picked up. She was laughing and squeaking. “Uncle! Put me down, put me down!!!” she giggled, looking up into pair of familiar, huge blue eyes. Steve smirked and made an offended face. “Nah, I don't think so, I like to have you close, besides, now I hope I'll have better deal with your mother if it comes to a dessert!” Captain tickled little belly of the girl, causing a bunch of giggles and squeaks. “Uncle! Unfair!” little girl nuzzled to his neck. “Well, I'll help ya with a dessert if you'll help me to look for my Ma! I can't find her.” Steve laughed briefly and gave a slight nod, then stepped outside t the garden, holding girl in his arms.

Emily was sitting at the wide swing with Bucky, they were catching sunrays of the late summer, cuddling and talking. When little girl noticed her parents, she squeaked once again, tugging Steve's sleve. “Mommy! Daddy!” she yelled loudly and as soon as her little feet touched the ground, she ran towards them, jumping at Bucky's lap. “Mommy! I was looking for you everywhere!!! I draw something for you!!” little girl held a dawing in her hand and she passed it over to Emily. Redhead woman took a piece of the paper in her hand and whistled shortly. “James, look, I bet our girl's gonna be an artist in the future!” she giggled. Bucky took the drawing in his metal palm and took a look on that, letting Steve to watch it also. “I bet she'll” Bucky took girl into his arms and hugged her tight, smiling proudly. “My beautiful Marika.” “I'm sorry to interrupt, but what's with that dessert you had promissed me?” Steve poked Emily's shoulder and woman rolled her eyes. “Captain is hungry as always. I told James before, they should've been calling you Captain Hunger instead of America” Emily summed up, smiling sweetly.

All four talked for a while, then headed back to the house. They were living in peace, filling their lives with love and hope. Hope for better world.

Whatever they had missed, they possessed together the precious, the incommunicable past.

                                                      The End

A Birtday Party With Tony Stark

Words: 804

Warnings: none at all ☺

SUMMARY: Tony is asked to make an appearance as Iron Man for Steve’s son’s b-day party. He shows up and surprises everyone.

Author: Killer raccoon

Steve asked Tony to make an appearance as Iron Man at his son’s birthday party, he planned it perfectly so that he knew Pepper would be around when he asked. He’d noticed that Tony had a more difficult time turning down personal requests when Pepper was around. First- because Tony always wanted to impress her. And second- because if Tony did decline, Steve knew that Pepper had grown very good at the art of persuasion and would find a way to convince him. Tony would sometimes decline attending things he didn’t even mind doing, just to see if he could barter with Pepper for some kind of extra reward or incentive. But Pepper was on to his tricks by now. So of course even though Tony was reluctant, making a string of his usual excuses, Pepper was able to get Tony to give in.

Tony arrived at the birthday party, on time, escorted by Pepper.

The house was decked out with every possible Iron Man decoration under the sun. Steve just rolled his eyes, like Tony needed any sort of ego boost, now his face was plastered everywhere with kids practically worshipping at his feet. But much to both Pepper and Steve’s surprise, Tony had altered his suit for the occasion to perform functions and tricks that were safe for kids, and that entertained them for almost two hours. It made Pepper smile to know that Tony had put in the extra effort for these kids, even without her pressuring him to do so. It was his own choice.

After two hours of entertainment, Tony was pretty exhausted. Entertaining kids really took it out of him, plus he still wasn’t sleeping completely. Pepper finally stepped in to relieve Iron Man of his performing duties and Tony graciously accepted her help calming down the kids who couldn’t get enough of him.

When the crowd of kids dispersed for Iron Man red velvet cake, Tony took off his suit and took a seat at a nearby table. Pepper volunteered to retrieve a piece of cake for him while he waited. It was then that Tony spotted a distressed little boy crying in the back of the yard. He looked around for some kind of adult or parent to tend to him but no one seemed to see him from where he sat in the yard. A little time passed and Tony was starting to get anxious that the boy was still unattended to. So he got up and went over to the crying child, trying to comfort him while being completely uncomfortable himself. Through choked back sobs the boy confessed that he had arrived late to the party and missed out on seeing iron man, not recognizing Tony without the suit. Tony was relieved, now this was something he could actually help the small child with.

He went and got the suit and gave the boy a private show, demonstrating the water guns he’d installed in place of the repulsor beams just for the occasion, among other silly alterations he had made. The boy began to laugh and squeal with delight. Pepper watched Tony from across the yard in awe.

The little boy beamed up at Tony and thanked him, saying he was the luckiest boy in the world because he got to hang out with Iron Man. Tony took his helmet and handed it to him, telling the boy he could keep it if he didn’t tell any of the other kids. The boy threw his arms around Tony from his sitting position and pulled Tony down into a hug, thanking him profusely and calling him his best friend. Tony tousled his hair in return and said “you bet!” then encouraged the boy to join the rest of the kids.

Pepper watched as Tony sat in the grass, starting at where the boy had sat, with a stupid grin on his face. She walked over and brought him is cake and leaned down to kiss him on the cheek.

“I’m proud of sou, mrs Iron Man” she said.

They rode home in silence, Pepper gripping Tony’s hand tightly between them.

They got ready for bed separately and climbed in together. There was this pang in Pepper’s heart, playing out the whole scene she had witnessed in her head, over and over again. Tony looked so happy with that little boy. He had made that boy so happy.

They lay there in the semi-dark silence, until “I think we should have a baby!” they both blurted out at the same time.

Both of their faces lit up at the other’s confession, there was sincerity and hope in their eyes. They had a lot to talk about but they wasted no time sharing a sweet kiss, stripping each other, and practicing their baby-making skills that same night.

Imagine: Daredevil joins Avengers.

Request by: @deliciousbouquet90

„Soo… He is like..” Tony looked at Steve over papers that he held in hand, frowning softy.

“Blinde… Yea I know that… but he is good, it took me a while to make sure about this but he is good, really good.” Steve said. “Like really really good. You should see his skills, the things that he can do. He fights like normal person, even better. He fights like a real hero.”

Tony rolled his eyes. “Come on, Steve! This guy’s blinde, blinde like a mole. I don’t believe you, how someone like he can even call himself a hero?”

“Have you read newspapers? He is all over them… maybe we should at last try… give him a chance. Pleaseee Tony.” Steve sighed sadly making kind of a puppy eyes.

“Okaaaay! Fine!” Tony muttered. “If something will happen, it will be your responsibility, Cap.” Man said.

“It always is my responsibility..” Steve said quietly to himself.

“What?” Tony frowned.

“No! Nothing! Thanks, Tony.” Steve said and left.

Matt felt a bit uncomfortable, he didn’t really know this new place very well. He also wasn’t really sure about him joining Avengers, it was so out of place. Well yes, he was a hero but he wasn’t like any member of Avengers. However he came anyway.

Cap and Bucky walked into room, Steve looked at Matt and then at Bucky. Bucky only shrugged and sat on a couch.

Steve smiled at Matt and offered him hand. “Mathew Murdock, am I right?”

“Yes, Captain, but Matt is enough.”

Tony walked into the room and looked at Cap. “Steve…. He is blinde. He for sure won’t see your hand.” He laughed.

Steve smiled awkwardly and immediately his face became red. Bucky rolled his eyes and took Tony’s empty cup from a coffee table. “Hey! Devil! Catch this!” He yelled and threw cap into Matt’s direction. Man caught it without problem. “I knew that second guy was there.” Matt said happily.

Tony blinked and frowned softly. “Whatever! And YOU! Never threw my stuff” He growled and left. Bucky only laughed. “I love to piss him off.”

“Um… Thanks Bucky. So… Matt? Welcome to Avengers?” Bucky only facepalmed when Steve again offered his hand to Matt, this guy was just too nice.

Matt smiled and nodded. “Thank you Captain Rogers.” Matt said and took Steve’s hand. “I hope that cooperation will be successful.”

Author: Cass Gif: X X 

Don't get caught || Bucky Barnes drabble.

Words: 1680

Warnings: Slight smut

SUMMARY: A nice training with Bucky

Author: Cass and Beast.

It was one of these days, when Bucky was full of rage. He recently has came back from very tough mission in Eastern Europe. He has been sent to Nizhny Novgorod and he had to invigilate the training of young Shield's recruits.

Now, brunette was at the gym, where he was doing his cardio training, trying to get rid of bad emotions.

You went at the gym out of pure boredom, your day was really boring, so you decided to go there and do something.

Shirt and shorts were all that you were wearing at the moment, you felt comfortable in that outfit.

You entered the gym and looked around, then you looked at Bucky and smiled at him. "Hey there, Barnes!"

Bucky's eyes wandered slowly over you. "Hi" he only mumbled under his breath.

He didn't pay too much attention to your presence in the room, he just kept going with his exercises

You frowned softly and walked to him. "Hey, why are you so angry today, huh?" your eyes wandered slowly from top of his head to his toes. You licked your lips a bit and smiled at him.

Bucky was lifting weights, putting his whole attention to the exercise. He was slowly tautening his muscles to slacken them after few moments. "Why so curious, Y/N?"

"I'm always worried about my friends and my team mates." You looked at him worried.

Bucky chuckled darkly. "And tell me, Y/N, since when me and you are friends?" he gave you a look, the specific one, which was reserved only for special occasions, when Bucky was really not in a mood to conversations.

You rolled your eyes theatrically and you sighed heavily, you always were trying to be nice to this guy. “Hmmm. Let me think.. Maybe since Cap forced Tony to take you to the team and since Cap even brought you here? Maybe since that day.” You muttered annoyed.

Bucky stopped for a while, putting barbells onto its place. "Heh, yeah." he looked at you briefly, then he grabbed his towel and went at the other side of the gym. "Did anyone tell you, that you're annoying, Y/N? Can't you see I am trying to do my daily workout? And can't you see I need to stay focused?" man sighed deeply. "What's your business?"

"Nope! Cap says I'm sweet and Stark likes fact that I care." You said, watching him from behind. "Everyone likes me... well, maybe 99% of the team." You shrugged.

"So I am that 1 missing percent" Bucky chucked. "Well.. Yea. Listen to the man, who has been stucked in the ice for last 70 years and the man, who only knows, how to love himself and how to be a narcissus" Bucky looked at you above his metal arm.

"Heh, still better than listen to the man that spent like... last 70 years as a psycho killer controled by Hydra." You smiled at him. "Why you are so behind everyone, Bucky... it's so sad..." you said quietly with sadness.

Man shrugged slightly. "I used to be alone. And I still appreciate it. As you could saw for last months, I am definitely not a social type of person. I like to be on my own, without bunch of 'fake' friends around" his blue eyes, after little travel along your figure, have stopped on your eyes. "Now. Let me finish my training."

You walked closer to him. "Come on Bucky, how do you know, that they are 'fake', if you even didn't give them a chance." You stood next to him. "Look, when Cap brought me here from S.H.I.E.L.D., I was scared of everyone. Everyone looked so serious and scary, but I gave them a chance and look, I don't have any fake friends. There are people, that really wanna be friends with you."

Bucky rolled his eyes. "I think I've made myself clear enough. I don't need others." Man continued his training.

You grabbed Bucky's metal hand tight. "No, it's not 'clear enough' for me. I can see you aren't like this, Bucky. I know you are different... Just tell me what's wrong. Because I'm worried, and I am not the only person who's worried about you." You said, frowning.

"Nothing. I had a tough mission. And I want to relax a bit. And it's my way to do so, Y/N" he snapped angrily. "Listen, doll, it's a gym. Can you take your sweet little butt and take a step or two away from me, huh? Maybe train a bit too, it's gonna help you to think clearly."

"So come on, let's train. Come at me, bro!" You said. smiling at him. "Come on, show me, how much of relax do you need, unless you are scared of me." Your smile changed from nice one into shabby within second.

One of Bucky's brews slowly rose, when a grimace crawled onto his rough lips. "Are ya kidding me, doll? You don't have any chances."

Bucky wiped his hands into towel, then he tossed it on the bench and slowly went into your direction.

You got ready on him, you were scared because this guy was three times bigger than you. 'I hope he will be gently,' you thought to yourself and bite inside of your cheek, looking at him.

Bucky was looking straight into your eyes, without any signes of hesitation.

With one huge step he approached you and grabbed you by your left forearm, at the same time undercutting your legs. Both of you lost the balance immediately and you both fell onto the ground.

"Oh, shit!!" You growled and let out a loud whimper, when you hit the floor with your back.

You tried your best to free yourself from his grasp, but there was no chances for it, Bucky was just too strong for you. "Damn you, Barnes." You growled deeply, wiggling like a crazy.

Laying on top of you, Bucky was smiling proudly as he was looking down on your face. "Doll, I've been telling ya, that you ain't gonna beat me." His bangs, wet from sweat, fell on his eyes.

You turned your head to him. "Maybe..." you quickly grabbed his hair and pulled his face closer to yours, than you kissed his lips hardly. A mean smile appeared on your face. "But I can do different stuff.." you whispered with a quiet purr.

Bucky at first was trying to pull away from you, but within a second he got all comfy and gave a kiss back. It was a messy kiss, full of rush and insecurity.

"You kissed me back.." you said quietly and moved your hand through his hair. "But... Why so shy, Bucky?"

Bucky swallowed hardly, licking his lips. "It's a bit inappropriate.." brunette mumbled quietly against your soft lips, brushing them with his rough one. His metal hand has been placed on your hip. "I think I will rethink our relationship, Y/N."

Quiet giggle left your lips, then you slowly turned around in his arms. Your lips started slowly kiss his neck. "Oh really... So... I'm not annoying anymore?"

Bucky didn't respond, kissing your clavicle and slipping his impatient hands under your shirt.

"Come here." You whispered and pulled him into deep kiss, while you started to rub yourself against his crotch.

Bucky let out a moan, pushing his tongue into your mouth and humming deeply. His cold metal fingers were running along the curve of your waist.

You whimpered loudly into the kiss and clenched your arms tighter around his neck.

Bucky placed himself completely between your legs, slowly pulling your shirt up to reveal your breasts.

But suddenly..

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OVER HERE!?" a loud yell could be heard next to the door.

You blinked and looked up, your vision was upside down, but you could see Tony, who was angry as hell and Steve, whose face was covered in a blush.

"Bucky..... Y/N... What you two are doing here..." Steve asked, obviously shocked by an unexpected view.

"Exactly! What the fuck!" Tony crossed his arms over his chest, cocking his brow. "We left you for 5 minutes, and you just fooling around with Mr Barnes?! Y/N, I don't recognize you!"

You could feel, how your face is getting hotter. "I... I... I just...." You bite your lips and hugged to Bucky tightly, hiding your face into his chest.

"Tony, calm down." Steve said softy. Than he looked at Bucky. "You.... get off of her and help her get up." Steve muttered.

Bucky, with a huge blush on his cheeks followed Steve's order without complaining. He offered you his metal hand and helped you to get up.

"C'mon guys, it's just a wrestling" Bucky used the only explanation, which came to his mind.

Tony laughed shortly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Jesus, give me some patience, please" Stark put his hands up in a gesture of helplessness.

You quickly got up and pulled your shirt down, looking at man with a stupid smile on you lips. "I don't think this explanation will work."

"Of course it won't." Blond man growled softly. "You should be happy, that they haven't done anything else." Steve looked at Tony.

Stark shrugged, turning around. "I see you in my office, Barnes. 5 minutes!" he ordered harshly before he left the gym.

Bucky improved his sweatpants and went to Steve. "Sorry, pal."

"Just go there before he will kick you out of the tower." Steve sighed heavily, patting his friend's shoulder.

You improved your shorts a bit and went to Steve. "Cap, I'm so sorry... So so so so sorry." You whimpered. "But I couldn't stop myself from... him." You sighed sadly and looked down.

Steve smiled at you when Bucky was gone. "Good work, Y/N. Don't let him be alone." he whispered.

A/N: Hello guys, Beast's here. I just wanna say I found it super interesting and developing to write stories for you in cooperation with my beloved girlfriend. And, besides, I wanna share with you little information (yeah, I can't stop myself from boasting), so... We got engaged  Now I have an honor to call Cass my fiancée. Hope you all are gonna have great weekend, pals! Song from Beast: ♥

Pandies 🐼: @blue-dragon-ice @calkingwood @imidarogerson @grossograsso @thewildgardensstuff @irai-lauri @leven-and-ashley  @la-verdura @bearded-steve-rogers @sebbystan-plantlover @atuckyismylife  @krispyjellyfishzombie @personality-within  @haseki-huricihan @choppedgardenwhispers @vroobelek @lattimelka @chris-beamz @hidden-secrets69

Stutter || Loki x Steve Rogers one shot

Words: 740

Warnings: none

SUMMARY: Loki sits in a glass cell. Steve Rogers tries to understand Loki’s motivations, but the God of Mischief has other plans towards Captain.

Authors: Rouge and Cass

Steve looked around as he entered the rather big room with a cage made of glass on the middle. At first he shot his blue eyes closed because of a bright light filling the room.

 Loki smiled awfully. “Captain Rogers. Welcome into my little glass prison. What have I done to deserve such a GREAT honor?” black haired man said looking at Steve with soft frown.

Steve swallowed hardly, but he did his best to remain calm. "I came to ask who exactly do you think you are? Who gave you a right to just come here and start a fight? What do you want?"

“Me? I’m Loki, the God of Mischief, and you? Who exactly do you think you are to fight against God? Just a man dressed in a flag. Funny” Loki muttered.

 Steve blinked and he rushed his steps in the direction of the glass.

“Listen to me now, Loki. I don't know you, but I know you're trying to make a mess here, and forgive me, but it's not gonna happen. At least not when I'm here. I'm responsible for those people” Steve clenched his teeth and leant his forearm against the cold surface.

 Loki only laughed and walked closer to the glass. “Too bad that one of you already is under my control. Watch out, Captain, or you will start to stutter because of your huge anger.”  

 Steve automatically frowned, observing every single move of the black haired man. "Are you threatening me?" blonde man asked strongly.

Loki shrugged with small, mischievous smile on his lips. “No.. No, no, of course no… How could I try to threaten such a…. Great and brave man like you.” Man said and snapped his fingers. “I’m only… warning you Captain.”

 Steve hit the glass with fist.

“Tell me, what the hell you want!”

“I wanna rule this world! You, humans, are so pathetic… so fragile, so naive. You were made to be ruled, to be slaves!” Loki growled softly, smile has never left his lips. Steve wanted to raise his voice, but suddenly he started to choke. After few moments he managed to calm his breath down. But when he was about to say a thing, he found another obstacle.

“I…. I… I wi.. wi.. will never le… le.. let you t… t.. to do thi.. i.. this!”

Loki laughed softly.

“You see? I told you, Captain, be careful with your voice and anger.” Man walked to glass even closer and looked at Steve carefully, raising his eyebrow.

“Protector of Midgard have problems with his speech? Or maybe it’s something from your previous life, huh, Mr Captain?”

Steve grunted few times.

“I.. I… W.. w… w… what have y… y… you done to.. to me?!” Captain took a step back, looking around in a panic, he didn't know what was happening.

 Loki turned around and simply walked away from glass. God slowly sat on a ground and watched panicked man, he had to admit this was so much fun to him. “Me? How could I do anything? I’m closed in this glass cage, which were built for your green monster-friend. I did nothing.”

 Steve choked even more.

“Loki! S…. S.. Stop it n.. Now!” Steve growled.

 Suddenly, another person came into the room. It was no one else but Thor.

 “Loki. Stop it now” he raised his voice, looking straight at his brother.

Loki blinked.

“Oh! And here he is, my dear brother.”

Man got up and looked at his ‘older brother. “Hello brother. I haven't seen you in a while.” Black haired man only smiled and looked at Steve. “Oh brother,I didn't do anything bad” He shrugged.

 Thor smirked wryly.

“Loki. I won't repeat twice.”

Tall man was crumpling Mjolnir in his hands. “Give him his voice back. Now” Thor pointed at Steve.

 Loki frowned softly and snapped his fingers again. He rolled his eyes. "You know how to spoil my fun time, brother.”

 When within few seconds Steve was able to talk normally again, he shook Thor’s hand.

“Thanks” Captain coughed a bit. “I was afraid I won't be able to talk without stutter ever again” man laughed nervously.

Then he looked at Loki.

“And you…” he snapped. “We will see if you're gonna be so brave if nothing will be separating us from each other.”

  "I will be brave when you will start to s... s... s-stutter again, Mr Captain" Loki smiled at Steve meanly.

GIFS: X

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Winter lightning || Part I

Words: 2525

Warnings: none

SUMMARY: Bucky returns to normal life after being a part of Avengers team. One day, on the street of New York, he meets a young woman. He doesn't know yet, that this meeting is gonna change everything he used to know.

Authors: Beast & Cass 

The city was a vast, intricate, labyrinth of noisy, streets and alleys. He could hear the incessant honking of the vehicles even before the sun rose. Impatient businessmen who had to get to the office, mothers who had to leave their children at their schools, facing the puzzling challenge of navigating through the crowd of parents and children; even some of the teachers who had stopped at the local bakery to get a bagel or two before their morning classes. After every person had reached their respective destination, the traffic congestions cleared significantly as if humungous snakes had eaten their fills and were retracting back into their dark and eerie caves.

Walking down the street, Bucky could smell the fresh batch of sweet and spicy rolls being baked for the lunch hour rush. To him, it was a clear sign of the city slowly waking up. He anticipated to see what the new day would bring for him. Maybe a new reason to run again. Maybe an accidental meeting with someone he used to know before. Or maybe even hope...

She was runing as fast as she only could. “Sorry!” That was all she could say, pushing people out of her way, no metter who it was. She was only focused at running away from cold claws of danger.

This young woman has been betrayed by her own family, her life full of happiness and prosperity has changed into an elopement.

Whole city was waking up, when she was still running, all people and smells that were catching her attention before. were now meaningless. All she craved was safty… A place that will be safe enough to lost S.H.I.E.L.D's agents that had order to find and capture her because of what she was.

She could feel her heart pounding inside her chest, every breath, and every step was her little prayer.

Suddenly she bumped at well-build man, and trying not to fall onto ground, young woman instinctively caught both of his arms. One of them felt normal, like a flesh, but the other was cold and firm. She quickly looked around and then her glance stopped at the man. “I’m so sorry, sir.” Woman said trying to catch her breath. She moved away from man and continued to run.

Bucky has been taken out of reverie by surprise.

Trying to secure the woman from falling down, he caught her elbows and hold her firmly in the place.

"Not a prob..." he even didn't end his sentence, because girl has rushed to escape.

Bucky shook his head in disbelief, murmuring something in Russian under his breath. He continued his walk down the street, but it wasn't long before he has been stopped again.

The familiar uniform has showed up on the horizon and within few seconds a tall man stopped next to Bucky.

"Excuse me, have you seen a young woman? She had grey hoodie and black pants on?" man asked, looking around.

Bucky hesitated for a moment.                 First of all, he was afraid of being exposed. Secondly, he had seen a dread in the eyes of young woman from few minutes before.

He shook his head slightly. "No. I haven't. Sorry." He was glad. He had sounded as firm as it was necessary.

Other man thanked shortly and ran further, leaving Bucky in the middle of sidewalk.

Street was a terrible place, everyone could see her. For sure this weird guy told Agents, that he has seen her… And for sure he had shown them direction.

Woman quickly jumped into alley to hide from the crowd of main street. Maybe now she will lose them..

Girl pulled hood onto her head and started walk slowly, looking around. Everything was so… New for her. This was first time in her entire life, when she had to run for her life, she couldn’t believe, that her own family wanted to get rid of her.

Her family was too high settled, their fame and good reputation was more important than love to their daughter.

Young woman looked around and took a deep breath, she had no idea what to do now. This whole place was filthy. She flinched, when she stepped into mud. “God… How could I end up like this.” She whimpered and continued her walk. She saw stuff, that were really far away from her standards. She used to spend her time in beautiful places, where everything was gorgeous and expensive, but right now she was surrounded by mud, homeless people, rats and stray animals. From woman in dress she changed into a woman wearing the hood and trying to escape from death.

In the same time, Bucky has made quick shopping and headed back to his flat.

He was renting a little apartment on Brooklyn. It had one larger room, little kitchen and the bathroom. Nothing else, but it was enough for him to survive.

Bucky entered his hideout and first steps he headed to the kitchen, where he placed shopping bags on the table's counter. Then he walked back to the front door and man made sure he had locked them.

Bucky flopped onto the old couch, not even taking off his leather jacket. He pulled a box of cigarettes out of his pocket and he lit one, inhaling deeply with a smoke. He couldn't stop thinking about that young woman. Somehow she caught his thoughts.

Cold wind made her shiver, she also wasn’t used to such situations.

She took a deep breath and tried to think. What to do now? Where to hide? Is this the end?

Bucky ended his cigarette and he laid down on his couch. Looking up at the ceiling, he was thinking of his previous life, when he used to be part of S.H.I.E.L.D. Now, nothing was the same anymore. Because of his arguments with Tony Stark, he has ended being the enemy number one to everyone. Even to Steve...

Bucky didn't realize, when he fell asleep.

She was tired, trying not to sleep was too hard. Her eyelids were really heavy, but before she even could close her eyes, she saw familiar uniforms somewhere in the crowd. “No..” She whimpered scared and got up only to quickly run away.

Young woman ran into skyscraper, she tried to knock to many doors, but most of flats were empty at this time or people were simply ignoring her.

She tried on every floor, everytime it was the same: people's ignorance or emptiness.

Finally, she got onto 13th floor. She started banging into door from local F9, which were close to the lift. “Please! Help me! I need help! I beg you! Show some mercy!” Her voice was nothing more than mix of fear and sob. “Please… I beg you..” Woman whimpered.

Bucky growled deeply as he has been woken up from his dream.

Cursing under his breath, he walked to the door and opened them wide.

"What the fuck you..." he had been snapping for a second, but became silent shortly after. "What the hell.. I remember you.."

She blinked, looking at man, he was like three times bigger than her.

“I… I remember you too..” Woman said and wanted to run away but she heard group of people, knocking and checking doors on lower floor.

She shivered, terrified, and looked back at man. “Please… hide me… I beg you, don’t let them get me.” Woman whimpered, grabbing his arms in act of desperation. Her sight was full of fear and sadness.

When the footsteps get louder, she simply ran into man's flat, not paying attention to him.

Bucky blinked in a disbelief. "Wait... What..." but before he has ended his sentence, the woman just entered his flat without asking about his permission.

"Who do you think you are? I don't need any extra trouble" he hissed, closing the door.

“Please… Please, sir… Please… hide me, protect me. I’m begging you.” She whispered full of pure fear and panic, woman even fell onto her knees.

Her breath stopped, when she heard knocking to the door. “Oh… God… No…” She said quietly and quickly hide in man’s bedroom, not even saying a word.

Bucky looked at her with a cold gaze, then he improved his jacket and went to open the door.

"How can I help you?" he said firmly as he opened the door.

Tall man, dressed in a S.H.I.E.L.D uniform, gave him a little nod. "I'm sorry. We are looking for a young fugitive. Have you seen a not too tall woman with long dark hair, dressed in a hoodie?" man asked simply, looking directly at Bucky.

Barnes made a grimace, like he would be thinking deeply. "No. I was only in the shop today. I haven't seen anyone. No one as you've described" he said calmy, but in his firm tone.

Other guy nodded slightly and thanked him, he simply walked away, knocking to another door.

Woman stood close to bedroom’s door, listening to every word. She had hope that this man won’t tell them she is in his flat, he didn’t want to have problems.

She felt guilty for putting him into such a situation, they were complete strangers to each other and she made him deal with S.H.I.E.L.D agents, even when she shouldn’t, but her fear and panic were too huge to think rationally.

When man closed main door, she slowly left his room. “Um… Sir, I want to apologize for this. I shouldn’t do this… But my fear of those people is too deep to behave rationally. I really should look at your safety.” She explained slowly, taking off her hood.

Young woman looked slowly around. “You have… nice flat… here.” She said, flinching.

Bucky was measuring her with cold glance, his hands on his hips. "Sorry? Is that all you want to say?" he hissed loudly, taking two huge steps towards woman. He stopped in front of her, his face a few inches from her. "Who? Are? You?" he syllabized every word, looking straight into her eyes.

She blinked and whimpered, shielding herself with her arms, when angry man got closer to her. "I... I am Elizabeth... Elizabeth Bonnet... I am an art student.." Woman whispered, even more scared. Right now she was more afraid of him then of agents. He was visibly enraged and he had her at reach of his fingertips.

"I didn't ask about your name" he simply pushed her aside with his shoulder, passing her by and flopping on couch. "I've asked WHO are you. If S.H.I.E.L.D is after you, then it means you’re not only an art student" he pulled out pack of cigarettes and lit one. Bucky put one leg on the other, leaning his back comfortaby on the couch. He inhaled with choking smoke, then he exhaled it, using nose. "Don't stay like that, Miss Bonnet. You can take a sit. Don't worry. I am not gonna hurt ya."

She let out unhappy sound, when he pushed her aside. She turned around, rubbing her shoulder. "I do not know, what I can tell you. They said that.... I'm a mutant.. but.. I did nothing against them." Elizabeth coughed softly and waved her hand trying to blow away smoke, then she looked at the couch. "Um... thank you, sir." She nodded and politely sat on the edge of the couch.

"Now I'm gonna tell you, what will happen next."

Bucky was focusing on the ceiling. He didn't even look at the woman sitting next to him.

"You can stay here. However don't think I'm doing this, because you took me with your begs" he chuckled darkly, puffing his cigarette. "I'm doing this, because I have my own old things to S.H.I.E.L.D. and because I know, how huge assholes they can be."

He sounded a bit too antipathetical then he had wanted.

"I have only one condition. Or maybe two. First, you can use any thing you will find here as your own. I don't have problems with sharing my hideout with you, but you won't be stepping into my way if not necessary. And second, I need to know everything about you and you special abilities."

Bucky rose from the couch and took his jacket off. The metal, bionic arm has gleamed into the sunrays falling into thw room through huge window.

"As you can see, I am not an ordinary person too."

She listened to him, nodding her head at his every word. “O… Okay, sir and I understand, sir.”

Elizabeth bit her lips. “I… I don’t know what to tell you… Stuff just start to float around me… and I have no control over me.l sometimes.” She said and shrugged.

 Young woman jumped a bit scared, when he got up from couch and took off his jacket, she looked at him with her eyes opened wide. “That’s why your other arm felt different, when I caught it this morning.”

He rolled his eyes, ending his cigarette. "Yea. Probably that's the reason."

He went to the kitchen and came back holding two oranges. Bucky handled one to the woman.

"I don't want any objects to fly around my place, okay?" he gave her a serious look. "Otherwise you'll be kicked out."

He took a careful look at her. She was so young. And she looked like a real dame.

"Hope those conditions aren't too low for you, Madame." Barnes switched to his ironic voice. "And now. I gotta go for a bit" brunette sighed lazily and went to the hanger, taking his jacket off. "I'm gonna lock the door. Don't let anyone in. And rest. I bet you're tired." After those words, Bucky just left.

She slowly took the orange he has offered her. “Thank you, sir… I can try to not make them fly… but I told you already, I can’t control it.” Woman looked at him a bit scared.

She frowned softly. “This comment was redundant, sir. I am not gonna answer at such an unnecessary question.” Elizabeth muttered, feeling offended.

Woman watched him and nodded slowly. She sighed heavily, when he closed the door. She wasn’t used to such places. This man tried to be ironic, but he was right, this place was way low beyond her standards, but she couldn’t say no or run away. She had to accept those conditions and try to fit in and live with this man in peace.

She was thinking about this for some time before she slowly fell asleep.

Bucky stood watching the line where heaven touched earth. His wide eyes witnessed the resounding glowing collision. Sparks lit the sky and blood poured, as the glory of paradise descended further behind the seam of the world. Barnes sighed deeply, wrapping leather jacket more around his shoulders. He had spent whole day by walking around the town, thinking. Mostly about the new situation he had been pulled into. He wasn't sure, what to do and what to think. Bucky felt small as he glanced over his shoulder and saw his shadow slowly shrinking towards his feet. He looked back to the line, only a few bright streaks remained to signal heaven’s passing. The sun had set.

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When student outdid the master || Doctor Strange x Reader

Writing Challenge

Hello! This is my story written for Bianca’s Autumn Writing Challenge (created by @fanlove-fandomlife)

I tried my best and I hope you all will like the story. Enjoy! 🎃 🦇

Words: 1758

Warnings: none

SUMMARY: Pumpkin carving with Dr Strange

Author: Cass

"Well. I'm a doctor and I shouldn't laugh, but... Really? Pumpkins? I thought you have something different for me" Strange shook his head in disbelief, his brow was raised as man was looking at you.

You frowned softly, looking at your mentor and rolled your eyes annoyed. “Yes, pumpkins. Come on. It’s October… Almost end of the month to be honest! Halloween!” You jumped happily. “We have to get ready for it!”

"Y/N.." man sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "You always have been so stubborn. As you can see I'm kinda busy" Stephen pointed at his desk, full of books and papers. "But I suppose I can have a little break."

You whimpered happily and hugged him tight. „You can read and write later. Beside, we both know about your bad habit of spending whole nights on working.” You took his hand and pulled him to a kitchen.

You put one big pumpkin on a counter, humming happily. “Look! This one is just perfect! We can carve this one… And later we can do smaller one… I got only three, but they'll look amazing in front of the Sanctum."

Stephen took a seat on the one of high chairs. A cunning smile has crawled onto his lips. "I see you're prepared. But still scatty!" Strange let out a pearly laugh. "Do you have a pumpkin carving tools?"

„Hey! I’m not scatty and yes. I do have tools.” You giggled. “And! I have a keyhole Saw but… you need to open it… because I don’t have enough strength.” You offered him saw. “Mentor? Shall you?” You asked with soft smile.

Strange took a saw in his hands, but as soon as he did, he put it down onto counter. "It's.. How to say it? Oh! Too mainstream for me" he grinned at you and snapped his fingers. The saw slowly floated up and became dependent several centimeters above the counter.

You sat on high chair and giggled. "Ohh yeees... for sure it is, Doctor." You said and clapped your hands, watching him. "I can't wait!"

"What pattern you would like to have on the biggest pumpkin, Y/N?" Strange gave you a glance, smiling gently.

You hummed, thinking. "A CAT! Like a big, angry cat, with its fur standing up!" You explained. "I think it will be great, you know... Big, scary kitty cat." You meowed and laughed shortly after.

Strange snapped his fingers once again and the saw started its work. Within several seconds the patter was ready. "Is this what you have wanted?" Stephen stretched his fingers delicately.

You blinked and looked at him in disbelieve. "Stephen...." You got up from your seat and took his hands in yours. "This is not about magic, Mentor." You explained and let his palms free.

You picked up the small pumpkin and handled it to him. "Use your hands. It will be more fun."

Stephen was hesitating for a moment. "You good know that my hands aren't as efficient as they used to be" his voice was nothing more but a whisper.

"I know, but you still can give it a try... take your time, do it slowly... Step by step." You said softly. "I know, that I'm just a student here and you are a mentor... but trust me on this one." You smiled and sat back on your previous seat, taking other pumpkin into your hands, than you started to prepare it for carving.

Man rubbed his beard and nodded slightly. "As they say, if you won't try, you'll never know" he had been smirking at you before he started his precise work.

You nodded, smiling widely. "Exactly that, Mentor."

It took you a while to get fully into your task, you were watching Strange from time to time, but you never stopped your work. "How it's going?" You asked, looking at him.

"Like you see" Strange didn't look at you, he was focused on his work. Using a scraper, brunette was removing pulp from his pumpkin.

"I told you that using hands will be better." You giggled and returned to working on your pumpkin.

After an hour you were done with your little masterpiece. It was a simple design: big eyes and wide open mouth with sharp teeth. "It looks like you, especially when you are angry at me..." You picked it up and presented the pumpkin to Stephen. "Y/N! Get back to study!" You growled deeply, trying to imitate your mentor's voice.

Strange couldn't stop himself from laughing. "Haha! Y/N! Am I that gloomy, huh?!" man poked your shoulder, shaking his head.

He got up only to lean his upper body part on the counter. "Don't look at me like that, Y/N. I'm trying to do something more advanced" his eyes were glowing mysteriously in the light of a lamp hanging above your heads.

You laughed louder and nodded. "Not always, Mentor. Mostly you look quite good!"

You blinked, watching him, than you cleared your throat. "Umm... I will.. I will take cloak and I will go buy some good candles, because we need to put them inside."

"Don't worry. I'm an old-fashioned man" his voice was a mix of joy and proud. "Please, check the second cupboard counting from the window."

"Oh... Okay, okay." You nodded slowly and walked to the cupboard, you took a look into it.

You were looking for a while, but finally you found the candles. "Got 'em!" You yelled proudly with happiness

"C'mon. Let's lit them" Strange waited until you set candles into the pumpkins, then he snapped his fingers and in the same second all candles have lit up.

You gasped gaily. "WOW!!! I love that!" You jumped with excitement and hugged to Stephen tightly.

Man wrapped his arm around you, he was holding his head up. "I gotta say, I'm proud of myself."

Stephen's pumpkin had huge, rounded eyes and square mouth with sharp, long teeth. But his pumpkin had also a floral ornaments all around its oval.

You looked at his work. "WOW! You see?! I told you it will be worth a try, and your hands weren't a problem." You uttered with a voice full of pride. "We should take them outside and arrange them in some nice way next to the main gate." You looked at him with smile.

"That's the idea!" Stephen took the smaller pumpkin into his hands. The bigger one simply floated up in the air and started to levitate behind man, following each of his steps.

You blinked and watched your mentor, it was a nice feeling to see him that happy. You grabbed your pumpkin and followed Stephen outside.

You both walked outside through the main door. Stephen took a look around, searching for a place to set pumpkins. "Maybe there?" he pointed at the huge stone laying next to the alley. "I think it'll look right. What do you think, Y/N?"

You giggled and nodded your head. "I think it will be great. Put the big one first, and then we're gonna put smaller next to it." You said pointing at the place, that you thought will be good.

Strange used his power to set the biggest pumpkin onto the stone. He made few movements with his hands, causing the fallen leaves have surrounded the certain point. "Done."

You clapped your hands eagerly as you finished setting your pumpkin near the huge one. "Hooray! So... Mentor, I don't want to keep you away from your work anymore. You can go and do what you were doing before." You smiled at him.

"Oh! Thank you, ma'am, that in your magnanimity you've let me go back to my work!" Strange placed hands on his hips, making ironic grimace. Then, man bowed down. "Once again, thank you, ma'am!"

You laughed out loudly. "Thank you, Mentor! For making my day." You bowed down. "Thank you for help, for fun and for wonderful time." You said with great joy in your voice, being as ironic as you only could

Sometimes it was like that. Stephen Strange seemed to be very serious guy, standing hard on the ground. But the truth was, that deep beneath the mask he was wearing almost for the whole time, Stephen was a nice man, ready to play fool and prank people around him.

Strange whistled loudly. Within few moments, his cloak has flew to him.

"Okay. Let's see. You. Yes! You!" man looked at his cloak. Material shivered softly, when its owner was speaking. "Show me. Which pumpkin is prettier? Huh? Mine? Or maybe the one that belongs to Y/N?" Stephen chuckled darkly, being so sure of himself.

You shook your head in disbelieve. "Come on, cloak. Show us who is better in carving pumpkins." You said and shrugged.

Stephen crossed his arms on his chest. "C'mon. We don't have whole day!" he raised his voice a bit.

Cloak trembled. The crimson material flew to the place, where the pumpkins were set. After moment of hesitation, cloak pointed at your pumpkin.

You laughed loudly and hugged cloak, showing your tongue to Stephen. "I knew it! I'm better!"

Strange paled, clenching his teeth. "Oh!!! What's that!? Even you're against me?! I wasn't expecting that! Bad cloak!"

"No, no. You are a good cloak. Come on, let's go inside. It's cold out here." You sighed and shivered softly.

Stephen laughed loudly. "Don't worry, pal. I was joking." Man approached you and gave you a warm hug. "This time the student outdid the master" brunette clapped his hands. "And now. Maybe a hot chocolate?" man offered you his arm.

You sighed deeply and nuzzled to him. "Sounds like a great idea, Mentor. Let's go inside." You nodded your head and took his arm.

But when you were heading to the Sanctum, the cloak decided to take revenge for previous treatment. Material disappeared somewhere.

You could see with the corner of your eye, how cloak disappears in nearby bushes. You blinked a bit surprised.

"What's going on, Y/N?" Strange stopped in a step, glaring at you. "Wait. Have you seen.." When man turned around to look for his cloak, the material was floating few centimeters in front of him with its collar tightly wrapped around smaller pumpkin. "For Dormammu's sake!!" Stephen yelled, automatically taking step backward.

You only laughed and shook your head. "You asked for this, Mentor. Let's go inside... all three of us." You muttered, looking at cloak and its owner.

"Sure. It was a really nice experience for me" Strange giggled a bit. "We definitely have to repeat this next year."

I Always End Up Calling You || Frank Castle x reader Smut one shot

Writing Challenge

Hello! This is my another story written for Letsimagineitall’s Fall Writing Challenge (created by @letsimagineitall​)

I tried my best and I hope you all will like the story. Enjoy!

Words: 2098

Warnings: smut, swearing, light abuse

SUMMARY: Reader has another sleepless night. She decides to call the only person she can count on. Frank Castle

Author: Cass

It was one of those nights, where you weren't blessed by a calm sleep.

Another whimper and another shiver have pulled you up from inertness.

"Oh God..." you swiped your forehead from a cold sweat and instinctively you reached for your phone. You dialed the number blindly and you put phone to your ear.

When someone on the other side has picked up, you let out a deep sigh. "How come I always end up calling you, when I can't fall asleep?"

"Don't ask me, angel. What's wrong, Y/N? Nightmares or something's happened?" Man muttered. "Y/N. Sorry, but I am... kinda busy here."

Frank muttered, holding his gun right to some man's head. Other guy was currently pinned to the ground by Frank's heavy combat boot.

"Nightmares." Your voice has broke down and you started to cry. "I know.. I know, but... Frank? Can you come? Please. I need you here."

You good knew it's fourth time in last two weeks, when you're bothering him with your own demons, but there was nothing else for you to do.

Frank let out a deep sigh. "Okay, just... you need to wait a bit. Try to calm down."

When he hung up, other man smiled. "What... Have you found someone for yourself? We will find her too."

Frank only laughed shortly and shook his head. "Shut the fuck up. She is just a friend and you won't find anyone with bullet in your head." With those words he simply shot the man. He did the same with man on a ground.

After that, he quickly left and went into the direction of your flat.

"Okay. I will wait.." you whispered quietly, then you put your phone down on the bedside table.

You knew you won't be able to fall asleep anymore, so you got up from bed and went downstairs to the kitchen. You made yourself a cup of cappuccino and you took a seat at the table, waiting at Frank.

Frank muttered something to himself, when he was on his way.

He good knew, what nightmares meant. He had those every night and every time, when he was closing his eyes.

After few minutes, man reached your door.

He banged to them few times. "Y/N, it's me, open up." Frank said in his deep voice, waiting at door.

As you heard knocking, you jumped off the chair and wrapped your lacy nightgown around you tightly.

You walked to the door, opening them. "Frank!" you didn't wait, you just wrapped arms around man's neck and you simply fell into his strong arms.

"Hey..." He caught you into his arms. Frank gently stroked your hair, hugging you. "Come on.... let's get you to bed. It's late." After those words, Frank simply picked you up.

He closed the door behind him and holding you tight in his arms, man went to your bedroom.

While he was walking with you in his arms, you nuzzled your head to his neck. "I knew you will come. You are so good to me."

His strong arms had given you kind of a peace. You felt secured. Like you'd belong here..

"There you go. Now... you should try to sleep. You are not alone anymore." Frank explained and slowly left bedroom.

He walked to your living room and flopped on a couch, letting out a loud sigh.

But you still weren't able to sleep so you got up and rubbing your shoulders, you went downstairs to look for Frank.

Frank was sitting on couch, but suddenly he got up from his seat and kicked a coffee table, growling loudly. Table, which was made from glass, smashed against the wall, falling into thousands pieces.

Hearing the loud noise in the living room, you rushed there immediately.

"Frank! Oh God, what has happened?!" you stopped into a threshold, covering your mouth with shivering palm.

"Not your fucking business, Y/N!" He yelled, looking at you with anger in his eyes. "Get the fuck out of here to your room before you will get hurt and it's not a warning... It's an order."

"Frank... But..." You took a little, shy step into the room. "Let's take a sit and talk.. What has happened? I am here for you.. Calm down..."

He walked to you and grabbed your shoulder really tight. "I said something! Most of the time I am here for you! Go to your room, now!" He screamed at you, pushing you away.

You've lost balance and you simply fell onto floor, hitting back of your head against a corner of the couch.

You couldn't help. You started to cry loudly, choking with tears.

Frank looked at you and took a deep breath.

He did this again... He was taking care of you since few months now... And you were a witness and victim of his outburst. Again. It shouldn't be like that. You let him live here, when he was doing such a brutal and bad stuff.

Frank realized, what he had done and man slowly walked to you. He got onto his knees. "Y/N... I am sorry."

At first, you've tried to push man away. But shortly after you trembled and reached your hands to him, wrapping them around his waist.

"It's okay.. You gotta fight with it.." you whispered, slowly pulling closer to him. "You know, that I'm always by your side."

You slip head under his shoulder and hugged to Frank tight.

He hugged you back really tight.

"I'm so sorry... I... I shouldn't." Frank whispered and nuzzled to your shoulder, moving his hand into your hair. "Forgive me... please.."

"I had forgiven you long time ago."

You raised your chin to look into his eyes.

"I know, who are you. I know what are you doing. I am not condemning you. Not at all. You have always been so important to me.. So are you also now..."

You leant up and you pressed your soft lips to his rough ones.

Frank blinked suprised, but he kissed you back.

"You shouldn't..." He whispered and gently stroked your hair. "Let me... Let me take you back to bedroom... I... Your head... I hope I didn't hurt you.." Frank looked at you.

You slowly rose from the ground and rubbed the back of your head. "It's been a long evening. We both need some proper rest."

He nodded, watching you.

Frank got up from the floor also and grabbed you by your waist. He picked you up and walked with you back to your bedroom.

In your room, you took off your nightgown and you put it onto the chair next to your wardrobe. "If you don't mind.. You.. You can stay here tonight, Frank."

He smiled softly and nodded. "Not couch tonight, this is a nice change. You don't mind if I will... Right?" Frank asked before he took off his t-shirt.

You simply shook your head, trying not to stare at his bare, muscular chest for too long. You quickly took your place in the bed, putting head on the pillow.

Frank took off his pants and slowly joined you in the bed. He wrapped his big arm around your waist and nuzzled to your nape

A cold shiver ran down your spine and you knew he felt, how you've reacted at his touch.

You placed your palm at his forearm. "What have you been doing at the evening, before you came here?"

Frank gently touched your belly. "You don't really wanna know." He whispered and his rough lips touched your shoulder. Man pulled you closer to his chest.

You purred quietly, feeling how sensation was building up in your abdomen.

You turned your head a bit towards him. "I wanna know. C'mon. I'm a big girl. I'll take it."

"You're stubborn, aren't you?" Frank sighed and kissed your neck gently before he raised his head to look at you. "I killed two motherfuckers." He said simply. "I shot both in the head right after your call."

You were looking him into the eyes without a blink. "I wouldn't be able to kill.." you turned at your back, still looking at him. "You're so brave. It can be taken as inappropriate, but I do know you have to do such things.."

You put hand onto his sharp jawline, pulling him into a kiss.

"I was a soldier... Killing is normal for me." He had been explaining before man kissed you back. Frank wrapped both arms around you and deepened the kiss, growling softly.

It's been a while, since you had someone in your bed. Of course, you and Frank were friends with benefits, but you both had sex very seldom. But this night you've wanted intimacy like never before.

You just pushed him back onto the mattress and you slowly straddled him. "You were working too hard lately. How much of associations have you made in last two weeks, huh?" you put hands on his chest

"Please... Let's not talk about such a stuff here." He said and put his large hands on you hips, looking straight into your eyes. It wasn't easy for him, but he needed this. This closeness and intimacy.

Frank grabbed your nape and pulled you into a rough, strong kiss.

You leant down and let him kiss you. You were running your fingertips along his muscular shoulders, gently grinding against his virility.

rank moved his hands to your butt and gently moved his hips, groaning softly. Then he pushed you off of him and got on top of you, pinning you down to bed. "I missed you..." He muttered and attacked your neck.

You opened your neck for him, while your hands traveled to his back, scratching him. "Me either."

He growled and bit your neck playfully, bucking his hips into you. "I want you.... I need you, so fucking much." Frank murmured and started to undress you.

You raised your hips so he could took your panties off. "Then take what's yours, soldier" you bite your lower lips, looking straight at him. Even through his boxers you could easily feel, how hard he got.

He took off your panties and tossed them on the floor, after this he took off his boxers, letting out his yet hard cock.

Frank kissed you deeply and without warning pushed hardly into you.

"Oh, fuck!" you screamed, spreading your legs wider for him. "Oh God... It feels amazing!" you rolled your head back.

His thrusts were strong and deep, just like his pace, which was brutal. Frank was holding you tight, close to his chest.

You scratched his shoulders with your nails. "Oh, yes, yes, fuck me, Frank! Shit, oh fuck, harder!" you were screaming and moaning into his arms.

"Shut up." He growled and closed your mouth with kiss. Frank started to thrust even harder, than he wrapped hand around your neck and squeezed it. He only looked at you.

You rock your hips to meet his thrusts. You wrapped your legs around his hips, so he could penetrate you deeper. You licked you lips and then slipped hand between both of you to rub your clitoris.

"Yea... Yeaaa, oh so good.." you rolled your eyes back.

Frank squeezed your throat even harder. "You like it... don't you, slut?" He muttered and growled loudly, feeling how he was getting closer to his climax.

You rubbed your clit faster, nodding slightly. "I fucking love it, soldier! I love, how nice your cock is stretching my tight pussy!" You moaned loudly, feeling, how your walls started to clench around his huge length. You reached to your boobs to squeeze them through your shirt. "Oh shit, don't stop! Don't you dare to stop!

His movements became a little bit slower, Frank started to thrust even deeper.

After few moves, Frank pushed his length as deep as he could and he cum deep inside you, filling you up completely.

"Fuck, FRANK!" You yelled his name loudly, biting his neck and leaving a love mark there. Your nails scratched his back strongly as you cum hardly around his cock. With legs still wrapped around him, you were squealing, trying to catch a breath

Frank panted heavily, nuzzling to your neck. "That was good." He said, trying to calm his breath.

He pulled out slowly and laid next to you, then pulled you into a hug.

Instinctively, you put your head onto his chest, feeling how you're going down from your climax.

"Everytime.. Everytime, when I end calling to you, it's worth it." You murmured softly.

Frank only laughed and ruffled your hair. "Yep, it's always worth it."

Be my autumnal muse  ||  Steve Rogers x Reader one shot

Words: 1388

Warnings: none at all, just pure fluff :)

SUMMARY: Reader and Steve Rogers are on a walk, observing the color palette of nature. At the end, Steve confesses, that he’s into Reader and asks her to be his muse.

Author: Rouge

A/N: This story has been written for the writing challenge created by @fanlove-fandomlife

You stared at the leaves falling from the trees. It was quite breathtaking, at the most. Utterly beautiful. First a green leaf, then shortly afterwards a yellow leaf stained with bits of orange and green. They hit the ground lightly, making no sound effects. You could stay there all day, observing the utmost gorgeous pattern of the leaves dying off of the trees.

"Steve!" you turned around. Steve was sitting on the bench under huge, old willow, he was drawing in his sketchbook. "Yes, Y/N? What's up?" he asked lazily, not taking his eyes from the sketch he was making. You rolled your eyes and walked to him slowly, still looking around with admiration. "Instead of drawing, you should take a look around, dear!" you giggled happily, taking a seat next to him and putting your head onto his shoulder. "Just look! Down they come like multicoloured rain. Golds, reds and browns. They are a myriad of shapes and sizes, these leaves that clothed the trees. Now they are discarded like last seasons fashions and left to become part of the soil. But before that happens they make the most splendid mosaic that is unique in all the world. And yet we're here to witness it in this moment, it's so precious!" you were talking about leaves and colors like it would be the last thing you'll ever see. Steve had made some more lines, before he closed his sketchbook. He gave you a look and ruffled your bangs. "Y/N, you're too exaggerated sometimes." You frowned softly, pulling away from him. "Why are you saying so?" Blonde man pecked your lips. "You put too much attention in such a fleeting stuff. You should focus on more important things, Y/N." You rolled your eyes theatrically. "Says the man, who could spend whole day by drawing" you cocked your brew. "Steve, please. Stop being so stubborn and serious! Just live with a moment!" you quickly got up from the bench and you grabbed him by his sleeve. "C'mon! Let's take a walk! You were drawing for last half an hour! " Reluctantly, Steve followed you, getting up and closing his sketchbook. Man slipped it under his arm. You grabbed his hand and pulled him down the alley. Holding his palm, you were walking slowly by his side, looking around and breathing with fresh, chill air. "I've read the poems from before the war. They tell of trees changing color, pumpkins and thanksgiving. It must have been nice back then. It sounds like a cosy life" you broke the silence between you two. Steve's face changed within second. He became so pensive, kind of a little smirk appeared in the corner of his full lips. "Yes. It was a cosy life.." he mumbled, but his voice was nothing more then a whisper. You gave his hand a firm squeeze. "So now you should understand, what I find so interesting in observing the nature. It's so relaxing to me, letting all bad emotions disappear" you explained shortly. Steve only nodded, still overwhelmed by his memories. You both continued your walk through the park. Red, orange and yellow, in various different shades. All of them floating gracefully on the soft breeze. It was as if a friendly hand was gently lowering them to the ground. Whispers between these leaves filled the air, whispers and mutters. The air was cool and crisp, like a refreshing drink of cool water after hours in a desert. The breeze fluttered around, gently caressing everything it touched with fingers that had been a comfort to so many over their long, lonely years. You were absorbing everything. The nature was simply breathtaking in her color palette. With a corner of your eye you've noticed, that Steve also was delighted by variegation of the world. Finally, you and Steve reached a small lake and it was where the alley has ended. A deep sense of serenity overcame both of you as you stared in rapture at the expanse of blue that lay before you. Rays of lights danced delicately across the water, birthed from the afternoon sun that both limited your sight and made the view all the more beautiful. Steve smiled gently, looking at you. "Would you mind me, if I would ask you for something now?" he inquired. You eyed him carefully, not being sure, what has he wanted from you. "Yes, I suppose..." you answered. "Can I ask you to pose for me, Y/N?" the smile was still on his lips and his cheeks blushed a bit. You felt a heat on your cheeks within a second, so you turned your head to watch the lake. "I wouldn't mind..." you whispered softly, trying to calm yourself down.

You were sitting at the large rock on the shore of the lake patiently, waiting for Steve to end his masterpiece. 

"Can you turn your head a bit? Oh yes. Just like that." Steve was sitting on the ground, leaning his back against a tree trunk. He was putting all the effort into his drawing. "Have I ever told you, how much I adore your facial features, Y/N?" Steve's voice was soft like never before. "Hihi, no, you haven't" you giggled happily, covering your mouth with a palm. "Hey! Don't move, Y/N! The lightning!" Steve chuckled tenderly, then once again he focused on the draw. "Yes, yes, sorry, my bad" you sent him a warm smile. You were observing with a smile, how few little leaves fell down onto Steve's head. You couldn't help and let out a short laughter. "You look like a prince in the crown." Steve raised his chin a bit and narrowed his brows, then he reached to his hair and his face has brighten up. "Haha, very funny, Y/N!"

After some time, Steve rose from the ground and flicked his jeans from sand.

"Done. Wanna see?" he reached his sketchbook towards you. Gladly, you got up from your place and approached blonde man. You took the sketchbook into your hands and looked at the drawing he recently has made. "Oh Gosh.." you mumbled. "It's.. It's beautiful, Steve! But..." You took a careful look at the drawing again and your heart stopped for a second. You were on the foreground, the lake was a background. He has drew you so smoothly, emphasizing every attribute of your beauty. In the left lower corner of the page you found a little dedication, which took your breath away. For my beloved Y/N. You've always been in my mind. With love, Steven You've swallowed slowly, before you look into his eyes. "Why you didn't tell me earlier?" you asked quietly. But Steve only took his sketchbook from your hands amd closed it, then he leant down to you and he placed a lovingly kiss to your soft lips. You were too shocked to protest and the truth was you either didn't want to protest... You gave the kiss back, automatically pulling closer to his chest. "How long?" "Since the day I've met you, Y/N" Steve said sincerely, looking you straight in the eyes. "As you can see, it took me so long to find a courage." You nuzzled to his chest, feeling incredibly safe there. "The most important, that you've finally found it so you could be honest with me" you reached his jawline and stroked over his cheek. "So.. In the light of new circumstances.. Would you go with me for a date?" his cheeks were blushing hardly. You nodded slightly. "With a pleasure." You saw a little sparks of happiness into his beautiful blue eyes. Your hand found his palm and you tangled your fingers with his. "Let's go back home, Mr Rogers the Artist" you chuckled. He smirked on you, nodding, then Steve raised his chin to look at the autumnal sunset, which was building on the horizon. Man squeezed your palm tightly, and after that he let your hand free to wrap both his strong arms around you. You hugged to him as closely as you could. You felt, how he has rested his chin on the top of your head. He took a deep breath. "I want this moment to last forever." You moved closer so that he felt your presence, yet stayed quiet, allowing him to stay lost in the moment a while longer.

Gif: X