The Night We Met | Steve / Bucky

twenty-one - you're somebody else

Darkness.

All of a sudden, the power went out, leaving Katherine and the psychiatrist alone, in the dark together. It took a moment for Katherine's eyes to adjust. She blinked several times, able to make out the shape of the man at the table in front of her. "What is going on?" Katherine's suspicions of the man only increased. A red flashing light began blinking in the room, casting a red hue on the man every few seconds.

The man ignored her question. "Why don't we discuss your home? Not Romania, certainly not New Jersey, no." The man reached into his briefcase, pulling out a book. A book that looked all too familiar to Katherine. It was red and depicted a large black star on the front - the symbol of the Winter Soldiers. "I mean your real home."

The man removed his glasses from his face and got to his feet, grabbing a small flashlight from his briefcase, casting it onto the pages in front of him. Katherine screamed, tugging at her restraints trying her best to break free. "No! Stop! What are you doing?" Katherine shouted trying to clench her hands to ignite her fists. Smoke barely spouting from the restraints on her hands.

The man began walking around Katherine, "Longing." Katherine felt her head twinge with the sound of the word, bringing all of those feelings back. "Rusted." Katherine felt the weight of the words in her mind, slowing taking her from herself. She banged her head against the back of the chair, begging for mercy. "Seventeen." Katherine felt her hands burn, they were burning up becoming hotter than she had felt them in a long time. Smoke spewed from the restraints. "Daybreak." Katherine felt pain contract her body. She screamed with the pain. Trying to restrain it put her in more pain. She knew that but she would do anything to avoid going back to being that person. Going back to nothing. Katherine felt the power within her ignite. She screamed again, feeling her hands burn. Katherine released the tension within her, the restraints from her hands flying from her hands. She grabbed her ankle restraints, easily pulling them off. "Furnace." She was losing herself, she couldn't control it. "Nine." Katherine grabbed the metal strapped across her chest, pulling at it, feeling the strength within her surge. "Benign." Katherine pulled, grunting as she did so. "Homecoming. One. Freight Car." 

She pulled the the metal from her, releasing herself from all restraints. She was gone. She stood, standing tall and strong. No life presented itself behind her eyes - there was nothing there. The man froze for a moment, admiring her. He proceeded to slowly approach Katherine, looking into her eyes, "Welcome back, Soldier."

"Ready to comply."

Steve and Sam ran. They ran as if they were racing to the ends of the earth - for Steve it almost felt that way. They turned the corner, approaching the corridor that housed both Katherine and Bucky. Bodies of agents lay scattered on the floor, looking as though they didn't put up much of a fight - there had to be at least two dozen. Steve and Sam looked on wide eyed, not knowing what they were up against. "Come on." Steve spoke softly, Steve immediately pulled open the door to Bucky's room, revealing the Winter Soldier, still remaining in his cell. 

Bucky's eyes widened noticing it was his old friend, wanting answers to what was going on. "What happened?" Has asked.

Steve and Sam pulled at the door, Bucky pulling at his restraints. After several attempts, they surprisingly managed to get Bucky free, "It's Katherine." Steve breathed. 

From down the hall, a faint voice was heard, "Help me." Steve and Sam both turned their heads, looking at each other first before making a move. The trio followed the sound of the voice, leading them to the room where Katherine was kept. The chair was empty, the restraints that kept her were thrown on the ground. In the middle of the room, the psychiatrist lay injured. "Help."