The Night We Met | Steve / Bucky

thirty-three - yours

Steve stirred away from his drifting sleep to feel emptiness in his arms. He shook awake, sitting up and quickly looking around his tent - Katherine was missing. Steve felt his heart beating and his palms become sweaty. Steve jumped from the mattress, briskly walking from the tent, glancing around at the base. "Kat!" He called. "Kat!"

There was no sight of her. Steve felt worry take over him. He briskly walked to the weapons tent - nothing, he asked Natasha and Sam in their respective tents but they had no idea where she could be. 

Steve hurriedly emerged from Sam's tent, his eyes quickly making contact with the deep brown eyes that make his heart skip a beat. Stood in the middle of the clearing, wearing only a towel around her body, Katherine rubbed another towel along her wet hair, "Sorry." She spoke gently, "I got up and took a bath." 

Steve felt all of the tension and worry leave his body. Natasha and Sam who had also emerged from their tents with panic, let out sighs of relief. Natasha held her hand to her chest, approaching Katherine. She placed soft hands on her bare shoulders, "I have some clothes you can change into." 

Natasha led Katherine to her tent. Natasha's tent was laid out similarly to Steve's. Natasha sifted through her belongings and pulled out green combat trousers and a blank tank top - not too far from what Katherine wore what felt like a lifetime ago. Katherine slipped on a pair of black boots, feeling somewhat human again. The clothes fit quite loosely compared to before when Natasha and Katherine could share clothing - with no one telling the difference. "Thanks, Nat." Katherine smiled to Natasha, brushing herself down. 

Natasha smiled to Katherine, leaning against her desk, "How are you feeling?" 

Katherine looked to Natasha, nodding her head slightly, "I'm feeling fine." Natasha folded her arms, looking at Katherine. Katherine looked around, the heat from the middle eastern sun hitting differently than in Europe. "Where are we anyways?"

"Lebanon." Natasha answered, "Chitauri weapons were supplied to terrorists over here. They're using them to wreak havoc on the locals and have attempted to use them abroad."

Katherine began fiddling with her thumbs, her eyes widening, "Wow, you never take a day off, do you?"

Natasha formed a smile, "We're just doing what we have to."

Katherine nodded her head, pausing for a moment. She slowly looked to Natasha, "Can I join you?"

Natasha furrowed her brows to the young Stark, "What?" Natasha stood up straight, unfolding her arms, "Kat, you're sick -"

" - I know I'm sick." Katherine said bluntly, "I know that I am dying. But if I am to live, I want to live doing the right thing. Not stuck in a medical facility withering away, or trying to drown myself in alcohol and pills. I want to actually live - I felt like I haven't done much of it lately."

"But," Natasha furrowed her brows, "We don't know what that could do to you. Your powers."

"I'll train." Katherine responded, "I see some of the stuff you have here, you have plenty of space."

"I don't know." Natasha sighed, "You're very weak, Kat."

"So, I'll train. I'm weak because of my treatment and the substance abuse." Katherine's eyes wandered to the floor, "I'm not going to do that kinda thing anymore. I promise. I was strong once, I can be strong again."

Natasha stood for a moment, deep in thought. Katherine held valid points. Katherine believed she could train herself back up to what she was - before regaining her memories. Her chemotherapy and surgeries made her weaker, her months of alcohol and substance abuse added to that. Katherine had convinced herself that she could become the person she once was - The Winter Solider. She was hard, unafraid, unapologetic - her memories made her weak.