In My Head • Bucky Barnes

Chapter 24

Belle's screams faded away leaving the frantic beeping of machines at the forefront of my brain. The moment my eyes opened, pain flooded my body. It's to be expected, even I can't heal wounds that quickly. Not unconscious anyway.

"Stupid girl." I pressed my hand lightly on my abdomen and watched as magic stitched the wound back together. I tried to sit up once the healing was completed only to collide with a glass dome. What the hell have they done to me?

"Jesus Belle lie down!" Good. They think it's Belle.

"What happened?"

"Dr Banner put you in a medically induced coma, how the hell are you awake?"

"I don't know." I know. Of course I know. My powers burn through medicine so fast they no longer have any effect. Unfortunately that means double the pain and annoyance.

"How did you do that...thing with your hand? And since when? Did you know they gave you powers?"

"Shut up, I can't think straight with you yelling at me." Bucky staggered back, expression like a wounded puppy. Well I guess I have blown my cover. I am going to blame my injury for my lack of common sense.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to snap. I'm just a bit freaked out." I glance at my hands which are still shimmering with dark matter. I tried not to allow the pride to show in my eyes, that after years I am still able to tap into such power.

"That's...understandable."

"Can you get me out of this?" Bucky casts his eye down to the keypad then back at me. "Please."

A flicker of sympathy crossed his face and the glass rotated into the chamber. I sat up properly stretching out my aching muscles, revelling in the satisfying pop that comes with it. I felt Bucky's gaze on me but I didn't give him the satisfaction of a smile. He doesn't deserve one.

"When can I leave?"

"Well about that..."

"You're not letting me. Let me guess I can't be trusted; my powers are too unpredictable. I have heard it all before." Bucky's gaze narrowed, looking at me with a sudden hatred that sent shivers down my spine.

"Belle would never admit to that," he reached for the gun strapped to his thigh and stood up, towering over me in the most suffocating of ways. "Echo."

"Damn you got me. Quicker than I expected, soldat."

"I don't answer to that anymore." He loaded the gun, aiming it at my chest. My eyes were filled with anger that was boiling inside me and I couldn't channel it. I let insanity take over. A stream of jet black light shot out of my palm sending medical equipment flying across the room. Taking Bucky's hesitation as an opportunity I leapt out of the chamber, using it to maneuver myself through the air. I heard him yell before I felt the connection of my foot against his jaw.

I took a moment to marvel at the blood dripping from his mouth before making a break for the door. My mission was to destroy Shield and what better way to do that then start with their first line of defense: the avengers. Bucky led me straight to them.

"Echo stop, you don't know what you are doing."

"I'm completing my mission." A second blast levelled the room, sending Bucky skidding across the floor. The sound of fizzing electrics filled the room. Sparks were pouring out of his shoulder as he struggled to sit up.

"Fighting will only make this worse. Compliance will be rewarded."

"Don't start with the hydra crap, I know you don't believe it." Bucky snapped with a fire on his tongue. I soak up every inch of his anger fuelling the burning sensation in my gut.