Winter's Heart (Part 1) 18+ Canon

Chapter 2

"Run!" Liv screamed, grabbing her laptop and running after Hardy.

He ran towards the swing doors of the restaurant, Liv right behind him. Several shots had been fired in the dining area as they pushed through the doors, entering the kitchen. People screamed as the shooting continued outside.

"This way", hardy grabbed her arm and pulled her with him. They ran through narrowed corridors, built like a labyrinth. Liv lost orientation, always looking behind her, but the sound of firing guns grew distant.

They reached a door with the exit sign above it. He pushed the handle down and they stumbled outside only to find themselves in an deserted alleyway. At the far end the main street was crowded as it was brought daylight. The door behind them fell shut causing them to jump.

"Good, you came outside" a voice said, making them turn away from the street. "That's making it ease:"

Liv knew that voice. When a figure dressed as Robin Hood appeared, bow and arrow ready to shoot, she knew who the man in front of her was.

"We need to run!" Hardy hissed grabbing her arm and urging her toward the crowded street.

"Wait..." Liv started but the door, they had used a few moments ago, flew open.

Several man ran into the alley aiming their guns at Liv and her colleague. Hardy let go of Livs arm dashing towards the street. Liv froze as the first shot was fired. At the exact same time several arrows were fired, killing the men that were chasing Liv.

"I'm glad you don't miss, Clint", she said coming closer.

"Bad habits are not so easy to get rid of", Clint said.

Liv jolted awake in her bed. She didn't sleep very well that night. The events of the last few days haunted her and chased her from one nightmare to the next. In the early hours of the morning, blue eyes were what haunted her and did not let her sleep. She gave up the attempt to fall asleep soon after and sneaked out of her room. Just before the stairs, Liv stepped on a creaking floorboard and stopped to listen to whether she had woken up one of them. But all Liv could hear were muffled sounds coming out of James' room. She was not the only one with nightmares. After a short hesitation, she changed direction and stopped in front of his door. It was inappropriate and she probably crossed a line when she grabbed the doorknob and opened the door. 

It was hard to see anything in the darkness. At first, Liv thought he was lying in his bed, but a soft wheezing drew her attention to the spot next to the bed. James was lying on the floor. His huge body trembled under the bright sheet. He mumbled something incomprehensible with a voice filled with fear. She knelt next to him. 

"James? It's okay", she whispered softly. "It's just a nightmare." 

It didn't seem like he heard her. Liv tried again in a soft voice. But then she made the mistake of touching his body. With a hoarse outcry, he sat up. His eyes fell on me. Everything happened so quickly that she couldn't react in time when his hand wrapped around her neck. Liv gasped and tried in vain to gasp for air, but his grip was too tight. With pure strength, he slammed her into the ground and crouched over me. Liv's hands scratched on his arm, trying to inflict enough pain to let her go, but all she could feel was cold metal. 

Her lungs were burning as she slowly ran out of breath and her eyes were filled with tears, blurring her vision. 

"Bucky! Stop!" Steve yelled. 

Liv could barely hear him as she was on the verge of passing out. She heard fast footsteps and then the pressure around her neck was gone. She gasped for air, greedily sucked it in and started coughing. Liv rolled to her side and saw Steve wrestling James down.