The Soldier's Luna (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Chapter 26

I panted, "You think it's that easy?"

"That was just a warm up. Your father was insistent that we go easy on you. I hate that we have to, but we'll ease into it. I can't have you too damaged. I suppose that means we can go up a notch. You're in for a rough ride, Luna."

I don't know how long they used that machine on me, but it felt like hours. Each session, they upped the voltage. Petrov would say the phrases to me each time the electroshock and the noise stopped. My body knew the pain as if it was like a permanent muscle memory. No matter how much time I was away from the machine, it was forever scarred in me.

The metal plates were lifted away from me yet again, but I couldn't bring myself to lift up my head. My body felt too weak. Even if I wanted to pick my head up, my body didn't listen to my commands. Petrov gripped my hair, forcing me to look at him.

"What's your name?" He questioned. I tried to speak, but I couldn't. I wasn't even sure if my mouth was moving, trying to form words. Petrov released his hold on me and struck me. "Your name!"

My mouth felt dry as I gasped, "Iliana..." My head dropped slightly to the side as I started to lose consciousness. Petrov backhanded me. My mind returned to the present as I looked up him. Bucky stood next to Petrov. His face was cold, emotions unreadable. I tried to sense Bucky again, praying that something would appear, but found nothing. I wanted to concentrate harder, but Petrov gripped my hair tightly. Wincing at his strong grip, I glared up at Petrov.

"Sorry, were we in the middle of something?" I snickered tiredly.

His grip tightened, making me hiss from the aching on my scalp. "Turn it up two notches. I'm running out of patience." he ordered the attendant. The attendant walked over to me with my mouthguard, but Petrov stopped him. "I want to hear her scream."

"But, Sir, she could bite her tongue if we-"

"She'll heal. She always heals."

"I understand that, but-"

Petrov pulled out his gun and shot the attendant. He pointed his gun at the other attendant. "Are you going to question me too?" The attendant quickly shook his head and got to work setting up the machine. Petrov smirked, lowering his gun. Dolohov came over to Petrov, pulling him aside.

My eyes turned to Bucky. "Bucky, do you remember me? Please, it's Iliana, Bucky. We know each other. You have to remember me."

His eyes were still cold and empty just like how I remembered the Winter Soldier was. Even that piece of emotion that Bucky had for me wasn't there. He remained quiet, only watching me to make sure that I wasn't a threat. My words were meaningless to him.

<Soldat,> I uttered. His eyes focused on me. <You have recognize me. We know each other. We've known each other for a long time,> I insisted softly.

His jaw tightened, but he continued to remain indifferent. I refused to break eye contact with him as I tried to show him my feelings. Even though he wasn't fully Bucky, it was still him. Regardless, of the mind wipe and the code words, he was still Bucky. I needed to believe there was still a part of him that wasn't erased. I tried to show him how I felt about him, the way I cared and loved him. The warm feeling in my heart when I just saw his smile, when he laughed, the vulnerability that we once shared together, and even the way we felt connected, I tried to have him feel all those things.

If I blinked, I would've missed it, but I saw his eyes soften, confusion etched on his brows as the furrowed. My mouth opened slightly when I saw that reaction. "Soldat...Bucky," I breathed. His eyes met mine, a small glint of light was visible. "It's me. Please, it's me. You know me. You know me, please. You have to remember me."