Unfortunately Fortunate [Stucky x Reader]

Chapter 53 (TW)

Important: cursive writing holds a trigger warning of abuse. This is her past. If you can't read that, start when the cursive writing ends, after the *** barrier.

"She almost had the previous one. We underestimated her. I hope she learned her lesson"  you hear vaguely. 

Opening your eyes slowly, out of habit. It's been a long while since you last were able to really see. 

It was their way of ensuring that you couldn't escape. 

Your whole body aching and broken from the things the other person did. The person you almost killed. 

He had spoken to you kindly, gained your trust even when you should know better by now. He had a way with words and gentle touches. You started to believe him. And when he accomplished that he took hold of your throat, pressing on it. Cutting off your air supply. 
"you didn't really think I'd pay that much to help you escape." his laugh was cruel. The next few hours he did what he wanted to you. The usage of whips, handcuffs, cat 'o nine tails, knives, ...

Your mind broken, your body collapsing when it finally ended. You couldn't hold yourself up anymore. Your breathing labored, bones broken, body covered in cuts, welts and bruises. When you cough you taste the metallic hint of blood. Broken ribs? 

Your gift takes over, slowly healing your body. It takes longer this time, to the buyers their biggest frustration. 
You keep laying in the puddle of blood on the cold hard floor, not having the energy anymore to move, to even stay conscious.

It takes a while before you wake again. You know this because your body hurts a lot less.
"We'll find people that don't mind an unconscious body if she doesn't wake up soon." 

With a groan you turn on your back before sitting up. Sight still gone. 

"I guess we can contact the next one. She's awake." 
You turn to the voices, throat feeling like sandpaper. Head aching, body straining to hold you up. 
The man is talking a lot before he exclaims, "we have one that pays double if he can come tonight. He'll be here in an hour." 

"Great. I'll wash the blood and grime from her body." 

That hour passes you in pure terror. The doorbell rings and you feel yourself recede more and more, becoming more and more a shell of the person you once were.

"Oh she is perfect."
"Great, we'll be back in a few hours. You can't kill her." 
A door slams shut and you know this will start all over again. 

The hurt, it's unable to take it anymore so you give up and let go, drifting further and further away into nothingness.

Dread fills you when you wake again, surrounded by unfamiliar sounds, smells, ... 
"Hey, hey, honey, breath. You are in the hospital to recover from your injuries. You are safe. There is police protection around you. They brought you in. You are healing. You are safe." 

You initially doesn't believe it. It's only when your sight slowly returns weeks later, that you honestly sees that you are protected. 

"Good morning Faith, how are you doing this morning?" finally a face to the gentle and patient nurse that comes to check on you at her start and end of her shift. 

" Better." It's the first words you have spoken since getting here. The surprise on the nurse's face is genuine. 
"You can see? How?" 
"I have a gift. I can heal people and myself with the cost of my sight. It takes a while before it returns." 
The full sentence makes your throat scratchy. The nurse hands you a glass of water with a straw, "drink slow." 

From then on you are interrogated. And you figured out that the people you were with, were killed. And you survived as last one.
They asked questions on who you are, how long you've been there, what you endured.
You tell them everything. Afterwards they move you to another state, within a protection program. Your whole identity changed again. And you made that new identity your own while dealing with the ghosts of your past.

**************

"That was the last few days." you get out, feeling tears stream down your face. 
"How long did you endure all that?" Loki asks, feeling safe enough to let you go. 
"I was 17 when I was sold. I was 23 when I got out." 

"This lockdown is triggering you. And then the bond you have with us, the threat near us. It's triggering you more. Your gift is protective of those you have a form of relationship with."
You lean against the dog seated behind you, Cass by the feel of it. 

"Are you okay Doll?" 
"I will be." 
"Let's get you to bed. You look absolutely exhausted."
"I don't have the energy to move. You go talk in the living room, I'll be here."
"Of hell no, you are going to lay in bed. You get to choose which one of us stays and which one of us will listen to everything. The other will be filled in afterwards." Steve sounds determined. 
"You could ask for a comm, so you can listen in. I don't want any pity. I'm not there anymore." 

"Was what I saw the worse you endured?" Loki asks while they help you up.
You freeze up. 
"No. But it was the end of it." 
Finding your balance on your own feet, you start walking to what you hope is the exit to the gym.
"I'll be with you, sweetheart. Tony will bring a comm before they start talking." Steve steps into your personal bubble and you feel his comfort radiating to you.
"Carry me, please?" you ask gently, worried that you won't make it upstairs otherwise.
Without answering, Steve lifts you up bridal style and starts walking. 
"I'll be with you afterwards." Bucky promises.
Steve stops next to him and you feel a press of lips on your forehead.
"I won't disappear." you whisper before Steve carries you out. 

The way to your room is done in a comfortable silence.
Steve opens the door to your bedroom and lays you down on the middle of the bed. 
Steve breaks the silence, "I'm going to take of your shoes and then mine." You nod and feel how your shoes are removed. 
Hear how Steve removes his too before he lays down next to you. You curl into his protective arms and focusses on your breathing. 
A knock takes you out of that concentration.

"Come in." 
"I have the ear piece. It is already connected. Bucky said he will be here as soon as possible." Tony whispers, seeing the exhausted and vulnerable state you are in.
You feel Steve move, hear footsteps getting closer, Tony's footsteps. 

"Try to rest." you feel a hand on your head before it disappears and footsteps retreating. Door closing. 
Steve wraps the blanket over the both of you, making a comfortable barrier between the world and you. 
"You're safe. I'll protect you. Sleep sweetheart, you're okay."