Relapse In Time

𝕗𝕠𝕦𝕣

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         It's been roughly four days since Shuri began her work on Veda, "how's she doing?" Nat approaches the cage.  Veda keeps her head down and doesn't engage, "pretty good, although she's starting to notice what's going on" Shuri answers.  Nat looks up, "can she hear us?" She looks around the glass cage.  Shuri shuffles around the table whilst she works, "yes, and see you, so it's best not to stare. The girl is starting to come back for good. Who you are staring at is not the same person who broke into your compound, not for the time being at least" she replies calmly. Nat nods and turns to watch Shuri work, once Veda sees nats shoes disappear from her eye line, she looks up.

"Does any of this hurt her?" Nat enquires. Shuri shakes her head, "not physically, but emotionally yes. Think of it as finally remembering what actually happened after an accident. She's beginning to remember things she doesn't want to remember" she sighs. Nat frowns, "when will she get her mind back?" She enquires. Shuri looks over at the cage, "hopefully soon, I've been testing my algorithm on her. Unfortunately, she still turns into a winter soldier when I say her tigger words, but I can shut it down with a click of a button. I need to tweak the coding and try again, hopefully next time it works" she smiles weakly. Nat nods, "I'll leave you to it" she taps the desk before smiling on her way out.

~

"Hey Veda, you remember me from yesterday?" Bucky sits in front of the cage as Veda keeps her back turned to him. She remains silent for a few seconds, "I already knew who you were" she mumbles unhappily. Bucky nods, "so you did" he stands up. Veda keeps her head down as bucky moves around to cage to sit in front of her, on the other side of the glass, "how'd you know who I was?" He enquires. Veda lifts her face slightly so she can look at him, "I'm thirsty" she avoids the question. Shuri opens the hatch and slips a cup of water through, "did hydra tell you who I was?" Bucky enquires despite her shutting him down.

"Stop it..." she whispers. Bucky frowns, "the things you have done aren't on you, you didn't have a choice. It's okay to know that" he talks in a softer tone. Veda shakes her head, "please, just leave me alone..." she turns her back to him. Shuri shakes her head, "she remembers almost most of it. I suspect she'll be free by next Monday. If my algorithm works, that is" she nods. Bucky turns back around to look at Veda, although the girl is already staring at him with a familiar torn look in her eyes.  He smiles weakly and nods reassuringly before he leaves the room.

~

Bucky, Steve, Nat, Sam and Clint were stood on the great balcony of the castle, watching the sunset with T'challa when Shuri walks onto the platform and clears her throat. Everyone, except Thor who's still fishing in the river, turns around, "Veda is asking for you" she looks at bucky. Steve nods, "go" he nudges buckys arm. Bucky nods at the king before leaving to follow Shuri, "why's she asking for me?" He enquires. Shuri shrugs, "she did not say" she lets him enter the lab first.

Bucky approaches the cage and pulls up a chair. Veda walks over to the glass and sits down in front of him, on the other side, "hydra told me everything about you, I was shown the videos and read the files about your missions, and your training. I learnt everything I know from you, that's how I already knew you. When I saw you, i just couldn't control it" Veda whispers, afraid someone might be listening. Bucky nods, although he's taken aback by how much she's willing to tell him. Usually, he only gets simple answers when he talks to her.

"What have I done?" A single tear rolls down her cheek, followed by one from the other eye. Bucky shakes his head and leans forward, "you know what happened to me, and to you. The brainwashing, the missions. We didn't have a choice, but now you're getting a second chance. You're getting your mind back, and all you need to do is remember... You're more than a lab rat, Veda. We both are" he speaks quietly. Veda wipes her tears away, "I want out..." she looks up and touches the glass. Bucky nods, "you just need to hang on a little longer, okay? But I have an important question, and if you can answer it, you'd be helping a lot of people" he smiles weakly.

"Okay..." she sniffles. Bucky nods and sits on the floor so he's level with her, "how did you end up at the compound, kid? We defeated hydra, they should be gone" he nods. Veda looks up at Shuri, but nods when she sees that Shuri isn't looking, "hydra is gone, I just escaped..." she nods. Bucky furrows his brows, "I don't get what you mean" he shakes his head. Veda nods, "hydra couldn't cryogenically freeze me, because of my heart and stuff. So, they locked me in a highly secured room instead. Well, I don't know what happened, but one day everyone just vanished with their stuff overnight. It was chaos. There was nobody left, I tried kicking the door down but it wouldn't budge..." she sighs. 

          Bucky nods for her to carry on, "well, the day I showed up at the compound. Some dude showed up and broke me out of my cell, so I guess I didn't really escape..." she shrugs, "he said the stupid words, and I just couldn't stop it. I don't remember much after that..." she looks down.  Bucky nods, "what happened to the guy? Do you know him?" He enquires.  Veda shakes her head, "no, and I uh. I killed him..." she keeps her head down, "nobody gets in the way, right?" She looks up with a guilty, remorseful glare on her face, reciting the words she was told far too many times.  Bucky frowns as he stares at the kid, what have they done?