Frail heart

Exposure

Chapter fifteen

"On your left."

"Come on!" Sam heaved, doubling over to catch his breath as Steve shoots past for what seems like the hundredth time that morning.

"Gotta keep up, man." Steve smirks, spinning around to jog backwards while he taunts his sweaty friend.

Sam huffs, lowering himself down to the ground and laying flat against the pavement, "I think you're forgetting the enhanced speed that I do not have."

"Touché." Steve chuckles as he approaches Sam, reaching an arm out to help him up, "Come on, let's call it a day."

Sam begrudgingly takes Steve's hand before pushing him away, "Whatever man, you better watch out next time."

Steve raises a teasing brow, "Oh, is that right?"

"You bet your ass it is."

"Language."

//

"Alright, go again."

Shuri's supposed 'road to recovery' was beating your ass. She was glad to see you back, everyone could see, no matter how persistent she was on denying it. In your defence, you were doing better, but it still wasn't enough for you to be discharged and sent back to the tower.

Shuri had come up with a new idea in the time that you had been gone, which mostly consisted of you getting really worked up and taking it out on whatever she let you. It had been the same routine since you arrived, Shuri would card through your memories, you'd get overworked at what you saw, and then she'd let you displace that anger onto whatever was in the room.

You had to admit, it helped a lot. It was a lot more comforting knowing that you weren't hurting people, just objects, and maybe yourself sometimes, but you could deal with a few cuts and bruises.

"I'm not mad anymore, Shuri." You panted, slumping against the wall with baited breaths.

Shuri crossed her arms from behind the pain of glass separating the two of you, "You're something, you won't even look at me."

You sighed, leaning your head against the wall and screwing your eyes shut, "There's so many..."

"Memories?" Shuri saw the almost imperceptible nod of your head and continued, "I know, Hydra they... they made you do a lot."

You cast your head down, trying to shake the thoughts away, but to no avail. "I'll never be rid of them, Shuri. They're everywhere and they're always going to be."

"Y/N.."

"It's okay, as much as I love your motivational speeches, I don't think it's going to help this time."

Shuri could only watch on in sympathy, even if you had let her talk, she didn't know what she'd say. She wasn't a fighter, not like you. But she knew who was, and she hoped more than anything that he'd have the words she didn't.

//

"Soldier."

The familiar voice had you standing from your place on the floor and facing the man, "T'Challa."

T'Challa gave a polite nod, pressing a few buttons on the screen beside him before stepping inside the room. "My sister mentioned your lack of spirit."

"She did." Your words held some uncertainty, mostly because he'd just walked right into the room, alone.

"We speak now, not as companions, but as warriors. You have been through a great deal soldier, I have too, not to the same extent but... pain is pain."