Winters Torture

Part 17

Chapter 17

The sun lit up the bedroom as Bucky rolled over to wrap his arms around Emma. Only to feel the cold emptiness left beside him. He quickly opened his eyes to see Emma gone. He listened thinking maybe she was in the shower, but he didn't hear the water running. He got to his feet and threw on some clothes and headed to her room.

"Emma?" He yelled.

She didn't answer as he walked to her bedroom. He noticed the door open as he got closer. He stood in the doorway watching her pack a duffle bag with some clothes.

"Emma. What are you doing?" He asked as he got closer to her.

She didn't answer him. Instead, she continued to grab some clothes and shove them in the bag with no rhyme or reason.

"Emma. Talk to me, doll. What are you doing?"

She let out a huff, "What am I doing? What does it look like I'm doing? I'm packing. It's not safe for me to be here. I can't put everyone in danger."

"Stop, Emma. Please. Just give me a minute."

Emma stood still, not looking at Bucky but down at her bag, "You have one minute. Then I'm gone."

He huffed, "You are much safer here than you are out there. Hydra will get to you if you leave. And it will be much worse."

She fired back at him, "No. They won't. They didn't find me for years. Years! Until I came here. I thought this would work."

Bucky stood his ground with her, "Emma. You can't leave."

"Why? Are you going to lock me up? Like Hydra did?"

"Emma." His heart broke, "You know I would never do that. No one on the team would do that." He rubbed her arm with his cold metal fingers, "Sweetheart. I love you. The team loves you. We all want to help you."

For one moment she believed him and then looked up at him, "No one can protect me from Hydra."

"I thought the same thing when Steve first found me. It was very hard to believe that one day Hydra wouldn't be controlling my mind. But Emma, look at me, it's possible."

Tears started to fall from her face as he brought her closer to his body. She wrapped her arms around his body and held on tight.

"Bucky. I can't. I don't know how to do this."

A voice came from her doorway, "I do."

They both looked over to see Wanda standing there. She smiled at them, "Emma. I can help you. I can show you how to work your magic. How to block them from your mind. You're so strong. I know it will work."

Emma sniffled as she stared at Wanda and then back to Bucky's sad blue eyes.

"I don't know, Wanda." Emma took a step back from Bucky and sat on her bed.

"Give me a chance, Emma. I can't show you some amazing tricks. Give me two days. Let me show you what you can do."

Emma looked up at Bucky, "Will you stay with me?"

"Anything you want, sweetheart. Just promise me you won't run."

"Okay." She looked at Wanda. "Okay. When should we start?"

"No time like the present." Wanda smiled.

Emma took a deep breath, "Okay. You've got two days, Wanda." Emma looked up at Bucky from the edge of her bed, "If this doesn't work, I have to leave."

Bucky reached out his hand to Emma, "One day at a time, Emma. Give her two days. Then we take it from there."

Emma agreed and took Bucky's hand. They followed Wanda to the training rooms in silence.

Wanda looked at Emma, "We'll start simple. Let's sit on the mats and I'll teach you how to focus your energy and to reach into my mind so you can read my mind."

Emma stared at her, "Can you read anyone's mind?"

Wanda gave her a kind smile, "Yes. However, I can control it. I can block it out or simple slip in someone else's head without them knowing."

"Okay." Emma was hesitant to move forward but knew that this might be her best chance to avoid Hydra taking her over again. "What do I do?"

Wanda gently and slowly explained to Emma what she had to do and how to do it. Bucky sat on the other side of the room. He didn't want to bother them while they worked. He texted Steve to let him know what was going on.

Wanda focused on Emma, "Now give it a go. See if you can enter my mind. Just follow what I told you. Focus."

"What if I don't like what I hear? How do I get out?" Emma asked her.

"You shift your focus to something or someone else. Ready?"

"I think so."

Emma sat there trying her best to focus on Wanda. She tried to look into her eyes and find a way in. However, it wasn't Wanda's mind she slipped into. Bucky's thoughts entered her mind. Emma listened at first to what Bucky was thinking. Then she found herself in a trance like state and was able to see his thoughts.

Bucky didn't know that Emma was rummaging through his mind as his thoughts settled on a mission, he was on with Autumn.

Wanda could see the anguish on Emma's face. She knew Emma wasn't in her mind so the only other possibly was Bucky. "Emma. Stop. Focus."

Emma quickly opened her eyes, "I could see his memories. Not just hear them." She was flustered, "I didn't mean to." Tears started to form at edge of her eyes as she turned to see Bucky sitting across the room.

He gave her a halfhearted smile but caught on quickly. He slowly got up and walked over to her. He took a seat next to her on the mat, "Emma. What did you see?"

"Us. Autumn." She looked down in shame, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to enter your thoughts." Emma looked over at him, "I'm sorry." Her tears fell down her face as he reached out and wiped them away.

"Emma." Wanda broke up the moment, "Let's try again. Bucky stay next to her."

Emma took a breath and held on to Bucky's hand, "Okay. I can do this."

Bucky squeezed her hand in his, "You got this sweetheart."

With Bucky by her side Emma tried over and over until she was exhausted. She managed to get into Wanda's mind and then shift her focus into Bucky's and then back to Wanda.

"You're a quick learner, Emma. How about we take a break and continue this tonight or tomorrow?"

Emma felt better that she was able to use her powers a little better, "Do you mind if I take a nap and then continue tonight?"

"That sounds like a great idea." Wanda stood up and gave Emma a hand standing as Bucky got up on his own.

"Thank you, Wanda."

"Of course, my dear. Emma, I need you to remember that we are all here for you."

Emma nodded and gave Wanda a small smile as she leaned into Bucky.

Bucky wrapped his arm around Emma and kissed her forehead.

"Should I carry you to bed, princess?"

"You know I don't have to read your mind to know what you want."

Bucky laughed, "I love you, Emma. I really mean that." He tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I know. I love you, too. Thank you for not giving up on me." She placed her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. "I promise. I won't run."