The Blood Pact

Chapter 10: Doomed

AN: Hi all! I've had some fun in this chapter weaving in some of the MCU canon with the world of this AU. Apologies that it's a bit of a backstory heavy chapter, but I wanted to provide context for Steve and Bucky and plant some potential seeds of doubt in reader's mind to set up the next part of the story. No major warnings here, references to the MCU canon and the stories we all know so well.

As mentioned I'm going to take some time off for the holidays so likely won't update until the new year now, but there's plenty of action and drama to come. Peter will be back, reader's feelings will be tested as she and Bucky's worlds struggle to align...and there's a vampire house party which ends rather dramatically for the sole human in residence...

Thanks to all of you who have read, commented, bookmarked - it means so much to me. Thank you!!

**

You were sitting in the living room, doing your best to appear nonchalant and relaxed despite being utterly desperate to find out how they'd been turned. It was the one question they had never broached in your time living here, and you always thought it rude to ask.

Steve plopped down into his favourite armchair and inhaled deeply. Bucky perched next to you, tense and stiff – his shoulders rigid. You couldn't see his face as he sat right on the edge of the couch, looking over at Steve.

"Okay...well. I'll start with my story, and then Bucky can tell you his. Right, Buck?" Steve asked.

Bucky nodded, rolling his shoulders. The discomfort was pouring off him. You could see this was very difficult for him, tentatively splaying your fingers across his lower back to show him you were there. He didn't seem to react, but he didn't move away either, so you kept them there.

Steve began his story. He and Bucky had been childhood friends both desperate to enlist in WW2 and do their bit back for the war effort back in the 40s. While Bucky successfully enlisted and was posted to England, Steve was struggling, he was on the weaker side and had an endless list of ailments and health conditions which prevented him from joining. But he persisted, desperate for someone to give him a chance and let him prove he could be valuable despite his physical shortcomings.

You looked over at Steve as he spoke, his muscles straining under his shirt and the chair sagging slightly under his bulk and you tried desperately hard to imagine him as 'weak' or have any sort of physical shortcomings – but your mind drew a blank. You couldn't fathom such a thing. So much so that you wondered if he was teasing you.

Eventually Steve caught the eye of a Dr. Erskine, a radical scientist who pursued bold new strategy techniques which could win the war for the Allies. He thought Steve would be a perfect candidate for a top secret initiative – the Super Soldier programme.

You raised a brow. "Wait...did that mean?"

Steve nodded. "Yup. Obviously I didn't know that at the time...but yeah".

Erskine's 'super soldier' plan was not as scientific as he'd initially lead Steve to believe. Essentially the US government had managed to capture a real-life vampire some years back, keeping him locked up in a windowless cell and ensuring his existence was top secret. They fed him blood and knew he would be useful one day. After WW2 broke out, that time had finally arrived - Erskine hypothesised that the ultimate weapon against the Nazis would be an army of vampire super soldiers – eventually convincing top government figures and military personnel to agree to his plan.

Your eyes bulged out of your head at the insanity. "What?? Are you kidding?" you choked out. Bucky, who had been silent throughout, absent-mindedly clutched your knee.

Steve nodded. "What better soldier than one with super strength and speed, who doesn't tire and can rip the throat out from the enemy before they can even reach for their weapon?"