Of Love and Lines (MCUxReader)

Thirty Two

Penelope POV

Something wet and rough was repeatedly running along the side of your cheeks. Scrunching your face up, you attempted to roll away from it but found a weight sitting on your chest preventing the movement.

Reaching up, you rubbed your hand all over the affected area while simultaneously rubbing the sleep from your eyes. Peeking them open you found Alpine loafed up on your chest, contentedly licking at your face. When she tried to repeat the wet gesture, you moved the hand from your face to pet the top of her head. Distracted from her task, she began to purr and rub her cheek into your palm as her paws began to knead at your chest.

"Hey, pretty kitty. Where's your cast?" You mewled, scratching just under her chin. Used to your purple glow, she didn't even flinch at the color radiating from your skin.

You, however, panicked. "What the fuck?!"

You sat up so quickly, Alpine all but fell off of your chest, landing in a heap in your lap. Your very unclothed lap that was barely covered by the oversized t-shirt you wore. It was then you noticed that the glow encompassed your entire body, not just your hands.

Anxiety filled your lungs as you abruptly stood from the bed forcing Alpine to jump to the floor at your feet. Your toes flexed on the cool grain of the gray wood beneath them as you lifted the hem of your shirt. Upon closer inspection you discovered the fabric was steeped in dried blood so dark it was almost black. Hands shaking, you dropped the hem, finally taking in the rest of your surroundings. It appeared you weren't the only thing glowing. Everything in the bedroom had taken on a freaky iridescent purple hue that overlaid all the black going on. The bedframe, comforter, sheets, dresser and nightstands were all pitch in color. Hell, even the back wall behind the bed consisted of rough blackened stone. Turning, you looked out the floor to ceiling windows, to the purply landscape below.

What in the Stranger fucking Things?

Your eyes swept over the nighttime scape of the grassy field, the tree line, and the rocky cliff that dropped down into angry waters, stirred from the purple storm gathering in the dark clouds above, all different shades of that eerie purple glow.

Stepping back, you looked around the room once more, your eyes drifting over the white cat tree in the corner and landing on the frames above the black dresser. The gallery wall was abstract in the mismatched black frames seemingly scattered about, yet somehow still cohesive. They didn't hold paintings or photographs. No. They were sketches. Walking up to them to get a closer look, you all but tripped on Alpine as she wove her way between your feet. You'd know those pencil lines anywhere. Hell, you had a whole box of similar drawings on your own nightstand that Steve had given you. The difference was in the images depicted. They were all of Winter in different settings, different times.

Bucky's room?

"What. In. The. Actual. Fuck."

Alpine was purring up a storm, still weaving about your legs. You took a moment just to watch her as your mind raced to come up with an explanation.

"Oh my god." You breathed as it all came back.

Hydra.

Kraken.

Escaping.

Steve dying.

Steve. Dying.

"No. Nonono. You saved him. It fucking worked. They just brought you back here to recuperate. Yeah."

That still doesn't explain Bucky's room, or the bloody shirt.

You didn't give two shits though as you sprinted out of the room, flying through the hallways and down the stairs to the main living area of the compound. But no one was home.