𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

𝟐) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 | 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐

I groan softly as I feel my head throbbing. Trying to remember what happened, - as I had no memory of how I got here - I attempted to move my hand to feel my head and where it was hurting. When it wouldn't move, I opened my eyes. Peering down, I found that my hand had been cuffed to the metal of what seemed to be a hospital bed.

Instant panic took over as I recall dark memories. Hydra. I struggle against the restrains that gripped onto both of my wrists. I thrash against the metal, seeing if I could at least weaken the metal or slip my hands through. I need to escape. I won't let Hydra get me again. I desperately looked around the room, looking for any signs of life or anything I could use to help me escape wherever I was.

My breathing had picked up by now, and it wasn't long until I started to lose my breath and started hyperventilating. The machine that I had only just noticed that was connected to me, starting to show a rise in my heartbeat. Tears rimmed my eyes as I couldn't bear to think of the pain I would have to go through if I'd been caught by Hydra again. I can't even remember what happened to me or why my head was throbbing so much.

I let the tears fall as I was so scared and panicked. I hugged my knees as close as I could to my chest and sobbed. Every ounce of sadness, anger and guilt I had built up, I released. I don't know how long I was in that state, but I cried myself into a sleep I didn't want to wake up from.

My arms were sore and aching when I woke for the second time, but my arms weren't cuffed. My head was better, but I could still feel some throbbing. This time, when I woke, I sensed another presence. I wasn't alone.

As I slowly recovered from my unconscious state, everything that had happened from the last time I was up, slowly came back to me. I felt a warm sensation on my hand. The feeling of someone else's hand tightly holding mine, and running a thumb over the front of it.

This wasn't what I got in Hydra. I didn't get comfort or love. Only hatred, torture, and pain. I slowly opened my eyes to see someone I didn't think I'd ever see again.

"Steve?" I ask, my voice trembling as I started in shock and amazement. He smiled softly at me, and I felt my whole world melt. He nodded slowly, his grip on my hand only tightening.

"It's me, sweetheart" he whispered softly, and I couldn't help but well up in tears.

He bought himself closer to me as a warm, fresh tear escaped my eyes, and slowly ran down my cheek. Steve used his spare hand and wiped it away before caressing my cheek lovingly.

"What happened to you?" he asked worryingly.

My breathing hitched, and I just shook my head. "Hydra" I answered, my voice shaking, as another couple tears painted my cheeks. Steve dried them before pulling me into his embrace.

I leaned against him, allowing his arms to wrap around my frail body. Normally if someone tried to touch me, I would've flinched and pushed them away, scared they would hurt me. But, this was Steve we were talking about. My Stevie. The one person I knew would never hurt me on purpose. My head rested on his chest as he ran a delicate hand up and down my back soothingly, making sure that I knew that I was safe from now on.

"Tony checked your vitals. You're incredibly dehydrated and lacking vitamins. You've strained your body too much. You need food, water, and rest" he whispered to me, and I just listened, taking in every word he said as I listened to his content heartbeat. I nodded slowly as I sniffed.

"I'm sorry" I muttered, but with Steve's enhanced hearing, he heard. He pulled away from me and cupped my cheeks. He frowned, and his eyes furrowed.

"For what" he asked. He seemed confused.

"For everything" I said truthfully. "Fuck, I was part of Hydra. I could've done bad shit, Steve" I exclaimed.

He shook his head. "This was not your fault, okay. You were under their control. That wasn't you" he reassured and comforted me. I sighed softly, but ended up nodding. I knew it wasn't me, and it was all Hydra that put me through it.

I shook the feeling away as I felt - and heard - my stomach growl. I smiled weakly, the thought of food filling my mind. I felt Steve lift me up, and I shrieked. I wrap my arms around his neck once he settles me comfortably in a bridal style position.

"Let's get you some food, sweetheart" he declared as he began to walk out of the room that we were in and into a hall.

The hall opened up into a massive room, filled with couches and a dining table. We made our way to a kitchen, and Steve sat me on a counter.

"What would you like, princess?" He asked and I couldn't help but smile softly at the pet name. Oh, how I missed them.

He settled on a plain cheese sandwich as I didn't know what to have. Hydra didn't really have an all you can buffet, so I was more than happy with what I was given. I was also given a glass of water that was actually clean and fresh, and the idea of knowing I could have this from now on, filled every empty hole my heart had.

After finishing, Steve took me to the shower, and I had the longest one ever with warm water. Something else I wasn't used to. He gave me clothes that belonged to a woman called Natasha, and said that we could go shopping once I was feeling well enough to. He reassured me that I was safe with a team called the Avengers, and that I would get to meet them when I was ready.

The rest of the evening I spent with Steve. I asked him to sleep with me as I was scared that if he didn't, he would disappear, and I would be in Hydra again. He agreed, and he held me close, keeping me as warm and protected as he could. I could finally get well needed rest, knowing I was safe and away from Hydra. I was safe with the man I loved.