Avengers Oneshots Series

Don't lie (Part 2)

"I-Im not hiding a-anything", stammered Kathy slowly moving backwards. Her body language was enough for everyone to know that she was clearly lying. Steve stood up from where he squatting beside Mantis and slowly started walking towards Kathy. "Kathy.... don't lie more than you already have.", he said. Sam and Bucky joined him. Their facial features laced by worry, grief and disappointment....but not towards Kathy. Disappointment towards themselves for not being able to make her trust them enough to tell them the truth. "I c-can't... I'm sorry", Kathy sobbed out as she made a run for the elevator. The three men cursed under their breaths as they made a run for her but were unsuccessful when the elevator doors closed itself. The three men quickly made their ways down the stairs as fast as they can as if their lives depended on their speeds....and it sure did..cause afterall Kathy was their bestfriend and she did matter more than their lives to them. As they reached the last steps they saw Kathy close to the exit. The lobby of the Avengers tower hustled with the SI employees who had now stopped whatever they were doing to witness the uncalled appearance of the four superheroes. "FRIDAY lock the exit NOW", screamed Sam...almost out of breath due to the intense running.

Just as Kathy was about to get out of the building the big glass doors closed itself in front of her. Letting out a series of panicked swear words Kathy made her turn towards the second exit. But before she could get through it she came face to face with Bucky who somehow landed there before her blocking the only way out. In a haste Kathy took a few steps back only to have Bucky grab her right wrist and pulling her towards him. He hated being harsh with her and her tears broke his heart...but he had to know the truth. As Kathy tried to bring her hand towards Bucky's arms to let herself free she felt her left wrist being gripped by another pair of hands. Turning around she was faced by Sam. Steve was now in front of her. They too hated intimidating their best friend. That was the last thing they wanted to do but rn they had no choice. They had to take control of this. They HAD to find out whatever the hell was the cause of their friends trouble and why she didn't trust them. As expected, all the three of their faces held sadness...a look of disappointment and anger...but also a weird softness as if screaming to her that they he would help her no matter what. There was so much care and love in them too...telling her she was a part of them and belonged there. Having the three men towering over her she had no other way out. Kathy squirmed her hands trying to set them free but it only made Sam and Bucky's grip around her wrists grow stronger. "Please guys...let go off this", she pleaded. "You're the one who needs to let go off the struggle and tell us what tf is happening inside that head of yours.", said Sam through gritted teeth. "Stop refusing our help Kathy. For fuck sake just stop pushing us away", Bucky said pulling her slightly towards him. "Guys... let's take this upstairs. It's not the right place to talk.", Steve said... finally eyeing the crowded lobby and the employees staring at the fiasco. Kathy tried to resist but she was too exhausted both mentally and physically. She had never imagined her truth would be out this way. So now Kathy had no option but to be dragged by her best friends. Sam and Bucky's hands still gripping her wrists tight and Steve walking behind her making sure she didn't get another chance to run away. She was escorted into the elevator as the entire compound stared at the scene unfolding...curiosity bubbling in them. And after just a few more minutes Kathy found herself in one of the Tower's random rooms with the doors closed and herself pinned to the wall with the three men standing in front of her. "Now are you going to tell everything or do we have to find that out from someone else too", said Steve. "Let it go guys.... it's the fucking past so let it be...not like it matters.", whispered Kathy...her eyes travelling everywhere except her friends. Slightly shoving her to the wall by her shoulders Bucky said, "It matters to us...maybe not to you but it does to us because all we see is the strongest person we have ever known breaking into pieces in front of us and we are not able to do shit...so it does fucking matter to us." "Stop treating yourself like you don't matter Kathy...cause you do...so just let out", followed Sam. Looking down and letting out slow tears, Kathy sobbed and shook slightly. She had no option anyways...so she started her recall of the dreaded events.

For the first time in years she let it out....she let out everything. Starting from being sold to HYDRA when she was 10 by her parents in exchange for a hefty amount of cash to being experimented on...the result of which were her so called cool powers she hated her entire life. But that wasn't even the worst part. It was the part where she got punished for every time she failed to execute her powers like the scientists had wanted she was raped mercilessly. She was tied up to a chair and tortured for hours then left cold and hungry in a cell for the night. The torture started again in the morning. The three men surrounding her had no clue on how to react.....what to tell...on what move to make. They were speechless. Not a word escaped their mouths. How did this girl who kept the team together just by her presence go through SO much and still smile every single day. Just .....how ??.

By the end Kathy had slowly slid down the wall by her back and sat with her knees to her chest curled up in a ball. A trail of tears went down her cheeks as her eyes laid distant focusing into nothing. Sam, Bucky and Steve had also placed them around the girl as they sat on the floor around her. They too only thought of all the torture....of all the trauma. And even though the girl sitting in front of them...their dear best friend might look vulnerable and weak to anyone else witnessing this scene...she only grew stronger in their view. They found a new serge of respect for her going through their heart and brains. They can never find someone else stronger than her. She had gone through so much but not once had she let that smile fall off her face....not for once had she shyed away from her duty...not for once had she let her team down. She was the strongest person in their eyes. And they swore to every single God they knew that they would protect her from everything and anything. Even if it means protecting her from herself. Kathy felt a pair of hands on her cheeks. It was a weird contrast of cold and warm. A contrast she had felt many times and knew it was Bucky's metal and flesh arm. Slowly wiping out the stray tears on her cheeks Bucky made her look up at him. Placing a soft kiss on her forehead he pulled back, slightly caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. "I'm so proud of you doll....so so proud of you.", he said. Kathy felt Sam's rough hands which were soft and gentle in a weird but comforting way tug a hair strand on her face behind her ears and caressing her cheeks too. "I never could have imagined you went through so much but I need you to know that none of it was your fault....none of it", he said. She felt another pair of hands touch her shoulders and then placed a kiss at the side of her head on her hair. She turned to her left and met Steve's soft eyes. They carried so much emotion in them...much more than she had ever witnessed. "I need you to know doll that...that we are here for you...and I know you are more than capable now to fight them single handedly but...we still want to help....we need to help for God sake we can't let you be in this all alone.", he said. "We are here for you at every step you take Doll...every step towards recovery...just..let us help you this time...please", said Bucky as he held  her wrists softly in his hands and placed a gentle kiss on her fingertips. There were much more the three men wanted to say to her...but they knew nothing can ever be enough to console her...the damage was too deep. But they knew she understood how much their words meant and they swore to never let her go alone on this journey.

Pulling them in a tight hug Kathy let her tears fall...but this time they weren't of sorrow but rather of relief. Relief of letting out and feel her shoulders lighten up. Relief of knowing she won't be abandoned anymore and that she wasn't alone. Her family was here with her. "I love you guys...so much", she whispered as she felt their arms tighten around her as a reply..making her feel safe and loved.