The Seventh Avenger: Memories Never Die// Bucky Barnes

TWENTY-FOUR: SOMETHING GOOD

          We're speaking to the boss about this.

          The words run on repeat in my mind as our small group moves down the hall, nothing but the sounds of our footsteps bouncing off the stark, grey walls. Jasper leads the way with the two remaining guards right on his heels. S'Yan follows behind with Riley and the girl in tow, the latter pulled tightly against Riley's side. She shakes almost uncontrollably, but Riley runs a hand up and down her arm in a comforting manner, trying her best to quietly soothe the distressed girl.

          Bucky and I walk side by side behind them, bringing up the rear. There's a slight limp to my step from the fighting and I can feel blood slipping down my back. One of the wounds I have sustained from the experiments has likely opened up. But the sting of the injury is nothing compared to the unadulterated fear that courses through my veins at the thought of seeing The Man again.

           Quiet, but quick tempered. Calm, but dangerous. I can still feel the pain that had burned across my cheek from where he had slapped me during our conversation in my cell weeks prior. If something as simple as being interrupted pisses him off, then I am almost too scared to see what his reaction to all of this is. It must be pretty serious if Jasper isn't dealing with things himself.

          We're speaking to the boss about this.

          The Man. Who I haven't seen since the night that I had spied on him and Strucker from my hiding place up in the vent. Where he had informed Strucker that if the experiments didn't work, then they would have to kill us all.

            Beneath the fear, anger simmers at the memory. I do my best to keep a lid on it, knowing that anger and impulsiveness is too dangerous with a man as unpredictable as him.

          We're speaking to the boss about this.

          I clench my teeth, tasting bile in the back of my throat. There's a possibility I may be sick.

          Having explored the facility through the vents for the past few weeks, I am familiar enough with the outline of this place to know that we are only a few corridors away from The Man's office, and with each step we take, the more my anxiety grows. It must show on my face, as I can suddenly feel two eyes boring into the side of my head as we move. Sure enough, when I turn to look at Bucky I find that he is already staring at me, brows knotted with concern. It starkly contrasts against the blank expression he had provided Jasper with earlier, and it's enough to give me whiplash.

           When our eyes lock, he tilts his head to the side in a questioning manner and it's easy for me to discern what he is trying to ask without any words.

            Are you alright?

            Yes. No. I am a nervous wreck but it is not because of what has just happened. A fight I can handle. It's nothing new to me and, as ugly as it sounds, the way that the guard had pinned me down is not something I am completely unfamiliar with. There have been one or two times in the past where an adversary has tried to take advantage during my missions, but it never escalates. I always stop them before they can properly lay a hand on me, and Bucky had stopped the guard from doing so again today.

           No, it's the thought of seeing The Man and how he would react to all of this that sends my nerves alive. But I can't risk telling Bucky this when Jasper and the guards are only a few yards in front of us.

          So, I only offer a small jerk of my head. Thank you, I silently mouth to him.

          He continues to stare, as if waiting for me to crumple and break down at any given moment. Wanting to put him at ease, I glance at the several other people in front of us to ensure that their gazes are fixed firmly ahead. When I see that they are, I reach down and entwine my hand with a surprised Bucky's, offering him a quick and gentle squeeze before pulling away as quickly as I had reached.