Who's Afraid of Little Old Me

19

Cassandra's POV

*flashback*

I had an assignment a few days ago and failed my mission. I get punished when I fail. That's how it's always been.

I'm in my room sitting on the floor waiting for him to come and execute my punishment.

He appears in the doorway of my cell. He doesn't say anything. He never says anything. He walks over to me.

"Please don't" I cry. He ignores my plea and grabs me by my neck. He picks me up and punches me. I fall to the ground. I can feel the blood rushing. He picks me up again and pins me against the wall.

He then hits me repeatedly over and over. The metal arm clashed against my body. He hits my face and my stomach causing my ribs to ache.

Usually, I always get that kind of beating. But this time it is worse. He hits me more than he usually does. Then out of nowhere, he starts to choke me.

I try to get him to release his grip around my neck but he won't stop. My breath starts to thin out.

I hear someone say "Stop soldier" before I pass out.

*flashback over*

I wake up sweating, my heart is beating rapidly. I get up and go to the bathroom. I turn on the light to look at myself in the mirror. I inspect my neck. I remember every single beating like it yesterday. I can't let it get to me.

He's not the same person anymore
He's not the same person anymore
He's not the same person anymore

Sometimes I have to remind myself that Bucky is not The Winter Soldier anymore.

I turn on the shower. I need to wash all the sweat off me.

I get in the shower and rinse my body off before getting out. I get dressed and my stomach growls.

So I head to the kitchen to get a snack. When I walk into the hallway I can see a faint light coming from the living room. I walk into the living room and see Bucky lying on the couch asleep.

I go to the kitchen and open the fridge to look and see what there is to eat. I spot some of Sam's burritos and grab one to heat up. I'm sure he won't mind.

I take the burrito out of the wrapping, put it on a plate, and then put it in the microwave to heat up. The microwave is loud but hopefully, it won't wake Bucky up.

I'm not paying attention to the microwave because it starts to beep. I hurry up and open the microwave to shut it up.

I grab my beautiful yummy burrito and let it cool off for a second. My back is turned to the living room and when I turn around Bucky is standing behind me.

I jump back almost dropping my burrito " I almost dropped my burrito" I say

"Sorry but can you make me one" he asks and I get another one out of the fridge and hand it to him "make it yourself" I say and he does.

When it's done he grabs it out of the microwave "Sorry for waking you" I say to him.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for," Bucky says and I stay silent not knowing what to say back to that. Why was he so nice to me about waking him up? If anyone else woke him up he would have been pissed. So why me?

The kitchen was quiet except for the occasional crinkle of foil as we sat side by side at the counter, savoring our burritos.

Bucky looks at me and reaches for a napkin. He wipes off salsa that had escaped the burrito and landed on my chin which I was not aware of.

I get up from my seat and head toward my bedroom, leaving Bucky alone in the dimly lit kitchen. He lingers for a moment watching me walk to my room. The soft creak of my door is all we hear as I disappear into my room and Bucky is left in solitude.

I have to get some sleep because the mission is tomorrow but as I try to sleep my anxiety gets the best of me. I almost get up and see if Bucky is still awake but I hesitate and stay in bed.