On Command ~ Sequel to Lost Heros

Ready to Comply

     "I won't ask again. Who the hell is this? How'd you get this number?" I asked while trying not to raise my voice.

The man on the other end of the line chuckled and I felt shivers run down my spine. "As I said before, Nyx. I'm just a man who knows your location and I'm willing to spread the word if you don't cooperate."
I leaned on the bathroom counter. "That's not my name," I whispered through gritted teeth. "And you're lying. You clearly know who I am so I wouldn't suggest threatening me unless you want to die within the week."
"I'm not lying," the man said amused. I scoffed. "Alright I'll prove it to you," he said and cleared his throat."

     "According to my surveillance, you and the winter soldier are in your bedroom, which is the third door of the left hallway on the third floor of the building."
My stomach dropped. "I know what you and the winter soldier did tonight for fun ," he continued , "And my my was that interesting to watch. But if you still do not believe me, you're currently standing in the bathroom of your bedroom with no clothes on."

I wanted to throw up. This could not be happening. I could practically hear the grin in his voice, "What a lovely birthmark you have under your breast, Nyx. You're still on the phone right?"
I moved to grab a towel and cover my body. I held the phone with a firm grip and venom on my tongue, "Alright you crazy pervert. What game are you playing? Who do you work for?"
"I'm an associate of Baron Zemo, I take it you know of him?"

I glanced over at Bucky who was still asleep. My heart was thumping so loud I was secretly afraid it would wake him. "That psycho's in jail," I reminded him. "Quite so, but thankfully he has friends who aren't with excellent connections."
"What do you want from me?" I spat. "Haven't you people done enough?"

"Not in the slightest," the man said enthusiastically. "Nyx, from now on, you will follow my orders without any questions."
"And if I refuse or better yet tell the avengers?" I questioned. "You don't want to do that, my dear," he said and I cringed. "Remember, I have your location and you're under constant surveillance. If you disobey, I'll tell every government in the world where you are. And if you think you can escape without a trace, there will be damage following, I assure you. How do you think World Leaders will react when they find out the Wakandan King was harboring fugitives? I wouldn't want to bring down the monarchy. Would you?"

I stayed silent and couldn't bring myself to speak. For the first time in a while, I felt cornered, I felt beaten at my own game. There was no way out of this. It was either refuse and watch my world burn or agree and betray everyone and everything I valued. God only knows what they would make me do.
"Soldier?" The man asked.

I breathed in and closed my eyes, "Ready to comply."
As soon as I said that, the man hung up and I was left staring at myself in the mirror. The breath I was holding in came out in shakes huffs and I set the phone down.
My reflection stared at me and I saw the tears fall down my face. I hated the person in the mirror. I hated everything about her. I covered my mouth to suppress the sobs. Whoever I was staring at wasn't Claire Doyle, the strong willed avenger, caring sister and loving girlfriend. This was the Nyx Hydra project staring back at me with dark purpose in her eyes that always seemed lost no matter what. Those were the eyes that brought pain to so many. Not even the tears could wash that away. The woman I saw was a traitor, a murderer, . . . Hydra.

I fell to the ground and leaned on the cabinet clutching the towel around my body like a lifeline. I felt so exposed and vulnerable. The weakness was infuriating.
Terrible sobs raked through my body at the thought of what I've done. I held my head in my hands and my knees were close as if I were trying to shrink down and make myself disappear.

I felt a hand wrap around my body and I flinched away, moving my body farther from the contact and to the other side of the bathroom.
Realization calmed my wide eyes when I realized that Bucky had woken up without me realizing it and came over to comfort me. Looking at him only caused another wave of pain and more tears to flow.

Bucky sat moved closer to where I was and engulfed me in an embrace that screamed caring. Guilt surged through my body wherever he touched me and I had to refrain myself from pulling away.
"Claire, what happened?" he asked worry laced all over his voice. "Why are you crying?"

He's watching you, Nyx.

I buried my head in his chest and pulled at my hair. "I'll never be free of them, Buck," I gasped through tears. He pulled my hands away from my hair and kissed them softly. "They'll always use me. Always get in my head."
"What are you talking about?" He asked moving his hand to cup my cheek and make me look up.

Beautiful blue eyes that sparkled like the sea met mine that death followed without question.
"I had a nightmare," I lied. "I was back at Hydra." His eyes softened and it brought me more pain.

As the Winter Soldier, he was trained to know when people were lying. Didn't matter how big or small the lie was because Bucky always knew. Yet I looked him straight in the eyes and he couldn't tell. He trusted me so much that he didn't need to look for the lies in my words. I could say the sky was purple and he's believe me blind.
My head fell to his chest once more and I continued to cry.

Bucky held me closer and kept saying it was going to be okay. How he would protect me and how Hydra would never get to us again.
But little did he know that his words had no effect on the inside. Little did he know that everything was not okay and how I was the one protecting him.
He smiled at me thinking I was better and kissed me quickly when I automatically smiled back.

"Sweetheart, why on earth are you wearing a towel?" He asked me with a slight smile tugging at his lips. "I felt vulnerable so I covered myself up," I mumbled.
Bucky kissed my head, "Oh, Claire. Put it back and let's go back to bed. I'll hold you all night and protect you, I promise."

I nodded and did as I was told numbly. As I crawled back into bed and laid down, a strong arm was around my waist and I felt Bucky's body against my back. It didn't feel right to lie to him like that. To have done what I did and have him still look at me like we were untouchable to the world.
I felt like poison; touch me and you die. His arm around made me feel like I was suffocating with guilt.

Bucky fell asleep rather quickly

But I was left awake counting the skeletons in my closet instead of sheep.