Initiation ▷ BUCKY BARNES

SIX

PART TWO
"PANDEMONIUM"
❝ In which Avery Peterson escapes a hellish prison. Set during Captain America: The Winter Soldier. ❞

RILEY RAPIDLY RUSHED OVER TO AID AVERY and stood beside Bucky with a knife held firmly against his throat, ready to draw blood if need be.

"Let her go." The woman hissed whilst pushing the knife further into Bucky's throat.

Avery's eyes flickered down to Bucky's neck where she saw that the edge of the blade had slightly sunk into his skin and droplets of blood were beginning to pour down his chest. Bucky remained calm throughout the entire exchange and Avery threw Riley a small smile.

"It's alright, I'm fine." The brunette said in an attempt to reassure the other woman and surely enough, Riley withdrew her knife and backed away from the two.

Avery averted her gaze to Bucky and the look in the man's eyes softened as they locked with one another.

"I remember you, I think." The blue eyed solider mumbled whilst keeping his eyes focused on Avery.

Avery's eyes lit up at his words and the brunette felt a small smile form on her face. After a few seconds, Bucky's hold on the woman's neck softened before he let go of her entirely. Avery remained still as she didn't want to alarm Bucky or trigger The Winter Soldier's enhanced reflexes.

"I got you out of a collapsed building." The man said, although Avery could sense the uncertainty in his voice.

The brunette nodded.

"You did. And then you took me to safety and looked after me while I was healing from my injuries. We lived together for a few months."

Bucky's brows began to furrow in confusion but he remained silent as fragments of his time spent with Avery began to flash through his mind. "You liked to watch a show about zombies."

"Cute." Riley commented in a sarcastic manner whilst fiddling with the weapons around her belt and inside of her jacket.

Avery ignored her and simply smiled at Bucky, her eyes full of happiness at the fact that he was beginning to remember some things.

"The Walking Dead is my favourite show." The brunette said quietly, and a small smile began to form on Bucky's face.

"You used to joke that you'd be the first to die in a zombie apocalypse." Bucky stated and Avery couldn't help but giggle at the memory. Her laugh made the man tense but seconds later he felt his heart melt at the sound of it.

"I did. And do you know what you told me?"

The brunette paused for a moment to give Bucky a chance to think over the memory. When he didn't respond within the first couple of moments, Avery opened her mouth to speak but was stunned when he spoke over her.

"I said that I wouldn't let you die because I'd protect you at all costs."

Avery began to nod at Bucky's words, her eyes blinking rapidly as she tried to fight off the tears she could feel forming in her eyes. The brunette didn't know why she was getting so emotional about the situation but she was just pleased that Riley's tranquilliser had worked on Bucky. She was pleased that after these past few weeks of torture, she was starting to get her Bucky back.