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[AN// yes, i do know that's harley quinn, but let's just pretend it's cynthia. like the last gif, because they both have blonde hair.]
MAY 15TH, 1996
EVERY WEDNESDAY, CYNTHIAand Bucky would fight.
And Cynthia hated it. But she didn't know if Bucky hated it as well, because the only time she had only ever seen him during her time here at HYDRA was during fight time.
Cynthia had seen Peggy only one more time since December—and it still didn't sound like Cynthia was getting out any time sooner. But during this time, when she was away from training, and no one was bothering her (for example, John), she had learned acrobatics, which she did in her cell daily with her dirty, ever so filthy, and gross smelling sheets.
Her acrobatics had helped her with training too, especially when it came to dodging. And she hated fighting Bucky. Cynthia had honestly started feeling less and less for the Winter Soldier, coming to hate him. He wasn't her Win, he wasn't her Bucky. But she hoped to god that one day she would be able to rejoice in setting him free and living with him as Bucky.
Everyday, Cynthia thought about Jamie. She would always imagine him as she last saw him—small. Fragile to the world, and holding Maisie's hand as he turned to wave one last time for a long time at Cynthia. His small, sad smile against his tanned skin.
He and Cynthia hadn't really looked like each other—they at least both had the same eyes, if not a different shade. It made him more of his own person. And she liked the idea of that. She had also fallen back into the habit of crying herself to sleep. Both before and after John had come by her cage.
Running her hands through her hair, and stretching her legs, Cynthia opened her closed eyes and looked at an upside-down Beck. "Will Owen be coming back soon?" Cynthia asked innocently.
"After your biting incident, I doubt it," Beck admitted, leaning on the bars, and Cynthia smiled coyly. "How unfortunate. I'll pretend to miss him." Cynthia responded, "Has anyone applied for his job?"
"Nope; no one has yet." Beck replied, and stepped away from the bars, resuming his job as a guard.
Cynthia had always hated Owen. But Beck she liked. He was a lot gentler than Owen had ever been, and had never participated in Owen and the other guards' "games." So it made Cynthia feel better that Owen had resigned after she bit his arm and neck the one time he tried to touch her in an area that she didn't want him too.
Cynthia had shown off to all the other guards over the last couple months she had been there that she could be threatening. She wasn't just some five-foot-one-inch pansy. She had a mean side, and she would use it quite often, which made most of the guards not to mess with her.
Swinging down from her spiderweb of blankets, Cynthia walked over to the bars, and asked Beck, "When will lunch be served today? I'm starving. No one gave me my breakfast."
Beck looked away from Cynthia, avoiding eye contact and ignoring her question. "Oh my god," Cynthia asked, "John-does John have something to do with my food?"
"He didn't like that you bit Owen twice," Beck admitted, finally looking at her. "He didn't visit you last night because of that. This is . . . This is your punishment."
Cynthia gaped at the floor, and then she closed her mouth, going over and climbing back into her spiderweb. "Exercise will put off hunger, right?" Cynthia asked Beck, who looked over and nodded in response to her. "Well. Then it looks like I'll be exercising all day."
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By the time it was nine o'clock, all Cynthia had done that day besides make small chat with Beck was acrobatics.
But what made her almost fall from her web, was when she saw Peggy Carter walk through the door. Climbing down from her web, she said, "Peggy?"
"Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take you to a private room for HYDRA feared you would bite me, or something like that," Peggy explained, "So, I had to come here, to your cell."
"You mean, my cage?" Cynthia said, leaning up against the bars. Peggy scrunched up her nose in disgust, and asked, "Dear god, what is that awful smell?"
Cynthia sighed. "That would be me. And my bedding. I haven't been allowed to wash myself since I got here. And this bedding hasn't changed either." Cynthia explained. "I hate it here so much. But, at least I have Beck to keep me company."
"Yes, I heard about your little incident with one of the guards, and apparently, it was so bad it made him quit." Peggy replied, and Cynthia chuckled.
"Have you brought me news that I'll be getting out soon?" Cynthia asked. Peggy nodded, and replied, "It should be soon, hun. HYDRA is taking their sweet time deciding between which file they want to take in exchange for you."
Cynthia's grin went from ear to ear. "Will I . . . See my old family again?" Cynthia asked, and Peggy nodded. "S.H.I.E.L.D. has also cleared your apartment from HYDRA files. So, when you're out, you're free to live back at your old apartment."
Her apartment that she had stolen from her father. But, in Cynthia's terms, her apartment. The one she had brought Jamie back too. The one that used to have a couch Bucky bled on; the one that Cynthia realized she loved Bucky in. And god, she missed having a safe haven.
"Thank you, Peggy. Thank you for doing this. I'll repay you, I promise," Cynthia replied, and Peggy smiled gently and said, "There's no need. Now, I have to go, but we'll meet again soon, Cynthia."
Cynthia nodded, whispering an "Okay" as she watched Peggy turn and leave through her metal bars.
Cynthia was now anticipating the day she got out more than ever.
