Ready to Comply: A Bucky Barnes Fanfic

Fifteen ~ Caged

Steve and I sit leaning against the wall of the empty room, side by side, as he begins his story. Well, Bucky's story. But you could say it is both of theirs.

"Bucky and I grew up in Brooklyn. He was the closest friend I had, always had my back when I would get into arguments or fights. When the war started, I knew I wanted to fight, and so did Bucky. Only he got in before me, because at the time I was too small to get in. I worried about him, but I convinced myself he was too stubborn to die..."

Steve goes on to tell me everything that happened during and after World War II. How he rescued Bucky and the rest of the 107th from a prison camp run by Hydra. How he and Bucky joined forces along with the Howling Commandos and took down dozens of Hydra camps after that, changing the war in favor of the US. His voice cracked as he told me about how Bucky fell from the train, how he thought for sure he was dead, and how that changed him.

Steve presumably died saving his country, buried under ice for seventy years. His story I had heard before. What I didn't know was that in the meantime, Bucky had been taken by Hydra after falling from the train and being presumed dead. He was experimented on, tortured, manipulated, wiped, frozen in cryo and unfrozen over and over, used to kill dozens of people against his will over the last fifty years.

He had been through more pain and misery than I could have ever imagined, and in all this time I knew him I had no idea.

By the time Steve has caught up to the events that occurred just before Bucky disappeared - their fight in Washington that nearly cost Steve his life if not for Bucky pulling him out of the lake - I am crying my eyes out. Steve is crying too, but he is more controlled. He keeps sniffling and rubbing his eyes, but he won't completely break down. Instead he leans over and puts a hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort me as I bury my face in my hands and sob.

"It's okay Sophie. We're going to help him. I will make sure of that. You have nothing to worry about..."

"He still has nightmares," I choke out, and Steve grows quiet. I take a shaky breath. "He wakes up at night a different person, and if I get too close he hurts me. When he would wake up the next morning, he would hate himself. I found him crying some nights, and apologizing over and over, shaking, clutching his head in his hands. I would tell him I was fine, but he would still beat himself up about it. I didn't know that... he wasn't just sorry for what he did to me. He was torn apart by what he did to the rest..."

I start crying again, unable to speak anymore. Steve sighs and pulls me close, letting me lean against him for support. I had no idea Captain America was this kind. He let me cry against his chest for what felt like ages, until I began to calm down and the room grew quiet.

"I need to see him," I whisper once I had caught my breath.

"I know," he says. "I'll help you get in there, before his interrogation. But we'll need to go soon."

"Can we go now?" I ask, lifting my head to look up at his eyes.

"We can try."

He stands up and helps me to my feet. It is then that I realize how tired I am. My legs are shaky as I follow him out of the room, and my eyes are heavy with exhaustion. I haven't slept in 48 hours, and I had exerted too much energy over the past couple days. But I won't let this deter me.

I have to see him. I have to tell him everything. Everything I know about him. Everything he doesn't know about me.

~

It takes a lot of arguing on Steve's part to convince them to let me in. They don't want anyone speaking to Bucky before his interrogation. They especially don't trust me with him, because I do not hold any government position or any connection to Shield or the Avengers. I am nobody to them.

But finally, after a little help from Natasha and Steve's other friend, Sam Wilson, we talk to enough people and convince them I am safe. I sigh in relief when Steve gives me the news, and two guards lead me away toward Bucky's cell.

We go down another series of hallways, walking so far I swear we must be deep underground. The guards stop by a steel door, and one slides a card that unlocks it. The other guard opens it, and gestures with his gun for me to go in. I step in, and they quickly shut the door behind me, leaving me alone in the room.

I try to slow my heartbeat. As I turn around to face his glass cell, I realize he has his eyes shut. He doesn't know I'm here. I take a shaky breath and step toward the cage.