[COMPLETE/EDITING]Be My Hero

Two

"Those are gonna kill you, Buck."

     "And? I'm gonna die anyways," I retorted to a worried Steve. I sat on the windowsill of my bedroom window, which was cracked open. We were back in California after a while of traveling, and I desperately needed a smoke. I didn't smoke often, but when I did, Steve thought it was either amusing worrisome. This time, he was obviously very worried.

"Yeah, but--"

    "Steve," I said, grinding the cigarette into a granite ashtray and looking up at him. "I'm done, okay? I'm not going to die just yet." He rubbed the back of his neck and raised his brows. Without his uniform, he looked more comfortable and at ease. "You alright?" I asked him. He nodded and sat down beside me, staring out at the setting sun.
"Yeah. I'm just thinking."
"About?" I stared at him, studying his expression. There was a constant hint of sadness to his eyes, and they were darker than usual. His fingers twitched and his breath became shallow. Only I could pick up on these subtle hints. He did this when Peggy passed away. It meant that he was upset or thinking about something that struck him deeply and pulled at his heart strings.

    "It's odd to have you back, y'know?" he said, looking at me. I shrugged and waved my hand nonchalantly. It was weird to have him as an ally again, but it felt comfortable. I felt like I belonged.

    "Better get used to it, Cap," I replied, drawing a small smile from Steve. I got up and headed towards the bathroom after mentioning a bath. With a metal arm, it was hard to take showers; my shoulder was sensitive and it couldn't be in hot water. I didn't favor lukewarm either, so I insisted on taking a bath in order to burn my skin off as much as I'd like. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that it seemed a bit feminine, settling down into a tub. So when I finally did, I sighed and leaned back against the porcelain, hot water lapping along my chest.

   The steam that rose from the hot water made me lightheaded and tired. My body relaxed and eased. I never really realized how tense I was. In fact, I always seem to be tensing my shoulders subconsciously. I leaned my head back against the tub and inhaled deeply. The hot water was enriched with rose extract and pink rose petals. I never enjoyed luxuries such as this, so this was certainly a treat for me. A bottle of wine and candles would definitely set the mood, although I doubt I would even go that far for myself. My eyes fluttered close and a wave of exhaustion swept over me. Sleep seemed more inviting than ever, and I welcomed it with open arms.

There was a distant rumble. Footsteps. A thick thud followed by a groan. I didn't think anything of it. I thought it was Steve's clumsy self. Although when my bathroom door opened and a cloth was clapped over my mouth.. that's when I became alarmed. I tried not to breathe, but my heart was beating too fast. A stinging, burning stench filled my lungs and made my eyes water.

    Distant voices. Clattering metal. The whirring of machinery and the unintelligible chattering of people. Silence. I opened my eyes, but all I could see was black. There was a constant buzzing noise that drove into my ears and scorched my brain.

My head throbbed painfully, and I didn't want to move. "Get up," grumbled someone to my left. I didn't. I couldn't. There was no way. Even if I wanted to, I probably physically wouldn't be able to. A boot slammed into my side, sending an electric shock of pain through my body all at once. I couldn't help but yell out. It seemed as if everything was amplified by 10.
"I said get up!" The voice was louder this time, ringing in my ears. I inhaled deeply, the air stinging my lungs and causing me to cough. I didn't favor the idea of getting kicked again, so I planted my hands on the floor and lifted myself up slowly.
"Just hold on," I mumbled. My voice came out raspy and broken. My body felt so heavy, as if I were made out of lead. Being able to see would have been nice, but that obviously wasn't an option. I got to my knees and stayed there, feeling acid crawl up my throat as a wave of nausea hit me, forcing my jaw to stay shut as tightly as possible.

     "Bring him in." That voice again. It was so unfamiliar. Deep and cold. My stomach turned. I didn't know who this was and yet they wanted me and Steve-- Steve. I clenched my fists. From experience, I knew that struggling and demanding where Steve was wasn't the best move. I heard the thud of footsteps against the metal floor and tensed. I couldn't help it. I didn't know what was coming, and I wasn't in any condition to fight. The blindfold was snatched from my eyes and blinding light flooded my vision. I shut my eyes quickly. My headache intensified. I could still somewhat see the light against my eyelids until someone stepped in front of me. Slowly, I opened my eyes. Someone was towering over me. I couldn't really make out his features. The aura of light around him made him appear extremely dark as he stood there.
"James Buchanan Barnes," the man said. I clenched my jaw and kept my mouth shut. "I'm sorry we had to take you in like this," he continued, "but there is a much greater threat than Hydra that's on your tail."

95 days until the accident