Hope Found

Parents

I tried to keep us as they pushed me forward but I still tripped over my own feet as we entered the room. A hand roughly picked up my small body and pushed me onto the cold metal table. I didn't understand what was going on but I never did here. I felt something tighten around my wrists and ankles. I tried to pick my hands up but found that I couldn't. As I struggle two of the white coats entered. I don't know what to call them but they all wear the same white coats so I decided it was an appropriate name. They start talking but I don't understand anything they said.

"Subject 22, three years old," one started, "Today it will be injected with the AV-1 serum." I felt a prick which turned into a burning pain as something was injected into my arm. I whimpered as the pain spread through my body. I could still hear them talking but I only caught random words.

"...father..."

"...avengers downfall..."

"..parents..."

"...change..."

"...DNA..."

But then I couldn't hear anything but my heart beating in my ears as the pain soared to new heights. I knew I was screaming now but I couldn't hear it.

Suddenly I sit straight up in bed. I block the scream that wants to work its way out of my throat and just focus on breathing. That was a new memory. I was so little and there was so much pain, but beyond that I still didn't understand what the white coats were talking about. I forgot I had even called them that. I look back at my pillow but know that any more sleep is out of the question at this point. I sigh as I stand up and walk out of my room toward the kitchen. Some tea sounded nice. Tony wanted me to try something called coffee but Steve was against it for some reason. Bruce made them compromise with tea. It has quickly become a favorite especially when I need to relax like now. Soon the tea is made. I turn to go out and sit on the balcony blowing carefully on the hot mug.

"Couldn't sleep?" as voice asks behind me. I jump, almost dropping my tea, and turn to see none other than Bucky. I shake my head. "Me either. Is that tea?"

"Yeah, do you want some?" I ask. He nods and I pour him a mug too. We head out onto the balcony. The night air is cool but not cold. Even though it was night, there were many lights still on throughout the city. It was very peaceful. I sip my mug slowly feeling the tension from the memory release. I glance at Bucky to see him doing the same. He must have had a nightmare too. I can't even imagine how bad his nightmares probably are.

"I had another nightmare that was a memory," I start. He looks up at me.

"Want to talk about it?" he asks. I shake my head.

"But I feel like I need to." I can tell he understands. I don't want to talk about my past but I need to make sense of it. "I was little. They said I was three I think. I was led to a room where they strapped me onto a table and injected me with something they called AV-1 serum. There were white coats there. That's what I called them since that's what they wore. It burned really bad and I could only hear certain words over the pain but what I heard doesn't make sense to me." As I talk I see Bucky tensing. I've come to realize he's not mad at me. He's just really protective and mad about what happened to me. So I lean over and place my head on his shoulder. He relaxes a little.

"What confuses you?" he asks his voice rough.

"What are parents?" I blurt out. I had heard it a few times since they rescued me and again in the nightmare, but I have no idea what the term means. Bucky shifts so I lift my head and look at him only to find him staring at me. He seems like he's searching for something but suddenly stops and looks away.