𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 ▸ bucky barnes [1]

3.

OCTOBER 4, 1943
5:47 PM
HYDRA WEAPONS FACILITY, AUSTRIA

—

THE FIRST THING VALERIE HEARD WAS VOICES.

She thought about opening her eyes, but her eyelids were far too heavy. When she tried to move, every muscle in her body ached, and her head in specific was throbbing. The voices Valerie heard continued to speak, but they sounded like they were speaking gibberish underwater.

After a moment, they began to sound clearer. Valerie realized they weren't speaking gibberish – they were speaking German, which she couldn't understand a word of. All she could pick out was one name: Zola. After a couple minutes of chatter, the two men joined together in laughter and walked away.

Valerie opened her other eye, grunting in pain as she struggled to sit up. Her vision swam, but she could immediately tell by the cold, dusty cement floor and the barred walls that she was in a prison cell. When she tried to stand, she was stopped by what she realized were large chains binding her feet together.

"Rise and shine, doll," a familiar voice rang out. Valerie looked at the man in the cell across from her, and even though it took a second to recognize his badly bruised and swollen face, she realized that it was Bucky.

"Bucky?" Valerie whispered in surprise. "What happened to you?"

Bucky shrugged, grunting as he sat up. "Some bastard guard. Guess I caught an attitude."

"You definitely did," shouted a new voice. Valerie pressed her face against the bars and looked down the hallway lined with cells, and after a moment, she spotted another familiar face a couple cells down from Bucky. "Nice to have you join us, sweetheart," Dum Dum called out.

Valerie bit her lip. It seemed that what remained of the 107th infantry were all packed into cells, prisoners of war to god knew who and god knew where. She turned to Bucky. "Where are we?"

Bucky shook his head. "No clue. I'm surprised you're awake, though. Dum Dum over there thought you were dead."

Valerie furrowed her brow. "How long was I out?"

"About a day," Bucky replied, looking at her. "I didn't think you were dead, though. Figured you were just catching up on some beauty sleep." He winked.

Valerie felt a blush creep across her cheeks, but she rolled her eyes. "Looks like you need it more than I do."

     Despite their dire situation, a ghost of a smile appeared on Bucky's lips. "How about this?" He said, sitting up a little straighter. "If we ever get out of here, you and I'll have a little contest. Whoever sleeps the longest wins."

     Valerie sighed in annoyance. "I think we have bigger things to worry about right now."

     Despite her response, Bucky grinned. "Whatever you say."