The Soldier and the Child

Chapter 6: A Soldier's Care

The Summer Solstice Update has been released as I told my Discord followers. For those interested in voting on what books of mine get updated, the link to the discord is on my information page along with a link to my alt. account on Archiveofourown that has books that haven't been published in Wattpad!

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." - Margaret Mead

Percy didn't really know what happened, other than the fact that when his stomach stopped feeling like it was flipping like a fish out of water, there was no more shack they lived in. Almost literally, there was water surrounding the floor, but the wood that made up the walls was almost all gone, some only existed at the base where it was like it had splintered from a heavy force.

Gingerly standing up, Percy stood on shaky legs as he noticed the only patch of dry floor was surrounding him. At least, until Percy looked to where he knew Winter had been and saw another patch of dryness surrounding the downed man.

Stepping over one of the bodies, pausing to look at his chest and seeing it unmoving, Percy nervously stumbled his way to Winter and fell onto his knees next to him. With hesitating hands, Percy placed them on the man's shoulder and gently nudged it, hoping for a quick response like Winter was known to do.

When none came, Percy steeled himself for a possible violent reaction and gave a harder shove, trying to get Winter to move, to awaken from whatever had happened to him. "Wi-Winter?" Percy called out with a dry throat as if his body was so exhausted it was giving Percy dehydration.

His throat muscles hurt too as if he pulled something, but it wasn't just in his throat, his whole body felt ready to collapse any second now. The only thing keeping Percy from fainting was pure will to make sure Winter was okay.

"Winter?" Percy called out slightly stronger and, with one more shove, saw Winter's eyelids flutter.

"-ercy?" Winter's groggy voice nearly brought Percy to tears with relief.

"You're okay," he said, his lip wobbling, with the solace that his friend was okay, Percy moved back and sat on his heels. "You're okay," he whispered to himself again, trying to reassure himself that everything was okay.

"You okay?" Winter asked, his voice stronger but heavy and deep as he tried to get his bearings, his head bursting with pain.

"You're okay," Percy muttered to himself before he collapsed.

Winter moved faster than he should've, his body groaning under the previous electricity that had run through his whole body before the assault on his mind as he just caught Percy's head before it smacked the ground and gently laid it down.

Suppressing a groan as his muscles protected the action, Winter knew they had to move and had to move yesterday as he climbed to his feet. Looking around at the bodies, he checked the closest one and gave a breath of relief as there was no heartbeat.

He swore to himself to never tell Percy he killed these men with some type of water power. Winter might've been fighting the mental battle, but he was aware enough to know that it was Percy who had summoned a wave of water that rocked the very house they were in. Any wood and furniture were long gone, probably down the hill from where the water had streamed out toward. Looking at the damage done, Winter suppressed the shiver at the raw power that Percy seemed to have in his hands, no wonder Hydra had wanted the boy killed.

This kind of power was deadly in any type of hand, to make sure it never went to either side, it was best to eliminate it. Looking around at the bodies that littered the floor, Winter swore he'd protect Percy the best he could as he grabbed the lone piece of debris that was still in the house that wasn't bodies.

Their backpack had their whole new lives inside. Winter would obviously need new identities, but the lone dry circle around it told him that Percy knew how important the bag was. Grabbing it and throwing it over an arm, Winter moved toward where Percy was lying and examined the boy for any injuries.

Finding no obvious signs of injuries, Winter hoped Percy was only experiencing a case of exhaustion from the power he summoned. Gently, with care, Winter leaned down, ignoring his protesting ribs in the process, and cradled Percy in his arms, and started walking.

It was time to leave Athens, perhaps Percy would be less disappointed if he took him to Italy. Hydra would expect him to get as far away as he could from Greece. And with Italy being as populated as it was, they would just seem like any other father and son visiting the tourist attractions of Italy.

He walked until his legs started to shake with each step, finding an alleyway and looking at the surrounding area, he knew it would have to do for the day until they could leave more in the morning.

Finding a secluded, secure spot that was clean, the Winter Soldier set Percy down gingerly before letting himself sit with his back against the wall, setting Percy's head in his lap so it cushioned, Winter let his head fall back slightly and closed his eyes.

This day was perhaps just a bit too much excitement for his body, tomorrow he'd have to splurge a little to get more calories into his own body, and certainly into Percy's. Electrolytes for both of them were certainly needed in any case.

With that last thought and keeping his ears strained for any noise, the Winter Soldier fell into a light slumber.