Back to You [An Endgame Continuation]

The Darkness Within

Hello, everyone! I know it's taking me a long time to update, and I'll admit, it's been very hard keeping this book going with work, school, and the year that is 2020. I also wanted to get more of the plot in this chapter, but the words just fill up so fast!

I promise this marathon of Bucky-chasing will be over next chapter, and there will be time for some much needed Steggy content! I don't want to spoil anything, but I feel like I should clue you in on what's coming... | (• ◡•)|
-Steve and Peggy's wedding (FINALLY), along with an explanation for Steve's new shield.
-A hint of Bucky/Elena romance.
Plus, a perfectly amazing ending that wraps back around to Endgame and gives a sad farewell to these characters we love so much.

So please keep reading! Be sure to vote comment, share this story, and thank you so much for all the support! Now, to the chapter!
XxLauren_Luv

Ｔｈｅ  Ｄａｒｋｎｅｓｓ Ｗｉｔｈｉｎ
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p.o.v: Elena

I could feel the pain before I even opened my eyes.

It was a dull pulsing ache in my stomach, and it was enough to keep me from moving and tempt me with the darkness of sleep.

But instead, I forced my eyes open, and I took in the sparsely furnished apartment around me. Aside from the milk glass kitchenette, the brown counter radio, and the wooden dining table, there was nothing else in the room, except for a large man who had dragged a chair in front of the window and was gazing out at the bustling city beyond, his arms folded and expression solemn.

"Where's the English muffin?" I asked, speaking over the soft mumbling radio.

He looked over at me, the natural light illuminating his sea-foam eyes. A shadow now sculpted half his face. "Out for supplies," he answered, his tone implying that he wasn't happy about her being out by herself. He glanced around the room. "Sorry it's so dark. No one's supposed to know that we're in here."

I nodded, opening my mouth to respond but realizing I had nothing to say. To me, he was still the American soldier I tried to kill just yesterday.

Rogers caught onto the silence and got up from the chair, looking around for something. "I've been switching out your bandages but I didn't want to wake you up too much, so..." He moved to the kitchen counter and grabbed the first aid kit they had stolen off the plane. After moving the chair to the side of my bed, he sat down and set the bag on the floor, glancing at me awkwardly. I eventually caught onto his request and lifted up my dark bloody vest, and the skin beneath clean and cushioned by white pads.

Steve reached to peel them off, and when he did, I noticed my eight stitches were actually loose, the skin around it only faintly irritated.

"This looks even better than it was three hours ago."

I lifted a blonde brow. "Hydra meddled in regenerative medicine at one point. Despite what you see it was rarely ever successful."

The man nodded and retrieved the metal tweezers out of his bag. As he moved to start taking out the stitches, I reached for his wrist.

"I can do it," I said, my tone a contrast to my abrupt movement.

He looked at me for a moment, but then leaned away and handed me the tweezers.

"Can I ask you something?" He began as I started pulling up each knot.

I responded with a brief glance.

"When we first met in New York... did you already know who I was?"

My eyebrows dipped slightly. "How would I have known that?"