CHILD one-shots | james b. barnes

[ I Saw You Before ]

I Saw You Before

[ Though Angelika is sure Bucky won't ever remember the first moment they met, she does. And she'll never forget Bucky's love for apples. ]

1943

ANGELIKA DRAGGED HER BLANKET across the ground, grasping onto Arnim's hand as he led her down the hall. They stepped past an open room, where she vaguely heard the sound of someone saying the same phrase over and over again. She slowed in her footsteps, before coming to a complete stop, curiosity overriding any rational movement.

Arnim paused, before his lips tilted upwards into a twisted smile. He turned around and stepped towards the room. Angelika gripped her fleece blanket unsurely, fearfully following him, afraid her actions had awarded her a punishment.

He entered the room, and Angelika saw a large metal table with straps connected to the side. She was far too short to see if anyone was on top of it, so she relied on her hearing. Slowly, and terrifyingly, she realized there was someone on the table, reciting what seemed to be a serial number and his name- James Buchanan Barnes.

Arnim leaned down and she froze as he picked her up easily, holding her high enough to see the poor soldier. She clenched her blanket tightly, looking at the man with his eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling. If it weren't for his lips constantly moving, voice softly rumbling, she would've thought he was dead.

She let out a small whimper and Arnim put her down. He bent down to her level and she cowered, wrapping her blanket around her shoulders.

"What are you not going to do, little Angelika?" He said and she flinched, hands trembling.

She shakily pointed at the table, before shaking her head.

Arnim looked satisfied with her answer, grasping her hand and pulling her out of the room.

"Those are prisoners who did bad things, Angelika. They deserve what happens to them." He said and Angelika looked down.

"You aren't doubting what I'm saying, are you?" He said, voice softly threatening.

Angelika furiously shook her head, gripping his hand a bit tighter.

Arnim gave her a pleased smile and he continued down the hall. She felt her stomach squirm as they turned into a familiar wound of pure white. Injured HYDRA agents were everywhere- there were so many of them she wanted to cry. She was mean to heal everyone, and if she couldn't- she gulped.

Arnim led her to the first soldier, and she hid behind him fearfully. He clicked his tongue in disapproval and he grabbed her hand. She let out a small whimper as she felt blood on her hands. The wound healed easily, and Arnim let go of her hand.

"This is what you were made to do, Angelika, you know that don't you?" He said softly, though his voice was laced with venom.

She nodded shakily and defeatedly let him bring her to the next patient.

___________________

That night Angelika couldn't stop thinking of the soldier she'd seen in that room of seclusion. The poor man looked minutes- no- seconds from death. She knew soldier's in isolation generally didn't live, and they were deprived of food.

She looked up from her small bed, deciding the thought was making herself hungry. She pulled herself onto her feet, clutching onto her blanket tightly. She stepped over to her door and pushed it open with difficulty. It was hard for her to reach, so they never locked it. And when they did, it was because she'd been caught doing something bad- like now, for instance, as she attempted to steal food not permitted to her.