Fangs & Roses

Chapter 1: First Impressions

World War II, Alzosnow Hydra Base, 1945

Sarah looked out of the cage, seeing the others pacing. The insistent rumbling noise was turning her resolve to jelly. She couldn't decide where it was coming from, but she knew she hadn't been in the cage without it. That's when she heard it. A long scream, like someone was dying, their voice hoarse. She jerked, suddenly off-balance, and was pulled back onto someone. They wrapped their arms around her waist and hauled her to the ground, flattening her legs out into a "V" away from her body. She pulled at the arms, trying to stand back up.

"Shh.. Here, drink, " the voice said, as he offered her a canteen. He sounded concerned. She shoved him away. I have to get back up. She struggled against his arms, disturbed, as nothing she did seemed to affect him. The rumbling noise started again. It seemed like a lullaby, relaxing her, pulling her to lay back against him. They offered the canteen to her again, and she hastily accepted, took a sip, tasting the booze, and made a face.

Who has alcohol in the middle of a prison? She took another sip, humming softly to show her appreciation.

It doesn't taste bad, especially for booze bought on war pay. He chuckled at her response, good-natured. She offered the canteen to him, and he took it from her hands, and placed it to her left.

"Victor, leave her alone, will ya" . She didn't know there was anyone else in the cell besides her and this other man. She tensed, almost an instant response to other voices at this point. She didn't recognize the name, but "Victor" made no moves to release her, if anything, he held onto her waist tighter. The rumbling noise picked up a more dangerous edge, making her want to hide.

"I'm just keepin' the lady company, Jimmy. What's wrong with that," 'Victor' mocked.

"You know damn well what's wrong Vic', let the lady go." She shifted, like she was going to stand up. "Victor" tightened his grip on her waist, again, and slung an arm across her collarbone, pulling her to lean back more, so she was laying on his chest, and threw a leg over hers, placing his boot at her inner thigh, effectively pinning her. She heard him inhale through his nose.

"Well, now you're frightenin' the woman Jimmy," the rumble was beginning to sound like snarling at this point.

How did he know? Is my poker face that bad? She was starting to panic.

Is there a reason Victor is dangerous?

"Yah know, my name is Sarah," she heard herself mumble, softly.

Suddenly feeling quite uncomfortable at the silence that followed, she turned, ducking her head into the man's uniform undershirt. She felt her thigh quiver, and her arms shake, barely. The other man must have been making a face, but Victor tucked her braid behind her ear, and wrapped his uniform jacket over her.

"Oh hell, Vic'! You can't be flirtin' with Roger's girl. Are you tryin' to get shot? She is in charge of us, stupid," She couldn't be in charge of these gents. Surely she would notice two tanks accepting orders from a girl, with all the hollering that happens along with that anyway.

"Jimmy, I'm just keeping her company. 'Sides, she'll be more than inclined to stay here.."

"When she figures out who's screaming," 'Jimmy' finished.

Sarah's blood ran cold; She couldn't breathe. She started shaking violently.

It wasn't James. It can't be. She was panicking. She heard her voice begin to wheeze. Then, almost instantly, as soon as the panic attack started, the snarling sound went back into a deep rumble, and she felt a hand stroking her back. As her breathing steadied, unnaturally quickly for an attack, she heard the screaming pick up again. She hid her head against Victor's jacket, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. Her limbs clinged to the man pathetically.

I must look so stupid right now. She heard him inhale through his nose again, almost intently, and he stiffened.

"James, say sorry," He said sharply.

"You need to back off Victor. Let the lady go,"

Sarah heard footsteps, yanked Victor's limbs off her, throwing the jacket into the floor, and stood up quickly. The agents stopped at their cell. They didn't send Bucky back, she saw, and she started worrying again. The patrol looked at the trio.

"You. Come with me," he barked, pointing at Sarah. The rumbling she heard quickly whipped into a deafening roar. That could not be machinery, she decided. Before she could blink, or move, 'James' stalked forward, and pulled the man by the lapels towards himself, crashing the patrol's head into the enclosure bars, as Victor tugged her backward, cradling her between the chamber wall and himself, almost dipping into a crouch, with his back facing her.

"Listen here bub, " James started.

Victor cut him off. "Don't fucking try it."

The warden nodded rapidly, and after being dumped, scampered off.

What did the agents want from her? Her breath started to wheeze again. She closed her eyes, and started pacing her breath to the marching footsteps she heard. She felt someone take their arm under her knees, and the other around her shoulders, and pick her up. They spun her around so she was facing the back panel of the cell. She felt her bottom touch the ground, and they shifted in front of her before they inched her towards themselves. She felt the person in front of her set their arm around her waist, and she felt herself rest her head onto the person's chest, almost reaching his clavicle with them bowed over. She grabbed their arms, for comfort or grounding she couldn't tell. She felt her legs bent at the knee over their thighs and she couldn't find one part of her brain that cared how this looked.

"Wait.." she started, nervous. That last time she spoke, they nearly ripped each other's heads clean off.

"Hmm?" Jimmy moved so she could see him, to her side. He was kinda short, compared to most of the guys in her unit. Short hair presently arranged similar to her brother's, as in, not. His hair was parted loosely in the middle, with the two sides slanted, almost coming to double points, like ears.

Definitely not regulation, the military part of her brain chimed in. His uniform was rumpled, riddled with bullet holes, and at the torn collar, she could see fur jutting. There was a wide gash with stale blood in his uniform's sternum. He was obviously active, with a broad chest and thick base.

"Why are you two here," He stepped forward, so she was eye level with his knee. But he didn't speak first, scrutinizing her face for a long moment. She shifted, wary, and felt the deep insistent rumble take a dangerous edge.

"Oh," She exclaimed softly.