Chapter 10
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You and Steve sat down on your brother's bed. You waited patiently for the Captain to gather his thoughts as he opened and closed his mouth a few times and gave himself a nice fauxhawk running his hand through his hair so much. Finally, he spoke.
“Daemon's the oldest of four. Two minutes older than, Li, and a year older than his other two sisters. They were twins too.
Daemon and Li though, they were born barely alive. They were tiny and blind, doctors didn't expect to live long. Gave 'em a year at the most. Explains why he had siblings."
Steve's entire demeanor turned icy and you held your breath in preparation for his controlled anger.
“Of course, they survived their first year. Then their second. Then their third. By their fourth, their, Ma, was prepared to murder 'em and their, Pop, was, understandably, too scared of his wife to do anything. They were close soul mates. Divorce from that kind of relationship was unheard of back then."
You were about to question what, Steve meant by “back then" since the Major couldn't have been any older than twenty five, but, Steve, tapped his head and you raised an eyebrow before realising that Daemon's father could more than likely hear every horrible thought in his soul mate's head. You swallowed your question and nodded for the Captain to continue.
“Their father had inherited a nice sized business two years before they born and was makin' decent money so it seemed logical to make a family, have someone to take over the business in the future.
What they got was a huge burden. Their, Pop, loved 'em more than anything the moment he could safely hold his firstborns, but their, Ma, was disgusted with the amount of her money was being spent on the best medical care at the time for those two."
Steve shook his head in disgust as you turned up your nose at the image of the woman he was painting for you.
“Their old man is probably the reason they lived so long because he could hold the money he was making over the wife's head. He agreed to her demand that they try again though.
What they got this time was two healthy baby girls. Once again their, Pop, was over the moon, but he never once neglected Daemon or Li. Their, Ma, was pissed though. She wanted strong, successful sons and the only boy she had would barely be able to walk.
“Go foward three years. Daemon and Li were still alive and still seen as too high a fianacial burden. The twin girls healthy though, but their, Ma, was just so full of hate it was starting to weigh down on everyone. It came to a boiling point when the Depression hit on Daemon and Li's birthday of all days and their, Pop, lost the business a month later. Suddenly, the family was poor and their, Ma, was fully convinced that her firstborns were demon spawns. Li's words not mine."
“Depression?!" you exclaimed, unable to hold back surprise.
“Yeah, Li is-was seven years younger than me. For real."
You blinked for a couple seconds before deciding that was a story for another day and told, Steve, to keep going.
“Their, Pop, used every bit of money he could t' take care of his babies and one day their, Ma, had enough of being second rate so she sold 'em to someone who was paying a good amount for children to participate in a vitamin supplements study.
Of course, that was a bullshit cover for HYDRA. That was the last time they were with their family.
They never knew anything but pain and orders after that. They were experimented on until Daemon's DNA mutated at fifteen and then that's when he an Li were separated. Her body refused to cooperate so after, Daemon, was successful they threw my baby girl out in the street...That's the first time I met her...all beaten to hell..."
The Captain went a dangerous shade of red and his fists clenched at memories that were irrelevant right now if you wanted to keep your head on straight. You put a hand on his back and he jumped, snapping out of his rage.
“Steve, focus," you asked.
He blinked a few times before shaking his head again and nodding, but anger still blazed in his blue eyes.
“Right, sorry. I fought him a few times before I got myself frozen, and he's the closest besides, Bucky, that's come to killing me. He's perfect in combat in everyway and it's kinda terrifying.
Li didn't catch back up to him for another decade at that point they worked together and were the best of the best in the place. Daemon could literally make you disappear, Li, could get in your head. They became a package deal though so he's genuinely torn up about...even if he isn't serious about your brother."
You looked down, thinking about, Travis. He was so excited when he called to tell you about getting engaged to the man of his dreams that you almost forgave him for not telling you that he met his soul mate in the first place. Now, you had to ruin that happiness...
You blinked out of your head when you felt, Steve, pat your knee. You looked up at him and he finished his story with a sad smile.
“It ends with me being the dick, Li, ran off with. She tried to get, Daemon, to come with her a three years back, but this current plan was already in action."
“Could-," you began.
“-you please explain what you're doing in our room?"
Yours and Steve's eyes widened a bit at the sound of the person you were talking about. You looked at the door and, Daemon, was carrying your sleeping brother in his arms while glaring at you and, especially, the Captain suspiciously.
“We were just-!" you started again.
“There you guys are! Found any embarrassing pictures of, Travis, yet? I- oh hey, D."
Bucky came up behind Li's brother. The supersoldier was red from the cold outside and snow was still melting off of him. He looked between you and his platonic soul mate to see how he could help you two with bullshitting your way out of this awkward situation. A vein in Daemon's temple twitched.
“It's, Daemon!"
Bucky held up his hands in apology, but you could see the little shit gleam in his eyes as he turned attention back to you.
“I didn't find any in the garage," he continued, “But it looks like I was the only one looking!"
Steve jumped up and you followed suit, taking the hint. You two made your way to the door, but, Daemon, was still squinty eyed. You thanked the man upstairs that he didn't get telepathy.
“We got a little side tracked," you laughed nervously, “Let's try somewhere else now."
You quickly closed the door in Daemon's face and leaned against the wall next to it. Bucky was still scowling so, Steve, let out a small laugh to try and diffuse the tension. Bucky, folded his arms and frowned.
“Some secret agents you two are!" he scolded, “How did you get caught?!"
You mirrored your soldier.
“In our defense we didn't have our third guy!" you snapped, “Where were you?!"
Bucky looked down, shoving his hands in his pockets and shrugging his shoulders. You softened up a bit at his disgusted with himself expression.
“I needed to clear my head. Walk something off," he said.
“Was my kissing skills really that bad?" you teased.
Bucky looked up at you with his eyes so intense that you could feel your face go a thousand degrees and yourself melting. You must have looked as flushed as you felt, because he lightened up on the stare and smiled sadly, shaking his head. He turned to, Steve.
Or he would have if the Captain was still there.
“Where'd he go?" you asked.
Bucky's eyebrows were furrowed, presumably searching for his friend via soul bond. After a long two minutes, the supersoldier shook his head.
“I dunno," he sighed, “But I don't like him being alone right now."
You wrapped around your soul mate and laid your head on his back with each of your hands resting on one of his.
“He's a big boy now, Bucky bear. Let him “walk something off'."
Bucky stiffened for a moment before relaxing into you.
“Fine. But we're making our boy talk."
“Oh, how the turntables have tabled."
“What?"
“Nothing! Let's catch you up on Big D."