The Asset stood like a spectral figure amidst the aftermath, a black mask obscuring his mouth, its contours blending seamlessly into the shadows that veiled his eyes. Around those piercing blue orbs, black paint formed a mystic shroud, lending an otherworldly aura to his visage. His brown hair mane cascaded down broad shoulders, framing a face etched with chilling resolve.
His eyes, windows to a soul hardened by relentless missions, held a chilling emptiness—a gaze devoid of warmth or remorse, akin to the precision of a mechanical entity executing its programmed directives. In the eerie silence that enveloped the room, his presence loomed with an unsettling stillness, contrasting starkly with the chaos that surrounded his bloodied victim while his metal hand was completely soaked dripping blood.
Steve coughed weakly, blood spurting from his lips as he struggled to breathe. His once regal shield lay shattered, stained with blood, a stark contrast to his torn and bloodied suit—a testament to his refusal to raise arms against the one he loved. Defeated, he lay sprawled on the ground, tears filling his eyes as he gazed up at the Winter Soldier.
"Bucky...Bucky...please...you know me..it's me...Steve...please...I know you are there...fight it, Bucky...please...I love you", he wheezed out with blood.
The Winter Solider continues staring at him coldly with haunting eyes.
The Asset is unfamiliarity to you.
The Asset has no such identification.
The Asset mission to exterminate.
The Asset is subject to the complete mission.
Steve's tears were mingled with the blood as he cried hearing his words and the way he talked. "Bucky...please...I love you. Come back to me...I love you, James Buchanan Barnes. Please...I love you"
The Asset is the unfamiliarity of the mission.
The Asset has the unfamiliarity of love.
Steve wept, his trembling hand outstretched towards his friend. Suddenly, his expression twisted in terror as he felt the icy grip of the cruel, frozen metal hand closing around his throat, tightening with each agonizing second. He did not attempt to resist or fight back, only meeting his gaze with a weak smile as the grip tightened around his throat.
"I'm sorry...it's all...my...fault...I failed you...but...remember I...love...you...till the end of the–", the heroic super soldier was dead in seconds by the shift movement of the metal that snapped his neck.
The Hydra asset coldly gazed at the dead body.
Mission complete.
Hail Hydra.
Fear gripped him completely as he woke abruptly, gasping for air. His breaths came in desperate, rapid bursts, each one a piercing ache in his chest. Sweat dripped down his forehead and over his exposed chest, his body shaking with the effort to breathe. The blanket was tangled off him, the pillow torn in his distress. Exhausted and trembling, he lay frozen in the darkness of his bedroom, the faint glow of a lamp casting a feeble light on the nightstand. Fear and fatigue held him immobile as he continued to pant heavily.
Awakened, Steve gently rested his hand on the sweaty, scarred, yet healed shoulder. "Bucky, darling"
He startled at the first touch on his bare skin, turning swiftly with choppy, labored breaths still escaping him. As he turned, he recognized a familiar figure holding him close, the voice slowly registering in his ears.
"Shh, shh, Bucky. It's okay, honey. It's all right, doll. I'm here. It was just a dream, Bucky. It was just a dream"
He continued to pant heavily, his eyes blinking with exhaustion and sweat, feeling his lover's gentle touch on his bare chest. He intuitively reached for it with his metal hand, ready to pull it away, but froze as he locked eyes with the familiar and angelic face of his soldier.
"I'm here, doll. You are safe, Bucky", Steve whispered soothingly to calm him down.
Bucky continued to pant heavily, his gaze darting around the darkened bedroom. He could make out only his beloved, the dresser, closet, the off TV, nightstand with its lamp and clock that showed the time of 4 a.m. Turning to his side of the bed, he noticed the lamp was off, beside it were his bottles of pills and the shield resting against the wall above their heads. Steve frowned, observing Bucky in this distressed state. He gently cupped Bucky's face, guiding it back onto the pillow so he could meet his gaze again.
"Bucky, Bucky, doll. Baby, babe, look at me. Look at me. It's all right. You are safe. It was just a dream, Bucky", Steve softly said with his hand stroking the sweaty face.
Bucky continued to pant, but his breaths gradually slowed and began to calm, but he gasped in fear feeling arms slowly enveloping him. "Shh, easy, doll. Baby, calm down. Calm, Bucky. I got you", Steve murmured, pulling him close. Bucky urgently and tightly grabbed his nightshirt while panting as he continued hearing Steve gently shushing him. "It's just a dream, doll, I got you. I got you"
Bucky tentatively pressed his face against Steve's chest, feeling the reassuring rhythm of his strong and vibrant heartbeat. A low groan escaped him as he stared into Steve's eyes, tentatively rested his hand on his cheek feeling Steve kiss his palm, he lets out a deep sigh of relief. "Steve..."
"Shh, my baby. I got you, my love"
Bucky let out calming breaths as he gripped Steve's shirt, pulling him as close as possible. "Steve...", he sighed saying his name again soothed as having him there.
"Shh, darling. It was all a dream. It's over. It's over"
"I'm...sorry...I woke you up", Bucky said weakly. He felt a gentle warm kiss on the center of his forehead in return.
"Go back to sleep, Bucky. Get some rest", Steve smiled taking his hand, gliding across his brown locks and the other stroking the metal arm. Bucky lets out a moan. "Go back to sleep"
"I'm trying. I promise...I'm trying..." Bucky gasped desperately, his words punctuated by deep breaths as he squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face in Steve's chest, seeking solace and struggling to calm himself. Steve gazed at him with unwavering patience, gently soothing him toward sleep.
"Shh, shh. Easy, Bucky, easy"
"Just...just..." Bucky swallowed hard, suppressing the haunting memory that clenched his stomach like a vice. "...please, don't leave me alone," he pleaded softly, his voice drained. Bucky continued to pant, focusing on calming his lungs and trembling body.
Steve didn't reply, only held him closer and kissed him again, making a deep kiss on his forehead and hearing Bucky let out a gasp. "Easy, baby doll. I am here. Go back to sleep. I'll be right here"
Bucky lets out a few more pants then a deep sigh and moments later, finally, he is silent.
"That's it, my love. There, there, Bucky", Steve whispered with a smile then kissed his forehead again. "I will never leave you, James Buchanan Barnes. Never. I promise", He vowed silently, gazing at the serene sleeping face of his friend. Steve tenderly retrieved Bucky's abandoned blanket, wrapping it snugly around him as he held him close.
He then heard the phone vibrate from behind on the nightstand. He grabbed it without waking him up and smiled at the text.
S: Hiya. Is he all right now?
Steve smiling taps on the keyboard and sends the message.
S: He is fine now. Just went back to sleep.
S: 🙂
N: Are you sure he's okay now?
Steve texted the message.
S: He is fine now.
N: 🙂
C: You sure he's good?
S: I'm positive.
T: On my way to the kitchen for a snack. You want anything?
S: No. I am fine. We are both fine.
S, N, C, T: Good night. See you in the morning. 🙂
Good night see you in the morning. 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
Steve smiled as he carefully put his phone back on the nightstand and gazed at his sleeping Bucky. He kissed him on the nose before closing his eyes while holding him close.
"Good night, Bucky. I'll see you in the morning"