Reunion Pt.1
They arrived at the tower and managed to avoid the paparazzi always waiting outside. They snuck Angelique in through the indoor parking garage and then used the private elevator to make their way up. No one said a word but Steve could see from the corner of his eye how Angelique stayed relatively close to Bucky and how he smiled at her.
Steve sighed which caught Natasha's attention. She looked at him questioningly sensing that something was bothering the Captain but knew better than to corner him now and ask. Once they were alone, Natasha would strike, but as for now they had to get through with the rest of the team.
"You might find some resistance from a few members of our team," Bucky tells her as the elevator door opens. "Don't worry about them, ok? Steve, Natasha, and I are here for you."
She just smiled at him and nods. They could all see the genuine fear she had. Even though they were the good guys, they could understand the apprehension she had for something unfamiliar.
They all walk out of the elevator and make their way down the hall to the main common room. Everyone was seated around the couch and once they saw Steve and Natasha, they all turned around. Bucky was the next to walk into the room with Angelique right behind him. Pietro stood up as she entered the room. Her eyes scanned the room, momentarily glancing at Pietro, before turning to look at Bucky.
"Am I safe with them?" she asks him.
Bucky nods at her and she turns once again to the crowd. They all stared at her blankly, as if they expected her to attack them. She didn't know what to do but the soldier's encouraging nod gave her enough confidence to make the first step.
"I recognize some of you from the television and magazines," she states looking at every one. "They call you heroes."
"Some are more heroes than others," Natasha says as she takes a seat beside Bruce.
"Even so, you're still heroes." She responds. "Thank you for helping me out of there."
Wanda scoffs and she turns to her confused. Before she could ask if something was wrong, Pietro catches her attention.
"Ignore my sister," Pietro tells her. "She has no manners."
Her eyes land on him and she narrows them slightly. Pietro takes this as a sign of remembrance and takes a leap of faith.
"Do you remember me, Ангел?"
She glances at Bucky, surprised that he spoke Bulgarian. Bucky just smiled at her, nodding to say that he was one of the good guys, before turning back to the silver-haired man in front of her.
"I'm still remembering things," she tells him. "I'm sorry."
Pietro tries to hide the slight hurt on his face but everyone can see the disappointment.
"He was incarcerated by Hydra," Bucky tells her. "He and his sister."
She glances at the twins and nods in understanding.
"They weren't captivated as long as we were," Bucky explains to her. "Never got cryo'd or wiped."
"You're lucky then," she tells them sincerely. "It's a horrible experience."
"Not as bad as the one you put us in," Wanda sneers.
"Excuse me?" she asks confused.
"Wanda, let it go." Steve orders.
She wanted to ask more about what Wanda said but the conversation moved on from that. Steve looked up at her and gave her a sympathetic smile.
"It's been a long night," Steve tells everyone. "We should all get some rest before facing the aftermath of tonight's mission."
Everyone starts to leave the room, glancing a look at the new recruit. She looks away from their stares and instead looks down at her hands.
"Angelique?" Steve calls out to her.
She looks up at the Captain and smiles at him, taking notice of the other two men beside him.
"Tomorrow morning, you'll be physically evaluated by Dr. Banner." Steve tells her motioning to the man with glasses. "Afterwards, Sam here will do a psychological evaluation." The other man waves at her and she smiles uneasily at him. "It's simple protocol. Nothing to worry about."
"Is there anything else I have to do?" she asks him.
"Not that I can think of right now," Steve tells her. "But... in case you remember something that you believe is important tell me or Bucky... actually any one of us."
She nods at this and Steve takes his leave. Only the soldier was left behind and he motioned her to follow him. Bucky takes her to the stairs and leads her down a level. They enter another common room, smaller than the one from before. It's simpler, there's no television, just bookcases filled with books and a record player in the corner.
"I occupy this level," Bucky tells her. "Your room is this way."
Bucky then leads her down another hallway and motions to the door across from his.
"This is your room." Bucky says as he opens it for her. "It's right across from mine so if you need anything, you can just knock and I'll be there."
She switches the light on and takes a sight of the furnished apartment. She takes a quick look before turning back to him.
"Thank you, Soldat."
Bucky waves her hand at her as he hears the old title.
"You don't have to call me that," Bucky tells her. "Everyone calls me Bucky."
"Bucky?" she says with a wrinkle of her nose. Bucky couldn't help but chuckle at her.
"Or you can call me James if you like." Bucky offers to her mindlessly. He doesn't realize what he's done and quickly backtracks. "Umm... but I haven't been called that since... well since forever."
"James," she states, the name rolling of her tongue easily. "James sounds nice. You look like a James."
Bucky couldn't help but smile genuinely at that. Part of him slightly relieved which confused him.
"I guess I should let you rest," Bucky says as he caught himself staying there more than he should. "There should be some extra clothes you can change into in your closet. Jarvis will wake you up in the morning."
"Who's Jarvis?" she asks him.
"You'll find out tomorrow." Bucky says smiling at her. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight James," she says before he pulls the door closed.
**************
"You're worried." Natasha points out as she walks into the main kitchen. Steve was making some tea for himself before he headed to bed. He should have known that Natasha would have cornered him as soon as she could. The spy could read him better than he can.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Steve responds as he tries to walk around her. Natasha blocks his way and he just sighs.
"You're worried about them," Natasha states. "Worried what she might do to him."
"That's not..." Steve tries to deflect but Natasha knew better.
"She needs the same kind of help that Bucky got when he moved in here." Natasha tells him. "She's not going to jump into any kind of relationship right now. Not when she doesn't even know who she is."
"How can you be so sure about this?" Steve asks her. "The way they act each other... their minds might not remember, but their bodies do."
"Oh please, Steve." Natasha says with a roll of her eyes. "She could barely greet everyone today, you can't actually think she'll jump into a sexual relationship."
"Jeez Nat," Steve hisses out, making a face. "I'm just concerned if they jump into any kind of relationship. Bucky promised me he wouldn't but..."
"Well Bucky promised you he wouldn't so I think you should trust him to keep his word." Natasha tells him as she cuts him off.
"But you saw how they were on the way here," Steve argues. "Something clicked for them."
"Yeah, maybe the fact that Hydra kept them both like weapons in an arsenal." Natasha states. "Steve, you have to realize that from everyone in this building, Bucky will have more things in common with Angelique, and vice versa. They will have to trust each other, confide in things with one another. You can't stop that."
"I know," Steve sighs out. "I just... I'm just having a hard time letting my best friend go like that."
"He's a grown man, Steve." Natasha tells him. "I think it's time you start treating him like one."
**************
Their dreams were plagued by the same nightmares. Being strapped down, mouth guard forced into their mouths, and a blinding wave of pain forced into their minds. Their screams were muffled but the pain was evident through their eyes. It wasn't the first time they've had these dreams and it most likely won't be the last time.
She was being pulled out of the wiping machine. Her knees hit the cold cement floor because her mind could barely register the movement of her legs. The guards ripped her off the floor and started to drag her out of the room. That was when she first saw him. The man being dragged in the same way she was. She could feel the still cool air leaving his skin, her mind recognizing it as a sign that he was just out of cryo.
His eyes would look up to her. Glazed over, no emotions. She stared back at him with the same look. They were too mindless to voice out a hello. The passing guards quickly blocked her view from him. Russian words exchanged in how they always alternate which asset gets to go out; the rarity of them both being in cryo together or out in a mission.
Her head drooped low, hair falling on her face. She didn't have to turn around and look to know that the man she had just passed had started to fight. She could hear the grunts and the curses. It took two hits from the guard to shut him up and she felt something. For the first time that she could remember, she felt something.
If a broken man can fight, then so can she. It was too late for her to do anything. The tubes and restraints were being forced onto her, but the next time she had the chance, she would fight. The cool air starts to fill inside the capsule and she closed her eyes. She clung to this small flame of hope in her chest, hoping that the ice on her skin wouldn't blow it out.
She woke up, clutching at the sheets, a light sweat on her skin. She sighed and rolled herself onto her stomach, letting her wings expand freely off her back. It always brought her relief to have them out. Her big black wings encompassing her small body made her feel safe. No one can take away this small little haven of hers.
Having this room by herself, not worried that any guards would just walk in, it put her mind to ease. The monstrosities of her wings could be free in here and she wouldn't have to constrain herself. Beside her wings, this room she was given was another area of pure safety. Outside her room was another question.
She could see the certain scorn and mistrust from the others. She didn't even have to touch them to know what they were thinking about her. If she even dare to show them her wings, it would only feed their hate. Alec told her that her wings were hideous and an ugly thing for any normal person to see. She knew that he wasn't lying about this so she knew that she had to keep them a secret. No one could know this part of herself.
Her wings curl up against her, providing warmth in the cold room. Sleep came to her once more and this time she dreamt of flying.
He was falling.
The cryo chamber doors open and he falls to his knees before his face hits the floor. He's too cold to feel any pain. He's barely clinging to consciousness to know what just happened to him. In one blink, he's being dragged. His boots dragging on the cement floor making a heavy noise. The two guards grunt as they carry him out, cursing in Russian about how heavy he was. The guards lead him out of the doors where Bucky is blinded by pure white light.
It takes a couple of more blinks before Bucky's eyes adjust to the lighting. It didn't help that his long, untamed hair was covering his sight as well. He shakes the strands away and notices that he wasn't alone in the hallway and that this wasn't the first time it's happened.
The woman looked just like him. Pale, lost, and being dragged by two guards. Their eyes catch each other, some sort of silent greeting between comrades. She no longer has the strength to keep her head up and her eyes are gone. She passes by him and that was that.
The guards start leading him to similar doors and that's when he realizes what's about to happen. He knows he's too weak to fight them but he tries anyways. He manages to shove one guard to the wall, causing his body to drop to the ground. The shoved guard grows angrier than he already was, takes out his baton and strikes him twice on the back. He doesn't have enough strength to defend himself so he just remains down on the floor.
The other guard curses at the other one and before he knew it, he's being carried again. There's more blinding lights as he steps into the room. The dreaded machine was in the middle and people were waiting around for him. The guards shove him in the seat and the cycle is once again repeated.
Bucky forces himself awake and can feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest. It's been a while since he've had one of these dreams but facing some aspect of Hydra reminded him of those dark days. He couldn't really blame her. It wasn't her fault that Hydra recruited who knows when and how. It wasn't her fault that she was wiped and frozen countless times. She wasn't Hydra. She was no longer a part of Hydra.
Bucky kept telling himself this until his heart calmed down.
He wasn't Hydra. He was no longer a part of Hydra.
He continued saying until his eyes started to shut close and sleep came to claim him. Dreams of ice rinks and young girls skating filled his mind. His memories returned in his sleep but this time they were filled with good.