Chapter Text
You ran as fast as you could, your lungs gasping for air. You wished you could do what you were meant to do, take to the sky and fly away. But they had shot you, they had ruined the one perfection you had.
You kept running, but adrenaline could only work for so long. You looked behind you for a split second, and when you turned around, you toppled over a cliff and hit your head on a rock. And then saw nothing.
You woke up in a hospital bed, your head aching. As you looked around you saw a tall Korean woman in a lab coat. When she saw you were awake, she smiled, “Welcome back. You’re lucky I was in town, because Dr. Banner was taking a small vacation to do some research.”
You didn’t answer, not sure if you could trust them. Trying to raise your hands to clutch your aching head, when you realized they were stuck in manacles.
The door opened, and though it was quiet, you heard it. You saw four people walk in. A shorter redhead, whose eyes scanned you quickly. Behind her was a man with short brown hair and strange colorful glasses. He was tapping on a tablet of some kind. And behind them were two tall muscular men. One of them had short blonde hair and a clean-shaven face. The other- James.
You hid your shock, and shrunk into the covers, not knowing who these people were. If James was here, then this could all be another trick that HYDRA had pulled.
You noticed his left arm had changed. The red star was gone and where there was a silver metal, there was also black and gold mixed in.
They all looked among themselves, seeming to argue with their eyes, and then the women stepped forward, her eyes kind. But you had seen kind eyes before, and watched them turn black with hatred.
“Hey, we’re here to help you. We know what you’ve been through, and we want to help.”
Your eyes flashed between them before landing on James. His eyes had no recognition in them, as if you were a stranger.
“You need to tell us what you know. Why did HYDRA have you?”
You flinched at the name of the organization, and shrunk back as far as the manacles would let you. You felt the memories hit you like a wave. You bore a curse opposite to HYDRA’s Fist. You were forced to remember everything.
James put a hand on the woman’s shoulder, and she pulled back. You felt a feeling you hadn’t felt in years-Jealousy.
The blonde spoke up, “I know you’re scared. My name is Steve, this is Tony, Natasha, and James. We’re part of the Avengers and-.”
Your eyes widened in recognition and he stopped. You had been taught about the Avengers. You had been told exactly what to do with the Avengers. But you would not, you could not.
You refused.
James stepped forward, “I know what you’re feeling. Confusion and pain, anger and fear. HYDRA had me too. I don’t know what they told you about us, but...it’s not true.”
“I know who you are, Soldat.” you said, your voice hoarse from little use.
James flinched at the name, “I’m not him anymore. I’m free from that.”
“Are we ever free?”
You regretted it as soon as you said it, feeling the pain roll off him. You wished you could take it back, you wished you could take away his pain.
He didn’t remember you, and you wished you could share the same curse as him. Because if he didn’t remember you, you had nothing left.