<<<<<<< rewind <<<<<<<
You ran as fast as you could. Branches from the trees around you tore into your skin. You pulled off wires as you ran, ripping layers of skin off as they left your body. The branches and thorns adding more cuts to your already damaged body.
You finally got to a clear road and doubled over, trying to catch your breath. Bright headlights lit up with road in front of you.
You tried to stand but it was worthless. You tried a second time, but your elbows wobbled under your weight and gave up. You face planted the road, again. A new graze to your forehead adding to the many others littering your body.
The vehicle screeched to a stop near your head. You could smell the rubber off the tires near your head. Opening your eyes as much as you could, you could see one wheel near you.
You searched the rest of the vehicle and noticed from the blur if your tearful eyes it was a motorbike. Unable to hold them open any longer, you closed your eyes and lay your head on the cold tarmac, waiting for whatever was going to happen next.
"Hey! Hey!" A male voice in your ear.
A strong hand wrapped around you, pulling you up and leaning against his chest. "Hey, what's your name? Can you hear me?" His hand grazed your cheek.
"Y/N" you whispered out, eyes still closed but you got a new smell; leather, pine and a hint of soft vanilla. It felt safe.
His one hand left your body and you could feel him moving underneath you, "Stark, I'm gonna need some help. Bring a van for the bike."
He dropped whatever he spoke in beside you, clattering on the ground. You guessed a phone. "Hey Y/N. I'm Bucky."
His voice was soft yet raspy, like there was an urgency about him. A hint of a Brooklyn twang, a Brooklyn swag, about his voice made you smile.
You blinked a few times, frowning to get a clear view of his face. His hair was slightly longer than what you were used to. Stubble grazed his face, again something you were not used to. You couldn't make much more out from under your heavy eyelids.
You lifted your hand to feel the stubble. You grazed it slightly, a smile appearing on his lips. "Bucky? That's a stupid name." You mumbled, dropping your hand on to your stomach, unable to hold it up any longer.
Bucky laughed, "I guess it is." His arms wrapped tighter around you, holding every bit of you close to him.
His body was much bigger than yours. You felt like a tiny ant in his hold, but so safe for the first time in a long time. Longer than you could remember.
You felt as if this was it, you were finally safe. And your body knew it. It slowly shut down and you were unable to stay awake for much longer.
You jolted awake with the sound of another vehicle arriving and metal door sliding open with a clang.
"Come here." Another voice.
You didn't like this one. It didn't sound safe. It sounded authoritative and demanding. It sounded like the ones you were used to; those people. The people who hurt you and jabbed you day in, day out.
Bucky stood and you felt his grip loosen as another pair of arms started to take you.
"No. No! NO!" You shouted and grabbed hold around Buckys neck harder and tighter, "Please no! Please don't hand me back! Bucky, please!" You sobbed uncontrollably into his chest.
"OK. OK. It's OK." Bucky held onto you tighter, moving back from whoever he was going to hand you over to. "Y/N, I got you. I won't let you go." He whispered in your ear.
"I'll take her on. I'll sit in the back with her." He spoke louder to whoever he was with.
Bucky started walking and you could feel him step into the van. He sat down, still holding you close.
"I got you. I won't let you go." He repeated in a whisper as the van doors closed with a bang and click, and the van started to drive. "But, you have needles sticking out of you. I need you to be careful. I don't want to take them out, just in case."
You nodded against him, feeling his hold tighten as one hand stroked your thigh, slowly calming you down and lulling you into a sleep you didn't know you needed.
—
You opened your eyes to pure white, bright lights all around you. White walls and ceilings. Your heart started thumping, your palms sweaty, and you panicked.
You were back there.
You jumped off the cold metal bed you were lying on and screamed at everyone around you, "STAY AWAY!" You pulled more wires off you; off your head, your arms, legs... everywhere.
You backed up to a wall, trying to get away from everyone around you. There were two other people in the room with you, "STAY AWAY FROM ME!"
"OK. OK. Please, we're not going to hurt you." The same voice from the van. He was older. Beard and dark hair. A jacket nearly covering his chest but you could see what seemed to be a light on his chest.
"Where's Bucky?" You asked calmly, holding onto the wall for support.
"WHERE IS HE!?" You screamed, tears started to roll down your face. "I need him! Please!" You sobbed as you sank to the floor.
You had never felt so helpless. You never thought you'd be the type to call for her knight in shining armour to come rescue her. But that was then. This is now.
And now, now you just want to be safe.
"FRIDAY, get Mr Barnes here. Now."
Certainly sir.
The voice came from nowhere. You looked around, trying to work out what made the noise.
The room was different from your usual one. You were now able to focus a bit more and they weren't white walls, just bright lights reflecting off glass. You saw hallways and rooms, just like this one. You continued to sob as you took in your surroundings. Computers hummed and screens flashed with many different lights.
It was quiet in your room.
This one was noisy.
A door opened beside you. You whipped your head round to see who had entered. They knelt down beside you and smiled. "Hey Y/N" he smiled, "you called?" Long hair. Stubble.
"Bucky?" He nodded. "Where am I? What's going on?" Your sobs got louder as you spoke.
"Hey, hey, hey" he soothed, moving closer and wrapping an arm around your shoulder.
You fell into his chest and his other arm wrapped around you too. You caught sight of this arm, metal shining in the light. This arm held you that little bit tighter. And it made you feel safe.
You sobbed into his chest as he held on to you, "It's OK. It's all OK." He kissed you gently on top of the head, "they're here to help."
You shook your head and pushed away from him, "No. No I can't." Your breathing jaggered as you got out of Buckys hold.
"Wires.... needles... information... I can't. I can't do it!" You stuttered as you managed to get to your feet and backed away from them all. "I can't do it. It hurts! Everything hurts!" You sobbed again, holding your head as you tried to understand what was going on.
"OK!" Bucky shouted over, calmly. You looked up to see he was on his feet, stepping towards you.
"You don't have to. I'll take you to your room. Just sleep. That's all. We won't stay in here. I promise." He held out his hand for you to take. "Right, Tony?" He turned to the man that had spoken early.
"Well, we're still unsure what has happened -"
"RIGHT, Tony?" Bucky said a little more forceful this time. Tony nodded, but he didn't look happy with the idea.
"Come on. I'll take you." His hand still outstretched for you.
You stared at it, unsure what to do. Would he just take you back to that table? Stick more needles into you? Experiment?
"Please." Buckys voice begged you this time. You looked up into his eyes, seeing the pain behind them. Your hand shakily reached out and placed into his. "Thank you." He smiled.
You hadn't taken in his smile last time. It was so pure. You had never seen a smile like this one before. This also made you feel safe. This man was safe.