I sat on the couch in the living room as Tony and Bruce whispered to each other. I just stared ahead. The images from getting my memories wiped hit me harder then anything. Why out of all the things to remember was that? I didn't mean to freak out. I was just scared.
Tony walked over to me and plopped himself on the couch. I just sat in silence pulling the blanket around me closer. Cocooning myself in its warm protection. Tony shifted awkwardly trying to figure out what to say. I could see in the corner of my eye he was holding two bowls.
"I'm sorry, kid. I didn't mean to scare you like that." He said quietly. I looked over to him. I could see the pain on his face. He really did feel bad. He held a bowl in front of him. I looked down and noticed it was filled with chocolate ice cream. "You want some?"
I gave a small smile and nodded and grabbed the bowl. The cold shifting through the glass hit my hand and sent a shiver up my arm. In that second a sharp pain hit my head. The image of a silver arm grabbing my hand softly appeared in front of me. I twitched my head as the image disappeared along with the pain. That was the Winter Soldier hand...but what was happening?
I shook it off as I took a bite of of the ice cream. Before we could get comfortable the bell to the elevator dinged. Both Tony and I looked over at the same time as the doors opened. Steve walked in carrying a huge box in his hand. He walked into the room fully and paused.
He stared as if he was a little disturbed. "You both are so alike sometimes its concerning."
I looked at him confused. I turned to Tony as he sat exactly as I was. Bowl in one hand, spoon hanging in mouth, legs crossed on the couch. I pulled the spoon out of my mouth and let out a small smile.
Steve walked up and slammed the box onto the coffee table. I looked at it as he opened it up. There were news paper article, files, pictures, trinkets all piled into the box. Tony raised his eyebrow up.
"If she cant show us, then we show her." Steve said. Tony nodded realizing it was a good idea as I seemed a little nervous. What if this didn't work. What if nothing worked. Tony quickly got up as he took both our empty bowls.
"Well I'll leave you kids to it." Tony said quickly. He dumped the bowls into the sink ahead of us before turning again a sly smile on his face. "Well...kid and grandpa." He walked out of the room as Steve shook his head and glared.
"What an ass." He said quietly. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. Steve looked over to me with a bright smile. "I haven't heard you laugh in a long time."
I let out a small smile. He was right. I couldn't remember the last time I laughed. Steve nodded before grabbing things out of the box.
One by one he showed me pictures and old files. Some old pictures from back in the 1940's. He explained everything. How we met, why I went back in time. The files he showed me told me of all the mission I had gone on. Everything I needed to know about my time with Shield. My time before that. Shield kept extensive file on their agents.
Steve would smile with every story. His past and mine. I loved hearing about it. However none of it was bringing anything back. They just sounded like nice stories. I looked down at the ground as he pulled out the last thing in the box. He looked closely at it as a sad smile landed on his face. I was felt like nothing was going to work.
He held the picture tightly before handing it to me. I looked closely at it as I looked at the man in the picture. He was young with slicked back hair. A beautiful smile. I had seen him before. I knew him. The picture was black and white however, looking at him it was like I knew every detail. The color of his eyes, his hair, how pink his cheeks got when embarrassed. I traced my hand over the picture following the lines of his face. It was familiar.
"This man here was my best friend. His name was-"
"Bucky..." I whispered. Steve turned to me as his face dropped. I just continued to look at the picture. A smile landed on Steve's face. Happy that I had finally spoke.
Suddenly, it was like something in my brain clicked. Like a box was unlocked. All a once images flipped through my head. It was like a fast moving flip book. My parents. Learning to ride a bike for the first time. Gaining my powers and losing my parents. It all came back. All at once. The final image ended with Bucky smiling at me.
Its you and me. Us...forever.
I grabbed my head as the pain started. It was all too much. I felt I was in overload. I grabbed it as I began to scream. Steve was yelling and holding on to me however anything he was saying was muffled. The pain was unbearable. I felt as if I wanted to die. I heard Tony and Bruce walk into the room. I tried to focus my eyes but the images kept coming.
Me waiting on Bucky during his missions with Steve. Secret kiss between the missions. Sneaking off when we could. Us fighting against Hydra agents on a train. Me losing him on that final mission. Everything came back and ended to me seeing Steve again and finally getting me that drink he owed me.
The pain subsided as I felt my body become weak. I tried to stand back up, holding onto Steve's arm. My eyes were still blurring as everything around me began to fade into darkness. I felt my knees buckle under me as I passed out.
✪✪✪
My eyes fluttered open as the sound of beeping filled the silence around me. I squeezed my eyes tightly and opened them as they focused. I groaned mentally as I thought I ended up back in the hospital. I turned my head slowly, my head still slightly throbbing. I looked over to see Steve reading a book. He looked at it intensely. I couldn't help but smile.
He noticed me shifting and quickly stood up. He walked over to the bed and grabbed my hand. He looked at me concerningly but also happy.
"Layla, you're finally up." He said with a sigh of relief.
"Hey Super Soldier." My voice was horse. Probably from all the screaming earlier after not talking for a while. Steve's eyes widened I wasn't sure if it was because I finally spoke or because I finally remembered. He smiled brightly nodding his head.
"Voice and memories back it looks like." He said. I let out a slight chuckle.
"I'm sorry if I scared you." I said quietly. I squeezed his hand.
"Just glad you're okay."
I took my hand away as I tucked them beside me. I began to lift myself up a bit. I loud groan escaping my mouth. Steve walked up closer and set his hands around me helping me up. My brain felt like mush. twenty three years of memories flooding back all at once I guess could do that. I squeezed my eyes closed again as I leaned my back against the board of the bed. A loud sigh escaping my lips.
"How long was I out this time?" I asked.
"Just two days." Another voice answered as the door opened. I looked over as Tony and Bruce walked in. Both carrying large smile on their face.
"Ahh, she speaks" Tony said sarcastically as he raised his eyebrows up. I let out a small smile as I looked over at them. I was guessing I was still in the Avengers tower if it was just them three in here.
"I'll go get you some water." Steve stood up quickly. I nodded as he walked out of the room. Bruce looked over at me, almost carrying a twinkle in his eyes.
"I'll go get the rest of the equipment. So we can run some test." He said as he followed behind. Before he could walk out he quickly "Oh and welcome back Layla."
I smiled again and nodded slightly. Tony walked around the room with his arms tucked behind his back. I followed him as he walked to the monitor and looked at it.
"Jarvis, how's Layla's vitals?" He asked.
"Everything seems to be good now, sir." The English accent answered above the room. He turned to me giving me his usual thin friendly smile.
"They forget he's here. Useful and no need to run any testing." He said as he shut the monitor off. "That was annoying me." My eyes followed as he walked back around the bed and sat into Steve's seat. He leaned forward and rested his hands onto my bed.
"So, memories back. Voice back. Everything seems normal in my eyes." He continued. I could tell he was just trying to fill the silence, "You gave me a bit of a scare kid. I mean I've heard you scream every night from your nightmares but that-"
"Tony." I spoke quietly cutting him off. I quickly grabbed his hands into mine. I let out a soft smile. "Thank you."
He smiled a true and genuine smile this time. He moved one of his hands on top of mine and squeezed it.
"I'm glad to have you fully here now kid." He replied.