“Alright, we have time to clean up then possibly some puzzles or something to wait for our pizza to finish. Would you like to play anything little one?” There wasn’t much in his home that could be counted as ‘fun’ but there were books, movies, some puzzles, and only imagination leftover to play with.
“How about we clean up first, and I’ll think about what I wanna do? I’m not sure what I wanna do, honestly.” She smiles, giggling a bit.
“What do you dream of?” Bucky asked in a lazy drawl, reclining in the bright light as the mid-afternoon sun kissed the skin of those who wandered outside. Thanks to some work Shuri had put in, his metal arm now looked like a normal arm, he seemed.. normal. So long as you didn’t look into his haunted blue eyes.
That morning he had gone out of his way to cut his hair, the long black locks had become a bit too much to keep up with. He leaned back as he rested his elbow on the side of the bench, a small smile curling his lips as he looked at Tatiana as she paced about. Did she ever slow down..?
“I mean… You’re a Stark, there’s so much you can do the moment you think of doing it. But what’s something you dream of, something that seems like it would be too good to be true. Something money can’t buy and you can’t build.”
These conversations were always nice, when they weren’t in their therapy sessions, they weren’t a patient who was severely destroyed and a doctor who tried to keep him in check. They were friends, they were equals. He didn’t have to worry about…. who he was when H.Y.D.R.A stole part of his life away.
The cottage they were at had been Tat’s for years. Despite the fact that it had been completely empty, she still shelled out the money for constant upkeep. What she didn’t tell Bucky was how she’d gotten it. Her converse-clad feet never stopped moving.
This cottage had been an early wedding present for Tatiana from her brother. The last time she’d been here was the day that would’ve been the last one of her honeymoon. She’d been blitzed out of her mind and in her drunken grief had tried to burn the place down. Now, she was grateful that she hadn’t. Despite the bittersweet burn being here left, she could think of nowhere she’d rather get away to, and for that matter, no one she’d rather get away with. It had happened slowly, behind her back, her frienship with Bucky. She’d never expected it to, but it had fallen into her lap, and now, she had one of the closest friends she’d ever known.
“That’s easy,” she laughed, her feet still following their trodden path. “Time travel. No money can buy something that doesn’t exists and in all attemps had proven impossible.” Her hair was tied in a messy bun, the loose strands framing her face falling to about chin length. This game was a favorite, something concocted in their therapy sessions in order to make Bucky feel more secure and less like he was being interrogated. The Question Game, they called it. You kept going, asking and answering questions untill someone ran out, then, they lost and owed you a boon.
“If you could have any dish from the 40’s that doesn’t exist today, what’d it be?” She fired back, pausing to cast a glance over her shoulder, the sun giving her skin a soft glow and lighting up her amber eyes as she looked at him, a small smile culing on her lips. Nothing could take away the pain of losing Danny, and she would never forget loving him, but… Did that mean she could never love again, or…was their still hope for her?
Nodding, Bucky listened as she explained, chucking at the thought. It was simple, yes, but it was still odd in his mind that it was what came to mind when dreams were in question. There were still so many mysteries that came with Tatiana Stark, but over time James had slowly inched his way inside the walls she had built.
His relaxed hand moved, sliding through his freshly groomed hair as he thought. there were many foods that had been continued, altered but things didn’t change that much. Brows furrowing, the military man let his lips purse as he thought.
“Well, I guess that’s a bit harder to say… It’s not something you couldn’t make, most don’t though… but, I’d have to say icebox honey and lemon cookies. “ He said with a small chuckle, his hand sliding from his hair to his neck. “My nan used to have a batch in the cookie jar and another roll in the refrigerator to make real quick if the grandkids were coming by.”
Letting his eyes trail over the short beauty, he smiled, blue eyes meeting amber ones for a split second before his gaze flicked to the cloud spotted sky, picking out a few random shapes. Things had been relaxed these days, it felt safe, and normal. Like they were just two crazy kids taking it one day at a time… No war to fight, no battles to win…
“You’ve got to have a favorite Disney princess, right?” He inquired as his brows raised. The Stark sibling was very much like her older brother, but there were always surprisingly simple things that set her apart, and showed just how gentle, genuine, and feminine the woman could be. Even when kicking her brothers ass.
The gentle curl of her hair often reminded him of that, or the carefully painted eyeliner she wore. The intensity of the red lipstick she had worn every day since he had met her….
She was so beautiful.
And so out of his league.
“Jasmine.” She answered with a grin, standing still in her spot for a long moment. She couldn’t help but look him over and just… appreciate how he looked in that white t-shirt and jeans. It was probably one of the simplest outfits but damn if it didn’t get the softhearted young doctor warm under the collar. He looked so good it ought to be a sin. Maybe it was. Hell, what did she care? She was an atheist.
The question that came off the doctors lips after a good bit of stumbling and rambling made the sergeant’s eyebrows quirk, a smirk slowly building onto his face as he though back to the old days. He had dated quite a lot of pretty girls and handsome boys in his youth… There had been many times he would throw away his responsibilities just to run the town with someone. It was fun.
Those had been the good days, when he didn’t have to worry about someone saying a magic set of words, taking his life into their hands. Turning him into a monster that had murdered—
‘Too deep. Stop. Back to the question.’
“Well,” James laughed, a small blush burning his cheeks as he tore his mind away from the cliff that overlooked seas of guilt and pain, years he had lost to H.Y.D.R.A. People he had lost because of them. Blue eyes flicked back to Tatiana, his body shifting so he was better facing her,
“Oh yeah, of course. Loads of dates all the time, in fact I’m on one right now. “ The sarcasm dripped off his lips, a bit of resentment for Tony and Steve both as his smile dropped from his face, his hands fidgiting before he pulled the cardboard pack of smokes from his jeans, tearing it open and pulling one free. Next came a lighter as he glanced her over.
“I don’t exactly leave the compound without a shadow or someone with me. Dates would be kind of awkward, but,” the dark haired male’s voice trailed again as he lit the cigarette, taking a deep drag before releasing the grey smoke into the air, letting his finger hold the filter with an uncharacteristic gentility.
“What do you dream of?” Bucky asked in a lazy drawl, reclining in the bright light as the mid-afternoon sun kissed the skin of those who wandered outside. Thanks to some work Shuri had put in, his metal arm now looked like a normal arm, he seemed.. normal. So long as you didn’t look into his haunted blue eyes.
That morning he had gone out of his way to cut his hair, the long black locks had become a bit too much to keep up with. He leaned back as he rested his elbow on the side of the bench, a small smile curling his lips as he looked at Tatiana as she paced about. Did she ever slow down..?
“I mean… You’re a Stark, there’s so much you can do the moment you think of doing it. But what’s something you dream of, something that seems like it would be too good to be true. Something money can’t buy and you can’t build.”
These conversations were always nice, when they weren’t in their therapy sessions, they weren’t a patient who was severely destroyed and a doctor who tried to keep him in check. They were friends, they were equals. He didn’t have to worry about…. who he was when H.Y.D.R.A stole part of his life away.
Piltover.Piltover. Was he from that pathetic, self absorbed, polluted city. The absurdity of the thought made him laugh. He leaned back, crossing his arms as he laughed. “Piltover!” he managed between laughs. Then he shook his head. “As if any carving or weapon so beautiful could come out of that ugly, formless city.”
Jhin took a breath, his laughter having completely died down now. “Function, but no form. Such a despondent city.”
Then he dropped his hands, one resting on his hip. His eyes fell to her wings once again. Not a vastaya. Pleasant. He looked back to her face. “So you’re not a lowly vastayan. You must be quite gifted, or quite high status to gain such lovely wings then.”
And yet she didn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t want to talk about why she was a pariah, or how she got her wings. What was she hiding? What was she? Jhin wanted to know. Whatever it took to wiggle that information out of her, he’d do it. Even if it took ages.
Andy’s breathing is ragged as she falls to the ground. Her vision is blurred, and she can taste metallic blood on their mouth. Their blood. Every breath she takes is pained and haggard, as she reaches for the god who’s made her this way.
Zeus.
Another lightning bolt sends waves of heat and pain shooting through her body. Her vision blurs again, this time with red as blood fills her eyes from the wound in her head. She won’t last long, she knows this.
The ground meets her faster than they expect. It’s cold and hard and unyielding. She can feel her energy draining out of her—or was that her life?
“Oh come on, you’re kidding me…” Helena muttered under her breath with her microphone muted during a meeting with some fellow S.H.I.E.L.D agents and their boss, Nick Fury. Her slender fingers drummed against her desk, trying to disguise the obvious look of disappointment in her face; The crease in her forehead, the slightly raised eyebrows, the look in her eyes that sent daggers flying through the air if eyes and looks could kill.
Looking at the calendar - or rather plan of sorts - set out in front of her on the screen, she wanted to roll her eyes. The meeting was dragging on for all of the solo agents it seemed, and it was clear their upcoming months weren’t going to be that eventful. Now, that may sound wrong, since who the hell would want disasters or acts of terror to happen just to be able to do their job and have something to do? It wasn’t that, it was more that, well… Helena knew she’d have to resort to some very long-term technological work in that division for a while, ‘cause for once there were almost too many people on one job. Even after the last train wreck the world had been through with the UN attack and the whole Winter Soldier ordeal that seemed to be firing up in the media.
No way in hell could she just take a seat, lean back and work in another division for a little while. She liked keeping her pace, keeping her solo agent work. When her mind seemed to think back to the Winter Soldier ordeal, an idea popped up in her mind. And she knew she had to act on it. Both for her own sanity, for her job and maybe to try and one-up that one Captain Rogers who had been rumoured to be set on finding the soldier.
So, by capturing loose thread and various leads, Helena was on a good track and found a lot of witness testimonies that had a connection; All to one place. And there she was on a street in Bucharest.
-
Getting used to a somewhat normal life as a civilian wasn’t exactly an easy task; At least not when having a past of basically being a killing robot used by a Nazi organisation. When trying to pick a place that was good enough to try and build up a foundation for a steady and anything else than abnormal life, there were many things to think of and many questions to ask. The where, what, whyandwhen. Somewhere off grid, but not too obviously off-grid so it could be a place somewhere would look and try and find him. Somewhere with people, a few too many, so there were a few too many to be able to blend in with. Somewhere he wouldn’t easily be singled out as the odd man out. So, Bucky chose Bucharest.
Barnes’ days were spent trying to get his life somewhat together, even though things weren’t looking amazing just yet. Who was he kidding- Things were looking shitty, and that’s how it was. The dirty mattress on the floor that he’d found dumped at some dumpsite, the cramped kitchen and the foggy windows. He was living in a shit-hole. But it was his, and he didn’t exactly have any other bigger or better places to go. Besides, he’d been through worse. He’d seen worse. Lived worse.
Bucky did his usual morning routine of making sure every lock worked and making sure his stash of items that were left beneath some floorboards were still there, all stuffed in a backpack. In it were general supplies, but even maps of the sewers and escape routes; Just in case.
Locking the door to his apartment, he kept his face down, adjusting his cap as he walked down the narrow hall to the stairwell. He was so focused on making sure no one really could get a good look at him that he bumped into a stranger’s shoulder on accident. “Oh- I’m sorry, I didn’t see you-”
Helena double-checked that her gun was loaded- just in case, of course. Making sure there were enough rounds, the silencer was on, that it couldn’t be seen beneath her jacket. It was all one big routine and habit, a good one too when it came to her line of work and career choice. She hadn’t always wanted to be an agent, it was a bit of a sudden thing for her. She couldn’t explain it, but after university and after getting her degrees, something had flipped. A switch had been nagged with in her head and mind, and suddenly she felt as if that was the right job for her. It took work - Hell, a lot of it - But she knew what she was fighting for; A better place for those people in the world who deserved it to be a better place.
Maybe coming from a family with a mother who was in an infamous criminal group that was involved in many illegal activities drove her even more to have that will to fight, that urge, that natural adrenaline that could keep her going, as long as she knew where her goal was. She and her mother were obviously different in many ways, their paths in life clearly being one big difference between the two. Despite that fact, they had some similarities too. Helena could remember her mum being a workaholic, back when she didn’t know exactly what her profession was. There was never a day she didn’t have tired bags under her eyes, never a day she didn’t leave early and come home late only to sleep and start the same routine again. Her daughter ended up the same way, but using this hardworking nature elsewhere and for something better, a better cause.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she tugged down at the sleeves of her brown jacket, adjusting the hems as she hopped out of a bus, making sure to pay in cash so no one could trace her back to that vehicle. Her eyes flickered to the many people roaming the street, the different faces- the unfamiliar faces. Helena had worked missions in many place, but she couldn’t quite recall a place that seemed similar to Bucharest. That city seemed to be its own thing, but it had that familiar taste to it anyway. Like it wasn’t too hard to fade into the scene, which was exactly what she needed. Especially if she wanted to miss the attention of a certain Steve Rogers, who she knew most likely had gotten to the same leads she had. And once she spotted a familiar face in the sea of strangers, she knew she was in for it.
-
Days were always heavy in Bucharest, along with the foggy, polluted air. The city always stayed the same, never had that same spontaneous nature like New York or some other big city. It often felt like cities were alive in some way, but that area in Bucharest the ex-soldier found himself residing in felt barely alive. Rather it felt like a decaying place, half-ruins of buildings, tangled skylines, half-rotten trees, muggers and thieves waiting to strike at every market. But despite it all, he knew it was the place he had the biggest chance of even having a chance. A chance to just be a bit normal. Or act like it at least. The sky always seemed to be so damn dreary in that city Bucky now called home- Or rather had to call home.
Though he thought escaping and getting a small apartment would ease himself a little, the nightmares never stopped. The repeated images of bloody scenes with his bloody hands never left his mind. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t run away from those shitty nightmares. Hell, he was barely getting any sleep due to it, due to being afraid of shutting his eyes for just one moment. His super-soldier enhancements did help him with not having to sleep as much as the usual human being was required to, but it was getting to the point where it was unhealthy- Even for him. Bucky often felt like just giving up at times, giving himself up to the world. Letting them have their fun, just so he could let go. He often pondered about if the world - or anyone at all - would be able to forgive him. Though a glimmer of hope sometimes did want to shine through, he only let himself be enveloped deeper into his own darkness.
As his shoulder collided with the stranger’s, he instinctively took a light hold of their arm, making sure the person didn’t fall or lose their balance. When Bucky looked up to see their face - her face - he felt like all thoughts in his head were put on hold. His bottom lip trembled a bit for a moment, there was something about her that was so familiar, just on the tip of his tongue. Her voice, her name- Was he imagining things? He had to shake himself out of the trance. “Uhh, I’m James- Most people call me Bucky though.” He reached to shake her hand with his gloved one, and it seemed like his mind was just loading, recalling whatever the hell it was trying to recall.
Steve knew exactly what he was doing. He was tracking down his best friend. He couldn’t let a rogue SHIELD agent get involved. So that’s what he was going to get rid of first.
Not in the sinister way of course. He was would just deter her from stealing this from him again. He couldn’t lose Bucky. Not again. He wouldn’t let himself go through this again. He knew that his heart couldn’t stand it. He knew that things weren’t the most peaceful. It couldn’t be all rainbows and butterflies. It was just reality and reality wasn’t all happy. It was his strange reality that he couldn’t seem to escape.
Sometimes he found himself wondering if it was worth it to get close to people when all that happened was loss, hidden tears and pain. Sometimes he found himself thinking- day dreaming about a simpler life. A life where there was no pain or suffering. A life where he could live in peace. Or maybe no life at all. He stood in a difficult position- a position he never thought he would be in. He never really thought that he would lose his best friend, the love of his life AND get frozen- then wake up- lose the love of his life again- and realize that his best friend had been frozen too and was alive. There were a lot of things in his life that he didn’t quite understand, but standing in Bucharest, he couldn’t help but understand a bit better.
He needed to get to Helena though. He recognized her from a mile away. He could’ve anyway- he knew all the agents of SHIELD- rogue or other wise- and he just wanted to do all of this in peace.
“Agent.” He approached the young woman slowly with his shield in his hand, slightly dropped by his side but ready in hand just in case things went sideways. “It looks like we both followed the same trail.”
-
Carman was in Bucharest because it was genuinely quiet. She didn’t want to know about what was going on. If the avengers were off destroying whatever it was that they were destroying- she wasn’t going to be their clean up crew anymore. She was tired of living in fear and responsibility. She was disgusted by herself and letting herself get to that point. She was gloomy. Awfully gloomy.
She knew exactly who he was. Those bright eyes of his and dark hair… she couldn’t miss him for the world and there was just something about his soul that screamed pain. Something about his soul that was broken, battered and torn. As a deity, she was taught to recognize broken souls… but she could tell by the simple pain in his eyes and the fact that he was alive meant that he must’ve gone through a lot. She thought that he was dead- but she needed to take it slow. Maybe it wasn’t him- maybe it was a doppelgänger- maybe it was someone who looked incredibly like him-
Ok that wasn’t likely. Especially now that he had said his name. “Bucky.” She repeated his name gently under her breath as she thought for a moment. She wondered genuinely if she should tell him who she actually was… that she knew him. That she had adored him in a time before.
But she decided against him and instead she smiled ever so slightly. “Its nice to finally meet my neighbor.” She felt stupid. She felt like everything that she had put into her heart was… gone. Because he hadn’t recognized her name, her heart shattered once more.
It wasn’t his fault. Or at least that’s what she was telling herself. She didn’t look the same as she was so many years ago. But she had the same name. She had the same name as she did so many years ago… so many lives ago and she wondered if he would remember her eventually.
Maybe he would. There was a bit of hope in usually stoic expression. It wasn’t something that happened often… just ask Steve and he would know.
“I have lived here for a while. I’ve never seen you around.”
Making sure the green bag slung over her shoulder wasn’t slipping off, Helena grabbed ahold of it as she manouvered herself away from the bus and into Bucharest’s crowd of a population. She tugged down at her beige cap, eyes focused on her target, which was a specific apartment complex. And even better a specific number. She was lucky to grab ahold of the lead that led her there, and the lead did seem quite trustworthy based on the information she’d gathered. And it made her job a lot easier when having just one flat to focus on- For then she wouldn’t risk making a scene. Or at least not a as huge of a scene. Not yet.
When spotting Steve and that goddamn stripey and spangled shield, Helena knew it would be tough making an escape from his attention. After all, they were both agents, trained to get a mission done. With as little interference from others as possible. And she doubted it would be easy to get to the soldier before the Captain. It added just another fight to her mission, though she doubted it would end in a physical altercation. Or at least she didn’t hope so.
They both technically worked for the same people, but now with the Sokovia Accords seeming to split everyone apart, it felt as if there was no big team of people anymore. Not much information had been given about the accords just yet - or more specifically what was to happen with them - and it seemed a lot of people were feeling misplaced. Such as Helena. She didn’t know what to feel about the accords, but she knew that she still had a job to do, even if she’d gone a bit rogue with it. Someone had to track Barnes down, especially if a specific someone else was going to try and take him before he could face an interrogation for what happened at the UN meeting. She had to admit, something about the attack seemed… off, off in another way. But she didn’t quite know how to place it.
Helena found herself at a more hidden entrance to the flat building, about to head in, when a voice from behind her interrupted her. With a quirked eyebrow, she turned around swiftly and placed her hands in her innerpocket where her gun was. Just in case. “Captain. Not a surprise to see you here.” She admitted. “And it seems the trail has gotten too thin for the both of us to be on it, huh?”
-
It annoyed him. It bugged him. It went at him for what felt like an eternity, when in reality it was simply a few, mere moments. Why couldn’t Bucky place what it was about his neighbor that made something in his head tingle? He was an efficient agent, a trained soldier, a former robot who had been built to handle all tasks possible with an impeccable memory. Yet his neighbor was the one to make him scratch the back of his neck as he could only dwell.
There was just something about her. Something in the look of her eyes. Something about her voice and the way she spoke. Her name. Carman. That’s when it clicked for him, though he knew it wasn’t supposed to click. That name connected to a certain Carman he knew- Who he used to know. Someone who had held such a large meaning to him, someone he held so dear, someone he genuinely let in and cared about… But that person was long gone. Or supposed to be long gone at least. His mind seemed to set him back to a string of memories including his Carman from his past. And people had the same names, it was just a weird coincidence. A coincidence that made him yearn for those days before everything.
Bucky often thought back to the time where he didn’t have as much to worry about; Which was quite funny, since back then he felt like it couldn’t really get worse than that. The drenches, the fights, the hurting. He never knew it could get worse than that. But there he was, after everything. Still somewhat in one piece.
He felt guilty. He felt guilty for having this neighbor have to watch his hands tremble a bit at his sides, which they rarely ever did. Watch him as he obviously had an expression of blankness, not knowing what to say or think. Life was weird. Bucky knew that much. Could it be? Could it be her?
“I was just about to say that too- Don’t feel like I’ve seen you before either.” Bucky chuckled a bit sheepishly, trying to shake away that strong deja vu. “I moved her not too long ago, so wouldn’t be weird if I haven’t bumped into everyone around here.”
He was captain America. He was pretty much unstoppable and having Bucky by his side would definitely help with all of the pain that he had gone through. He knew that he needed to get Bucky back… he needed to get his damn best friend back because he genuinely didn’t know if he could do anything without that man knowing that he was alive and kind of well. He didn’t know much, but what he did know was that he didn’t want SHIELD or the government getting ahold of him.
He didn’t want Bucky to get hurt again and he would do absolutely everything in his power to keep that from happening. He was genuine when he was thinking about that. There wasn’t a day that went by that Bucky wasn’t on his mind. That man was always his best friend, before everything, after everything and now. They would forever be friends.
They’d be with each other til the end of the line. Steve would make sure of that.
He wouldn’t make it easy for Helena to get to Bucky. In fact, if she even tried, he would definitely make her time of trying a living hell even if that meant that he was a fugitive of justice. After all… he was a fugitive of justice more than once before. He wasn’t afraid of the government. He wasn’t afraid of SHIELD or Nick Fury. He wasn’t scared.
He was determined to get his goddamn friend back. And he wasn’t going to lose his best friend again. Not til the end of the line.
Here was the issue. He was in the middle of the accords, in the middle of being an avenger, the middle of being America’s armor… and the middle of being the best friend that he always knew that he needed to be. He needed to be the guy that could help Bucky with everything that he had. Everything that he had left. He needed to make sure that he preserved the things that he loved. He just couldn’t lose anyone else anymore.
“Its honestly not a surprise to see you here either,” he said softly as his dark blue eyes scanned the streets. “I think we’re here for the same thing aren’t we?” he said gruffly with a sigh.
-
There was a slight nod that came from her. In all honesty she was at a loss for words. She was speechless and her mind was truly blank. She wanted to tell him how much she missed him. Her heart broke more and more every single time she thought about him- every day that went by was a day that she thought of him. There was no night when she didn’t go to bed and think about her dear Bucky… when they would come out of the war… she would’ve told him she loved him. But during the war she didn’t want to burden him with emotions.
He didn’t come out of the war.
And every single day- every single night since then she was plagued by thoughts of him. She was plagued by the screams of the war and the many days that she would attempt to comfort Steve and have him crying on her shoulder… she was plagued by nightmares. Every day for centuries, the pain of losing him was genuinely the biggest pain that she had ever experienced in any of her lives. So now that he was standing right in front of her… she wondered what she should do.
Should she tell him all the things that had gone through her mind? Or should she continue to pretend as though she didn’t know him? She didn’t want to lose him again… she couldn’t lose him again.
“I don’t come out of my apartment a lot… its a bit strange but I prefer the comfort of my own floor than any other floor.” It was true. Although she had moved quite a long time ago, she had refused to get many pieces of furniture in case she would have to move again. She often would wake up on the floor when she did sleep on a bed anyway… so she didn’t really need much furniture or a bed- or a mattress for that matter. Her smile was slight, a bit awkward as she looked back at him. “It was nice meeting you.”
There was a pause. She was considering holing herself back into her apartment before she would pack up her things and go, not letting herself get attached again. But… she couldn’t. She couldn’t leave him. “Hey uh Bucky- did you want to get a cup of coffee or something?” She regretted it the minute she said it. She wanted to run and hide… but she couldn’t. Not now.
Helena knew when to meddle things and when not to. Most people did, by using their common sense, obviously. She was usually more careful with covering up her tracks and making sure she wouldn’t hit any problems along the way, but with this specific mission she knew that wasn’t going to be possible. To be honest, she knew she was a pain in the ass for Captain Rogers, but she was doing her job.
Even if she’d gone a bit rogue about it.
And she didn’t want to be a pain in the ass. With everything going on with the UN, Wakanda’s murdered leader, the Winter Soldier, the Sokovia Accords, it seemed as if everything was walking into a path of chaos. Though the world always seemed to be chaotic, or at least always have a twinge of a sense of disorganisation, she knew things were starting to go really bad. It felt like the sense of justice was slowly decaying, and though details were fuzzy about a lot of things, she knew she had to do her job and do her best. That’s all she could do.
When Helena had realised S.H.I.E.L.D was simply letting German forces and polices get to Barnes instead, she was in no way going to have to trust them to do their job and just stand by as a member of an audience. It wasn’t that she didn’t have faith in those forces, but she knew it would be too noisy and too risky. She knew she could do it, making sure to have back-up with her. She did feel sympathy for Steve though, it was hard not to. From what she’d gathered, those two had been through quite a lot together. And though it was hard not to give into her sympathetic feelings, she knew she had to at least get the guy caught and interrogated. Give the government a chance of clearing things up.
But she would be lying if she said it wasn’t just a bit fun to piss Rogers off during the whole ordeal.
“Or rather, someone.” Helena retorted in a mild tone of voice, glancing down at the watch on her wrist. She knew she only had a certain amount of time before the GSF would get their hands dirty too, and that time had to be spent wisely. “Listen, I don’t want it to end up like this. But it’s work, I do what I do, you do what you do. And I’m guessing you’re going to want to stand in my way, so I’ll have to stand in yours.”
38 seconds ‘til she had to enter.
-
Thinking back to the war was never quite… pleasant. Though Bucky knew the friendships he’d gained with the Howling Commando’s had been a pro to all the many cons, there were still cons enough to outweigh any pros there ever could have been. Maybe the beginning war had actually been the easiest part- Since what had really messed him up was everything that occurred in between and after.
The war itself gave him flashbacks enough. Blood-soaked uniforms, broken dog tags, disgusting drenches. It hurt enough to be there himself, but what was worse was when his best friend just had to get himself into it too. And though he knew they both were just men, trying to do something good for their country and offer their service, he still didn’t want Steve there.
War was a place where the friends you made were quickly lost in one way or the other, though death was by far the worst abductor. And no way in hell did he want to have to watch Steve sacrifice himself for the war, but it seemed like Bucky had been the one to get the tough, uneasy road when Hydra got to him and dug their claws into him. Even more blood-soaked uniforms. Shattered name-tags that he had broken. The endless testing and brainwashing. It was all so much worse and so much harder to forget.
It seemed like the only thing that kept him going was the faint memories that at times came to him. As a fog and a haze, just barely there, always slipping through the gaps between his fingers when he tried to grasp it. And in that fog was Carman. Before his Hydra days he’d been planning to confess something important to her after he could return home from the war, tell her how much she truly meant to him. But any ideas of that were quickly ripped from him. In all senses, and he was just left to his haze and his confusion, though much more stuff was coming back to him.
Such as Steve. Such as Carman.
“No, no, I get it. I’m pretty much the same.” Bucky smiled a bit sheepishly and awkwardly, hoping he didn’t seem to out of it. It was as if his mind was constantly switching between memories he was recalling and the face in front of him, who, despite not matching the one in his blurred collection of moments, still had a twinge of familiarity to it. The name. The voice. He didn’t know what to make of it.
And she only seemed more distinct when she said his name. “Oh, uhh, sure. I’d like that.”
She was definitely being a pain to him in that moment and he kind of hated it. He wished that there would be some kind of path of least resistance- but there wasn’t. He knew that the special forces were going to move in soon, and he needed to get in there before they did so Bucky wouldn’t kill anyone accidentally. That wouldn’t look good for Bucky. That wouldn’t look good for any of them really. “You know that we want the same person- but for different reasons,” he said as he glanced over at the young woman with his dark blue eyes. “We can go in there together or go in there separately and make this much more complicated for the two of us.” It was genuinely upsetting that SHIELD had given orders to get through to Bucky. Or maybe they didn’t honestly at this point he had no idea what was going on. “But if we go in there separately you’re not going to get him.”
It wasn’t his pride talking. Its the fact that he knew Bucky and he had a feeling that things would go his way in that point of time. There was just something that told him that no matter what happened, Bucky would be okay. “The special forces are going to move in so either we do this together or you’re going to have to let this one go.” His tone was firm- serious. He wasnt going to play around with this one as he watched carefully. He had less than ten seconds. Less than ten seconds to make sure that Bucky was ok- alive and well. He had less than ten seconds to make sure the man had a warning or something- and he couldn’t think anymore.
He needed to act fast.
That was the thing about being a hero after all. It was something that he needed to learn. He needed to learn how to trust his instincts and he honestly learned that in the war. He learned that he needed to trust his gut- and right now his gut was telling him to wait for a response from the girl before doing anything else.
-
Carman could sense that there was something wrong. As a person who had lived through centuries of strife, war, pain… she learned that to escape her fears she would need to face them. To face them, she would need to be able to detect them. And to detect them she would need to be able to read the room. The room was not clear as of this moment and the way that she felt about it was unsettling. She cleared her throat slightly, looking around as a silence struck her and her body became rigid. “I might have to call a rain check on that coffee,” she said as she looked back at Bucky with a small smile. “I think we have company.”
She wanted to be as frank with him as possible without scaring him. She knew that he had been through quite a lot but she wanted to stick with him. She wanted to stick together with him because she couldn’t bare the idea of losing him again. She would protect him at all costs. If that meant having to get involved in this whole thing with the avengers, she would. She would trade up her life of peace for a life of chaos.
For him.
She took a gentle and slow breath. There was something about this all that was throwing her off. There was an energy inside the building- a threatening energy and it was one that she couldn’t shake away, one that followed her wherever she went… but this time it was different. She heard a creak come from a corner and her eyes widened slightly, her hands going up immediately, glowing a bright beautiful dark purple color. “I hope i’m not freaking you out- but you need to get behind me- or at least next to me.” The last time she had used her magic was… a while ago. She had used it on Bucky once to heal a gunshot would and made him vow not to tell anyone- and she had used it to reverse a building from falling- that kind of stuff really came in handy if she ever wanted to be the clean up crew again. She shifted her feet slightly feeling for any kind of vibration on the ground. “We got company and lots of them-“
Helena watched as in the distance she could see some vans and cars with a familiar corporation name painted in white on the blue vehicles. GSF. The special forces were most certainly going to take their chance before either on of the two could if they wasted more time. She did feel guilty for having to reel a person back to S.H.I.E.L.D, but that was the thing; She wanted to do it with as little harm done as possible. And though she knew it was only her job and she couldn’t meddle her own feelings or ethics, apart from her work ethics, into the mission, she still wanted to do it with a little of a mess as possible. With as few casualties at possible. Which was why she’d gone rogue instead of letting the German forces get to the ex-soldier first with that specific order of ‘shoot on sight’ and with no challenges other than the fight they automatically were up against.
And she knew Steve was right. They had a better chance as two parties instead of three. It was the only logical decision.
With a sigh, she glanced down at her watch once more, beckoning for him to follow her inside and move quickly up the stairwell. There was no working elevator, and stairs were the fastest option up anyway, and they really needed a fast option. “I don’t like admitting other people are right, but I’ll give you this one, Rogers.” Helena said, making sure to get her gun out of her holster and be more wary of her surroundings.
From what she understood, they were on the right floor, and she stood still as she saw none other than Barnes himself in the hallway with someone else. Someone else with some kind of non-human abilities, and that was certainly something she hadn’t expected for that mission. She’d - No, they’d - have to just go along with it and adjust. Compromise to their surroundings if they were going to get a chance at anything.
“You know him best. He’ll listen to you.”
Before Helena knew it, sounds of broken shards of glass could be heard coming from the bottom and top of the stairwell. Shit.
-
In the midst of a conversation, Bucky found himself off-guard. And shit was that a bad thing. After his past, after his thorough training, after all those missions and challenges, he knew not to ever stay off-guard. Especially not at a time like that, where he was a runaway criminal being searched for globally. His face was starting to get plastered every where along with sightings, he knew things wouldn’t stay quiet for long. He knew his short-lived serenity couldn’t last for long. Yet he’d been caught off-guard, and for a moment he wonder if his new acquaintance, Carman, was in on something.
Those thoughts were quickly wisked away as he saw her expression, clearly concerned as well by the change of atmosphere. Bucky seemed to close off once more, now only focused on what was going on around him. Footsteps could be heard from the rooftop as well as outside, those footsteps not trying to be concealed or quiet, unlike the ones he could just manage to catch from the stairwell. Just at his floor. Just near his flat.
He knew that meant one thing. Two groups were after him, most likely the authorities or government, and the other could belong to anyone else. He didn’t know, and to be frank, he didn’t want time to know. He had to get the hell out of there, no harm done. That was maybe the worst part; For he truly didn’t want to hurt anyone, he didn’t want any fights, he wanted to be left alone. But clearly it was too much to ask for, and wether there was sound reason for it or not, it was what he yearned for. Peace and quiet. Well, maybe not always. He wasn’t good at the whole peace and quiet thing.
And he knew one other thing. He didn’t want to drag Carman into this.
As Bucky looked towards her, his eyes widened at the sight of purple sparks grew from her palms, a strong glow emitting from them. He then realised it, realised what he hadn’t dared to even think earlier. It was her. Her. But he didn’t have much time to think much of it- Not yet. He’d have to get out of that mess first, then he could start talking. “God, why the hell does it always have to be a fight…” Barnes muttered, slipping of his glove as he looked down to his cold, metal hand. He didn’t want blood on it. Not again.
It all felt sudden. Every movement, every thought, every breath, every loud, blaring noise. It was odd- Just knowing something started so suddenly, yet not knowing if it had begun before one’s notice. That’s what was in Helena’s mind to say the least. The unavoidable sound of an alarm, squeaky hinges and metal banging against metal made her head ache even more than it already was. She fought to get air into her lungs, trying to stand on her feet, but her balance couldn’t keep her up. She wasmoving. The contraption she was stuck in was moving. She then took a moment to think, think of anything she could remember; For example an answer to how the hell she ended up in some sort of frightening and dark elevator. But everything was blank, just blank. She reached for loose threads in her mind, grasping for anything at all, but there was nothing but darkness that simply mirrored the one she found herself enveloped in.
While banging on the metal bars, so hard and desperately that her hands were getting bruised and bloody, Helena tried to scream. But her voice didn’t give in, and it was more like a small croak of a voice. She felt the true, unsettling panic begin to set in, that feeling of truly having no sense of orientation whatsoever. Like being a goldfish, placed from a small bowl to the ocean. But she couldn’t adjust, for how much was there to adjust to? What was she even adjusting from? Her heartbeat quickened even more as she felt the contraption halt, and she fell limp in the corner. For a moment she thought she was destined to stay captured, stuck there for ever in some hole; Despite that, her thoughts were disproved as she saw a hatch over her starting to open, rays of sunshine peaking into the box.
♖
Thomas felt his back sink against the tree, the harsh bark of it contrasting to his warm and sun-sick skin beneath his shirt. He rubbed his head and his temples, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Even though he was getting at least a bit used to the Glade, he still couldn’t quite fathom everything. Yeah, he somewhat understood the basics, but what nagged at him was that once trying to delve into the deeper, more intriguing questions, then everything was left with a large question mark. The questions like whoandwhy. The most important ones that he wanted answered- That he knew everyone most likely wanted answered. It all hurt his head when he thought too much about it. And though everyone around him, everyone in the group of boys, everyone in charge, told him to just try and get the best out of their situation and not think too much about it, it just worsened things.
He had to admit they could be right. After all, nights at the fire with his new friends or whatever they hell were could be surprisingly nice and fun. Time to let loose, try to let go, even though he hadn’t had much time to think of exactly what they were letting loose from. But he felt the stress buried beneath them all, that sinking sand everyone experienced and tried, to a certain degree, to not let get the best of them. The sound of an only somewhat familiar blaring alarm caught his attention immediately, and once he saw everyone gathering, following them quickly, he could only guess he wasn’t going to be the greenie anymore.
The sunlight, that both seemed to suddenly and gradually creep into the odd box contraption Helena was stuck in, annoyed her eyes as she let them adjust, quickly looking for something to defend herself with. There were only large boxes with what seemed like resources and other materials, and that caught her attention for a moment. Those things were clearly for, well, living. Food, clothes, water, so on and so forth. Where the hell was she going? Where the hell was she now? Or before?
Helena looked up and saw a group of people- Seemingly all male except for one female. She felt her heartbeat only quicken once more; After all, she had no idea what these peoples intentions were. Shit, she didn’t know anything at all. Not even her name or who she was in general. Well, there seemed to be a few pieces up somewhere in her head, but it was all just jumbled into a big, unrecognisable mess. She had to deal with it later though. “Who the hell are you people and why the hell am I here!” Helena kept to her corner in the box, voice hoarse and clearly weak from not being used before. What was here. She just needed answers.
♖
Thomas almost felt a surge of nostalgia, a feeling of deja vu washing over him as he heard that blaring, loud alarm that echoed across the Glade, bouncing off of the four concrete walls. Those stone walls that were already getting tiring- Tiring enough at least. He sometimes felt as if he was the person who felt most urgently about getting out. He knew everyone did what they did, kept their routine, tended to the place they called their home, because that’s all they could do. Thats all they all could do. And he respected that, but he found simply couldn’t let go of it all- Whatever the hell that was anyway.
He took a few steps towards the crowd, watching as they peered their heads into the box. Something seemed to surprise them and send waves of mumbles and whispers to each other, and he found himself pushing a bit forward to get a look at the Greenie. Thomas found a place next to Scarlett and Alby, eyebrows shot up ina look of surprise as he saw the newbie- Another girl. “Huh, seems you’ll have a new friend.” He said to Scarlett.
Scarlett waited until the box had come up, getting that familiar feeling of being in the box too. The panicked feeling of having no idea who you were, how you got there or even whereyou were going. Scarlett still wondered what were beyond those four stone walls. She had asked in the past but no one would give her an answer. So she didn’t ask again. But she still wondered.
Scarlett stepped forward to peek inside the box, eyebrows also raising in surprise when she saw that there was another girl. At least she wouldn’t be the only girl anymore. “Yeah.” she nodded at Thomas. Poor girl.. she looked terrified. Just like she was. And the Greenies after her.
“Another girl.” Newt commented after opening the metal gate with Alby’s help. Surprised murmurs erupted through the crowd, until Alby told them to be quiet. Newt looked down at the Greenie. “Welcome to the Glade, greenie.” he said. “Grab onto my hand and we’ll get you out.”
Newt had lost count of how many times he had said that phrase over the two years he had been stuck in here. He wasn’t the first one to arrive, Alby was, but he arrived after Minho did. Pushing those thoughts out of his head, turning his attention back to the Greenie, the new girl. “Alby will explain everything, alright?”
Helena backed up against the wall as she watched many heads peer down into the box, making obvious comments about her and she caught a few names in between their bustling conversation. From what she could see, it seemed to be an all boy group except for one other girl, and she was already a bit, if not very, intimidated. But at least she wasn’t the only one.
“Alby? Who’s Alby?” She questioned, cautiously taking the stranger’s hand as he welcomed her to- That was another question she had. “And what the hell is the Glade?” Her head pounded with the amount of questions bombarding her brain as she got pulled out of the box, and once she got a view of the place she had been put in, she got silent. Four stone walls, covering each side, and four openings. She didn’t get it. She didn’t know if there was anything to get.
♖
Thomas tried to ignore the group’s comments, some ranging from friendly and just welcoming to borderline weird or a bit offensive. He knew what it felt like to sit down there and feel as if you missed the punchline of a joke, and that joke and punchline is your future life. They had all been through that. And he began thinking about how all the others had reacted when first arriving to the glade. Especially the first person: Alby. Or the first girl: Scarlett.
He watched as they pulled the new Greenie out of the box, helping Frypan and some others load out the boxes of resources and whatnot: Including a new hammock. “It’ll be fine, she’ll be fine.” Thomas looked to Scarlett, who he could tell was feeling sympathy for the girl. He did too, of course, but he knew it was best to quiet things down until she could get a chance to get used to it all.
Newt pulled her out of the box, vaguely hearing Alby telling the others to back up and give the Greenie space. He ignored the chatter from the other Gladers. He looked at Alby who stepped forward. “The glade is where we live.” he said. “Follow me, I’ll give you a tour.” Newt watched as the other boys started to unload the box with the supplies they got every month. “Get back to work, everyone.” Newt said, using his power as second in command. The crowd slowly dispersed except for the boys who were still unloading the supplies.
“Follow me.” Alby said to Helena before walking. “Can you tell me your name?” he asked. Sometimes Greenie remembered their names quickly but it usually took a day or two. “I’m Alby.” Newt had gone back to the gardens with the other track-hoes until he was needed else where.
Scarlett nodded, “Yeah, she will.” she said. Well, she hoped. “Well, I better go help Frypan with the supplies. I’ll see you later Thomas.” With that, she turned and walked to the kitchen, helping Frypan and the other cooks with the supplies. Scarlett was curious about the newbie, the new girl.
Gally would pop in soon, to get whatever he needed for his ‘special brew’ which he was still secretive about. The runners would also be back soon since the doors closed at night. And thank heavens they did because of the Grievers. Scarlett had never seen one but she never wanted to.
Helena let the stranger pull her up from the box, instantly feeling the contrast between the cold, almost icy temperature down in the contraption compared to the warm rays of the sun. The sun. At least she could remember basic things, but anything personal seemed far away in her mind, yet also just on the tip of her tongue. As she listened to the stranger, she let her eyes wander, simply observing her surroundings. She knew she could try to run, but there was most likely no point. She would have to wait and listen.
“I’m sorry but- Whats that?” Helena asked, pointing at one of the four openings by the stone walls. She couldn’t quite see what was past those openings, it just seemed like… more walls. More barricades. Were they meant to be barricades? She shook her thoughts away and followed who she could guess to be the leader of sorts, trying to ignore the prying eyes that rested on her. “Nice to meet you… I- I can’t remember my name. I don’t know why.”
-
Thomas jumped into the box, lifting and pushing the boxes onto the green grass that bent beneath the weight. He made sure to count how many boxes there were, there were always the same amount, and though it wasn’t something to worry much about, he noticed something. There was one box less than there used to be. He found it odd, but what was he to think. Maybe it was a mistake. Or maybe he just didn’t want to put too much thought into it or interpret something that would scare him or anyone else.
“Yeah, I’ll see you later.” Thomas offered a short wave and a warm smile to Scarlett as he watched her leave. One of the only things he liked about the Glade was how close everyone was - or had to be. The teamwork and effort they all put in to keep things going was admirable, to say the least. They were a family. And he was thankful to have them, both those he was close with and those he wasn’t close with.
“Don’t worry about that.” Alby said as he walked away from the Box. He sent the other Gladers a quick glare before looking at Helena. “You’ll get your name back in a day or two. It’s the only thing they let us keep.” he muttered that last part to himself, shrugging his broad shoulders.
“Anyway, here we’re self sufficient. We grow our own food and build our own shelter. Over there is the deadheads, feel free to hang out there in your free time or whatever. Then we have the kitchens and the gardens. Also the Med-jack hut.” he explained, not realising that the words might be weird to the new Greenie.
Scarlett helped unpack the supplies with Frypan, coounting what they got in terms of food that wasn’t vegetables. (They usually got seeds) One thing Scarlett loved working alongside Frypan was his humor. He was always making her laugh with his jokes or funny stories about the other Gladers. Scarlett giggled at one story, moving her long black hair out of her face.
She saw Helena and Alby not that far from where the kitchen was, watching as Alby showed the Greenie around. A wave of deja vu washed over her as she remembered being in that similar position, just a few months ago. Scarlett watched them for a moment before turning back to whatever she was doing.
Helena quirked an eyebrow at the quiet mention of a they, a thorough expression of confusion washing over her face, though she already found herself to be very lost and confused. Who was ‘they’? Did someone send her there? The temporary amnesia only made her head ache more and more with every second.
It scared her. Everything did. The fact that she couldn’t remember anything really important, no memories, nothing personal. It was as if the collection of moments she was supposed to have in her head were gone. She only knew the basics, all any human would know. She only hoped that it would come back to her soon. Everything, if she was lucky.
“Med-jack… Like, a medical area?” Helena asked, all the names buzzing around in her head. It was all so odd, but she knew she’d have to toughen up and just get used to it. Join whatever the hell of a group that lived in the Glade. Even if it was a bit nerve-wracking.
-
Thomas often wondered how long they’d be forced to stay. Obviously, they were supposed to find their way out, escape, but it hadn’t happened yet. It was like watching a sunset that never hit the horizon- And he often wondered if they truly ever were going to get out of there. He knew there was no point in being either too pessimistic or optimistic, it was all about keeping that balance of sanity.
But he dwelled on how many more could possibly be sent, how many until they would have no more supplies. Would it even ever stop? Maybe this was their punishment for not finding a way out yet; Forcing more people into the Glade. Maybe there was a deadline. He had no clue. And it seemed thinking didn’t make him too much wiser.
Thomas made his way to the Runner’s hut, trudging down the dirt path. With every greenie that arrived, with every new package that arrived, he only grew more eager to get out.
“Oh come on, you’re kidding me…” Helena muttered under her breath with her microphone muted during a meeting with some fellow S.H.I.E.L.D agents and their boss, Nick Fury. Her slender fingers drummed against her desk, trying to disguise the obvious look of disappointment in her face; The crease in her forehead, the slightly raised eyebrows, the look in her eyes that sent daggers flying through the air if eyes and looks could kill.
Looking at the calendar - or rather plan of sorts - set out in front of her on the screen, she wanted to roll her eyes. The meeting was dragging on for all of the solo agents it seemed, and it was clear their upcoming months weren’t going to be that eventful. Now, that may sound wrong, since who the hell would want disasters or acts of terror to happen just to be able to do their job and have something to do? It wasn’t that, it was more that, well… Helena knew she’d have to resort to some very long-term technological work in that division for a while, ‘cause for once there were almost too many people on one job. Even after the last train wreck the world had been through with the UN attack and the whole Winter Soldier ordeal that seemed to be firing up in the media.
No way in hell could she just take a seat, lean back and work in another division for a little while. She liked keeping her pace, keeping her solo agent work. When her mind seemed to think back to the Winter Soldier ordeal, an idea popped up in her mind. And she knew she had to act on it. Both for her own sanity, for her job and maybe to try and one-up that one Captain Rogers who had been rumoured to be set on finding the soldier.
So, by capturing loose thread and various leads, Helena was on a good track and found a lot of witness testimonies that had a connection; All to one place. And there she was on a street in Bucharest.
-
Getting used to a somewhat normal life as a civilian wasn’t exactly an easy task; At least not when having a past of basically being a killing robot used by a Nazi organisation. When trying to pick a place that was good enough to try and build up a foundation for a steady and anything else than abnormal life, there were many things to think of and many questions to ask. The where, what, whyandwhen. Somewhere off grid, but not too obviously off-grid so it could be a place somewhere would look and try and find him. Somewhere with people, a few too many, so there were a few too many to be able to blend in with. Somewhere he wouldn’t easily be singled out as the odd man out. So, Bucky chose Bucharest.
Barnes’ days were spent trying to get his life somewhat together, even though things weren’t looking amazing just yet. Who was he kidding- Things were looking shitty, and that’s how it was. The dirty mattress on the floor that he’d found dumped at some dumpsite, the cramped kitchen and the foggy windows. He was living in a shit-hole. But it was his, and he didn’t exactly have any other bigger or better places to go. Besides, he’d been through worse. He’d seen worse. Lived worse.
Bucky did his usual morning routine of making sure every lock worked and making sure his stash of items that were left beneath some floorboards were still there, all stuffed in a backpack. In it were general supplies, but even maps of the sewers and escape routes; Just in case.
Locking the door to his apartment, he kept his face down, adjusting his cap as he walked down the narrow hall to the stairwell. He was so focused on making sure no one really could get a good look at him that he bumped into a stranger’s shoulder on accident. “Oh- I’m sorry, I didn’t see you-”
Helena double-checked that her gun was loaded- just in case, of course. Making sure there were enough rounds, the silencer was on, that it couldn’t be seen beneath her jacket. It was all one big routine and habit, a good one too when it came to her line of work and career choice. She hadn’t always wanted to be an agent, it was a bit of a sudden thing for her. She couldn’t explain it, but after university and after getting her degrees, something had flipped. A switch had been nagged with in her head and mind, and suddenly she felt as if that was the right job for her. It took work - Hell, a lot of it - But she knew what she was fighting for; A better place for those people in the world who deserved it to be a better place.
Maybe coming from a family with a mother who was in an infamous criminal group that was involved in many illegal activities drove her even more to have that will to fight, that urge, that natural adrenaline that could keep her going, as long as she knew where her goal was. She and her mother were obviously different in many ways, their paths in life clearly being one big difference between the two. Despite that fact, they had some similarities too. Helena could remember her mum being a workaholic, back when she didn’t know exactly what her profession was. There was never a day she didn’t have tired bags under her eyes, never a day she didn’t leave early and come home late only to sleep and start the same routine again. Her daughter ended up the same way, but using this hardworking nature elsewhere and for something better, a better cause.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she tugged down at the sleeves of her brown jacket, adjusting the hems as she hopped out of a bus, making sure to pay in cash so no one could trace her back to that vehicle. Her eyes flickered to the many people roaming the street, the different faces- the unfamiliar faces. Helena had worked missions in many place, but she couldn’t quite recall a place that seemed similar to Bucharest. That city seemed to be its own thing, but it had that familiar taste to it anyway. Like it wasn’t too hard to fade into the scene, which was exactly what she needed. Especially if she wanted to miss the attention of a certain Steve Rogers, who she knew most likely had gotten to the same leads she had. And once she spotted a familiar face in the sea of strangers, she knew she was in for it.
-
Days were always heavy in Bucharest, along with the foggy, polluted air. The city always stayed the same, never had that same spontaneous nature like New York or some other big city. It often felt like cities were alive in some way, but that area in Bucharest the ex-soldier found himself residing in felt barely alive. Rather it felt like a decaying place, half-ruins of buildings, tangled skylines, half-rotten trees, muggers and thieves waiting to strike at every market. But despite it all, he knew it was the place he had the biggest chance of even having a chance. A chance to just be a bit normal. Or act like it at least. The sky always seemed to be so damn dreary in that city Bucky now called home- Or rather had to call home.
Though he thought escaping and getting a small apartment would ease himself a little, the nightmares never stopped. The repeated images of bloody scenes with his bloody hands never left his mind. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t run away from those shitty nightmares. Hell, he was barely getting any sleep due to it, due to being afraid of shutting his eyes for just one moment. His super-soldier enhancements did help him with not having to sleep as much as the usual human being was required to, but it was getting to the point where it was unhealthy- Even for him. Bucky often felt like just giving up at times, giving himself up to the world. Letting them have their fun, just so he could let go. He often pondered about if the world - or anyone at all - would be able to forgive him. Though a glimmer of hope sometimes did want to shine through, he only let himself be enveloped deeper into his own darkness.
As his shoulder collided with the stranger’s, he instinctively took a light hold of their arm, making sure the person didn’t fall or lose their balance. When Bucky looked up to see their face - her face - he felt like all thoughts in his head were put on hold. His bottom lip trembled a bit for a moment, there was something about her that was so familiar, just on the tip of his tongue. Her voice, her name- Was he imagining things? He had to shake himself out of the trance. “Uhh, I’m James- Most people call me Bucky though.” He reached to shake her hand with his gloved one, and it seemed like his mind was just loading, recalling whatever the hell it was trying to recall.
Steve knew exactly what he was doing. He was tracking down his best friend. He couldn’t let a rogue SHIELD agent get involved. So that’s what he was going to get rid of first.
Not in the sinister way of course. He was would just deter her from stealing this from him again. He couldn’t lose Bucky. Not again. He wouldn’t let himself go through this again. He knew that his heart couldn’t stand it. He knew that things weren’t the most peaceful. It couldn’t be all rainbows and butterflies. It was just reality and reality wasn’t all happy. It was his strange reality that he couldn’t seem to escape.
Sometimes he found himself wondering if it was worth it to get close to people when all that happened was loss, hidden tears and pain. Sometimes he found himself thinking- day dreaming about a simpler life. A life where there was no pain or suffering. A life where he could live in peace. Or maybe no life at all. He stood in a difficult position- a position he never thought he would be in. He never really thought that he would lose his best friend, the love of his life AND get frozen- then wake up- lose the love of his life again- and realize that his best friend had been frozen too and was alive. There were a lot of things in his life that he didn’t quite understand, but standing in Bucharest, he couldn’t help but understand a bit better.
He needed to get to Helena though. He recognized her from a mile away. He could’ve anyway- he knew all the agents of SHIELD- rogue or other wise- and he just wanted to do all of this in peace.
“Agent.” He approached the young woman slowly with his shield in his hand, slightly dropped by his side but ready in hand just in case things went sideways. “It looks like we both followed the same trail.”
-
Carman was in Bucharest because it was genuinely quiet. She didn’t want to know about what was going on. If the avengers were off destroying whatever it was that they were destroying- she wasn’t going to be their clean up crew anymore. She was tired of living in fear and responsibility. She was disgusted by herself and letting herself get to that point. She was gloomy. Awfully gloomy.
She knew exactly who he was. Those bright eyes of his and dark hair… she couldn’t miss him for the world and there was just something about his soul that screamed pain. Something about his soul that was broken, battered and torn. As a deity, she was taught to recognize broken souls… but she could tell by the simple pain in his eyes and the fact that he was alive meant that he must’ve gone through a lot. She thought that he was dead- but she needed to take it slow. Maybe it wasn’t him- maybe it was a doppelgänger- maybe it was someone who looked incredibly like him-
Ok that wasn’t likely. Especially now that he had said his name. “Bucky.” She repeated his name gently under her breath as she thought for a moment. She wondered genuinely if she should tell him who she actually was… that she knew him. That she had adored him in a time before.
But she decided against him and instead she smiled ever so slightly. “Its nice to finally meet my neighbor.” She felt stupid. She felt like everything that she had put into her heart was… gone. Because he hadn’t recognized her name, her heart shattered once more.
It wasn’t his fault. Or at least that’s what she was telling herself. She didn’t look the same as she was so many years ago. But she had the same name. She had the same name as she did so many years ago… so many lives ago and she wondered if he would remember her eventually.
Maybe he would. There was a bit of hope in usually stoic expression. It wasn’t something that happened often… just ask Steve and he would know.
“I have lived here for a while. I’ve never seen you around.”
Making sure the green bag slung over her shoulder wasn’t slipping off, Helena grabbed ahold of it as she manouvered herself away from the bus and into Bucharest’s crowd of a population. She tugged down at her beige cap, eyes focused on her target, which was a specific apartment complex. And even better a specific number. She was lucky to grab ahold of the lead that led her there, and the lead did seem quite trustworthy based on the information she’d gathered. And it made her job a lot easier when having just one flat to focus on- For then she wouldn’t risk making a scene. Or at least not a as huge of a scene. Not yet.
When spotting Steve and that goddamn stripey and spangled shield, Helena knew it would be tough making an escape from his attention. After all, they were both agents, trained to get a mission done. With as little interference from others as possible. And she doubted it would be easy to get to the soldier before the Captain. It added just another fight to her mission, though she doubted it would end in a physical altercation. Or at least she didn’t hope so.
They both technically worked for the same people, but now with the Sokovia Accords seeming to split everyone apart, it felt as if there was no big team of people anymore. Not much information had been given about the accords just yet - or more specifically what was to happen with them - and it seemed a lot of people were feeling misplaced. Such as Helena. She didn’t know what to feel about the accords, but she knew that she still had a job to do, even if she’d gone a bit rogue with it. Someone had to track Barnes down, especially if a specific someone else was going to try and take him before he could face an interrogation for what happened at the UN meeting. She had to admit, something about the attack seemed… off, off in another way. But she didn’t quite know how to place it.
Helena found herself at a more hidden entrance to the flat building, about to head in, when a voice from behind her interrupted her. With a quirked eyebrow, she turned around swiftly and placed her hands in her innerpocket where her gun was. Just in case. “Captain. Not a surprise to see you here.” She admitted. “And it seems the trail has gotten too thin for the both of us to be on it, huh?”
-
It annoyed him. It bugged him. It went at him for what felt like an eternity, when in reality it was simply a few, mere moments. Why couldn’t Bucky place what it was about his neighbor that made something in his head tingle? He was an efficient agent, a trained soldier, a former robot who had been built to handle all tasks possible with an impeccable memory. Yet his neighbor was the one to make him scratch the back of his neck as he could only dwell.
There was just something about her. Something in the look of her eyes. Something about her voice and the way she spoke. Her name. Carman. That’s when it clicked for him, though he knew it wasn’t supposed to click. That name connected to a certain Carman he knew- Who he used to know. Someone who had held such a large meaning to him, someone he held so dear, someone he genuinely let in and cared about… But that person was long gone. Or supposed to be long gone at least. His mind seemed to set him back to a string of memories including his Carman from his past. And people had the same names, it was just a weird coincidence. A coincidence that made him yearn for those days before everything.
Bucky often thought back to the time where he didn’t have as much to worry about; Which was quite funny, since back then he felt like it couldn’t really get worse than that. The drenches, the fights, the hurting. He never knew it could get worse than that. But there he was, after everything. Still somewhat in one piece.
He felt guilty. He felt guilty for having this neighbor have to watch his hands tremble a bit at his sides, which they rarely ever did. Watch him as he obviously had an expression of blankness, not knowing what to say or think. Life was weird. Bucky knew that much. Could it be? Could it be her?
“I was just about to say that too- Don’t feel like I’ve seen you before either.” Bucky chuckled a bit sheepishly, trying to shake away that strong deja vu. “I moved her not too long ago, so wouldn’t be weird if I haven’t bumped into everyone around here.”
He was captain America. He was pretty much unstoppable and having Bucky by his side would definitely help with all of the pain that he had gone through. He knew that he needed to get Bucky back… he needed to get his damn best friend back because he genuinely didn’t know if he could do anything without that man knowing that he was alive and kind of well. He didn’t know much, but what he did know was that he didn’t want SHIELD or the government getting ahold of him.
He didn’t want Bucky to get hurt again and he would do absolutely everything in his power to keep that from happening. He was genuine when he was thinking about that. There wasn’t a day that went by that Bucky wasn’t on his mind. That man was always his best friend, before everything, after everything and now. They would forever be friends.
They’d be with each other til the end of the line. Steve would make sure of that.
He wouldn’t make it easy for Helena to get to Bucky. In fact, if she even tried, he would definitely make her time of trying a living hell even if that meant that he was a fugitive of justice. After all… he was a fugitive of justice more than once before. He wasn’t afraid of the government. He wasn’t afraid of SHIELD or Nick Fury. He wasn’t scared.
He was determined to get his goddamn friend back. And he wasn’t going to lose his best friend again. Not til the end of the line.
Here was the issue. He was in the middle of the accords, in the middle of being an avenger, the middle of being America’s armor… and the middle of being the best friend that he always knew that he needed to be. He needed to be the guy that could help Bucky with everything that he had. Everything that he had left. He needed to make sure that he preserved the things that he loved. He just couldn’t lose anyone else anymore.
“Its honestly not a surprise to see you here either,” he said softly as his dark blue eyes scanned the streets. “I think we’re here for the same thing aren’t we?” he said gruffly with a sigh.
-
There was a slight nod that came from her. In all honesty she was at a loss for words. She was speechless and her mind was truly blank. She wanted to tell him how much she missed him. Her heart broke more and more every single time she thought about him- every day that went by was a day that she thought of him. There was no night when she didn’t go to bed and think about her dear Bucky… when they would come out of the war… she would’ve told him she loved him. But during the war she didn’t want to burden him with emotions.
He didn’t come out of the war.
And every single day- every single night since then she was plagued by thoughts of him. She was plagued by the screams of the war and the many days that she would attempt to comfort Steve and have him crying on her shoulder… she was plagued by nightmares. Every day for centuries, the pain of losing him was genuinely the biggest pain that she had ever experienced in any of her lives. So now that he was standing right in front of her… she wondered what she should do.
Should she tell him all the things that had gone through her mind? Or should she continue to pretend as though she didn’t know him? She didn’t want to lose him again… she couldn’t lose him again.
“I don’t come out of my apartment a lot… its a bit strange but I prefer the comfort of my own floor than any other floor.” It was true. Although she had moved quite a long time ago, she had refused to get many pieces of furniture in case she would have to move again. She often would wake up on the floor when she did sleep on a bed anyway… so she didn’t really need much furniture or a bed- or a mattress for that matter. Her smile was slight, a bit awkward as she looked back at him. “It was nice meeting you.”
There was a pause. She was considering holing herself back into her apartment before she would pack up her things and go, not letting herself get attached again. But… she couldn’t. She couldn’t leave him. “Hey uh Bucky- did you want to get a cup of coffee or something?” She regretted it the minute she said it. She wanted to run and hide… but she couldn’t. Not now.
Helena knew when to meddle things and when not to. Most people did, by using their common sense, obviously. She was usually more careful with covering up her tracks and making sure she wouldn’t hit any problems along the way, but with this specific mission she knew that wasn’t going to be possible. To be honest, she knew she was a pain in the ass for Captain Rogers, but she was doing her job.
Even if she’d gone a bit rogue about it.
And she didn’t want to be a pain in the ass. With everything going on with the UN, Wakanda’s murdered leader, the Winter Soldier, the Sokovia Accords, it seemed as if everything was walking into a path of chaos. Though the world always seemed to be chaotic, or at least always have a twinge of a sense of disorganisation, she knew things were starting to go really bad. It felt like the sense of justice was slowly decaying, and though details were fuzzy about a lot of things, she knew she had to do her job and do her best. That’s all she could do.
When Helena had realised S.H.I.E.L.D was simply letting German forces and polices get to Barnes instead, she was in no way going to have to trust them to do their job and just stand by as a member of an audience. It wasn’t that she didn’t have faith in those forces, but she knew it would be too noisy and too risky. She knew she could do it, making sure to have back-up with her. She did feel sympathy for Steve though, it was hard not to. From what she’d gathered, those two had been through quite a lot together. And though it was hard not to give into her sympathetic feelings, she knew she had to at least get the guy caught and interrogated. Give the government a chance of clearing things up.
But she would be lying if she said it wasn’t just a bit fun to piss Rogers off during the whole ordeal.
“Or rather, someone.” Helena retorted in a mild tone of voice, glancing down at the watch on her wrist. She knew she only had a certain amount of time before the GSF would get their hands dirty too, and that time had to be spent wisely. “Listen, I don’t want it to end up like this. But it’s work, I do what I do, you do what you do. And I’m guessing you’re going to want to stand in my way, so I’ll have to stand in yours.”
38 seconds ‘til she had to enter.
-
Thinking back to the war was never quite… pleasant. Though Bucky knew the friendships he’d gained with the Howling Commando’s had been a pro to all the many cons, there were still cons enough to outweigh any pros there ever could have been. Maybe the beginning war had actually been the easiest part- Since what had really messed him up was everything that occurred in between and after.
The war itself gave him flashbacks enough. Blood-soaked uniforms, broken dog tags, disgusting drenches. It hurt enough to be there himself, but what was worse was when his best friend just had to get himself into it too. And though he knew they both were just men, trying to do something good for their country and offer their service, he still didn’t want Steve there.
War was a place where the friends you made were quickly lost in one way or the other, though death was by far the worst abductor. And no way in hell did he want to have to watch Steve sacrifice himself for the war, but it seemed like Bucky had been the one to get the tough, uneasy road when Hydra got to him and dug their claws into him. Even more blood-soaked uniforms. Shattered name-tags that he had broken. The endless testing and brainwashing. It was all so much worse and so much harder to forget.
It seemed like the only thing that kept him going was the faint memories that at times came to him. As a fog and a haze, just barely there, always slipping through the gaps between his fingers when he tried to grasp it. And in that fog was Carman. Before his Hydra days he’d been planning to confess something important to her after he could return home from the war, tell her how much she truly meant to him. But any ideas of that were quickly ripped from him. In all senses, and he was just left to his haze and his confusion, though much more stuff was coming back to him.
Such as Steve. Such as Carman.
“No, no, I get it. I’m pretty much the same.” Bucky smiled a bit sheepishly and awkwardly, hoping he didn’t seem to out of it. It was as if his mind was constantly switching between memories he was recalling and the face in front of him, who, despite not matching the one in his blurred collection of moments, still had a twinge of familiarity to it. The name. The voice. He didn’t know what to make of it.
And she only seemed more distinct when she said his name. “Oh, uhh, sure. I’d like that.”
“Oh come on, you’re kidding me…” Helena muttered under her breath with her microphone muted during a meeting with some fellow S.H.I.E.L.D agents and their boss, Nick Fury. Her slender fingers drummed against her desk, trying to disguise the obvious look of disappointment in her face; The crease in her forehead, the slightly raised eyebrows, the look in her eyes that sent daggers flying through the air if eyes and looks could kill.
Looking at the calendar - or rather plan of sorts - set out in front of her on the screen, she wanted to roll her eyes. The meeting was dragging on for all of the solo agents it seemed, and it was clear their upcoming months weren’t going to be that eventful. Now, that may sound wrong, since who the hell would want disasters or acts of terror to happen just to be able to do their job and have something to do? It wasn’t that, it was more that, well… Helena knew she’d have to resort to some very long-term technological work in that division for a while, ‘cause for once there were almost too many people on one job. Even after the last train wreck the world had been through with the UN attack and the whole Winter Soldier ordeal that seemed to be firing up in the media.
No way in hell could she just take a seat, lean back and work in another division for a little while. She liked keeping her pace, keeping her solo agent work. When her mind seemed to think back to the Winter Soldier ordeal, an idea popped up in her mind. And she knew she had to act on it. Both for her own sanity, for her job and maybe to try and one-up that one Captain Rogers who had been rumoured to be set on finding the soldier.
So, by capturing loose thread and various leads, Helena was on a good track and found a lot of witness testimonies that had a connection; All to one place. And there she was on a street in Bucharest.
-
Getting used to a somewhat normal life as a civilian wasn’t exactly an easy task; At least not when having a past of basically being a killing robot used by a Nazi organisation. When trying to pick a place that was good enough to try and build up a foundation for a steady and anything else than abnormal life, there were many things to think of and many questions to ask. The where, what, whyandwhen. Somewhere off grid, but not too obviously off-grid so it could be a place somewhere would look and try and find him. Somewhere with people, a few too many, so there were a few too many to be able to blend in with. Somewhere he wouldn’t easily be singled out as the odd man out. So, Bucky chose Bucharest.
Barnes’ days were spent trying to get his life somewhat together, even though things weren’t looking amazing just yet. Who was he kidding- Things were looking shitty, and that’s how it was. The dirty mattress on the floor that he’d found dumped at some dumpsite, the cramped kitchen and the foggy windows. He was living in a shit-hole. But it was his, and he didn’t exactly have any other bigger or better places to go. Besides, he’d been through worse. He’d seen worse. Lived worse.
Bucky did his usual morning routine of making sure every lock worked and making sure his stash of items that were left beneath some floorboards were still there, all stuffed in a backpack. In it were general supplies, but even maps of the sewers and escape routes; Just in case.
Locking the door to his apartment, he kept his face down, adjusting his cap as he walked down the narrow hall to the stairwell. He was so focused on making sure no one really could get a good look at him that he bumped into a stranger’s shoulder on accident. “Oh- I’m sorry, I didn’t see you-”
Helena double-checked that her gun was loaded- just in case, of course. Making sure there were enough rounds, the silencer was on, that it couldn’t be seen beneath her jacket. It was all one big routine and habit, a good one too when it came to her line of work and career choice. She hadn’t always wanted to be an agent, it was a bit of a sudden thing for her. She couldn’t explain it, but after university and after getting her degrees, something had flipped. A switch had been nagged with in her head and mind, and suddenly she felt as if that was the right job for her. It took work - Hell, a lot of it - But she knew what she was fighting for; A better place for those people in the world who deserved it to be a better place.
Maybe coming from a family with a mother who was in an infamous criminal group that was involved in many illegal activities drove her even more to have that will to fight, that urge, that natural adrenaline that could keep her going, as long as she knew where her goal was. She and her mother were obviously different in many ways, their paths in life clearly being one big difference between the two. Despite that fact, they had some similarities too. Helena could remember her mum being a workaholic, back when she didn’t know exactly what her profession was. There was never a day she didn’t have tired bags under her eyes, never a day she didn’t leave early and come home late only to sleep and start the same routine again. Her daughter ended up the same way, but using this hardworking nature elsewhere and for something better, a better cause.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she tugged down at the sleeves of her brown jacket, adjusting the hems as she hopped out of a bus, making sure to pay in cash so no one could trace her back to that vehicle. Her eyes flickered to the many people roaming the street, the different faces- the unfamiliar faces. Helena had worked missions in many place, but she couldn’t quite recall a place that seemed similar to Bucharest. That city seemed to be its own thing, but it had that familiar taste to it anyway. Like it wasn’t too hard to fade into the scene, which was exactly what she needed. Especially if she wanted to miss the attention of a certain Steve Rogers, who she knew most likely had gotten to the same leads she had. And once she spotted a familiar face in the sea of strangers, she knew she was in for it.
-
Days were always heavy in Bucharest, along with the foggy, polluted air. The city always stayed the same, never had that same spontaneous nature like New York or some other big city. It often felt like cities were alive in some way, but that area in Bucharest the ex-soldier found himself residing in felt barely alive. Rather it felt like a decaying place, half-ruins of buildings, tangled skylines, half-rotten trees, muggers and thieves waiting to strike at every market. But despite it all, he knew it was the place he had the biggest chance of even having a chance. A chance to just be a bit normal. Or act like it at least. The sky always seemed to be so damn dreary in that city Bucky now called home- Or rather had to call home.
Though he thought escaping and getting a small apartment would ease himself a little, the nightmares never stopped. The repeated images of bloody scenes with his bloody hands never left his mind. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t run away from those shitty nightmares. Hell, he was barely getting any sleep due to it, due to being afraid of shutting his eyes for just one moment. His super-soldier enhancements did help him with not having to sleep as much as the usual human being was required to, but it was getting to the point where it was unhealthy- Even for him. Bucky often felt like just giving up at times, giving himself up to the world. Letting them have their fun, just so he could let go. He often pondered about if the world - or anyone at all - would be able to forgive him. Though a glimmer of hope sometimes did want to shine through, he only let himself be enveloped deeper into his own darkness.
As his shoulder collided with the stranger’s, he instinctively took a light hold of their arm, making sure the person didn’t fall or lose their balance. When Bucky looked up to see their face - her face - he felt like all thoughts in his head were put on hold. His bottom lip trembled a bit for a moment, there was something about her that was so familiar, just on the tip of his tongue. Her voice, her name- Was he imagining things? He had to shake himself out of the trance. “Uhh, I’m James- Most people call me Bucky though.” He reached to shake her hand with his gloved one, and it seemed like his mind was just loading, recalling whatever the hell it was trying to recall.
Steve knew exactly what he was doing. He was tracking down his best friend. He couldn’t let a rogue SHIELD agent get involved. So that’s what he was going to get rid of first.
Not in the sinister way of course. He was would just deter her from stealing this from him again. He couldn’t lose Bucky. Not again. He wouldn’t let himself go through this again. He knew that his heart couldn’t stand it. He knew that things weren’t the most peaceful. It couldn’t be all rainbows and butterflies. It was just reality and reality wasn’t all happy. It was his strange reality that he couldn’t seem to escape.
Sometimes he found himself wondering if it was worth it to get close to people when all that happened was loss, hidden tears and pain. Sometimes he found himself thinking- day dreaming about a simpler life. A life where there was no pain or suffering. A life where he could live in peace. Or maybe no life at all. He stood in a difficult position- a position he never thought he would be in. He never really thought that he would lose his best friend, the love of his life AND get frozen- then wake up- lose the love of his life again- and realize that his best friend had been frozen too and was alive. There were a lot of things in his life that he didn’t quite understand, but standing in Bucharest, he couldn’t help but understand a bit better.
He needed to get to Helena though. He recognized her from a mile away. He could’ve anyway- he knew all the agents of SHIELD- rogue or other wise- and he just wanted to do all of this in peace.
“Agent.” He approached the young woman slowly with his shield in his hand, slightly dropped by his side but ready in hand just in case things went sideways. “It looks like we both followed the same trail.”
-
Carman was in Bucharest because it was genuinely quiet. She didn’t want to know about what was going on. If the avengers were off destroying whatever it was that they were destroying- she wasn’t going to be their clean up crew anymore. She was tired of living in fear and responsibility. She was disgusted by herself and letting herself get to that point. She was gloomy. Awfully gloomy.
She knew exactly who he was. Those bright eyes of his and dark hair… she couldn’t miss him for the world and there was just something about his soul that screamed pain. Something about his soul that was broken, battered and torn. As a deity, she was taught to recognize broken souls… but she could tell by the simple pain in his eyes and the fact that he was alive meant that he must’ve gone through a lot. She thought that he was dead- but she needed to take it slow. Maybe it wasn’t him- maybe it was a doppelgänger- maybe it was someone who looked incredibly like him-
Ok that wasn’t likely. Especially now that he had said his name. “Bucky.” She repeated his name gently under her breath as she thought for a moment. She wondered genuinely if she should tell him who she actually was… that she knew him. That she had adored him in a time before.
But she decided against him and instead she smiled ever so slightly. “Its nice to finally meet my neighbor.” She felt stupid. She felt like everything that she had put into her heart was… gone. Because he hadn’t recognized her name, her heart shattered once more.
It wasn’t his fault. Or at least that’s what she was telling herself. She didn’t look the same as she was so many years ago. But she had the same name. She had the same name as she did so many years ago… so many lives ago and she wondered if he would remember her eventually.
Maybe he would. There was a bit of hope in usually stoic expression. It wasn’t something that happened often… just ask Steve and he would know.
“I have lived here for a while. I’ve never seen you around.”
Making sure the green bag slung over her shoulder wasn’t slipping off, Helena grabbed ahold of it as she manouvered herself away from the bus and into Bucharest’s crowd of a population. She tugged down at her beige cap, eyes focused on her target, which was a specific apartment complex. And even better a specific number. She was lucky to grab ahold of the lead that led her there, and the lead did seem quite trustworthy based on the information she’d gathered. And it made her job a lot easier when having just one flat to focus on- For then she wouldn’t risk making a scene. Or at least not a as huge of a scene. Not yet.
When spotting Steve and that goddamn stripey and spangled shield, Helena knew it would be tough making an escape from his attention. After all, they were both agents, trained to get a mission done. With as little interference from others as possible. And she doubted it would be easy to get to the soldier before the Captain. It added just another fight to her mission, though she doubted it would end in a physical altercation. Or at least she didn’t hope so.
They both technically worked for the same people, but now with the Sokovia Accords seeming to split everyone apart, it felt as if there was no big team of people anymore. Not much information had been given about the accords just yet - or more specifically what was to happen with them - and it seemed a lot of people were feeling misplaced. Such as Helena. She didn’t know what to feel about the accords, but she knew that she still had a job to do, even if she’d gone a bit rogue with it. Someone had to track Barnes down, especially if a specific someone else was going to try and take him before he could face an interrogation for what happened at the UN meeting. She had to admit, something about the attack seemed… off, off in another way. But she didn’t quite know how to place it.
Helena found herself at a more hidden entrance to the flat building, about to head in, when a voice from behind her interrupted her. With a quirked eyebrow, she turned around swiftly and placed her hands in her innerpocket where her gun was. Just in case. “Captain. Not a surprise to see you here.” She admitted. “And it seems the trail has gotten too thin for the both of us to be on it, huh?”
-
It annoyed him. It bugged him. It went at him for what felt like an eternity, when in reality it was simply a few, mere moments. Why couldn’t Bucky place what it was about his neighbor that made something in his head tingle? He was an efficient agent, a trained soldier, a former robot who had been built to handle all tasks possible with an impeccable memory. Yet his neighbor was the one to make him scratch the back of his neck as he could only dwell.
There was just something about her. Something in the look of her eyes. Something about her voice and the way she spoke. Her name. Carman. That’s when it clicked for him, though he knew it wasn’t supposed to click. That name connected to a certain Carman he knew- Who he used to know. Someone who had held such a large meaning to him, someone he held so dear, someone he genuinely let in and cared about… But that person was long gone. Or supposed to be long gone at least. His mind seemed to set him back to a string of memories including his Carman from his past. And people had the same names, it was just a weird coincidence. A coincidence that made him yearn for those days before everything.
Bucky often thought back to the time where he didn’t have as much to worry about; Which was quite funny, since back then he felt like it couldn’t really get worse than that. The drenches, the fights, the hurting. He never knew it could get worse than that. But there he was, after everything. Still somewhat in one piece.
He felt guilty. He felt guilty for having this neighbor have to watch his hands tremble a bit at his sides, which they rarely ever did. Watch him as he obviously had an expression of blankness, not knowing what to say or think. Life was weird. Bucky knew that much. Could it be? Could it be her?
“I was just about to say that too- Don’t feel like I’ve seen you before either.” Bucky chuckled a bit sheepishly, trying to shake away that strong deja vu. “I moved her not too long ago, so wouldn’t be weird if I haven’t bumped into everyone around here.”
It all felt sudden. Every movement, every thought, every breath, every loud, blaring noise. It was odd- Just knowing something started so suddenly, yet not knowing if it had begun before one’s notice. That’s what was in Helena’s mind to say the least. The unavoidable sound of an alarm, squeaky hinges and metal banging against metal made her head ache even more than it already was. She fought to get air into her lungs, trying to stand on her feet, but her balance couldn’t keep her up. She wasmoving. The contraption she was stuck in was moving. She then took a moment to think, think of anything she could remember; For example an answer to how the hell she ended up in some sort of frightening and dark elevator. But everything was blank, just blank. She reached for loose threads in her mind, grasping for anything at all, but there was nothing but darkness that simply mirrored the one she found herself enveloped in.
While banging on the metal bars, so hard and desperately that her hands were getting bruised and bloody, Helena tried to scream. But her voice didn’t give in, and it was more like a small croak of a voice. She felt the true, unsettling panic begin to set in, that feeling of truly having no sense of orientation whatsoever. Like being a goldfish, placed from a small bowl to the ocean. But she couldn’t adjust, for how much was there to adjust to? What was she even adjusting from? Her heartbeat quickened even more as she felt the contraption halt, and she fell limp in the corner. For a moment she thought she was destined to stay captured, stuck there for ever in some hole; Despite that, her thoughts were disproved as she saw a hatch over her starting to open, rays of sunshine peaking into the box.
♖
Thomas felt his back sink against the tree, the harsh bark of it contrasting to his warm and sun-sick skin beneath his shirt. He rubbed his head and his temples, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Even though he was getting at least a bit used to the Glade, he still couldn’t quite fathom everything. Yeah, he somewhat understood the basics, but what nagged at him was that once trying to delve into the deeper, more intriguing questions, then everything was left with a large question mark. The questions like whoandwhy. The most important ones that he wanted answered- That he knew everyone most likely wanted answered. It all hurt his head when he thought too much about it. And though everyone around him, everyone in the group of boys, everyone in charge, told him to just try and get the best out of their situation and not think too much about it, it just worsened things.
He had to admit they could be right. After all, nights at the fire with his new friends or whatever they hell were could be surprisingly nice and fun. Time to let loose, try to let go, even though he hadn’t had much time to think of exactly what they were letting loose from. But he felt the stress buried beneath them all, that sinking sand everyone experienced and tried, to a certain degree, to not let get the best of them. The sound of an only somewhat familiar blaring alarm caught his attention immediately, and once he saw everyone gathering, following them quickly, he could only guess he wasn’t going to be the greenie anymore.
The sunlight, that both seemed to suddenly and gradually creep into the odd box contraption Helena was stuck in, annoyed her eyes as she let them adjust, quickly looking for something to defend herself with. There were only large boxes with what seemed like resources and other materials, and that caught her attention for a moment. Those things were clearly for, well, living. Food, clothes, water, so on and so forth. Where the hell was she going? Where the hell was she now? Or before?
Helena looked up and saw a group of people- Seemingly all male except for one female. She felt her heartbeat only quicken once more; After all, she had no idea what these peoples intentions were. Shit, she didn’t know anything at all. Not even her name or who she was in general. Well, there seemed to be a few pieces up somewhere in her head, but it was all just jumbled into a big, unrecognisable mess. She had to deal with it later though. “Who the hell are you people and why the hell am I here!” Helena kept to her corner in the box, voice hoarse and clearly weak from not being used before. What was here. She just needed answers.
♖
Thomas almost felt a surge of nostalgia, a feeling of deja vu washing over him as he heard that blaring, loud alarm that echoed across the Glade, bouncing off of the four concrete walls. Those stone walls that were already getting tiring- Tiring enough at least. He sometimes felt as if he was the person who felt most urgently about getting out. He knew everyone did what they did, kept their routine, tended to the place they called their home, because that’s all they could do. Thats all they all could do. And he respected that, but he found simply couldn’t let go of it all- Whatever the hell that was anyway.
He took a few steps towards the crowd, watching as they peered their heads into the box. Something seemed to surprise them and send waves of mumbles and whispers to each other, and he found himself pushing a bit forward to get a look at the Greenie. Thomas found a place next to Scarlett and Alby, eyebrows shot up ina look of surprise as he saw the newbie- Another girl. “Huh, seems you’ll have a new friend.” He said to Scarlett.
Scarlett waited until the box had come up, getting that familiar feeling of being in the box too. The panicked feeling of having no idea who you were, how you got there or even whereyou were going. Scarlett still wondered what were beyond those four stone walls. She had asked in the past but no one would give her an answer. So she didn’t ask again. But she still wondered.
Scarlett stepped forward to peek inside the box, eyebrows also raising in surprise when she saw that there was another girl. At least she wouldn’t be the only girl anymore. “Yeah.” she nodded at Thomas. Poor girl.. she looked terrified. Just like she was. And the Greenies after her.
“Another girl.” Newt commented after opening the metal gate with Alby’s help. Surprised murmurs erupted through the crowd, until Alby told them to be quiet. Newt looked down at the Greenie. “Welcome to the Glade, greenie.” he said. “Grab onto my hand and we’ll get you out.”
Newt had lost count of how many times he had said that phrase over the two years he had been stuck in here. He wasn’t the first one to arrive, Alby was, but he arrived after Minho did. Pushing those thoughts out of his head, turning his attention back to the Greenie, the new girl. “Alby will explain everything, alright?”
Helena backed up against the wall as she watched many heads peer down into the box, making obvious comments about her and she caught a few names in between their bustling conversation. From what she could see, it seemed to be an all boy group except for one other girl, and she was already a bit, if not very, intimidated. But at least she wasn’t the only one.
“Alby? Who’s Alby?” She questioned, cautiously taking the stranger’s hand as he welcomed her to- That was another question she had. “And what the hell is the Glade?” Her head pounded with the amount of questions bombarding her brain as she got pulled out of the box, and once she got a view of the place she had been put in, she got silent. Four stone walls, covering each side, and four openings. She didn’t get it. She didn’t know if there was anything to get.
♖
Thomas tried to ignore the group’s comments, some ranging from friendly and just welcoming to borderline weird or a bit offensive. He knew what it felt like to sit down there and feel as if you missed the punchline of a joke, and that joke and punchline is your future life. They had all been through that. And he began thinking about how all the others had reacted when first arriving to the glade. Especially the first person: Alby. Or the first girl: Scarlett.
He watched as they pulled the new Greenie out of the box, helping Frypan and some others load out the boxes of resources and whatnot: Including a new hammock. “It’ll be fine, she’ll be fine.” Thomas looked to Scarlett, who he could tell was feeling sympathy for the girl. He did too, of course, but he knew it was best to quiet things down until she could get a chance to get used to it all.
Newt pulled her out of the box, vaguely hearing Alby telling the others to back up and give the Greenie space. He ignored the chatter from the other Gladers. He looked at Alby who stepped forward. “The glade is where we live.” he said. “Follow me, I’ll give you a tour.” Newt watched as the other boys started to unload the box with the supplies they got every month. “Get back to work, everyone.” Newt said, using his power as second in command. The crowd slowly dispersed except for the boys who were still unloading the supplies.
“Follow me.” Alby said to Helena before walking. “Can you tell me your name?” he asked. Sometimes Greenie remembered their names quickly but it usually took a day or two. “I’m Alby.” Newt had gone back to the gardens with the other track-hoes until he was needed else where.
Scarlett nodded, “Yeah, she will.” she said. Well, she hoped. “Well, I better go help Frypan with the supplies. I’ll see you later Thomas.” With that, she turned and walked to the kitchen, helping Frypan and the other cooks with the supplies. Scarlett was curious about the newbie, the new girl.
Gally would pop in soon, to get whatever he needed for his ‘special brew’ which he was still secretive about. The runners would also be back soon since the doors closed at night. And thank heavens they did because of the Grievers. Scarlett had never seen one but she never wanted to.
Helena let the stranger pull her up from the box, instantly feeling the contrast between the cold, almost icy temperature down in the contraption compared to the warm rays of the sun. The sun. At least she could remember basic things, but anything personal seemed far away in her mind, yet also just on the tip of her tongue. As she listened to the stranger, she let her eyes wander, simply observing her surroundings. She knew she could try to run, but there was most likely no point. She would have to wait and listen.
“I’m sorry but- Whats that?” Helena asked, pointing at one of the four openings by the stone walls. She couldn’t quite see what was past those openings, it just seemed like… more walls. More barricades. Were they meant to be barricades? She shook her thoughts away and followed who she could guess to be the leader of sorts, trying to ignore the prying eyes that rested on her. “Nice to meet you… I- I can’t remember my name. I don’t know why.”
-
Thomas jumped into the box, lifting and pushing the boxes onto the green grass that bent beneath the weight. He made sure to count how many boxes there were, there were always the same amount, and though it wasn’t something to worry much about, he noticed something. There was one box less than there used to be. He found it odd, but what was he to think. Maybe it was a mistake. Or maybe he just didn’t want to put too much thought into it or interpret something that would scare him or anyone else.
“Yeah, I’ll see you later.” Thomas offered a short wave and a warm smile to Scarlett as he watched her leave. One of the only things he liked about the Glade was how close everyone was - or had to be. The teamwork and effort they all put in to keep things going was admirable, to say the least. They were a family. And he was thankful to have them, both those he was close with and those he wasn’t close with.
“Oh come on, you’re kidding me…” Helena muttered under her breath with her microphone muted during a meeting with some fellow S.H.I.E.L.D agents and their boss, Nick Fury. Her slender fingers drummed against her desk, trying to disguise the obvious look of disappointment in her face; The crease in her forehead, the slightly raised eyebrows, the look in her eyes that sent daggers flying through the air if eyes and looks could kill.
Looking at the calendar - or rather plan of sorts - set out in front of her on the screen, she wanted to roll her eyes. The meeting was dragging on for all of the solo agents it seemed, and it was clear their upcoming months weren’t going to be that eventful. Now, that may sound wrong, since who the hell would want disasters or acts of terror to happen just to be able to do their job and have something to do? It wasn’t that, it was more that, well… Helena knew she’d have to resort to some very long-term technological work in that division for a while, ‘cause for once there were almost too many people on one job. Even after the last train wreck the world had been through with the UN attack and the whole Winter Soldier ordeal that seemed to be firing up in the media.
No way in hell could she just take a seat, lean back and work in another division for a little while. She liked keeping her pace, keeping her solo agent work. When her mind seemed to think back to the Winter Soldier ordeal, an idea popped up in her mind. And she knew she had to act on it. Both for her own sanity, for her job and maybe to try and one-up that one Captain Rogers who had been rumoured to be set on finding the soldier.
So, by capturing loose thread and various leads, Helena was on a good track and found a lot of witness testimonies that had a connection; All to one place. And there she was on a street in Bucharest.
-
Getting used to a somewhat normal life as a civilian wasn’t exactly an easy task; At least not when having a past of basically being a killing robot used by a Nazi organisation. When trying to pick a place that was good enough to try and build up a foundation for a steady and anything else than abnormal life, there were many things to think of and many questions to ask. The where, what, whyandwhen. Somewhere off grid, but not too obviously off-grid so it could be a place somewhere would look and try and find him. Somewhere with people, a few too many, so there were a few too many to be able to blend in with. Somewhere he wouldn’t easily be singled out as the odd man out. So, Bucky chose Bucharest.
Barnes’ days were spent trying to get his life somewhat together, even though things weren’t looking amazing just yet. Who was he kidding- Things were looking shitty, and that’s how it was. The dirty mattress on the floor that he’d found dumped at some dumpsite, the cramped kitchen and the foggy windows. He was living in a shit-hole. But it was his, and he didn’t exactly have any other bigger or better places to go. Besides, he’d been through worse. He’d seen worse. Lived worse.
Bucky did his usual morning routine of making sure every lock worked and making sure his stash of items that were left beneath some floorboards were still there, all stuffed in a backpack. In it were general supplies, but even maps of the sewers and escape routes; Just in case.
Locking the door to his apartment, he kept his face down, adjusting his cap as he walked down the narrow hall to the stairwell. He was so focused on making sure no one really could get a good look at him that he bumped into a stranger’s shoulder on accident. “Oh- I’m sorry, I didn’t see you-”
Helena double-checked that her gun was loaded- just in case, of course. Making sure there were enough rounds, the silencer was on, that it couldn’t be seen beneath her jacket. It was all one big routine and habit, a good one too when it came to her line of work and career choice. She hadn’t always wanted to be an agent, it was a bit of a sudden thing for her. She couldn’t explain it, but after university and after getting her degrees, something had flipped. A switch had been nagged with in her head and mind, and suddenly she felt as if that was the right job for her. It took work - Hell, a lot of it - But she knew what she was fighting for; A better place for those people in the world who deserved it to be a better place.
Maybe coming from a family with a mother who was in an infamous criminal group that was involved in many illegal activities drove her even more to have that will to fight, that urge, that natural adrenaline that could keep her going, as long as she knew where her goal was. She and her mother were obviously different in many ways, their paths in life clearly being one big difference between the two. Despite that fact, they had some similarities too. Helena could remember her mum being a workaholic, back when she didn’t know exactly what her profession was. There was never a day she didn’t have tired bags under her eyes, never a day she didn’t leave early and come home late only to sleep and start the same routine again. Her daughter ended up the same way, but using this hardworking nature elsewhere and for something better, a better cause.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she tugged down at the sleeves of her brown jacket, adjusting the hems as she hopped out of a bus, making sure to pay in cash so no one could trace her back to that vehicle. Her eyes flickered to the many people roaming the street, the different faces- the unfamiliar faces. Helena had worked missions in many place, but she couldn’t quite recall a place that seemed similar to Bucharest. That city seemed to be its own thing, but it had that familiar taste to it anyway. Like it wasn’t too hard to fade into the scene, which was exactly what she needed. Especially if she wanted to miss the attention of a certain Steve Rogers, who she knew most likely had gotten to the same leads she had. And once she spotted a familiar face in the sea of strangers, she knew she was in for it.
-
Days were always heavy in Bucharest, along with the foggy, polluted air. The city always stayed the same, never had that same spontaneous nature like New York or some other big city. It often felt like cities were alive in some way, but that area in Bucharest the ex-soldier found himself residing in felt barely alive. Rather it felt like a decaying place, half-ruins of buildings, tangled skylines, half-rotten trees, muggers and thieves waiting to strike at every market. But despite it all, he knew it was the place he had the biggest chance of even having a chance. A chance to just be a bit normal. Or act like it at least. The sky always seemed to be so damn dreary in that city Bucky now called home- Or rather had to call home.
Though he thought escaping and getting a small apartment would ease himself a little, the nightmares never stopped. The repeated images of bloody scenes with his bloody hands never left his mind. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t run away from those shitty nightmares. Hell, he was barely getting any sleep due to it, due to being afraid of shutting his eyes for just one moment. His super-soldier enhancements did help him with not having to sleep as much as the usual human being was required to, but it was getting to the point where it was unhealthy- Even for him. Bucky often felt like just giving up at times, giving himself up to the world. Letting them have their fun, just so he could let go. He often pondered about if the world - or anyone at all - would be able to forgive him. Though a glimmer of hope sometimes did want to shine through, he only let himself be enveloped deeper into his own darkness.
As his shoulder collided with the stranger’s, he instinctively took a light hold of their arm, making sure the person didn’t fall or lose their balance. When Bucky looked up to see their face - her face - he felt like all thoughts in his head were put on hold. His bottom lip trembled a bit for a moment, there was something about her that was so familiar, just on the tip of his tongue. Her voice, her name- Was he imagining things? He had to shake himself out of the trance. “Uhh, I’m James- Most people call me Bucky though.” He reached to shake her hand with his gloved one, and it seemed like his mind was just loading, recalling whatever the hell it was trying to recall.
Tony paused and looked at Helena for a moment, sizing her up. He offered her a sideways grin, tilting his head as he looked. “A man like me? You mean, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist?” he teased, winking playfully. “I’m just messin’ with ya, Helena Bennet. Stay sharp.”
He took his eyes off her and grinned at the waitress, exchanging a few words with her as he took the coffee and sipped it. Cheryl wadded up a napkin and lightly bounced it off Helena’s shoulder. “Smooth,” she giggled.
Helena laughed and shook her head slightly, realising just how nervous she was and probably seemed as well. She didn’t mean to be so cautious, but since it was, well, Tony goddamn Stark, a man with a high reputation and her boss. “You read my thoughts word for word,” She joked with a light chuckle. “You too, Stark.”
She felt a sigh of relief heave out of her chest as he seemed to turn his attention elsewhere, looking to Cheryl with a grin, jokingly pretending to wipe a pearl of sweat off of her forehead. “I got a bit fidgety,” She giggled along with her.
“Ya think?” Cheryl chuckled under her breath, resting her elbows on the table between them. Her twinkling eyes seemed to laugh as well. She glanced at Stark schmoozing with the other patrons before returning her attention to Helena.
“To be honest? Most people freeze up when they try to talk to him,” she complimented her companion. “Or they open their mouths to speak and gibberish comes out. You actually did really well. Tony’s just so goddamn charismatic, he has that affect on people.” @helenabennet
“Not my fault that I didn’t expect to meet the mega-boss here!” Helena laughed, the crimson colour on the tips of her ears starting to fade away, clearly shaking off the embarrassment. She couldn’t help but keep think of she did or said the right things; She was just thankful Cheryl could bring her back to ground-level.
Glancing to the patrons and employees as they seemed to fluster about to get Stark a warm bagel, she listened intently to the woman across from her. “I don’t blame them one bit,” Helena chuckled, taking a sip of her beverage. “And thank you, I think if I’d been alone at this booth I would have frozen up like everyone else too.”
“Oh come on, you’re kidding me…” Helena muttered under her breath with her microphone muted during a meeting with some fellow S.H.I.E.L.D agents and their boss, Nick Fury. Her slender fingers drummed against her desk, trying to disguise the obvious look of disappointment in her face; The crease in her forehead, the slightly raised eyebrows, the look in her eyes that sent daggers flying through the air if eyes and looks could kill.
Looking at the calendar - or rather plan of sorts - set out in front of her on the screen, she wanted to roll her eyes. The meeting was dragging on for all of the solo agents it seemed, and it was clear their upcoming months weren’t going to be that eventful. Now, that may sound wrong, since who the hell would want disasters or acts of terror to happen just to be able to do their job and have something to do? It wasn’t that, it was more that, well… Helena knew she’d have to resort to some very long-term technological work in that division for a while, ‘cause for once there were almost too many people on one job. Even after the last train wreck the world had been through with the UN attack and the whole Winter Soldier ordeal that seemed to be firing up in the media.
No way in hell could she just take a seat, lean back and work in another division for a little while. She liked keeping her pace, keeping her solo agent work. When her mind seemed to think back to the Winter Soldier ordeal, an idea popped up in her mind. And she knew she had to act on it. Both for her own sanity, for her job and maybe to try and one-up that one Captain Rogers who had been rumoured to be set on finding the soldier.
So, by capturing loose thread and various leads, Helena was on a good track and found a lot of witness testimonies that had a connection; All to one place. And there she was on a street in Bucharest.
-
Getting used to a somewhat normal life as a civilian wasn’t exactly an easy task; At least not when having a past of basically being a killing robot used by a Nazi organisation. When trying to pick a place that was good enough to try and build up a foundation for a steady and anything else than abnormal life, there were many things to think of and many questions to ask. The where, what, whyandwhen. Somewhere off grid, but not too obviously off-grid so it could be a place somewhere would look and try and find him. Somewhere with people, a few too many, so there were a few too many to be able to blend in with. Somewhere he wouldn’t easily be singled out as the odd man out. So, Bucky chose Bucharest.
Barnes’ days were spent trying to get his life somewhat together, even though things weren’t looking amazing just yet. Who was he kidding- Things were looking shitty, and that’s how it was. The dirty mattress on the floor that he’d found dumped at some dumpsite, the cramped kitchen and the foggy windows. He was living in a shit-hole. But it was his, and he didn’t exactly have any other bigger or better places to go. Besides, he’d been through worse. He’d seen worse. Lived worse.
Bucky did his usual morning routine of making sure every lock worked and making sure his stash of items that were left beneath some floorboards were still there, all stuffed in a backpack. In it were general supplies, but even maps of the sewers and escape routes; Just in case.
Locking the door to his apartment, he kept his face down, adjusting his cap as he walked down the narrow hall to the stairwell. He was so focused on making sure no one really could get a good look at him that he bumped into a stranger’s shoulder on accident. “Oh- I’m sorry, I didn’t see you-”
It all felt sudden. Every movement, every thought, every breath, every loud, blaring noise. It was odd- Just knowing something started so suddenly, yet not knowing if it had begun before one’s notice. That’s what was in Helena’s mind to say the least. The unavoidable sound of an alarm, squeaky hinges and metal banging against metal made her head ache even more than it already was. She fought to get air into her lungs, trying to stand on her feet, but her balance couldn’t keep her up. She wasmoving. The contraption she was stuck in was moving. She then took a moment to think, think of anything she could remember; For example an answer to how the hell she ended up in some sort of frightening and dark elevator. But everything was blank, just blank. She reached for loose threads in her mind, grasping for anything at all, but there was nothing but darkness that simply mirrored the one she found herself enveloped in.
While banging on the metal bars, so hard and desperately that her hands were getting bruised and bloody, Helena tried to scream. But her voice didn’t give in, and it was more like a small croak of a voice. She felt the true, unsettling panic begin to set in, that feeling of truly having no sense of orientation whatsoever. Like being a goldfish, placed from a small bowl to the ocean. But she couldn’t adjust, for how much was there to adjust to? What was she even adjusting from? Her heartbeat quickened even more as she felt the contraption halt, and she fell limp in the corner. For a moment she thought she was destined to stay captured, stuck there for ever in some hole; Despite that, her thoughts were disproved as she saw a hatch over her starting to open, rays of sunshine peaking into the box.
♖
Thomas felt his back sink against the tree, the harsh bark of it contrasting to his warm and sun-sick skin beneath his shirt. He rubbed his head and his temples, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Even though he was getting at least a bit used to the Glade, he still couldn’t quite fathom everything. Yeah, he somewhat understood the basics, but what nagged at him was that once trying to delve into the deeper, more intriguing questions, then everything was left with a large question mark. The questions like whoandwhy. The most important ones that he wanted answered- That he knew everyone most likely wanted answered. It all hurt his head when he thought too much about it. And though everyone around him, everyone in the group of boys, everyone in charge, told him to just try and get the best out of their situation and not think too much about it, it just worsened things.
He had to admit they could be right. After all, nights at the fire with his new friends or whatever they hell were could be surprisingly nice and fun. Time to let loose, try to let go, even though he hadn’t had much time to think of exactly what they were letting loose from. But he felt the stress buried beneath them all, that sinking sand everyone experienced and tried, to a certain degree, to not let get the best of them. The sound of an only somewhat familiar blaring alarm caught his attention immediately, and once he saw everyone gathering, following them quickly, he could only guess he wasn’t going to be the greenie anymore.
The sunlight, that both seemed to suddenly and gradually creep into the odd box contraption Helena was stuck in, annoyed her eyes as she let them adjust, quickly looking for something to defend herself with. There were only large boxes with what seemed like resources and other materials, and that caught her attention for a moment. Those things were clearly for, well, living. Food, clothes, water, so on and so forth. Where the hell was she going? Where the hell was she now? Or before?
Helena looked up and saw a group of people- Seemingly all male except for one female. She felt her heartbeat only quicken once more; After all, she had no idea what these peoples intentions were. Shit, she didn’t know anything at all. Not even her name or who she was in general. Well, there seemed to be a few pieces up somewhere in her head, but it was all just jumbled into a big, unrecognisable mess. She had to deal with it later though. “Who the hell are you people and why the hell am I here!” Helena kept to her corner in the box, voice hoarse and clearly weak from not being used before. What was here. She just needed answers.
♖
Thomas almost felt a surge of nostalgia, a feeling of deja vu washing over him as he heard that blaring, loud alarm that echoed across the Glade, bouncing off of the four concrete walls. Those stone walls that were already getting tiring- Tiring enough at least. He sometimes felt as if he was the person who felt most urgently about getting out. He knew everyone did what they did, kept their routine, tended to the place they called their home, because that’s all they could do. Thats all they all could do. And he respected that, but he found simply couldn’t let go of it all- Whatever the hell that was anyway.
He took a few steps towards the crowd, watching as they peered their heads into the box. Something seemed to surprise them and send waves of mumbles and whispers to each other, and he found himself pushing a bit forward to get a look at the Greenie. Thomas found a place next to Scarlett and Alby, eyebrows shot up ina look of surprise as he saw the newbie- Another girl. “Huh, seems you’ll have a new friend.” He said to Scarlett.
Scarlett waited until the box had come up, getting that familiar feeling of being in the box too. The panicked feeling of having no idea who you were, how you got there or even whereyou were going. Scarlett still wondered what were beyond those four stone walls. She had asked in the past but no one would give her an answer. So she didn’t ask again. But she still wondered.
Scarlett stepped forward to peek inside the box, eyebrows also raising in surprise when she saw that there was another girl. At least she wouldn’t be the only girl anymore. “Yeah.” she nodded at Thomas. Poor girl.. she looked terrified. Just like she was. And the Greenies after her.
“Another girl.” Newt commented after opening the metal gate with Alby’s help. Surprised murmurs erupted through the crowd, until Alby told them to be quiet. Newt looked down at the Greenie. “Welcome to the Glade, greenie.” he said. “Grab onto my hand and we’ll get you out.”
Newt had lost count of how many times he had said that phrase over the two years he had been stuck in here. He wasn’t the first one to arrive, Alby was, but he arrived after Minho did. Pushing those thoughts out of his head, turning his attention back to the Greenie, the new girl. “Alby will explain everything, alright?”
Helena backed up against the wall as she watched many heads peer down into the box, making obvious comments about her and she caught a few names in between their bustling conversation. From what she could see, it seemed to be an all boy group except for one other girl, and she was already a bit, if not very, intimidated. But at least she wasn’t the only one.
“Alby? Who’s Alby?” She questioned, cautiously taking the stranger’s hand as he welcomed her to- That was another question she had. “And what the hell is the Glade?” Her head pounded with the amount of questions bombarding her brain as she got pulled out of the box, and once she got a view of the place she had been put in, she got silent. Four stone walls, covering each side, and four openings. She didn’t get it. She didn’t know if there was anything to get.
♖
Thomas tried to ignore the group’s comments, some ranging from friendly and just welcoming to borderline weird or a bit offensive. He knew what it felt like to sit down there and feel as if you missed the punchline of a joke, and that joke and punchline is your future life. They had all been through that. And he began thinking about how all the others had reacted when first arriving to the glade. Especially the first person: Alby. Or the first girl: Scarlett.
He watched as they pulled the new Greenie out of the box, helping Frypan and some others load out the boxes of resources and whatnot: Including a new hammock. “It’ll be fine, she’ll be fine.” Thomas looked to Scarlett, who he could tell was feeling sympathy for the girl. He did too, of course, but he knew it was best to quiet things down until she could get a chance to get used to it all.
It all felt sudden. Every movement, every thought, every breath, every loud, blaring noise. It was odd- Just knowing something started so suddenly, yet not knowing if it had begun before one’s notice. That’s what was in Helena’s mind to say the least. The unavoidable sound of an alarm, squeaky hinges and metal banging against metal made her head ache even more than it already was. She fought to get air into her lungs, trying to stand on her feet, but her balance couldn’t keep her up. She wasmoving. The contraption she was stuck in was moving. She then took a moment to think, think of anything she could remember; For example an answer to how the hell she ended up in some sort of frightening and dark elevator. But everything was blank, just blank. She reached for loose threads in her mind, grasping for anything at all, but there was nothing but darkness that simply mirrored the one she found herself enveloped in.
While banging on the metal bars, so hard and desperately that her hands were getting bruised and bloody, Helena tried to scream. But her voice didn’t give in, and it was more like a small croak of a voice. She felt the true, unsettling panic begin to set in, that feeling of truly having no sense of orientation whatsoever. Like being a goldfish, placed from a small bowl to the ocean. But she couldn’t adjust, for how much was there to adjust to? What was she even adjusting from? Her heartbeat quickened even more as she felt the contraption halt, and she fell limp in the corner. For a moment she thought she was destined to stay captured, stuck there for ever in some hole; Despite that, her thoughts were disproved as she saw a hatch over her starting to open, rays of sunshine peaking into the box.
♖
Thomas felt his back sink against the tree, the harsh bark of it contrasting to his warm and sun-sick skin beneath his shirt. He rubbed his head and his temples, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Even though he was getting at least a bit used to the Glade, he still couldn’t quite fathom everything. Yeah, he somewhat understood the basics, but what nagged at him was that once trying to delve into the deeper, more intriguing questions, then everything was left with a large question mark. The questions like whoandwhy. The most important ones that he wanted answered- That he knew everyone most likely wanted answered. It all hurt his head when he thought too much about it. And though everyone around him, everyone in the group of boys, everyone in charge, told him to just try and get the best out of their situation and not think too much about it, it just worsened things.
He had to admit they could be right. After all, nights at the fire with his new friends or whatever they hell were could be surprisingly nice and fun. Time to let loose, try to let go, even though he hadn’t had much time to think of exactly what they were letting loose from. But he felt the stress buried beneath them all, that sinking sand everyone experienced and tried, to a certain degree, to not let get the best of them. The sound of an only somewhat familiar blaring alarm caught his attention immediately, and once he saw everyone gathering, following them quickly, he could only guess he wasn’t going to be the greenie anymore.
The sunlight, that both seemed to suddenly and gradually creep into the odd box contraption Helena was stuck in, annoyed her eyes as she let them adjust, quickly looking for something to defend herself with. There were only large boxes with what seemed like resources and other materials, and that caught her attention for a moment. Those things were clearly for, well, living. Food, clothes, water, so on and so forth. Where the hell was she going? Where the hell was she now? Or before?
Helena looked up and saw a group of people- Seemingly all male except for one female. She felt her heartbeat only quicken once more; After all, she had no idea what these peoples intentions were. Shit, she didn’t know anything at all. Not even her name or who she was in general. Well, there seemed to be a few pieces up somewhere in her head, but it was all just jumbled into a big, unrecognisable mess. She had to deal with it later though. “Who the hell are you people and why the hell am I here!” Helena kept to her corner in the box, voice hoarse and clearly weak from not being used before. What was here. She just needed answers.
♖
Thomas almost felt a surge of nostalgia, a feeling of deja vu washing over him as he heard that blaring, loud alarm that echoed across the Glade, bouncing off of the four concrete walls. Those stone walls that were already getting tiring- Tiring enough at least. He sometimes felt as if he was the person who felt most urgently about getting out. He knew everyone did what they did, kept their routine, tended to the place they called their home, because that’s all they could do. Thats all they all could do. And he respected that, but he found simply couldn’t let go of it all- Whatever the hell that was anyway.
He took a few steps towards the crowd, watching as they peered their heads into the box. Something seemed to surprise them and send waves of mumbles and whispers to each other, and he found himself pushing a bit forward to get a look at the Greenie. Thomas found a place next to Scarlett and Alby, eyebrows shot up ina look of surprise as he saw the newbie- Another girl. “Huh, seems you’ll have a new friend.” He said to Scarlett.
It all felt sudden. Every movement, every thought, every breath, every loud, blaring noise. It was odd- Just knowing something started so suddenly, yet not knowing if it had begun before one’s notice. That’s what was in Helena’s mind to say the least. The unavoidable sound of an alarm, squeaky hinges and metal banging against metal made her head ache even more than it already was. She fought to get air into her lungs, trying to stand on her feet, but her balance couldn’t keep her up. She wasmoving. The contraption she was stuck in was moving. She then took a moment to think, think of anything she could remember; For example an answer to how the hell she ended up in some sort of frightening and dark elevator. But everything was blank, just blank. She reached for loose threads in her mind, grasping for anything at all, but there was nothing but darkness that simply mirrored the one she found herself enveloped in.
While banging on the metal bars, so hard and desperately that her hands were getting bruised and bloody, Helena tried to scream. But her voice didn’t give in, and it was more like a small croak of a voice. She felt the true, unsettling panic begin to set in, that feeling of truly having no sense of orientation whatsoever. Like being a goldfish, placed from a small bowl to the ocean. But she couldn’t adjust, for how much was there to adjust to? What was she even adjusting from? Her heartbeat quickened even more as she felt the contraption halt, and she fell limp in the corner. For a moment she thought she was destined to stay captured, stuck there for ever in some hole; Despite that, her thoughts were disproved as she saw a hatch over her starting to open, rays of sunshine peaking into the box.
♖
Thomas felt his back sink against the tree, the harsh bark of it contrasting to his warm and sun-sick skin beneath his shirt. He rubbed his head and his temples, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Even though he was getting at least a bit used to the Glade, he still couldn’t quite fathom everything. Yeah, he somewhat understood the basics, but what nagged at him was that once trying to delve into the deeper, more intriguing questions, then everything was left with a large question mark. The questions like whoandwhy. The most important ones that he wanted answered- That he knew everyone most likely wanted answered. It all hurt his head when he thought too much about it. And though everyone around him, everyone in the group of boys, everyone in charge, told him to just try and get the best out of their situation and not think too much about it, it just worsened things.
He had to admit they could be right. After all, nights at the fire with his new friends or whatever they hell were could be surprisingly nice and fun. Time to let loose, try to let go, even though he hadn’t had much time to think of exactly what they were letting loose from. But he felt the stress buried beneath them all, that sinking sand everyone experienced and tried, to a certain degree, to not let get the best of them. The sound of an only somewhat familiar blaring alarm caught his attention immediately, and once he saw everyone gathering, following them quickly, he could only guess he wasn’t going to be the greenie anymore.
hey@buckspumpkin what was the next lyric to that song you like? Choke them with a seaview?
think we should listen to the song and try it out…we are next to a sea…bear
Is why I was thinking, dot *I wink* while you were sleeping I was looking out the window and I’d love to choke you while the waves crash against the shore
*i whine softly, shuffling under the sheets and moving towards you. i straddle your waist, my hands pressing softly against your chest as i look down at you* do it the , bear. you wont
“Uhm…I guess that kinda answers my question.” A thin brow raised, one hand rested on her hip as her free hand held onto her large white silk clutch purse. Minnie was expecting a more broad answer - especially learning about the American Revolution from the very few history classes she attended. Not expecting to hear a sweet, yet generic answer.
WHATEVER.
Two sections of her dyed-pink locks were twisted into small buns, leaving the remaining of her hair down. Both of her cheeks were covered in glitter and her eyelids were painted in bright neon pink eyeshadow, and large false eyelashes. Minnie wore a sequin crop top and black pants with sequin heels.
Yet, one could easily see the human-like bite marks that travelled from her arms, neck and parts of her chest. Minnie did not know how she got them, but she could imagine that this man probably thought she was attacked by an animal.
Dark brown eyes looked down at the bite markings on herself, a manicured finger traced along one mark on her wrist. “I…I don’t remember,” She responded softly, pressing her lips together almost as if she was ashamed for not knowing how she died - and she didn’t.
One minute she was dancing and getting drunk with her friends at some stranger’s house. Then she heard screaming and a dark figure ran straight towards her - feeling a sharp pain travel through her body, as everything turned black. And then Minnie woke up to find herself wandering freely around earth - stumbling across this Ben guy.
Minnie was about to continue answering his question until his abrupt question of her being possibly robbed by a highway man caught her off guard. She stayed quiet for less than a minute and burst into laughter. Once she calmed down from laughing, her smile turned into a grin and gently shook her head.
“I don’t know what that is - but no. I never been robbed and hope I never do. I made the mistake to go to a party at the wrong place and time - and well, now I am dead.”
Her attention shifted over her outfit and returned back to Benjamin, as her grin morphed into a smirk. “Let me take a wild guess - this is your first time seeing a woman wearing pants? Well, let me be the first to tell you that they are so comfy!” She started to turn around to let him have a better look at her attire - and was purposely trolling him.
“I stole these from my bestie’s closet and I am so glad I did. They are the best pants I ever wore. And yes, in the modern era - women have been seen wearing both dresses and pants. And the dresses are so short - you can see their knees!”
There was excitement and mischief filled in her eyes, quickly her smirk returned back to a grin. Although she should not be teasing him - it was an interesting thing to do to someone who was much older than her, and lived in a different time period.
forevermonstersasked : “Oh, I know who you are. You’re…uhm, that dude that uh…was uhm….crap - I should’ve paid attention in history class. I mean - well, you’re one of those dudes that was a loyalist, right? Please tell me that I am right.” // to edmund from minnie - unprompted
’ . He was used to unfamiliar voices to some extent, visitors that were alive walking in the same spaces he wandered, but not someone talking directly to him. A leather-bound book is held between his hands, and to anyone else: the book is simply floating in mid-air, but he dismisses that as he focuses on the other person.
She can see him?She looked as if she was one of the living, just as he did to other spirits, but he thought he knew all of the other ghosts that were in the area. She didn’t stick out as anyone from the 18th century. No one he knew at least.
Her stutter disarmed the Major in a way. It’s not like she could do anything to him, if she so wished to, in the end, a strike or a hit would be pointless. Rather, the ghost begins to become amused by this woman. A grin forms on his lips and he shuts the book. He sets it aside to sit on the pew. Maybe it was the loneliness that lowered his walls.
❝ Frankly, I’m surprised that any history book would mention me. ❞ There were far more notable men from the revolution than him. Washington, Andre, Clinton, Arnold’s change of loyalty. He was only known as the “Oyster Major” in nowhere-auket. He never saw true combat besides the Battle of Setauket- maybe that’s where he was recorded in her history book. He had to. He’s sure he, Anna, and Abraham had some overlap in books written about Washington’s spy ring.
❝ Yes, I suppose I’m a loyalist– if that’s what they call me. ❞ He extended a ghostly hand towards the woman in front of him. ❝ Major Edmund Hewlett of the British Army, this is–was my garrison. ❞ His stare rose up towards the sills, to the ceiling, and ending in the back of the building the pews pointed to.
❝ What brings you to Setauket, Miss?❞ he spoke as if a day hadn’t passed since his time as a Major. Only if his desk and telescope were still here. Bucephalus was still around, thankfully.
This was both an amazing and yet creepy experience for Minnie. It was not creepy for meeting someone who was dead for over two-hundred years, but it was creepy to be alive for one minute and then wake up to be a ghost. But it was awesome that she had the opportunity to meet someone who lived in one of the most important time periods in history. Minnie was trying to contain her excitement - not wanting the fellow ghost to think she was weird.
There the pink-haired dyed woman stood by the entry way of the garrison, wearing exactly what had worn the night she died.
Two sections of her hair was twisted into buns and leave the remaining hair down; both cheeks were covered in glitter and her eyelids were left in bright pink eyeshadow with large false eyelashes. She wore a grey sequin crop top and black pants with sequin heels.
’I probably look like some kind of CLOWN to him.’ Minnie thought to herself, a small smile could be seen on slightly plump lips.
Her cheeks turned pink, feeling bad for barging in like she owned the place and startled him. She had been dead for only a short time and he was the first ghost she had seen - at first thinking she was the only ghost left roaming freely on earth. Yet, one could see several bite marks along her arms, neck and chest.
“I’m sorry for startling you.” She spoke softly, as her smile grew a bit bigger when he proceeded to speak and introduced himself. Her hand reached over to return the shake. “It’s nice to meet you - I mean, uh…it’s a pleasure to make your ac..ac…acquaintance.” She was trying to make herself appear more formal as an attempt to match the language and terms used during his time period, and was probably just humiliating herself.
“I’m Minnie. Just plain ol’ Minnie. Have no form of title…but I have been know to be an awesome party crasher. So, that can count right? Yeah, so I’m Minnie, the Awesome Party Crasher. That sounds bad ass, actually.”
There was a cocky smirk on her lips for a moment, as brown eyes glanced around the building before her attention shifted over his uniform. She didn’t realize how beautiful their uniform could be - and could only imagine that patriots’ uniforms were just as beautiful.
“I love your uniform - red is my favourite colour - next to pink, but the colour really suits you.” She began to speak up once again. It had been a while since she met someone new and it was nice. She hoped that this would not be the last time she sees him.
Her shoulders shrugged, moving a small strand of her hair behind her ear. “Well, I decided to do a bit sight-seeing before I cross over. Is that what ghosts do? Or is that just a myth? If so, am I stuck being a ghost forever? Sorry, I am new to this whole…dead thing. I’ve been dead for about…two days now - I think? I don’t know…I could be wrong and it could be 2023 now and I didn’t realize it!”
“You’re so fucking weird,” Henry said tossing stones in the lake. He was alone and that was sometimes better, safer at least. He’d still run his mouth but he didn’t have to be the tough guy or show off with Patrick to egg him on to being worse than he was on his own.
Not that he was behaving himself, good was still a way off. He could only take the slow and hard way there.
Derry sucked.
Siobhan use to complain how small the village she once lived in Scotland was - but now she was realizing that Derry was worst. There was hardly anything to do and the people sucked.
Two days ago, Siobhan started her first day at Derry High School and was already a target; The girls thought she was weird for having red hair and a Scottish accent. No matter what she said or did - they bullied her. It was a never ending cycle for her.
Siobhan always looked forward to the end of the day; run away from that school and go to the woods. Nature was the only place that made her feel safe and not afraid to be by herself.
Her green knock-off converse walked over the rocky pathway that was connected between behind the school and the lake. She gently pulled on the bright blue rubber bracelet she found on the ground earlier. She hummed softly a Queen song as she walked and just as she reached her destination - Siobhan felt her heart do a flip.
There was Henry Bowers standing across from her, throwing stones in the water.
Siobhan did not know much about him except that he and his gang was one of the most feared students in the school. And they terrified her so much - leaving her too afraid to walk past them in the hallway in fear that they possibly taunt her.
Taking a deep breath, she turned herself around with the heel of her shoes and proceeded to walk away, not wanting to make conversation with him.
Just as she began to walk - she accidentally stepped on a stick as it made a small snapping sound. Gasping, her body remained still before slowly turning her attention to him, praying to whatever God would list to her prayers that he did not hear the twig snap.
Hope… The word stirred something within Ben’s chest, and slowly, the corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. These days, he listened to pamphlet readings of Common Sense and energetic, passionate debates in local taverns. It stirred a fire in him – forced him to choose a side and want to act. He’d be damned if he allowed his friends, his family to be pushed around in their own homes. He had to fight. Whether or not there was ever going to be a war, Ben was determined to protect those he loved with hand and musket.
When the woman denied it being anything but a gift, he immediately felt like an arse. “N-no, I wouldn’t reject a gift,” he promised. “It’s just…I’ve never received a present from a perfect stranger before. Kindness – and most especially, kindness without the expectation of something in return – is very rare these days.” Warmly, he flashed another smile before lifting the flower crown in thanks. “I’ll press it between the pages of my Bible. My mother loved flowers…growing them, in particular. When I was very small, I always enjoyed helping her. This reminds me of that.”
Blue eyes clouding, if only for a moment, Ben moved to excuse himself when she introduced herself as Petal. It was a unique name – rather fitting, he supposed, given her clear pastime – though his heart froze a moment at the mention of England. He couldn’t help it. As much as he’d once yearned to visit the mother country, King George’s iron fist had completely crushed any and all desires to associate with anyone heralding from the Crown.
Nevertheless, Ben remained polite (perhaps she was hoping to escape?) and replied, “I’m Benjamin Tallmadge, at your service. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…?” He didn’t quite feel comfortable using her first name. They were not familiars, and to speak as such could cause great scandal for the both of them. Clearing his throat, he quickly pressed on, “Where in England do you hail from? I’m presently in New Haven, so perhaps you should seek boarding there. It’s far more lively and better equipped for whatever you’re used to. I went to school there, in fact.”
Her smile grew in genuine happiness when he accepted the gift and took the crown from her. Even if he did not accept it - Petal would not be offended. She would have looked forward to giving it to someone else another time.
“What a perfect place to keep it in. And whenever you open your bible - you will see the crown greeting you and it may even remind you of me. Isn’t it beautiful to think that a gift will last for a long time? Oh, what if someone from the future finds your bible - perhaps a hundred years from now. And when they see the crown - they will be left wondering where it came from. What an exciting thought to have!”
Light blue eyes sparkled with excitement; Petal found herself imagining of someone - at least a hundred years later in the future finds the crown and would keep it in a safe place.
“It would make me so happy if that does happen. Before I moved here; there was a woman who lived in our town - Mrs. Peters. She lived very close to our family barn and I soon formed a friendship with her. Everyday she would make flower crowns and passed them out to everyone in our town. The citizens found her to be strange - but she was one of the most kindest people I have ever met, and I considered her to be my dearest friend. You see, I would help her out with making the flower crowns and hand them out, too. But…she became very ill and gave me the responsibility to make the crowns until she felt better. Weeks went by and she was becoming even worse - I had visited her one day and she asked me to continue on with making flower crowns for strangers until my hands can no longer take it. She passed away very quickly, but I made a promise to myself to make crowns for my friend until the day I die.”
The memories of Mrs. Peters appeared in her mind, making her smile become soft. Petal missed her so much - she was the only friend she had, and was the only one that liked her for who she was. And it was not fair that she had to be taken away from her so soon. She does hope that Mrs. Peters is pleased with her keeping their promise.
Petal blinked rather quickly, not realizing she had went quiet for a moment. She looked back at Ben as the cheerful grin returned back on her thin lips.
“Blackburn! E-Excuse me, I mean my full name is Petal Blackburn. You are more than welcome to call me by my first name if you like - it does not matter to me. And I am from a town called Salisbury - it’s a bit smaller than London…but a little bit hectic. You should visit there sometime - it’s lovely! My parents and I moved here to start off fresh. There had been a growing tension of loyalists and patriots…we did not feel comfortable living there anymore. We are hoping to start off a bed ‘n breakfast here.”
Close. Paul was close to home now. Just a few short hundred miles between him and the sea and then it was a simple boat ride back to the island he loved so dear. There was an excitement which blossomed in his chest, an eagerness that he couldn’t help the closer they got to Crockett. He wondered who he’d see first when he got home. Whether Millie and Sarah were doing alright. If the church would still be standing.
It was these thoughts which buoyed him as he wandered the darkened streets of the city he’d stopped in to rest. The Angel was needy tonight, perhaps also giddy with the knowledge that they would soon be at their destination. It had relayed the message for them to stop and wait a few days before continuing on their homeward journey. So stop he did and shelter he’d found for them both. For tonight, he took the time to stretch his long legs after an equally long journey.
He’d just been deciding whether to turn in for the night when he heard it– movement up ahead in the dark alleyway. A frown creased his brows and he stepped gingerly forward, trying to muffle his movements as he approached the source of the sound. Surprise caught him when he realized what he was witnessing– a young woman, feasting on the blood of another man. Part of him was horrified at the sight. His neck burned with the memory of being in just such a position, drained of blood at the mouth hands of the Angel. Gooseflesh rose along his arms and a scream pressed against his vocal cords with the desperate need for release.
But then, quite suddenly, a calm washed over him. He could feel it emanate from his chest and spread along his veins, soothing every ounce of terror that had started to form within him. He took another step forward, eyes reflecting silver in the dark, and held a hand out.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Minnie’s gaze shifted over to a man, and felt her heart suddenly drop deep into the pit of her stomach. She did her best to remain hidden from humans, but it was more difficult than they made it look like in those vampire movies.
Her bottom lip began to tremble, feeling warm tears start to form in her eyes. Minnie never thought seeing a human could leave her to be so scared - And she did not know what to do. She didn’t want to hurt him.
Please don’t scream. Please don’t scream.
Slowly the tears began to flee from her eyes and make their way down her cheeks. Her head started to shake, nervously taking a step back as she accidentally dropped the lifeless body. She could feel the fear and anxiety take over her mind; too afraid to run away.
“I…I…I didn’t mean…t-t-to…hurt him.” Her words could barely be heard, her body began to tremble in fear. And when he took a step forward - she took a step back as she let out a small whimper. “P-Please…d-d-don’t tell anyone.”
Minnie wanted to forget everything that happened a year ago. She got into some trouble with a drug dealer and fled to South Korea to get away from him. And somehow stumbled across a well-dressed man who challenged her to a strange game which led her to winning a hundred-thousand, and suggested for her to participate in Squid Game. A strange name for a game - and was shocked to find out what it truly was.
She never thought she would win; to be the last one standing. It was unbelievable to think someone like her would win. There was a part of her that crossed her fingers behind her back that she would die. Minnie did not believe her life was really worth living for.
Now a billionaire in a blink of an eye - Minnie was not sure what to do with all of that money besides paying off what she owed to her dealers. And she thought it would be possible for her to find a job in Squid Game. So, she invited The Front Man over - and it surprised her to find him wearing his mask.
“C-Could you please call me Minnie?” She asked, not use to being referred on her last name…and it was kinda creepy that they pretty much knew everything about her.
“Uhm, the r-reason why I asked you over…was that I was wondering if it would be possible if I could work with the next Squid Game?”
Thick dirty blonde curls intertwined with the thin stems of the flower crown made out of daisies that Petal had plucked from a nearby patch. An index finger circled around her middle finger as her gaze shifted between the ground and the Benjamin.
Slowly the world was beginning to change; American colonists did not want to serve under the monarchy and wish to be an independent country. A silly idea to think and Petal thought it would be settled down. But as there were now talks of a potential war did terrify her, and worried about her safety as a loyalist.
Deep down, Petal did not care if one was a colonist or a loyalist. She just did not want there to be a war right now.
“Where flowers bloom - so does hope.” She said softly, until she could not help herself but laugh when she heard the man speak. “It is a gift for you, sir. Not for your partner.”
Her head gently shook as she moved the crown away from him. “You do not have to accept it if you do not wish to,” Petal made flower crowns partially out of boredom, and the other half was in hopes to give it to someone and brighten their day.
“I thought I could at least brighten your day a bit. My apologies for disturbing you.” Her smile became softer, hooking the crown around her wrist. She remained quiet and stared at the crown for a moment, before her light blue eyes returned back onto the man.
“My name is Petal - and what is your name? Isn’t it a lovely day today? I have just moved here from England - it’s quite lovely here, yet it is a bit different compared to the busy environment I have been use to.”
Petal loved Looney Tunes. She remembered spending many days sitting in front of the TV and watching an episode of the Looney Tunes gain; laughing out loud and clapping at the end after enjoying an episode. Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird and Daffy Duck were all her favourite - and was surprise to find Daffy Duck standing before her.
“Thank you!” She said with a bright smile, so happy that he did not mind for her to ask for his autograph. It was her first time meeting a celebrity and she almost wanted to pinch herself to be sure she was not dreaming.
Once he handed her his signed photo, she stared at his signature in awestruck - feeling her heart did a cartwheel. Petal was so happy right now.
“Thank you so much, Daffy Duck!” She thanked him again as she let out a soft giggle. “You must be asked for autographs by fans everyday! It must be exhausting signing photos and notebooks all days. I can imagine your hand would cramp up by the end of the day. I cannot imagine myself being famous. I suppose it’s difficult being a celebrity in general, isn’t it?”
This had to be the dumbest decision Siobhan ever did. She wanted to start her training as a witch by herself without any of her older siblings assisting her, and move live in isolation of the jungle in India. Her main magical element was plants, and thought living in the jungle would be more beneficial to her concentration in becoming a successful witch.
This afternoon, Siobhan was gathering up some herbs that could be of use for practicing on spells. And just as she was about to leave, she found a panther standing in front of her. The redhead could feel her heart start to pound hard against her chest, feeling her throat become very dry. Siobhan remained still - too afraid to move or the creature would attack.
Siobhan’s gaze moved down at the herbs she held in her small hands, slowly looking back at Bagheera.
“Y-You are right,” She responded in a soft voice. “I-I was just collecting herbs. Please, I mean no harm. I will leave.”
