Disclaimer: The Winter Soldier does not belong to me. Short chapter to move the story on.
Bucky blinked, and turned. A pretty blonde, dressed smartly, was looking at him. "Hey, you ok?"
He swallowed. He had no idea what to say. "I'm fine," he forced out, trying to move away from her.
"You don't look it," she insisted, moving towards him, causing him to tense. He took a step back, noting how she persisted in taking another step forward. She looked at him, making eye contact.
"You're trembling," she noted, biting her lip. "You look like you've had a shock, please, let me help you-"
Her words were cut off sharply as he moved forward swiftly, the metal hand extending and grabbing her at the throat. As he pushed her up against the wall, her eyes bulged, unable to process the events that were happening. The metal fingers flexed and coiled, as though preparing to crush the flesh they held, strangle the life from its owner.
She grabbed at his arm, fingernails flailing helplessly at the machinery that lay underneath the black hoodie. "Please..." she choked, her eyes conveying the fear she felt.
He opened his hand, and she sagged against the wall. He looked at her. "I-" he faltered, unable to think of anything to say. "I-"
"What are you DOING?!"
He turned. A man was in front of him. Two men. Both looked shocked, their eyes quickly scanning from him to the woman. She was rubbing her neck, as though trying to erase the memory of the metal hand.
"You...freak..."
Bucky blinked, the reality of his situation suddenly sharpening into focus. Before he could react, one of the men's fists swung up, hitting him in the jaw. Not even being given a chance to dodge the blow, he stepped backwards, only to find himself slammed against the wall by the other. He felt the impact of hitting the bricks reverberate through the metal arm, up into his chest.
"You - don't-"
Another blow. To his face. And another.
"Get on the floor-"
A kick to the abdomen. Hard, steady. And another. He choked, feeling blood bubble in his mouth. As he spat it out, he received another hard kick.
"How did he hurt you?!" one of the men demanded, turning to the woman.
"Please!" she said, her voice sounding shocked. "Please, just stop. I shouldn't have approached him. I thought he needed help-"
One of the men gave a bitter laugh. "He certainly needs it now! Let's see that arm!"
Bucky felt his hoodie being pulled at, and the metal exposed. Suddenly, he felt a jarring jolt of pain - pain that echoed throughout his body. Unable to move, his body cold with shock, he felt himself drift away, passing out.
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