Michelle's POV
The clock on the wall ticked by slowly as Michelle sat beside Bucky in her bedroom. He hadn't woken up since they found him unconscious in the hallway and brought him to her bed. She took his hand in hers and dabbed a cold cloth against his forehead. She was worried about him and who would be there as Professor X said he heard someone called the Asset trying to break through Bucky's mind. She knew he still battled with the conditioning Hydra put in his head, but she wasn't sure what brought out the other side of him.
Professor X had stated they were done for the day, so Logan and Hank had left to the guest floor to settle in. Hank would be leaving in a week to return to the school, but Logan and the Professor planned to stay until Michelle could fully control her abilities and learned more about mutant history. She would be juggling work and classes together for a while, so she needed Bucky to get better. She wouldn't be able to focus while he was in this state, her worry would make learning and working impossible. The Professor was in her kitchen, making tea for them. She had offered to do it for him, but he had insisted she stay with her soulmate.
The door opened, and she watched as the Professor wheeled in with a tray of tea and cookies from her cabinet. There were three cups on the tray, but before she could ask, Steve followed him into the room. She tensed and looked at him before turning back to Bucky and doubling her effort to keep his skin cool. Steve stepped up beside her and looked down worriedly at Bucky.
"What happened?" Steve asked to no one in particular. Michelle went to answer but thankfully, the Professor beat her to the punch.
"From what I could pick up, someone named the Asset was trying to break through Bucky's mind. Bucky was extremely angry and in trying to keep this Asset at bay, was rendered unconscious from the pain." Michelle saw a flash of guilt on Steve's face before it went back to worried and her eyes narrowed slightly. Steve glanced at her before turning back to the Professor. "You said you could tell that side of him was trying to break through. How?"
"I have the ability to look into people's minds, read their thoughts, even control them for a bit. I use this gift to help others, mutants and humans alike. I also can go into a person's memory and change it. Your friend has severe damage to his brain, and from what I've gleaned from my brief glace, he is in constant war within his mind."
Steve sat beside Bucky and looked at Michelle who was softly dabbing Bucky's forehead with a damp cloth. She looked pale, exhausted and tense. He reached over and put his hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump. Pulling back, he felt more guilt over the surprised and wary look on her face.
"You look tired. I can stay with him if you want to lay down. I need to talk to you, but not while you look half asleep. I want you to be fully awake when I apologize for being a jerk." Her eyes widened in shock at his pronouncement before she nodded softly and laid down next to Bucky. She was asleep within seconds.
Steve's POV
Steve looked down at her and felt affection swell within his chest. She was so innocent in many ways, and yet had been through unimaginable horrors in her life. How could he even begin to apologize for his actions? How could he apologize to Bucky for bringing the Asset back to the forefront? He felt unimaginable shame for his actions of late and bowed his head.
A hand suddenly appeared on his shoulder and he looked over to see the Professor next to him, looking at him with kindness.
"You are a man, Steve. Many believe you are above the trials humans face because of your persona and you strive to achieve this. Its commendable, but its also impossible. Your still human Steve and humans make mistakes. They have fears, worries and trials, but they also have love, happiness and hope. You love them both and they love you. You let fear rule your actions, which is a very human thing to do, and that's ok. Now comes the other part of being human, showing how much you regret that moment of letting your fear rule. You do everything to show how much you want to start a life with your recently found soulmate. You do everything to show how much you regret yelling at your best friend and soulmate. Your human Steve and as humans we make mistakes. You don't need to be perfect, you just need to try your best to be Steven Grant Rodgers, because at the end of the day its Steve who they see, not Captain America."
Steve wiped at the tears that were falling down his cheeks as he looked down at Michelle and Bucky sleeping. "Thank you, Professor, truly. I know what I need to do, for them both."
The Professor chucked. "I know, and I would do the same. Also, since I will be here for a while, please call me Charles. All of my friends do, and I would be honored to consider you a friend Captain Rodgers."
"As would I Charles, so please call me Steve. So, you're staying to train Michelle with her abilities. May I ask what type of- "
"She is a Phoenix. A rare and beautiful gift of healing with a wonderous and powerful gift of the fire element. She is very powerful and beautiful. Not many mutants have two abilities, which makes her unique."
Steve brushed away her hair from her face and kissed her cheek softly. "I'll make it up to you Michelle, my beautiful soulmate. My Phoenix."
