The freedom of living in a flat was a lot better than living out of a ensuite room in the organisation. She had a nice room to herself with a bed, wardrobes, draws the lot, there was windows that she could open allowing fresh air and noise into the room. Enjoying the fact she could now see the outside world, watching people, planes, cars and animals go. Also there was a lovely communal area including a fabulous kitchen with all the appliances, a large dining table where they could eat or work, she liked the feeling of the whole flat. She had completely relaxed into this style of living, the fact she could make her own choices when she ate, or slept, if she wanted to read a book, watch TV or go on the computer, it was her decision. The pair of them had a mutual respect the for the other persons privacy, Steve never came into her room with knocking or getting permission, which she did in kind for him. Steve had been super accommodating in making her feel as welcome as possible, he had gotten her fresh bedding, towels the lot trying to make it feel more like a home for her. She felt really welcomed here, which was a nice feeling to have some where she perhaps now could call home. Steve and her seemed to live well together, both of them enjoying each others company as well as being able to relax in silence without it feeling awkward. They also were able to take time to learn about modern life things together, catch up on recommended TV shows or movies. She learnt a lot about Steve, like that he held onto his older fashioned past. There were old black and white photos around the place, there were also a record player and some books. Isabelle liked the personal touches he had made relating back to his previous life. She had asked Steve who some of the people were in the photos, sometimes Steve would openly talk however other people or times he wouldn't really respond. She guessed it was still hard to talk about people who he had lost during the fight or his time in ice and respected that boundary he put up never really pushing it.
Days had passed and before long it was weeks since she started living with Steve, he was a gentleman there had been only one incident where she hadn't quite locked the bathroom door while showering early in the morning. Which only resulted in neither of them talking about it and Steve blushing every time he looked at her for a few days before they managed to work through it. Isabelle had learnt it was a lot for Steve to take her on as a ward, living with a woman that wasn't your mother or sister in the 1940's would otherwise mean you had to be husband and wife. He was trying his hardest to adapt to the modern times but still this was a big change for him compared to her where she was adapting not knowing any other way of life. They had similar interests in learning about things in this newer world together, catching up on suggested movies and generally advancing in modern society, she couldn't have imagined not doing it with Steve now, between the pair of them they managed to work out most things.
Their day to day life was pretty much a routine, a run in the morning, followed by breakfast, morning coffee out some where a randomly chosen café, lunch, the afternoon she caught up with the world while Steve worked, dinner and then a quiet evening. Occasionally they would go out grab food or a movie for a change but otherwise it was a comfortable regime for the pair of them. Isabelle had started to teach herself to cook again, getting books from the library when Steve had time to take her, finding out she actually enjoyed it, it also made her feel useful, something which she could do for Steve apart from the housework. She knew Steve had given up his privacy for her to live with him and she owed him a lot.
She had had few dreams since the previous terrible one, ones of her early childhood which was less traumatic than whoever changed her. It was nice to remember things with Clint times where they had been happy. All silly little snippets but they seemed to be coming more regularly than before. She remembered her gymnastics training, part of her had thought about taking it up again but with her enhancements it wasn't a good idea. She remembered the trips with Clint out camping when he taught her to shoot, a parents evening when he came as her parent, told her how proud he was of her and a Christmas where he was actually home for once. It made Isabelle feel a stronger connection with Clint, a brother who was god knows where but gave her a chance to definitely understand him and what he had told her about them. She had yet to tell Steve about what was happening, the more memories she got the harder it was becoming to keep it from him. She wasn't really sure how she was going to explain how her memories had suddenly started returning and the guilt of lying to Steve was a burden. Until she had enough information about who had changed her she wasn't really ready to talk about it.
She genuinely enjoyed Steve's company, they had both gotten use to one another and they were relaxed in each other's prescence, Steve had slackened the rules occasionally leaving her alone in the flat and she appreciated that, it gave her time to think and process things without feeling watched. She would often just sit by the window watching the world go by. All those people who didn't know that Captain America lived in that apartment or how their life's seemed perfect to others.
Steve had gone out that afternoon leaving her alone, he had slowly started doing it for longer periods of time now he had learnt she could be trusted. Most of the time she would read or watch some crappy TV, tonight however she as just enjoying laying in bed looking out at the of the window at the moonlight shined into the room. Her mind slowly drifted to her brother, she still had no word about or from Clint since the last time they spoke, he hadn't even called her since her move to Steve's apartment, where she thought she would at least get a call to find out if she was okay. She felt disappointed from the lack of care there seemed to be, that he seemed not to be worried about her at all while another part of her just hoped that he was safe, there was still so many questions she wanted to ask him. Then there was a chance she could actually get to know her stranger of a brother. It was strange to feel feelings for someone she barely knew but it was like they came naturally to feel that way for him. It was hard to explain or think about, she let out a sigh rolling over closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around herself knowing that thinking about it would not make her feel any better about it. Slowly her eyes became heavy as she relaxed into the sheets of the bed, falling to sleep.
"Wake up." A voice shouted
Isabelle slowly moved her body, each movement causing a new wave of pain, pushing herself up only to be kicked in the stomach making her collapse and groan. Her whole body ached and throbbed in agony as she hit the cold hard floor.
"Get up." The voice snarled again.
Isabelle repeated the process this time managing to stumble weakly on to her feet, her body swaying slightly as she kept the upright position as best she could. The world seemed to spin for a moment as she got her orientation. She looked up at the man in uniform, there was nothing to tell where he was from or who the hell his was from the mask that covered his face.
"I can't do what you want?" She pleaded swaying on her feet, using the last of her energy to keep standing.
"You will fight again." He told her sternly.
"I can't." She sobbed, the idea of doing any more than stand was exhausting, placing her hand on the wall to support herself. "I am done. I can't do what you want, I can be what you want."
"Your not done till I am done with you in which case you will be dead." He smirked grabbing her neck and pulling her out of the room. She had no fight left in her as she was pushed along the darkened corridor. It had been the same for days now, she had given up, she couldn't take any more. Her body hurt in places she didn't think could every hurt, her clothes were covered in blood that had dried and was stuck to her own skin.
She was thrown roughly into another room, she landed on her chest her hands grating against the concrete floor. She took a couple of breaths trying to draw some energy out of somewhere as she looked up to see a familiar person, standing waiting for his command, a dread filled within her. The person she had been put into the room with all the other times she was made to fight and who she had lost those fights too each time. She didn't know his name, who he was, who he worked for, nothing. A mask covered his entire face which was framed with dark brown/black hair and he wore only black. The only thing different about him was that he had a silver metal arm, it glimmered in even the minimal light, the strength it gave him was terrifying. She felt her heart sink, she had never come out of the room conscious when left to fight him and she knew eventually he would end up killing her. He stood like a statue barely moving except to breath, waiting for his orders, she slowly pulled herself onto her knees and looked at him.
"Please." She begged hoping he would listen for once. "No more."
He however made no movement, no attempt to even look at her, so she didn't know if he even registered what she had said. Isabelle felt her stomach tighten knowing it was useless to plead for anything. She had done the same now each time, it made no difference. The day she didn't fight back he came at her harder than before it was worse, the beating she usually went through. She had run from him but he was faster than her, she had tried hitting him but he hit her back harder. It was hopeless. At least when she fought she could block a few blows, avoid a few more bruises.
"Begin." A voice ordered.
Isabelle looked at the black masked man coming towards her, she wondered if this was what she was going to become a faceless person harming others. She had little time to think about any more. He came hard and fast, each move perfectly calculated. Isabelle had a hard time keeping up, it wasn't long till she was pinned against the wall. His weight completely immobilising her. She had no energy to struggle against him she just stared at the mask hoping he would see sense, praying for some hope. She felt his human hand go to her throat as he began to squeeze, crushing her airway. She choked, barely able to take a breath in.
A clang against the concrete floor caught both of their attention. Isabelle's eyes widened in horror as she saw the glistening of metal, this meant the worse was going to happen. A knife had been given to them but just the one. Isabelle just gasped as his weight was lifted off of her. The man headed towards the knife, Isabelle knew if he got to it first that she was dead. Without a doubt the man before her was capable of murder.
With the little reserve of energy she had left she bolted towards the knife only to be struck down by the mans metal arm. Her head collided with the concrete blurring her vision as a ringing started in her ears. She was still able to see the outline of him picking up the knife. She rolled onto her side knowing what was to come she slowly picked herself off the floor.
"Was all of this done to me so you could watch me die." She said hoping some one would listen to her.
The masked man turned to her, she saw his attacking stance appear. She stood her ground knowing she didn't want to go out crying or pleading for her life. That's when he came for her again, she was able to dodge a few of the first moves. Exhaustion finally kicked in he slice her arm pretty well. Grabbing at it she was knocked to the floor landing flat on her back. She looked up at the man who towered above her, with the last bit of energy she had she kicked out. Connecting one solid blow to his leg. He fell to the floor but not for long enough, he rolled on top of her straddling her hips, his legs restraining her as he pinned her to the floor. She felt the tip of the knife pierce her neck. She closed her eyes waiting for something to happen. She welcomed death deciding not to fear it any longer. Time seemed to pass slowly, eventually she opened one eye to see the man still on top of her but not moving. A door opened she looked to her side seeing one of the men in charge watching them.
"Your ready for training." He said before turning and leaving the room.
"Isabelle." another voice said. "Isabelle wake up."
She tried to roll over realising it was another memory but she couldn't, she felt a weight upon her and something pinning her down to the mattress. A panic hit her hard as she struggled against the weight which wouldn't shift. It wasn't just a memory someone else was there, someone else pinning her down. She used all her strength knocking whoever it was off guard as she rolled the pair of them off the bed. Her arm pressed against the persons throat as she looked down, her eyes wide open. She gasped as she saw Steve beneath her, his hands on her arm trying to push it off his throat, she suddenly realised what she had done.
"Oh god." She scrambled off him pushing herself into the corner of the room pulling her knees to her chest. Her eyes wide as she stared at a shirtless Steve who slowly sat up rubbing at his neck looking at her with a surprised expression on his face.
"Care to explain what that was?" Steve asked rubbing at his throat not sounding too impressed about what had just happened.
Isabelle ran her hands through her damp hair, this had been another memory to add to the painful pile so far but it explained a lot, more than any of the previous memories. Who ever had changed her did it for a reason, Steve had been right, it was to make her into a weapon of sorts, what ever that was it wasn't going to be good. Isabelle closed her eyes trying to calm her nerves while her whole body shook uncontrollably. She had no idea how she was going to explain all of this to Steve, she knew that he would have orders to tell the organisation that she was getting memories back, which would mean more tests.
"Isabelle." Steve spoke up a little softer obviously noticing her distress. "Are you okay?"
She opened her eyes seeing him kneeling before her, he looked on edge but that wasn't surprising after what just happened. He was now probably expecting her to attack him again. She stared at him as large tears appeared in her eyes, slowly she shook her head as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She wasn't ok, she was confused and scared about her past now.
Steve didn't wait another minute, he pulled her into a hug. Isabelle let out a sob, as she held onto him crying. The whole memory scared her and she didn't want to know what was planned for her, she hated how she felt, she was terrified, scared of her past. Isabelle felt Steve slowly rub her back, he didn't ask her any more questions, she was thankful for that. She slowly pulled back realising that Steve was shirtless, she quickly got off his lap, looking away from Steve feeling awkward for a moment.
"What happened Isabelle?" Steve stared at her, concerned plastered across his face. "I can't help you if you don't talk to me."
"I don't think you can." Isabelle shook her head as she thought about this new memory. "It's my past Steve, it's coming back to me, when I sleep in dreams. Its horrific."