When Steve finally came to, he was relieved to find that he felt more like himself again. He glanced around and noticed both him and Bucky were chained up once more, except this time side by side; yet far enough away that they couldn't touch each other.
Bucky looked alright for the most part, except for the bruises and cuts over his face that Steve, himself, had guiltily done.
"You okay..?" Bucky quickly turned his head to spot his friend looking at him. Steve gave a gentle nod in reply. "Yeah..s..sorry about that..I didn't-"
"I understand," Bucky cut in." -what it feels like."
Steve knew that was 100% true. Bucky knew more than anyone what it felt like to not be able to control your own body, let alone mind.
Steve only nodded and looked down, slowly looking up again when he heard the door click open. Doctor Smith walked back in again, clipboard in hand and frowning. "I suppose that could have went better than expected," He looked toward Steve, who just continued to glare daggers at him.
"But, I have a new idea," Smith slowly took out a sharp blade.
Bucky's breath hitched. "Don't you dare."
Smith smiled. "Oh, this isn't for him," He glanced toward Steve.
Steve's head spun around to stare at Bucky, horrified. They both made eye-contact and he could easily see the relief in Bucky's expression that it wasn't Steve. But at the same time, he was scared.
"Don't.." Steve found his voice shaking as he stared up at Smith, who ignored him.
Bucky continued to stare at Steve, expression now fearful. Smith walked over and forced him to look forward. A small whimper escaped him as the knife made contact with his abdomen and slowly slid up. It wasn't a horrific wound, but it was enough for blood to slide from the wound and drip onto the floor. All while Steve watched, helplessly, from his chains.
"Please.." Steve pleaded. "Just do it to me instead.."
Bucky turned to look at him, expression saying, "please don't."
"I will," Smith replied. "In time.."
Bucky's expression scrunched up into a grimace. He let out a small groan as the blade dug itself into his stomach. Smith pushed it in a bit deeper before finally ripping it out. Bucky drew in a strangled gasp and slumped over.
Steve was struggling against his restraints now. "STOP!"
Smith only smiled, which made Steve's desire to harm, if not kill him, even stronger.
The blood-stained knife then slid down Bucky's flesh arm from his shoulder, down to his elbow, drawing blood. It then moved to the other side of the man's abdomen, triggering pleading yells from Steve as Smith slowly pushed it in.
"STOP! Use me instead, but not him. Please.." Steve eventually drove himself to exhaustion, tears flowing over his face.
Smith smiled and pulled the knife out and suddenly released Bucky from his chains. The man instantly fell forward, blood starting to stain the ground under him.
Steve swallowed and set his jaw as Smith approached him. "If you'd want it to be you, don't expect it to be any less than what he got," Smith smiled, glancing over toward Bucky, whose metal hand had now flew over one of the worst wounds as he tried to push himself up.
The super-soldier only nodded and set his jaw against the pain as the knife was suddenly plunged into his abdomen. He only let out a short yell, drawing in heaving breaths soon after.
Bucky coughed and gasped as he slowly lifted his head, blinking until his vision cleared. "S-Steve! Stop-!" His voice was weak, and he doubted that Smith even cared.
Steve stared up at Smith, expression reading, try me, as the knife was pulled out. As soon as it was, he grunted, his right arm straining against the chains until they suddenly snapped loose. He struggled, but managed to stand and swiped the knife from Smith's hands. Smith suddenly landed a quick blow on his face and he stumbled backward, but his fist soon connected with Smith's and he fell unconscious.
Instantly, and ignoring the blazing pain shooting through him, he ran and fell to his knees next to Bucky, who was still badly bleeding.
"Bucky," He gasped, pulling the man into his arms. It was impossible to stop the tears from falling now.
Bucky blinked up at him, tears starting to roll down his own face as he wrapped his arms tightly around his friend. "A-Are you okay?" His voice was trembling as he pulled back and scanned over Steve's form, gaze locking onto the bloodied wound in his abdomen.
"I'm fine.." Steve reassured. "But you're not."
Bucky blinked twice, looking down at his own wounds. The bleeding hadn't subsided yet, and he suddenly collapsed into Steve's arms.
"Bucky!" Steve caught him, his own hand pushing down onto one of his friend's worse wounds. Bucky groaned, metal hand lifting and grabbing onto Steve's. His breathing was shallow and uneven, which worried Steve even more than he already was.
"Steve.." Bucky breathed, wincing as Steve pushed down harder on the wound, trying desperately to slow the blood.
"it-it hurts.." He gasped, flesh hand grabbing Steve's other arm.
"I know," Steve said softly. Bucky pressed the side of his head against Steve's chest, listening to his friend's heartbeat.
Steve's breathing suddenly hitched and Bucky could feel his friend tense up. His flesh hand significantly tightened its grip around Steve's. "You okay..?" Bucky muttered, gaze drifting up to Steve's paled face.
He shook himself back into reality. "Yeah..Yeah, Buck, 'm fine..Just bad memories.."
Bucky nodded, too exhausted to ask what it was about. His eyes started to droop closed as unconsciousness tugged at him. "'m tired, Steve.."
"Go ahead and rest, Buck. You'll be fine," Steve replied and watched as his friend drifted into unconsciousness.
4 days later
Steve sat by Bucky's side in the hospital. He had his head resting on his friend's bed, gripping Bucky's hand loosely.
He must have fallen asleep, because he felt cool fingers around his hand and someone poking at his face.
Blinking open his eyes slowly, Steve noticed Bucky half-asleep, but awake and staring at him, exhaustion clearly etched across his features.
"Bucky!" He lifted his head up and smiled.
"About time.." Bucky breathed, chuckling lightly. His expression changed quickly. "Are you okay? Last time I saw you, you-"
"I'm fine, just got released 2 days ago. Been here ever since," Steve cut in.
Bucky's eyes widened. "Wait what? What about food? Or water? Or- Or-"
Steve grabbed his arm. "Relax, Buck. I haven't been starving myself. It's not the Great Depression anymore."
Bucky rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I've noticed."
Steve only smiled, but it faded almost as quickly as it had come and he stared down at the floor.
"Steveā¦" Bucky muttered, clearly seeming to suspect what his friend had his mind on. It wasn't hard to guess nowadays.
Steve looked up, eyes bloodshot.
Bucky's expression crumpled to sympathy and concern. "C'mere," He forced himself into a sitting position, wincing slightly but managing.
Steve frowned, but got up and wrapped his arms around Bucky anyway. Steve almost instantly broke down, trying hard not to put too much pressure on his friend, but not able to help being afraid of letting him go.
Bucky rested his head against his friend's shoulder. "It's okay, Steve..I ain't going anywhere."
Steve swallowed hard and nodded.
