The code
Bucky woke up during the night, he was not sure if somebody could hear him screaming. Having nightmares was something natural already, he had them all the time, even after he started to feel asleep in the middle of the soft breeze. He had his own reasons to think that Mia's presence had something to do with the way he could finally close his eyes before the middle of the night. but it did not change what happened after that when the nightmares of the past were so strong that he woke every time terrified and confused.
-Is everything all right? – He heard Natasha's voice calling him, she had listened something and was now standing at his door. She did not seem to be surprised by finding Bucky laying on the floor, still, he felt embarrassed about that. She walked into the room and sat over the carpet, just some centimetres far from him.
-I am still there, in Hydra's room, every time when I sleep, I am automatically there again.
-sometimes I am also there too – she said. He realized that she was not wearing a pyjama, instead she was wearing her training clothes.
-Were you not sleeping? – He asked covering his naked chest.
-I did, but you screamed high enough; my room is directly under yours. I could listen to you. She realized that he was watching her clothes and explained – I never use a pyjama, this… help me to be always ready in case that I am needed.
-Lucky you! – he muttered – you are needed by someone now. Steve trust on you in a way that I may be jealous – he gigged, and he caused her smile too. She had a beautiful smile that once had triggered deep feelings on him. In that moment, he though how much she had changed since then. He had meet Natasha when she was probably not even twenty; she had such a fire in her eyes that the heath on them made him feel human.
-You must not be jealous of me, I am Steve's family, just like you
-Does that make us siblings? – he laughed
-Do not even think about it; but we share our love for Steve.
He confirmed this with a movement of his head. It was nice to speak with her again.
-he will not stop until he finds the code, you know that. I know it hurts you a lot every single session with Wanda
-it is like being in a nightmare again, but I am awake.
-Had you ever though in the possibility of getting extra reinforcement for that?
-what do you mean?
-You have seen what Mia can do with Tony every time you meet each other
-oh no! no! no! forget that, do not even think about it
-why not?
-You have seen what the Hulk's energy made to her.
-Yeah, well, it was not a very lovely image of her like, she did look like one of those monsters of the fantasy movies but… she did it great: she protected Steve.
-Yes! Because the emotions used where not destructive, Banner has a terrible mood but still, he is a good man, he is not a monster.
-Like you? Is that what you think about you?
Bucky did not answer … you know better than nobody else what it is my mind: all those death people, all that blood, all that pain … -He was now very altered.
-But what about if she can control them? Your emotions? What about if she can make you feel enough comfortable until Wanda can extract the code from your head?
-Wanda can extract the code of my head, but still, we need Suri to erase it.
-you must try Bucky, for Steve, for you …
-we have enough with one monster here, I am not filling that girl's head with my emotions – Bucky had tried not to be close to Mia during the weeks before, still, they had developed sympathy for each other because they were both dealing with problems, both were brought into the compound with the same purpose: saving the world from them. He liked her, he felt fascinated for his capacities, he loved the effect of her voice on him, and he loved the breeze she created around him. Furthermore, he could feel that Mia's ability to feel him as he really was, did not scared her; one way or another, she was accepting him.
-An incredible act of kindness – he tough and Natasha heard his words
-what?
-What she already is doing; all of you look at me every day and search for the winter soldier in my face, if he is not, you feel save and I can go on… but she knows that he is there and never goes away.
-She is also kind of unique, like Steve, that is why she is becoming special for him -Natasha was also letting her thoughts free, I think that he feels proud of being such a positive force for her. At the beginning I focused in watching the effects of Steve on her, but now, I may start looking for the effects of Mia over him. Who knows? Maybe, you are not the only one able to make some extra good on him.
-If that is the case, he deserves it, but you know that he is also trapped in his own past -Bucky could remember Peggy's picture in Steve's room.
-we are all trapped by many things, but we have the right to fight and look for better -Nat's voice was a reminiscence of what they had lived together and that was a lot. Still, they were not ready for that conversation.
Bucky lowered his sight – You had made it great
-You also can make it great; let us help you; I am sure that we can control Mia's reaction, if we cannot, then Steve can do it, and together with Wanda we will find that code in your head.
Bucky remained in silence for some minutes, Nat waited, and he understood that time was running out. Tony was too afraid that a second code could be used in the future. The Information he acquired made him believe that there were enough people interested in investing a fortune for the control of the Winter Soldier. He could not wait anymore.
-Fine, but if she goes one single time dark … "I will stop it", do you understand? Bucky jaw was tense, Natasha understood; she did not have a single power like Wanda or Mia to see into others minds but not even Loki had been scaped from reading into his intentions: she could understand people's ideas and decisions as a product of their hearths, and she knew Bucky's hearth too well.