Arie's POV:
Six Months Later:
I growled under my breath as I moved to hit the punching bag repeatedly.
Sweats poured down practically every inch of my body as I strained and forced my body to continue the harsh movements.
I allow myself to let my frustrations our, putting all of my frustrations into my punches and kicks.
Six months.
That's how long it's been since the accident in Siberia.
So far all I can remember is being in Hydra. All the stuff I went through.
Everything horrible thing that I did.
The powers I yield within me but refuse to use.
The years they held me captive. Tortured. Hurt me.
Meeting James.
Becoming friends with him, even in those horrid conditions.
Our many missions together.
Our escape dramatic yet eventual.
Our journey to Wakanda…
My head and heart pound as I began to think of him.
It was as if I was transported back to highschool when I thought about him.
I became sixteen again.
Although not remembering what it was like when I was sixteen is ironic.
I remember marrying him.
I remember being pregnant and feeling hopelessness practically consume me as I had them.
But everything else was still missing and I began to feel so defeated at not being able to remember everything else.
I can't even remember my life before I was kidnapped by Hydra.
Not one thing after that.
Not how my parents looked, even not my childhood. All those memories were now gone.
I let the music flow through me, driving me to push harder as I moved on to the lift weights while doing lunges.
"Doll…" I heard someone sigh.
I almost dropped the dumbbell on my leg as I gasped and turned to look at him.
He stood there, leaning on the doorway, crossing his arms over his broad chest, with a concerned expression.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach causing my stance to falter and me to loose my balance landing with a soft thud on the padded ground.
"Oomph." I groaned as I moved off the dumbbell and rolled into my back groaning.
I could hear him rush to my side as I used my hands to rub my aching temples.
"Milaya, are you alright?" He asked, crouching in front of me.
"I'm fine..." I mumbled, wincing as I tried to sit down.
"You landed pretty hard on that dumbbell, are you sure, babe?" He asked, eyeing my side concerned.
I moved to get up only to groaned as I did, and lay back down. "I may have hurt myself a little." I admitted. "But I'll be fine just give me a few minutes to rest." I said trying to stop him as he sighed and picked me up.
"I'm sure you are, but I want to make sure." He replied as I groaned at the movement.
"I am fine." I reassured as he took me to our room and laid me down on the bed.
He shook his head at me, before lightly prodding my ribs with his hand."Bruised but not broken…" he muttered as he nodded.
I gave him a look, before sighing tiredly.
"I'll get you an ice pack." He muttered before turning to walk away.
"Buck-y?" I called, as I slowly struggled to sit up with a groan.
He turned to look at me, a guarded expression on his face.
"I remembered…" I whispered, frowning at my hands.
He frowned. "What do you remember?" He asked, walking back and helping me lay back on the pillows, before sitting down at the foot of the bed.
"Quite a bit, actually." I whispered looking down at my legs.
He nodded, not pushing as I continued to stare down at my lap.
"Did we really do all those horrible things to all those innocent people?" I asked, as my eyes brimmed.
He sighed, looking away before nodding at me in response.
"You saved me…." I whispered, looking him in the eye.
"You remembered the attack…." He whispered surprised.
I nodded, biting my lip as I flinched, feeling a wave of goosebumps rush through as I did.
"I remember everything from after getting kidnapped by Hydra… I can't remember how my parents looked, or what most of my childhood was like… I remember some things but there are so many holes in my memories… Details missing….". I whispered, turning to look out the window.
"It's alright to feel frustrated, love. These things take time." He said, patting my ankle.
"Yes, but I can't remember what my parents looked like… my childhood… I feel like everything is gone." I whispered, shutting my eyes as more tears fell.
He sighed, patting my leg with a sad expression.
"Tony said that the swelling has gone down significantly from when the accident happened… maybe once it does you'll remember more .." He said, sighing.
"I hope so .." I whispered. "Do you think Tony will stop with the psych evaluations if I tell him what I told you?" I asked, hopefully.
He shrugged, "Maybe… But let's focus on the positive for now, okay? The important thing is you're starting to get some of your memories back, doll." He said looking at my ribs.
The skin had begun darken a bit, and my ribs felt a little sore.
"It looks worse than it feels…" I muttered, as I moved a bit, wincing.
"Right, and I'm boy wonder.." he muttered, as he got up. "Stay in bed. I'll be back with the ice." He instructed as he walked out of the room.
I nodded, waiting for him to leave before rushing into the closet to grab some fresh clothes and then into the bathroom.
I turned the MP3 on, selecting a random song before ripping off my clothes and walked into the shower stall.
Closing my eyes as the song began to play.
It was familiar.
Like I sang this many times before.
More flashes began to play behind my lids as I stood under the warming water.
I knew this song. I used to sing it in the cell at the Hydra base while awaiting for the next target or mission.
I would sing to myself, to keep the screams and horrible images out.
The water turned warmer as I heard the chorus of the song.
Then it was as if the block I felt in my brain was broken. Thousands of memories began to flood my mind causing my legs to buckle.
"But I know some day I'll make it out of here
Even if it takes all night or a hundred years
Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near
Wanna feel alive, outside I can't fight my fear
Isn't it lovely, all alone
Heart made of glass, my mind of stone
Tear me to pieces, skin to bone
Hello, welcome home"
I heard someone rush into the bathroom, causing me to look up, as I felt my tears fall, combining with the water.
"Blya, ya skazal tebe ostavat'sya v posteli, kukla." He muttered as he rushed into the stall, and kneel before me, getting wet under the spray. (Fuck, I told you to stay in bed, doll.)
"I'm sorry." I whispered back without a second thought, feeling slightlyout of breath.
He looked at me surprised. "You—you understood that?" He asked gapping at me.
I nodded, letting out a broken sob as he pulled me to his chest.
"How?" He asked me.
I shook my head. "You taught me…" I whispered, emotionally.
He gasped, pulling back. "Vy - vy vspomnili…?" he asked, as he swallowed back his emotions. (You-you remembered?)
I nodded, shocked. Swallowing thickly before "Ya sdelal" I whispered, blinking away the water from the shower head. (I did.)
He sighed, touching his forehead to mine before standing up.
"What are— what are you doing?" I asked as I watched him peel off his soaked clothes, throwing them towards the corner of the stall before stepping closer to me.
"I'm helping you shower." He replied as he helped me to my feet.
The song began to replay as we both stood staring at each other, disbelief, and relief radiating from me as we did.
"Did you miss me, handsome?" I asked, giving him a small smile.
"More than anything…" He whispered as he kissed my forehead before peppering my entire face.
Once he finished, he finally gave me a fervent kiss.
Causing yet another explosion of memories, this time those between me and him.
"You should have done that as soon as I woke up." I murmured against his lips.
We were both breathing hard at this point, staring at each other intensely.
"Oh yeah? Why is that doll?" He asked, breathlessly.
I smiled slightly as I stretched up to speak into his ear. "Because I would have remembered you immediately after." I whispered, smirking at his dumbfounded expression.
The song that causes her to remember is Lovely by Billie Eilish.
