Chapter 5 - The Scarlet Witch
Slowly, Cap started to open his eyes. His vision was blurred, and so was his hearing. All he could hear were the words "I just want us to be free…" The voice speaking sounded beautiful. It spoke with such truth. Steve wanted to wake up fully, to meet the person this voice belonged to, but he could barely see. Now all he could hear was the scuffle of someone running away. Steve wanted to reach over and say "Stop, please don't leave!" But he couldn't find words, or even the strength to sit up. All he could do was feel. Feel the heaviness of his eyes and body, feel the ache in his head, feel the pounding of his ears as he heard someone call his name.
"Steve?" someone called. "Steve? Are you here?" it sounded. It was Natasha. He knew Natasha. Natasha was coming to help, and Cap forced himself to sit up.
"Nat?" he croaked as his vision came back to him and the red-head came into view.
"Oh Steve, thank god, I thought you were dead. I've been looking all over for you." Nat took out a walkie-talkie. "Yeah, I found him. Southern beach, bring it over." Nat took Steve's face in her hands. "It's ok, help's on its way. You're gonna be fine." Cap gave a shaky thumbs-up.
"Someone… rescued me…" he said. Nat looked at him in confusion.
"Who?" she questioned.
"I don't know. I didn't see much of their f-face. But I h-h-" Cap leaned over and coughed up a glob of seawater. "Heard his voice… it was… beautiful…" Nat just looked at him and smirked.
"Ok, buddy. Sure thing, someone saved you. Come on, helicopter's gonna be here any minute, let's get you ready."
"I'm telling you Nat, he was real!" he argued before succumbing to a splurge of coughs.
Nat slid an arm under his shoulder and hoisted him up.
"Cap, I think you swallowed way too much sea stuff. Does the super-soldier serum mixed with salt water make you loopy?" she laughed.
"No. He was real." Cap snapped. "And I'm gonna find him, thank him for saving my life…" eventually, the helicopter came to pick them up, and the two rode back to safety.
Bucky walked back through the door of the cottage, where Zemo sat in the living room in a plush robe and slippers, sipping tea and reading a book.
"Where were you?" he asked with sudden concern as he saw the Winter Soldier enter, placing his book and tea down. "Are you alright? You're soaking wet!" Zemo exclaimed. Bucky just shook his head.
"I'm fine." he said.
"You're not fine, you come back at midnight, you're soaking wet, what in the hell happened?" Zemo asked frantically as if he was a concerned parent.
"I said I'm fine." Bucky almost snapped. "I saw something happen. People were in trouble. I saved one of them." Zemo looked on.
"What? Trouble? What happened?"
"The ferry down there. He... someone I knew was on it. So I saved him."
"Was anyone hurt? What happened to the others?"
"Everyone else made it off fine. Lightning must've hit a lightbulb, the whole thing caught fire. Explosion went off, he went with it. No one else saw him but I did. I pulled him from the water. He lived."
Zemo sighed.
"If you saved someone tonight, you are a hero. I won't press, but I wish you goodnight." and with that, Zemo headed to his bedroom upstairs, and Bucky stood in the kitchen, still as a rock. He let it all sink in. Everything that had happened tonight, the things he had said out loud, the fact that fate had put him so close to the man he had ran away from, every thought sank into him like a needle pushing through fabric. It was all too much, so much, and a single tear escaped from the Winter Soldier's eye. But he wasn't allowed to cry. HYDRA had forbidden him from feeling any unnecessary emotions, so he forced himself to stay strong.
Bucky sat down by the fire roaring in the small hearth to calm himself, staring mindlessly into the inferno for so long that his hair began to dry and his clothes felt less damp. His eyes were sore from the salt water and the heat from the fire, and he rubbed his tired face and let himself think of absolutely nothing as the heat caressed his mind like morning mist creeping across the forest floor, covering any imperfections and leaving a pure, clean surface.
Bucky massaged his eyes and sighed. The time had come to admit it to himself. Ever since the day he had failed his mission, ever since he had locked eyes with the one and only Captain America, something had clicked. Something had weakened him. That was why he had been defeated so easily. He had fallen for his target. James Buchanan 'The Winter Soldier' Barnes, credited with over two dozen assassinations in the last 50 years, had fallen in love with the person he was sent to kill.
I can't do this...
He thought.
This isn't right. It could never work… not like this…
Bucky strained his eyes to fight the tears threatening to fall, crushing his emotions like a cube of garbage. That's what he was. Human garbage. All he had done in life was kill.
And kill.
And kill.
And kill.
And kill.
What had he done? A fit of rage threatened to take over his body, and the Winter Soldier burst from his seat and stormed out the door, knocking over the stool he was sitting on. Running off into the forest, Bucky didn't care what would happen to him.
Bucky ran. He ran and ran, a part of him hoping that he would run off the face of this miserable planet and disappear into time and space itself. He didn't deserve to lead a normal life, he didn't deserve to lead any life. He didn't deserve to live. Finding himself in a large clearing, he made a right and ran back to the edge of the cliff where he had been just minutes ago, not even caring if he fell off. His emotions finally overpowering him, he collapsed to his knees on the edge of the cliffside, letting his tears of pure anguish paint the rock beneath him, some even falling into the water below.
Why...
He asked the universe.
WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!
His inner voice screamed inside his head. Why him? Why had he been the one to be captured by HYDRA, lose his arm in war, be kidnapped by HYDRA again and have a horrible, false arm forcibly attached to his body and have his mind broken to become a killing machine? He didn't want any of this. He couldn't remember anything from his childhood; his mother, his school, his friends, anyone. All he could remember was HYDRA. Why had he been tortured? Why had he been imprisoned in cryo-stasis to never continue with his life unless it was to kill, kill, kill, and kill again. He hated himself for not fighting back. He hated himself for submitting. He hated himself for everything. He didn't want to be here, he wanted to be dead but also where the normal people in the world were, to see others enjoying his company and for him to enjoy theirs. He wanted to be free, but he would never be free, not as long as he was alive.
Suddenly, a voice as sharp as a banshees wail whispered through the trees, sending a gust of wind across the entire cliffside.
"What do we have here?…" The voice whispered in a tone that spoke as if hundreds of people were speaking at once, like the ghosts of spirits past were communicating as one in a choir made of phantoms. Bucky looked up.
"Who's there?" he spoke aloud.
"Poor, broken little Winter Soldier…." the voice spoke again. Bucky stood up, looking around and drawing his blade. The voice was undoubtedly terrifying, but, it sounded rather feminine, almost as if it had a Sokovian dialect.
"Show yourself!" Bucky demanded, the wind blowing his hair across his face and blurring his view.
"If only there was someone who could offer a solution to aaaaaall his problems…" the voice cooed. "Oh wait… there is." In a swirl of violet and red magic, the wind died down and in its place stood the Scarlett Witch. She was a tall, sleek woman with flowing hair the colour of fire and a spindly crown draped across her head, her body clothed in a red, leather tunic. Bright pink and orange magic blazed like fire at her feet, giving her a constant ring of protection as well as a glowing aura. She brought a long-nailed hand to rest under her chin, a huge smirk spread across her lips. Bucky was shocked, though he forced his face to remain unmoved.
"Who are you?" he breathed.
"Someone who's come to help. You may call me Scarlet Witch." she said, a thick Sokovian accent rolling off her tongue.
"I don't need anything from you." Bucky breathed, not caring that this creature could probably rip him in half with a snap of her fingers.
"Oh, that's where you're wrong." she replied. "I know all about you, James, Bucky, Barnes." at this, The Winter Soldier's face contorted in confusion. How did she know his name? Only he ever called himself Bucky. Could this siren read his thoughts? "I know all about your dark history at HYDRA." she began to walk forward, circling him. Bucky only stood still. "All the little people you killed. The one mission you failed that's been eating you up inside. Or is it, a certain man who's been eating you up inside?" she chuckled.
"What do you want?" Bucky spat. The Witch looked at him, placing a hand over her heart and pretending to be offended.
"My dear sweet Bucky, It's not why I want, It's what you want. And I've come to help." she said. "I know all about your desire to leave the past behind, join the normal world and be free of those who wronged you, so I propose a deal." Bucky made eye contact with the Witch for the first time, and noticed that her eyes seemed to have small, blazing fireballs in them and it pained him to meet her gaze, but he pressed on. He would not appear weak in front of anyone.
"And?" Bucky questioned, wondering what this Witch could possibly offer him.
"I know the perfect spell that will rid you of your metal arm and replace it with a real one. Then, you can be free to join the normal world and be with your sweet Steve Rogers. Do you accept?" the witch held out her hand, submerged in a flickering ball of purple flames. Bucky just looked down at her hand like it was a dog on its hind legs, ridiculous and meaningless. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the rustling of bushes. Both man and Witch turned to see Zemo emerging from the woods.
"James?" he said. "What are you doing here?" Dammit, Bucky thought. His storming out must have woken him, his footprints leading here.
"Not now, Zemo." Bucky replied.
"James, that's… that's the Scarlet Witch!" he pointed, finally noticing the glowing woman.
"You know her?" Bucky questioned.
"I used to read ghost stories about her to my son at night. I- I never thought she existed…she's… she's a demon, she'll devour your soul! James, get away!"
"I can think for myself!" Bucky snapped back.
"James, no, think about what you're do-" but he was cut off by a flick of the Witch's wrist, and a small ball of fire threw itself onto his face, muffling his warnings and causing him to tumble back.
"Don't hurt him." Bucky said, turning back around to face the Witch. "He has nothing to do with this. Don't use your sorcery to hurt my friend!" he exclaimed. The Scarlet Witch only chuckled.
"There is a difference between magic and sorcery, my dear Bucky." she began. "We witches are very much different to sorcerers who rely on realms having magic in the atmosphere to perform their little parlour tricks. Witches, however, we carry it with us everywhere we go without having to build up magical energy reserves, able to bend any atmosphere to our will." she said as she twiddled a small flame between her fingers to demonstrate. A look of slight wonder crossed over Bucky's face, and he began to believe this strange creature.
"Alright." he said with caution as he slowly tucked away his blade. "I'm listening." the Scarlet Witch smiled. She began to walk in circles around him, and this time Bucky followed her gaze.
"If you accept my bargain, I will rid you of your metal arm, and a real one will take its place. You will then have three days to win the heart of precious Steve. If you do, you live happily ever after in the land of red white and blue patriotism, saluting to the country that ruined my life, forever more." at this, a thought crossed Bucky's mind.
"And if not?" he asked. The Scarlet Witch could hardly hold back her delicious grin.
"If you don't win Steve's heart by sunset on day number three, your metal arm will return and you await the same fate as all my other poor, unfortunate souls. Your soul is mine for consumption, and your life essence will enhance my magical ability." Bucky could hear Zemo's protests grow louder despite the spell muffling them, but he looked away, seriously weighing his choices. If he succeeded, he could have the life he wanted, he could be with Steve. If he failed… he didn't even want to know what that would feel like. "Oh, and before you make up your mind..." the Witch purred "We must discuss my price." Bucky looked back at her.
"I have to pay for a possibility of you eating my soul?" he said with slight ferocity. The Witch only grinned.
"Why yes, yes you do. In exchange for my magical services, there is one thing I require in return." she walked directly up to Bucky, placing a long, red fingernail under his chin, and speaking with a rumbling slur.
"Your voice." she said. Bucky shook her hand away and stepped back.
"What?" he whispered. "You give me three days with Steve, and I can't even talk to the guy? How in the hell is that fair? How can I even tell him that I'm the one who saved him?" Scarlet chuckled.
"Well, with that face of yours, who could resist. He's a noble man, do you really think he won't love you if you don't talk?" she smirked. "Anyway, it will reduce the chances of you revealing your true identity as the Winter Soldier. He'd never love you if he knew you were the one who tried to shoot his brains out. You see the thing is, Bucky, with spells such as mine, I grant the deepest desires of all those who dare to dream for more. Riches, vengeance, power, anything. But the spells I cast always require a sacrifice of something, or it will not work. People get too greedy, too obsessed with cutting corners that they turn to dark magic. However, when they find themselves in my midst, they need a dose of reality; nothing comes for free." Bucky had to admit, there was at least, a little bit of truth in what she was saying. He had never been given anything good in life for no cost. Except… Zemo. He looked over to where Zemo had fallen, unable to stand due to some sort of spell pinning him down.
"Don't do it, James!" Bucky was able to hear him say beneath the spell. Zemo was fully aware of the extent of the Witch's powers, she was in storybooks for a reason. Sokovian parents warned their children to be good, or have their soul be eaten by the Scarlet Witch, and no spell would stop him from warning his friend.
But Bucky didn't listen. Here, he was being offered a chance to finally shed himself of HYDRA, a chance to be with the man he loved, even if he couldn't even tell him he had saved him. He had never really been big on talking before, Brock Rumlow had beaten him for speaking out of turn. Making up his mind, Bucky closed his eyes and took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was about to do. He turned to face the Scarlet Witch's outstretched hand… and took it.
"Done!" she said with a malicious smile. Bucky immediately regretted his decision and a shot of anxiety ran through him. As soon as he made contact with the Scarlet Witch's hand, a searing pain shot up through his arm and right up to his throat, and he let out a scream of anguish as he felt something crush his vocal cords like a metal vice; just like his nightmare. The Witch opened a locket that had been around her neck, and revelled in seeing the pain a voice extraction caused her victim as an orb of hot, red fire began to form in Bucky's throat before floating right through his skin and into the locket, where the Witch snapped it shut immediately.
The pain was too much, and Bucky fell fell to his knees. But the worst was yet to come. The glow of the Scarlet's witch's magic suddenly surrounded and choked his metal arm, were it crumbled away into an ugly clump of dust and burned off the sleeve of his jacket.
The pain from losing his voice had been bad, but the feeling of a new limb suddenly bursting from his body was unbearable. It started small at first, a shrunken, deformed shape began to grow before quickly morphing into a real arm, and he would have screamed bloody murder if he had any voice to scream with. The sound of crackling thunder filled the sky, providing a perfect ambience to suffer too. Suddenly, the pain was over, and Bucky collapsed, unconscious, right over the side of the cliff and into the water below.
Zemo screamed as the Scarlet Witch let out a horrible cackle before disappearing in a puff of purple smoke, an eruption of red magic emitting from her before she disappeared, making the trees shake and causing the night to fall still when the chaos finally ended.
Free of the spell now that the Witch was gone, Zemo ran to the side of the cliff, looking over to see what the damage was. He had just seen the Winter Soldier fall about 50 feet. Would he even survive the fall? He was a super soldier, surely he would survive. Heading down the mountain trail, Zemo ran, desperate to see if Bucky was alright, to find him before it was too late…
Bucky was falling. Well, he didn't know he had fell until he hit the water. The pain of the spell had been too much and his mind had slipped into nothingness, only to be painfully awoken by the sharp blade of the frigid water slicing his eyelids open. Bucky plunged below the waves, and mustered all his strength to get to the surface of the water.
His head appeared above the waves, and he took in a long awaited breath of oxygen and made for shore, where he collapsed, exhausted, onto the small, rocky beach. Now it was him who was washed-up on the sand. Zemo came running down the trail a short time after. He ran over to Bucky, desperate to wake him up, and started shaking him profusely.
"James?!" he cried. "James, wake up! Get up!" he exclaimed as panic started to take over. Zemo shook Bucky almost violently but there was no waking him. He checked his pulse to see if he was alive; he was. Zemo breathed a sigh of relief. All he could do now was leave him be and come back in the morning. He silently begged the universe to make sure Bucky would be alright. Zemo knew that, even from a distance, he would help Bucky find Steve, but he couldn't help feeling sorry for him. The storybooks spoke of the Scarlet Witch as a being who feeds off of the most miserable, desperate souls. He knew that Bucky was a broken man, but was he really that desperate for freedom? Zemo had felt that pain before, but the Scarlet Witch had never come to him. What was so special about the Winter Soldier? With a heavy heart, Zemo wished Bucky the best of luck, and started to head back home, almost expecting Bucky to be there when he walked in.
Author's note: Halfway through! Hope you're liking it so far, I'm currently going back and making some changes, it helps to proof-read. Oops! Anyway, in the next chapter, we finally get Steve and Bucky to meet properly and cuteness ensues. Hope you like it! ;)
