—-

Merge.

Steve didn't wake up until 50 hours later, in the middle of the night. Because of his changing medication, it was decided to keep all restraints in place.

He slowly opened his eyes, a darkness there to greet him. But, he could still see clearly. He always could, since the day he 'died'. Shaking the grogginess away, he saw Claire.

Seated so close-by, she seemed to be asleep, leaning against the wall. It didn't look comfortable at all.

Steve was suddenly keenly aware of the soldiers. He lowered his face, feeling their stares surround him. They didn't move, but he could hear their breathing hasten slightly. They know I'm awake.

He didn't really care. Had they wanted to shoot him, they would have already. Feeling satisfied with this conclusion, he faced Claire anew.

"Cl—" he tried, but his voice caught at the same time his arm did.

"Huh…?" He wondered hollowly, looking down at his stubborn arm. Move, damnit. He tried his other arm. No good.

He lurched forward, and realized that none of his body would listen to him. No, no, wait.

He shook his head, and with it, he hoped that the last of the haze of sleep would exit his mind. Restraints.

Steve sighed, suddenly feeling their heavy weight over and around him. His arms fell limply down, and his head sunk.

He was disappointed. He couldn't help it. As much as he wanted everything to suddenly be different, it wasn't so simple.

This just served as a truthful reminder. I'm… "Fuck," emphasizing the 'k' in disgust.

Moments turned into minutes as Steve focused only on breathing. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In…

He held the last breath. "Claire," he exhaled quietly. She didn't stir.

It was then that he noticed the newfound ease with which he found his voice. It wasn't this easy before, he wondered, before his eyes found the I.V. drip inserted into his hand. He vaguely pondered if that was the reason, but soon felt alone in his echoing head.

"Claire?" He tried again, slightly louder. Nothing. "Cl-Claire, please." His voice trembled, still barely above a whisper. Steve managed to look up at her, but she remained unchanged.

He stopped to inhale deeply. In. Out. In. "Claire," he asserted, more forcefully now. Out. His shoulders relaxed, shaping the tone he tried to create.

"Come on, sleepyhead," he breathed, the corners of his mouth a vague smile. His voice became a complete mimicry of those carefree days.

Claire began to react and mumble. "Mm…" But her eyes remained closed.

Steve felt encouraged, breath creating a more solid foundation for his words. "Whoa," he smiled wider. "Is that drool?" He then looked closer. It actually is.

He bent forward, and a long-forgotten feeling soon billowed from within him, causing his head to fall back.

"Hahaha!" Steve nearly forgot this feeling.

"...S….Shut up…" Claire murmured and groaned. Her eyes finally opened.

Steve's watering eyes met hers.

Claire did a double take, and then nearly jumped forward. "Steve!" She cried, leaning over the bed's edge.

"Is this a dream?" She asked. "I was getting so worried. You weren't waking up, and—"

"Hey," Steve interrupted coolly.

"Huh?" Claire questioned.

"We, uh, haven't had a conversation yet," Steve looked up and away, suddenly overwhelmed by her onslaught of ramblings. "That's how they're supposed to start," he smiled and glanced back.

Claire's perplexed expression melted into a furrowed smile, relenting. "Long time no see," she quietly cooed. In the back of her mind, she crossed off the fear that he might have trouble speaking again.

"Yeah," Steve looked down, pondering.

Claire didn't stop. "Do you know how long that was?"

Steve frowned. "I, uh, I don't really want to," he gulped. "Talk about that sort of... stuff," he hurriedly added. "Ya know?"

"Oh, I…" Claire practically tripped over her tongue.

"It's okay," Steve smiled again. "These already aren't the most normal circumstances, so," he weakly tried to lift his restrained arms.

Claire paled. "I'm sorry. Those, they're—" She breathed. "They changed your medication, so until it's known how you will react to it over time," Claire looked straight into his eyes. "It's best to protect you."

Steve wondered at her choice of words. Surely everyone else were the ones needing the protecting?

He smiled. "I get it."

Silence filled the room. The two didn't know what to talk about if they had to avoid anything actively unpleasant.

Claire gripped the bed's edge. "Are you hungry?"

Steve's ears perked up. "Food?"

Claire smiled, finally finding something to focus on. "Yeah, food. You haven't eaten in," she paused, "a while."

Steve waved the hand with various needles attached. "That's what you think," he joked.

Claire grimaced. "That isn't food." She took out her cellphone. "What would you like? I'm sure I can get something—" And then her plans fell apart. "At 3am. Oh," she breathed.

"Don't worry about it," Steve lied. He really did want something to sink his teeth into. He felt antsy, and without his normal drugs to dull his senses to the world around him, he was dying to interact with it. His arms pulled at his restraints without being able to help himself.

Claire raised her hand to touch them but stopped. "Do they hurt?"

Steve shook his head. "No," he sighed. "I just want to move a little." He thought again. "The needle doesn't hurt at all, either," he added, even though it did.

Claire looked up at the soldiers and raised a question to them all, "Would it be alright if I remove some of these?"

The leader of the new shift replied. "Just the arms, as long as you're alright with being in danger. We can't shoot him fast enough to save you if anything goes wrong," his tone was sympathetic but nonetheless harsh.

Claire nodded and moved to grab the specific keys for both arm restraints. Each had been created for a different section, so that the subject couldn't fully escape even if they stole one. "Just be careful," another soldier warned before Claire sat back down. "You have to remember that thing isn't human."

Steve's blood ran cold. "Don't ever say that again," Claire commanded, moving the key to Steve's nearest arm.

"Claire, wait, maybe you shouldn't—" Steve protested, but his arm was already free. He kept it as still as he could, more aware of the danger Claire was in than ever. "This is enough," he urged.

"It's okay," Claire hushed him, freeing his other arm. "Even if you tried, you can't get the others off," she reassured. "And if all else fails," she gestured towards the soldiers. "They have counter drugs to inject you with." She fumbled, worried he might become afraid. "That's why you're safe, so please don't worry."

Steve shook his head. "But what about you?" he replied, still confused about her word choice.

Claire sat back down. "I can take care of myself," she smiled. "But, I don't think it will ever come to that." She sounded so sure.

Steve grabbed the bedding, pulling it into knots despite trying his best not to move. "You can't count on that," he exhaled hollowly.

"Steve—" Claire interjected. He moved his face to look at her. "Is it okay if I touch you?" If we have to keep dancing around things, I at least want to comfort you how I can.

He could feel a burn reach his cheeks, spreading outwards. He was suddenly grateful for the dim light, so that no one could see.

His breath caught. "I, um." He had to look anywhere but at her.

"It's okay if you don't want to," she hurriedly added, feeling awkwardly rejected.

"No, I—" In his haste to deny her implications, he reached out to touch her arm.

Claire looked down at his hand, trembling as he clung to her. It didn't hurt.

The two stayed like that for a while, both feeling too afraid to move.

I haven't returned the action yet, Claire thought, worried Steve might feel hurt.

"Does being touched frighten you?" She tried to nonchalantly ask.

Steve was still looking away, but his hand held fast. "I think I'm okay right now," he breathed.

Claire moved his hand off of her arm, and Steve questioningly faced her. Taking advantage of the perfect angle, she stood up and put her face beside his, resting on his shoulder. Her arms pulled his torso slightly forward, against his restraints, and linked behind his back. He let out a surprised, "Whoa," his arms emphasizing bewilderment out and away from her.

"I missed you," Claire whispered into his ear. Steve looked around chaotically, finally to the soldiers who were now aiming at him. He shrugged helplessly, trying his best to convey that this was not in any way his plan.

Claire clung against him, showing no signs of weakening her grip. It didn't hurt him. If anything, it even felt slightly comforting.

Steve longed to relax and return her hug, but even the slightest miscalculation in his strength or deregulation of his grip could potentially wound her.

"Claire," he breathed against her neck. This is way too dangerous, he thought, awakening to the realization that he wasn't completely averse to the idea of grazing her throat with his canines. He turned his face away. "Please,"

Claire stiffened, and immediately moved away from him, but keeping her seat on the bedside. Her face was down, shameful. "I'm sorry," she repeated, defeated.

Steve shook his head. "I'm sorry," he raised a hand to raise her chin slightly. She returned his gaze. "I was wrong about how much I could handle right away."

Claire smiled. "This is fine?" She asked, gesturing to his hand.

Steve mirrored her expression. "Yeah," he sighed contentedly. "I guess it is." Little did she know how difficult that small action really was.

Claire placed her hand over his, not noticing his skin jump slightly. "No rush," she added. "One day, you'll be able to."

Steve's smile felt hollow. As it was, he didn't really think that was possible.