Seems that I have been held, in some dreaming state
A tourist in the waking world, never quite awake
No kiss, no gentle word could wake me from this slumber
Until I realize that it was you who held me under

Blinding - Florence + The Machine

The first time they met each other, it had been a blur.

His body had spasmed against the adamantium restraints, thrashing against the burning lightning burning through his veins. Pale skin dripped with sweat as he fought not to scream, gasping like a dying fish as green eyes hid behind wet lashes. The neural inhibitors screwed into his skull grew hot against his flesh, searing against bone as he struggled to breathe past the mouthpiece that was keeping him from biting off his tongue. Small mercies.

He didn't know how long he'd lain there, could have been hours, days, even centuries. He hardly could keep track now. His memories were being ripped away, tearing at his mind like a wolf would a rabbit, ripping him open and letting all he was spill out into nothingness. He tried to hold onto them, trying to recall -

Pain, Pain, why can't you learn DAMN YOU -

Suddenly, it ceased.

The man gasped for air, his pale chest heaving as his body shivered and twitched in the aftermath. Voices swam in and out of his ears, and various clicks he tried to make sense of as he came back into himself. The foreign object was pulled from his mouth by prying hands. His head lolled back and forth helplessly, his nerves struggling to respond and regain control of themselves as he tried to open his eyes.

"Only…days…not sure…..Sir."

"Fix…project…mission…up…running..."

"…Sir."

Green eyes opened into slits, twin pools of jade glazed over with pain as he took in his surroundings. A blurred figure in white stood in front of him, speaking to a figure in grey, vaguely gesturing as they argued. But, it was the figure directly across from him that seemed to capture his weakened mind. A figure in black, with a splash of silver down one side.

He blinked, and then blinked again. The figure had stepped closer, into his view. Hard blue met confused green, as he took in the other's appearance.

A muscular man, with dark brown hair that dangled in his eyes as he looked down at his weakened body. He wore black leather, and had an arm that appeared to be made of solid metal. He stood like a soldier, tall and hard; as if he had been a statue carved. They stared at each other, the painful rate of his heart finally beginning to slow as they watched each other.

Suddenly, he realized that the men were still arguing.

"He will be needed for the next mission in a few days. Centipede has already made quite a lot of progress with the super soldier serum, they can wait a little longer to have their hands on the alien."

"Sir, with all do respect-"

"I don't give a damn about respect, I give a damn about Project Insight, and Nick's already begun building the Helicarrier. I need to move a few more people into place before we can move forward."

"But Sir, Subject 824 is going to hold the key to solving the….Extremis problem. He's the fastest healer registered in the system. We could-" The man in white argued, but was cut off by the older man.

"He's more coldblooded than hot, you know that. We learned that when we tried to put him on freeze. He'll remain an asset until we've finished the mission, and then you can have at him." The grey haired man said, gesturing to him in the chair.

"I-…yes Sir…" The man in white sagged in obvious disappointment and submission, turning around face his exhausted patron.

The man in grey shook his head exasperatedly, before glaring at the blue eyed soldier. "You've served your purpose. You're relieved soldier."

For a split second, he thought he saw a flicker of inner conflict within the man, perhaps to stay? But then it was gone, nodding to his superior as he turned and walked out the barred door without a second glance.

He had laid there in confusion, the man in the white coat sitting down next to him and unstrapping him from the contraption, pressing two fingers to his wrist as he looked down at his watch.

"That man…" He murmured, his throat dry and hoarse as he stared at the door the other had exited out of. "Who was he?"

"Your partner." The (scientist, a voice in the back of his mind murmured) said half mindedly, reaching over for a piece of paper and scribbling something down on it.

He waited for him to return.

He did not.