Part 6
Steve crawled from out of the cold water, struggling to move. His arms gave way beneath him, and he coughed up water, his eyes watering. He lay on the beach sand, the waves lapping at his bare feet as he rolled over onto his back, gasping for breath.
Hey Cap.
The voice was echoing around him, soothingly. He furrowed his brows in concentration.
Why couldn't he hear – or understand – the words being spoken?
The question left his mind in an instant as he looked up at the sky.
Blue, blue, blue.
Just so blue.
And he could clouds. White and fluffy clouds that looked like pillows.
His hand reached up, and he felt like if he stretched a little further he could feel them. Feel the soft fluffiness under his coarse and tired fingers.
His eyes danced across the sky. The sun was in the distance, showering him with bright light that left him both warm and cold.
Warm and cold.
Hot and chilly.
Hot and cool.
He couldn't decide.
He moved his head to the side, his cheek burying into the dirt. It almost made him lose his eyes. They snapped open when he was bombarded with more questions.
Where was he?
Was he dead?
Probably.
So this was heaven, he mused. A beautiful beach in the middle of nowhere. With the population of zero plus Steve.
Maybe this was his own personal heaven?
Maybe.
But he had always hoped for a more…populated heaven. Maybe one with his mother, and father – his family – one where they could all be together once and for all. Or maybe one with Bucky and Peggy.
He furrowed his brows.
Who was Peggy?
Who was Bucky?
Why couldn't he remember.
"Go away," he groaned, lifting his head from the sand. He wanted no more questions. Just peace and quiet. On the other hand, his mind had other things planned.
Why was he dead anyways?
He couldn't remember.
He felt himself shudder slightly as he sat up.
He felt cold.
The heat was gone now.
He was just left with cold, cold, cold.
He felt odd – almost like he didn't belong here.
His eyes stared out into the water. He was searching for something that made the atmosphere in his personal heaven change. It took him a moment for him to find. But there it was – the darkness – in the middle of the ocean.
It inked towards him, swirling in the water like a black octopus or – or a squid. It twisted and turned, and stretched out till it was inches away from his feet.
He was frozen in his spot as he stared at the darkness.
We miss you Cap. Things aren't the same around here without you.
Steve leaned forward, his fingers brushing the waters.
The black tentacles wrapped around his fingers. They were gentle. Almost like someone's hand. He squeezed back, gripping the blackness tightly.
Peace.
That's the only thing he felt as he was dragged back into that darkness. But it seemed, that wasn't the case. Instead of reaching that darkness he had once been in – the darkness that had been his home for only god knows how long – he was surrounded by bright light.
It burned his eyes, and he squeezed his eyes shut before opening them once more.
Lights.
Lots of them.
Lots of bright, bright lights that burned his eyes.
And – and a white ceiling.
He heard a chair clatter to the floor, and he slowly moved his head. It was painful to move, and he sucked in a breath to try and ease the pain. It numbed to a dull throb, leaving his with a fastly beating heart and a foul flavor in his mouth. It reminded him of blood – no, no. It wasn't blood. It was – it was fear.
"You're awake."
He nodded his head after a moment, finally comprehending what was said. The speaker had such a soothing voice – it made his heart calm down to its normal pace. Swallowing, he cleared his dry throat, and opened his mouth to speak.
A/N: Who do you think spoke to Steve?
Teaser:
This had become a routine of his.
Come to the hospital, wait impatiently in the elevator, walk towards the hospital room where one Steve Rogers slept, and sit there for hours, talking to him as if the superhero could hear him.
"Hey Cap…" He paused, eyes drifting down to the apple. He placed it gently in his lap, his left thumb rubbed the indents he had made with his nails. "I hope you wake up soon. We miss you Steve. Things just aren't the same without you."
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw it again.
Saw Steve's finger twitch.