Even If You Can't Hear My Voice, I'll Be Right Beside You

Ari pouted and pushed her eyebrows together in a small frown of regret. “I never took biology,” she whispered, as if she were admitting a terrible secret. “No idea on what’s in an arm.” Her hands found their ways into her pockets again, whether it was a habit or she kept them from straying, she didn’t know. Maybe, at this moment, both.
“I see.” She bit her lip lightly in thought and stared off into the darkness behind Barnes. Another mission… From what she had overheard, from what she had been making, something big probably. Something to do with helicarriers, a great demand for more firepower, drones, whatnot. She wondered how much she contributed to the next mission of whatever destruction HYDRA was planning.
Zoning back in, Ari smiled under her coat’s collar, “I can make time. Every evening, I’m free. Up here.” Her eyes darkened then and she added, “Make sure you are alone. If you have suspicions someone is following you, don’t come.” The reasons were obvious. Him getting close to anyone, talking to people, being human and not a machine would all result in more brain wiping, more prepping, more making him cold and emotionless.

---

They were just talking. Luka felt a minor pang of jealousy. Yeah right, just talking. He pushed that thought away. She said things then that both were true and things that didn’t make sense. He heard her question but he chose to not answer it. It wasn’t an answer she would like, and in truth he kind of didn’t want to voice it. Not around her. He didn’t want to say that he thought these helicarriers would make a better security. No. She would disagree. In a way, he could see why. But the pay, the thrill, it was just his thing. It would be hard to explain and he didn’t want to explain it anyway.
Then she rambled about some guy, how she wanted to hurt ‘him’. “What the hell are you talking about?” he murmured, making his way across the room and over to her in her bed. He sat down and put his arms around her, gathering and pulling her closer. Just like back in those years. “Grace, what are you talking about?” He muttered again, then shook his head and took her by the shoulders making her face him. “Jesus Christ, Grace, you can’t let Steve be here anymore. I have to report where he goes, who he talks to… your place and you…” he hesitated and shook his head, “I can’t do that. Don’t do it. Don’t hang around him so much, not now.” He looked at her and immediately realised that no matter what he said about her not to hang out with Steve she probably wouldn’t listen. “At least, don’t do it around your house.” He added and wiped her tears of her cheeks. Why was she crying? He didn’t know. His thoughts raced. He had to get her out of the place for at least a day. HYDRA would storm this building if he told them. “Do you have somewhere to go, for a day and night?” he asked her then. On his mind he had Ari, but he could bet so much on hers she had Steve. Wherever Steve was. He just didn’t know who was safer.

Bucky saw the pout that formed on her lips and heard what she admitted to him, which honestly didn’t seem like a big deal to him. She’d still be able to learn biology if that’s something she wanted to do, “That shouldn’t stop you from doing anything.” He told her although he didn’t know the first thing about biology either, but how hard would it be to learn? Especially for someone so smart and talented, it should be obvious to everyone how talented Ari was when she designed a weapon so well. He watched as she pulled her hands back from his arm, he dropped his arm back down by his side as he looked at her. “The mission won’t be hard,” He wanted to make sure she knew that, he wasn’t sure why but he felt like it was the right thing for him to say at that moment. His missions weren’t that hard, unless something went wrong or his target somehow escaped from him. It has happened a few times before in the past, however Bucky always went back and took care of the target he had been given. He never knew what a mission would hold for him or what weapons he would be given, he always had his usual weapons on him for every mission. Two guns of different size and power, his handy knife for when there’s a hand to hand combat going down. But he was given other weapons for different missions, mostly when he had a few targets that he needed to take down. Such as killing a person and destroying a car or even a building.
“Do you realise who I am? I know when someone is following me, I wouldn’t put you in danger like that.” Bucky was honest with her, he did know when he was being followed and he wouldn’t go near Ari if there was an agent following him. He didn’t want Ari to get hurt because he wanted to be near her, he also didn’t want to get close to her and then risk having his mind wiped because he was getting close to someone. “Next time, make sure you wear warmer clothes. You’ll get sick otherwise,” He looked at her as he spoke, he gave her a small smile without even knowing that he was smiling. She did want to spend time with him, she would willingly hang out with him and wouldn’t need to be ordered to or forced.

---

Grace was glad that Luka hadn’t answered her question, she didn’t want to know why he was in HYDRA. Deep down she knew that he always loved having a trill and doing dangerous things, he had always been that way and that was probably one of the reasons why he decided to join the company. She just hoped that he didn’t enjoy hurting people, she wouldn’t be able to hear that from him. Then he moved over to her bed and sat down, before he brought her closer to him and wrapped her up in his arms. Much like he always did whenever she was upset or just had a bad day, it was something she could always count on and look forward to after a long day at work. He asked her what she meant but she could tell him, he’d hate her for what she did and she didn’t want that. She never wanted him to hate her, she had loved him so much and even now things with him were so comfortable. Even knowing that he’s the enemy, being in his arms and close to his body was comfortable to her after all these years. She leaned into his shoulder as she stayed silent, she did want to tell him so he could be there for her but she was scared that he’d leave her and never want to see her again. Feeling Luka move her backwards so she was looking at him, she reached up and let her hands hold onto his forearms.
“I know that but it’s not safe for him anywhere else, he’s my friend Luka. Please you can’t tell them anything, please.” She begged him not to go back to his boss and tell them everything that he witnessed tonight, not only would it be putting Steve in danger but Grace would also be in danger. Nothing would stop HYDRA from searching her apartment and even taking her away to question her, it was probably something they have done before. Then he wiped her tears away from her cheeks, the touch was simple but it was one that she has missed so much. “No, where am I meant to go?” He knew that her parents had moved across the country years ago, they were still together and he had helped her parents pack up and move. She didn’t want to put any of her friends at risk, in fact they didn’t even know she was a doctor at SHIELD as she didn’t want to explain why she worked there and not just in a normal hospital. She had a hard enough time convincing her parents that she wanted to work in SHIELD, she didn’t want to be judged by her friends as well. She did think about telling Steve, she knew that he’d take her in but there was also a risk in that as well. “I can find a hotel,” She looked at Luka noticing the tattoo that he didn’t have when they had been together, if there was even the slightest chance that HYDRA would send agents to her apartment then she didn’t want to be there. She’d have no chance of keeping them out or stopping them from searching her home, she didn’t want them to scare her out of her home but it did make sense for her not to be there just for a short period of time.

It was cute how he encouraged her so. So much hope. She shook her head with a grin, "It's not my thing. Learning bones and muscles and nerves, nah." she tilted her head. The thought alone mortified her. She admired and repeated all the people who went through and became doctors but personal she didn't think she would handle it. She liked her math and her physics. Cold hard numbers, yes or no, success or failure, no variations.
And although he said the mission wouldn't be hard, somehow she had doubts. Somehow she felt that wasn't the case. Helicarriers, fire power, so much demand. She saw agents training, she saw guns backed and heard plans murmured. It didn't sit right. Ari tried to not let it get to her. If he wasn't worried, she shouldn't be worried.
The flicker of doubt was too brief on her face. She returned the smile and laughed even though when he asked he was serious. "I think I realise who you are more than you do." She stepped forward and looked up at him into his eyes. Any closer and they would touch. "I have to be careful around you." She said slowly and quietly. "You, mister, were a big flirt back in the old times."
At that she winked and quickly stepped back, her smile widening into another lighthearted laugh. Seeing the smile on his lips only made her smile more, forcing her to cover her mouth before he could see dimples and too much of her teeth. She shook her head, saying softly almost as if to herself, "I'll just borrow your warmth again."
She looked towards the door that lead to the rooftop. Time to go. “I’ll see you later, Barnes.”

---

Luka was already forming a plan in his head, a series of events that he would retell HYDRA. This was on his head. He was lying to HYDRA, and that was dangerous. He would simply omit some details, surely that wouldn’t hurt. Luka looked down at her as Grace begged. He didn’t say anything. He couldn’t promise her anything. If all went well, she would remain uninvolved; however if things went south…
“No, a hotel won’t do.” She needed to be somewhere safer. He hated to put her in Steve’s hand. He hated the fact they were all after him and putting her there with him wasn’t going to make her any safer. Sure, Steve could protect her, he was strong. But if HYDRA were to find the base, and her there, Luka didn’t know how that would end. Maybe he would have some influence, claim her as his own hostage or something. But then there was that chance that he wouldn’t be where she was, he would have no control. He took a deep breath and overcoming all his own wishes and wants said, “You choose. Steve, or Ari. I think those are the safest options.” For now. For while HYDRA didn’t know where Fury and Steve and friends were.
Ari wouldn’t mind. She would understand. And the last place that HYDRA would check would be Ari’s place for any suspicious runaway doctors of SHIELD that spent late night times with Steve Rogers and of whom HYDRA wasn’t even aware. “I don’t care where you meet him, just as long as it’s not here and not too public. What if it were someone else that was following him?” Luka muttered and looked at her, his gaze firm. “Do you even know what HYDRA would do?” He stood then, pulling away from her. He had to get back. HYDRA would be waiting for him. The longer he stayed, the more unlikelier his story.

Bucky understood where Ari was coming from, he wouldn’t be able to do anything with the human body either. So he dropped the subject, at least he made her grin with he liked seeing on her face. Any smile brightened her face, made her even more beautiful and made her eyes shine. She was talented at what she did, there was no reason for her to change positions in HYDRA and if she was happy in the work she did then he would encourage her to stay where she was. Although he wasn’t sure if what he’d say to encourage her, would even matter.
He watched as she stepped closer to him and what she said, caught him off guard. She knew what he was like before this? He wanted to ask her about what she meant, how did she know what he was like, what else could she tell him about how he was. But the words simply didn’t come out of his mouth, no matter how desperately he wanted to ask her. She was the only person who was open about knowing what he used to be like, he didn’t even know what to think as he looked at her. All too soon, she was stepping back away from him, he was a flirt? He couldn’t see himself as someone who would flirt with women, and she said he was flirt in the old days. What did that mean? She was younger than he was, how did she know this?
“Goodnight Ari,” He looked at her as he would just ask her all the questions that filled his mind tomorrow, whenever he got to spend time with her which would probably be at the same time as tonight. But he could wait, he had learned to wait through his training to be the assassin that he was now.

---

Ari or Steve, those were the only options that Grace had. She hadn’t seen Ari since she broke up with Luka, they had talked on the phone a few times but Grace wasn’t sure how she felt about breaking her cousin’s heart. Steve could protect her more than Ari, she also didn’t want to cause any trouble for Ari but would Steve even have enough time to bring her to wherever he was hiding? “I’ll call Steve,” She told Luka quietly as she looked at him, she looked down as she listened to him. He was right. It could have easily been a different HYDRA agent that was ordered to follow Steve, if it had been then she wouldn’t have been given this chance to get somewhere safe.
“I know that, okay. But this wouldn’t be happening, if HYDRA didn’t kidnap his friend Bucky and turn him into an assassin.” She spoke with disgust in her voice, disgust that people were capable of hurting another person as badly as they did to Bucky. She was also disgusted that Luka would want a part of a company who killed people, “What you do to everyone else. Torture me for information and then kill me, or electrocute my brain so I forget everything.” It was harsh but it was the truth, she was also upset so her words were just coming out of her mouth.
Once he had pulled away and stood up from her bed, she knew that he was leaving so she laid back down on her bed. Rolling onto her side she curled up, surely HYDRA wouldn’t plan an attack on her that night. “Lock the door on your way out,” She told him not knowing exactly how he got into her apartment, he had given back the keys when they broke up but she wouldn’t put anything past him.

“Goodnight Barnes.” And she left with a smile, down the stairs, quick and brisk. She headed for her room, spent the night there in peace. It was only early in the morning when she was rudely awoken and a so called present given to her. She had been of very useful help to HYDRA. It was time to repay her.

Two men hurried down the hallway, one swearing and holding his hand to his cheek. Blood oozed from between his fingers. He was taken to the infirmary, and the deep scratches on his cheek were treated. He continued to swear and rant under his breath to his companion. ‘Stupid bitch… doesn’t realise her value… do her good and she claws your eyes’.
Two hours later, Ari stood on the same balcony as she had before and watched people test out more machinery and more drones. She glared at everything, snarling orders at some apprentice that dared disturb her peace. To hell with everything. Fuck this. Fuck that. Fuck HYDRA. She rubbed her wrists where they had tied them down after she clawed at some guys face. Branded. Whatever free time she wanted outside of HYDRA taken away just like that. Anyone could look and anyone would see. She’d have to cover it up, keep it out of sight. Now that glaring symbol sat on the bone of her lip. Branded like some damn cow.
Ari tried to keep calm. When she was angry, she was extra emotional. When anger couldn't be released, and she couldn't do anything about it, she would cry. She tried to divert her thoughts, think positive. At least, she supposed it wasn’t too visible. She should be grateful for that. A smart pair of shorts over bikini bottoms would do fine. People would question but she’d weasel her way out somehow. Maybe.
She snapped at some other guy who approached her, and sent them all away when they tried to come close. People started to walk around her in a circle. She growled orders here and there. This wasn’t like her, but given the instance, she was extra angry today. It was not a nice morning.
She turned to the training room for it, letting her anger out on a punching bag, ready to claw it down if it resisted to move.

---

Steve it was. As unsafe as he thought it might be, he let it slide. He looked at her then, wondered how she was just accepting that he wasn’t going to follow her. How clearly she told him that she would be with Steve. He could stalk her, follow her, find them both. He could lead HYDRA to them. How did she believe in him that he wouldn’t do that?
Luka snorted as she spoke, “They didn’t kidnap. He fell. And then they found him.” He brushed some imaginary minute dust off his shoulder and looked at her, a shadowed form in the shadows of the lamp light. He smiled then, a rather cold and horrible smile. A smile that one would smile when they were satisfied with some horrible deed they had done. If any trace of the Luka from years ago had just been then, it was now gone. “You know too much.” He almost purred in a rather sinister manner. He stepped closer as she turned away, his fingers lightly touching the side of her neck, one finger gently pressing down on a point just beneath her earlobe. He knew the sensation well. When pressed correctly, it would not be pure pain, it would be pure discomfort. Intense discomfort. A numbing of the jaw, a tingling up the side to the temples, depending on the strength of the finger’s push and painless throbbing afterwards. “If you value your life, keep your tongue behind your teeth.” He sharply pulled his hand away and walked out, locking the door behind him sure, as silently as he had entered. No slam, no click. He had never used force on her, never touched in her in anyway. But HYDRA changed a man, and it changed him too.

Bucky hadn’t been given a mission yet and he was getting frustrated, there wasn’t much for him to do at the base and he was bored. He would have gone to find Ari, but he figured that she would be busy working and wouldn’t have time to spend with him. So he walked around the base and spent a few hours working out in the training gym, he then took a shower and stood under the water for a while until he got bored of that as well. He felt like he’d go crazy if this continued, he either needed a mission or he wanted to be frozen again. No one was giving him anything to do to occupy his time, no one was telling him about the mission that he was waiting on either and that was annoying to him. Although he didn’t say anything, he knew he would get punished for it and that meant he might not see Ari for a while.
He was again wandering through the base when he overheard two younger men mumbling about Ari, all he heard was Ari’s name and that she was being a crazy bitch. Frowning he glared at the two men, who were quick to rush off down the hallway away from him. He didn’t know what a crazy bitch was, but it wasn’t what Ari was. He was just waiting until the night to go find her up on the rooftop, but if Ari was in a horrible mood then he wanted to find her now and make sure that she was okay and that she was safe. He didn’t have the first clue where she was in the base and it was a huge base, but there was one place that he thought that she might be.
So he headed straight to the training room, thankfully there she was. Standing opposite the punching bag, walking into the room he watched Ari from across the room. She didn’t look like she had been hurt, but he could tell that she was angry over something. “Ari… what happened?” He asked as he got right to the point, he wanted to know what happened to her during the day.

---

Grace thought that Luka was just going to leave her apartment, but he didn’t. He told her that she knew too much, those words sent a shiver down her spine but they wasn’t any time for her to move away from him. She felt his finger against her neck, just below her earlobe and her body frozen out of fear. She had never been scared of Luka before, but now she was as he threatened her to keep her mouth shut. She had been holding her breath until she felt him pull his hand back harshly, she didn’t even hear him leave her apartment but she knew that he had.
Letting the breath go, her heart was racing in her chest and felt like it would break through her ribcage. Her hands shook as she grabbed her phone, she couldn’t focus on what she was trying to do as she desperately trying to dial Steve’s number. After what felt like minutes she managed to press his number, holding the phone up to her ear she waited for him to answer and the wait caused tears to fall down her cheeks yet again. As soon as she heard Steve’s voice, everything just flowed out of her mouth as he needed to know what had happened after he left her home.
“Luka was here, he’s following you Steve. He saw you leave my apartment and he broke in, he said I need to go somewhere safe. HYDRA could find you or find me, I begged him not to say anything but he’s changed. He’s not the same man that I knew, he threatened me. That I need to keep my mouth shut, you can’t come here anymore. I’m so sorry, Steve.” She blurted out all in one breath, he needed to know that he had to be extra careful now. But he also couldn’t visit her anymore, it was way too dangerous for the both of them. She felt horrible as Steve was only there that night because she was upset, Luka only saw Steve because of her.

Ari was so into punching and abusing the bag and absorbed into her thoughts that she didn't hear him walk in. She only heard her name and whirled around, eyes blazing and lips pulled back into a snarl. "What do you-" she snapped with a growl but caught sight of who it was and abruptly cut off. She made a visible effort to suppress any other growl that was sitting at her throat and lowered her arm from the punching bag, closing her eyes and forcing herself to relax. Here stood a perfect example of why she was not supposed to be so angry. A tattoo, my lord, how totally devastating. Meanwhile certain someones here were losing far more - their arms, their freedom, their past and memories and themselves. She was calm now, but the rage took all her strength. She gripped the bag with her hand now, to prevent herself from falling over. Putting her hand to her face, using the glove to hide her face from him, she forced out in a soft and kind voice, "Hello, Barnes, are you here to train?" It almost worked but there was some tremble. Her voice broke a little and she felt a few hot tears run down the side of her cheeks. She desperately tried to wipe them away. "Nothing happened, I just" she wiped her eyes with the back of the glove and pulled it away from her face before taking the glove off and busily attending her bleeding finger. "broke a nail, thats all."

---

Steve was trying, and very much failing, to fall asleep. His thoughts kept coming back to Grace, he wanted to know if she would be okay. He wanted to keep her close and to promise her things would he fine. Get a counsellor or someone who could help her get through what she experienced today. All these thoughts were loud noise in his brain when suddenly an even louder noise broke the silence. He jumped up, ready to fight but then realised it was only the ring of his phone. So damn loud. He fumbled for it and answered the call, "Yes? Hello? Are you okay?" Were his first words. And he listened to everything she had to say and his heart clenched for her. Tbats right.. Luka was in HYDRA now. He didn't know how to handle this. All he thought was how to get her out of there, without putting her in more danger. "Stay there." He said, "I'm going to send a car for you. Sam will pick you up. Stay there don't go anywhere. It's not safe. Pack your most important things in a sm bag." He realised she knew it was not safe but he wasn't going to sit and idly play with his thumbs while HYDRA snooped around nearby. They would certainly come around. He just hoped Luka wouldn't sell them out but he has to be safe. If Grace was scared then he had to be careful too.
Steve did as he said. Grace wouldny have a say in this. Sam was already up and on the road to get her.

Bucky heard the snarl that came from Ari, a noise he hadn’t been expecting to come from her. Someone so small and sweet, could turn around and snap at someone like that. He watched as she took some time to calm herself, no matter what she told him he knew what anger looked like on a person and she was showing all the right signs. “No, I’m not here to train. I came here looking for you,” He told her as he moved closer to her, she was crying but she was attempting to hide it from him by wiping the tears away. He didn’t believe her when she told him that nothing had happened, his good hand reached out and gently held onto her wrist. He looked down at her broken nail as he made sure his body was covering the fact that he was touching her, just in case anyone walked past and looked into the room.
“Tell me what happened, Ari. I know what it looks like when someone is angry,” Bucky lowered his voice and softened his tone, his touch was light so he wouldn’t accidently hurt her. He wanted to know exactly what happened, so he could help her with anything that she needed. And if someone needed to be hurt, then he would be the first one to track that person or people down and he would deal with them on his own. He didn’t even care who it was, if anyone hurt Ari in anyway then he wouldn’t sit back and allow it to happen. His thumb tenderly brushed over the soft skin of his wrist, in a comforting way but it was an action that Bucky didn’t realise he was doing as he came out naturally when he looked at her and was around her.

---

Grace shortly ended the call to Steve once he told her what was going to happen, Sam was on his way to get her. Climbing off her bed, she went straight to her closet and grabbed out an overnight bag. Setting it down on her bed so she could pack it, she pulled out enough clothes that she thought would last her until her home was safe again. She had no idea how long she’d be away from her home and it was heart breaking, she was being forced out of her home by fear all because she was close to Steve. She didn’t blame Steve, this wasn’t his fault. No, she blamed Luka for all of this. She felt stupid that she actually thought he was the same man she had once loved, that HYDRA wouldn’t change someone that much. She was wrong, she knew what happened to Bucky so if they could change someone into an assassin then of course Luka wasn’t the same.
Once her clothes were packed she moved onto her toilettes, she used another small bag to pack up items from her bathroom. Every now and again a tear would roll down her cheeks, but she kept going as she didn’t know how long it would take Sam to get there. But she knew she had to leave as soon as possible, HYDRA could already be planning their attack on her apartment complex for all she knew. Although she tried not to think about it, she continued to pack her bag and grabbed a few items that meant the world to her. All those pieces were from her Grandparents so she wasn’t leaving them behind, she took her fully packed bag into the living room and waited for Sam to get there. She tried to keep her mind off of everything that was happening, she still couldn’t believe all of this was happening to her. She was just a doctor, none of this should be going on in her life. She wasn’t an agent, she wasn’t used to this but it had been thrown onto her. Suddenly a light knock sounded on her door, before she heard Sam’s voice announcing that it was him. Grace carried her bag and double checked that it was Sam before she left with him, they moved quickly down to where he had parked the car so they could get out of the area.

Unable to see due to the blur in her eyes from her tears, Ari didn't see Barnes move closer and so when he took her hand she was a little surprised but it passed quickly. She just wanted to lean and cry into his shirt but she had to be strong, if not for herself at least for him. What would he think If henknew her reason for anger and tears? He would think her pathetic and weak probably. Nothing compared to what hell he was going through everyday.
She sniffed and forced back a sob. Lowering her hand a little, peeking out at her hand from behind the glove she shook her head. "It's nothing you need to worry about," she tried. She just didn't want to tell him, at least not yet. He would probably think she was just as sinful as all the other HYDRA bastards or something. He might look at her differently. She didn't want that. "I just," she added seeing that it didn't satisfy his question, "I just got into an argument with a few. Nothing to worry about. Please."
She didn't know what he would do if he did find out and did care. Would he hurt the people? No, she definitely couldn't tell him. Should he hurt someone, they would freeze him or wipe him and she selfishly couldn't let that happen again. Ari watched his thumb circle on her wrist. It calmed her. Tears stopped but her eyes were still wet. The anger faded but she was still upset.

---

Sam at first was surprised when Steve told him the plan but he didn't go against it. He knew Grace too, she was a wonderful girl. No need to put her through hell. He would pick her up in the corner and take a detour back to the base.
Meanwhile back the base, Steve notified Fury and Natasha. At first there was a small dispute about her safety here, but they all eventually agreed, seeing that it was a reasonable optional. Natasha went to organise a room for Grace nearby hers so if anything Natasha could help.
Anxiously, he waited for Sam and Grace to arrive. Thoughts tumbled around in his head. Was Luka brainwashed too? Did they do anything to him or was he just naturally worse in soul like that? HYDRA was turning people one by one. Taking loved ones away, hurting more. He slammed his fist down onto the table. He was frustrated that he couldn't do anything. They didn't have enough forces to raid HYDRA base nor any information on it. Nothing, no strand, no army.
And what made him most angry was that HYDRA had affected Grace too now. First the man she has shot by accident, although that technically wasn't HYDRAs direct fault but if they hadn't attacksd in the first place it wouldn't have happened; and now Luka. Steve paced, glancing at the time every few minutes. When he heard that Sam and Grace has safely arrived he was the first to run to greet them, seeing grace and gathering her into his arms. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. Sam stood a bit back, taking out her bags and passing them to a casual dressed Natasha who looked like she had thrown on whatever was nearest her when she got out of bed.

Ari wasn’t telling him what happened, he wasn’t sure if she was lying to him but he knew that she wasn’t telling him the whole story. He watched her facial expressions and decided that he would leave it there, she’d tell him whenever she wanted to or when she was ready. He did want to know so he could make sure that it wouldn’t happen again, he hated seeing Ari this upset where her pretty eyes were filled with tears. He watched as she wiped the tears away, but her lashes were still wet and there tear stains down her cheeks. “Alright, is there anything that I can do?” He asked her as he wanted to get her back to her normal self, he didn’t want her angry or upset.
It might not be easy considering how emotional she was right now, but he’d do whatever she wanted so he could hopefully cheer her up even if it was a tiny bit. “I ate the plum last night, it was delicious.” He told her as he thought that might make her feel a little bit better.
“Next time, I’ll find a plum for you.” Bucky told her as his thumb continued to rub circles on her soft skin, he would have brushed away her tears but he didn’t want to use his metal hand but he also didn’t want to let her hand go. “We can sneak up onto the rooftop now, if you want to talk or get away from everyone here.” He looked at her, he wasn’t sure if she still had work to do that day but it could wait until she felt better.

---

Grace climbed into the car and sat there as Sam drove, taking the long way to the base just to make sure they weren’t being followed which thankfully they weren’t. The drive was mostly silent although they did make small talk, she liked Sam. He was a good person and he was loyal, he was a great friend for Steve and was always there to help him. Once at the base Grace climbed out of the car and was quickly brought into Steve’s arms, her arms wrapped around him and she buried her face into the crook of his neck.
She let his protective hold and body warmth calm her, her body couldn’t cry anymore but she was exhausted from it. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t even know how he got into my apartment… I didn’t know he had changed that much, he scared me, Steve.” Grace whispered to him and she’d have to apologize to Natasha, Sam and Fury. She was causing trouble for them when they already had their hands full, they didn’t need her hanging around the base or being a burden on them.
“I never wanted this to happen, he doesn’t see how horrible it was to do that to Bucky. They’ll all be the same,” She told him quietly as she moved so she could look at him. “I got you all out of bed,” She glanced over at Natasha who was carrying her bags further into the base, it was obvious that they had all jumped out of bed after she had called Steve.

Ari hated to do this to him, even if it was partial withholding of a story. She didn’t just get into an argument, and withholding truth or parts of truth to her was almost as bad as lying. Ari smiled softly as he talked about the plum. It made her a little happier. Somehow, Barnes doing something so human was quite adorable. “My ma said plums are good for memory,” She said softly, not knowing why all of a sudden she remembered her parents and blushed, “I ate a lot of plums during examination times.”
She wiped her eyes again and looked down at this thumb on her wrist. She felt really small. Slowly she pulled her hand away, but let her fingers run along his hand instead as she drew her hand back. Across his wrist, across his palm, down his fingers before finally their fingertips touched and then the connection broke. She looked up at him, and managed another smile, gently teasing his choice of words. “Sneak?” She repeated, and grinned a little. She stepped away and looked in her bag for a bandage, wrapping it around her finger. “Give me an hour, I’ll be up there.” She said, tying the white cloth around her finger to stop the bleeding. She felt a little warm inside, she definitely felt better. Ari lifted her head and looked at him then, as if remembering something. “Please don’t try finding anything out. I don’t want you to get into any mess.” Wiped, that is. She just couldn’t say that horrible action.

---

Steve held her, listened as she spoke. HYDRA could get in anywhere, honestly. If they could get into SHIELD without Fury noticing early on they could get into an apartment just as stealthily. “It’s going to be better,” he replied, stroking her head a little, just like his mother used to do to him to calm him down. He briefly wondered if it worked on everyone, or only kids? “I won’t let him hurt you,” And then added, “It’s his own fault for not seeing.” It was said a little rougher, a note of bitterness. He understood what she meant. HYDRA was, in his opinion, heartless and without morals. People who hurt more people, and as Zola had said just a few days ago – controlled them too.
He let her step away, and shrugged lightly, “I got everyone to wake up. Not you.”
Natasha rolled her eyes a little, “He almost took my door down to wake me up.” She put on her all too famous smirk and took Grace’s bags, though not without some effort from her injured shoulder where the Winter Soldier had shot her. They started to walk, and at one division of the hallway, Natasha shoed the boys away, taking Grace to the sleeping quarters for women, so naughty men couldn’t disturb their sleep – though Steve still found a way.
She looked back at Grace then, and added softly with a smile, “You matter to him. Stay safe. He doesn’t need any more losses at the moment.”

Bucky listened to how Ari ate plums when she had exams, and he chuckled softly. He actually chuckled and although it was only light, it had still happened. Suddenly he couldn’t remember the last time he had laughed or chuckled, but he didn’t linger thinking about it as he was there for Ari and not himself. “Must be why you’re so smart,” He commented to her but he would keep that in mind, maybe if he ate enough plums then the next time his mind was wiped then it wouldn’t be as bad as it usually was. “She also must be a very smart woman,” He told Ari as he couldn’t remember if she had ever mentioned her family to him before, although he would like to know more about her family and where she came from and how she was as a child.
He glanced down when she moved her fingers over his hand, it felt so nice to just have physical contact with someone that he liked and trusted. “I will be there waiting,” He told her as he stepped away from her, turning he walked out of the training room and headed straight for his room. Once there he grabbed a jacket just in case it was cold outside on the rooftop, the jacket was for Ari as he didn’t want her getting cold like she had last night.
He headed out of his room and went into the cafeteria, which he had actually never been into before. His meals were always brought to him or to his room, but he was there for one thing only and that was for a plum. He wanted to give one back to Ari after she had a horrible morning, there were some agents sitting at bench tables eating and talking amongst themselves. But the room fell silent when they all noticed him there, a pin could drop and it would echo through the large open plan room. Bucky didn’t pay them any attention as he walked over to where the food was, it all looked delicious but he was on the search. He finally found his way to the fruit bowls, his eyes scanned the plums before he decided on two of them as they were the largest so they should be juicy and ripe to eat. He picked them up and walked back out of the room, this time he headed for the rooftop so he could wait for Ari to get there.

---

Grace did feel calmer now that she was in Steve’s arms, she knew that he wouldn’t let Luka hurt her. She never would have believed that Luka would want to hurt her, but after tonight and what he did. She wasn’t sure about anything now, he had changed for the worst and it was his entire fault. He did this, he went to work for HYDRA and allowed them to turn him into the bad person he is today. Grace smiled softly at Natasha’s comment about Steve, but she still felt bad for making them all worry about her. She followed Natasha and gave both Steve and Sam a small smile as they parted ways for the night, “I don’t plan on going anywhere.” She told the redhead, she liked Natasha a lot and knew she was loyal.
Grace was always the doctor that Natasha asked for whenever she got hurt on the job, it gave them both time to get to know each other and earn each other’s trust. “I care about him, maybe more than I should.” Grace admitted as she really didn’t care if Natasha used that against her one day, the redhead had already tried to match her up with strangers. It wasn’t long before Natasha stopped walking and showed Grace into her room, it was a decent sized room with a bed, desk and closet. All that she’d need for now.
“Nat, how do you deal with this?” She asked wanting to know how she handled killing someone, Grace knew that the man was HYDRA and was the enemy but that didn’t make it any better in her eyes. It would take her time to deal with it, but if Natasha had any tips then she wanted to know them.

Ari looked even more surprised when he chuckled. The Winter Soldier just laughed, and even though it was small, it was still something. She quickly hid it so she wouldn't make him uneasy but the sound lingered in her mind and she carefully put it into a secure memory compartment to remember what it sounded like. That wasn't something she would want to forget. That was something really rare and precious. It was a nice laugh too.
She rolled her eyes playfully when commented on her and her mother's smartness. "My mother was full of superstitions and old wives tales." She smiled softly. Her mother said a lot of things, but so many of them were fairy tale beliefs, and although her mother didn't live by them they certainly were a big part of her life - and thus Ari grew up with all of it too. Ari bid him a temporary farewell, picked her things up and left for her room. The shower calmed her, washed away any more tears and the redness from her eyes until she looked all good again, save for the small puffiness from a morning of anger. The bandaged healing tattoo on her hip she tried to keep out of water, knowing that wetting would do no good and only harm at this stage to her - no matter how much she hated it. She dressed only a little warmer this time, putting on some thicker socks before getting ready and heading out.
The rooftop was quiet and cool as always in this hour of the night. She checked out the small covering that was located on one side. Nobody was there, she relaxed. It was a nicer place to be, there was actually some shielding from any stray eyes and any wind yet one from inside could see everything.
She stood by the small shelter, blowing hot air from her mouth and watching it come out in small puffs of warm air steam. She amused herself like so for a good few minutes, her hands in her the pockets of a coat - not the black HYDRA one this time. As much as she liked its style, she couldn't bear to look at it this time. Though this coat was also black. She just seemed to have a thing for warm black coats.

---

"That's good, less running for me after you," Natasha smiled, opened the door to her room and let Grace walk in, carrying her bags in afterwards. She set them down by her bed and breathed out gently, rubbing her injured shoulder but not too obviously. The wound was still fresh, and hurt.
Her knowing smile only flowered more as Grace admitted her care for Steve. Oh how it was interesting to watch a couple so caring about each other but so damn oblivious to each others true intentions. Maybe she was wrong to try set them up with different people, maybe she just needed to set them up together, though they already did that without her help.
"A lot of people care about him, more than they should, but I haven't seen them care in the way you do. Which is nice. It seems genuine, not just a fangirl moment. I mean, he's pretty attractive, no? Look at him, he's shining." She chuckled. "Have you seen his before-serum pictures? Such a tiny kid. So thin."
She sat down then, stretched her legs and ran a hand through her hair, watching Grace.
"How do I deal? I.." She shrugged and looked serious, "I was raised like this. I really didn't know any other way. Second nature sort of thing. Kill before you are killed." She shook her head, "I'm afraid I can't help you with what you're after."
She remained quiet then added, after some thought, "If I really have to put thought in, I guess I act as a shield between what I need to protect, and the enemy, be it alien or man." That was SHIELD, the meaning of SHIELD. Fury had drilled that into her when he took her up. Natasha looked at Grace, and smiled softly. She moved over and gave her a hug. "Sleep now. We're all tired, so many emotions. Tomorrow will be better."

Bucky made his way onto the roof and searched the area until his eyes landed on Ari, he walked over to her and noticed that she was puffing hot air from her mouth into the cold nights air. “I found these for us, I know you don’t want to talk about your day. But I thought this might cheer you up,” He offered her a plum as he stood beside her under the shelter, he held his own plum in his metal hand and was making sure he didn’t drop the fruit or squash it as he did want to eat it.
He would never push Ari or put pressure on her to tell him anything or do anything, he wasn’t that cold hearted. He may be an assassin and that was bad enough, but he has been controlled for so long now and he knew what that was like. He wasn’t going to force any sort of control onto anyone else, not even people that he didn’t like.
“I brought a jacket for you, if you do get cold.” He explained to her as his jacket was draped over his metal arm, he felt Ari’s hand brush over his as she took the plum from him. Seeing the warm smile that settled on her face was enough for Bucky, that is all he wanted to see from her. Her smile could light up any room, it was even brighter than the stars that plastered the dark night sky. “Could you tell me more about yourself? I don’t know if you already have, but I’d really like to hear it.” He asked as he hoped she wasn’t repeating herself.

---

Grace knew what Natasha was doing, she was trying to get whatever she can out of Grace. “Yes, he is attractive. And yes, I have seen pictures of Steve before he received the serum. He might have been completely different in appearance back then, but he was just as handsome as he is now.” It felt so good to be able to talk to another woman about this, she did miss it as she always went to Ari with this sort of thing. Natasha could run off to Steve and tell him, for all Grace cared. She wouldn’t mind because it’s how she felt and she was finally being honest with herself, she liked Steve more than she should and she knew the risk and danger that came with that. She didn’t care, her feelings for Steve were stronger than her worry about what danger was out there.
Listening to Nat, she knew no one would have the answer she was seeking. She killed someone and even though it was an accident, and he was the enemy. She still kill him so she could protect Steve, she would always choose to watch someone else die then watch Steve die. Natasha was right, she had been raised in this and was trained. They were completely different, so it wasn’t fair for Grace to ask but she had to.
“Thank you, Nat. For everything,” Grace whispered as she hugged the redhead, she watched her friend leave the room shutting the door behind her. Grace moved her bags over to the desk, opening her bag she pulled out her pajamas and changed into them. She brushed her fingers through her dark hair and braided her locks so tangles wouldn’t form as she slept, climbing under the bed covers she laid there and suddenly her eyes became heavy. A big yawn escaped from her and it wasn’t long before she was fast asleep.

Ari looked over when she heard his voice and smiled softly, glancing down at the plum. He found some so fast already, how cute! She took one, thanking him, and turned it around in her hand, looking at it. It was sure ripe and ready to be eaten. He did a good job. She smiled more and raised the plum to her lips, taking a small bite. She tasted it and, after swallowing and wiping her lip from the droplet of juice left there, she looked up at him, “This is really sweet. Nice and soft. Thank you.”
She glanced at the jacket. Really, she would have preferred the arm but that was such a nice thing of him to do too! “How kind! Thank you,” she replied and smiled, but let him hold it for now. She took a few more bites of the plum, looking thoughtful when he asked about her. She didn’t really have much to tell. She had a pretty average childhood, nothing too exciting.
“No, I haven’t told you anything, actually,” She said after a moment of pause. At least, she didn’t remember telling him about her ever. It was weird, knowing a little more about him than he knew about her. But then again, she didn’t have to start over with memories. “I grew up with my aunt and her husband near Florence in Italy. Parents were away for work all the time. Mother was a stewardess, she teaches in a stewardess school now, dad’s a passenger plane pilot.” Memories of rolling hills tumbled over. “Then when I was still very small, they moved to Canada and I went with them. Grew up there, went to college here. Got a job in HYDRA.” Ari laughed softly at her small life story. Wasn't much. She didn’t know if that’s what he wanted to hear about her and peeked over at him.

---

Steve woke up early in the morning, while it was still dark, as did most of the base. Early mornings for agents were a common thing. There was a lot of work to be done. He got ready with Sam to go for a run when suddenly he remembered something. He wasn’t sure if Grace was up for it, or if she wanted to sleep in but he personally felt doing some exercise was better than wallowing in bed over something that was bad and had happened just yesterday. He made his way down to where the women’s quarters were but ran into a female agent in a towel who chased him out and Steve ran, apologizing over his shoulder. Only when he was safe in the lounge did she stop pestering him. He looked at Sam awkwardly and sent Sam to try find someone to get a message to Grace.
Unfortunately, Sam faced the same consequence from another female agent. He complained to Steve, rubbing his head where a flying shoe had hit him.
Maria Hills was their saviour. They managed to catch and beg her to pass a message on. And Maria Hills, being the strict woman she was, scolded them but reluctantly went back to Grace’s room and knocked on the door, shouting through, “Miss Hudson! Your presence is requested on a run with Rogers and Wilson! Should I tell them that you’re coming or not?”
She shook her head softly, muttering something about damn men, and waited for the response, eying Rogers and Wilson, both of whom peeked out from the end of the corridor long enough before being shooed by the same female agent that had chased Rogers out.

Bucky waited until Ari took a bite of her plum before he also begun to eat his, taking a bite he licked his lips so the plum juice didn’t drip. “No need to thank me, Ari. You gave me one, so I wanted to return the favour.” He assured her as she really didn’t need to thank him for anything, he wanted to bring her a plum and that’s what he did. He listened to her life story but there had to be more than that, “And you never wanted to follow your parent’s foot-steps?” He asked her as he did want to know why she would actually want to work in HYDRA, “I don’t understand why you would want to work here. Couldn’t you make designs for another company, a company that doesn’t hurt other people?” He asked as he wasn’t having a go at her, he just wanted to know why she was there when she could be doing so much good in the world.
“I would tell you about when I was growing up, but I can’t remember.” He shrugged his shoulders light as he turned his head so he could take in the beautiful view that surrounded the base, he wanted to share this life with Ari but there was no way he could until he actually got those memories back. Sadly, he didn’t think that was going to be happening any time soon.
He wasn’t sure how it went if Ari ever did decide to leave HYDRA, he could imagine that she wouldn’t be let go easily. She might not know secrets or future HYDRA plans, but she knows where the base is and what weapons they have in stock. No one working there might not be allowed to leave, it wouldn’t surprise him if HYDRA didn’t let works leave because it was too risky if that did ever happen which he was worried about. If Ari did want to leave, he would help her of course but it made him nervous to think about what could happen to her.

---

Surprisingly Grace slept soundly through the whole night, however she woke up early in the morning which was normal for her. She had horrible shifts being a doctor and often started early, she got up and decided to find the gym. So she changed into a tight pair of workout leggings and a tight fitting tank top, she left her hair in the braid and tied the laces of her sneakers. When she heard Maria’s voice through the door, “I’ll be right out.” She called out and finished getting herself ready, opening the door she stepped out into the hallway and gave Maria a small smile.
Looking down the hallway she didn’t see Steve, but she did hear a female voice going off at someone for being in the women’s area. She thanked Maria before she followed the voice, finding a female agent scolding both Steve and Sam.
“Getting into trouble already? This early in the morning,” She looked at them both, “Lead the way. Before I change my mind,” She told them as a run did sound really good right now, hopefully it would help clear her head so she could think better. She waited until they both turned around and guided her through the base, she would definitely need directions or someone’s help to find her way around the base.
They made their way outside where the air was chilly but Grace would warm up as soon as she started to exercise, “Don’t hold back just because I’m here.” Grace told them both as she stretched out her body to warm herself up, then she started jogging which turned into a run but she was pacing herself so she could run further. However she was doing pretty good keeping up with Sam, there was no way she’d ever keep up with Steve.

Ari briefly imagined following her parents footsteps and shuddered. She almost felt faint before quickly pulling herself to the real world. “Oh, god no.” She replied, shaking her head, “I… I couldn’t follow them.” She looked sheepish then and added, really quietly, “I’m afraid of heights when suspended.” She’d rather her feet on the ground, the closer the better. She didn’t tell many people that. So when asked if she had ever been on a plane, people were very surprised to find out that no, she hadn’t. Obvious question followed up, so how did she design them. Physics. Maths. Nothing else. She didn’t make the comfort, she just make sure it flew. Models and graphics and programs were totally fine with her.
“I didn’t get a choice,” she replied then and looked at him, though she was not sad. It happened, so whatever. “I graduated from college, was third top student in my course. Sent out applications to lots of places, even SHIELD. My friends, who got lower, were taken in to all their places, but not me. I didn’t even get a rejection reply.” She laughed, taking another bite of the plum. “Only one place took me in, some small company. I didn’t really question it, maybe I wrote a crap resume, whatever. Then one day they pulled me aside and proposed a promotion. It was really shady. We were in a room, with locked doors and there was a gun on the table and they said, basically, ‘yeah we’re HYDRA and we want you to work for us.’” She looked at the plum seed in her hand. There was no option to say no. To say no was to say hi to the bullet and death. It was obvious for whoever heard this. Her letters and applications had simply been intercepted and deleted. All the places she wrote to never even got her application in the first place. She figured it out quite quickly after she left that horrible room. It was a no brainer. She took out a small tissue and wrapped the plum in it. It didn’t bother her anymore. “It pays, so whatever. Not too fussed.” She smiled, “You can’t remember anything, at all? That’s a shame. Maybe one day.”

---

Steve saw Grace and, under the scolding of the female agent, looked more like a puppy who had done some wrong than a man who served his country more faithfully than the flag did. Sam on the other hand, pointed at Steve and lifted his own hands up in surrender, “His fault. His idea. Let’s go before I change my mind too.” He patted Steve on the back and headed towards the outside. Steve followed him, glancing over at Grace, “Good morning. Sleep well?”
They lead her out through the labyrinth of corridors and out into the nature. It was a lovely forest. Sam started to jog, having already stretched, once Grace was ready. Steve lingered for a moment behind them before catching up. “You shouldn’t have said anything,” Sam said, grinning, “Now Steve’s gonna circle this entire base like ten hundred times.”
“Oh come on,” Steve added, passing Sam on the left and then with a smug smile added, “On your left.”
Sam threw a hand up. “You can’t do that!” He yelled as Steve ran ahead, “We only just started!” Sam turned to Grace, and made a gesture that said ‘look at this man! Ridiculous, can’t believe it!’.
“So you run too?” He asked after a while, keeping pace with Grace and not finding it too hard but surprised at it anyway. The track here wasn’t too bad, though there were some off-path bits. He and Steve had planned a running route on the first day, knowing they would have to stay here longer and not wanting to miss out on any exercise. When Steve was out of definite earshot, added, “So how’d you meet Steve? I got to know him on morning runs back in the city.” He ran ahead a little to squeeze through a narrow path before letting Grace catch up after him. “We got a small place we go to after this run to stretch out. It’s a nice place. You can see the whole of the city.” He spoke, but took it in small turns, as to not puff himself out.

Ari was scared of heights. That wasn’t something that Bucky was expecting to hear from her, but it did make her seem more normal. Not that she wasn’t normal, she was but Bucky liked learning that fact about her. “I understand that, I’m not that fond of being in water.” He admitted to her, he wouldn’t say that he was scared of water but he would rather not be in a large body of water for a long period of time. “Do you still stay in contact with your parents? Or are you not allowed?” He asked as he was interested in her and her life, he wanted to know more about her.
He wouldn’t put it past HYDRA to keep their workers away from their families, so no information would get leaked out and spread around. Or would the workers have to lie to their families about where they worked and what they did?
“You didn’t? They just told you that you were going to work with them, and that’s it?” He frowned as he looked over at Ari, he wasn’t surprised but he still couldn’t believe that HYDRA would do that to people. They didn’t just control him, they were controlling everyone who worked for them and that just wrong even to him. It wasn’t right to him, but that was life he guessed. “You could have done so much better than HYDRA,” Bucky told her softly as he looked at her, he finished eating his plum and kept the seed in his hand so he could toss it later when he went inside.
“I hope to remember one day, but I don’t think it’ll happen. They won’t let me go, unless I don’t survive a mission.” He was honest with Ari but she probably already knew what the rest of his life would be, he would be frozen and thawed out for missions and that was it. He would be an assassin until he died.

---

Grace nodded her head, “I did sleep well actually. It’s much quieter here than at my apartment,” She told him with a smile as she followed them outside, she watched as Steve easily passed them both as he ran ahead. “Just let him go,” She smiled over at Sam as it would make Steve happy to pass them numerous times, it was just how he was now so why bother trying to slow him down. “Besides it’s not like he can fly, unlike someone here.” She glanced over at Sam to make him feel better, Steve couldn’t fly unless Sam helped him with that.
“Yeah, I started running in high school and I enjoyed it so much that I always try to run now. It clears my head and keeps me in shape, helps with a bad day too.” She explained to Sam as they ran, she let him pass her when they came to a narrow part of the track before she caught up with him again. Her heart beat was increasing but she was keeping her breathing steady for now, with every exhale she pushed something bad out of her system so she didn’t bottle it up like she did tend to do.
She smiled when she heard about how Sam first met Steve, of course he ran laps around Sam but it was nice that Steve could still meet new people on his own. “At work, I heard about him being found and thawed out. Fury asked me to check him over once he woke up, just to make sure that he was alright. Steve wasn’t all that pleased with me at first,” It was a great memory that she had, Steve had still been polite to her but he was still terribly confused over everything. “It’s nice that he has you, someone a little bit more normal than us.” He was really the only friend that Steve had that wasn’t in SHIELD when they met, but Sam was just as loyal as any agent. “Did you ever think this is what you’d be doing with your life?” Grace asked as they made their way along the track.

Ari briefly, and only very briefly, wondered if his fear of water was an ice-association thing or not. She quickly got rid of that thought though. No need to jump to conclusions! “Really?” She smiled over at him. Here stood a man, this cold assassin who was actually quite a nice guy and was not too fond of water. How peculiar.
“Oh, I talk to them now and then. But since they’re always busy, and I’m busy, it’s a rare thing. I’m just not allowed to say I’m in HYDRA, obviously. So I show my workplace as that small company that HYDRA pretended to be before roping me in.” She guessed that was okay. They still kept an eye on her, but they couldn’t control the whole world. There was a barrier. Plus, Ari’s parents were very rarely around so HYDRA let her – they didn’t pose too much of a threat and could always be easily removed if they found out. She gave a small laugh, “Trust me, when there’s a gun in front of you and you’re asked if you want to work for or not, you say yes if you want to live.” She noticed the seed in his hand and took it from him, wrapping it in with hers into the tissue and putting it into her pocket. “Maybe I could have,” She shrugged, “Who knows? I learned a lot here. I’m thankful for that at least. Gotta see the bright side of even the darkest times.”
His next words made her sad and she looked at him. To know that he would forever do whatever HYDRA told him to do, with no say in what he wants or doesn’t want… she didn’t want to imagine that. She didn’t want to imagine it. It was scary. She wanted to get him out of here, even if it’s the last thing she does. Ari didn’t know why she wanted to help Barnes so much, even when he had so much blood on his hands, but her curiosity had given her a lot of information and with it a feeling of hate towards HYDRA that grew by the day. And there was Steve, who was probably looking for him, who had most likely recognised him. She felt helpless and powerless, and felt tears prick her eyes at the frustration that she was unable to do anything, but quickly blinked and looked away. She took a breath. The whole day was just bad. “One day someone will help you of here.” She took his good hand into hers and gave it a little squeeze. “You just need to have hope and not let HYDRA get too deep.”

---

Sam listened to her as she spoke, relating to a lot of the things she said. He definitely agreed with runs clearing the head and helping stay in shape.
“It must have been weird for anyone to see him frozen and then come to life. Like, I’m no biologist but that just sounds unnatural.” He explained then laughed, “But so does growing five times one’s size due to some magic serum.” He ran in silence, looking over at her when she said that it was for Steve to have him. He smiled. She really was a nice person. He didn’t get a chance to answer her question, hearing footsteps behind them. “Already?” He yelled in a joking manner over his shoulder, glancing back to see Steve approaching them at a fast pace. Steve grinned from afar and as he passed them, said in no puffed and absolutely regular voice, “On your left.”
Sam breathed out a whistle, watching Steve run off. “No, not really.” He replied to her question then, “I mean, I had the army but I didn’t expect SHIELD. I just thought I’d be working in some small run down shop. This is much better though.” He grinned, letting a silence hang for a while longer so they could both get their breath back. Turning a curve, he slowed down and stopped in a clearing. He put his hands on his head and walked around, breathing in and out. “We wait for Steve here. You can do a few stretches or whatever you do after a run. We just-“ he gestured to a few concrete blocks and logs scattered around, “Do some work out. Won’t be long.”
He didn’t manage to even catch his breath back when he saw Steve coming along a bridge. “Look at him run, some sort of superman.” He gestured to Steve’s form as it dashed over the bridge and disappeared into the forest, then came around the corner and slowed down. Steve appeared in the clearing. He too, took a few deep breaths, his shirt tight on him and his large chest expanding, shoulders and pecs all moving nicely underneath the material.
Steve nodded to Grace, waited for Sam to catch his breath before walking over to one of the larger logs and picking it up, placing it over his shoulders. Sam faced him. Both of the men then glanced over at Grace. “Want to join in for some squats?” Steve offered.
“Nah, she’s probably happier to watch us sweat it out.” Sam joked.

Bucky couldn’t be certain if his fear of large amounts of water has always been a thing for him, or if it was just a fear that developed after being frozen so many times over the years. He didn’t know so he wasn’t going to tell Ari more about it, which she would understand as there wasn’t much that he actually did remember. “That still must be nice, still talking to them even if it isn’t often.” He didn’t know what that felt like, he always used to ask about his family when he was first woke up after the surgery in which the metal arm took place of his own. Where were his parents? Could he see his sisters? It was the first time he was beaten up and then his mind was wiped, he couldn’t remember that time well as it was extremely blurry now.
But there were pieces here and there that he always tried to keep with him after a session, it made him feel better and it was a deep secret that he hadn’t told anyone. “I did faintly remember asking for my family when I first woke up here,” He told her quietly as maybe if she knew, she would be able to give it back to him if he ever did forget it. If his mind was wiped too many times and he simply forgot everything, he knew that day would be coming sooner than he would like to imagine and think about. Letting her take the plum seed from his hand he listened to her, it made sense that HYDRA would threaten and use fear of death on people they wanted to have join them. It just didn’t sit well with him, he felt angry that Ari was forced into being here and it didn’t matter if she did learn a lot working there. She shouldn’t be there in the first place, she could have had such a wonderful happy life doing good in the world.
He shook his head lightly, “No one will help me. I don’t know why you willingly spend time with me,” He was a killing machine who couldn’t stop unless someone stopped him, “I’ve thought about escaping myself. But I have nowhere else to go, HYDRA have words that turn this side of me off. If I’m out there and they find me…” He couldn’t finish his sentence, he hated thinking something like that could ever happen but it could if he escaped. It scared him. Turning he looked at Ari as he didn’t want to scare her off, “You’re my bright side in the darkness.” He told her honestly, his own life was darkness but there she was. A ray of sunshine that broke through the darkness and filled him with warmth.

---

“It was really strange, but Fury explained to me what was going on and I already knew Steve’s story. My Grandpa was a Howling Commando, sadly he was asked to join after Steve went missing so he worked mostly with Agent Carter. But I still heard all the stories,” Grace had grown up listening to how amazing Captain America was and how much of a hero he was for the country, she adored listening to her Grandpa tell her stories. So when Fury gave her a chance to actually met Captain America, she wasn’t going to say no. “It is unnatural, but I wouldn’t want any of it to change. He’s done so much good,” She smiled as she was beginning to breathe heavier now, her body had warmed up so the early morning chill didn’t bother her.
A soft laugh escaped her lips when Steve passed them so quickly, she listened to Sam and nodded her head softly. They were very similar, both had a career before SHIELD came to them. “I know, I worked at a hospital before all of this and I wouldn’t want to go back to that. Not if I could help it,” She still enjoyed her time working at the hospital and would go back to one, if anything happened to SHIELD or she wasn’t allowed to work there anymore.
But she hoped that never transpired. Grace followed Sam into the clearing and immediately stretched out her legs, she was enjoying this time more than she first thought she would. It was nice to spend time with Sam and Steve, without it being because one of them got injured. Once Steve arrived and offered her to join them, she was going to wave it off and just watch them. She had already gotten distracted by how tight Steve’s t-shirt was and the outline of his muscles, she wouldn’t have minded watching him. But then Sam made his comment and Grace was stubborn, “Actually I will join you both.” Stepping over to them, they made a somewhat three person circle and begun to squat. Grace didn’t have a weight on her, she wouldn’t be able to lift a log onto her shoulders like Steve so easily did.
She controlled her breathing in time with her squats and she was keeping up with Sam, but then she felt the burn in her thighs and she was slowing down. Her legs were getting wobbly until she did a squat but she couldn’t push herself back up, her legs weren’t letting her and she did make a small noise of frustration before she gave up. She sat down on the ground and puffed, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. The back of her hand wiped across her forehead to collect the sweat beads that had formed. “I’m done,” She puffed out as sat there and watched them, she mostly watched Steve but how could she not? He was right there and he was all sorts of fine.