~MEL~

I collapse onto a large, plush bed on the 57th floor, the same floor that everyone here -except for Tony- sleeps on. It's soft, comforting sheets feel strange in comparison to my calloused hands. My body seems to sink into the bed, making me feel as if I'm going to fall through. I flop around, trying to get comfortable. Sighing, I give up after numerous tries to get comfortable. I try to fall asleep, to no avail.

I feel so uncomfortable, I can't lay here any longer. Grabbing my pillow and a blanket, I leave the marshmallow mattress and make my way into the bathroom. I make my way over to the large bathtub at the back of the room, dragging my feet behind me. Dumping the blanket and pillow, I slide in. I squirm around to get comfortable, pulling the blanket over my head and closing my eyes.

I feel the fatigue overwhelm me, sending me into a deep sleep.

Punch.

I wish you would die.

Punch.

I wish you would stop this torture.

Punch.

I wish you would-

"You seem to have quite the grudge against that punching bag." Bucky says, wrapping his fleshy knuckle. "Eh! No talking!" Shouts one of the agents watching us. I imagine flipping him off, making a small smile tug at my lips. I roundhouse kick the punching bag, making it swing. I keep punching the bag, over and over again, imagining the numerous ways I'm going to kill Melony Vandenberg. I could shoot her. I could slit her throat. I might even poison her with some venom.

I glance down at my hand, a large scar marking the first time they wiped me. It's how I'm going to keep track. I have the word wiped written below it, so I'll understand what to do when I need to. Bucky notices the marks. "Do you really want to have that on your hand?" He asks me.

About fifty agents train on the other side of the room, acting as guards in case Bucky or I try to escape. "It reminds me that I still feel." I state. "You didn't really answer the question." He says. "Shut up you two before I cut you meals in half!" The same agent threatens. I ignore him. "I want it there, so I can know how much they've taken away from me. I want to know so that when we leave this hell, I can take just as much."

"Alright! That's it!" The agent says. He points at us and four other agents, telling them to take us away. I roll my eyes. "Asshole." I mumble as they cuff my wrists as well as Bucky's. I'm going to kill them all. Melony. That agent in charge. The one that always wipes us. These guards. They're all going to die. Every. Single. One. And I'm going to relish in it.

***

One of the agents throw me into the cell, causing me to trip. I fall flat on my face and he laughs. Bucky soon follows, tripping over in the same fashion. They all leave, closing the heavy door behind them. The cuffs release and Bucky rolls to the side, sitting against the cell. I flip onto my back, closing my eyes. What did we do to deserve this torture? Shuddering breaths make their way out of my lungs. "Are you okay?" Bucky asks.

"As okay as I've ever been." I reply. He nods. We sit in silence for what seems like forever. "You're bitter." He says plainly.

"As crappy tea." I don't open my eyes.

"You want to kill them all."

"Correct."

"You want them to pay for what they've done."

"Yep."

"You know that they've only just started."

I pause, opening teary eyes. "Yes." I whisper.

"I feel the same way." Bucky says. I pause again. "I know." I say, a tear running down my cheek. We stay there in comfortable silence. Bucky shuffles over, laying down next to me. I start to sob. He turns his head to look at me. Slowly, he pulls me by the shoulders onto his chest, holding me. He smells of sweat and leather. I start to make horrible choking sounds. "I don't want to cry." I say. "I don't want to feel weak in front of them. I don't want to give them the pleasure."

"I know Mel, I know." He says, planting a kiss on my head. I wrap my arms around his strong torso. "Promise me that you won't let me kill them." I beg. He stares into my teary eyes. "I promise." He says. I smile sadly. I rest my forehead against his, out lips centimetres apart. And then he's kissing me, the taste of my salty tears on both of our lips.

I sit bolt upright in the cold bathtub, running my fingers through my oily, matted hair. I kissed Bucky. I had kissed him. A man I barely know had kissed me, and I loved it. Gripping the sides of the tub, I pull myself out and attempt to rip open the door to the balcony. It doesn't even budge. I try to pry it open, putting all of my strength into it. "Excuse me Miss Mel, but Mister Stark has not allowed you clearance onto any of the balconies, or areas that may be of interest when attempting to escape or commit suicide."

I jump back, startled. Looking around the room frantically, I see no one talking to me. "Who said that?" I demand. "My name is JARVIS, I am Mister Starks A.I. System, or Artificial Intelligence." JARVIS says, coming form all around me. "What the hell does that mean?" I blurt out. "In very basic terms, I am a super computer that has been created to be capable of intelligent behaviour." He says. "A computer?"

"Yes. A highly-advanced, super computer." JARVIS says. "Look computer, all I want is to get some fresh air." I inform. "Scanning heart rate. Candour statement. Access granted." JARVIS replies. I sigh in relief, hearing the locks hiss from pressure release. I open the door, greeted by the cold night air and city lights. Breathing it in, I try to relax. Leaning on the railing, I close my eyes. I had kissed Bucky. I had remembered my feelings towards him. I remember what I had felt. The fireworks. The butterflies. The love.

But that wasn't me. That was one of the many versions of me. The weak me. The one who would scar her hand so she could feel. The one who only understood anger, sadness and inner turmoil. The one who was in love with James Buchanan Barnes. That's not me anymore. That's the old me. I push back off of the railing. Walking back into my room, I notice how dry my mouth is.

"JARVIS." I croak. "Could you lead me to the nearest kitchen?" I beep emits from around the room. "Of course, Miss Mel. Follow the blue lights in the hallway. It should be the sixth left." JARVIS says, his British accent strong. I smile. "Nice accent." A pause. "Thank you, Miss Mel. I am quite satisfied with it myself." JARVIS says in what seems to be amusement. I leave the stuffy room, following the blue lights down a corridor to my left.

Sure enough, a large, glass room comes into view on the sixth left. A countertop and cupboards take up the entire north wall. A large glass wall shows perfect view of the moon in the sky, and the beautiful stars. I walk toward the counter, rummaging through all the cupboards, trying to find one cup. "Wrong cupboard." Says a voice. It causes me to jolt, and I hit my head in the counter. "Shit."

"Language." They say. I glance up, only to see a grinning Steve looking down at me. He offers me his hand. I grab onto it, and he pulls me up like I weigh nothing. I sigh. "Do you know where I can get a glass? I really need a drink." Steve points to the cupboard next to mine. "I'm sure there's some glasses that aren't intended for alcohol in there." I smile meekly. "Thanks."

I open the cupboard, revealing more glasses than I could count. I grab a tall clear one, filling it with tap water. Lifting it to my lips, I take a large swig. "What are you doing in the kitchen in the middle of the night?" I ask him. He scratches the back of his head. "I was looking at the view when I heard you coming. I don't know who it was, so I hid." I nod slowly, taking another sip. We both just stand there, looking at the stars.

"What was he like?" I ask Steve. "Bucky? He was... More relaxed, care-free. He was funny, he'd go out on dates all the time with beautiful girls and he had tons of friends. He'd be there for me when I needed him. He was a loyal friend. He was so happy. But then he fell off the train and..." He trails off. "He fell off of a train?" I ask. "Yeah, back in the war. HYDRA found him and turned him into The Winter Soldier, an assassin. He worked for them." I nod. Should I tell him about my memories?

I decide against it. I don't know who he'll tell, or if I can trust him. "I didn't know..." I mumble. "It's not your fault. It's HYDRA's. The men who did that to him seem to be long gone. Melony took control eight years ago. Killed all of them, I think." Steve elaborates. I down the rest of my water.

"Not all of them. Bucky's still alive."