Steve entered the room, and found Natasha sitting on the couch, her eyes blank, her legs up, her arms dangling, her head tilted.
His heart burned, he did this to her, he stole her smile, he stole the brightness of her eyes, he stole her happiness.

As he moved closer, he saw the marks of his assault, on her neck, on her chest, her arms. He felt so ashamed, he prayed the earth would open and he would get submerged in it.

"Natasha" he said, as he sat down on the floor, she looked at him and moved back, curling up.

"Natasha, please listen to me" he said, trying to touch her, but she moved back, fear written all over her face, she didn't utter a word, but trembled and shook with fear.

"Natasha please, I am very sorry. I should have listened to you, please forgive me Natasha, or punish me, I am your culprit, but don't do this" he said, but she was panting, and shaking with fear.

Maria entered the room, and saw Steve on his knees, and Natasha curled up, trembling in fear.

"Natasha! " she rushed to her side, Natasha hugged Maria, her breaths so heavy.

"Its okay, I am here no one would hurt you" Maria assured her. Steve lowered his eyes with shame.

"Go! She is too hurt, too scared, stay away from her for now" Maria told Steve.

"I don't want to loose her" Steve said, his eyes full of guilt and the pain he felt.

"Then give her some space" Maria said.

Steve stood up, and then tried to touch her, but then he withdrew his hand, and walked away silently.

Why was he so sad? He owned her, she was as a mere toy to him, but her pain hurt him so bad, the thought of betrayal got him so mad. He drank all night after assaulting her, mad in anger. His blood boiled at the thought of someone else touching her. And now, her pain, her silence, it was killing him. He wanted to shoot himself for hurting her so bad. And he didn't understand why? Why was this girl so important, so precious to him. He had never been this weak for a woman. In fact, he hated most of them, h only used them for pleasure. But this innocent girl, caught his eye, and from the first sight itself  he had an unexplained affection for her.

"I will kill you everyday Bucky, and I won't let you die" he said in anger.

He took a whip and walked towards the basement. The others tied Bucky up, and waited. Steve entered with the whip in his hand.

"Why did you do this to me? ",  he asked in anger, and hit him.

"You were my childhood friend" he said with bloodshot eyes, and hit him again.

Bucky didn't even wince, he took the whips with gratitude.

"Because I love her" he said confidently and Steve hit him very hard, then grabbed his chin.

"Don't you dare!! She is mine, you cannot have any thoughts about her" Steve said.

"Why is everything about you Steve? She has the right to choose, let her free and she would choose me any day over you. The man who raped her time and again, destroyed her soul, took away all of her happiness. " he yell, "I love her, and you lust her. So now, let her go".

Steve hit him with full force now, and he fell to his feet.

"She is mine, forever, take her name again and I will burn your tongue. " Steve said and left in anger, leaving his men to torture him.

He found Maria by the stairs, "Is she any better? " he asked

"No, she is very scared, kept trembling, I have called the doctor now, matter is out of our hands " she replied.

"Do anything to make her better, back to the girl I brought here. Why did I do this?! " he got tears in his eyes something he never had since so long. He never had tears since he was 8. He had turn into a stone then and remained same. But this girl melted that stone.

"Steve? Are you? " Maria was shocked. She had known him for years and never saw him even speak softly to anyone.

Steve broke down, he sat on the couch and face palmed.

"I cannot believe I hurt my Natasha so bad" he said, his voice so heavy.

Maria sat by his side, "Steve" she put  her hand on his shoulder.

"Steve, is that really you? " she asked in a low voice, that he didn't hear.

"Steve!! " Sam came running, "Fury's gang has attacked our south base, we need to take serious action "

Steve quickly hid his tears and stood up, "we better eradicate that filth off this earth let's go" he told Sam.

"Maria, make sure when I am back, I get my happy and healthy Natasha back, take care of her,  stay with her, don't let anyone near her" he commanded.

"As you command Captain " Maria said with a nod.

"I'll go check on her one time before going " he said, and rushed upstairs.

Natasha was asleep, her face not as peaceful as always,  even in sleep she seemed scared. Steve sat down beside her, and took her hand in his.

"I am very sorry my love, I promise to make it up to you" he told her, "Steve Rogers has never ever apologized in his life, but he does to you. I shed tears, because of you. I don't know why, but you are so special to me. So please get better, and punish me, I will await my punishment " he kissed her hand, and then her cheek.

"Get better for me, please. You are the only one I feel for" he said, "and that's why I cannot share you with anyone" he shed another tear.

Placing another soft kiss on her lips, he walked out of the room.

"Let's go Sam" he said, and they both left.

*****
Poor Natasha.
She is completely lost.
Steve please save her, you have fallen in love with her. Steve has a past. A tragic one. What do you think happened?
Do give your reviews