LEAVING TONIGHT. . . BUCKY BARNES

[ 039. ] punisher

cw: mentions of abuse

november 1995
somewhere in the alps

Cold snow has made its way into Avery's boot, as she and the soldier trudge through the snow. He's always a couple steps in front of her, he wears a long coat, fur lined collar. The goggles over their eyes prevent the snow from freezing on their eyelashes, it also helps them see better in the dark.

They can spot the warm yellow lights from the cabin, about a mile away. All they can do is keep trudging through the snow that has piled up to about their ankles. Her own coat is wrapped tightly around her body, the cold leather of her uniform is doing her no favors in keeping her warm.

"We're almost there," He shouts over his shoulder.

"Huh?" Avery calls back.

James stops for a second, letting her join his side. "We're almost there."

She had heard him the first time. She just wanted to hear his voice again. When they were on missions she hardly heard it, only when he was softly giving her orders, it was rare when he would whisper into her ear something sweet.

They walk side by side until they reach the cabin. The snow has stopped for a bit, but it's still freezing. The exposed skin on her face is s pale blue, freezing to the touch.

Avery rids herself from the snow covered jacket the second the door of the old cabin has shut behind them. James gets to work getting a fire started in the fireplace.

It takes a couple of minutes for the cabin to warm up. Avery sits on the ground next to James, in front of the crackling fire. There's another lamp, but most of the light comes from the fire. She leans up against the old grey couch.

They sit in comfortable silence, listening to the fire crackle. They watch the flames reach upwards, before simmering back down, and over again. It casts strange shadows behind them, if you stared long enough they'd look like monsters, threatening to come out of the dark and swallow them whole. Avery isn't afraid of make believe monsters. No, she's afraid of the monster she knows is going to come through the door.

"When is he coming again?" She asks. She looks down, letting her long brown hair fall in front of her face to avoid James' gaze.

"Midnight," He states after staring at her for a second. Since they had been woken up, a couple months ago, she had been avoiding him. It's been nearly two years since he kissed her, and things had gone smoothly until they didn't. She didn't talk, she just lurked behind him. He knows why, he knows the reason for her behavior. "Which is at any time now."

Avery nods.

James stays quiet for a moment, contemplating asking her about it. Avery stares at the fire, her hands wrapped around her knees, where she rests her chin.

"What happened?" He asks finally. Avery says nothing, continuing to look straight into the fire. She can feel the warmth of the fire on her face, like hot wind. She likes the smell of burning wood, it envelopes them. A small smile spreads across her face as she takes it in, ignoring his question. "What did he do?"

Her smile drops.

"Nothing," She says. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," James states, he scoots closer to her. He can feel her warmth radiating off of her. She had always preferred the warmth, as opposed to the cold Siberian tundra they lived in. Her fingers and nose were constantly freezing cold, it never stopped him from touching her.

"It shouldn't," She states coldly as she scoots further away from him. He can feel his heartbreaking.

"I know what he does," He says. "I know about the experiments. Electroshock therapy? I can see the scars Avery, I can see the bruises. What does he do?"