#super serum

You stood behind the door as the two of them continued talking in the other room.

"Listen, (Y/N) is the only person capable to recreate Hydra behaviour. If she comes with me, I'll pretend to sell her for information and we can get through the border leading us straight into the cartel," The man explained to Karli who stood with crossed arms and an unamused look. "I'll bring her back in one piece in 2 days."

"She's been through hell with Hydra and now your asking her to act like the assassin she wants to get rid of. Absolutely not." Karli fought, shaking her head.

Your heart shattered at her care. She is the only person you trusted to tell your whole story to, obviously Karli told her informant to be careful in case there's any ties with other ex-hydra at any point. But this was medicine they were talking about. Medicine would save lives and if you had to act for a bit to save lives then you'd do it.

You walked into the room silently so the two of them couldn't hear, courtesy of Hydra training. You continued to listen as you walked closer to the pair.

"It's a lot of drugs-" He insisted but before he could continue you interrupted them.

"How much?" You asked, crossing your arms as you stood in front of them. "If I did it, how much drugs would we get?" You didn't look at Karli, knowing you wouldn't be able to hold eye contact with her. After all, she stood up for you and you're now going against what you always wanted.

“Around 5 kilos,”

You nodded, now looking at Karli. She shook her head at you with wide eyes telling you to not go and that it wasn't worth it. "There's never too much medicine," You told her the turned to the man. "I'll do it."

He smiled, pushing a bag in your direction against your chest. "Your costume. You're going to have to look and act like Hydra." You huffed and took the bag out of his hands nonetheless. "We leave in 15 minutes."

You nodded, turning around and heading towards yours and Karli's small room. Just as you were leaving the room you heard Karli snarl; "If anything happens to her I'll kill you myself," then she followed you.

You reached your room, immediately peeling off your clothes and taking out the costume out of the bag. It looked just like the one you wore at Hydra, exact same pattern. Exactly the same material. You hesitated to put it on as you looked down at it in your hands, gently stroking the material with your thumbs.

You took a deep breath, finally able to put on the trousers of your costume onto your body. The door opened and you didn't have to look back to know who it was. You simply pulled out the top of your costume out of the bag - which felt like a straight jacket - and stared at it, reassuring yourself it was just acting.

Karli's hands wrapped themselves around your waist and she placed her head onto your shoulder. "You don't have to do this," She breathed. You dropped your hands and looked up, sighing and nodding.

"It'll help so much kids though," You shrugged. "I can do this."

She remained silent, just enveloping you into a tight embrace. "But I need you to tighten the back of the top of the costume cuz it's basically a straight jacket." You chuckled lightly.

She nodded and pulled away, grabbing the top from your hands and putting it gently over your head, then tightening the straps on the back. You felt compressed. Restricted again just like you did at Hydra. You looked down at your outfit you'd have to wear for the next 2 days and then back up at Karli who had a sympathetic look on her face.

You gave her a sincere smile and put the empty bag over your shoulder, nudging your head towards the door. The two of you left to meet the man again, hand in hand walking through the shelter silently.

"Ah you look amazing!" The man smiled as you walked through the door to the room he was in. You didn't respond and simply continued walking towards him with a stern look on your face, throwing the bag in his direction once you were close enough to him. He hummed as he lifted the empty bag over his shoulder. "There's something missing,"

Your brows furrowed and you looked at yourself. "Everything is the exact same as it was back at Hyd-"

The man reached into his pocket, pulling out a black mask and lifting his hand for you to take it. You stared at him, then the mask then back at him, shaking your head and stepping back, letting go of Karli's hand and crossing your arms despite the outfit being uncomfortably tight on your back. "Absolutely not," You denied.

"You have to," The man shrugged. "They could recognise you if you don't"

Karli looked at you confused and saw the fear hidden deep within them, turning to look at the man almost instantly with furrowed eyebrows.

You sighed and snatched the mask off the man and shoved it in your pocket. "You're already over-stepping your lane." You snarled at the man. He simply smirked and told you the two of you would be leaving in 5 minutes giving you enough time to say goodbye to Karli.

She grabbed both your hands in hers, standing in front of you and sighing softly. "Don't die,"

You smiled momentarily looking down onto the ground. "And you stop worrying. I'll be fine,"

"You better be. You're supposed to be here at 1 a.m. in 2 days. One minute late and I'll go looking for you," She said in a defined voice despite clearly joking. You laughed and pulled her closer to you and pecked her lips gently, pulling out the mask you previously hid in your pocket and lifting it over your face, securing it over your mouth doing your best to ignore the mental pain you were in. She let go of your hands and watched you walk away, dreading the sickening feeling that bubbled in the pit of her stomach.

*time skip to after the mission*

Your tired feet almost dragged themselves across the pavement as you walked back towards the shelter. The sky was so dark you could barely see what was the pavement and what wasn't. The mission took a tiny bit longer than needed because some agents were where they weren't supposed to be. But it all payed off and as proof you had a black bag filled to the brim with various medications hanging off your shoulder.

The bag was heavy and it strained your shoulders more than you'd like but you carried on walking, exhaustion building up rapidly. Karli's dealer ditched you half way through your journey back with the excuse of finding someone. He must have thought about what Karli would do when she saw the state you were in.

You could practically feel each bruise forming on your body and the tight costume wasn't much help. Your muscles ached with each movement and the clip on your mask got stuck so you couldn't even take it off, the fabric rubbing on your face you knew it would leave marks on your nose and cheeks.

You reached the shelter with an exhale but the mask just blew the air into your eyes. You were so ready to take the whole thing off and sleep in your girlfriends embrace even if it was on a concrete floor. The outside of the shelter was empty, no children playing, not adults talking, everyone was probably sleeping in their run-down rooms in groups of more than 10. You walked closer to the buildings door when it opened before you could even reach it and out came the orange-haired girl you fell in love with.

Her eyes were wide as she stopped to looked at you momentarily then rushing over to your side. You dropped the bag gently beside you, a relieved sigh escaped your lips when you felt Karli's hands wrap around your waist pulling you close to her body. Because of your clothes and how much your body hurt, you couldn't reach up to hug her back so you simply put your head in the crook of her neck.

"Please take it off," You mumbled into the mask that still covered your mouth. She pulled away but her arms remained on your waist, furrowing her eyebrows. She understood after a second, reaching up and fiddling with the clip on your mask until you could hear it snap open and the mask fell to the floor.

You inhaled deeply, closing your eyes and enjoying the crisp air that entered your lungs for the first time in 2 days. You opened your eyes and looked at Karli who's face was plastered with worry. She reached up to your cheeks where the material of the mask eroded into your skin. She could see the outline of where the mask used to be and it broke her heart.

A single tear ran down your cheek, burning the scar that went across it. Karli grabbed your hand and reached down to pick up the bag you previously dropped, throwing it over her shoulder and dragging you into the building towards your shared bedroom.

You didn't regret going. But you knew days to come would be really hard. Nightmares were bound to happen, more sleepless nights and random disassociation were also on the list of consequences.

Karli sat you down on a chair in your derelict room and immediately got out the antiseptics she kept hidden for emergencies. Your clothes were ripped and you could see your stab wounds through them and the blood that continuously dripped down your cuts and injuries.

"Arms up," She said in a hushed tone. You did as she told you to despite the pain that travelled through your muscles, knowing she would only help you. Karli loosened the straps on your back and gently pulled your top over your head leaving you in only a sports bra, revealing all your cuts clearly.

Once she finished disinfecting your wounds and stitching them preparing them to heal, she took another chair and straddled it in front of you, getting started on the massive scar on your face. "This is going to hurt," She breathed, showing you she was about to pour your face with chemicals that were supposed to help. "Ready?"

You nodded, furrowing your brows as the liquid hit your skin. You did your best at containing the screams that wanted to escape your mouth until she was done, biting down on your hand or lip and groaning occasionally. Karli put away the medicine and helped you change into comfortable pants and one of her hoodies. You still sat in the chair, elbows on your knees while your head hung low, tiredness flooding your entire being like a wave tide in a storm.

Karli pulled you up by your arms, leading you to the make-shift bed and setting you down gently, careful not to put you in more pain. She climbed into the bed beside you, letting you put your head on her chest and arms around her waist. Her fingers played with the ends of your hair, attempting to relax you into a slumber but sleep didn't seem to want to come despite how tired you were.

Silent tears travelled down your cheeks and across the bridge of your nose onto the shirt Karli was wearing. Memories of the last 2 days replayed in your head. You had to kill to get that medicine, snapping other criminals neck to save your life. At least they were criminals, right?

Karli noticed and put your head under her chin as she rubbed your back reassuringly. "I had to kill again," You choked out, stuttering over your words when your throat tightened and chin trembled. You hugged Karli's waist tighter as if she would somehow disappear.

“Give her a moment, not everyone can be as quick as you to re-orientate, brother.” An accent you don’t recognize flits through the room, lilting and amused. A new sensation, a hand, pressed on your shoulder. “Stop being an idiot. Guide her to the chair” The amusement had turned to gentle prodding. 

Turning your head to find the source of the voice. A pair of warm brown eyes meets yours. A smile, wide and curling just at the edges of the lips. Giving you a small nod. “There we go, just let the idiot take care of you. Small steps now.” The warmth keeping you from collapsing slowly begins to move. And then you’re being guided down to a chair. A glass of water being offered from the side. You take it to lift to your lips. “Don’t-” “Drink too fast. I know. I’m a field nurse.” You manage a wry smile, your voice weak and raspy, as though it had gone too long without use. Lifting the cup to your lips before you were suddenly freezing halfway through the motion. Eyes going wide as you lifted your head to look at the woman. “The mortars? Did anyone else survive? Who’s your unit commander?” The woman laughs softly. “My name is Shuri, and don’t worry, you’re safe. I have the files here, my idiot brother thought you might want to look over them, it would appear that he can use that head of his for something other than smashing into people.” Shuri kneels before you, offering the manilla envelope, marked with a red “Classified” sharply across the top. “Why?” “Because there is more to the story, but that is not my main concern. Right now, I am here to keep you from going into shock.” Shuri tapped at the bracelet she held. A gasp fell from your lips as a screen popped up from it. Trying to watch as the information pulsed through, brow furrowing. “That-” “Yes. Your vitals. I’m currently monitoring them, but it would seem that you are more durable than we had thought. Which makes sense with the findings that Erskine had left in your file, and Howard Stark.” Shuri nods, tapping at the screen once more. “Now, I’m going to leave you two alone, because he has more experience explaining these things. And I don’t want to see our white wolf getting sappy again.” Nodding to the presence behind you before pulling away. Exiting the room with the small hiss of a door. 

“Gotta say, doll, look just as good as the day I put that ring on your finger.”

  You whip about in the chair, which was a very obviously bad idea, swaying almost immediately to the side with another muffled whine as your head started to spin. “Easy now. Easy, I’ve got you…” 

And then Bucky is drawing you into his arms. 

Anchoring you, as he ever had. As you could only hope that he would have had the chance to do again, when the mortars had gone off.

A dream. A pleasant dream. Perhaps this was your heaven. Your land of Oz. To be held by this man who had likely died protecting what he never realized what was lost. To be loved by your sargent, the way that you had never been able to, as the world was torn apart around you. The solace that stolen moments had given, now yours for eternity.

Then you heard his chuckle, that warm, heavenly chuckle. Watched the wry turn of his lips, the way that his eyes crinkled up in the corners, lines you couldn’t remember having been there before. 

 “Well doll, don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.” With that, the spell is broken, laughter pealing out from your lips before you could even realize what the sound was. Lifting up just enough to throw your arms around his neck, to allow him to cradle you close. “You’re such a bastard.” “Hey now, doll, I knew my pops. Don’t need to be nasty about it after you just woke up.” Bucky was laughing again, but you could tell that there was something… something dark, holding him back. That this wasn’t the man you had last seen on the battlefield. 

That last glance before he had left again… Before he had been gone for too long… Before…

“What happened?” “Too much to explain here, doll, but I promise, I’m gonna tell you everything.” Bucky sighed before he was lifting you into his arms. The ease of the motion familiar and alien all at once. “Come on, I’ve got something to show you.” 

You wet your lips, but nod. This one man, in all the world, you would walk into the very fires of Hades beside. 

He moves you through a short series of hallways. The light less harsh than it had been… In what you are now assuming was an examination room. Then slowly opening a door, glancing down to you in what you could only assume was nervousness, a quality you didn’t associate with your sargent. And stepped through. 

You laughed softly, it looked as though someone had taken a cinema room, and laid couches around the floor. As if to combine a classic living room with the theatre. The sheer extravagance of it made you scoff. Lifting a brow up to Bucky. “Didn’t know a sargent’s pay could afford a private cinema, Soldier.” “What can I say? Only the best for my girl.” Bucky chuckled, moving to set you down onto the couch, taking the seat beside you. Slipping his hand into yours before reaching for... You weren’t entirely certain what it was, only that you gasped as the screen suddenly came to life. And yet… 

“There isn’t a projector here, where is the film coming from?” “Part of the things I need to explain… Don’t have projectors anymore, Doll. Everything’s set up to come to life right on the screen.” Nodding as the movie began to play. 

As your movie began to play. 

Eyes watering as you sat through the beginning of the film, listening to Dorothy’s voice as she started her song. The song that you had sung a dozen times. 

“Seems like we’re over the rainbow, doll, and bluebirds have certainly gotta be flying… Because I never…” You turned to Bucky, shocked at the sound of a sob. Moving to wrap your arms around him, your soldier come home to you. 

“I’m here, Bucky. I’m here.” “And I’m never gonna let you go.”

-------------------------------------------------------------

‘Buck,

I know that I said I’d be with you to the end of the line, but this is the end of the line for me. You’ll know by now that I didn’t turn back, I’ve stayed here with Peggy, and we’re happy. Expecting a kid soon. Sarah for a girl… James for a boy.

 I’m sorry if it feels like I’ve abandoned you. I would be there at your side every day if I could. But the truth is that you fit into that world so much better than I ever did. You’ve always been quicker to adapt. You’ve got Sam there to help you through it. If you give him a chance. And me… I’m just a soldier who’s lived through one too many wars. Don’t know how much fight I’ve got left in me Buck, not after losing you and Sam for five years, and now Tony… Nat... So instead I’m choosing to set down the shield. Give myself a chance for some peace. I hope that you can do the same. 

We both know who the right person is to pick that shield back up.

And maybe by doing what I’ve done, I can earn a little forgiveness in your eyes. Set a few things right. Least I can do for my best friend.

After all, you were always such a sap when you could hear her singing. 

Steve

Beast Rick! (B-608)

After a long lasting series of experiments to create a superhuman serum, Rick Sanchez of dimension B-608 is assaulted by the Galactic federation at his own residence. Rick uses a portal to evacuate the house yet stays behind, using the serum he'd created (yet not finished) on himself to both protect his family and prevent the Galactic federation from getting its hands on it.

Just an experiment currently being worked on! If you want to know more, you can find out on my Rick and Morty Amino account ^^