Winter Soldier x Reader: Oblivion (Prologue)

The night was silent. Inky black clouds broiled in the sky, blotting out the moon and stars. The air around you was thick with a sort of tension that heated summer nights like this seemed to come with. In the distance, flames burned, casting a red haze across the sky. But why?

Your companion carried another on his back, the red head had not yet woken from her unconscious state. You carried the man's shield on your right hand, tired eyes trying to focus on the empty road ahead of you.

Your foot caught on a stray stone, sending you stumbling forward. You quickly righted yourself, glancing back at the blonde, who gave you a silent look of question. You gave a small nod in return, eyes looking forward down the road.

“We need to find somewhere to crash” He muttered loud enough to hear. “We won't get back to DC in this shape.”

You nodded, murmuring an agreement before continuing to walk down the deserted road. It was several minutes before he spoke again: “Do you know anyone you can ask for help?”

You turned back to him, tired eyes meeting his. “Trust no one” You replied simply before moving on. “Isn't that what Fury said?”

The blonde murmured a reply you couldn't hear. “I know a guy who can help us.” he said louder.

“You do that.” You replied bitterly. “I'm not sure I can trust anyone at the moment.”

“Not even me?”

You faltered. You were still for a few moments, your companion coming to still behind you.

“I...don't know.” You replied softly. You turned to the captain, conflict in your eyes. “Steve...you know how I am.”

Steve nodded, casting you a small smile. “That's why I trust you, (Name).”

You stiffened, meeting his eyes for a brief moment before turning away.

“You shouldn't.” You replied so he couldn't hear.

The sky was growing lighter as the minutes passed. Thw woman on 'Steve's' back had since woken and now walked with you two, haven noticed the tension between the two of you but choosing to remain silent.

It was only once you passed into the suburbs that you began to notice something was wrong. Steve and the other must have noticed it too, for you found yourselves slinking through the dim streets, Steve holding up his shield on guard.

None of you saw the sniper on the roof of a house until it was too late. The red head -what was her name?- and Steve were ahead of you when the bullet whizzed by your head, centimeters from your face. You sucked in a breath, ready to loose a scream when another bullet hit the ground in front of you. On instinct, you hurled yourself behind a nearby set of trashcans, Steve and the woman hiding behind a car to your right. You cast them a panicked look, countered by looks of calm composure.

Steve held a finger to his lips, peeking out his head over the top of the car to find the shooter, only to be met with a flurry of shots that had been bending back down again.

“I can't see him.” you could see him whisper to her. “He's hidden on one of the rooftops.”

You could feel your mounting panic begin to rise. You were pinned down, and only a bold move on your part would get an escape. And soon at that, because you could see shadows moving in the woods behind the three of you.

“6 o'clock” You called quietly to Steve, who seemed to have already noticed, for he nodded back at you.

“Armed?” She called back to you.

“Looks like.” You replied, seeing the tell tale glint of a gun in the dim light.

“Split up.” Steve called softly. “Run in opposite directions. On my mark. Three, two, one-”

You were already off and running when the last number hit his lips, carrying a trash can lid with you, in hopes of blocking off and bullets headed your way.

You could see Steve running at the house with the sniper behind you, The woman running in the opposite direction of you.

You ducked behind a car, watching as Steve quickly scaled the building, a figure standing up and pulling a knife from his pocket.

It took only a few second for Steve to wrestle the sniper to the ground. Once he had done so, you turned and prepared to run...

Only to find a figure standing down the street.

You stood indecisively, out in the open, weighing your options in your head. As you did so, you found yourself looking at the mysterious masked figure, his eyes obscured by thick heavy goggles.

It took him half a second for him to pull the gun from his pocket, another for him to aim and fire.

You raised up the trashcan lid, waiting for the impact, only to find a sudden shooting pain burning fire along your veins. With a hiss, you dropped the metal lid, watching as sparks of electricity danced and vanished along the surface of the lid.

You didn't see, however, the masked man run at you, hurling himself into a backflip that landed a thundering kick in the place you were standing only a moment before.

You ducked his next swing, defense training kicking in on instinct. Eyes breifly noticed the silver metal of his arm, a red star printed on the shoulder. You jumped as he swung a leg under your feet to catch you off guard, but weren't able to avoid the punch that sent you staggering backwards, blood sprouting from your lip.

You were too busy blocking the masked man's punches with your forearms to notice him reaching for your wrist, taking it with one hand and twisting it expertly, an audible crack emanating from the bone.

You cried out, your other hand flying to try and dislodge the soldier's grip from your wrist. With his other hand, he reached for his belt, retrieving a device which he promptly rammed into your stomach. The initial impact was nothing, but with a flip of a switch, you felt every vein in your body cry a scream of pain as blue electricity raced up your spine and through your nerves.

You could vaguely hear a blood curling scream which you recognized as your own, and other calling your name desperately and with a fear you didn't recognize. You stumbled backwards, vision blurring and unfocusing in front of you. You could vaguely see the winter soldier in front of you advancing, and you held up your arms in front of you defensively. Before you could gather yourself, a flurry of strikes rained down on you, aiming wherever they could hit. You gritted your teeth and bared it as best you could, trying to focus on the form in front of you. 

You could hear Steve calling you, but time seemed to slow as every punch and strike landed on you. In an instant, the world flipped sideways as the masked man swept your legs from underneath you. You felt your body hit the asphalt hard, and within second you were struggling to right yourself and push yourself from the ground.

For the first time, true fear began to course through your veins, more powerful than any voltage inflicted on you. This man could kill you, and it occurred to you that you may never live to see the end of Hydra. It was with this thought that you swayed to your feet, spitting the blood from your mouth. The winter soldier observed you for a moment before advancing again, and you noticed the silver glint of a blade in his right hand. Trying to control the shaking in your hands, you launched yourself forwards, aiming a punch at the soldier's face, only to have him duck under the punch. In that moment, you felt true terror grip you as he vanished from your line of vision. You controlled the whimper that bubbled up your throat, but could not stop the scream that let loose from your lips as your back erupted in fiery pain.

You fell forwards, feeling blood bloom on your back. You caught yourself before you hit the ground, but could barely turn before a kick sent you flying. You landed on your stomach, hands going up to block your face. 

You struggled to push yourself upwards, but the weakness in your arms and your probably broken wrist would not allow you to do so. You tried desperately to sit up, hearing the footsteps of the winter soldier draw nearer. You mentally screamed for help, pleading with god that you wouldn't die.

You looked up as the footsteps stopped in front of you, looking into the face of the masked man before a punch met your face and darkness engulfed your senses.