Prompt Post 1

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At least one of the characters in your prompt must have been in Captain America: The First Avenger or Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

As of May 3, 2014, the spoiler policy is no longer in effect.

Update, April 22, 2014:
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Fill: Remote Part VII

[(Anonymous)]

Bucky, are you okay?

Bucky opened his eyes and glanced to his left, where Steve was sitting. "How did we get here?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm in one piece." Bucky sat up.

"We got here by, uh... well, we were carried." Steve grimaced. "Rather flamboyantly."

"By who?"

"Tony Stark came by to pick us up after Hydra... or SHIELD, who knows at this point, blew up the road in front of us. I figured the risk of them tracing a call was pretty much moot after that."

"Good thinking," Bucky said, scratching his head. It was strange; he could feel the impact of the crash, he had a few bruises that hadn't been there before, but all in all, he felt better than he had the day before. Why would he feel better?

Because you got some sleep. Natasha could explain it to you better than me.

"Stop that."

"Why?"

Bucky shook his head. "Just... I don't like you in my head."

Steve looked hurt. "I'm... sorry. But Bucky, me staying quiet isn't going to get me out of there. You and I have a connection. That's not my fault." He paused. "Is it really so bad?"

Bucky looked at him, trying hard this time. He managed to maintain eye contact for a few seconds before he had to look away, his stomach churning. "Why do I... almost remember you?"

"We've been friends since we were little kids. We fought together in the war. You were captured, they erased your memories, but if you still had them... you'd remember all about me."

Bucky's mind felt like it was twisting itself into pieces as he tried to remember.

"It hurts you when you try to remember, doesn't it?"

Bucky winced. "It does. It feels... it makes me sick."

"That means they didn't erase your memories after all. They just made it impossible for you to access them."

Bucky looked at Steve again, and then away. He didn't like not being able to do something.

You've always been able to do everything, that's why.

I told you, get out of my head.

What if I could help you remember?

... I want to remember. I want to remember you. I want to remember myself.

Let me help you. I know your mind almost as well as you do.

Bucky felt something like a gentle, seeking hand, right at the center of his mind. He tried to keep still, but couldn't stop his breath from rising a little.

Calm down.

The hand seemed to browse through his thoughts, touching here, touching there, pushing things gently aside to get at other things. Suddenly, it hit upon a memory. It pulled, pulled...

... Momsaidyoucoulds tayfordinnerbutwhatdidwedoaboutthew indowI'lltrytobegoodBuckywhereareyouitwasasum merdayandhazystainsoflightagainstthewallinthemorningpleasestopitIca ndoitonmyownI'myourfriendthoug handit'sgoingtobeokayit'sgoingtobeokayit'sgoingtobeokay--

Bucky fell forward, off the bed and onto all fours, and dry-heaved on the carpet, his guts twisting as though his own body were trying to escape itself. There was nothing to throw up, but he couldn't seem to stop trying. He fell to his side and curled up, sucking air into his lungs, unable to stabilize himself, still retching, the sour taste of bile burning the back of his throat...

He felt hands on his shoulders, helping him sit up. He kept his eyes closed, his stomach still jumping.

Lay down.

Steve helped him back into the bed, and Bucky felt darkness close over him again. Why does it have to be dark?

Don't worry about it, I'm not leaving you. I can see for both of us. I can remember for both of us, too.

If it were only just pain, I could...

I know, Bucky, I know. They made it worse than pain.

Don't give up on me.

"Never. I'm with you til the end of the line, remember?" Bucky heard Steve take a breath, and then say it out loud for the first time... "I love you." His voice shook.

Bucky reached for Steve's hand. He couldn't say it back. He didn't know what love was.

I can love enough for both of us, too. Forever if that's what it takes. Steve took both of Bucky's hands in his own, the flesh and the metal, gripping them hard as though he would never let go.

Steve deserved love. Bucky wished he were capable of it.