It wasn't your fault.

It wasn't his fault either.

Neither of you chose this. This hell that you were forced to endure was thrust upon you by The Serpent Order. (©TRS1224CAI)

Your job was to patch him up after missions and keep him calm and compliant. It wasn't easy in the beginning, hell, it wasn't easy now, but the bond you formed with the soldier, while unexpected but not unwelcome, was the thing that kept you going. He became your lifeline in the abyss of cold, darkness, and pain that you existed in.

It also got really bad the longer the two of you were out of cryo. He questioned what he was told and remembered things he wasn't supposed to. Rumlow always made sure he paid for it.

Recently, the soldier had become particularly protective of you. Another thing Rumlow enjoyed making him pay for.

When the guards dragged him back to his cell and dumped him on the cold concrete floor, you let out a soft sob at the amount of damage that had been done to him.

"This is all my fault." You sobbed, dropping down to your knees and cradling the soldier's head in your lap. "I'm so sorry, Soldat." Tears streamed down your cheeks as you took in his battered face.

"Sebastian..." the soldier murmured, reaching up and gently gripping your wrist as he lay on the floor with his head in your lap. "What?" You sniffled, confused.

"My real name is Sebastian Griffin Cross." He answered in a moment of clarity. He remembered his name. "Why are you telling me?" You asked, knowing HYDRA would wipe him now that he had admitted to remembering it.

He knew what it meant as well, but he didn't care. "Someone might as well know..." He murmured, sadness in his eyes as he looked up at you.