I had been transferred to Wakanda for my treatment—treatment meant to undo what the Winter Soldier had done to me.

I didn’t exactly enjoy the idea of being kept here, even if it was one of the most advanced places on Earth. But the thought of the Winter Soldier coming back? That made my skin crawl.

There were a lot of people around, always checking on me, making sure I was eating, sleeping, stable. I only allowed a few of them close enough to actually touch me. Physical contact still felt like a landmine—too unpredictable, too dangerous. Some days I was cold, others more tolerable. But today... today, I just wasn’t in the mood for anyone.

“I told you to shut up already!”

I snapped—no, shouted—as they tried speaking to me again. My voice echoed against the wooden walls of the small hut, sharper and louder than I meant it to be.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. My chest tightened. I didn’t even look at them—I couldn’t. Shame flickered just beneath my anger. I didn’t want to lash out, not like this. Not when I knew what it felt like to be on the other side of that kind of fury.

But it was too late to take it back.