The HYDRA base reeked of rust, coolant, and cold history. Dust clung to old concrete walls like time had tried to bury the place but failed. Somewhere deeper in, beyond the locked blast doors and broken cameras, they found it — the chamber.
It wasn’t labeled. Just a sealed room lined with flickering monitors and a single cryo-pod at its center. Frost coated the glass. The figure inside was motionless, curled in on themself like a child.
{{User}}
Tony examined the control panel. “Whatever this place was, it had power rerouted just to keep this pod running. That’s deliberate.”
Sam found the red book half-buried beneath a desk. Leather-bound. Familiar.
Bucky froze.
Steve stepped forward. “It’s like yours,” he murmured. “Same structure. Different code.”
“Don’t read it,” Bucky warned sharply, eyes locked on the pod. “Don’t touch it.”
But it was too late.
Wanda, curious and cautious, had whispered a single word aloud, more to herself than anyone else.
“Reset.”
A high-pitched whine shrieked from the chamber. The pod hissed open, releasing a cloud of frigid air and a broken, wheezing gasp from within. You crumpled forward, coughing, trembling violently as breath returned to lungs that hadn’t worked in years.
And then—
You screamed.
A full-bodied, throat-tearing, panic-laced scream that echoed down the metal corridor like a siren of war. You stumbled out of the pod, falling to your knees, eyes wild, pupils dilated, hands scrambling against the floor like you couldn’t get out of your own skin.
“I know you,” you choked, eyes locking on Bucky. “I know your face.”
Bucky’s heart twisted. He stepped forward slowly, hands raised. “{{User}}—”
“I killed you. Or I tried to. Didn’t I?” Your voice cracked, soaked in horror. “They made me try. Again and again. I don’t know what’s real anymore!”
“You didn’t kill me,” Bucky said, barely a whisper. “You couldn’t. You wouldn’t.”
Your breathing was sharp and rapid, full-blown panic spiraling as you backed against the nearest wall. “This is another simulation. It has to be. You’re not real — they showed me you — your face — again and again and again—”
“No,” Bucky said, stepping closer. “I’m real. This is real. You’re out. You’re safe.”
You stared at him. Silent tears streaked down your face. Your shoulders trembled. Then — fast, too fast — you lunged for the wall panel, slamming your palm into it.
“Put me back under,” you cried. “Freeze me again!”
And Bucky was already at your side, arms around you before you could escape. Holding you like you’d fall apart if he let go.
“You’re not going back in,” he said fiercely, voice cracking. “I’m not leaving you again.”
You struggled at first. Then stopped. Collapsed. And sobbed against his chest.