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(there's some slight gore in this chapter. its really not that bad or graphic and it's mostly just implied but im still gonna leave a warning here)

(Steve POV)

"Mail's here," I announce as we approach the house on our return from Wakanda. I grab the various envelopes from the mailbox, already knowing that I'll be throwing away half of it. A package next to the box catches my eye, and I tuck the envelopes under my arm so I have two free hands to pick it up. "That's weird. It's for you." 

I hand the package to Bucky, who sort of frowns at it. "It's not that weird. I do receive mail, y'know. What's weird is that there's no return address, and the way it's poorly packaged." 

"Are you gonna open it?" I unlock the door and let us in.

"Yeah." He sets the package down on the table and enthusiastically greets Boromir, who we had left here when we went to Wakanda. Don't worry, we weren't neglecting him. We left Sam here with him.

"It could be something dangerous."

"Probably." He removes the packaging- which is absolutely terribly done- and holds up a piece of paper that had been lying on top of the box. He scans the page before lightly scoffing, "Anyone could have written that," and tossing it onto the table.

I'm already reaching for it as I ask if I can read it. He tells me to go for it and busies himself with opening the box. 

I swipe it from the tabletop and read it silently to myself, trying to block out the sound of Boromir's claws hitting the floor as he paces small circles around Bucky's legs. 

'Did you think you were free? We can have you back with us whenever we want. You should know that by now.' 

There's nothing on the note that would indicate who sent it- like an insignia or a name- but we already know who it's from.

"Yeah," I agree anyway, discarding the note back onto the table. "Anyone could have written it."

Bucky doesn't respond. He's staring down at the box, jaw clenched tightly. Although I know that the answer can't be anything good, I ask, "What's in the box?" 

He takes two dark objects from the container and sets them down on the table. I identify the first as the muzzle-like mask that HYDRA made the Soldier wear, and the second as the cracked pair of goggles that went with it.

"That all?" I ask, trying to keep calm as the situation becomes all too real. Anyone could have written the note, but not just anyone could have had this stuff. "That's an awful big box for just this." 

"No." His voice sounds strange, sort of distant and oddly flat. "There's more." 

I notice Boromir hopping up on Bucky and trying to push him down to a sitting position, and I realize that this is the first time I've actually seen this happen. Normally by the time I notice, the Winter Soldier has already replaced Bucky, but right now I am watching Bucky 'go away.' 

And I don't quite know what to do about it.

He ignores Boromir completely, unwilling to do anything but stare into that wretched box, so I take him by the arm and forcefully guide him to the floor. Boromir drops himself into Bucky's lap, and the sudden weight seems to help ground him at least a little bit. His hands come up and rest on the German Shepherd's back, his fingers slightly curling around the coarse fur they find there. 

"I don't know how to help you," I tell him.

"S'all good," he dismisses. His voice still has that faraway sound to it. 

I rise from the floor and return to the box to see what else is in there. 

"Oh," is all I say, because I fear that I might throw up- or scream- if I try to say anything else. It suddenly feels as though the room is spinning, and I hear someone- Bucky- make a short humming noise from somewhere behind me.

Inside the box rests the first arm that Shuri made for Bucky. If it had come off like the first metal one did, the sight of it wouldn't be so sickening, but it didn't. It had been pried out of the shoulder, and some of the shoulder had gone with it. And some of the shoulder is in this box.

I contain a gag as I place the lid back on the box so no one has to look at its contents any longer. 

"Oh my God," I express to Bucky, lowering myself onto the floor in front of him.

"It's okay." He seems a little clearer than he was, although he's still clinging to Boromir like his life depends on it.

I involuntarily let out a bitter laugh. "No. No, it isn't. HYDRA is threatening to take you back, and I'm sure as hell not gonna let them." 

I was so sure that HYDRA didn't exist anymore. Things were so quiet that I guess I just assumed they died out. I was proven wrong when it turned out that Jennifer was with them.

"They won't." He throws a quick glance at me, then elaborates. "If they were actually going to come and get me, they wouldn't give us a warning. They'd catch us off our guard. They're just trying to scare us." 

"If that's the case, then it's working. I'm terrified, and so are you."

He shakes his head and leans back against the wall, finally releasing the grip he had on Boromir.

"I'm not scared. I'm just tired." 

(i think this chapter was shit but also i couldn't write it better if i tried)