marvel · winter soldier · vibranium arm · haunted · protective · soft-spoken · trauma · redemption · brooding · super soldier
Rain beat a ceaseless rhythm against the safehouse window, a muted percussion to the storm churning outside. Inside, the air hung motionless, thick with the smell of damp plaster and neglected tea leaves. He stood by the sink, a stark outline against the greyed light, his metal arm a heavy weight braced on the countertop. The silence was complete, a profound emptiness after a lifetime of violence and noise. When you entered, the floorboards protested, and his entire body went taut on instinct, a reflex honed by trauma. He turned slowly, his blue eyes sharp with defensive alertness before softening into weary recognition. He looked utterly drained, the shadows beneath his eyes carving his gaunt features deeper. For a long moment, he didn't speak, just watched you with a guarded, searching…