cassiopeiassky:

mackievanstan:

#let him rest

It always ends in a fight. Back in the day, he’d say this about Steve with a sort of exasperated affection. He didn’t really mind fighting then, because black eyes and split lips were usually the worst of the damage and not that high a price to pay (or charge) for Stevie’s idealism and sense of justice. He could still laugh about it then.

It always ends in a fight. During the war, it came to mean something different. Usually he said this in the bars overseas when different companies joined up to drink; someone’s mouth was always bigger and faster than his brain, and the wrong thing said could lead to spectacular bar brawls. As before, these are still relatively harmless. But then there were the other fights. The reasons why they were in the bar to begin with. The fights on the front line. Those weren’t harmless.

It always ends in a fight. Or at least it would, if the Soldier’s victims ever got the chance to fight back. He’s too good at what he does, though. The only damage he usually sustains is in his tortured soul.

It always ends in a fight. A life on the run is not a peaceful life. If he’s not fighting for his dinner or just to be left alone, he’s fighting his demons. Fighting for what’s left of his life, although that feels selfish with all the lives he’s taken, all the fights he’s ‘won.’ He just wants to be left alone, he doesn’t want to fight anymore. It doesn’t matter what he wants.

It always ends in a fight. Even now, when he thinks he’s found peace. He should’ve known better. He’s got too much to atone for, too many sins against his weary soul, to every really achieve piece. He’s tired, so tired, and sick of fighting, but when he sees the arm in the box, how can he say no? This is what he is – this is what his once gentle soul has been twisted into: a ruthless, cunning, deadly fighter. At least this time it’s to protect the innocent. It’s a small comfort as he resigns himself once more to his fate and asks, “Where’s the fight?”