Washington ⇻ The Winter Soldier [2]

chapter four

"There's something you need to know if the Winter Soldier is involved," Winter began, "I'm pretty sure that you know about Kae's mutation, right?"

Steve nodded slowly, "Yes, it was in her file."

"Well what wasn't in her file is that I'm the Winter Soldier," the assassin told him, "That's why Natasha called me."

"When did Kae see the Winter Soldier so that you could form?"

"She didn't, she saw a picture of..." Winter took a deep bracing breath, "...James Buchanan Barnes."

"What are you trying to say, Legion?" Steve's eyes were steely.

Great, Winter thought, we're on hero names now,

"Bucky is the Winter Soldier, Steve," she said, "You need to know if he's been called in. We can't afford you freezing up in the middle of a fight."

"Bucky's supposed to be dead," the blond replied, "How'd this happen?"

"HYDRA and a hell of a lot of brainwashing," Winter stated, "He's not Bucky right now, maybe he can be again, but for the last seventy years he's been known as the Asset."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Steve asked, voice harsh and accusatory.

"You would have spent all your time looking for him instead of actually adjusting to the world," Winter said, putting her hand where she knew his soulmark to be, "And now we know where he is."

"That's not a good enough reason," he shrugged her hand off, "He's my soulmate."

Winter's eyes hardened in reply, "You say that as if I don't know that. And you definitely don't know what's happened to him in the last seventy years. I do."

"You're not him!"

"I'm the closest there is to being him!" Winter snapped right back.

"I should have been informed! I would've gotten him out!" Steve seethed.

"No, you wouldn't have," Winter objected, "He would have become your main goal. You would have gone crazy looking for him rather than learning anything about the world around you."

"You don't know that!"

"I didn't do this so you'd snap your cap, Rogers," Winter stood up and leaned down to look in his eyes, "I did it so we can get him out."

Steve stared right back, defiant, "I would've come up with a plan with you in it because of your memories of HYDRA."

"My memories stop seven years ago, and even then my time as the Soldier is blurry," she sat back down with a sigh, "We wouldn't have had enough knowledge to get him out without injury. To either us or him."

Steve's eyes softened just a bit, so Winter settled back, crossing her arms. She tilted her head as she waited for his ragged breathing to even out and his reply. Several seconds ticked by, then,

"What's the plan?"

"How do you feel about stealing from the Smithsonian?"

I haven't updated this much in years. I'm actually pretty proud of myself. As always, I hope you all enjoyed and will have a fantastic day,
~ Aria :)