My Forbidden Soldier

XI

A/N: It's been two months since putting out a new chapter. I'm sorry. I just started my senior year of high school and my first part-time job. I'm trying to juggle that plus all of my hobbies and social life, so please, bear with me :)! I've also been dealing with a major case of writer's block, and I haven't been sure how to finish this story. I'm back though, and I do have somewhat of an ending planned out. There will be about 25-30 chapters and it will have a good ending, we just have to go through the rough parts now. Anyways... enjoy this chapter!

TW: mention of murder and death.

***

"Buck, after you left, Friday found all the information about Y/N. We're having a team meeting to discuss it with her tomorrow." He sighed. " Right now Tony's trying to tell her and question her about our findings." He looked at Bucky almost sympathetically, that was until Bucky spoke.

"Always knew she couldn't be trusted. Guess it just had to take me nearly choking her to death-"

"Stop! Bucky, I'm not going to tolerate you shit talking to her. I don't know what your problem is with Y/N but keep your slander to yourself, she doesn't deserve it."

Bucky stood up in front of Steve. "Quit talking to me like a child."

"Then quit acting like one" Steve said matter-a-factly.

Bucky didn't want to argue. He looked around noticing the state his apartment was in from the previous encounter only hours before. He looked across the room at his analog clock (which was now crooked on the wall with a hole below it) and saw that it was two in the morning. He would be lying to himself if he said that his run in with you didn't make him feel guilty. Ever since you stepped into the compound and he saw you, he knew you looked familiar, he just couldn't pinpoint where you were from.

Bucky ran his hands through his long hair and sighed. "I'm sorry Steve. I- I just can't believe this girl would show up at the compound, suddenly develop powers, and then start fake-dating Captain America. And all for the sake of the reputation of the team? She should be locked up until we can figure out her true intentions,"

"No. We aren't going to lock Y/N up. You of all people should understand giving people second chances. Underneath that brooding shell is someone who is extremely guilty." Steve started towards the door.

Before closing it behind him he turned around. "I'm going to go and talk to her. Meeting's tomorrow at 10 A.M."

Bucky looked away from the door. Of course his best friend could read right through him. God, why wouldn't he feel guilty? Before Bucky could get too wrapped up in his thoughts, he shakes his head and starts cleaning up his apartment, salvaging what he can of it.

***

"I don't know, I just felt drawn to him. It was a curious thing. I heard his screams, and he's helped me before so I- I thought I could help him out too! Friday told me his door was unlocked for me, so I figured he needed the help," You shook your head and felt tears fall down your cheeks.

Tony had been questioning you alongside Adrian for at least an hour. You thought it would never end until you all heard a knock on the door. Everyone in your room turned their heads and Tony got up to answer it.

"Better late than never," Tony said, opening the door to reveal an exhausted Steve.

"Well, we need to get both sides of the story. We don't need anyone finding out about this. Have you told her yet Tony?" Steve asked, walking in. He sat beside you on the couch.

"Hi Y/N,"

You didn't say anything. You simply reached out and gave him a warm embrace, laying your cheeks on his chest. You pulled back suddenly, remembering what Steve asked Tony when he walked in.

"Wait- what do you mean? What was Tony supposed to tell me?"

Adrian, who was sitting on your armchair by the couch perked up when you asked.

"Well. We found out that you're linked to Hydra. Friday found some footage showing you being detained."

"What?" You and Adrian said in unison.

Suddenly Adrian's phone started buzzing. You, Steve, and Tony all looked at one another but shrugged it off when Adrian excused himself to another room.

"Sorry, kinda have to take this call,"

Once you heard the door shut, you remembered what Steve had told you.

"I honestly don't remember anything to do with Hydra. Be- Before I arrived here I was just some salesperson at some boring office job, right? I'd been working with Adrian for months. I grew up with no parents..."

"Is that all you can remember?" Tony asked.

"No, no, no... There's more. Oh my god. It's coming back to me. Slowly, but I can feel it,"

Suddenly, your eyes started glowing again. And this time, you're wavy y/c/h turned golden and started to faintly glow. Steve and Tony were quick to your side, trying to figure out what was happening. Then, you started violently shaking your head.

"Friday! Give me her heart rate!" Tony yelled.

"No, no, NO!"

Everything went dark for you.

***

You woke up in a sweat. Panicked and breathing heavily you looked around, but you were surrounded by snow? You were in some type of forest. Everything hadn't fully come to you yet, until you noticed footprints crunching almost silently in the snow. You violently turn your head and stare at the man beside you carrying food.

Holy shit. It's him. It's the Winter Soldier.

"Aureate." He commanded, while standing tall and alert, ready for anything to happen. You, however, were frozen in fear.

"Yes?" You somehow managed to look at him in his cold and lifeless eyes and speak to him without stuttering.

"We have to hurry if we are to have a successful mission," he says, gesturing for you to hold your hands out and accept his meal.

What mission? You wanted to ask but thought against it, knowing that would seem suspicious. When he leaned down you felt heat radiating off of him. You swore you'd flinch after feeling his icy metal fingers place the small portion of food into your also chilled hands, but you kept them stable, thanking him with a curt nod after receiving your food.

Not taking 5 minutes to eat, you both scarfed down your food. Carefully standing up, you followed the deadly assassin through the eerie and snowy forest. You finally stopped when you came across a familiar looking wooden cabin with light shining out upon the windows. Colored lights. Christmas lights.

"I'll go first. While I'm taking care of the others, retrieve the target and head back to the base."

Oh.

"Aureate? Did you understand," he looks at you, but you're zoned out.

"This is my family's vacation cabin."

"What? Aureate, look at me. We must complete the mission. It has to be successful."

Oh no. You'd said that aloud. There had to be something you could do. Is this how your parents died? No, that wouldn't add up. Your parents died when you were young, that's why you don't remember them.

"Aureate," the soldier said calmly. He reached forward and grabbed your chin, forcing you to snap out of it. You looked into his cold blue eyes. You could feel his warm breath on your lips. The poor man looked like he was trying to express some emotion, but was unable to. You were both staring into one another's eyes. When he noticed, he stepped away smoothly, taking all of his warmth away.

"Aureate, we have a mission to complete,"