Saving Bucky (Bucky Barnes x Reader)

Chapter 51 - Puzzle Pieces

"A Spectre?" you repeat, the word heavy on your tongue. It tastes like metal - bitter and cold.

James nods, grey-blue eyes searching yours. You can see his mind working. Thinking. But for once yours is processing faster than his. He must be wrong. No one knows much about the Spectres, but what is known is that only boys are taken. The women are are brought in as Spymasters. Management. To control the men.

It's the one thing HYDRA never figured out - use a man to program an asset, and no matter how compliant you train the asset to be they'll never submit the way they will to a woman. Something deep inside would always fight against a male handler. But not against a woman. Because a woman could never pose the kind of threat a man could. A woman is safe. How easily fooled we are.

But James is telling you that you were taken. As a child.

"No that...that can't be right," you say, confused. "They don't take girls, James."

"You're right. They don't," says James, shaking his head. "But...that's why you have to take the pills."

Your gaze cuts to his, open mouthed and confused. But before you can speak, James reaches into his pocket and pulls out your pill bottle. Two little pills rattling around inside. He remains silent as he holds the bottle up between the two of you.

"Do you want to take one?" he asks quietly. "Before we start."

You instinctively reach a shaking hand for the bottle but stop midway. Your fingers float only a breath away for a moment, your gaze flitting between the two little pills that lay at the bottom of the container, and the shaking hand reaching for them.

"No," you say, pulling away. "I...I can't. There's not enough," you say weakly. "I want more time. I need more time, James," you say, a tear slipping through your lashes as you try to keep your breathing even.

A stuttered breath from across the bed has you looking up into pained eyes. Lip trembling, you crawl back towards him, snuggling up into his chest as he wraps his legs around you, pulling you completely to him.

"Go," you mumble into his neck. "And don't stop. Just...tell me everything. From the start."

James' arm tightens around your shoulders, his metal one kept firmly away and at his side as he clears his throat and blinks away a tear, steeling himself.

"The beginning," he repeats.

"The beginning," you nod, grabbing a handful of his shirt and clutching tightly, as if holding on for dear life, readying yourself.

James clears his throat once more - a tight, emotional cough - before speaking.

"They started with your mother," he says grimly.

"My mother," you repeat in a whisper - the word foreign. Nearly unrecognizable in your own mouth. "What...what was her name?"

"The files don't say," James says. "She had a number designation. You all did. That's it."

"So...Gabe named me?"

"He must have," James says in a gentle whisper, kissing the top of your head.

You frown, wondering why he had chosen your name. What it meant to him. And what your mother had chosen.

Your mother.

"Keep going, James," you say quietly. "Please."

James drags a single knuckle lightly down your cheek. "Hey you," he whispers, catching your attention as your eyes flit up to find a soft smile. You tilt your head, quirking a brow.