The Assassins Heart

Here and Now

2022

He woke up with a start, his heart pounding in his chest, sweat slick on his skin. It was different this time, a dream not a nightmare. He had a few of these now, seeing clear blue eyes and a smile.

"I'm happy we met '' a woman's voice echoed through his mind.

"Goodnight soldier" she said, he replied but could never remember her name.

Sighing he got up and headed to the kitchen for a drink. Moving through the facility quietly, bare feet padding softly on the floor. He grabbed a glass from beside the sink and filled it with water, it cooled him as he swallowed it all down.

"Bucky you okay?" asked Steve, looking concerned.

"Yeah, just another dream, I'm okay," he said.

"Was it her again?" asked Steve.

Bucky nodded.

"wanna talk about it?" Steve raised his brows.

"nope, I'm going back to bed" he said and before Steve could say anything else Bucky was gone.

He watched his friend walk away, he didn't know what was worse, Bucky's nightmares which he would talk about or his dreams about her which he wouldn't. Sighing heavily he sat at the kitchen counter, he would never not worry about Bucky but he had to concentrate on tomorrow. A new addition to the team was coming in the morning and Steve had been preparing things for her, the bedroom had been done and Tony had a suit ready, Nat had even went out a bought some clothes and toiletries for her.

She had defected from Hydra years ago and had been on the run ever since, after being a fugitive himself he knew how hard it must have been for her being alone and moving from place to place, at least he had been with his friends. Happy he had everything prepared he headed to his bed.

He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep again so he headed for the gym to pound out his frustrations on a boxing bag. Every time a memory popped up he hit the bag harder, none of them were new memories though, God he would kill for a new one of her he thought. Maybe he should talk to Wanda, with her mind capabilities she may know what to do to release more for him.

White blonde hair flashed across his mind, that was new. He stopped punching the bag and tried to focus on the hair colour but it slipped away before he could fully grasp it.

"Damn it!" he screamed.

He threw his full weight behind his metal arm and punched the bag. Its chain snapped from the force and it flew across the room. He stood panting, anger pouring off him in waves.

"Bucky?" Wanda stood behind him near the door.

"Ask me Bucky, I felt you call out for my help. Ask me and I'll try for you" she said, Bucky turned still panting heavily.

He sank down to his knees almost sobbing now, Wanda ran to him and hugged him closely. He sucked in a breath trying to calm himself.

"I'm sorry Wanda, I didn't mean to reach out for you" his sobs had softened now.

"It's okay, your pain must have been great for me to have felt it in my sleep" her Sakovian accent soothed him.

"I need help trying to access some memories, they're not Winter Soldier memories" he said quickly.

She had tried to help once before but the soldier's memories were so strong and painful that she couldn't stay in his mind.

"Okay I can try for you my friend, if you're sure that is?" she asked, he nodded.

"Alright, you're going to have to let me sleep a bit more and prepare myself just in case okay?" she looked sheepish as she said this.

"I understand, if you don't want to do this, it's okay. I know how dark my head is for you" he said.