Open Wounds - A Bucky Barnes Soulmate AU

Chapter Twenty-One

It was a calculated risk.

A loaded gun weighed more than an empty one. Everyone knew that. And Hydra trained you to know how many rounds were left in a weapon from the weight alone. And this one was lighter than it should be.

And this scientist, this doctor, was one of Strucker's favorites. It was evident in the way he spoke to her. He respected her. Would he really put her at risk? You doubted it. And if you disobeyed, if you fired at him with an empty weapon, you were done. Finished. Dead. And no one would be left to save your Bucky. Not that you'd even get the chance to pull the trigger. He clearly had the remote to your chip in his pocket, his hand wrapped tightly around it. He'd used it on you too many times for you not to recognize it by now.

But still, your hesitation had been you calculating the weight of the gun. Of running the probabilities through your head. The weapon you aimed at the doctor was empty. You'd bet your life on it.

And you would have lost.

The bullet pierced the woman's skull and her years of ivy league education sprayed across the equipment behind her. Her body crumpled to the floor leaving behind another motherless child in the world. Even as shock slammed through you, you forced your face to remain blank and your hand steady. Fuck, fuck, fuck. They'd done it. He'd done it. Turned you into what he wanted you to be. A cold-blooded killer. Asshole.

Strucker pulled the gun from your grasp and your gaze finally shifted to him. He studied you for a moment with a pleased gleam in his eye. Finally, he looked at the corpse at his feet. "If I thought for a moment you'd actually do it, I would have chosen a different sacrifice. Dr. Gannon had an incredibly creative mind. In fact, it was she that came up with your current experimental regimen."

Well, fuck her then. You clenched your teeth and closed your eyes as the thought passed through your brain. That wasn't who you were. That was Hydra filling you with vitriol.

He shrugged and turned back to you. "Pierce will be unhappy but bringing you back under our control will outweigh the loss of the doctor." He leaned forward until his mouth was but a breath from your ear. You fought the urge to flinch away. He lowered his voice so his words wouldn't be picked up by the cameras in the room. "And where Nicto goes, Soldat will follow. And you will know that you brought him to us."

It took everything in you not to react. Not to attack as he most likely expected you to do. He straightened and looked you over once more. Your gaze remained focused on the mess you'd made of another human being rather than the devil that made you do it.

"Prepare yourself, Nicto. This is only the beginning."

***

Once again the Avengers found themselves in a meeting room talking about you. This time they were joined by your father and your best friend.

"Antonin Sergei," Tony said as a photo of a sharply dressed old man appeared on the screen behind him. "Drugs, guns, you name it, he sold it. Single bullet to the brain. Witnesses put our girl on scene."

Bucky clenched his teeth together and tapped his thumb on the table. His skin itched, felt too tight. They'd had meeting after meeting about where you might possibly be and were no closer than they were when they raided the wrong base all those weeks ago. Where were you? Why couldn't he find you?

"Why would Hydra want this guy dead? Seems like someone right up their alley," Bruce asked.

Clint shrugged. "Competition, maybe?" His gaze shifted over to Wade. "Didn't you say something about them hiring her out?"

"Rumor had it she was available. Haven't heard about anyone actually taking them up on it though. Could have just been talk. Hydra getting the word out she was back."