The Spring Soldier | Bucky Barnes

Chapter 17 - Winter Soldier

"Sir. He's unstable. Erratic." The man warns as Pierce approaches. He enters the room and they shut the door behind him.

"Mission report." He demands. "Mission report now." He repeats as Bucky stares straight ahead. He approaches and leans over to meet his eyes. Pierce backhands him and he seems to snap out of it enough to focus.

"The man on the bridge. Who was he?" Bucky asks.

"You met him earlier this week on another assignment." He tells him.

"I knew him." He replies. Pierce sits and signals to one of his men.

"Your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped the century. And I need you to do it one more time." He says. "Society's at a tipping point between order and chaos. And tomorrow morning, we're gonna give it a push. But, if you don't do your part, I can't do mine. And HYDRA can't give the world the freedom it deserves."

"But I knew him." He argues. Pierce sighs and waves his hand. 

Two men drag Aleks into the room and toss her to the ground in front of Bucky. He tries to stand as he spots the bruises and bandages all over her body, but one of the guards points his gun at her head, making him freeze. 

"Prep him." Pierce orders.

"He's been out of cryo freeze too long." The scientist protests.

"Then wipe him and start over." He replies. The scientists move towards James, and he meets Aleks' eyes. She forces a smile, trying to assure him that she'll be all right. He stares at her as he's pushed back. He looks away as the mouthguard is put in his mouth, not wanting her to see him in pain. The machine clicks into place, pinning his arms down and covering his face.

"Please." She begs as he begins to scream. Pierce crouches next to her and yanks her head back by the hair so she's forced to watch as James screams.

"Your job was to keep him in line. You'd better say goodbye before he forgets who you are." He threatens. He lets her go and she drops back to the floor. "Once it's done, take them back to the cell. Maybe he'll kill her for us." He chuckles as he leaves.

***

Aleks curls up on the bed, her eyes squeezed shut as she tries to ignore the pain. She can feel the Soldier staring at her, doing her best to ignore that too. 

She winces when she feels a hand on her shoulder, pain shooting down her arm. She rolls over and James brushes her hair from her face. He sighs and gently rests his forehead to hers, stroking her hair.

"Why aren't you scared of me?" He asks her. She rolls her eyes and reaches up to stroke his cheek.

"I know you'd never hurt me." She tells him. She hisses in pain as she sits up to lean against the wall and he rushes to help her. She chuckles and raises an eyebrow at him.

"Fine. What about the Soldier?" He asks, avoiding her eyes. Aleks rolls her eyes again and turns his head so he looks her in the eyes.

"He'd never hurt me." She says. "I know it's difficult, but he's part of you. I think he realizes that we're both the products of our situations, and I think he needed someone to treat him like a human being, not a weapon. I know how terrible it is to be treated like an object rather than a person. He knows that." Aleks slides her hand down to rest over his heart. "And I think he knows that you wouldn't forgive yourself if anything happened to me."

James chuckles as he lifts her into his arms. He turns and sits on the bed, settling her in his lap. She rests her head on his shoulder, and he starts playing with her hair. 

"Today's our last night, isn't it?" He asks quietly, holding her closer.

"For now. We'll find each other again." She assures him. He cups her face and kisses her forehead.

"I love you." James says. She smiles and kisses him.

"I love you." She replies, enjoying the feeling of his arm around her, not knowing when the next time they'll be together is.

***

Aleks laughs, watching as James glares at the goat currently chewing on his shirt. She gently nudges the animal away, wrapping her arm around him as she joins him.

"Still don't like the goats?" She teases, poking his side through the new hole in his shirt. He turns his glare to her, and she rolls her eyes. "James Jr. is a gentleman. He must not like you."

"James Jr? Are you serious?" He asks.

"Shuri named him, not me." Aleks tells him. He chuckles and shakes his head, pulling her closer to his side.

"Do you still like it here?" He asks, turning to face her. She smiles and nods, glancing over the land Shuri and T'Challa gifted them.

"I do." She says. He smiles and nods. "I'd be happy anywhere as long as I have you." She adds.

"I don't deserve you." James tells her. She rolls her eyes.

"Shut up." She says, leading him away so they can finish their chores for the day. He smiles as he watches her walk away, happy he found her again so they could start the life they talked about often while they were stuck with HYDRA.

Sorry I'm updating later than I meant to lol