Winter's Angel

Part 4

A.N.: Again, this part is a time skip and basically follows after the bridge scene in CA:TWS.

T.W.: abuse, violence, possessive Winter/Bucky, fluff.

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**FLASHBACK**

"Bucky?" Steve says, confusion evident on his face.

"Who the hell is Bucky?" A cloud of smoke fills the city street, giving Winter the opportunity he needs to take off. He waits for a while in a back alley, sticking to the shadows.

Steve runs down the street, but is pulled in the alley by Winter and tossed against a wall. "How the hell do you know me?"

"You're my best pal." Steve grinned, "What the hell happened to you? How did you get mixed up with Hydra?"

"Doesn't matter. I need your help."

"You don't remember me?"

"Again, it doesn't matter right now." Winter shook his head. After all these years and he's still an idiot.

"Alright, come on I'll get you safe."

"No, not yet, I have to go back."

"Why?"

Winter smiles a little, "Elise, my girl. It's my fault she's there, and I can't just leave her." Winter steps back, looking at the ground, "I have to get her out before I leave. I don't want to think about what they'd do if I escaped and left her behind."

"Then let me help you by helping her."

"How are you going to do that?"

"I'll sneak in, disguised as a guard and we'll get her out."

"She won't want to leave without me."

"I'll throw her over my shoulder and drag her out if I need to. I'll keep her safe, you know that. Even if you don't remember me, you know deep down that I'll do it."

"I know... Thanks pal."

"I'm with you to the end of the line, Buck."

"I need to get back. They're probably freaking out right now."

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A pair of guards barrel through the cell door, pulling Elise from her sleep. They lift her from the bed and drag her through the halls. Eventually, leading her to a brightly lit room and dropping her in the floor at Pierce's feet. She looks around, noticing Bucky standing against the wall with a blank expression... but it wasn't quite Bucky. He's still operating as the Winter Solder, cold and heartless. He's still dressed in his tactical gear and his metal arm seems to be ripped almost to shreds. What's going on? She tries asking through the link, but he doesn't answer. His eyes barely even flick in her direction before Pierce begins to speak.

"Hydra is in the middle of one of the biggest operations this world has ever seen. Everyone here has laid their life on the line to make our dreams a reality. Yet somehow, you keep fucking this up." Pierce glares at the Soldier. "Did you think I was joking when I said she would pay for your screw ups?" Elise whimpers and looks up at Winter, waiting for him to say or do anything, but as before he stays silent in place. "Well? Answer me!"

Winter's eyes flick to her again, and his jaw twitches. It takes everything in him to hold an even tone as he speaks. It's a risky move and he'll have to explain everything later, but for now, he's not giving Hydra what they want. Winter wants them to believe that no emotional attachment was formed during the experiment. "Do what you want. I don't care what happens to her." He finally responds.