𝙴𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚁𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 - Bucky Barnes

4. TRACING SHADOWS

PRESENT DAY - BUCKY'S APARTMENT - LOCATION: BROOKLYN.

Inside Bucky's new and unfurnished apartment, he and Steve sit opposite each other, across a simple kitchen island in the heart of the room, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy in the air. It's been two weeks since Bucky first confided in Steve about Anastasia, and since then, he's been on edge, waiting for any news of her.

Bucky fidgets with the edge of his sleeve, his brow furrowed with worry. He can't shake the unease that gnaws at his insides. Thoughts of Anastasia consume him, haunting his every waking moment and infiltrating even his dreams.

Night after night, he's tormented by nightmares of their past encounters, the memories of how he treated her like a puppet, a tool to be wielded by Hydra. The sound of her screams echoes in his ears, a relentless reminder of the pain he inflicted upon her. And with each passing day, the weight of his guilt grows heavier, threatening to suffocate him beneath its crushing embrace.

Despite his efforts to push the memories away, they persist, relentless in their assault on his conscience. Bucky's gaze drifts to the empty space where furniture should be, his mind unable to find solace even in the simplicity of his surroundings.

Sensing Bucky's distance, Steve decides to cut to the chase. With a solemn expression, he reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a dossier, tossing it onto the middle of the kitchen island with a heavy thud. The sound breaks the tense silence, drawing Bucky's attention to the folder lying before them.

"We might have found her," Steve says, his voice low but resolute. He gestures towards the dossier, his eyes fixed on Bucky's troubled expression. "I had some strings pulled within S.H.I.E.L.D. Surveillance picked up on someone who matches Anastasia's description."

Steve opens the dossier, revealing a single photograph. In it, a woman walks down a busy street, her features partially obscured by a hooded jacket. "It's not much to go on," Steve admits, "but it matches the description you gave me."

Bucky studies the photograph intently, his heart pounding with anticipation. "It's her." He murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper.

Steve meets Bucky's gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. "I've already contacted a few contacts at SHIELD," he says, his tone resolute. "They're running facial recognition software to see if we can get a positive ID."

As Bucky stares at the photograph, a rush of conflicting emotions washes over him. Relief floods his senses at the sight of Anastasia, confirmation that she's out there somewhere, alive. But beneath the relief lies a deep-seated fear, a fear of what she has transformed into during their separation. He understands all too well that the Winter Soldier has shaped the Crimson Reaper into a force to be reckoned with, perhaps even more merciless than his past alias.

"Where was this taken?" Bucky's voice carries an undercurrent of urgency as he leans in closer to the photograph, scrutinizing it intently as if hoping to extract more information from its grainy details.

"Vilnius," Steve responds with brevity. His gaze shifts from the dossier to Bucky, his expression unreadable, though a glint of concern shimmers in his eyes.

"Lithuania?" Bucky's inquiry carries a note of confirmation, though he still seeks affirmation. Steve's nod serves as confirmation, prompting Barnes to refocus his attention on the photograph with renewed intensity.

As the weight of their shared history hangs heavy in the air, Bucky's thoughts drift back to their last encounter, the pain and anguish etched into Anastasia's eyes as she begged him to end her suffering. He had been unable to grant her that mercy, bound by his own demons and the chains of his past. But now, with the possibility of finding her once more, he's determined to make amends, to free her from the clutches of Hydra and the darkness that threatens to consume her.