Aquaman? Whoops, Wrong Universe: A Percy Jackson Marvel Crossover

Chapter 21: The Winter Soldier

Confusion.

The Winter Soldier didn't know who he was. Those things the blonde had said...

"Your name is James Buchanan Barnes. You were born in 1917, and you were my best friend my entire life. You protected me from bullies when I couldn't. We both joined the army. On a mission, you got captured, I came to rescue you. You fell off a train."

The words seemed to go in one ear, and out the other. But the soldier couldn't deny that what he said sounded... right. A headache started to form, and he winced with the pain.

Bucky... that voice said. Your name is Bucky.

Was it? The Winter Soldier didn't know what to think any more. What to believe. 

For a long time now, or at least as long as he could remember, he hadn't cared when that voice came and sowed seeds of doubt in his nature. He ignored it, and moved on. But that unrelenting familiarity that rendered the man senseless when he saw that blonde man wouldn't let him rest. It wouldn't let him sink into the blankness once more, conforming to the order he was given. 

"Prove it," the man said, and the soldier snapped. 

He pulled the trigger of the gun pointed at the blonde's face, but not before he felt his wrist get wrenched to the side by something sticky. He looked down, bewildered, and saw a strange white substance slapped on his hand, and the gun fell in his limp grip. The bullet ricocheted off of the wall and fell to the ground. 

For a moment, the soldier forgot all about the warring voices in his head. Anger exploded inside him, and he whipped his head around to stare at the teenager he had been sent to kill. A strange device was strapped to the kid's arm, and that was where the string had come from. Terror filled Parker's eyes, but he quickly resolved them into hardened steel. Peter flicked his arm, and the Winter Soldier felt a tug before his wrist was pulled forward towards the kid, and he nearly fell on his face.

Embarrassment flashed through the Winter Soldier. He couldn't believe he was losing to a kid. Even if it was only for a second, it was incredibly annoying. He tried to pull the web off, but it was futile. He was being dragged towards Parker before he finally got a grip and tugged with all of his strength to get the web off. He hated that he had forgotten Spider-Man also had super strength, possibly rivaling his own. 

He pointed the gun in his other hand back in the boy's face and pulled the trigger. Well, almost.

"Buck!" the blonde man said, and the soldier almost gasped.

A memory, so powerful in his mind, stopped him before he could press his finger down. He hadn't had a memory before.

Maybe it would be nice to have something to remember. 

He stood on a metal staircase, looking at Steve.

Steve?

His friend looked sad. Bucky felt bad for him.

Bucky? That wasn't who he was.

Bucky's hair was slicked back, and he wore a suit. He looked Steve in the face, and watched his serious, placid expression.

"Thanks, Buck," Steve was saying. "But I can get by on my own."

Bucky strode closer as he said, "The thing is... you don't have to." He placed his hand on Steve's shoulder. "I'm with you till the end of the line, pal," he said, sincerity pouring out through his words.

A small smile formed on Steve's lips.

He would always stick by his friend. No matter what.