Book One of the Shadows Series: Shadow of Redemption

The Failed Mission

The night after the briefing, Bucky was finally able to take a break from the night watch. But he almost wished he hadn't. Bucky tossed and turned in his sleep, the memories of his past haunting him even in the safety of his new life. His mind drifted back to a time when he was the Winter Soldier, a weapon of HYDRA, devoid of free will and mercy. His dreams took him to a time, the only time, where he failed.

In the memory, the Winter Soldier tracked down his target to an old apartment on the outskirts of a desolate city. The moonlight filtered through broken windows, casting eerie shadows across the dilapidated structure. He moved silently, his enhanced senses alert to every sound.

And there was Yelena, waiting for him. She was so young. She had anticipated the confrontation, and her stance was one of readiness. The moment their eyes met, there was no need for words. They both knew why they were there.The fight was brutal and unrelenting. Bucky attacked with the precision and power of the Winter Soldier, his metal arm a blur of deadly force. Yelena countered with agility and finesse, her moves a dance of survival. They clashed repeatedly, each strike and parry echoing through the empty home.

As the battle raged on, something began to change within Bucky. Despite his programming, despite the relentless drive to complete his mission, he found himself hesitating. There was something about Yelena, something familiar and hauntingly human that he couldn't shake.

In a moment of vulnerability, Yelena managed to disarm him, her weapon poised to deliver the final blow. But she paused, seeing the flicker of confusion and pain in his eyes. "Why aren't you finishing this?" she demanded, her voice edged with both anger and desperation.

Bucky couldn't answer. He didn't know why he couldn't kill her. The Winter Soldier's directives were clear, yet his mind rebelled against them. In that split second of hesitation, Yelena took her chance and escaped, leaving Bucky alone in the ruins of their battle.

Returning to HYDRA empty-handed was a fate worse than death. His handlers were livid, their punishments swift and merciless. They subjected him to intense reconditioning, the painful process designed to erase any trace of defiance. The electric shocks, the drugs, the psychological torment—it was all meant to break him, to strip away the last remnants of James Buchanan Barnes and reinforce the cold, unfeeling Winter Soldier.

Yet, despite the agony, the memory of Yelena lingered. The one mission he had failed. The one target he couldn't eliminate. It haunted him, a fragment of humanity struggling to resurface amidst the programming.

When Bucky woke up, he realized he had been screaming. The dream was still clinging to him. He was disoriented, his heart pounding in his chest as he struggled to separate the past from the present. The echoes of his scream had barely faded when Yelena burst into the room, her eyes sharp and alert, scanning for any signs of an intruder.

"Bucky!" she called, her voice urgent. She saw him on the floor, his body trembling, drenched in sweat. Her instincts kicked in, and she knew he was still trapped in the nightmare. She crouched beside him, her movements slow and deliberate.

"James, it's me," she said softly, trying to reach through the fog of his nightmare. But his eyes were wild, and all he saw was the target he had failed to kill.

In a swift, almost mechanical motion, he flipped her over, his grip strong and unyielding. Yelena didn't resist. Instead, she reached up, her hand gently caressing his face. "James Bucky Barnes, remember who you are," she whispered, her touch grounding him.

His breathing was ragged, his eyes searching hers for an anchor. Gradually, her voice and touch broke through the haze. He blinked, the confusion giving way to recognition. "Yelena..." he murmured, his voice cracking with emotion.

She pulled him into a tight embrace, feeling the tension in his body slowly release. "You're safe, James. It's just a dream," she reassured him, her voice steady and calm.

Tears streamed down his face as he clung to her. "I saw you... I couldn't... I couldn't kill you," he confessed, the weight of the admission crushing him.

Yelena's breath hitched as she remembered that day, the intensity of their fight, and the unexpected mercy he had shown her. The first couple of times she saw Bucky and had met him, she would try and push that memory away. "I remember," she said softly, her own voice tinged with emotion. "You spared me."

He pulled back slightly, looking at her with a mix of relief and sorrow. "I was punished for it. They tried to break me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Yelena nodded, her eyes reflecting the shared pain of their pasts. "But they didn't. You're here, with me," she said, her tone resolute. She gently wiped away his tears, her touch soothing.

Bucky took a deep breath, the remnants of the nightmare still lingering but dulled by her presence. "Thank you," he said, his voice steadier now.

She gave him a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to thank me, James. We're in this together," she said.

Yelena stayed with him the rest of the night, their shared silence a comfort. At that moment, Bucky realized how much he needed Yelena. The only other person who could anchor him like that was Steve. And Steve was gone.

Even though Bucky hadn't said that, Yelena felt the same way about him. Natasha was the only one who was able to make her smile, like really smile. But now she had the man who tried to kill her, and she was perfectly happy with that.

At around 3 in the morning, Bucky looked over to see Yelena asleep on his shoulder. He smiled to himself, and a warmth spread through his body. He nudged her gently. "Lena," he whispered and she woke up calmly. "You want to get some sleep in a real bed?"

With sleep still in her eyes, Yelena looked around herself, looking a little confused. Once she realized where she was, her blush was easy to see, even in the darkness. "Um, if you want me to get out of your room, I will." she assumed, locking eyes with Bucky. "You can leave if you want. I'm good now."

She sighed and stood up. "Sorry for...falling asleep on you," she said, embarrassment in her voice. Bucky smiled as she walked off. When her hand reached for the door knob, Bucky made up his mind. "Lena?"

"Yeah, Buck?"

"Stay? Please? Just for a little longer?"

She grinned and nodded. "I'll stay as long as you'd like," she whispered and butterflies exploded in Bucky's stomach. The two resumed their position on the floor, and they both dozed off immediately, the rest of the night filled with a peaceful sleep. 

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter but I thought I'd add a little more Bucky and Yelena. If you have any suggestions or requests for this story, feel free to ask! Thank you for all of the reads -RileytheAuthor11