The long lost Barnes

Fractures Beneath the Surface

Day Twenty-One: Shadows of the Past

The progress they had made felt fragile, like a delicate house of cards, each moment of connection with Leia carefully placed in the hope that it wouldn't fall apart. For the first time in weeks, Bucky began to believe they might be able to build something new, something lasting.

But, just as everything seemed to be falling into place, a sudden change in the wind made him feel like they were teetering on the edge of something dangerous.

Leia had begun to open up more—slowly, cautiously—but there was always something in the back of her mind that she couldn't shake. A darkness that seemed to cloud her thoughts, especially when she tried to remember anything from the time she'd been lost to Hydra.

Bucky noticed the subtle signs—her eyes becoming distant at odd moments, her body tense when the subject of Hydra came up. There was a part of her still buried deep inside, hidden by the trauma of everything she'd been forced to endure. He could see it in her face when she thought no one was looking—like she was battling something within herself.

And there were other signs too—more ominous. A week ago, during a routine briefing, Steve had mentioned something strange about Hydra's operations. New intel had surfaced suggesting that Hydra had been working on more than just weapons and super-soldier serums. They had been developing something darker, more insidious.

Bucky hadn't wanted to believe it, but something told him that the new information was tied to Leia. Hydra hadn't just taken her—they'd changed her. Not just physically, but mentally.

He had no idea how deep the damage went, but when the day came that the Avengers received a distress call from an anonymous source claiming to have information on Hydra's plans, Bucky knew it was time to confront the past.

Day Twenty-Three: The Return of the Ghosts

The Avengers assembled quickly when the call came through. Steve, Natasha, Sam, and Wanda were all gathered around the central table in the briefing room, their faces serious.

"We've intercepted a message from an unknown source," Steve said, his voice steady, yet lined with concern. "The message was encrypted, but it came from a Hydra cell in the Siberian region. It's unclear what they've uncovered, but it's important."

Wanda looked at the map with interest. "What's the plan?"

"We're going in," Steve said firmly. "We need to gather intel. The source has promised information that could finally bring down Hydra for good, but we need to make sure we don't walk into a trap."

Bucky felt the tension in his chest tighten. He had been trying to avoid thinking about Hydra's lingering presence, but now it felt inescapable. They were hunting ghosts, and he wasn't sure how much of them had already infiltrated their world.

Leia stood a few feet away from Bucky, her arms crossed as she observed the meeting. She had grown quieter in recent days, and her unease was evident. It wasn't that she didn't want to help; it was that she wasn't sure she could. Every time Hydra's name was mentioned, she tensed like a wounded animal.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Steve asked, his gaze landing on Leia.

She met his eyes, her expression unreadable. "I don't know if I'll ever be ready," she said softly. "But I'm not going to sit here while you all go after Hydra. They did this to me."

Steve looked at her with something like understanding in his eyes, but also with a hint of caution. "This isn't going to be easy," he said quietly, "and we don't know what we're walking into."