December 24th, 2025
The weight of him hadn't changed since he'd dragged himself out of the snow drifts in Romania. It was weighing against his chest, literally. The book from the facility was heavier than he'd anticipated. The words burning a hole through his chest.
June 6th, 1961
Bucky didn't dare read further, but he knew exactly what it was. The cover was identical to his own book, only sporting a crescent moon across its cover. Project Eclipse. That's what Kate was. Everything about her, about the entire project, was in that book.
He'd lied. He had read further, just a couple words, enough to know that Kate wasn't who she said she was.
The Asset (The Winter Soldier)
The words had been as clear as day, him. He was a part of the project, in any way at all, Hydra thought it necessary to document him alongside her.
He intentionally went back to the chamber where Kate had been held. He'd searched the entire room, took apart the cryostasis chamber, looking for anything he'd missed before. Except, he looked everywhere and came across the book, stuffed away between hundreds of discarded pages.
Where he had already searched before.
The book was planted, it wasn't there before when he'd searched the room for the second time. Someone intended for him to see it. Somehow he knew it would change everything. Revealing the truth that Kate seemed to evade.
They weren't quick enough, not smart enough. Or it was meant to happen.
Kate was struck just after him. He remembered her clutching onto him like a lifeline before it all went black. He had woken up hours later, buried in snow and no trace of Kate. She was gone, kidnapped, taken by the same people who'd tried to pull her out. He'd beat them to her in the beginning, but not this time. He was too late.
They gave him the truth about Kate in exchange for her. Her skill, her knowledge.
The idea of bringing her to 'give her a choice' seemed idiodic. He'd lost her. Over a simple idea, he'd lost her in a matter of minutes.
He could still feel the warmth of her lips against his, even when the rest of him was still ice cold. The notion felt oddly...... familiar. He'd be lying if he said he didn't want to continue that with Kate. To whatever extent, he wanted to go down that path with her.
At least he did then. But he wasn't so sure now. Now, with her book against his chest, it could all fall apart. The words alone could change everything. He didn't want to read them, what could be detailed depictions of how she was tortured. What they'd done to her. Their justifications for lacing her spine with Vibranium.
Kate was right in being scared to die. She'd known it. She expected it almost. That it was all going to change. That was why she'd kissed him. Why she preserved that singular notion before it all went up in flames. To remember the short time in Wakanda before it changed. Before he found out the truth.
Bucky was off the jet the moment the wheels hit the ground. He had no destination in mind, but he had to get off the jet. Shuri would be pissed, especially after losing her. He'd just handed a loaded gun to the enemy, and they didn't even know who it was.
The walk to the tower was short and gone in a blink. Shuri and Sam were waiting for him, arms crossed, staring at Bucky with burning resentment.
"I know, I messed up." Bucky said, walking away from them to get some water. He turned his back to them.
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Eclipse - Book 1 (Born at Dusk)
Fanfiction"We're not who you think we are. We're helping you." "I don't care." She turned the gun from Shuri and pressed the barrel beneath her chin and fired. To her, he was a ghost; to him, she was a stranger. There were no more super soldiers. It was a we...
