oh captain! my captain! | barnes

letter

12:15, noon

September 14, 1942

Audrey Rolf had been at a gun range that fateful day. A week prior, she was back in the US. A week prior, she had taken the physical for her voluntary military registration. A week prior, she was confirmed to be registered in the US army.

She rose the pistol and aimed at the felt dummy. She fired three times in the chest, each shot hit the white chalk 'x'.

"Nice shot." A man caught her attention, she looked at him and set the gun down. He was dressed in a military uniform, and grey hair appeared under his cap.

"Audrey Rolf?" She nodded. "I'm your drill sergeant. Are you ready to go to your camp?"

"Yes sir." She mumbled, it wasn't like she'd be missed.

He took her to the camp, and got her name and age. Everyone watched upon her entry. She had noticed that there were very few female soldiers present.

He brought her to an empty room in the complex. He handed her a spare uniform.

"Your first training period begins in an hour." He said and left. She sighed to herself before changing, and pulling her hair up. How dramatic a turn she was taking.

She opened the door to see a strongly built man, near her age. He had dark hair and blue-grey eyes. He smiled at her.

"Hey." He said, looking her up and down.

"Hello." She smiled at him.

"My name's James Barnes, you can call me Bucky." He shook her hand. "I'm your welcoming party."

"Audrey Rolf, you can call me Audrey." His face turned a light shade of crimson. "Where to, welcoming party?"

"Come on, I'll show you around." He said with a confident grin. He linked his arm in hers. He walked her around the camp, showing her the training courses, where the soldiers learned to handle guns, to drive tanks. He showed her the rope courses and finally the landing pads and runways. He walked her back to the apartment. "Nice, huh?"

"You guys kill people." She stated innocently.

"It's a war, in a war people die. Hopefully the good guys win, though." He said when they reached her door.

"It doesn't make it right." He looked at her.

"You're right, it doesn't but when it's for the right cause, it doesn't feel so bad." He says, stepping closer to her. She didn't step back.

"And what's the right cause, soldier?"

"Beating Hitler. And more importantly, his people." He whispered. She felt his cool breath on her skin, and it made the hairs on her arms stand on end. She twisted the doorknob and slipped inside.

"See you later, Bucky." She said, closing the door. He let out a laugh behind it and smiled.

12:15 am, midnight

Avenger's Tower

Bucky was watching the girl, remembering the first time she came to camp. The first time he saw her. He smiled at the thought. She stirred and then forced her body against the restraints, she breathed heavily. Her eyes flickering wildly.

"Bucky!" She yelled for him, desperately. "Bucky!" She sobbed, struggling in her bed, and trying to catch her breath. He came into the room in a rush. He touched her arm and she looked at him.

"Bu-Bucky." She breathed heavily. "You're okay." She paused. "How do I know you?"

"Audrey we fought together against HYDRA. Then I was brainwashed and frozen by them, and I'm guessing you were too." He looks her up and down. "They've been brainwashing you like they did to me."