Captain America Bucky Barnes Winter Soldier Steve Rogers Fan Fic - The Constant

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Why Do We Do This To Him?

The Constant & The Winter Soldier - Why Do We Do This To Him?

1 Month Ago

The Winter Soldier is stood in the Main Room and they are putting his battle gear on. They do not even allow him to prepare with you in his quarters; once they have brought him around they begin to dress him ready for his mission. There are so many people pulling him this way and that as they manhandle him; they have put on the lower part of his mask so that only his eyes are showing. They are downcast, dull, lacklustre, as if he is a puppet. It hurts you to see him like this. One of the technicians tuts and pulls him around so he can fasten the buckles on the front of the Winter Soldier's jacket whilst other hands help and you want to shout at them to let go of him, to leave him alone.

But this is what he is here for.

He is a weapon. An asset. No more than that.

They add in some of his artillery. The other weapons will be given to him by his team when they leave.

"Are you all right?"

Doctor Jakobs has noticed your quietness, and speaks as he hands you the Winter Soldier's boots.

You look at him and he sees the unshed tears in your eyes. "Why do we do this to him?" The anguish in your words is real and he doesn't have an answer for you.

The Winter Soldier has not said a word and you know he won't.

He no longer talks.

The technicians push him backwards so that he sits down and you kneel and put his boots on; one of the technicians makes as if to help but Jakobs stops him with a hand on his shoulder and a shake of his head.

You fasten the buckles up, and he is ready. You just need to place his goggles on to hide his eyes.

You stand and someone hands them to you.

You lean forward and tilt his chin up slightly and for the first time his eyes lift up and look at you directly.

"Be careful out there," you whisper and then cover them. You don't move for a second. Then the door bangs open.

"Is he ready?" a voice yells. One of his team.

You nod and move away and he stands up.

He is ready.

*

42 Months Ago

Before you are put into cryo, Director Lehmann asks for you see him. He is polite and you are wary. He is in such a good mood that you find yourself fascinated by how jovial he is being. He tells you that when they next wake you and the Winter Soldier, you will both be in the new facility. He even shows you a plan of how it is mapped out. He has new quarters for you and you will be able to go to the surface far more often.

This, he says is the dawn of a new life.

You do not believe him: it is an extension of the same life, that is all. But you do not say this.

You nod, ask a few questions that you pretend you feel are relevant, and then you are dismissed and return to your quarters. When you get there you find packing cases. Marinov has been instructed to tell you to pack what you want to take to the new complex. It doesn't take long and then you lock the door and head down to the cryo suite. The Winter Soldier was placed into cryo the day before and you now look in at his calm sleeping form.

With Stefan's help you strip down to your underwear and climb into your own pod. You hate this moment. It takes all your courage not to crawl out screaming at the claustrophobia you feel. Stefan checks you are ready and you nod as he seals you in. The hissing noise begins. Your skin starts to crackle and you know no more.