Target [Winter Solider/Bucky Barnes short story]

Prologue

The sound of steady breathing filled my ears, as did an annoying beeping noise. I blinked a couple times, trying to focus on something. Anything.

I'm in a hospital room, hooked up to a heartbeat monitor- aren't those called EKG's? There's someone in the corner. That someone is a man. He's wearing a hooded sweatshirt, the sleeves are pulled down over his hands.

He's awake, but blankly staring at the wall.

I let my attention wander, finding myself staring at my wrist- at the wristband on my wrist. Written on it in messy script is the name Alexandra Sterling.

Is that me? Am I Alexandra Sterling?

"Is she awake yet?" A voice asks. I look up at the doorway.

"I don't know." The man replies. I frown.

"Hello." I say quietly.

"Alex!" The man says, jumping up. "You're alive."

Yeah, no thanks to you

Where the thought came from, I've no idea- but it scared me.

~

"Who are you?"

"Your killer."

"Ki- you were sent to kill me? Why? I didn't do anything!"

"You're a threat. You must be taken out."

"You don't sound like you believe that."

"I- You don't know what-"

 

"To love her- it'd be selfish of me. I've caused her so much pain and loss that loving her is completely selfish of me."

"What if she loves you back?"

"How could she love me? I'm a monster."

"She loves you back."

"How do you know that?"

"I- she-she told me..."