Constant Vigilance (The Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes)

Chapter 1

Pain (noun)

A highly unpleasant physical sensation caused by injury. Also can be disguised in the form of mental suffering or distress.

Pain. It was all James Buchanan Barnes felt, every minute of everyday. Every movement, every breath, every memory, caused an overwhelming rush of pain.

He silently limped through the woods, a faint noise echoing throughout the area as his leather boot connected with the moist dirt beneath. Attempting at ignoring the aching sensation running throughout his body, The Winter Soldier continued his trek, unsure of where he would end up. The sweat fell from his forehead in droplets as he dragged his limbs along the damp terrain, the wind flowing through his fingers, blowing his dark, straw-like hair into his eyes. As he continued to stumble through the darkness, the smell of sweat, dirt and blood coursed through his nostrils, making him shiver in disgust. He could feel the stabbing pain slowly building up inside of his skull; he doubled over in pain as the events from three months ago flooded his mind.

"You're my friend"

"No!" Bucky yelled. "You're my mission."

He struggled to get up from his kneeling position on the ground, the aching overpowering him. He shoved his head into his hands, trying to block out the memories forcing themselves into his subconscious. Three months later and The Winter Soldier continues to relive his moments on the helicarrier with Captain America. They fill his nightmares and haunt his waking hours, every memory causing an overwhelming amount of pain directed at his skull. Bucky Barnes constantly relives his moment of realisation, what he had done, and how he will never be forgiven. He is an assassin, and assassins don't deserve forgiveness. What HYDRA did, can never be undone; Bucky Barnes just needed to face that fact.

-The Winter Soldier's POV-

I stood up from my position on the dirt, attempting at regaining my composure. I tried to control my breathing, taking deep breaths to calm my mind and stop the enormous rush of memories. I brushed my dark hair out of my eyes, also wiping the sweat with my trembling fingers. Hastily wiping the dirt and sweat from my knees, I continued trudging through the dark, forest atmosphere.

In the distance, there was the slight rumbling of a vehicle, matched with the sounds of people speaking. Every step I took, the sounds gradually increased, showing signs of human life ahead. I walked heavily towards the sounds, trying to ignore the shooting pain coming from my left arm. Every two days in the HYDRA base, one of the scientists would tend to my arm. Fixing its electronics, as well the connections between the metal and my human nerves. Now HYDRA has been left behind and my only limitation is my metallised arm.

The trees began to thin out as I neared the source of the sound. Leaning in closer towards a tree, bending behind a bush, I peered through the thin leaves and branches trying to make sense of what I saw.

A Street filled with people. Many people. Unaffected by the events that occurred three months ago, They should be more careful I thought, they should be scared, now that SHIELD no longer exists, why aren't they afraid? I knitted my eyebrows together in confusion as the facts dawned on me. They think it's resolved. They believe that once SHIELD fell, it dragged HYDRA with it. Only they're wrong. SHIELD was one head, attached to the body of serpent-like monster, Lernaean Hydra. Now, with SHIELD out of the way, the monster will multiply and spread its poisonous breath over the earth.

Cut off one head, two more will take its place

I turned my back to the oblivious people, feeling pity towards them and what they will soon have to face once HYDRA regains power, without my help. I need to find sustenance, and a place to keep in the shadows, and I had no idea where I was supposed to go.

A/N:

Heyyy!! Sorry for a really short chapter. I'm sorta getting used to this whole 'publishing my work' type of thing :/ The word count is: 662 and I promise much longer and better chapters as I get used to this thing!!! :) Comment, Vote! Tell me what you think :D