The Buchanan Conspiracy (A Bucky Barnes Story) #Wattys2015

Chapter Seventeen

#SPOILERS!!!!!!!#

~SAME DAY...JUST 10 MINUTES LATER~

* Valerian stands by Bucky's bed as they clean the smudged black (eyeliner? I mean, what the heck is it?) from his eyes. The tears have now subsided, instead exhaustion has taken over. Our writer continues their work as the soldier slowly sinks further and further into a sleepy state. *

~BUCKY'S MIND (SPOOKY)~

' [Steve finds Bucky strapped to a table in one of Schmidt's testing labs and quickly releases him from it]

Steve Rogers: It's me. It's Steve.

James 'Bucky' Barnes: [groggily] Steve?

Steve Rogers: Come on.

James 'Bucky' Barnes: Steve.

Steve Rogers: I thought you were dead.

James 'Bucky' Barnes: [aware of Steve's new size] I thought you were smaller.'

~ANOTHER MEMORY~

'James 'Bucky' Barnes: [looking down a long and steep zip line they'll soon be traveling] Remember when I made you ride the Cyclone on Coney Island?

Steve Rogers: Yeah, and I threw up?

James 'Bucky' Barnes: This isn't payback, is it?

Steve Rogers: [grinning] Now why would I do that?'

~I QUOTE THOR WHEN I WRITE THIS 'ANOTHER!'~

'Alexander Pierce: [to the Winter Soldier] Your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped the century. And I need you to do it one more time...'

~PRESENT DAY~

* Bucky's eyes suddenly jolt open as a scream catches in his throat, causing him to gag and dry-retch. He ends up having a coughing fit, fresh tears in his eyes. *

Bucky: How could I...How could I of hurt him?!

Valerian: Buchanan?

Bucky: He was my best friend and I-

Valerian: It wasn't your fault.

Bucky: I should have been stronger!

Valeriann: * Winces * You didn't kill him, at least he's on the mend. * Wipes tears away from the soldier's eyes * He's still with us.

Bucky: I'm a terrible being...I can't even call myself HUMAN. * Looks at metal arm * I'm part cutlery.

Valerian: * Goes to speak *

* SUDDENLY THE DOORS OPEN AND STANDING THERE IS CAPTAIN STEVE ROGERS (FIST PUMP). He stands there, panting from his exertions, eyes stern and flicking from Bucky to Valerian. *

Valerian: STEVE!

Radio (Black Widow's v/o): All units, this is Romanoff. Rogers is not himself, I repeat he does not remember who he is. Code Pink, Code Pink!

A/N: From 'Tony's Answers #1', it basically means that he is VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. That is all.

Valerian: S@#$! * Stands between Steve and Bucky (who is still chained to the bed) unsure really what to do. * Steve? Cap? Dude, it's me, Valerian. Remember me? * They cautiously take baby steps towards the seething Captain, aware that he could freak out at any moment. * Steve?

* The Super Soldiers eyes lock on Bucky, his expression becomes unrecognisably cold. *

Steve: YOU!

* He goes to lungde at the bed but Valerian holds their arms out wide, blocking him. *

Valerian: Don't you dare come another step forward!

Steve: He's the enemy!

Valerian: He's your friend.

Steve: He works for THEM!

Valerian: He was brainwashed.

Steve: He tried to kill me! * He takes another step forward. *

Valerian: Steve, I need you to step away.

Steve: Why do you all keep calling me that?! *He snarls. *

* That's when he leaps towards them, Valerian keeps him in the gut and sends a right hook to his well-chisled chin. Quickly, they spin to untie Bucky from his restriants. *

Bucky: Hurry up, he's recovering.

Valerian: I'm trying, I'm trying! That's it, that's the last one!

* Bucky springs off the bed, immediately focused on Steve. Valerian takes cover beside one of the cupboards. The two soldiers begin to circle eachother, predator stalking predator. Both looking equally as terrifying. *

Steve: 'Are you ready for the world to see you as you really are? Look out the window, you know how the game works: disorder, war, all it takes is one step.'

Bucky: 'People are going to die. I can't let that happen.'

Steve: Who am I to take orders from you?

Bucky: 'We are both men out of time.'

Steve: 'You're my mission.'

Bucky: 'You're my friend.'

Steve: Traitor, 'in Order to build a better world, sometimes means tearing the old one down... And that makes enemies.'

Bucky:...Steve?

* Steve was the first to attack. It was all such a fast blur, a flurry of fists and kicks, there was no way of telling who was doing what. Then there was the flash of silver, the clang of metal hitting metal. A cry in pain. The sound of a thud. Bucky was the one on the ground, clutching at his bleeding chest. Steve was about to deliver another attack...

...then he slumped to the ground. Valerian stood behind him, clutching as a frying pan. Seeing the Super Soldier unconicous, they threw it aside and rushed over the Bucky, who was now trembling in pain. *

Valerian: Buchanan? Stay with me now. You're gonna be ok, we'll patch this up in no time. You hear me? No time. Just stay with me.

Bucky: 'I'm with you til the end of the line...'

Valerian: * Laughs sadly * Too right you are.

TO BE CONTINUED...