Melioration ~ James Buchanan Barnes

OO9 ~ Hideaway

'We should go back there, kill them and take the Scepter from them. Once you hold it in your hands, you have the power you've always wanted.' James suddenly says. It has been a few hours since you got away from the Avengers and you're now seeking shelter in an abandoned warehouse. 

'We can't, James. They're with too many. We can't defeat them.' You almost sound like a lost little girl that can't find her way home. 'I didn't think you would give up that easily.' Do you see a smirk? Yes, you see a smirk. 'Don't get started on giving up.' You sigh and let your head rest on his metal shoulder. It's time for you to smirk as you feel his whole body tensing. 'At ease, soldier.' And after those words, he relaxes.

'I can't believe you slipped up, James. I would have thought you had my back.' You understand that his mind was confused when seeing Steve but you programmed him to obey to you. 'He called me Bucky.. It was so familiar and yet I can't place it where. I know that guy but how?' You let out a sigh and are in conflict with yourself if you should tell him. 

But your heart really starts to speak up once he comes with the simple solution. 'It was a trick.. They're just messing with my head.' You want this to be his final conclusion but you can't do this anymore. 

'No, dumbass. You know that man, you just don't remember.' He looks at you with a shocked expression and stands up. You almost fall to the floor as you didn't see that coming but you catch yourself with your wrists. 'Uhm, the fuck?' You ask, almost angry. 

'I know him?' A loud sigh rolls over your lips as you steady yourself and lean your head against the wall. 'Yes.' You already regret listening to your heart. You should have let him dwell on it and not interfere with it unless it has to do with erasing memories. 

'How? How do I know him and how does he know me? Am I Bucky? He acted like he knew everything about me!' He grasps his head and let out groans of pain. His brain is trying to connect the pieces but thanks to your activation words, he has trouble doing so. 

'That's because he does know everything about you!' You don't care anymore. Might as well tell him everything and if he turns against you, you just start chanting the words again. 'You are Bucky, Steve's best friend! I wanted you to kill him so you wouldn't have anything left from your past but the oppurtinity has flown now. You tried to help Steve take down Hydra back in the 40's but it failed, almost killing you. If it wasn't for Hydra, you'd be dead for nearly 70 years now.' He looks at you in shock. 

'You should be thanking us.' But then he snaps and points his gun at you, his finger on the trigger. 'Thanking you? Are you for real? You have brainwashed me for 70 years to a point where I am re-programmed when someone calls out a few meaningless words! Besides that, you people put me on ice if you don't need me anymore and only wake me up for a mission where I have to kill people. Sometimes innocent people. I remember every kill and let me tell you something, {y/n}. I hated each and every one of them and I won't ever kill for you again!' 

You raise your eyebrow and you cross your arms in front of your chest. 'Let me guess. You're in doubt whether you should kill me or not. Let me answer that question for you. If you, hypothetically speaking, kill me then it will take less than an hour for Hydra agents to track you down and to put a bullet in that pretty brain of yours. It will be a waste but when our assets turn against us they will pay the price with death.' A smug grin is on your lips while your finger is hovering over a button on your belt.

'You see.' You show him your belt and how a tiny red button is waiting to be pressed. 'I can click this faster than you can shoot me so what is it going to be, Sergeant? Are you going to kill me. Therefore, making your own death bed or are you going to put the gun down and assist me in stealing that Scepter? I promise I won't activate you again if you now promise to help me. However, if you fail and fall for the Avengers' schemes of turning you against me, I will activate you again.' 

It's obvious that he is in doubt. Struggling to put the gun down and release you out of his grip but he does so anyway because it's better than death. He hasn't been living so long only to be killed now. 

'Wise choice.' You say, standing up and dusting your clothes off. 'Now, let's rest and take that Scepter tomorrow. I have a feeling that they are going to move it to a safer facility so it's up to us to take it from them on their way over there.' You explain and curiously look at the soldier who is still confused about everything that is happening. 

'Did I make myself clear, James?' You ask and he nods, saluting you slowly. Satisfied with that answer you take your coat off and lay it down on the ground and gently lie down on it. It's evening and you should get to strength if you want to obtain the powerful object tomorrow. Today is not a failure, it's a lesson. 

'Go to sleep, James. Tomorrow will be early and I need you at your best. Remember, if you try to run, I will make sure you are hunted down and assassinated.' He nods and lies down on the stone floor a little further away from you. He doesn't have anything to keep himself warm but right now you don't care. He shouldn't have turned on you earlier today.