Checkmate (BuckyBarnes x OC)

Origin Story

"Who was that?" I heard Yulia walk down the stairs, holding Aida's hand in her left, with a concerned expression on her face.

"Someone I knew. She worked for Garry, apparently he let her go. She followed me and Bucky and asked for roof over her head, but I declined her." I explained quickly. "I simply can't bring myself to trust her again."

"Again?" Mother questioned.

"I didn't know she worked for Garry when I knew her," I expressed.

"It is a good thing you didn't let her inside. But I'm concerned, daughter."

"What's there to worry about? She left."

"It seems so, doesn't it?"

Mom turned to Aida and asked her, "Darling, would you be a peach and go upstairs to wake mister Barnes?" The girl nodded and excitingly ran upstairs to our room, from where I heard Bucky's groans moments later. I gave mother a confused gaze, to which she just said, "I owe you two an explanation."

-

We were sitting in the living room, no one other than my mother, Bucky and me were occupating the room. Yulia asked Polina not to let Vadim or Aida in, since she didn't want unecessary worry from them. She still ordered them to stay inside, as she was concerned my friend wasn't exactly giving up on us yet. I understood her worry - I was suspicious as well.

Bucky and I were sitting next to each other on the sofa, while my mother sat in the armchair opposite to us almost like a grandmother would when telling a bedtime story to her grandkids. I've waited to hear this story ever since I could remember my own name. I've been through a lot only to hear these words come from the mouth of at least one of my parents, since the other one turned to be the cause of all my problems. Bucky's hands were cupping my right one, his thumb gently caressing my knuckles so I would stay calm. He appreciated that Yulia included him in this chat.

And then she started talking.

"I can't say this story won't be surprising to you. I confess - I used to work for Hydra once. And I worked with you, mister Barnes."

Bucky's face went white. We knew this story would clear everything up, but we didn't expect to be as surprised as we were. Both of our jaws were hung open as we waited for Yulia to continue.

"I was a trained psychiatrist and Hydra reached over to me to invite me to work with them on a project of mental stabilitiy. Their description said they needed their subject to be able to 'preform', whatever that meant. They introduced me to you, said I had to keep you sane enough to not kill any more people than necessary, when they put you in these simulations. I was young and gullible, I didn't know what I was getting into. I was just about to finish my major and succeeding in this project would look good for my end credits, so I took the deal. As soon as I accepted their offer I was pulled into a web of schemes and lies, in which I believed at the start.

"I studied the mind of the Winter Soldier, I was probably the only one who was allowed to speak to you for more than assigning a mission. I knew all about you - your name, origin, your family's names, friendships, missions... And it fascinated me."

She took a deep breath, only to relieve herself from the fact that she enjoyed being part of evil itself. I didn't blame her. My eyes were teary and judging by the glow of his eyes, Bucky was deep with emotion as well.

"I took joy in you being my number one subject of mental studies. I at first thought Hydra was only using you as a lab rat, a study subject. I hadn't had a clue about what they really made you do, I thought these 'missions' were just hallucinations or simulations to make you believe it was real, so I could study you, because that was what they were feeding me with.  You were a hard knot to untangle and I didn't understand why they had to make it harder for me and use the electroshock device to release you from your troubles. Nevertheless, I liked the project so much I didn't sink too deep into detail and only continued my research. And then I met Garry."