The Winter Wraith (Bucky Barnes x Reader)

Chapter 10 - Foreign Beauty

The wind whips your hair around your face as you climb the stairs to enter the private jet. You can practically feel the electricity racing through it's veins. You curl your hand into a fist, envisioning the electricity running faster.

The jet responds to your power with a rumbling purr, and you see a flash of light as all the electronics in the cockpit flare to life. Followed by muffled cursing from the pilot.

As you reach the top of the stairs, you notice a lone flight attendant standing just inside the doorway. You sift through her thoughts as you get closer to her, wondering if she's here voluntarily.

You expect to find fear and anger polluting her mind.

Not disgust.

You almost trip on the final step as her emotions slam into you in a tidal wave.

Great, another freak I get to share a plane with, she sneers to herself, another monster.

All the while she smiles at your approach, a perfect mask of warmth adorning her face.

You consider letting it slide. Clearly, she doesn't know who you are or what you're capable of.

But if she thinks you're a monster, then a monster you will be.

As you step past her and into the plane, your curl your lip, baring your teeth as you let out a low snarl. Her honey brown eyes widen as they meet yours, and you let the f/c mist of your power overtake your eyes so she knows just how inhuman you are.

You know the exact moment the flood of fear crashes into her heart, and it makes you smile.

Brushing past her, you enter the cabin of the plane.

You let out a low whistle at the interior, whoever designed this jet spared no costs.

The interior is a masterpiece of elegant creams and golds with plush Lawson chairs angled towards a flat screen TV. You've never seen such luxury, Hydra was more about practicality than comfort.

Apparently you're not the only one feeling like a bulldog in a poodle's kennel.

The Winter Soldier sits on one of the ivory lounges, looking as uncomfortable and uptight as a nun in a nightclub.

You hesitate before taking a seat opposite him, hoping this flight won't be as awkward as your last trip together.

He gives you a brief nod as you sit down and you let out small breath of relief at the fact that he's not going to ignore you the whole trip.

The mission papers are scattered over the mahogany table, and you pick one up. You don't often receive mission information until the day before, something to do with minimising possible compromisations.

The papers should include everything from the objective of the mission to what you'll be wearing.

"The target is Lorenzo Ricci," the Winter Soldier announces, "He's rich, but only because he inherited his uncle's company."

You look up from the paper you were studying. "So, who's paying for this jet?"

You know for a fact that Hydra would have been happy sending you in the back of a cargo plane, meaning they mustn't be the only players in the game.

And, like two pawns on a chessboard, you and the super soldier across from you are the first pieces to be sacrificed.

The Winter Soldier hands you the paper he was reading, answering your question, "Another wealthy businessman who wants the target dead."

"We're taking jobs now? I thought Hydra had their own agenda." You scan the paper, but the mystery man's name isn't listed.

"They do. This man, Ricci, was already on Hydra's blacklist. Now that someone else wants him dead, Hydra can make some money off it." he explains, looking back down at his paper.