CHAPTER TEN:

REPEATED CONVERSATION

      THE METALLIC ROOM WAS BLEAK, the frigid air making Jaq shiver from the cold– and fear. The fear that settled in the pit of her stomach wasn't new, but she could taste the bile in her throat. 

Jaqueline knew that he wouldn't look at her, his eyes cemented to the floor– there was no expression on his pale, scruffy face. His eyes were dead, no sign of recognition or emotion.

The young assassin sat down beside the Winter Soldier, keeping her hand steady near the gun fastened to the black belt she wore. Jaqueline knew Bucky was unstable and would hurt her if there were any sudden movements.

It was known that the Winter Soldier wouldn't talk to the young woman.  She knew she had to talk first or they would sit in silence. 

This was their routine.

"Good morning, soldier." Jaqueline began softly, her hands anxiously twirling a necklace — the one Bucky had given to her before he left for war. "Personal update on your wellbeing, please."

"I am okay, сударыня. " the man told her gruffly, he still did not look up from the spot on the ground. His eyes were fixated on a black spot, as if it was more interesting than her. 

"Do you remember anything, солдат?" Jaq pursued the conversation, he had to know something. 

"I remember waking up, that's all, сударыня."

"Thank you for your time, soldier." Jaq whispered as she passed by him, the nickname made her heart beat a little faster.

Jaq gasped, her left hand grasping the gun in an instant as cool metal pressed to her warm skin. The stark difference of temperatures made her shudder. He looked up at Jaqueline in curiosity, his metal fingers lightly grasping her other tanned wrist.

"I mean no harm," he told Jaqueline and she relaxed, taking the hand off her gun. "What does your necklace mean? You hold on to it desperately."

"It was a gift from a man named Bucky. We loved each other until one day I lost him." Jaqueline smiled weakly at him, her heart aching because he would never know that she loved him. That she loved Bucky Barnes.

The Winter Soldier.

"I am sorry, сударыня." Bucky looked thoughtful, staring up at the woman who was staring at him, mouth slightly agape. Jaq wanted to scream out her frustrations but  knew that it would be to no avail. Alexander Pierce would wipe his memory again.

The Winter Soldier would start over.

Bucky Barnes wouldn't remember, ever.

And it was torture.

º   º   º

JAQUELINE CLOSED THE DOOR BEHIND HER, leaving Bucky to his own company. She always wanted to stay longer, but it hurt more to see the blank canvas Bucky had become. 

"New mission, soldier." A guard yelled out and Jaq froze, pulling herself out of her deep thoughts to turn to the guard. He walked up to her briskly, as if the task was urgent.  

"Mission report." Jaq commanded, holding her hand out for a manila folder containing the details of her next case. They always did manila folders for any missions. 

A thick file was placed in her small hands and she paused, wondering how she got here to this moment. She was complacent as a mercenary and assassin. Was this normal? Was this survivals guilt?

How did Jaq manage to spill so much blood with her own hands? She knew that she had always been put in this position, why hadn't she tried escaping before? 

Right, Bucky. 

She could escape and go to SHIELD for help, have them help her extract Bucky. But she didn't know who to trust. It had been so long since Jaq knew what warmth of a loved one felt like. Or a coworker smile.

Maybe with Steve alive she could go to SHIELD, get a deal for her and Bucky. They both were unwilling opponents in this fight with HYDRA.

Jaq peeled the papers apart and read, her brow furrowed in concentration as her eyes took in the words on the paper. 

She was supposed to do what?

º º º





JAQ BURST INTO THE OFFICE OF ALEXANDER PIERCE, one that he rarely occupied. She was spiraling from her inner thoughts and this new mission made it worse. 

"What? You've infiltrated SHIELD? And you want me to kill Steve Rogers?" Jaq inquired, wondering what the hell was going on. She did not bother to knock, she never did.

"You're teaming up with the Winter Soldier on this." Pierce told the young woman, his eyes briefly making contact with hers before returning to his paperwork.

"I am?" Jaq's brow furrowed in confusion. They had never worked together, always being alternated on assignments. Bucky was usually sent on larger missions because of his metal arm and strength. Jaq was used for stealth and extractions.

It was a critical moment for Alexander Pierce and the launch of the Insight Helicarriers. Everything had to go perfectly, and Captain America needed to be killed. Pierce knew that Steve Rogers would die trying to save people– that is why he was so dangerous.

"Yes, now go and do as you are told." Pierce instructed, there was a hint of anger in his voice. He did not like to be questioned. 

Jaqueline bowed out of the room quietly, roaming the hallways before finding Bucky in the training room. One of the only rooms he was allowed to go to besides his room and the Doctors Office. 

"Soldier," Jaqueline called out, distracting him from his boxing. The boxing bag slowed down and stopped but Jaq noticed how it was pulverized by how strong Bucky's metal arm was. She was afraid of the strength behind it and how the soldier he had become was cold and merciless. 

"Suit up, you'll be assisting me on a mission." 

º    º    º

сударыня - ma'am

солдат - soldier

SUCH A SHORT CHAPTER BUT IT HURTS MY HEART NONETHELESS ! I'm on vacation so when I'm home I'll update more :) go check out my other stories in the meantime !! X