*Bucky Barnes' POV*

Her eyes reminded me of home, but the only thing I can think about is the light fading from her bright blue eyes. Never did I think that I'd be programmed to kill her, the Red Ghost. Out of all the people in the world, the one I stood side by side with would be my mission. And quite frankly, I won't feel a thing the moment her heart stop beating. When she called me Winter, I was tempted to call her Red, but I couldn't distract myself, but the words, "I'm not the enemy, Winter," confuse me. Who is the enemy? She's more dangerous than she may seem, but she's better at hiding the assassin within her and I caught just a glimpse of it while fighting her. I could've killed her up on that bridge, but something was holding me back; like a shred of humanity was finding it's way back into my heart. But it was because of her damn bright blue eyes.

When the man said the name 'Bucky', it was like my mind was trying to tell me something, but before I had the opportunity to wrap my mind around it, the car explode and I took that as a time to escape the area. But the name still travelled its way into my brain, making me sense like something was or is missing. Once I see the two Agents, I'm off.

***

The train. The man on the train. A memory flashes through my mind as different phrases echo through my mind. Why did these events look so familiar to me? As I sit in the chair, the doctors fix my metal arm and memories start to become clear to me, but I can't get the name out of my head. Bucky. Bucky. Bucky. I don't have the knowledge to attach the name to, but it's calling out to me, eating at my brain, and I wish the feeling would just simply go away. After a few moments, I snap back to reality, and out of pure annoyance, I knock over the agent that is fixing my arm, sending him flying across the room. A gun is now pointed at my head due to my erratic behavior. My breathing is quick. Anger pulses through my veins when Alexander Pierce walks into the room, followed by the whispers saying that I'm 'unstable'.

"Mission report," Alexander says, but I stare blankly, not responding in my process. "Mission report, now," he repeats himself as he gets closer to me and suddenly, his hand strikes my face.

Turning my head back to face the man, the blank look remaining on my face. "The man on the bridge... Who was he?" the words roll off my tongue easily as the faint memory of the man calling out the name hours earlier flashes through my mind.

"You met him earlier this week on another assignment," he states, in a monotone voice.

Something clicks in my brain. "I knew him."

For a brief moment, nothing is said and Alexander looks at me like I've just said something that has offended him in a way.

"And the girl. I can't kill her."

I can see the man in front of me trying not to show his anger at my mentioning of the girl I saw with the man from a few hours ago. Her bright blue eyes are burned into my brain and I swear, I could've recognized her if only I knew her name.

"The Red Ghost betrayed us, and it's up to you to eliminate her because she's a threat to all of us," he begins to explain. "Your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped the century, and I need you to do it one more time. Society is at a tipping point between order and chaos. Tomorrow morning, we're going to give it a push. But if you don't do your part, I can't do mine, and Hydra can't give the world the freedom it deserves."

I'm distracted by the memories that swarm my brain and just knowing that I knew the people just brought the idea to life. Alexander wouldn't understand how conflicted I am when it comes to remembering the two individuals that are my mission.

"But I knew him," I say, quietly. "And I can't hurt her. I can't kill Red."

"Prep him," and that's when I know that everything is going to change, once again.

But I can't kill her.

*Avalon's POV*

Suddenly, I bolt upwards and my eyes go wide, feeling wary of my surroundings. I don't remember falling asleep, but I'm thankful for whoever moved me to this bed. Nightmares keep haunting me. It's like I'm reliving every mission as I am unable to forget every single human life I've taken. I know I'm a monster and I know that what I do is criminal, but I'm impulsive and it's natural for me to flip the switch to do what I need to do.

Pulling my legs to my chest, I wrap my arms around them, resting my head on my knees. It would've been easier if I wasn't so headstrong and curious. I should've stayed with Hydra and just followed orders. Lately, I've been overthinking and at times, I think about just turning myself in, seeing what the worst that could happen, but god, there's this person inside me that insists I stick with the good guys and to fight back against the people who have taken the most from me.

"Are you always this quiet?" a voice cuts through the silence.

I pick my head up, resting my chin on my knees to see the man with the eye patch, laying in the hospital bed in front of me. I learned that his name was Nick Fury and that he faked his own death because Shield had been compromised because of Hydra.

I shrug my shoulders. "I don't have much to say."

He looks at me, almost like he feels bad for me. I'm not weak.

"It seems people know more about me than I know about myself," my speak my thoughts. "I'm the Red Ghost. The blood on my hands is a constant reminder of all the people I've killed. But the thing is, is that I don't feel remorse for what I've done because I'd do it again and that's just something I have to live with."

"For being a highly trained assassin for the past sixty-five years, I can say that you're handling yourself pretty well. Avalon, you've began to grab ahold of your humanity and you escaped from Hydra's grasp on you. Now, this is your time to do what is right," Nick replies, obviously not frightened by what I just said. "If Cap trusts you, then there's no reason I shouldn't."

***

Nowadays, seeing my reflection in the mirror still doesn't feel normal. Dirt and dried blood covers my skin, and I take a rag, soaking in under the faucet, and attempt to clean my face. It's surprisingly easy and after I finish, my face doesn't look dull or fatigued, but the discoloration on the sides of my neck is prominent. The purple welts line my neck like a collar, threatening to become darker as the time goes by. My fingertips trace the bruised areas of my neck as my mind goes back to the moment Winter's metal hand wrapped around my neck. Vaguely, I can remember the hatred running through my body and the sensation of not being able to breathe.

My hands clench the sink as I gawk at my reflection, trying to steady and collect myself. Taking deep breaths, I calm myself and mentally, I'm preparing myself for the outcome of what is to be Project Insight. Though, it might've seemed like I was caught up in some sort of daydream, I remember them talking about stopping Project Insight before practically destroys the world. And they could use all the help they can get. My grip on the sink releases as I leave the bathroom, and head towards the sound of people talking. As my presence becomes known, glancing around the room, I notice the absence of Steve and Sam.

"Where's Steve?" I ask Nat.

"He's outside on the bridge with Sam," she answers, cocking her brow at me in confusion. "Why?"

Before I can utter out another response, I'm sprinting out of the room to find him. The echoes of my footsteps swarm around me as I run up a flight of stairs, and once I reach the top, I push the door open with a little too much force. In the distance, Sam and Steve are leaning against the railing, having a conversation. As the wind beings to pick up, my brown curls are thrown in front of my face while I walk over to them.

"...He's the kind you stop," Sam's voice goes with the wind, catching my attention as I close the distance between us three.

"I don't know if I could do that," Steve says, his words filled with distress.

Both pairs of eyes seem surprised to see me. A dull smile takes its place on my face as the two give me one in return. Only the roar of an airplane overhead makes a sound, but other than that, the conversation that was just playing out in front of me, has come to a halt.

"I'm going with you," I state, determined.

Steve's attention shifts and is fully on me. "Avalon, I don't have any doubts that you'll be able to handle it, but the thing is, I'm afraid that you'll be taken by Hydra," Steve replies.

"They're scared to death of me. Steve, I have to do this," I'm nearly begging him under these circumstances. "Don't you want to have your best friend back? I can't lose him to Hydra. Not again!"

Steve runs his hand through his blonde hair, sighing in defeat. "Then we stick together because we're a team."

a/n - you're welcome (: - kenzie