Present Day

Bucky's POV

I'm in deep shit now. As much as I thought that there could be a chance of getting caught by officials, it was never my intention, which isn't even the worst part in this situation.

It's Y/n.

I made a promise to myself that I'd protect her, that I'd never leave her side, no matter the circumstances. She was my safe place, the only thing in my fucked up life that kept me going every day. If I hadn't gotten carried away with the officers, there's a chance she could be locked up here with me, where at least I'd know she was safe.

That day, I remembered it a few hours ago when I realized she was missing. The train back in the Austrian Alps, where we were ordered to take down Zola. I was pissed that Steve let Y/n join the war, but I eventually understood. God, she was so breathtaking, even in her uniform, and I was so damn proud of her. I knew right then, I was madly in love with Y/n Y/l/n.

I should've known that she'd try and save me. I was a goner as soon as that explosion was set off anyways, but she didn't think twice. Maybe if I had let go instead of holding on, I could've fallen alone, and she could've lived the wonderful life she deserved.

When the bar eventually snapped, I remember feeling the world around me blur, and everything shifting to slow motion. There she was, something of a beautiful tragedy. Her arms desperately reaching out, longing to embrace me, even as we plummeted to our supposed deaths. My heart shattered, the sight is engraved in my thoughts. The bright and loving Y/n. The one I'd go to when my date stood me up. The one who would care for me when I was sick, even if she got my cold the day after. The one who never failed to put a smile on my face and comfort me. I wanted nothing more than to hold her one last time, safely in my arms. Then there was poor Steve, crying both of our names from the train, the guilt already tearing him apart.

Eventually I could feel her warm, tender hands grab ahold my shoulders. She pulled me flush against her, whispering something in my ear. I must've blacked out after that, from shock or from hitting the ground.

Damn it. I screwed up, once again.

I looked beyond this glass case into the hollow, isolated room in the other side.

One, two cameras. One on each side. Bright lights pointing directly at me. Nothing new to have dozens of people watching you like a bug under a microscope.

Where the hell could she be? I prayed there was a chance these guys got their hands on her instead of someone like HYDRA, or...

No...

The Vienna attack. The person behind it, they want something from us.

Or they want us.

Something isn't right. There's someone out for us. Did they want us dead?

As much as I hated HYDRA, at least those assholes let me move. I was strapped down head to toe in this glass case, and from the looks of it, they weren't letting me out any time soon. I figure they were planning to have someone, "negotiate" with me, judging by the small table and chair a few feet away. But there's no point in running, maybe I do deserve this. For everything I've done.

"Hello Mr. Barnes. I've been sent by the United Nations to evaluate you." Someone spoke. He appeared from the dark hallway from the entrance, revealing to be a dark haired man with a suit and glasses. Fake glasses. I wasn't buying his facade.

"Do you mind if I sit?"

He cleared his throat at my silence and sat down anyway.

"Your first name is James?"

Who was this guy anyway. There's something off about him. His accent was European, but it didn't sound German.

"I'm not here to judge you. I just want to ask you a few questions."

"Do you know where you are, James?"

"I can't help you if you don't talk to me, James."

"My name is Bucky." I grumbled.

James. God I've always hated that name.

"Tell me Bucky, you've seen a great deal, haven't you?" He drummed his pen against his paper.

I lower my head slightly. "I don't wanna talk about it."

"You fear that if you open your mouth, the horrors might never stop."

I narrow my eyes, these questions were getting too personal, even if it was an official asking.

"Don't worry." He tapped something on the tablet next to him. "We only have to talk about one."

All of a sudden, the lights around us blacked out. He must've triggered a power outage.

"What the hell is this." I glance around.

He ignored my question. "Why don't we discuss your home?" He gestured behind him, only for someone to appear.

"Y/n..."

"Shhh." He pressed his finger to his lips. Wouldn't want her hearing that name. She's been so good these past few hours.

No no no. Y/n...

There she was, that darkness clouding her eyes once again. One that I hoped I'd never have to ever see again. No, it wasn't Y/n. It was the Winter Shadow. He put the whole spotlight into the nation capturing me, only for him to snatch her. He knew if they caught the two of us at the same time that they'd put us in separate rooms. If one of us were to go berserk, they would put tight security on the other, that is, if we were both caught by the officials. He wanted us here in the same room.

He had it all planned out.

Before I could say anything, he drew a gun from his side. "One wrong move Mr. Barnes... he pointed to her head. "And it's all over." Poison dripped from his voice.

She stood there monotonously, waiting for further orders. This was all my fault. I let her get captured. I'd failed her, once again.

This was his checkmate. There was nothing I could do for us at this point. Pleading and begging wouldn't help us in the slightest.

I locked my eyes with hers, searching for something that wasn't there. It was hopeless, pathetic.

"Now, as I was saying Mr. Barnes." His lips curved into a smile. "Your home. Not Romania. Certainly not Brooklyn, no." He pulled out that red book. That monstrous, vile thing with the star plastered on the front. "I mean your real home."

My words caught in my throat. I couldn't do this again. Hurt people, kill people. Apologies can't fix anything like that.

He stood up, handing Y/n the book with a flashlight. How could he, it was such a despicable thing to have her say those words, for me to have to watch her like this.

I fought back the urge to bust my way out of here, but I know he would have her take me down before I could even lay a finger on him. She was strong as hell, and I wouldn't have it in me to hurt her.

She circled my cell and began chanting the Russian words, not an ounce of mercy tainted in her words.

Longing

Rusted

I throw my head back as my head starts to throb. "No, stop. You don't have to do this."

Seventeen

"Y/n..." I grit my teeth. "Stop."

Daybreak

That did it. I was losing myself, again. I couldn't stop the pain, the agonizing effect of those words. 'Bucky' was being pulled down, while the Winter Soldier threw him the anchor.

Y/n, Steve, everyone...

I'm sorry.

Furnace

Nine

Benign

Homecoming

One

Freight car

Winter Shadow's POV

The man from before was gone. Something changed in his eyes, his demeanor. He had broken his way out of the cell so easily, like it was made of paper. I wonder if he could've done that a minute ago.

I think I know him, the Winter Solider. Yeah, I've been on a few missions with him in the past. I remember now. What had happened to him before? He looked so... fragile. The look he was giving me was, different. It didn't matter now did it. I had to await further orders.

The cell was shattered into pieces. He stood up, facing the superior.

"Soldat?"

"Ready to comply." He spoke lowly, in Russian. I made my way over to stand next to him.

"Mission report. December 16, 1991."

"Understood." We replied in unison.

Just then, a group of agents came flooding in from the hallway. The superior nudged his head their way, to which we obeyed.

His movements were angry, vicious. The agents were taken down one by one, with close to zero effort being exerted from either of us. This is what S.H.I.E.L.D sent to vanquish two super soldiers? Pitiful.

A series of footsteps could be heard from the stairwell. I crouched behind a wall after the last agent was taken out. The superior sprawled onto the floor, pretending to be injured.

Two men came jogging into the room, gazing at the taken out agents.

"Help." The superior let out a tiny whimper.

"Get up." The blonde one spat. He made his way to the him and grabbed him harshly by the collar of his shirt, slamming him against the concrete wall.

The blonde kept his voice low and collected, but the anger was evident in his tone. "Who are you? What do you want?"

A smile drew on the superior's lips. "To see an empire fall."

The other man began jogging their way, only to be stopped as the soldier threw his fist towards his head, barely missing when he ducked in time. He dodged his counter punch and threw him to the ground.

Before the blonde could reach my partner, I swung at his face before he dodged and tried to strike from behind.

I kicked him into the hall, backing him slowly towards the end with countless attacks. Why wasn't he attacking? He relied solely on his defense, with his agile reflexes.

I rammed him into the steel elevator doors, trying to land at least one hit on him. He caught my punch to his chest, restraining as much as he could. The doors eventually gave in to the force and opened a gap, causing him to fall into the shaft.

Now, onto the objective.