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Sam and Bucky both knew it was a risk, after Madripoor, but it was the only choice they had. They had to infiltrate a Hydra base that was holding hostages, ones they planned to turn into super soldiers much like Bucky. The plan was to have Sam ‘sell off’ the Winter Soldier, and when they got inside they could take down the guards, get rid of the serum and save the hostages. Seemed pretty simple.
Bucky was insistent that he was okay, that it was pretending and he would be fine. Sam was still wary. Worried. And he couldnt not be, Bucky was his best friend. If Bucky slipped and became the Winter Soldier again he didnt know if he could bring Bucky back. Or what would happen if Bucky did become the Soldier again.
Bucky was clad in the uniform he had worn in Madripoor, a tan leather jacket with a black strap over his shoulders and back. His black and gold arm on display, clashing yet matching with the jacket. He wore grey tactical pants and black combat boots, his footsteps near silent from decades of practice. His face was stone cold, eyes distant as he played the part of the Winter Soldier that remained hidden in the depths of his mind.
Sam was dressed in formal attire, but clothing that allowed him to have free movement to fight and run. “You ready?” He whispered as they walked towards the entrance of the base. Two guards stood defensively.
“Im fine Sam. Focus on the mission.” He hissed, keeping his composure tall and strong, yet his lips sealed with obedience.
The two walked up to the guards. The guards saw the Winter Soldier, opening the doors without question. Zemo was right, H.Y.D.R.A was the Winter Soldiers home. But where he was wrong, it wasnt Buckys. Buckys home was Brooklyn. Delacroix, with Sam.
“Soldat, sledovat'.” The Captain commanded. His heart pounded with adrenaline, laced with regret for using the russian commands on his best friend. Regardless, the super soldier obeyed silently and followed in Sam’s trail as they walked to where they would meet the hydra agents and hostages.
The two arrived in a room where there were two agents, and 3 hostages. The hostages were tied to beds, drips already prepared to start giving them the serum. Buckys jaw clenched at the unpleasant memories of the building, taking in his surroundings in silence.
“I see youve come to sell us the Soldat?” One of the hydra agents smirked, looking Bucky up and down.
“Yes. Hand over the payment first, then you can have him. And the code words to control him.” Sam ordered, his voice stale and dark as he played the part. His heart skipped a beat at the mention of the trigger words, knowing how hard this had to be for Bucky to keep his sanity.
~~
The two hydra agents were taken out, passed out on the floor, bruised and bloodied. It was Buckys- The Winter Soldiers doing. Sam had gotten the hostages out of there and to the swat van hidden in the forest, but Bucky was gone. He didnt know when, but he had let the Soldier take charge as he plowed through hydra agents. Taking down dozens at a time as he made his way through the base.
Sam made his way back inside, the shield strapped to his arm this time as he went to search for Bucky.
“Bucky?” He called, hearing silence and then the occasional scream and thud. His heart raced as he ran towards the noises, turning a corner to see The Winter Soldier choke out a hydra goon. His breath hitched seeing the circle of people collapsed to the floor around him, a blank expression on his face. His eyes dark and clouded over as he turned to Sam. The Soldiers mind believed that Sam was his handler, having been how they arrived at the base.
“ya gotov otvetit'.” His voice was raspy and dark, monotone and emotionless. It made Sams heart ache. Hearing Bucky be so far gone in the winter soldier, speaking only in russian with the words he was given to say.
“Lets get outta here man… Mission complete.” He said softly. Bucky stepped over the bodies till he was next to Sam, looking into his eyes. Sam searched for Bucky, anywhere in the Soldiers eyes, and he couldnt find him. This was all the Winter Soldier. Ready to comply.
The Winter Soldier led Sam out of the place, punching one or two more goons that had gotten up, successfully making them pass out once again and hit the deck. He stopped once they got outside, letting Sam lead him to where they were going.
Sam made the hard decision to put Bucky in the truck next to him, figuring that it would be just fine because sadly, the Soldier was under his command. They could figure this out when they got home, for now there was still the threat of hydra agents getting to the truck as they left. Sam had informed the SWAT team of the rest of the hydra personnel and got another truck to lock them all up and transport them to a high security prison, the team doing just that, loyally listening to good ‘ol Captain America.
~
They made it to the safe house they were staying at for the mission, Sam sighing when they got inside. He had no idea what to do, how to get Bucky back.
“Uh..Soldat, sit.” He forced out. Calling his best friend ‘Soldat’ hurt, ordering him around hurt just as much. The asset complied, sitting down on the brown corduroy couch.
“Bucky, you gotta come back to me. Okay? Your name is James “Bucky” Barnes, you arent the Winter Soldier.” He tried, a hint of desperacy in his voice.
The Soldier just looked at him, a blank expression on his face with confusion lacing his eyes. His eyebrows furrowed as Sam, his handler, spoke nonsense to him.
Sam took in a deep breath as he sat infront of Bucky. “Your name is James Bucky Barnes. Youre that annoying old dude with the staring problem, never answers my damn texts.” He chuckled. “Moved in with me in Delacroix, my partner in crime.
Bucky
.” He rambled, hoping his words might spark memories and bring Bucky forward.
The Soldier seemed confused, troubled even, by what his mind was doing. Like the gears were turning, processing information as he listened to Sam.
“Remember the cook-out? AJ and Cass loved playing with you, they even called you uncle Bucky. I think youre their favorite uncle now, not me.” He continued, searching Buckys face. He seemed disoriented, and Sam took that as him coming back into control, the Winter Soldier fading to the back of his mind once again. He kneeled on the ground in front of him, one hand on the ex-assassins knee.
“Buck, hey, c’mon. Youre okay.” He prompted, moving his thumb back and forth over his knee.
Bucky hadnt spoken yet, looking at his hands in his lap, closing his eyes for a few seconds at a time as he tried to gain control and ground himself.
“Sam..?” He whispered.
“Yeah, i'm here Buck. Youre okay, you're here. Were in the safe house, we did the mission and got the hostages out.” He reassured.
“I… I was...
him…”
He shuddered, hands shaing the more he thought about it. “Theyre gonna put me in jail arent they? M-my pardon, this wasnt supposed to happen. I shouldnt have let this happen Sam, im so sorry…” He rambled. Tears pooled in his eyes at the overwhelming feelings of fear and guilt and shame that rushed through his body in harsh waves.
“Breathe Buck, youre not goin back to jail. They dont have to know about this, and they wont know about this. I told the SWAT team to shut it, and that you were fine. The uh… Winter Soldier… Thought i was his handler. I didnt let you do anything too bad.” He explained.
“Whatd i do…” He frowned, clasping his shaking hands together, rubbing his rough calloused palms together as he focused on Sams warm touch on his knees.
“Beat up a bunch of Hydra agents, thats it.” He chuckled a bit at that. “Like i said, nothing too bad.” He nodded.
Bucky scoffed out a small chuckle, shaking his head. “Im so sorry Sam…” He whispered. “If something else happened- I dont know if i could ever forgive myself for that… I dont even know what happened, its like i just saw red and then blacked out when he took control… But i still did that stuff… Just like i did everything in the past…” He sighed, running a hand down his face, wiping away the tears from his eyes.
“It wasnt you Bucky. You are not the Winter Soldier, you cant be held accountable for the actions that the Soldier had no control over.” He corrected, his heart aching for his best friend. How else do you comfort someone who had been through a world and a half of pain?
“Why dont you get some sleep man. Il stay up and keep watch, maybe get some food cookin'. Yeah?” He suggested, receiving a nod and a weak smile.
“Thank you Sam…” He whispered. Sam smiled back and stood up, patting his shoulder. “Sleep well, old man.”
“Asshole.”
~~
“Soldat, sledovat'.” = "Soldier, follow."
“ya gotov otvetit'.” = "Ready to comply."