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deadtired-highkeyenergetic · 2 months ago

Text

Reflection

Just a random short story of the Hunter and Bucky's first encounter with each other. Also I just finished reading Winter Soldier Cold Front, loved the book.

Summary: You meet the Winter Soldier for the first time and find something unexpected

"Welcome, general." The scientist before you bows. "Right this way."

You follow him through the corridor, nose twitching at the strong sterile scent of the chemicals in the air. The laboratory smell reminds you too much of the place where you had spent most of your childhood, and you would rather bury those memories. Still, you pretend like it doesn't affect you and continue walking, taking note of your surroundings and committing them to memory.

A door with a large yellow sign is pushed open and you take a moment to read what it says.

Authorized access only. Trespassers will be shot on sight.

Your gaze flicks upwards at where a security camera is hidden, then to the right where a false wall is. There's a small hole in it, easily missed but you've been trained to spot these details, aided by your enhanced eyesight. A sniper probably lies in wait there, maybe it's Rostova, the woman's sniping skills are legendary and she has yet to truly miss a target.

The scientists stops in his tracks, realising you're not following him and turns around. "General? Is —"

"Apologies. Was lost in thought." You brush past him, stepping into the room where a sudden chill descends upon you. Tubes fill the area, connecting by wires upon wires, machines hum from every corner and your breath catches in your chest. You remember emerging from a tube just like the one in front of you, skin crawling as masked men help you to your feet, keeping you steady. You remember the world spinning, your head a throbbing mess and everything felt too sharp. The lights were too bright, the sterile scent burning your nose, the machines screaming in your ears. Even the softest of whispers came across as a shout and you broke the nose of the closest person.

"Please step back, general. This is a delicate procedure." The scientist's voice cuts through the haze of memories and you blink.

"Right." You do as he says, exhaling deeply. That was the past, you're the heir of Hydra now, far stronger than who you were before. You won't be bogged down by painful memories of the past, you'll keep moving forward and lead Hydra into a glorious future.

The tube opens with a hiss and a figure slumps forward. You automatically lunge to catch them before they hit the floor, and feel something icy press against your bare fingers. Metal, you realise. Light glints off the silver surface, reflecting the harsh little orb into your eyes. You squeeze your eyes shut, growling in annoyance and instinctively push the metal away.

The figure groggily grunts, then it hits you. The metal is a part of the figure in your arms. When the mist clears, you see that the metal is in the shape of an arm. A bionic arm.

The Winter Soldier.

You stare at the piercing blue gaze that lifts to meet your eyes and take in Hydra's greatest Asset. He studies you back with confusion in his eyes that disappear into emptiness the moment the scientist starts speaking.

"My apologies, general. I —"

You glare at the scientist who promptly shuts up and turn back to the man in your arms.

"Karpov did say he wanted to introduce his greatest work to me one day."

"Indeed, I did, but not like this. My most sincere apologies, Hunter." Karpov enters the room. "Stand upright, soldat."

The Winter Soldier complies, gaze flicking over all three of you before returning to the floor, awaiting his next order.

"Soldat, this is the Hunter. They will be your new Handler." Karpov strides forward, clipboard in hand. You leave him and the scientist to their checkups, observing from afar. The Soldier only moves when directed but his movements are precise and calculated, albeit a little sluggish. It's probably because of whatever he just came out of, you faintly remember Karpov calling it cryostasis.

"Hunter, the Asset needs time to get used to you. I suggest you spend time with it before bringing it out to the field." Karpov inclines his head in your direction.

"And how exactly should I spend time with the Asset?" You raise an eyebrow.

"Train with it, sleep with it if you're comfortable enough." Karpov scribbles something on his clipboard. "In fact, I suggest you train with it now. The Asset needs time to warm up."

"Has he been fully cleared for active duty?" You walk towards your new partner who stiffens when your fingers brush against his arm.

"Almost. All that's left is —"

The stink of bile hits your nose as the Winter Soldier doubles over, vomiting onto the floor.

"— that." You swear Karpov smiled slightly at the sight of vomit on your clothes, his warning purposefully given too late.

There's a flash of fear in the Winter Soldier's eyes when you lock gazes with him but all you can really do is sigh. Karpov and the scientist excuse themselves from the room, giving you space to quietly swear at them. Then you move onto cleaning the mess up.

The Winter Soldier quietly follows your instructions, flinching whenever you go anywhere near him until you demand to know why he keeps doing that.

"Punishment," he whispers, voice cracking.

"I'm not going to punish you over something you can't control. Besides, Karpov didn't warn me about it, if anyone should be punished it should be him." You wipe the corner of his mouth with a damp cloth. "Let me know if you still need to throw up. Round two should be coming up soon, I know."

He blinks, surprised before gesturing at the sink on the other side of the room. You nod, following him there and hold back his hair as round two comes up. A hand automatically begins to rub his back, coaxing out everything that needs to come up and the Winter Soldier is left panting over the sink, throat raw.

"I'll get you some water then we can go to the training room to warm up. I want to see what you can do for myself." You pat him on the shoulder, checking him over to make sure he really will be alright if you leave before exiting the room.

"Don't go blowing him up like you did me." Rostova stands in the hallway, leaning against a wall.

"Don't recall blowing you up." You snort.

"That's because you barely got me out of the building you rigged to blow up before it blew up. Also I distinctly recall you not telling me about the fact that you were going to blow the building up." Rostova pokes you in the chest.

"Did I now?" You smirk, gently pushing her hand away. "I've got to get water, want some?"

"Ew, so boring. Get vodka or something." She makes a face, causing you to laugh.

"Vodka doesn't mix well with cryostasis." You flick her in the forehead. "He's awake and waiting for me, if you want a quick visit."

"How kind of you." She rolls her eyes but heads towards the room you came from. You shake your head and make your way to the cafeteria to get water, giving them as much alone time as you can. Rostova has been his handler for quite a while now, she would make the transition easier.

You still can't shake the image of fear in the Soldier's eyes, the flinching when your fingers brushed against his skin and your chest tightens whenever you think about it. You clench your fist, struggling to get rid of the foreign emotion. You've killed your pet dog with your own hands, you've killed women and children alike, old and young, you've committed countless of what the rest of the world calls atrocities. Yet, you've never felt like this before.

Maybe it's because you see yourself in him. You remember what it's like to stumble out of cryostasis, struggling to make sense of your surroundings, bile demanding to be let out via the mouth. Sure, it's been quite a while since you've been in cryostasis but the experience can never be forgotten. You swallow hard, shaking your head to get rid of the terrible memories and begin to make your way back to the room where the Winter Soldier waits for his glass of water.

You remember the way your throat clogs once the chill fades, thick with chemicals and the one time you decided drinking alcohol was the way to solve it, you'd thrown up like never before. The alcohol had burned through your veins, muddying your vision, causing the world to spin, but Rostova might want some vodka so you pick up a bottle along the way.

Upon returning, you hand the bottle to a delighted Rostova who promptly leaves the room. You pass the glass of water to the Winter Soldier, warning him to drink slowly lest he choke and drink your own glass of water. You watch the way he flexes his arms, rotates his shoulders to stretch the muscles before looking at you.

"Ready to comply," he says, emotionless.

Yes, father. The words echo in your head. You remember the child who did everything they were told, hoping to please their father. You remember the feeling of the pistol in the child's hand as they pressed its muzzle against the chest of their mother. You remember the feeling of the trigger being pulled and the blood that bloomed afterwards, followed by apathy from the father who had ordered them to pull the trigger.

You look into ice blue eyes and see something of a reflection, just for a fleeting moment before Karpov's words remind you of your new duty.

"Let's go." You lead the way to the training room. Hopefully getting a workout will rid you of these unnecessary thoughts. You can't afford to be compromised on missions, you can't afford to fail and distractions will cause you to fail.

But every time you look into those ice blue eyes, all you can see is the scared little child who shot their mother and pet dog because they were told to.

#marvel #marvel x reader #mcu #mcu x reader #mcu bucky #marvel bucky #bucky barnes #bucky #james buchanan barnes #winter soldier #the winter soldier #winter soldier x you #winter soldier x reader #winter soldier cold front

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