Summary: Au. The first time Hydra activated him after making him the Winter Soldier, James Barnes remembered, but it doesn't matter, Steve Rogers is Dead.
The asset's eyes snapped open and he looked at the surrounding people assessingly. Within minutes of opening his eyes the Asset knew who was in charge, who to take out first, and how quickly he could kill each one of the people looking at him.
"Do you think it worked?" One of the older ones asked, he was a scientist, low on the kill quickly list.
"Yes." Another answered, "He has not stated his name or rank, nor has he attempted to attack us."
The first nodded.
The Asset blinked, 'Name, what is that?' He thought, 'What is my rank?'
"You are perfect." One of the leaders said. "You will be the new fist of Hydra, they will call you Winter Soldier and you will not exist."
The Asset blinked, "I will not exist." He repeated.
They gave him information, a person to kill, and the Asset followed his orders.
The Asset paused as he made his way through the celebrating crowds, he did not know what they were celebrating but he did not stop to ask either.
An image flashed on a television screen and the Asset paused, gazing at the costumed man, wondering why he looked familiar.
"….Memorial for Captain America this afternoon." The reporter said evenly.
"Steve…" The Asset whispered, gazing at the screen as it flickered to something else. "Memorial?" The Asset wondered.
The Asset returned to base and made his report at the end he dared ask a question.
"What is a Memorial?"
The old man he had made his report to stilled, "It is a ceremony to remember the dead."
"Steve is dead." The Asset said, "May I go to his Memorial?"
"Who is Steve?" The man countered.
"My friend. I miss him. I didn't get to say goodbye."
"We'll see." The man said and left.
The Asset slept. The Asset remembered, the Asset wasn't ready yet. But it would be okay because the thing that made the Asset remember was dead, if he wasn't then they would risk losing the Asset. After all if a picture could bring back memories then what could a person with shared memories do?
It was a good thing Captain America was dead. The Asset was safe.
So this could be a story set during the gap between the Captain America Movies... I was having a moment.