ANNOUNCEMENT:

I am very sorry to announce that Unmasked is being discontinued. Please don't mistake this for abandoned, since I have no intention of leaving my Survivor!Verse alone. It's just that as I continue writing this story, I am unsatisfied. I do not feel as if I am producing my best work and while they have not abandoned it, I'm sad to say most my drunnies have fled, leaving me with little inspiration. I have tried to continue writing chapters and while I am already done with a few, and have dabbled with some future chapters, none of it is really striking me. I've been toying with some one-shots that I'm feeling more confident about, so I have a feeling that's what might happen. I might just do some general one-shots and then have Survivor!Verse one-shots, of just focus on Survivor!Verse, I don't know. I do deeply apologize and am sorry to all those who were anxiously awaiting the next installment. I'm considering doing an abstract piece on Kota and Bucky's relationship however, so hopefully that might come out soon. If there was something you wanted to see, now's a good time for requests.

Regretfully sorry,

~Dumort

Many Greetings! Welcome to my first foray into the Captain America fandom, and as of October, now has a revamped, pretty prologue. So, hurray for that! Yes, this does start off as a Winter Soldier with a companion fic, but perhaps not like you're used to... When I write the Winter Soldier, he won't be the guy who's somehow clinging to his humanity or his memory of the past. Why? Because he's a brainwashed Hydra agent. He doesn't have humanity. Now if you want to wrap Bucky Barnes, ex-Hydra assassin in a warm blanket and hiss at Tony Stark for hurting him, be my guest. But when I write the Winter Soldier, he's going to be a ruthless murderer who has no conscience. Never fear though! We'll get to see the new Bucky, changed by all the crimes he's committed, old Bucky, mostly carefree if the war hasn't gotten to him, and the Winter Soldier, someone whose actions are only justifiable in that he had no choice in whether or not he committed them. And maybe we'll get to meet the other Avengers. Just kidding! They show up in the third chapter (somewhat).

Please stick around with me for this ride, because as of right now, I only know where I want to end up, not how to get there (it's all about the journey, am I right?)

See that box at the bottom of the page? I love all reviews.

And next time: actual plot, with real characters. Yippee! (But save the firecrackers for tomorrow.)

UPDATE AS OF 10/10/16: So instead of the poems that originally began this fic, there's now real content in this prologue! Huzzah! If you read it real carefully you can probably guess how shit's going down but if you do, please don't spoil it. I may surprise someone out there yet.

Disclaimer: If this were mine, I wouldn't have to put a disclaimer. Only Dakota Yuma Pondelik "The Sable Tiger" and Wren Jordan Caldwell "Rune" can be claimed as mine. (And I guess now I can claim Evelyn and Serenity.)

"Fortune does not change men;

it unmasks them."

~Suzanne Necker

There was a finality to the set of his shoulders. A tense resignation that came from years of denial and discord. But there was still a reluctant acceptance. One that a simple glance would ascertain the wear it placed upon him.

From behind none of the emptiness and dismal depth could be seen in his emotionless eyes. The hard frown and locked jaw was hidden. From behind, he was just a man who had come to a grim acknowledgment.

A creak made him turn toward a set of doors and now the tension of combat overcame him. He hesitated a second before deciding to speak.

"Who is it?" His voice was rough. It was most likely from disuse since the man didn't look to be much older than his forties.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing?" Another man opened the doors to the balcony and stepped out before quietly shutting them behind him. The new man was a stark contrast with the other. Crowfeet and vibrant blue eyes, this man radiated peacefulness and ease.

"I'm fine Steve." The first man answered with clipped tones and was obviously aggravated by the newcomer.

Steve held up his hand in surrender, a small grin sliding onto his face. "I thought we got over the mission issues?"

The first man rolled his eyes and the tension in his shoulders eased.

Steve gave a small frown and rubbed a hand on his neck. "Hey, Bucky…I…well…"

The first man, Bucky, pointedly ignored the stuttering.

"You know that I only want to best for you?" Steve searched Bucky's face for some answer. The disappointment in his eyes revealed he didn't find it.

"I don't think I want to hear the rest of this." Bucky was now talking in a vicious growl, a new tension in his body that threatened more than just violence.

"Bucky, it's just that…I, I mean we, don't think it's healthy for you to…"

"Mourn?" Bucky turned around so fast that Steve jumped back a step, his hands beginning to raise in a defensive gesture.

An indignant look crossed Steve's face. "You know that's not what I mean."

Bucky scoffed but the harsh glint in his eyes persisted.

"It's been nearly ten years. Don't you think she'd want…"

"Don't you dare finish that!" Bucky's fist clenched. "You don't know anything about what she'd want."

"I think I knew her well enough to say she wouldn't want you to destroy yourself. She wouldn't want you to be alone," Steve implored.

Bucky didn't answer. He clenched his jaw and refused to meet Steve's eyes.

A few seconds passed before Steve sighed. "Fine, stay out here. But the rest of us are going to watch the ceremony. Wren said that they were going to reveal some plans tonight she though you might like. Join us if you want." Steve paused at the door but ultimately went inside.

Eventually Bucky went back and rested his elbows on the balcony rail.

When the door creaked again Bucky snarled and prepared to snap something at Steve when he noticed who was at the door.

Silky black hair and almond eyes.

"Steve looked a little disgruntled when he came inside. Figured I should go 'tame the beast.'" She finished the sentence with a laugh, a conspiratorial gleam in her eyes. The young woman moved to the balcony and perched herself on the ledge.

"I didn't know you'd be coming," Bucky spoke to the women in hesitant tones.

The woman shrugged. "Sharon called me up and I couldn't say no to my godmother."

Bucky nodded but seemed distracted. Every few seconds he would glance over to the woman, almost as if to assure himself she was safe.

"But what is this I hear of you wanting to move back to Romania? Is Wyoming no longer good enough for you?"

"Evie," Bucky began.

Evelyn raised her eyebrows. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't call me that anymore?"

Bucky gave a parental glare. "Evelyn. If I want to move to Romania, it's my decision."

"But…"

"No! I'm giving you and your sister the farm to do with as you please, but by the end of the month I'm going."

Evelyn's lip quivered and her eyes dampened. "You promised you wouldn't leave till I was done with my training."

Bucky froze. His gaze settled on the horizon and he willed his body to still.

"You said that until I became an Avenger you would help me prepare. And what about Serenity? Are you just going to abandon her? She's only eleven!"

"Enough! You're only seventeen, you can't possibly understand…"

"I lost her too!" Evelyn stood up to face Bucky with tears streaming down her face. "You aren't the only one who misses her. But you don't see Clint, or Nat, or Steve running away. They stayed. They looked after us. They've been more a family to me than you have. If you're going to run, then fine, just go. But don't expect me to come running. I'm not her." Angrily, she wiped her tears and stormed back inside.

Bucky was frozen for a few seconds until a few tears began to slide down his cheeks. He absently wiped them away before turning back around.

Maybe they're right. But that doesn't mean I can stay.

It was true. No matter how much it tore him up to see Evelyn in so much pain, he couldn't stay. Not where everything constantly reminded him of what he lost. What was taken from him when he thought that nothing could ever be taken without his permission again.

If he left he didn't know what would happen. Maybe he could find peace, maybe he never would.

But he knew what would happen if he stayed, and he couldn't do that. Because he knew what she wanted.

Bucky sighed. "When did everything go so wrong?"

A/N: So, I decided that I wanted to add some content to this prologue…Yep. If you still want to read the poems or want to know what this prologue used to look like, have no fear! I simply moved them to the end of the chapter, after this note. So go on down there silly and take a peak. The drunnies were really proud of them so I think they're a little miffed they're no longer a centerpiece.

"To Be a Compass"

It should be frightening,

How easy it is to lay blame.

To rage fierce like lightning,

Triumphantly bringing about shame.

But who's to know the real truth?

Who has the right to decide?

Maybe we just need to soothe,

Forget all the truth in a lie.

Wouldn't it just be more peaceful,

To forget all that drives up apart?

Maybe we just need to be heedful,

Hearts are easily lost in this art.

We're all lost souls searching for justice,

It should be acceptable to become someone's compass.

"Lost Souls"

We're all lost souls

In need of truth,

Believing we can fly.

Struggling to fill a hole,

Find a way to soothe

Even if it is in a lie.

Hearts are easily broken,

Tears are easily dried.

Souls take long to be awoken,

It's from pain they're trying to hide.

Battered in need,

Carelessly beaten,

Somehow forgotten.

They want to feed,

Find a way to sweeten,

All that's turned rotten.

Because what some consider evil

Is a struggle to be good.

It just takes certain kinds of people

To see what no one else could.

Coming up next: Placed under the harsh care of Hydra members, The Sable Tiger begins her training and struggles to prove herself as an Asset.