Hello out there!

So you understand, the first part of this is a Winter Solider story, not a Bucky story (which is the second half).
This was the first story I wrote and re-reading it, I can see that the first few chapters are a bit dry from my inexperience.
I am in the process of editing it to flow better. They take place with the Winter Solider not
having anyone to really communicate with until it get a few chapters in. Then he has to figure out how to
deal with someone when that is not part of his conditioning.
The story has a bit of everything: friendship, angst, hurt/comfort, suspense, romance.
That's what you get with two broken people trying to understand each other.
After finishing the original story, I had a lot of request for a sequel to wrap up where it left off.
It has taken some time, but I have it completed and posted as the second half.
The writing does improve and I humbly ask that you give it a chance.

PROLOGUE

Song: Seek and Destroy by Metallica

1983 - Siberia - Mission: Yury Kozlov

"{Ready to comply.}"

He watched as his Handler closed the red leather book with the star on the cover, placing it on the electrical console before picking up the mission folder. Sitting motionless in the Chair he turned his eyes to stare straight ahead while waiting for his orders. This is what was always expected of him and he knew to always comply. His Handler came to stand directly before him.

"{The mission parameter is to eliminate Yury Kozlov, leader of the Black Star Bratva. We have recently learned that Kozlov has made contact with SHIELD. He wants to arrange a deal agreeing to turn over information concerning the Bratva's dealings with HYDRA in exchange for immunity and passage to America. He has intricate knowledge of HYDRA's foundation inside of Russia. He must be eliminated before any such deal is made and the information is passed on,}" his Handler began to inform him."

{For this transgression, you will eliminate him along with any security that will be guarding him. He regularly has anywhere from four to eight guards traveling with him and this time should be no different. He has gone into seclusion but we have learned of a location where he will be arriving at sometime within the next ten days. It is a secluded rural area so you will be inserted near the coordinates by helicopter and hike your way to the location. The remoteness of the location will prevent any communications with the base. You will surveil and remain at the location until Kozlov arrives. Extraction from the location will happen by helicopter from the location on the tenth evening after insertion. Come.}"

Standing up from the Chair, following his Handler toward the door leading out of the massive converted missile silo. Taking a set of concrete stairs up one level and through a winding corridor, there was a strange song slightly echoing in from somewhere deeper in the base. The sounds were lost as his Handler guided him into the briefing room.

After the mission folder was placed on the table, he waited until his Handler had moved back towards the door. Opening it, he began to scatter the folder's contents around the table. He looked over the numerous pictures of his target, memorizing his face from the different angles taken. He noted that Kozlov was not a handsome man, balding with thin hair, and he did not seem to care about his physique since he was overweight.

Kozlov traveled with multiple guards, all Bratva men with no special training beyond basic military and all carrying standard weaponry. This target should not pose a problem. There was nothing special about this target. Pathetic. Why was he needed for this mission?

Aerial photographs were sorted onto a corner of the table, showing the immediate terrain. The location was a heavily wooded large rural area a few short hours north east of Moscow. A single house with two outbuildings, one probably for storage, the other for his guards to sleep in. No other houses in the area, only a secluded lake within a decent walking distance from the house. The area would be sufficient, he decided.

There was a weather report stating that there would be a mixture of rain and snow over the mission days. As long as he prepared for the change, they should not interfere with completion of the mission.

"{What form of disposal for the bodies?}" he coldly asked after looking the papers over a second time to make sure he had all the information he needed.

"{On extraction day, burn the buildings with all the bodies inside. It will send a message to the other Bratvas so they know what will happen if they think of betraying HYDRA. The fire will also be your extraction signal showing the mission has been completed. Expect a helicopter pickup within 30 minutes of starting the fire. It will be the beacon for the helicopter.}"

Taking all the mission parameters into account, he knew that once Kozlov showed up at the location, there could still be a couple of days before his extraction time. The house would be a perfect accommodation instead of continuing to use the woods and trees for shelter due to the possible weather conditions. He could easily dump all the bodies in the guard house and use the main house as shelter.

Making up his mind to do that, he hoped that Kozlov showed up early rather than later. A few days to practice his targeting would be acceptable. The lake would provide the most distance for sniping. The area was remote enough that it would serve him well. He turned away from the table to go gather his gear, leaving the Handler to clean up and file the paperwork back into the folder.

Moving through the doorway back into the hall, he made his way directly across to the weapons and equipment rooms. For all of his missions, he was able to choose the equipment that he would take with him that he felt would help to accomplish the task.

Heading to the weapons room first, he chose his modified silenced bi-pod sniper rifle, putting into on the table center in the room for equipment gathering. He should have no problem being able to set up a sniper perch from a safe distance and make most of his shots from there. There was a chance all of his shots would be from a distance, unless he got bored waiting, then he could take it out on them in a bit more personal way.

Next he chose two sets of pistols, along with their suppressors that could be attached later. A utility belt would hold two, while the back shoulder strap would contain the others. Selecting holsters that would be placed around his ankles and thighs during the mission, he began to load them with an assortment of knives, one of his specialties. They were always useful when it came to up-close, silent kills. Grasping a k-bar, he felt the weight of it, liking the balance in his hand, so he added it to the pile. While waiting, he should have plenty of time to sharpen them to a fine hone as he took a sharpening block from the shelf.

Pulling boxes of ammo and a couple of extra magazines, he set them on the table and began to load the magazines. It would be pointless to carry them empty. Now there was space for even more ammo. He set aside five full box of ammo for the pistols to carry with him, but he doubted he would need them for the actual mission. He could also practice his standard shooting on the trees with no Handlers there to judge him on his ability. Pulling another two boxes of ammo specifically for his rifle, he began to carefully pack everything into a small weapon carry bag he took from a shelf.

Making his way to the storage room next door, he looked over the assortment of supplies. First he chose a large, black pack, throwing it down onto the utility table in the center of the room. Walking the room while judging the usefulness of the supplies offered, he began to throw items over his shoulder onto the table. A heavy blanket, a canteen, a change of underclothes consisting of a long sleeve shirt, underwear and socks, binoculars, a small first-aid kit, a ghillie-mesh webbing, and a waterproof tarp.

He hesitated while glaring at the last group of shelves, the ones he despised the most: the rations.

There was only one selection of nutrition bar that he could take from. A specialty high-calorie, protein and vitamin bar that was made to sustain his higher metabolism. On the shelf below, was a specially made drink for him. It did not need refrigeration and also consisted of ingredients that supported his system. Neither of them would ever be called flavorful in a good way. Far from it. HYDRA wanted the food to keep him alive and they did not care if he enjoyed how they tasted. They were the only part of this mission that bothered him. Grabbing enough bars and bottles to get him through the ten days that he would be alone.

It would weigh down the pack the most, and they were the least wanted item.

Paying no mind to the Handler, he began to load the pack with his selected items. Sorting the items in order of necessity, he glanced around to make sure there was nothing else from the shelves that he may find useful for a week in the woods. He was expected to be able to take care of himself on a solo mission like this and not have to rely on supply drops, which he had done on some missions before.

Surveying a target in the manner he would with Kozlov meant there no chance of a drop. If he did not take it with him, then he was out of luck if he needed it.

Zipping the pack up, he reached over to a wall hook that held a thick, black winter coat. The weather report stated that nighttime temperatures would be dropping slowly over the next few days. His higher core body temperature made any type of heavy sleeping bag unnecessary. Between the heavy coat and blanket, they would be sufficient protection.

Besides, he was hoping to have a nice warm roof over his head to protect him if the target didn't waste his time getting there.

Tossing the pack over his left shoulder, his sniper rifle over his right shoulder, and grabbing his weapon bag, he turned to look at his Handler, giving him a simple nod to indicate that he was ready.

"{Asset, the truck is waiting outside to take you to the airfield where the helicopter is already waiting,}" the Handler said taking the lead through the halls to the elevator.

He followed his Handler in silence, not having anything to say to him. His mind was focused on the mission, wondering how long he was going to have to sit in the woods before Kozlov showed up. No matter what, he had ten days before being extracted.

He began to wonder if he would get bored.

Author's Note: The {} symbols represent a translation from another language. For the entirety of this story, they will represent Russian. The songs listed at the beginning of each chapter have some kind of significance to that chapter. I wrote each chapter listening to that song (over and over) so I feel that reading the story listening to it will enhance the experience some (but it is not necessary). Also, later on in some chapters, the song listed will have a significance to the characters in the story or be actively mentioned.