New York City, New York. May 6, 2014.
The Winter Soldier- no, Bucky, that's his name- walked through the empty alleyway with shifty eyes. It's been a month since the events that happened at D.C. A month since he pulled that man -Steve, that's his name- from the river. A month since HYDRA collapsed along with SHIELD. So far, Bucky has had freedom for a month. Freedom hasn't been quite sweet though. Granted, it's better than being HYDRA's assassin with over two dozen kills (this is something Bucky knows for sure; he remembers all of them), but he hasn't showered for weeks; he's starving, as food doesn't always come cheap or clean; and he is currently walking through possibly New York's most dangerous neighborhood, Hell's Kitchen. Bucky wouldn't have gone through if he knew what this neighborhood was notorious for. But by the time a mugger gave him an idea where he was, Bucky was too far in to try and go back. In fact, he wasn't quite sure where his end destination was, but he didn't care as long as it was far from HYDRA and any other potential threats.
"The Asset!" a voice exclaimed. Bucky instinctively gripped the hilt of his knife and drew it out from the sheath attached to his waist. He turned towards the direction of the voice and saw one man and one woman charging to him. The man swung his fist to punch Bucky, but he was intercepted with a metal left arm. The man winced as he felt the impact of hitting Bucky's prosthetic, and yelled in pain when his side was cut by Bucky's knife. Just as the man collapsed, the woman hit Bucky from behind. Bucky stumbled forward. He managed to stop himself from falling, and as he was turning around, he could hear the sickening sound of flesh being stabbed. At first, he thought he was hit, but then he turned around to see the woman with a shocked expression and the blood soaked blade protruding through her stomach. Blood trickled out of her mouth as the blade was removed from her stomach. The woman collapsed and revealed a shorter person wearing an olive jacket with a large hood.
"Asset?" the person said with a heavily accented voice. Bucky readjusted his grip on the knife and moved toward his enemy. The person didn't do much except for hold the bloody blade up a little higher. Bucky used the opportunity to grab the person by the neck and slam the person up against a brick wall.
"Who are you?" he demanded through gritted teeth.
"Asset, I am not one of HYDRA," the person said while struggling for air.
"I don't believe you."
"I killed one of them. Is that not enough proof?"
As a response, Bucky used his hand to hold the knife up against the person's neck. "Who are you?" he repeated. The person didn't respond. A numb feeling began to invade Bucky's head, but he ignored it. He moved the knife closer, but not even seconds later, he let go of the person. He took a few steps back, and dropped his knife. The numb feeling left Bucky's head, and confusion overwhelmed him. "What happened?" he questioned, more to himself than the person. The person pulled back the hood on the olive jacket, revealing the face of a girl who looked young, mid teens maybe. She dropped her knife and pressed her right foot on top of it.
"My name is Lana," she said. "Those agents were after me." She nodded to the dead woman and the man dying in his own blood.
"Why?"
"Because they want me back. I assume HYDRA also wants you too."
"HYDRA is gone."
"Only parts. There will still be people who will work towards accomplishing HYDRA's goal." Lana took a few steps closer to Bucky. He tensed, and Lana noticed this and stopped. "Why does HYDRA want you?" she asked.
"None of your business, kid," Bucky replied curtly.
"If I tell you why HYDRA wants me, will you tell me why they want you?" Lana asked as she crossed her arms and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"No."
"You seem rather talkative, Asset."
"My name is Bucky," he corrected with agitation in his tone.
"Okay, Bucky. I have another question for you then."
"I don't care."
"I want to partner with you, Bucky. I can help you."
"How? You're just a kid."
"Do you know why you let me go and dropped your knife?" Lana inquired. Bucky didn't respond; all he could do was look confusedly at her. Lana sighed. "I have, this ability," she began, "I can look into the minds of people, and if I focus hard enough, I can take over and make them do what I want. A man of HYDRA named Baron von Strucker gave me this ability, and that's why what is left of HYDRA is trying to find me." Anger filled Bucky; he was a puppet once again. He stomped over to her, but the numb feeling attacked his head again. He stopped in his tracks, and he then realized there was no way to fight her. "Do you see? I can use my ability to our advantage. We can work together and get by well whilst hiding from HYDRA. Please, Bucky. I promise to never tap into your mind again or control you." Bucky watched as Lana hastily undid the buckles that secured a backpack that Bucky now noticed. She removed the backpack straps from her shoulders and brought the backpack around. Lana unzipped a pocket and brought out a granola bar. She held it out to him. "A peace offering," she stated. Bucky looked at the granola bar. His brain told him to refuse it in case it was poison, but his empty stomach was overriding all logic. He snatched the granola bar and ripped the wrapping away. Lana smirked at Bucky devouring the granola. "Are we partners now?" she asked. Bucky paused mid bite. Once again, his brain was saying it was a bad idea; she could be messing with him. Even then, he's not the most stable person to partner with. Yet, there was an aching feeling in his heart, as if helping this girl was familiar to helping a young man he knew before HYDRA. A sickly young man who needed Bucky's help, but would be too stubborn to accept it sometimes. His heart, like his stomach, ignored logic.
"Do you know your way around New York?" he asked after swallowing his bite.
"Somewhat. I know a shortcut out of here."
"Show me." Bucky saw the small smile of satisfaction spread on Lana's face.
"Follow me, Bucky." Lana bent down and grabbed her knife and holstered it in a holster attached to her thigh. She put her backpack back on and began walking down the alley. Bucky followed behind as he finished the granola bar. A thought appeared in his mind expressing his concerns on what may result from this partnership, but he disregarded it. Bucky wants out, and this girl will help him.
A/N: Hello hello! Welcome to the first chapter of my first fan fiction! I'm really excited and nervous about this new prospect, as I've always hesitated when it comes to this. Let me know what you think by dropping a review and maybe a favorite or follow.
-SirFangirl
