Chapter 2: Painful Memories, Help and Understanding
Natasha briskly walked down the hall and stopped at a door marked S. Rogers. She took a breath and knocked.
"It's unlocked," Rogers responded.
Natasha walked into the room. It was obvious the room hadn't been cleaned for a while. The beds were a mess, the shade was only half up, and the desk was full of paperwork. The room had been messier than normal, ever since Bucky had moved in with him.
"Little behind Rogers?" Natasha smirked.
"Shut up, I just woke up."
"Where's your friend?"
"He stepped out for a moment, he said he would be back soon."
"I am actually here to talk to you."
"Alright, what can I help you with?"
"Clint just got a new partner, and I need to find a new one. I convinced Fury to let your friend Bucky be my new partner, under the condition that you, Dr. Banner and myself help him control 'the other guy' as Banner would call him."
"So you want Banner and I to help you help Bucky to control the Winter Soldier?"
"Yeah. Can you help me with that?"
"Sure. Anything to help Bucky."
"I'm back Steve, I- Who is this?" Bucky asked, tensing up and looking at Natasha.
"Don't worry Buck, this is Natasha Romanoff, resident Russian assassin. She won't hurt you, you can trust her."
"Are you sure Steve?"
"I wouldn't be telling you that you could trust her if I didn't trust her myself."
Still tense, Bucky pulled his metal arm back, then straightened it, before returning it to its original place at his side.
Natasha stepped back, a look of concern with a bit of horror on her face.
"What was that?" Natasha demanded.
"He always does it, to insure his arm doesn't stop working."
"Oh. It would be a little nice to get a bit of a warning next time."
"Sorry, I should have told you he does that. Poor guy hates that arm."
"If you don't mind my asking," Natasha said, turning to Bucky, "what exactly happened to your arm?"
Bucky looked down, his long, dark brown hair falling in his face.
"Do you really want to know?" Bucky asked, a hint of pain and sadness in his voice.
"If you don't want to tell me, that is perfectly fine."
"I'll tell you. Steve doesn't know yet either."
"Well, we're listening when you're ready."
Bucky looked up and brushed his hair out of his face.
"Long story short, it was Hydra."
"How about long story long?" Steve asked.
Bucky sighed and continued. "Dr. Zola believed that if they replaced one of my arms with a metal one, I would be a better asset to them. They turned me into a killing machine."
"Did they cut it off?"
"Yes, and the thing is, it isn't like any other prosthetic limb."
"Why not?" Natasha asked.
Saying nothing, Bucky walked over to the door and closed it.
"You sure you want to do this?" Steve asked, placing his hand on Bucky's right shoulder.
"I'm sure," Bucky responded softly.
"Alright," Steve said, patting his friend's shoulder.
Bucky silently removed his shirt, revealing a shoulder with several irritated cuts where metal met man.
Natasha gaped, then quickly covered her mouth.
"Oh my God, you poor man. Why did they do this to you?" Natasha asked, her voice full of sympathy.
"They wanted to make me a killing machine," Bucky replied, his voice laced with scorn.
Natasha looked up at him, and was noticeably shocked by what she saw. It wasn't anger in his eyes, as so many people had assumed, it was sadness, confusion and fear.
"What are you afraid of?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"It's in your eyes. I can see the fear in your eyes."
Bucky looked down.
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize. Nothing is your fault."
"Except for the dozens of deaths I caused."
"That wasn't you. That was 'the other guy,' as Dr. Banner would call it."
"The other guy?"
"Yes, the Winter Soldier."
"He has become who I am. Captain Rogers has helped me remember Sergeant Barnes. What am I supposed to do about the other guy?"
"I think we should go pay Dr. Banner a visit. He will definitely be able to help you."
A/N: Again, I don't own anything. Please rate and review :)
Thank you :D
