A/N: This is not long...sorry. BTW can we just acknowledge that we are half way through 2020 and haven't had a chance to fully live it..


Pain radiated around Bucky's head as he slowly came to. Something soft wrapped around his shoulder, allowing warmth to touch every part of his skin. Pain throbbed around his eyes as he slowly opened them. The winter soldier froze as his eyes landed on a wooden ceiling rather than the sky or the metal confines of the Hydra base. He slowly took in his surroundings. A able sat on the other side of the room as did a sofa. But it wasn't that, that caused the man to frown. It was the pictures on the wooden walls of his confines. Pictures of a boy decorated the walls, along with a piece of string connected from one picture to the next. The face that stared back at him, was the same face that stared at him days ago. The face of the Avengers target.

Peter Parker.

Under his picture sat multiple colored strings, all ranging in different colors and each drifting to the new picture. Red, Black, green and blue.

The red sting flowed down to a picture of a face he knew all too well. It was the face of the boy he saved in the alley all those years ago in Brooklyn, only his face held a present day look. Just peeking out below the image was the collar of his Captain America Uniform. As if the picture wasn't enough, his name was printed neatly on a piece of paper underneath. Steve Roger.

The black sting went not too far from the picture of Steve Rogers. The picture it landed on was the face that stared back at Bucky every time he looked in the mirror. Just like Steve, James Barnes was printed underneath the photo.

"Ah. So you're awake," a voice called from the side causing the man to tear his gaze away from the wall. Shuffling feet filled the cabin, as a body came into view. She stared down at him, with a cautious yet kind expression. Her brown hair sat in a ponytail before the rest fell down her back. Brown eyes stared down at him, as a part of his brain seemed to tug at him. Sitting up, he took a closer look.

She crossed her arms before looking letting out a sigh. "You know, you're a lot heavier than you look. Also, a thank you would work."

"For what?" he asked, finally finding his voice. It came out rough causing her to raise an eyebrow.

"For saving your ass. Had I not gotten there when I did, you would be Hydra chow."

"I didn't need your help."

Her eyes rotated in her head. "Why is it so hard for you to admit you got saved by a female?"

Bucky's heart thumped in his chest as his brain tried to place the familiar words. His eyes dragged up and down her body. Taking in the tense stance, despite the fact that she tried to come across as calm. Her lips pursed together before she shifted her weight. Frowning, he willed his brain to remember but it was as if it was a fuzzy screen. The antenna's were not situated properly, to bring in a clear picture. Finally deciding to bite the bullet, he licked his lips. "I know you?"

"You say it as if it's a question. Honestly James, I'm a little hurt. I mean I don't blame you. I heard you got your memory wiped. Sucks."

Fear seized the Avengers heart. Trying to keep his face neutral, he replied, "You work for Hydra?"

"No." If it were even possible, Bucky would have frowned even more. "But I used to."

Bucky nodded. "And now?"

"Now, I'm waiting for you to say thank you."

"How about instead you tell me who you are."

"My name is Vanessa."

At the mention of her name, the antennae finally fixed themselves and the picture came in clear.

He stared down at the agent below him. Her brown hair had long since left the ponytail she once had in her hair at the start of their training. Their breaths echoed throughout the gym as the smell of sweat assaulted their noses. She sent him a glare before she flipped back on her feet. He just stared at her.

"You're an ass," she said simply as if she were saying that water is wet.

"I've been told."

"You know it's customary for you to allow me to win a few times. I mean I am the one who is letting you out of your cell."

"I didn't ask you to."

"Yes, but we could get caught. I could blame it on you and say that you tried to escape. That's not hard to believe since it's not the first time. Remember the time you almost got caught? I still haven't got a thank you."

"For what?"

"For saving your ass. Had I not gotten there when I did, you would be Hydra chow."

"I didn't need your help."

"Why is it so hard for you to admit you got saved by a female?"

Bucky remained silent as he watched her study him. "You know, you don't seem like the Hydra type."

A smirk graced her face. "Yeah. I'm not."

"Then why are you working with them?"

She gave him a shrug. "It's complicated."

"Try me."

She opened her mouth to try to say something, but the doors burst open. "Foster! What is he doing out of his cell?"

A Hydra agent came storming into the room, followed by a few more. Each one glared at her causing Bucky to tense up. The woman rolled her eyes. "Relax, Frank. Just testing out his combat skills. Making sure he's ready for tomorrow."

Frank looked between the two of them before turning to the agents behind him. "I've got this, get back to your posts." They all exchanged hesitated glances before doing as they were told. Once the three were alone, Frank turned back to the other two.

"Vanessa, what are you doing?"

"Would you relax-"

"Don't tell me to relax. I'm trying to save your ass. Which by the way, you are making it hard to do."

"I don't need saving."

He glared at her before turning to Bucky. "What's your name?"

"James Barnes."

Frank set a glare on the woman. "Really?"

"What, all we have to do is say the magic words then abracadabra, he's back to being Asset."

Frank gave an exasperated sigh before shaking his head. "Get him back to his cell before she finds out. You're already in enough hot water as it is."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Seriously-"

An alarm blaring cut her off and her eyes widened. Frank let out a string of curses as Bucky once again tensed and looked around. "Frank, go out the back way. I'll say the words and fix this." Frank looked at her hesitantly before rushing to do as she said.

Vanessa looked to Bucky with an apologetic expression. "Sorry."

He backed away from her slowly, shaking his head. His pleas fell on deaf ears as the words slowly rolled off her tongue. Slowly, James Barnes was pushed back and Asset surged forward just as the doors burst open and Hydra agents filled the gym.

"Vanessa Foster," Bucky announced as he came out of his memory.

"The one and only," she said with a smile while walking away. "The fact that you remember is surprising. Obviously whoever wiped your memory needs a brush up in their lessons."

Bucky shook his head as he stared up at her. "What are you doing here?"

She stared at him for a moment before dragging a chair over. She plopped down with a small thud. "Well simple, I want to know what you have on Peter Parker."

Bucky's eyes traveled to the wall behind her. His eyes landed on the last two pictures. The blue string traveled to a photo that surprised him the most. The cocky smirk and full of himself attitude vibrated off the simple photo as his name sat on display underneath.

Tony Stark.

Bucky sent an eyebrow raise towards Vanessa before he studied the last photo. A woman stared back at him, as a kind smile graced her face. It was open and inviting.

May Parker.

Fingers appeared in front of Bucky's face, waving around around, trying to pull his attention away. "So, you gonna tell me or am I going to have to guess?"

Leaning back against the headboard, Bucky frowned. "Why should I tell you?"

"Because I asked nicely."

A scoff escaped the man's lips. "How about instead you tell me what Hydra wants with him."

Vanessa remained quiet as she stared at him. "Did you not just hear what I said. I don't work for them anymore. So how would I know?"

"Right." Bucky shook his head once more before pushing himself up. "We both know that's not true."

Tilting her head to the side, she crossed her arms. "Meaning?"

He gave her a serious look. "We both know that your mother is a high ranking Hydra agent."