Thank you for the kind reviews Chronosign! I'm glad you like the new version. I agree that my old version was just too long! :)
I think I'm going to be writing this mostly from Bucky's POV, I find it easier than Steve's. Lol.
-PaleWolfsHowl.
The Asset was fighting a losing battle at staying calm, ever since he'd seen his handler, Rumlow, he had been a mess. Everytime he heard that voice flashbacks of agony and pain filled his mind. While The Boss was more dangerous, The Asset hated Rumlow the most. The Boss normally only hurt The Asset when he messed up on a mission, but Rumlow…
Well Rumlow enjoyed The Asset's pain, and he found the deepest pleasure in causing it. Quite honestly, The Asset would rather be in Cyro Freeze then in the same room as Rumlow.
The Asset had to stop himself from reaching for his arm, where a particularly bad scar was hidden. The Asset was covered in scars, all along his torso, legs and arm. Rumlow always found a way to inflict the most pain possible without damaging The Asset too much. And Rumlow always made sure that he'd get at least two hours with The Asset just to see how much pain he could cause. No one ever stopped him. The Boss favored Rumlow, so he wouldn't step in and stop Rumlow.
The Asset sighed, glancing at The Captain sitting next to him. Of course Steve would end up being Captain America, maybe that was why The Asset recognized him. Maybe Hydra had shown him pictures or something. But that just didn't fit, The Asset knew he had known Steve before Hydra. He shivered, thinking back to the fact that Rumlow had been in the same aircraft as The Captain. He didn't like that, not one bit. As the movie had progressed, he had been feeling a growing sense of protectiveness to Steve. It was odd, and wrong. But The Asset couldn't help it. He shouldn't care, he should be indifferent, but he just couldn't be. He knew that The Captain had meant something to him from Before.
The Asset silently cursed Hydra, it was all their fault! Their fault he didn't know who he was, or who he would have been. Their fault that he was a merciless killer, their fault that he didn't have any memories of who he had been. Their fault that when given a command he couldn't fight it. And their fault that he didn't know who Steve was.
And thinking back to the scene with Rumlow in the same aircraft as The Captain…
Quite honestly, The Asset would prefer Rumlow was in the same room as him, rather than The Captain. And that was wrong. He should care more about himself then The Captain.
He was torn from his thoughts by the movie.
[The Triskelion, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters; Steve walks into Fury's office]
Steve Rogers: You just can't stop yourself from lying, can you?
Nick Fury: I didn't lie. Agent Romanoff had a different mission than yours.
The Asset heard a quiet groan next to him at that line, glancing over he saw Steve rubbing a hand over his face in irritation.
He quickly looked back at the screen before The Captain noticed.
Steve Rogers: Which you didn't feel obliged to share.
Nick Fury: I'm not obliged to do anything.
"Ah, good ol' Saint Nicholas." Stark said with a huff of laughter, his comment causing Maybe- Archer Clint to burst into laughter, while The Captain just shook his head at them. Though The Asset though he saw fondness in Steve's blue eyes.
Soon enough, the whole group of humans had burst out into conversation, the movie forgotten.
The Asset just sat quietly, feeling rather awkward as the group all snickered over random things.
"Hey, Manchurian Candidate. Do you speak?" Stark said suddenly, looking straight at The Asset.
What was a Manchurian Candidate? Was it like a Marshmallow? But that was food, why would Stark call him food? Should he add the Manchurian Candidate to his mental list?
As if sensing The Asset's confusion, Steve rolled his eyes at Stark before turning his attention to The Asset.
"Ignore him." Was all The Captain said. The Asset opened his mouth, wanting to ask what a Manchurian Candidate was. Natasha seemed to read his mind, for she answered him before he could speak.
"It means you're a brainwashed assassin that the government uses to do their evil bidding." The Redhead stated, looking straight at The Asset.
The Asset thought about that for a moment, it was pretty accurate. After all, if his guess was right, Hydra was affecting the Government. So logically, Stark was right with his comment.
The Asset knew Stark was most likely trying to offend him, but it was true, so..
He opened his mouth again, and praying that The Captain wouldn't be angry at him, replied to Stark's comment. "Fair enough." He paused, seeing the shock on the humans faces when he spoke. "But, at least I'm not a flying tin can." The Asset said quietly, he had been taking notes on how the human's spoke to each other, and they seemed to like saying rude things. He was surprised at how easily he had said it, he hadn't spoken like that since before. And the shocked looks on the humans faces was worth any punishment The Captain might deem him.
Suddenly, to The Asset's shock, Maybe- Archer Clint burst out laughing.
"He's got you there, Tony." The light brown haired man cackled, then turned to look at The Asset. "Thank you for that."
The Asset was stunned, nobody ever said thanks to him. After all, no one typically thanked a tool. And the reaction that Maybe- Archer Clint had had was so different then Hydra.
Hydra would have made him pay for that comment but these humans…
The Asset glanced over at The Captain cautiously, and to his shock, the blond was grinning.
Maybe, for this short time, until he was back with Hydra, The Asset would try and enjoy himself. Make some good memories for Hydra to wipe away.
Stark was staring at The Asset, before finally speaking. "Touche'."
After all, what The Asset had said was true. The Asset knew who Tony Stark was, Hydra had told him a while back.
Steve Rogers: Those hostages could've died, Nick.
Nick Fury: I sent the greatest soldier in history to make sure that didn't happen.
Steve Rogers: Soldiers trust each other, that's what makes it an army. Not a bunch of guys running around and shooting guns.
To The Asset's shock that comment made by The Captain sent him into a flashback. But not of Hydra.. It was from Before. The memory formed so quickly and unexpectedly that The Asset almost fell out of his seat.
The memory was of himself, younger, short haired, no metal arm, and without his mask. Sitting next to him was a younger looking Steve, who was nursing a purple bruise on his jaw. The Asset's younger self was glaring at the blond.
"Soldiers trust each other, Steve. That's what makes it an army or in our case, a team. Not a bunch of guys running around and shooting guns, or throwing shields." The Asset's younger self said, putting extra force on his last few words.
The Asset stifled a gasp as the memory ended. So he had known Steve. It seemed like they had been… friends. Whoever he had once been, well, he had known The Captain.
The Asset felt more hatred towards Hydra then he had in a long time. He would never get to know who he had been, ever. He might regain a few memories here and there throughout the movie, but he'd be back at Hydra before he ever got them all back.
Nick Fury: The last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye. Look, I didn't want you doing anything you weren't comfortable with. Agent Romanoff is comfortable with everything.
"That I am." Natasha said with a smirk, looking straight at Maybe- Archer Clint, who was blushing bright red.
Stark snickered at the obvious discomfort of the light brown haired man. "Do tell what has Barton as red as a tomato." The Tin Can said with a smirk.
"None of your business, Tin Can." Maybe- Archer Clint said with a smirk, happily reusing The Asset's words.
"Watch it, Legolass. Stop quoting Manturian Candidate. It's bad for your mental health." Stark said, challenging both Maybe- Archer Clint and The Asset. The Asset didn't really know what to say to that, so he just said the first thing that came to mind.
"Obviously, The Tin Can is just jealous, because my insult was better than his." The Asset grumbled, glaring at Stark from the corner of his eye.
Maybe- Archer Clint happily added his own two sense. "That he is, Assassin." The man said with a nod of his head.
"I hate you all." Stark grumbled. Finally, Steve put a stop to the conversation.
"Shush. We have to finish this movie sometime." He said sensibly, making Maybe- Archer Clint pout. "You're no fun, Grandpa."
Steve Rogers: I can't lead a mission when the people I'm leading have missions of their owns.
Nick Fury: It's called compartmentalization. Nobody spills the secrets because nobody knows them all.
Steve Rogers: Except you.
Nick Fury: You're wrong about me. I do share. I'm nice like that.
"Nick Fury nice? Ha. No." Stark huffed, the humans in the room nodding in agreement.
[Fury steps into an elevator with Steve following behind him]
Nick Fury: Insight bay.
SHIELD Computer: Captain Rogers does not have clearance for Project Insight.
Nick Fury: Director override, Fury, Nicholas J.
SHIELD Computer: Confirmed.
[the elevator starts moving down]
Steve Rogers: You know, they used to play music.
Nick Fury: Yeah. My grandfather operated one of these things for forty years. My granddad worked in a nice building, he got good tips.
[Nick looks up]
Nick Fury:He'd walk home every night, roll of ones stuffed in his lunch bag. He'd say "hi", people would say hi back. Time went on, neighborhood got rougher. He'd say "Hi", they'd say, "Keep on steppin'. Granddad got to grippin' that lunch bag a little tighter.
"Nice story." Maybe- Archer Clint said, earning a swat over the head from Natasha, who was glaring at him.
The Asset bit back a snicker. It shocked him, how much he'a already changed, after only a half an hour with these humans.
He knew as soon as he was back with Hydra it would all be wiped away. He would always be The Winter Soldier, no questions asked. He would never truly be free. Hydra would always own him. Always. But he didn't want to ever go back, he wished he had new handlers. He wouldn't mind if they beat him too, he just didn't want to kill anyone anymore. He would happily comply to a new handler, he would welcome their criticism, or their lashings. He just didn't want to kill anymore.
Steve Rogers: Did he ever get mugged?
Nick Fury: Every week some punk would say, "What's in the bag?"
Steve Rogers: What did he do?
Nick Fury: He'd show 'em. Bunch of crumpled ones and loaded .22 Magnum.
[Fury smiles]
"Well, I can see where Fury gets it now." Stark said with a smirk, to The Asset's surprise, the fairly quiet Steve spoke up.
"Ya, it must run in the blood, paranoia." The blond huffed, earning a grin from Stark.
Nick Fury: Granddad loved people. But he didn't trust them very much.
[as they continue to ride down the elevator Steve notices the giant Helicarriers]
Nick Fury: Yeah, I know. They're a little bit bigger than a .22.
[as Fury shows Steve round]
Nick Fury: This is Project Insight. Three next generation Helicarriers synced to a network of targeting satellites.
Steve Rogers: Launched from the Lemurian Star.
Nick Fury: Once we get them in the air they never need to come down. Continuous suborbital flight courtesy of our new repulsor engines.
"Huh. Wonder if I helped." Stark said, tilting his head to one side.
Steve Rogers: Stark?
Nick Fury: Well, he had a few suggestions once he got an up close look at our old turbines. These new long range precision guns can eliminate a thousand hostiles a minute. The satellites can read a terrorist's DNA before he steps outside his spider hole. We are gonna neutralize a lot of threats before they even happen.
Steve Rogers: I thought the punishment usually came after the crime.
Nick Fury: We can't afford to wait that long.
Steve Rogers: Who's "we"?
The Asset paled, he had a guess. Hydra had long ago infiltrated Shield, and he highly doubted this Project would go the way Fury wanted it to.
If Hydra got their hands on that.. A lot of people would die, good people. Like The Captain, and Maybe- Archer Clint. It would be tragic.
Nick Fury: After New York, I convinced the World Security Council we needed a quantum surge in threat analysis. For once we're way ahead of the curve.
Steve Rogers: By holding a gun at everyone on Earth and calling it protection.
The Asset knew he had to warn The Captain. Gathering up his nerves, he turned to look straight at the blond.
"Hydra." He said, nodding towards the screen. Hoping that one word would convey what he meant. All his programming was stopping him from delivering a full out line. Hydra had done a good job of striping away any inkling of freedom. There was nothing left of who he had once been.
He was Hydra's fist, and he most likely would end up fighting The Captain. But, as long as he had a thread of freewill, he would fight against Hydra. He had already gotten a good hit in, when he'd revealed who Rumlow was.
Steve paled, realizing what The Asset meant. "They're gonna use it. Aren't they?" He questioned The Asset after a moment. The Asset gave a nod.
The Avengers groaned in frustration.
Steve looked straight at the Asset. "Thank you." He said simply.
The Asset felt like he might smile. The Captain's approval meant so much to him, and he didn't even know why. All he knew was that he would rather die than harm the blond.
The Asset knew that all of the changes that had occurred in him was all due to Steve. The Asset hadn't felt any inkling of joy in almost seventy years.
He didn't know how he had once known this man, but he knew he'd die for him without thought or regret.
Even if it meant going against Hydra, even if it killed him. He would not betray this man.
Nick Fury: You know, I read those SSR files. Greatest generation? You guys did some nasty stuff.
Steve Rogers: Yeah, we compromised. Sometimes in ways that made us not sleep so well. But we did it so the people could be free. This isn't freedom, this is fear.
Nick Fury: SHIELD takes the world as it is, not as we'd like it to be. It's getting damn near past time for you to get with that program, Cap.
"Never." The Captain grumbled so quietly The Asset had to strain to hear him.
Steve Rogers: Don't hold your breath.
[Steve turns and walks off]
(Oh dear, that was a long one. Hope y'all are happy with this chapter.
-PaleWolfsHowl.