Heya, it's like, 2:00 in the morning, but my lunatical brain won't let me sleep. So I'm writing again. I will be making an attempt to update more often, seeing as schools finally out. I'm so going to fail 9th grade, if I even pass 8th that is…

Anyways, does anyone even read these? Or am I just ranting to empty air?

Also, thanks to leoms6477, your encouragement means a lot, thanks for sticking with the story for so long!

To Radiant Arabian Nights, thanks for the review! I love reading them so much. I hope you have a good rest of your day!

To kjb110, I'm glad you enjoyed the story so much, and that you confused your parents! XD. Thank you for everything else you said, it means so much to me that you actually seem to care about more than just the story! I don't know you, but I bet you're a wonderful person. Love you 3000 too!

Also, themugglepadme, how dare you trick me! I'll just have to try harder to fool you! Thanks for the compliment though. :)

And just a thanks in general to all my readers, honestly, it's incredible how kind you all are. I love reading all the reviews that come through. To be honest, originally I was worried about Cyberbullies, but y'all are great!

Also, just in case of confusion, Sylvia and Felix are both OC's from a different series that always get dragged into everything.

Now, back to torturing our dear little brainwashed Hydra assassin… I mean The Winter Soldier- er, Winter- no James Buchanan Barnes- ack Bucky!

(PS: I swear, the amount of times I've accidentally written 'Bucky' instead of 'Winter', and spelled 'Natasha' as 'Natshas'...)

-PaleWolfsHowl

Steve blinked at the screen, tired out from his earlier fit of laughing. It had felt relaxing, but it brought up memories he'd rather not think of. Even if the subject of Bucky was being brought up more and more, it still hurt. Even if Bucky was alive, Steve would most likely never see him again, and who knew how Bucky would have survived that fall?

He shuddered at the thought, it was by far his most hated and loathed and well known memory he had. It was like having acid dripped down his skin, seeing Bucky fall over and over again.

Even the fact that seeing Peggy in the movie had been awful, he didn't know her like he'd known Bucky. And yes, the relationships had been completely different, but Bucky had always been like a brother to him. And losing that… well no one was really ever the same afterwards.

The only thing keeping him from either nodding off or spiraling into full out depression was the man leaning against him. Steve knew Winter had way, way worse issues then he did. All the things the man had been through, it was painful for Steve to even think about.

The fact that Winter was still wearing that odd muzzle, well, it was tragic. Steve hadn't really thought much about the fact that Winter was even wearing it until future Natasha's comment.

But he could tell it was biting into Winter's skin, and it looked highly uncomfortable. Honestly, Steve didn't know how the other man even breathed with it on.

He had to be wearing it for a reason, right? Maybe he had a scar or something? But that didn't explain the look in Winter's eyes that had been there only moments before.

And it wasn't like Steve hadn't noticed that Winter hadn't once moved his metal arm towards Steve.

It was almost like Winter was scared he was going to hurt him or something, like he was afraid Steve would shove him away. And honestly, he didn't know what it was about Winter, but he felt deeply connected to him.

Looking at the Hydra Assassin now, Steve didn't know how anyone could ever be afraid of him. Of course, logically, Steve knew the other man didn't typically go around with a relaxed expression.

The worst problem regarding Winter was the future. Steve knew that after they were done reacting to the movie, the girl would put them all back where they came from. That meant Winter would be going straight back to Hydra, and Steve hated that. But there was nothing he could do. And going back to Hydra meant that Winter would be tortured, and probably be stripped of his memories too.

And Steve could tell that Winter had been thinking about that a lot. The main problem was that, if this future came true, Steve would definitely have to fight Winter. And he didn't know if he could do that. Not knowing what he knew, not having had the guy leaning on his shoulder like this.

The trust that Steve had somehow won from Winter was a precious thing that he didn't ever want to break. And Steve wouldn't be able to bear fighting him. Steve knew the only person he'd even felt this attached to, or cared like this about had been Bucky. And that made the prospect of losing Winter even worse.

He was pulled from his thoughts by the movie of future starting up again.

[the two pull up to outside an abandoned military base where the signal led them to]

He couldn't help but remember the old days, back when he'd trained there. It was odd, seeing the place after so long- even though, for him, it'd only been a few years. But in reality, it had been more like seventy.

Steve couldn't help but notice that Winter was staring at it intently, his icy blue eyes unreadable. Maybe Winter had once been to this place?

But that would be odd, but Winter had said he didn't join Hydra by his own free will. So, it was possible that Winter had been a prisoner of war. Had he been taken around the same time as Steve had served in WW2? Had he… trained with this Assassin, maybe that was why Winter seemed to trust him?

The other possibility he'd been thinking of earlier had been forcefully pushed from his mind. It was too farfletched, and too horrible. He didn't even want to think about that possibility. And if it was true, then Steve had really, really failed Bucky.

Steve Rogers: This is it.

Natasha Romanoff: The file came from these coordinates.

Steve Rogers: So did I.

"Huh. I always thought that kids came from when mommy's and daddy's really loved each other- well, or at least are drunk-" Tony started to say, but was cut off by a horrified yelp from Winter- who had sat bolt upright at what Tony was saying.

Steve understood where Winter was coming from, after all, in the beginning of his time in modern days, he'd been horrified too.

Everyone looked towards the flustered looking Assassin in shock, Steve couldn't help but feel amused as Winter waved his human hand in a frantic motion.

"Dude, you okay?" Clint spoke up, obviously not understanding Winter's panic. And Steve kind of wanted to see this play out, revenge for the 'Mock Captain America' club.

Winter spluttered. "That- he- not appropriate!" He waved his hand towards Natasha, and Steve quickly realized that she was the source of Winter's shock. So, Winter had definitely been raised around the same time as Steve, because back in the day, Steve would never have dreamed of making a joke like that while in a ladies presence.

"What?" Tony asked, obviously enjoying Winter's shock. Steve felt a small amount of pity for the Assassin, but amusement was the stronger emotion.

Winter was probably gaping under his muzzle, staring at Tony wide eyed.

"There's a- you can't talk about that-" Winter paused, obviously searching for the right words. "In front of a woman!" He ended his spluttered sentence, and Steve could see that The Assassin was blushing! Ha, revenge!

Natasha raised a red eyebrow, looking at Winter with the most unimpressed look humanly possible.

"What, think I don't know how it works?" The Shield Agent asked, and Steve could hear a trace of amusement in her voice. Winter looked at her with wide eyes, and Steve took pity on him.

"Okay, that's enough. Winter, do you know around what time you were raised in?" Steve asked calmly, turning to look at the flustered man.

"Er- 1920s? Ish. I don't know." Winter said, having finally stopped waving his hand. Huh, so around the same time as Steve. Maybe he'd been right about thinking he'd once trained with Winter?

"Ah. Okay. Things are different these days, people are more… comfortable with that subject. It was shocking for me at first too." He said, watching the confused emotions flicker through Winter's eyes.

Tony, of course, was enjoying this, and snickering. "You're almost as old as gramps over here!" He exclaimed.

Winter seemed to speak without thinking. "No. Older." Steve looked at him in surprise, how would he know that?

"What?" Clint was the one to ask, obviously having come to the same conclusion as Steve.

Winter's blue eyes widened a little. "Er, Hydra debriefed me on you. It pretty much just consisted of 'Threat, kill on sight.' But they did give me a few other details." The Assassin explained quickly.

Steve wasn't sure if he should believe him or not, and there was the small fact that Winter had claimed to not know his age. What was he trying to hide? Steve was really trying not to pry, knowing that whatever Winter was hiding was probably something horrific.

[later that night as they walk around the base trying to pinpoint where the signal came from] This camp is where I was trained.

Natasha Romanoff: Changed much?

Steve Rogers: A little. [Steve has a brief visions of his former, smaller self running past him as he's getting trained with other soldiers]

Sergeant Duffy: Pick up the pace, ladies! Let's go! Let's go! Double time! Come on Rogers, move it! [his former self stops and stares at Steve as he is now] Come on! Fall in! Rogers! I said fall in! [present Steve watches nostalgically as the former Steve runs off]

"Pffft, you were a small little thing weren't you." Tony said mockingly, and Steve heard Winter snickering next to him. He rolled his eyes at Tony, but was cut off on saying anything but Natasha.

"Hey! Why's he calling you ladies? I'm offended to be compared to you!" She exclaimed, making Clint snort. Steve just shook his head, not dignifying Natasha with a response.

Natasha Romanoff: This is a dead end. Zero heat signature, zero waves, not even radio. Whoever wrote the file must have used a router to throw people off. [Steve notices a building ahead of them] What is it? [as they walk over to the building]

"Huh?" Tony asked, once again speaking up. Steve was going to reply, but Winter beat him to it.

"Army regulations forbid storing ammunition within five hundred feat of the barracks. That building is in the wrong place." Winter informed Tony like someone who'd spent their whole life studying army regulations.

Well, for all Steve knew, he could have, at least until Hydra happened.

"How do you know that by heart?" Clint exclaimed, staring at Winter in shock. Winter's brow furrowed, tilting his head a little. "I thought that was basic knowledge."

Steve Rogers: Army regulations forbid storing ammunition within five hundred yards of the barracks. This building is in the wrong place.

There was a long silence, then Clint broke it by exclaiming. "What the heck!" Steve just stared at Winter for a long moment, even if they'd both learned the same things, Steve's future self had pretty much quoted what Winter had said word for word.

Which was funny, but also awkward- well, not for him, cause he didn't care, but he didn't know what Winter would think about that.

He looked towards Winter, and their eyes met for a long moment. "Copycat." Winter eventually said, and under his muzzle, Steve could've sworn he was smiling.

Steve huffed a laugh.

[Steve opens the lock with his shield and they enter inside, when they turn on the lights they notice it's a SHIELD office]

Natasha Romanoff: This is SHIELD.

Steve Rogers: Maybe where it started. [they enter a room where they find old framed portraits of Howard Stark, Peggy and Col. Chester Phillips]

Natasha Romanoff: There's Stark's father.

Steve noticed Winter tense, feeling the other man's shoulders go tense under his arm. He looked at him curiously, wondering which person had caused that reaction.

It seemed like Winter was steeling himself, before he turned to look at Tony.

Steve looked over his fellow Avenger with concern, he had paled a little at the sight of his father. It only served to remind Steve of the bad blood between himself and Tony.

The words Winter spoke surprised Steve immensely. "I'm sorry." The Hydra Assassin said quietly, his voice rasping.

"W- what?" Tony asked, and Steve was sure that was one of the first times Tony had ever seemed shakened.

Winter seemed to be holding back a lot of emotion, Steve could hear him take in a long breath. "I said I couldn't remember anything. But things- things are coming back. And I- I do remember your father. I'm so sorry. He- they- didn't die by accident." Winter stuttered out, and Steve's eyes grew wide at what the other man was saying.

"What- what are you saying?" Tony asked, and Steve could see that the other Avenger's hand was holding his chair's arm in a vice grip.

Winter seemed like he was in anguish as he gulped and continued speaking. "It was me. I killed them. H- Hydra sent me after them- I'msosorry." The Assassin said in one long breath.

It seemed like the whole room was holding its breath, Steve watched Tony tense, and he prepared himself to step in his teammates way to block him if necessary.

But, surprisingly, Tony took a deep breath and spoke. "It's good you told me. And that I know your backstory- because otherwise, well, this would have ended badly." Tony said, his voice rasping with suppressed emotions.

Steve took in a relieved breath, even though it was hard, Howard had been his friend. But in the end, it was just another reason to hate Hydra- because it was not Winter's fault. Not at all.

Winter looked back towards Steve, his eyes full of apprehension. Steve had to stop himself from choking, that look was back. The look that implied Winter thought Steve was going to hurt him or something. And Steve only hated Hydra even more- if that was possible.

Hoping Winter wouldn't freak out or anything, he just pulled his- friend?- closer to him. Silently saying it was okay.

Steve Rogers: Howard.

Natasha Romanoff: Who's the girl? [Steve doesn't reply and turns away to walk further down the room and stops by a massive book shelf]

"Wait- were you trying to set him up with someone from seventy years ago?" Clint asked, huffing at the red head next to him. Steve rolled his eyes, not this again. Though being set up with Peggy wasn't really too bad- but still.

Natasha let out a laugh, whacking Clint's arm. "Maybe." She said happily. Steve heard Winter huff next to him.

Steve just glared at Natasha half heartedly.

Steve Rogers: If you're already working in a secret office... [he pushes the books shelf and slides open to reveal an elevator behind it] Why do you need to hide the elevator? [they go down the elevator which takes them to a room with old looking computers]

"Cuz' they're hiding things. Duh." Clint said, and Steve was a little worried at how quiet Tony was being. Even if it was understandable.

"How does that explain why they hid it?" Steve asked, just to ask, if they were going to make a 'Mock Captain America' club, then he had a right to give them all a headache.

Surprisingly, Winter spoke up. "Cause they need a hidden base, so they can hide a hidden elevator, so they can hide hidden info." Steve glanced over at Winter, and thankfully, that look wasn't in his eyes anymore.

Steve rolled his eyes at The Assassin, but smiled softly.

Natasha Romanoff: This can't be the data-point, this technology is ancient. [suddenly Natasha notices a small flash drive port, she places the flash drive in it which then activates the ancient computer in the room]

Computer: Initiate system? [Natasha types using the keyboard]

Natasha Romanoff: Y-E-S, spells yes. [Natasha smiles as the old computer starts to cranks up] "Shall we play a game?" [to Steve] It's from a movie that...

Steve Rogers: Yeah, I saw it.

Thankfully, Tony finally spoke up, even if what he said was annoying. "That's surprising." He huffed. Steve rolled his eyes at his teammate, at least he was feeling better.

Clint snickered in amusement, but Winter looked confused. Natasha took pity on The Assassin and explained, earning an even more confused Assassin.

[suddenly they hear an accented voice speaking]

Dr. Arnim Zola: Rogers, Steven. Born, 1918. Romanoff, Natalia Alianovna. Born, 1984. [they see an old camera moving above them as it analyzes them]

Obviously, Steve had known Zola was Hydra, but the reaction that just a few words got from Winter was startling and upsetting. Steve felt Winter start trembling against his arm, unlike last time though, this time it was from fear.

Steve could hear that Winter's breathing had spiked up, was he having a panic attack?

He turned around to look at Winter with concern, the other man was trembling like a leaf, his face drained of all color. Steve noticed that his icy blue eyes were wide and panic filled.

Steve didn't even stop to think, as the Assassin's panic grew, he leapt out of his seat, and kneeled down in front of the other man's chair. He gently grabbed the Assassin's shoulder, pressing into Winter's tensed muscles carefully.

"You're okay. Winter, you're safe." He repeated the words to Winter softly, hoping he could calm down his friend. He didn't have much experience with panic attacks, the only person he knew who had had them had been… Bucky.

Seeing as this was all he had to go off of, he took a deep breath. He didn't know whether this would make Winter panic more, or help him. But it was the only thing he could think of..