Seventeen
2014, En route to Austria, on a different train
Jessica casually stood, stretching her arms over her head. One of the HYDRA agents stood as well, under the pretense of grabbing something from her bag. An extendable baton made a shick sound as the segments clicked into place. When she turned her back, the HYDRA agent took the moment to strike. Or at least attempted to. Before she could even hit her target, Jessica leapt into the air, landing in a crouch on the train car ceiling. She dropped down onto the HYDRA agent, quickly dispatching her with a chop to the neck.
Steve and Sam emerged from their seats and joined the fray. Steve dodged a blow, whirling to deliver a punishing kick. The HYDRA agent flew into the window, the thick glass cracking with the strength of it. Sam was in a full out brawl, punishing punch after punishing punch being thrown. With the three of them, the agents were quickly subdued. They hauled the bodies back into their seats, using metal from some of the ruined seats and twisting them into manacles.
Jessica paused as she hauled two men over her shoulders. Steve stilled as well.
"Oh no. You have your "trouble" face on," Sam groaned.
Something landed on the train, shaking the car. It shuddered as it came to a screeching halt. Jessica ran to the door, just to see the rest of the train grow smaller and smaller in the distance. But what really drew her attention were the claws, the fingers long and triple-jointed reaching towards the glass. Her stomach dropped.
"Yeah, we got trouble."
…
2014. Salzburg, Austria.
As soon as they disembarked off their train, the Soldier and Riri split up, then regrouped at the taxi station. The Soldier could tell they were close to the mountains. Even at the train station, he could smell the crisp cool air from the mountains, tasting of snow and ice-cold gale winds. It set him on edge. He now knew what happened here. This was where Bucky Barnes plunged into an icy ravine, the sound of Steve's screams and his bouncing off the sharp mountaintops. It was where Bucky Barnes died. And where the Winter Soldier was born.
He could feel Riri staring at him in the corner of his eye. He didn't want to look at her. They were here to do one thing. Find the new base and destroy Project Clairvoyant. Then he'd be free to do what he wanted. Have his own life. For once.
The Soldier pulled out the map he got from one of the tourist centers. From Salzburg, they would be able to drive to one of the small chalet-like towns closer to the mountain range. From there, they would have to hike their way to the hidden base.
He let Riri take care of the reservations, who had managed to create fake aliases for them on her phone. The rate that technology changed astounded him. He may have forgotten his past self, but he did remember his experiences as the Winter Soldier, throughout all the years he was ordered to take out HYDRA's enemies.
After one taxi ride and bus trek later, they finally arrived at their chalet. Tourists and locals alike punched their feet through the thick snow, toting their skis and snowboards on their shoulders. The Soldier caught snatches of German, English, Austrian, French and countless others. They'd blend in, be invisible in this multinational chalet. Now all they needed was gear. More so for Riri's sake than his, as the corrupt Super Soldier serum kept his body running at a higher temperature. Things like cold and heat didn't affect him as much.
Keeping a cap low over his brow, he collected the gear from the main convenience store, which carried anything from junk food to ski gear. No one paid him any mind, besides the bored cashier, who attempted to flirt with him. Dusting off his old charms was as natural as a pig flying, but it seemed to be enough for the young girl across the counter. He managed to get a few extra bags of jerky. She didn't even bat an eye when he paid for everything in cash.
When he returned to the cabin, Riri had set up her own corner, loops of extension cables encircling her as she plugged in various devices. She let a little cheer as her laptop sparked with life, her fingers flying a mile a minute as she pulled up schematics of the secret HYDRA facility. Without looking back at him, she held out a tablet to him, the plans already displayed on the screen.
"Schematics, with security detail and checkpoints. Red points are surveillance cameras," she said, spinning her earphones around her finger.
The Soldier tapped at the screen with his metal hand. It didn't react, even when he swiped at it. Huffing, he tried with his other hand, with more success. He sat down on one of the beds, feeling Riri's judgment at his lack of tech skills.
He studied the schematics. It was a tiered system, with increasing security as he ventured farther down into the facility. More disposable guards were stationed at the higher sublevels, designated as Level I staff, with a few cameras mounted at strategic corners. Whereas as you descended, the number of cameras increased, with more skilled security, designated as Level II or Level III, positioned in squads across the floor. The Soldier saw the strategy in it. Wear down any intruders at the upper levels with just sheer numbers. Then the squads would come in, and go for the kill while you were tired.
The majority of the labs were in the lowest subbasements, along with some unlabeled empty spaces. Most likely cells containing test subjects. Red hot anger boiled in his blood, followed by steely resolve. He was going to free those prisoners. HYDRA wasn't going to keep anyone captive ever again.
Already a plan was forming in his mind, years of infiltrating as a ghost bolstering him. The blue-eyed ghost watched him from its corner, its head bobbing in assurance.
….
2014. On a train to Austria.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Sam yelled.
Jessica glared at him. She was currently in the grasp of said thing, its triple-jointed fingers wrapping tightly around her torso. "To hell whatever it is! A little help?"
Steve charged forward, shield strapped firmly to his arm, and struck the creature with all his might. The beast stumbled, roaring. Its fangs were as long as his forearms, the deadly curves coated with venom. It was snake-like, but had the body of a gorilla. The veins underneath the creature's skin popped out angrily. It was enough for Jessica to emerge from its grasp, landing in a crouch. She shot out some of her stunning blasts but to no avail. The beast wouldn't be tamed.
The girl pulled out two wicked looking daggers, their edges serrated. She watched the beast fight Steve blow for blow. She turned to Sam. He had a gun aimed at the creature, waiting for an opening.
"How much do you know about wiring?" she asked.
"A little. Got a plan?"
"Yeah. Go get the shock cart kit there."
Sam retrieved it, opening the power pack to the wiring within. He quickly attached them to her daggers.
"Hopefully this works," he muttered.
"No faith at all in us, Wilson?" Jessica snipped.
Sam rolled his eyes, as he followed close. She leapt onto the ceiling, crawling towards the creature. Dodging a claw here and there, she leapt onto the thing's shoulders, the daggers singing deep into its neck. It yowled in anger.
"Now!"
Sam pressed the shock button, as Jessica pressed her glowing hands to the creatures' skull. It squealed as it shuddered, the electricity ripping inside its body. The smell of burnt flesh filled the car as it finally collapsed.
Steve sighed, running a hand through his hair. Sam gave Jessica a hand up. The two men looked to her, eyes expectant.
She huffed. "May as well as sit down. We're going to be here awhile anyway."
…
The realization came at a certain age. I was seventeen. You were sixteen. We were heading back to Brookyln in the back of a freezer truck after I spent all our money trying to impress a redhead at Coney Island. The sun was setting, our legs dangling over the bed of the truck. It cast your hair a brilliant gold, your wan face seeming to glow with life.
It didn't matter what dame came along to change things. What stupid things I did, or what pointless fight you got yourself into. We would always be there for each other. Because we were more than friends, more than brothers.
I don't know what you would call it. But I think for everyone, there is another person that is their other half. Someone that always got his or her back, 'til the end of the line.
Romantic, or platonic, it doesn't matter. Some people are just meant to be with you.
And that person was you. Always you.
Excerpt from Bucky Barnes' journals. Taken as evidence by the Anti-Terrorism Task Force for the bombing in Vienna. 2016.
Hey everyone I know its been a while. Since seeing Avengers Endgame (omg that movie was amazing), I've been inspired to begin writing this fic again. Now, I'm determined to finish it. Whatever it takes ;)