Summary: Fury's new organization catches up with the Winter Soldier.
"We have new intel on the Winter Soldier" was Fury's way of greeting Steve, Natasha, Sam, and Clint.
"What is it?" Clint asked, not even bothering to open the folder in front of him. Natasha punched him lightly in the shoulder.
"Well, if you actually considered reading it, you might know" she rolled her eyes. Steve and Sam each hid smirks at the red-haired assassin's comment.
"He's in Brooklyn. It seems that he's recovering his memories" Fury said, watching as Steve swallowed.
The super-soldier knew exactly why Bucky would go to Brooklyn.
"Alright, let's go" Natasha stood up. All four men looked at her in surprise.
"You mean you actually read that?" Sam asked incredulously.
"Yeah" Natasha shrugged, making reading a close to fifty-page file on a "ghost" easy. Clint rolled his eyes and laughed as Sam continued to stare.
"Okay…what's on page thirteen?" he asked.
"A photo of the Winter Soldier taken in 1943. You couldn't have asked me anything harder?" she raised an eyebrow.
Sam just threw his hands up and joined Natasha by the door. Steve and Clint laughed as they followed the two out of the room.
They were still chuckling as they walked down the hall. Glancing next to him, Clint saw the little half-smile Natasha made when she was trying not to laugh.
"He rented out this apartment two weeks ago. Landlady thinks he's still here." Natasha said as she slid a knife into her boot.
"For having a reputation as a ghost, he isn't exactly covering his tracks" Clint pointed out as he fixed up the last few of his arrows. He frowned as he twisted the end of one of Stark's newly invented tranquilizer arrows. They were technically on loan from the inventor, but Clint was almost certain they were not going to be returned any time soon.
"I agree. Steve, you sure he's still here? Why would he stay, anyways?" Sam queried.
"We grew up here. If he wants to regain his memories, this is probably the first place he'd stop." Steve responded, for a moment lost in thought as he remembered Bucky always being there for him when he was getting bullied or when he was sick.
"Alright Cap, it's your call" Nat said.
Steve nodded.
"Clint, you got those arrows ready?" he asked. The archer nodded and secured them in his quiver.
"You're up on the fire escape. Sam, you're on the roof. Watch for Buck- him if he tries to run."
Sam mock saluted him. Steve turned to Natasha.
"Nat, you'll be with me. Don't shoot to kill, unless you have to" he reminded her.
"Of course. And by the way, Isabelle in tech would love to-"
"Natasha…" Steve mustered a glare. The assassin smirked.
"No time, right…" She quoted.
The two of them slipped out, closely followed by Clint and Sam who swiftly split away from them.
"Nat, you in position?" Steve murmured.
"Yep."
Steve's breath caught in his throat as he caught sight of his best-friend-turned-assassin. Bucky looked even worse than when Steve had last seen him. His eyes had heavy circles under them and he seemed to be staggering as he walked. Steve made a split second decision and stood up, allowing his shield to fall to the floor with a clatter. He could hear Natasha's tense whisper in his ear.
"What are you doing?" she hissed.
"Trust me."
"Bucky" Steve stepped out, his hands raised.
The Winter Soldier spun around his lips pulled back into a snarl. Steve took a hesitant step forward.
"Bucky."
"Don't. Call. Me. That." The Winter Soldier's voice was laced with venom, but Steve could see how his shoulders were slumped and how exhausted he looked. He took another step forward. Bucky watched him warily.
"Bucky, this isn't you. I know you."
"Not anymore. You can't fix everything," Bucky said coldly, his tone matching his name.
"You're right. I can't fix everything. But I can fix you…" Out of the corner of his eye, Steve saw Clint appear outside on the fire escape in the window behind Bucky. The archer held up one finger, signaling that he needed one more minute. Steve nodded marginally. He could see Clint carefully and silently cutting a hole in the glass with a laser. The circle of glass popped out and Clint deftly caught it. He set it against the wall and quietly notched an arrow. Bucky was still glaring at Steve, but his expression had started to soften.
"You. You were the man on the bridge. Steve…" Bucky's forehead wrinkled and something flashed through his blue eyes as though something finally clicked.
"Ste-" he was cut off as an arrow pierced his back. Steve immediately rushed forward and caught Bucky as his knees buckled. Steve pulled out the arrow, glad for once, for Stark's technology. The arrow had barely left a scratch on Bucky's back, yet it was clear that the assassin had been hit with some sort of tranquilizer.
"Stee…" Bucky slurred, his eyes completely glazed over. Steve smiled sadly.
"Yeah, Buck, it's me."
"T' th' end…of th' l'ne…" Bucky tried to say something more, but the drug was affecting his speech and the only thing that came out was a mumbled whimper. He let out another soft sound and Steve cradled him a little bit tighter.
"To the end of the line" Steve whispered as Bucky finally succumbed and he went limp.
So I have decided to make this story a collection of drabbles (all over 800 words). Please feel free to leave suggestions for the next few chapters! Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, and favorited this story!