A warning to the people,
The good and the evil,
This is war.

To the soldier, the civilian,
The martyr, the victim,
This is war.

- This is War by 30 Seconds to Mars

"You know that you have to come back," he says, leaning against the metal crate.

It is midnight, in the darkened warehouse. The shadows cling to them, only a pale lamp high above them to light the many boxes and metal containers that surround them. His partner has become scruffy, stubble lining his chin and dark bruises lining his eyes.

"No I don't," his partner says, not even looking at him as he lifted a box into his arms, carrying it into the large storage container with the rest.

"You do. You're just," a smile, thin and hollow in the light as the man steps back out, "Confused. That is all. You've changed, but they'll fix you. They always do."

"I'm…not who I thought I was," Bucky said softly, glancing away. "And…I don't think you are either…"

Blue eyes glance back at him at him, but he doesn't move from the shadows.

"That's not the mission. That's not our mission. You know that. You've always known that. Partner," he says gently, leaning forward. "Come back. Whatever the Soldier did to you-"

"Don't talk about him." The former soldier snarls, his gloved hands curling into fists.

He bristles at the tone, drawing himself up. Unwanted. He is unwanted.

"I do not quite think you understand. You are my mission. You will come back with me." Back. Back with him. Back where his work is a gift to the world and not-

"It's not my home."

"So be it." He says stiffly. If he must drag him back by the scruff of his neck, he will do so. He stands, pushing himself away from the crate and into the light.

His partner slowly reaches into his pocket, drawing a blade.

He stiffens. His partner wished to fight? His hand reaches back, towards the spaces between-

And then the soldier flips it, showing the hilt.

"This is yours, isn't it? Why did you give it to me?"

The green eyes narrow. He stares down at the blade, at the L engraved along the pommel.

"I do not..." Pain, do not re- do not- no, stop- please!

He comes back into himself, his head throbbing painfully from within. But as he lifts a hand to rub at his aching head, something blocks it. He squints, blinking at the metal that now encloses his wrists to the metal crate behind him. He turned, glaring at his partner.

"I am not going back." His former ally declares, blue eyes as cold as the season he is named for. "And if you ever come near me again, I will put a bullet between your eyes."

He snarls, turning, and it takes less than two tugs to wrench himself free of the electromagnetic cuffs. He pulls out his blade, turning to end this nonsense-!

Only to be greeted by the darkness that surrounded them.

He growls, knocking a fist back against the metal crate angrily, uncaring of how it warps under the force of his hand. Damn him.

This mission is far from over.