Many thanks to Aublanc, my beta for this story.
Title: Lessons And Liars
Prompt: "Magnetic Words: Use inspiration from a magnetic poetry set to create your story."
Warnings: Post Captain America: Winter Soldier
The Winter Soldier traced each letter with care and ignored the angry voices that bled through the walls. It wasn't his place to know what they were talking about. It never was unless they spoke directly to him. He wasn't to speak unless spoken to either. Those were some of the very first lessons he'd learned.
The Captain often said that there was no need to obey those rules anymore. The Winter Soldier did not agree. A failure to follow such simplistic orders was ample excuse for punishment. He didn't plan on giving these SHIELD men any further opportunity for that; he'd had enough punishment for a lifetime.
The Winter Soldier pressed his lips together and ran his fingers over the word he'd been tracing for over an hour now.
Prisoner.
Out of all the words stuck to the metal siding in this strange kitchen, this one haunted him the most.
He didn't know why it should.
"Bucky? What've you got there?"
The Captain and the one known as Tony had stopped their shouting and entered the room while he was distracted. The Winter Soldier analyzed the situation, taking in the tired slump of the Captain's shoulders and the expression somewhere between challenge and curiosity on Tony's face. A minor threat, but acceptable for now. The Captain sighed and approached the Soldier, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Bucky, whatever it is, leave it alone. We're leaving."
He intended to do just as the Captain wished, had already moved a step towards the door when that word ensnared him again. He didn't know why it should have such power over him. Why that specific arrangement of letters could draw his sight, draw his touch so easily.
He felt more than heard the Captain leaning around him to see what caught his attention so fully. Despite the growing awareness that a punishment would be dealt soon, he couldn't stop himself from reaching out and tracing the letters one last time. He stiffened when the Captain swore softly under his breath and tore his fingers away as if the word had the power to scald. The Captain's face creased with what the Winter Soldier could only name as bitter sadness.
"Bucky... G-d, I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
The Winter Soldier glanced back at the offending word before meeting the Capitan's eyes again.
"I'm fine, Captain. I apologize for the delay."
The Winter Soldier abruptly pushed past the two men but stopped just short of the door, willfully ignoring the confusion overtaking Tony's face and the unpleasant mixture of grief and hurt that crumpled the Captain's features.
"Bucky" might have meant something to the Captain once upon a time, might have been the Soldier's designation at a time long past, and the word 'prisoner' might have once meant something to them both. But the Winter Soldier refused to let that affect him. He'd wouldn't allow himself to get attached to any name, any persona. "Bucky" was no one and nothing to him.
(He'd always been a bad liar.)