Chapter 15

"Bucky?"

"Who the hell is Bucky?"

The man on the bridge… The Winter Soldier had seen him before. At least he thought he had. The man had talked to him like they would know each other. That wasn't possible.

"Bucky, no!"

He had fallen. Pain. Blood. Snow. They had cut his arm off. Who? Why?

"Sargeant Barnes?"

That face.. Round glasses… The man was smiling. Like a proud father. No. Like a travesty of a proud father. He hated this man. He needed to kill this man. Why? Who was he?

"The procedure has already started… You are to be the new fist of HYDRA…"

"You," he snarled as he grabbed the man's throat. This man was his enemy. He needed to die. The soldier was just about to crush the man's windpipe when he heard a weak voice.

"Don't… Please…"

That didn't sound right. He knew that voice. It was a female voice. That couldn't be right. He blinked a few times and slowly the images in his head began to disappear. His metal hand was around someone's throat. Darla. He was choking Darla. No, no, no, this couldn't be true. He released her as quickly as he could and caught her before she fell on the floor. She was coughing and gasping for air. What had he done?

"No…" he murmured.

She looked up and met his gaze before he had time to say anything else. The look in her eyes was warning as she touched her lips with her finger. She wanted him to stay quiet. Why?

"Are you…" he started but she pushed him back on the chair before he could finish his sentence. He didn't resist, although he couldn't understand what was happening. She quickly climbed onto his lap, straddling his thighs.

"You must steady yourself, soldier," she stated, her voice a bit hoarse.

He stared at her as she took her t-shirt off. She wasn't wearing bra. Slowly she took his normal hand and guided it on her right breast.

"You see?" she continued, looking at him in the eyes. "This body belongs to you. You can use it however you like."

Her words made no sense to him until she pressed her breasts against his chest and started kissing his neck.

"You must control yourself," she whispered in his ear. "Please."

Everything was suddenly clear to him. This room. This chair. What they would do to him if he would act irrationally. He and Darla were alone here, but they were watching. Listening. There was no room for mistakes. His face became stoic as he buried all the confusing images someone deep in his mind. Instead, he focused on the half-naked woman on his lap. He saw the bruises on her neck and wanted to say how sorry he was for hurting her, but he couldn't do that. Not here.

"You're right," he stated, keeping his voice as cold as he could. "This body belongs to me."

She startled as he grabbed her throat with his metal hand again, but this time he made sure his grip didn't cause her any pain.

"You're here for my enjoyment."

Those words sounded nothing but wrong to him, but he kept his face completely blank.

"Yes," she replied quietly.

He looked at her for a moment before releasing her from his grip.

"I haven't been given my orders yet," he stated. "I haven't been authorized to use your body."

"Okay," she murmured.

He pushed her gently off his lap.

"We must wait for our orders."

"Yes, you're right," she replied and quickly picked up her shirt. She barely had time to put it on when the metal door opened. A few agents entered the room first, followed by Pierce and Dr. Nolan. Pierce was clapping his hands.

"Bravo, young lady!" he praised. "Well done!"

"Thank you, sir," Darla murmured.

Dr. Nolan was smiling, beaming with pride. They had sent Darla here, knowing that the soldier could kill her. He had almost killed her. They had risked her life. The thought made him feel dark anger, but his face remained stoic. He stood up and greeted Pierce.

"Sir."

Pierce observed him sharply and crossed his arms.

"Mission report," he demanded.

The soldier obeyed, giving his superior a detailed description of his mission. He left out the part about the man on the bridge looking somehow familiar to him.

"Were you hurt?" Pierce asked.

"Not badly, sir. I feel normal again."

Pierce nodded.

"Very good." He paused and stepped in front of the soldier. "You know, your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped the century and I need you to do it again. Society is at a tipping point between order and chaos. Tomorrow morning, we're going to fix it. We're going to give the world the freedom it deserves."

"Yes, sir."

Pierce smiled and touched the soldier's shoulder.

"You've done well and of course you deserve to be rewarded for all your hard work." He paused again and glanced at Darla. "Come here, my dear."

She kept her eyes on the floor as she moved beside Pierce. The soldier could easily tell how tense she was.

"Such a lovely young lady," Pierce stated smiling. "Does she please you?"

"Yes, sir," the soldier replied, keeping his tone of voice cold and careless.

"Ah, I can see why. What would you say if you could have her anytime you want? She would always be there in your bed, waiting for you."

"I would like that," the soldier replied, avoiding looking at Darla.

"It's settled then, she's all yours. That's the least I can do for the hero of HYDRA."

"Sir…" Dr. Nolan started tensely. "May I have a word with you…"

"That will have to wait, Victor," Pierce cut in. "And get her some nicer clothes for heaven's sake."

"Sir? Can I have her in my room tonight?" the soldier asked, still avoiding looking at Darla. He hated to talk about her like she would be some kind of object, but he needed to make sure that she was alright. Not to mention she would be safe in his room.

"Of course," Pierce replied smiling. "I'm sure she can help you relax before tomorrow's mission."