Well, here it goes, another chapter. Thanks to everyone who has followed/ favorited this story! Also, I was obsessed with a story a certain Author wrote, and they actually found this story and fav/ followed it. Thanks AgentW, you nearly gave me a heart attack! And thanks to a certain guest who gave me a very kind review.

Also, to Super Shadow, once again, thanks for the review! I do intend to do things similar to what you commented! Thanks!

Also sorry for how long this chapter has taken, my dear friend showed me a couple new book series and I'm currently trying to read them all. So thanks for your patience. Also, I have no idea how to write this chap.

-PaleWolfsHowl.

Winter felt odd. Very odd. What was this new feeling? Like a mix of.. adrenaline and nerves, mixed with an odd bubbly feeling? Okay, that sounded stupid even to him.

But he felt lighter somehow, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Though, he was still very aware of the fact that he belonged to Hydra and always would. This was a nice break, but at the same time it was torture.

This little bit of time with the Avengers and Steve was like a new kind of torment. Kinda like if you gave a blind man a glimpse of the world only to take it all away again, leaving him in darkness. That's why Winter knew he could never leave this room alive. Not when the risk was losing himself again, whoever he was. And the biggest thing, if this.. Future video was accurate, then Winter could actually harm The Captain, or one of The Captain's friends. And he could never, never let that happen.

Not only for his own sake, but for the sake of who he once was. He didn't want to drag the memory of Steve's best friend through the mud again. Not after he'd done it so many times. It was an odd agony, being forced to leave life the moment it was starting to look better.

It was bittersweet, the fact that Winter would die of his own will, in control of his own actions, was a blessing. He certainly didn't deserve it though, not with all the innocent blood on his hands. The bitter part was that he finally had some time to be himself, only to have it cruelly ripped away by the unfair and cold clutches of the earth.

But he knew there was no other way, he'd have to end it. It was the only way. Besides, he didn't deserve life. Not after he had taken so, so many with his own hands. It didn't matter that he hadn't been in control. It was still his hands on the gun, the knife, the rope. And Winter hated it. He hated being a tool, and being used. And he wouldn't let it happen again.

Winter knew that The girl hadn't taken all of his weapons, he still had a gun, hidden in a slot in his arm. Where Hydra had put it.

He was snapped out of his increasingly morbid thoughts by the movie.

[back at SHIELD, Steve is brought to Pierce who is talking to Agent 13]

Alexander Pierce: For whatever it's worth, you did your best.

Sharon Carter: Thank you, sir. [as she turns to leave she sees Steve] Captain Rogers. [Steve replies coldly as he walks towards Pierce]

Steve Rogers: Neighbor.

"Oo, ouch. That's cold, even for you, Capsicle." Stark said, and Winter assumed he was trying to lighten up the mood. For Steve's face had gone rigid as he watched his 'Neighbor'.

Winter wanted to offer The Captain comfort, but that would be an awkward position, seeing as Steve's hand was already on Winter's back. Also, Winter had overstepped his bounds enough for one day. He'd even been sarcastic, something that, he vaguely remembered had gotten himself more than one slap.

Alexander Pierce: Ah, Captain. I'm Alexander Pierce.

'Ah, Captain. I'm a lunatic who likes to hear little children scream for their parents.' Was more accurate. Winter had been commanded to hold down more than one small child as Pierce tortured them. It was never fun, even when Winter was busy being Mr. Brainwashed, he still hadn't liked it, or been okay with it. Something about the screams had always brought a very maternal protective side out in him.

Not that that really mattered in the end.

Steve Rogers: Sir, it's an honor. [they shake hands]

"Obviously, you don't know what 'a honor' is." Winter couldn't help but mutter under his breath. But then he instantly felt awful about it. After all, who was he to sass of Captain America? He was just a murder, he didn't know a thing about honor.

Winter was as tense as a bolt, he could feel Steve's sad eyes on him. The Hydra Assassin just burrowed back into his chair, letting Steve's hand rest on his shoulder.

Alexander Pierce: The honor is mine, Captain. My father served in the 101st. Come on in.

Winter felt a jolt of panic as The Captain followed Pierce into the room. It made him think of all the times he'd been forced to follow the man into a room. Normally by the time he came out, he couldn't remember going in.

Now that the memories were coming back, it wasn't only the good ones, with Steve, he was also getting a full blast of Hydra.

He remembered things long forgotten; like the time he'd been forced to choose between a piece of bread, and shooting a woman. That was very early on, and he could still remember being Bucky Barnes at that point. So at first he had refused, but everyone breaks eventually. He remembered pulling the trigger, and watching the woman fall. He remembered watching many breath their last, he sure knew he'd helped people reach that last breath.

He remembered poisoning a little girl's dinner, and watching her fall out of her chair, skin as white as snow. He remembered watching the parents scream and cry over their little girl. He remembered being led into a room by a Hydra agent, and heated until he broke down and cried.

The more memories that came back, the more he hated himself. He was a monster. It didn't matter who he used to be, because he was what he was now. And he pitied The Captain, for Steve still had hope for his friend. But even though Bucky Barnes still breathed, he had died many, many, long cold years ago.

[they enter Pierce's office where he shows Steve an old photo of Fury with Pierce] That photo was taken five years after Nick and I met. When I was at the State Department in Bogota. ELN rebels took the embassy, and security got me out, but the rebels took hostages. Nick was deputy chief for the SHIELD station there. And he comes to me with a plan. He wants to storm the building through the sewers. I said, "No, we'll negotiate." Turned out the ELN didn't negotiate, so they put out a kill order. They stormed the basement, and what did they find?

Winter didn't remember this specifically, but he thought he might have been there. He tilted his head a little.

"What is it?" Steve asked, having noticed Winter's expression of confusion.

"I think… I think I was there." He said vaguely, gesturing towards the screen with a metal finger.

He noticed that Stark was eyeing him now. "Do you… do you remember killing anyone who looked kinda like me, but older?" The man asked, his voice was oddly distant.

Winter's brow furrowed, he thought for a couple seconds. Had he? He didn't know, he had killed many, many, people. How was he supposed to remember specifics.

So he just shrugged. He couldn't say he hadn't killed whoever Stark was asking about, but he couldn't say he had either.

They find it empty. Nick had ignored my direct order and carried out an unauthorized military operation on foreign soil. He saved the lives of a dozen political officers, including my daughter.

Was the guy actually sick enough to try and kill his own daughter? Or was Pierce only making up stuff for symphony? Winter wasn't sure if he really wanted to know.

Looking around, he saw that most of the humans seemed to share his feelings on the matter.

Steve Rogers: So you gave him a promotion.

Alexander Pierce: I've never had any cause to regret it. Captain, why was Nick in your apartment last night?

"Oooo- busted." Stark practically sang, looking delighted at the tense movie versions of themselves.

The Captain rolled his eyes, glaring halfheartedly. Maybe- Archer Clint smirked and repeated what Stark had said.

Winter really couldn't understand these humans, what was wrong with them? This was not funny. At all! Steve could be in danger in the future, and they were acting like children about it.

He took a deep, calm breath, looking at the Avengers. It wasn't their fault, they were probably trying to lighten the atmosphere.

Steve Rogers: I don't know.

Alexander Pierce: You know it was bugged?

Steve Rogers: I did, because Nick told me.

The Assassin wondered if The Captain disliked this conversation as much as he did. He bet Steve did, since his future self was in danger.

Winter sighed, why was his life so messed up? Why couldn't he just be normal? Like he used to be, why couldn't he live a real life? What had he done to make God hate him so much? Obviously, Bucky couldn't have been a bad person, not when Steve seemed to care about him so much.

He fought back these thoughts, it wasn't helping anything. He would rest soon enough, or maybe he'd burn in hell..

It didn't matter, all that mattered was that Steve would be alright.

Alexander Pierce: Did he tell you he was the one who bugged it? [Steve doesn't reply obviously not knowing this information] I want you to see something. [he brings up footage of Batroc being interrogated]

SHIELD Agent: Who hired you, Batroc?

Was Pierce trying to frame Fury, or was he being honest? Winter didn't know, and that bothered him. He liked knowing stuff, so he could hold it over his enemies. He wasn't sure if that was a Winter Soldier thing or a Bucky Barnes thing.

He didn't really care.

Steve Rogers: Is that live?

Alexander Pierce: Yeah, they picked him up last night in a not-so-safe house in Algiers.

Steve Rogers: Are you saying he's a suspect? Assassination isn't Batroc's line.

Alexander Pierce: No, it's more complicated than that. Batroc was hired anonymously to attack the Lemurian Star and he was contacted by e-mail and paid by wire transfer. And then the money was run through seventeen fictitious accounts, the last one going to a holding company that was registered to a Jacob Veech.

Winter noticed Stark's eyes widening at that, maybe he'd known this Veech?

Steve Rogers: Am I supposed to know who that is? [he hands Steve the file]

Alexander Pierce: Not likely. Veech died six years ago. His last address was 14-35 Elmhurst Drive. When I first met Nick his mother lived at 14-37.

Steve Rogers: Are you saying Fury hired the pirates? Why?

Alexander Pierce: The prevailing theory was that the hijacking was a cover for the acquisition and sale of classified intelligence. The sale went sour and that led to Nick's death.

"Ya, no. That is not what happened." Winter scoffed, then paused. "Well, Eye- Patch may have hired The Pirates."

Steve looked at him with confusion. "Why do you say that?"

"Well, it's the same reason I was sent to kill Fury. He knew about Hydra, and all of those Agents that were taken captive, were probably Hydra." The Assassin explained, and most of the human's nodded.

Steve Rogers: If you really knew Nick Fury you'd know that's not true.

"Well, under normal circumstances.." Steve said, making his point. Everyone, minus Winter, nodded in agreement.

"I donno, he looks like the kind of guy who'd like Pirates." Winter couldn't help but say.

"Why's that?" Natasha asked with narrowed green eyes. Winter shrugged, then gestured towards his eye, smirking under the mask as he did so.

Stark and Maybe- Archer Clint fell over laughing, and Steve snickered a little. Natasha just glared at him halfheartedly.

Alexander Pierce: Why do you think we're talking? See, I took a seat on the Council not because I wanted to but because Nick asked me to, because we were both realists. We knew that despite all the diplomacy and the handshaking and the rhetoric, that to build a really better world sometimes means having to tear the old one down. And that makes enemies. Those people that call you dirty because you got the guts to stick your hands in the mud and try to build something better. And the idea that those people could be happy today, makes me really, really angry.

Some of that speech was lies, and other parts was truth. Pierce sure did want to tear the earth down, that was for sure. He wanted it to burn and bow to him.

Winter didn't like burning and bowing, though he'd done it many, many times.

He stiffened as a flashback hit him hard;

The Asset was kneeling on the ground, blood pouring from his nose and mouth, and various cuts on his body. His hair was matted with blood and grease, and he'd been stripped of his shirt, leaving him shivering in the cold.

He tried to stand, but his legs gave way beneath him, making him sink back to the ground. Pain burned through him and blurred his vision.

He felt a harsh hand jerk his chin up, making his already pounding headache increase. His icy blue eyes met Pierce's cold emotionless blue eyes.

"Stand, Soldier." The man hissed, slapping The Asset and sending him tumbling onto his elbows. He tried to comply, he really did, but every time he got back up, he fell back down. Each time he fell, a whip slashed his back. Over and over again.

Until he just couldn't get back up, Pierce knelt down next to him, trailing the whip over a highly personal area before bringing in down hard.

Winter jerked out of the flashback with a hard flinch, remembering the fathom pains.

He met Steve's worried eyes and shrugged.

[he hesitates a moment] Captain, you were the last one to see Nick alive. I don't think that's an accident, and I don't think you do either. So I'm gonna ask again, why was he there?

Steve Rogers: He told me not to trust anyone.

He was right. Winter thought with a grimace underneath the mask.

Alexander Pierce: I wonder if that included him. [Steve pauses a moment before replying]

Steve Rogers: I'm sorry. Those were his last words. Excuse me. [Steve picks up his shield, places it on his back and starts to make his out of the office]

Alexander Pierce: Captain. [Steve stops and looks at Pierce] Somebody murdered my friend and I'm gonna find out why. Anyone gets in my way, they're gonna regret it. Anyone.

Winter almost laughed at the pure ridiculousness of that statement. You killed your friend! Or well, technically I did, but you made me. Winter couldn't help but think. After all, Pierce probably did make Winter regret it. (Okay, I don't normally do this, but I was just overcome by the urge to write Stabby instead of Winter. XD)

Steve Rogers: Understood. [Steve turns and leaves]

Steve Rogers: [after he leaves Pierce's office he steps into the elevator] Operations control.

SHIELD Computer: Confirmed. [just as the elevator doors are about to close Rumlow steps in with two STRIKE agents]

Brock Rumlow: Keep all STRIKE personnel on site.

STRIKE Agent #1: Understood.

STRIKE Agent #2: Yes, sir.

Brock Rumlow: Forensics.

SHIELD Computer: Confirmed.

Brock Rumlow: Cap.

Steve Rogers: Rumlow. [the elevator doors close and they start riding down]

Everyone tensed at this. Steve's hand stilled on Winter's back, as The Captain tensed at the scene in the movie.

Winter felt tense and uncomfortable, but he managed to lift a hand- not the metal one- and put it on Steve's shoulder trying to calm him. But Winter wasn't practiced in calm, he specialized in stabbing and murdering and stuff like that.

It's a good thing you aren't having children. Winter couldn't help but smirk under his mask at that thought.

Brock Rumlow: Evidence Response found some fibres on the roof they want us to see. You want me to get the tac-team ready?

Steve Rogers: No, lets wait and see what it is first.

Brock Rumlow: Right. [Steve notices one of the agents touching his weapon suspiciously] [the elevator stops and more SHIELD and STRIKE agents enter]

SHIELD Agent #1: What's the status so far?

SHIELD Agent #2: Administrations level.

SHIELD Computer: Confirmed.

SHIELD Agent #2: [to Steve] Excuse me.

Brock Rumlow: [to Steve] I'm sorry about what happened with Fury. Messed up, what happened to him.

Steve Rogers: Thank you. [feeling something is off, Steve looks at the agents in the elevator and notices one of them is sweating, then the elevator stops and more agents enter]

STRIKE Agent #3: Records.

SHIELD Computer: Confirmed. [as the elevator doors close Steve realizes he's been surrounded by agents]

Steve Rogers: Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Stark and Maybe- Archer Clint exclaimed, chanting and swinging their fists. Children.

Natasha slapped his friend over the head, and Bruce scowled at Stark.

The Captain just looked amused.

[there's a moment's pause before suddenly one of the agents turns and uses an electric rod to give Steve a shock, the others grab him and try to strap his wrists with magnetic cuffs, Steve manages to knock some of them down but one cuff remains, then Rumlow uses his rod to give Steve a shock] [as Steve is being attacked we see Sitwell in a controls room watching them from a monitor]

Jasper Sitwell: Mobilize STRIKE units, 25th floor. [Steve manages free himself from the magnetic cuff and knock all the agents down, he turns to Rumlow]

Brock Rumlow: Whoa, big guy. I just want you to know, Cap, this ain't personal.

"It kind of looks personal." Winter said, eyeing Rumlow on the screen. Steve just shrugged, smiling a little at The Assassin.

[Rumlow then goes to attack Steve with his electric rod but Steve manages to defend himself and eventually knocks Rumlow out]

Steve Rogers: It kind of feels personal.

There was a long moment of silence, then both Winter and Steve looked at each other and fell over laughing. Winter couldn't remember laughing. Ever. But it felt good, like a kind of chattering goodness in the pit of his stomach.

He knew the human's were staring at him in shock. He didn't really care. As long as Steve was laughing with him.

Finally they stopped laughing and climbed into their seats, leaning into each other unconsciously, their shoulders brushing.

Winter did notice Natasha's raised eyebrow.

[Steve picks up his shield then opens the elevator doors, but he's faced by a team of STRIKE agents pointing their weapons at him]

25th Floor STRIKE Agent: Drop the shield! Put your hands in the air! [Steve uses his shield to break off the elevator wires which sends the elevator down, as he forces the doors open he sees more STRIKE agents approaching him, he closes the door and looks for a way out]

STRIKE Agent: Give it up, Rogers! Get that door open! You have nowhere to go! [Steve breaks through the glass in the elevator and plummets down to finally hit the ground floor, from his monitor Sitwell watches in shock as Steve gets up and starts running off]

Jasper Sitwell: Are you kidding me? [ordering the STRIKE team] He's headed for the garage. Lock down the bridge! [Steve rides out of the SHIELD garage on his motorcycle, evading the obstacles laid out but then a Quinjet emerges ahead of him]

Quinjet Pilot: Stand down, Captain Rogers. Stand down. [the Quinjet lowers its machine gun] Repeat, stand down. [as Steve doesn't stop they start shooting at him, Steve throws his shield into the propellers to jam it, giving him an opportunity to hop onto it and do more damage to the jet with his shield before jumping off as the jet goes crashing down and he escapes]

Everyone cheers and congratulates The Captain on his successful escape. Except for Winter, he just sat there, but he showed his support of Steve's fighting skills by squeezing his shoulder.

He didn't know why Steve felt so comfortable by him. Like heck, he was an evil, mind controlled, Assassin. Why was The Captain so comfortable just sitting there next to him?

Jasper Sitwell: [to the SHIELD agents] Eyes here. [everyone, including Agent 13, looks at Sitwell] Whatever your op is, bury it. This is Level One. Contact DOT. All traffic lights in the district go red. Shut all runways at BWI, IAD and Reagan. All security cameras in the city go through this monitor, right here. Scan all open sources. Phones, computers, PDAs, whatever. If someone tweets about this guy, I want to know about it.

Sharon Carter: With all due respect, If SHIELD is conducting a manhunt for Captain America, we deserve to know why.

"Yes! Tell her." Grumbled Steve, glaring at the Hydra agents. Winter joined in the glaring at Hydra agents happily. It was a fun game.

Alexander Pierce: Because he lied to us. [Pierce enters the room] Captain Rogers has information regarding the death of Director Fury, he refused to share it. As difficult as this is to accept, Captain America is a fugitive from SHIELD.

"Captain Rogers has information regarding my treachery, that we can't let him spread. As difficult as this is to accept, Captain America is a good person." Stark said, impersonating Pierce's voice, causing most of the room to laugh at that.

Winter smiled under his mask, he was glad that these would be the last faces he'd see. As annoying as Stark was, he had a good sense of humor.

He distantly remembered someone like Stark… Howard? Howard Stark, maybe Tony Stark's.. Father?

Then he remembered Stark's question, if he'd ever killed anyone that looked like him. And, Winter did remember doing it now. The car. The women. Howard trying to trigger winter's memory. Oh darn, what had he done!?