All the Plot Bunnies

Contrary to what Rogers thought, he was not Bucky from the 40’s and he could never be again. He had put forth a mask of the flashes he could remember and what Rogers had told him. He didn’t mourn the loss of who he once was because even though he was beginning to recall more, he didn’t have any attachment to it. It was like looking back at a dossier of a target:

James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes

U.S. Army 107th Infantry Sergeant

Elite Combat Unit ‘Howling Commandos’

Master Marksman, Expert Tactician

Successful Test Subject of Zola’s Super Soldier Variant Which Has Given Him Enhanced Strength, Durability, Speed, Agility, Stamina, Reflexes, Healing, Longevity

Affiliated with Captain America (Steve Rogers), Agent Peggy Carter, Howard Stark

Family Includes Rebecca Barnes (Sister), Winnifred Barnes (Mother), and George Barnes (Father)

Personality: Extremely devoted and loyal to those he loves, headstrong, patriotic, and has a strong sense of morality.

Other Points to Maintain Cover: Rogers used to wear newspapers in his shoes, Went with Rogers to the 1943 Stark Expo with dates, Rogers always picks fights even when he will lose and Barnes protects him.

He decided to go along with Rogers for now, the peace he had tentatively found destroyed. It had already begun to fall apart before the man came into his life and he was a good enough excuse to focus on the mission parameters he had set out for himself one day when he realized the triggers weren’t going anywhere.

Well, they realized. He didn’t have a name for his current self but the one constantly in the back of his mind was Soldat, who came out to play often. He had never been afraid of his counterpart but the damn guy was a nuisance sometimes, always analyzing, biting at the bit to reign hellfire down and let blood run. The current him wasn’t really bloodthirsty and just wanted a more quiet life but was still a trained assassin all the same.

I just want my plums, tea, and to finish my damn book, he grumped to himself.

You can have those after putting bullets in the heads of the remaining Soldiers and acquiring our new handler. Soldat retorted.

He inwardly sighed and didn’t reply back. They had reached the Siberian bunker and he had allowed Soldat to come to the front as he slipped into the back of their mind.

Then, Stark had shown up as an ally and Soldat recalled what HYDRA had informed him about him, “Avoid Tony Stark at all costs. Highly dangerous.”

This had pleased Soldat, having the Merchant of Death at his side. He had eyed Rogers with disdain. The man had been a clever tactician but he’d been observing since Bucharest and found that his skills were lacking in the era they were in.

He had noticed the wrongness two seconds into the room, all the Soldiers already had a bullet shot through there skull and no one else was in the room.

This is a trap, the other him said.

No shit, snapped Soldat.

Stark took 5 seconds to notice; Rogers took a full 43 seconds. The other him had the time to appreciate how Stark, a civilian, noticed almost as quickly as him. He also had wanted to scoff in derision at Roger’s time.

It took him those 43 seconds to locate the intruder. Soldat wanted to give a smirk at how well they had hidden themselves but not well enough from him. Perhaps Soldat would get a challenge from this.

But the moment that he recognized the man from his earlier use of the trigger words, he wanted to let out a snarl and just rip his head off. He began to monologue and the other him listened as Soldat sharply scanned the area. A computer screen lit up with Russian displayed across the screen, “16 Декабрь 1991” [December 16, 1991].

He felt that date was somehow familiar and it made his blood run cold. Just after Zemo’s lips finished saying, "An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumbles from within? That's dead. Forever,” he gathered the intel into a list and expounded on it.

Helmut Zemo

Not Hydra; Made every effort to find the Book.

Lost son, wife, and father in Sokovia.

Willing to do anything to enact revenge on Avengers.

Studied Avengers group for a year for weaknesses.

Used trigger words to activate the Asset.

Current video highly likely an Asset mission in the 90’s.

Highly likely showing for inner conflict amongst Avengers.

Highly likely mission targets related to an Avenger.

Mission parameters December 16, 1991 were…..

His mind came to a halt like he ran into a wall and Soldat wanted to roar in frustration.

What did you expect? The other part of him said. You know you can’t just force the Asset memories out.

Blyad'! [fuck!], Soldat growled in frustration.

Then, Soldat heard Stark say, “I know that road.”

He flicked his eyes to him and saw that the man seemed to be breathless and shaking. Stark stared at the screen intently, his jaw clamped down and a look of dread on his face. He looked over at Rogers, who was breathing heavily as well and he looked not with curiosity but resignation, like he knew what was about to happen. And he was letting it.

Soldat huffed, Do we have to do everything ourselves?

The other him didn’t reply but he knew they were both exasperated with this. Zemo may think he’s cunning but he missed one detail that only they knew - the Winter Soldier needed Stark and could not risk anything happening to him.

So, with a few strides, Soldat was at the back of the computer and calmly tore the monitor away from the rest of it, cords snapping away with ease. He then gently set down the monitor, turned to Stark and Rogers, who were staring at him in bewilderment.

He straightened, put his feet apart, and clasped his hands behind his back. His face turned blank as he reported, “Assailant’s objective interrupted.”

“Bucky? Are you in there?” Rogers said concerned but there was relief in there and he knew it had nothing to do with him.

He ignored Rogers, he was now irrelevant. He turned his gaze onto Stark who looked on edge and he could not blame him.

“Report: Anthony Edward Stark known as Iron Man.

Survived open heart surgery without anesthetic, survived palladium poisoning, created a new element, flew a nuclear missile into space, and went toe-to-toe with aliens Thor and Loki and genetic mutation Hulk.

Kills those who harm or threaten those under his protection. Do not engage Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, James Rhodes, Spiderman, or anyone directly involved with Stark Industries.

Greatest assets: his mind and creations, including the Iron Man suit, his AI’s JARVIS (deceased), and FRIDAY.

Conclusion: Highly dangerous, do not engage, avoid at all costs.”

There was a moment of curiosity that filtered across Stark’s face and then a mask of fake lightness replaced it as he said, “I don’t know whether I should be flattered or disturbed that HYDRA is the one who actually did their homework about me. At least they didn’t use SHIELD’s analysis.”

Soldat broke his blank mask and gave a feral grin, “Amateurs, couldn’t even tell that your behavior was from dying.”

Stark raised an eyebrow but seemed to be somewhat amused by the twitch of his mouth. Rogers seemed thrown at that information for a moment but it didn’t take him long to interrupt, “Bucky, we need to get moving.”

Soldat looked at him and the way he was avoiding eye contact with both of them indicated he was uncomfortable about something and wanted to flee.

“Net,” he firmly said, which made Roger’s eyes widen in surprise. He began to advance on Rogers, his stride that of a predator stalking its prey, as he continued, “You are hiding something from me and Stark.”

Stark turned to Rogers and looked at him as Rogers spluttered out, “No, I’m not! I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Soldat moved into his space until Rogers was backed up against the wall. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zemo looking surprised but altogether fascinated by this deviation in his plan. Soldat leaned into Rogers and he growled out, “Lie. HYDRA gave me your files and it is known you are to lie when you need an advantage. In fact, your right eye twitched, your nostrils flared, and your left hand clenched. All indicators of lying.”

Stark had raised his repulsor at him but he was confident that he wouldn’t pull the trigger at the moment. The next few minutes, though, could be another matter. He stepped away from Rogers and came near Stark but left enough room so that he didn’t feel threatened. He knelt on the ground facing Stark and a look of confusion crossed his face.

“What are you doing, Barnes?”

“Awaiting rightful punishment. I have failed to remember what my parameters were for that mission.”

Stark looked like he was struggling between being disturbed and thinking through the implication he was giving him.

“Barnes-“

“Bucky snap out of it!” Rogers said from behind, putting a hand on his shoulder, and shaking him.

Soldat did not take kindly to that and the other him tried to reason that it was not a smart move to shove him away but before the other him even finished that sentence Soldat had grabbed Roger’s arm and threw him over his shoulder. He crashed into the cement wall and when he got up, looked at him with sadness in his eyes. Perhaps that look worked on Bucky but there was only Soldat and the other in him now.

“Bucky what-“ he tried to say as he brushed himself off.

“I do not know the parameters of December 16, 1991. The Asset is not currently active. Have deduced that both Zemo and Rogers know the mission report.”

There was a hitch in breath from Stark and then the breathing picked up into a fast pace. He had put down his arm and looked a wreck. He did not turn his back to Soldat but put himself farther away so that he could have Rogers in range of his repulsors as well.

Clever Merchant, Soldat thought.

That’s not the point, Soldat, the other said to him. Focus or I will come to the front.

Fine, Soldat almost seemed to pout but returned to looking at Stark. He knew the moment Stark had figured out whatever his parameters were because the look he gave Soldat was of a rage so deep, Soldat shivered in actual fear and that brought a delight to him. No one had made him feel such fear before, not even HYDRA.

Rogers seemed to start moving toward Stark but he was stopped by the quiet voice of Stark, a waver in his voice, “Did you know?”

“Know what?”

“Don’t bullshit me Rogers, did you know he murdered my parents?”

There was a pause and Soldat could feel the energy in the moment culminate and shatter as Rogers looked directly at Stark with defiance as he said, “Yes.”

Well, fuck, thought other him with horror. I cannot emphasize enough how fucked up this is.

Soldat agreed but he also saw that Stark being his handler was definitely even more now the right call. Someone who had been harmed by the Asset would give him a form of absolution and a place to be used in better circumstances than Hydra. But they would not stop Stark if he wanted to kill them. It was his right.

They did not move when Stark struck Rogers hard enough that he went crashing into the wall, nor when he raised his hand directly at them, gauntlet whining to prime a shot. Stark's eyes were filled with agony and hatred and they did not blame him. Soldat tilted his head, baring his neck to him, giving control - himself - to the man.

Rogers had stumbled to his feet, looking at Stark with desperation as he said, "Tony, it wasn't Bucky."

And that was the worst thing he could have said, the other him said in exasperation as Stark's expression twisted into a hard rage.

"I don't care; he still killed my mom," and a beam of energy shot at Soldat, the force of it throwing him backwards and blowing off his metal arm.

Aw fuck, that hurts, whined other him.

Wuss, Soldat replied, groaning as he tried to sit up, the blow making him disoriented. He didn't use even half the force of energy he could have. Which means he doesn't plan on killing us.

Other him huffed and grumbled while Soldat tried to use his hearing to find out what was going on. He would not put it past Rogers to do something drastic. There was a whole bunch of clanging and crashing sounds that indicated they were fighting. An explosion abruptly erupted and he could feel debris crumbling down from above. He scrambled backwards, clutching the stump of his arm, some of the neuron lines dangling out of it causing every movement he did to be complete agony. He breathed in and out slowly and made himself focus his eyesight. He had been through worse and he would not fail this mission.

He looked around, dismissing the chunks of cement that had come crashing down and his heart turned to ice as he saw Rogers smashing his shield again and again into Stark's chest - his artificial sternum.

And rage like never before filled Soldat and the Other. He did not know which one of them was in control as he took off as a blur. Stark's helmet had fallen off and he could see the moment he realized Roger's next blow was aiming for his neck. It was filled with dread then resignation, as if he had already expected this outcome at some point. It made them snarl and rip the shield right out of Roger's hands. They discarded it behind them, out of Roger's reach.

Rogers was breathing heavily, lip split open and bleeding, his eyes that had an edge of wildness in them had rescinded and in its place was confusion as he said, "Bucky - what?"

Soldat and the Other spoke at the same time, "Is this what you've become, Stevie, a murderer?"

Rogers look like he'd been struck but seemed to hold his ground, "Stark was going to kill you!"

They scoffed at him, "If he had wanted to kill me, he wouldn't have aimed for my arm or used less than half the energy output of his suit. Plus, he has every right to kill me."

"Why are you siding with him?! He hurt you!"

"Leave, Steve. I don't need my arm to put you in the fucking ground but I have a man down who needs emergency attention since you crushed his fucking artificial sternum with vibranium. Or did you forget he's had a fucking hole in his chest made by terrorists?"

Rogers seemed to be taken aback by the venom in their voice and weakly protested, "I won't leave you."

They cautiously bent down to where Stark lay prone, not letting their eyes completely off Rogers, Stark's breathing ragged and wet. That sounded like a punctured lung.

"FRIDAY, is backup on the way?" they asked, hoping the AI was still connected to the suit.

"There isn't any; Boss came alone. And- and I can't get ahold of anyone," the young AI replied, voice in obvious distress.

"What are his injuries? I can hear that one of his lungs has been punctured."

Rogers shifted at that but didn't seem remorseful for causing it.

"Diagnostics indicate punctured lung, fractured artificial sternum, at least 3 broken ribs, right dislocated shoulder, left broken arm, and high signs of a serious concussion."

 "I need to take off his armor to be able to move him," he said, asking for permission and instructions to do so.

"Unfortunately, Boss' chest piece cannot be removed. It is keeping his injuries in place and removing it would cause irreparable damage. However, any of the other pieces may be removed through the mechanism at each seam point of the individual pieces of armor."

They felt around for a second and found the first one - the left gauntlet falling off with a hiss. Before he continued, he put his full attention on Rogers who was slowly walking toward the machine that had the video evidence, a look of determination on his face.

They sighed, slipped on the gauntlet, took aim, and fired. Rogers went down hard, a look of betrayal on his face right before he fell unconscious, but they paid the look no mind. A man was dying and that took priority, especially because it was Stark.

They took off the gauntlet, set it back down on the ground, and continued on with removing the armor. They had gotten all the upper armor off and was working the lower pieces when Stark's voice, though weak, filled the silence, "I need to be wined and dined first, Frosty."

The joke made them both snort and relax, causing the odd feeling of being one to wash away. Soldat was given control, replying, "Unfortunately, that's gonna have to wait, Merchant."

There was silence and the Other was verbally smacking Soldat for using that nickname. Now was not the time for that and the Other insisted now on being in control. Soldat sighed but obliged, he did not mean for it to hurt the man. The Other surged forward and said as he was finishing taking off the armor's boots, "FRIDAY, sitrep."

"There is a heat signature moving this way, another up top in a foreign quinjet that is parked next to the Avenger's, and Rogers is still incapacitated."

The armor was now off except the chest piece and the Other took a second to look at Stark's face. The man was looking at him with a combination of confusion and disbelief. He couldn't decide if it was because he was helping him or that FRIDAY had seemed to ally herself to him. Right now though, FRIDAY and him had the same objective - protect Stark.

He grabbed the left gauntlet again, slipped it on, and asked, "How much juice does it have left, FRIDAY?"

"Well, using it on Rogers has left it drained but it can incapacitate a normal, base human."

He heard Stark spluttering and wheezing to FRIDAY as he concentrated on where the intruder would appear, "Cap's ride or die did what?"

He saw flurry of movement, raised the gauntlet - the whining pitch warning that they would be shot - and commanded, "Do not move or I will shoot."

The man that had chased him before - he now recognized as Prince T'Challa - raised his hands in a show of peace.

"I have come to rectify my mistake against you. You did not kill my father and I must pay reparation for that," he said. "My scientists can help with the trigger words. We can -"

He was cut off by a snarl from Soldat, "I do not have time for your petty reparations. Stark, an ally of yours, is dying and if you do not assist, his death will be on you. Think carefully about your next words, Panther."

That seemed to get the prince to actually look around and lay eyes on Stark, whose chest armor had what was clearly a shield indentation in it. The man seemed to finally grasp the situation and snap on the demeanor of a king, "I will carry Stark to the Quinjet and call ahead to Wakanda to prepare for treating his injuries."

Soldat powered down the gauntlet and lowered his arm, "Good. I will gather his armor."

"What about the Captain?"

"You carry vibranium handcuffs?"

He nodded and tossed him some. Soldat caught them and said, "I'll deal with him."

Soldat put the pieces of armor on the shield and dragged it behind him with the cut arm strap. The prince was already ahead, Stark, who had fallen unconscious at the movement, in his arms. Soldat paused for a second as he looked at the tape player, the impulse to destroy it strong. The Other gently said, You need to keep it safe. It isn't your right to decide what to do with it.

He huffed but took the moment to eject it and slip it in a pocket. He would do what the Other asked, it was only fair that Stark and Stark alone decided what to do with it. He looked at his arm on the floor and as much as he wanted to leave it entombed here, he didn't want anyone to come across it. After putting his arm in the pile of Stark's armor, he finally turned to the last thing in this room - Rogers.