the winter soldier
Dorian and the Winter Soldier had this interesting connection— they were both stuck in the same prison with no one to turn to, and that’s what brought them closer.
Dorian knew all about the Winter Soldier's past, his history with Dorian's father, and the whole sad Bucky Barnes story. But even with that information, Dorian couldn't quite mesh the Winter Soldier and James barnes into one person.
The Winter Soldier? Total cold-hearted, efficient killer. No warm fuzzies, just a living nightmare. And then there's Bucky Barnes, this sweet guy who fought for what he thought was right.
For Dorian, it was like dealing with two different characters, each with their own story. The whole connection with the Winter Soldier brought some serious layers to Dorian's experience, mixing up the lines between friend and foe.
Even though the Winter Soldier kept up the act of being more of Dorian's enemy, Dorian saw him as a partner in the chaos.
Their bond went deep because Dorian understood what the winter soldier had been through, being torn away from a loving family and a happy life, and having to deal with Hydra's torture and suffering.
But Barnes had zero memory of his life before Hydra. No recollections, no guide to figure out right from wrong. It's like wandering through a maze without a map.
In this weird dynamic, Dorian found comfort in sharing the mess of their screwed-up pasts.
In the quiet confines of an empty room, they occupied a table, anticipation hanging in the air as they awaited directives for their impending mission. Barnes claimed the seat at the head of the table, a figure of authority, while Dorian, seated to his left, rhythmically tapped his fingers along the polished surface.
He was bored.
Having spent only a week in the year 2012, it had yet to earn the title of Dorian's favorite era.
"Phantom," Pierce's voice sliced through his thoughts.
They called him Phantom, a name that echoed in the room. "Your mission is at the Smithsonian Institution. Files in Dr. Elrod's office. In and out." Pierce commanded.
Dorian rose, ready to depart, but hesitated. "What about Barnes?"
"The winter soldier is none of your concern," Pierce curtly replied.
Dorian nodded, glancing away before exiting the room, embarking on his mission with a sense of mystery lingering in the air.
Pierce wasn't one to hand-hold through mission details, a dynamic Dorian had become used to.
Yet, the solo routine didn't sit as comfortably with him anymore. Walking through the Captain America exhibit. His father's story frozen in time, stirred emotions he'd kept at bay.
Dorian avoided making eye contact with the photos, as if afraid they might come to life. A hesitant glance upward, and a blurry figure, just ten steps away, seemed oddly familiar. Clad in a cap that barely concealed his face, the figure triggered a sense of déjà vu. Dorian shrugged it off as his imagination.
With measured steps, he reached a formidable metal door, its entry safeguarded by a keycard. Dorian came prepared, he had snagged one from a security guard earlier.
The door swung open smoothly with the keycard, and Dorian slipped in, aiming for absolute silence.
Hoping to avoid any harm, he found Dr. Elrod absorbed in his work, facing away from the door. The safe, holding the crucial files, lay under the desk, making direct confrontation inevitable.
The Phantom's gaze briefly lingered on his holstered gun, but a quieter alternative came to mind, a letter opener resting on the desk. Opting for a discreet approach, he aimed for swiftness rather than the disruption of a gunshot.
Moving with calculated precision, Dorian positioned himself behind the unsuspecting doctor, his hand on Elrod's head before plunging the letter opener into his throat. The room bore witness to the scene as blood stained the desk, but Dorian had no time for contemplation.
Urgently shifting focus to the safe, Dorian noticed a piece of paper on the doctor's desk disclosing the code. With practiced ease, he unlocked the safe, securing the files he sought.
Making his exit without a trace, the mission quietly accomplished in the shadows.
After handing the files to hydra he was ordered back to his cell.
Restless in his cell, Dorian was itching for news about his next mission, anything to break free from the same old walls. The Winter Soldier was off on his own mission, and while Dorian didn't exactly crave his company, a round of rock, paper, scissors with the soldier sounded better than staring at the cell walls.
Getting fed up with waiting, Dorian decided to give his eyes a break. Maybe it was a bit longer than he thought because although it felt more like a blink, morning hit, and here comes the winter soldier with a new mission.
The cell door opened, and it felt like stepping out of a cave into daylight. Ready for whatever gig Pierce had cooked up, Dorian welcomed the change from the dull of the cell life.
Seated at a dimly lit dinner table, the Winter Soldier and the Phantom lingered in the shadows, awaiting their next set of orders. Pierce, bidding farewell to a maid, joined them with an offer of milk, met only by silence from the enigmatic duo.
"The timetable has moved. Our window is limited. Two targets, Level Six.” Pierce declared, pouring himself a glass and settling in at the table. "They already cost me Zola. I want confirmed death in ten hours."
In the middle of the one-sided exchange, Pierce's maid, Renata, stumbled in, throwing a wrench into the conversation. "Sorry, Mr. Pierce, I... I forgot my phone."
"Oh, Renata, I wish you would have knocked" Pierce said before firing two shots.
Pierce handed Dorian a file before walking off.
And just like that, Dorian's world shifted. His father was alive.
With a file in hand outlining his targets;
Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers, Dorian stood at a crossroads. Unlike the Phantom, who never blinked at an order, Dorian found himself dealing with a messy mix of emotions, making him less eager to dive into action.
He felt like a scared kid all over again, a level of petrification he hadn't known since his first mission.
Rogers didn't have a clue he existed; there was no logical reason for Dorian to be this terrified.
Dorian wasn't captain americas son, and steve rogers wasn't his father.