The Mission
A couple moments passed before Bucky followed Zemo out of the small room and silently sat across from him. No words were exchanged but Bucky kept his gaze fixed on the man in front of him. "No need to play pretend just yet, James." Bucky drew his eyes away. Stay quiet, stay still, await orders were the commands Hydra used and he'd followed them instinctively. He wanted to tear off the damn mask and outfit and go back to being whatever self he had left. This was not an uncommon thought in the early days of the soldier. Before Hydra completely destroyed his sense of self, there was a longing to go back to it. Bucky didn't even know how much of his original self there was to go back to. Sam's footsteps drew him out of his thoughts and he looked up to face him. "Fuck." Sam let out as he saw Bucky. The mask was certainly intimidating and it was even more jarring as his friend's face sat behind it. "You sure you're alright with this? Because we can figure something else o-"
“I can handle a little dress up." Bucky snapped through the mask.
"Ok tin man, whatever you say," Sam replied clearly not convinced.
"Well gentlemen," Zemo cut in. “We have a friend to meet".
The three men trailed out of the plane and into a lush car. Oeznik would take them just outside the city then they would get picked up by a local driver. Bucky stayed silent as the other men spoke about Sam's attire. He was focused on the sight of Madripoor before him as they crossed the bridge. He'd been to the city once before as the soldier. Hydra kept him for the most important missions but occasionally they'd loan him out to high paying clients. Hydra had to get funding from somewhere and the agents probably got a kick out of someone as dangerous as the Soldier following around some rich bastard like a dog all night. The ride into Lowtown was quiet as tensions were high but before long they reached their destination. Bucky brought up the back of the pack just as the Soldier would so he could keep watch and any sneak attacks would be directed at him and not his handler. They had remained relatively unnoticed until Zemo spoke to him in Russian. "Ready to comply? Winter Soldier?" The Soldier would have responded with a clear, "да сэр'' but Bucky knew he only asked to turn some heads and spread the word.
As they reached the bar he turned to face Zemo and stood straight up. Anything else would be viewed as an act of defiance and punishment would soon follow. If he were still under control Bucky reminded himself. Zemo was not a handler and didn't have the power over him. But the feelings were so familiar it was hard to separate what was, and what is. The sounds and smell of Madripoor down to the feeling of the mask constraining him. He focused on scanning the area for possible threats while keeping an eye on Zemo and Sam at the bar. He may have even chuckled at Sam's attempt to down the snake organ drink if he didn't feel so detached from himself. Everything he had learned is the Winter Soldier almost ran on autopilot as his mind drifted. A man approached Zemo and informed him they weren't welcome. He readied himself to pounce but wouldn't until ordered or the first punch was thrown. The man looked back at him. "New haircut?" There was a strange familiarity to him. He figured he had likely remembered the Soldier from that mission years ago. His scalp ached at the sight of him. He remembered now. He had bumped into him at a client's party and the man had grabbed him by the hair and forced him against a wall. The Soldier had been under strict orders that night not to defend himself from any guests. The client had wanted a bit of entertainment and Hydra agreed to it with the condition that no guns were to be used against the Soldier. They knew personally he could take a beating due to the serum. They had broken him over and over again so they knew his limits. Bucky had remembered it better than he'd like to.
The man had soon stalked off and Sam was asking Zemo about the Power Broker. Just another problem to worry about as far as Bucky was concerned. As Zemo turned back towards the bar he spotted a man slipping through the crowd towards them. Zemo must have caught a glimpse because just before the man could approach them he commanded in Russian, "Winter Soldier. Attack''. As the stranger's hand landed on Zemo's shoulder Bucky stepped forward, letting his body drive him and follow through with the command. He clearly remembers grabbing the man's hand and twisting it roughly but the rest of the fight was a blur of frantic movements, yelling, and the feeling of shattering bones under his hands. He didn't have to think of what he was doing, it just happened. It was so simple just to do what he was told and not think for himself. They didn’t even seem like people. Just targets to be taken out. A hand on his arm pulled him out of his head and he realized he had a man's throat pinned under his metal hand on the bar. Zemo placed a hand on his back and told him, "Well done, Soldier”. He relaxed his hand a little but didn't let him go. The bartenders told them that Selby would meet with them now. Although it wasn't an order, Bucky let go of the man under his grip and let him fall to the ground. Sam quickly checked in asking, "You good?” and Bucky took a sharp breath and gave a short nod. He couldn't let his feelings interfere with the mission and Sam really didn't need to know about his problems anyway.