well...

ONE AWOKE IN A COLD DIM LIT CELL.
His body ached, his veins still burning from the injection. He forced himself to sit up, his mind fuzzy but sharp enough to recognize that he was alone. The sound of footsteps outside the cell door brought him fully awake, and he tensed, preparing for whatever came next.

The door creaked open, and a tall, stern-looking man stepped inside, flanked by two armed guards. One recognized him as a high-ranking HYDRA officer, a man known for his ruthlessness.

"Ah, you're awake," the officer said, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "I must say, you've shown remarkable resilience, One. Most don't survive the first injection."

One glared at him, refusing to speak. The officer chuckled, seemingly amused by his defiance.

"You have potential, One. HYDRA has big plans for you. But first, you need to be... refined. Shaped into the weapon we need."

The words sent a chill down One's spine, but he didn't let it show. He knew that whatever HYDRA had planned, it wouldn't be good. He needed to stay strong, to find a way to protect the others.

The officer motioned to the guards, who stepped forward and grabbed One by the arms, hauling him to his feet. They led him through the winding corridors of the facility, the cold, sterile walls closing in around him. Eventually, they reached a large, reinforced door. The officer input a code, and the door slid open to reveal a small, heavily guarded hangar.

One was forced onto a waiting helicopter, his wrists shackled and his mind racing with questions. Where were they taking him? What did HYDRA have in store for him now?

The helicopter ride was long and silent, the only sound the rhythmic thump of the rotors. One stared out the window, watching the landscape below shift from dense forests to barren, snow-covered plains. Hours later, they landed in a remote, isolated location. As One was led off the helicopter, he was struck by the harsh, biting cold of the air.

They had arrived at the Red Room.

The Red Room was infamous, a clandestine Soviet training facility designed to create the most elite and deadly assassins. It was a place of nightmares, where children were stripped of their humanity and turned into perfect killing machines. One had heard whispers of it during his time with HYDRA but had never imagined he would end up there.

He was taken inside, the heavy steel doors clanging shut behind him. The interior was stark and foreboding, a stark contrast to the freezing wasteland outside. He was led through a maze of corridors, each one more oppressive than the last, until they reached a large, imposing woman with a clipboard.

"Welcome to the Red Room," she said, her voice cold and detached. "You are here to be trained, honed into a weapon. Failure is not an option. Disobedience will be punished severely. Do you understand?"

One nodded, his jaw set in determination. He knew he had to survive, to endure whatever horrors the Red Room had in store. He had to find a way back to Seven, to protect her and the others. The woman's gaze was calculating, assessing him with a critical eye.

"You will begin training immediately," she said, turning and leading him deeper into the facility. "You will be pushed to your limits and beyond. Only the strongest survive here. Prove yourself, and you may just live to see another day."

SEVEN'S BLUE EYES FLUTTERED OPEN.
the sterile lights of the medical bay blinding her for a moment. Pain radiated from her stomach, and she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. She remembered Irina, the gunshot, and the overwhelming fear. But now, everything seemed blurry and distant.

As her vision cleared, she noticed someone sitting beside her bed. It wasn't her father. Seven's consciousness drifted back slowly, pulled from the depths of darkness by the dull, persistent ache in her stomach. She struggled to open her eyes, her surroundings a blur of sterile white and beeping machines. As her vision cleared, she blinked and saw a figure sitting by her bedside. It wasn't her father.

"One?" she croaked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Hey, Sev. Welcome back."

Seven tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her midsection, forcing her back down with a wince. "What happened?" she asked, her voice trembling.

One leaned forward, his expression gentle yet serious. "You got hurt pretty badly, Sev. But you're safe now. You're in the medical bay, and they're taking good care of you."

Seven's mind raced as memories of the training room and Irina's cruel face flashed before her eyes. She shuddered, tears welling up. "Irina... I—"

"Shh," One interrupted, reaching out to take her hand. "I know what happened. Irina won't hurt you anymore."

Seven's grip tightened on his hand, her voice quivering. "I killed her."

One nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and pride. "You did what you had to do to survive. No one can blame you for that."

The room was silent for a moment, the beeping of the monitors the only sound. Seven took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "Where's Papa? Is he okay?"

One's expression darkened slightly, and he looked away, a muscle in his jaw twitching. "He's... not here right now."

Seven's heart sank. "What do you mean? Where is he?"

One sighed, running a hand through her hair. "They forced him to go on a mission. He didn't want to leave you, but he didn't have a choice."

A mix of anger and fear welled up inside Seven. "They made him go? But I need him! Why would they do that?"

"HYDRA doesn't care about what we need, Sev," One said bitterly. "They only care about what they want. And right now, they want him on that mission."

"I understand." She said. "I miss him, and it sucks."

One's grip tightened on her hand, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know, Sev."

Seven nodded, trying to take comfort in his words. She had only known One for a short time, but the bond between them was already strong. "How did you find me?"

"I heard what happened," One explained, his voice steadying. "I came as soon as I could."

"I'm glad you're here," Seven whispered.

ONE SAT IN THE MEDICAL WING, his eyes fixed on his sleeping sister. Seven's breaths were slow and steady, a sign that she was finally at peace, even if only temporarily. She needed rest, especially after the trauma she had endured. One brushed a stray hair from her forehead, his heart heavy with a mix of love and determination. He had made a decision, one that he knew would change everything.

He heard the soft, almost imperceptible sound of footsteps approaching. One's body tensed, his senses heightened. He knew who it was even before the figure stepped into the light of the room. Soldat, the man who had been a father to Seven, the man who One believed was a danger to her future.

Bucky's expression softened when he saw Seven, relief washing over him. He moved toward her bed, but One stepped in front of him, blocking his path. Bucky's eyes met One's, and he saw the hard determination in the younger man's gaze.

"One," Bucky said quietly, his voice tinged with a mix of gratitude and suspicion. "Thank you for watching over her."

One's expression remained cold. "She's my sister. I would do anything for her."

Bucky nodded, understanding the sentiment. "I know. I'm here now. Let me see her."

One shook his head, his jaw set. "No. We need to talk first."

Bucky frowned, sensing the tension. "What is it?"

One glanced back at Seven, ensuring she was still asleep, before turning his full attention to Bucky. "I don't think you're good for her. You bring danger into her life. HYDRA uses her to control you. As long as you're around, she'll never be free from their influence."

Bucky's eyes narrowed, a flash of anger crossing his face. "I'm her father. I protect her. I would die for her."

"That's the problem," One said, his voice cold. "You think dying for her is enough. But it's not. She needs a life, a future without the constant threat of HYDRA. Without you."

"She'll die without me." Bucky took a step closer, his voice low and threatening. "You don't know what you're talking about. She's my daughter. I would never let anything happen to her."

One's hand moved to the knife hidden at his belt, his fingers brushing the hilt. "I can't let you keep putting her in danger. You're a liability."

Bucky's eyes flicked to the knife, realizing the gravity of the situation. "One, don't do this. We both want what's best for her. We can work together."

One's expression hardened. "No, we can't. This ends tonight."

Before Bucky could react, One lunged, the knife flashing in the dim light. Bucky dodged, the blade slicing through the air where he had been standing. He didn't want to fight One, but the younger man's determination left him no choice.

"One, stop!" Bucky shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "This isn't what Seven needs!"

One didn't respond, his movements swift and deadly. He struck again, aiming for Bucky's torso. Bucky caught his wrist, twisting it painfully until the knife clattered to the floor. One didn't hesitate, using his free hand to deliver a sharp punch to Bucky's jaw.

Bucky staggered back, pain radiating through his face. He shook it off, his training kicking in as he prepared for the next attack. One was relentless, his eyes filled with a cold determination. Bucky knew he had to end this quickly, for both their sakes.

"You're not thinking clearly," Bucky said, his voice strained as he blocked another strike. "This isn't what she would want."

One's expression didn't waver. "She doesn't know what she wants. She's a child. And you're poison to her."

The words stung, but Bucky didn't let them distract him. He focused on disarming One, using his superior strength and experience to his advantage. He caught One's arm in a vice-like grip, twisting it behind his back and forcing him to the ground.

"Stop this," Bucky pleaded, his voice pained. "I don't want to hurt you."

One struggled against his hold, his face twisted with rage. "You're a danger to her. I won't let you ruin her life."

Bucky hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He didn't want to kill One. He saw the pain in the young man's eyes, the desperation driving his actions. But he also knew that if he let One go, the fight would only continue, and someone would end up dead.

"I'm sorry," Bucky whispered, his voice barely audible.

With a swift, decisive movement, Bucky tightened his grip and twisted One's neck, the sickening crack echoing through the room. One's body went limp, his eyes glazing over as the life drained from him. Bucky released him, his hands shaking as he stepped back, his heart pounding in his chest.

He looked down at One's lifeless body, the gravity of what he had just done hitting him like a tidal wave. He had killed a man, a brother to Seven. The weight of his actions crushed him, guilt and sorrow threatening to overwhelm him. But he knew he had no choice. One had left him no choice.

Bucky turned to Seven, her peaceful face a stark contrast to the violence that had just occurred. He knelt beside her bed, his heart aching with the knowledge of what he had done to protect her. He had killed her brother, a man who had fought to keep her safe in his own misguided way.

SEVEN STIRRED IN HER BED, the fog of sleep slowly lifting. The pain in her abdomen throbbed, a constant reminder of the ordeal she had been through. Her eyes fluttered open, and the harsh fluorescent lights of the HYDRA medical wing came into focus. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled her nose, and she felt a familiar presence beside her.

"Papa?" she whispered, her voice weak and scratchy.

Bucky leaned closer, his face etched with worry and exhaustion. "I'm here, Sev. How are you feeling?"

She winced as she tried to sit up, and Bucky gently placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her back down. "Don't try to move too much. You need to rest."

Seven nodded, her mind still foggy from the drugs and pain. "Where's One? Is he okay?"

Bucky's heart clenched at the question. He had prepared himself for this moment, knowing he had to protect Seven from the harsh truth. "Sev... One is gone."

Her eyes widened, fear and confusion mixing in her gaze. "What do you mean he's gone? Where is he?"

Lie.

Lie.

Lie.

Bucky took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. "HYDRA... they killed him, Sev. For no reason. They just... they saw him as a threat, I guess. They didn't want to take any chances."

Tears welled up in Seven's eyes, her voice trembling. "But why? He didn't do anything wrong. He just wanted to protect me."

Bucky reached out, taking her hand in his. "I know, sweetheart. He was trying to protect you, and that's why they saw him as a threat. HYDRA doesn't care about us, Sev. They only care about control."

Seven's tears spilled over, running down her cheeks. "It's not fair. He was my brother. He didn't deserve this."

Bucky's own eyes stung with unshed tears. He hated lying to her, but he couldn't bear the thought of her knowing the truth—that he had killed One. "I know, Sev. It's not fair. But we have to stay strong. For him."

She nodded, her sobs quieting as she squeezed his hand. Bucky leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Get some rest, Sev. We'll talk more when you're feeling better."

She nodded again, her eyelids growing heavy. "Promise you'll stay with me?"

"I promise," Bucky said, his voice soft and reassuring. "I'm not going anywhere."

As Seven drifted back to sleep, Bucky stayed by her side, his heart heavy with the weight of his lies. He had done what he thought was necessary to protect her, but the guilt gnawed at him. He had taken a life to save his daughter, but it didn't make the pain any less.

He watched her sleep, his mind racing with plans and contingencies. They had to escape, to find a way out of HYDRA's grasp. He would do whatever it took to keep her safe, to give her the life she deserved. Even if it meant living with the burden of his actions.

Bucky leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Seven's peaceful face. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but he was determined to see it through.