── THE SOLDIER TRUTH ──

── ☆ ──

The cell was cold with a mattress against the wall, it was quiet with occasional creeks in the walls. Alessia was resting against the wall, her wounds itching as pain burned through her body. She had just gotten back from a mission in which she had failed and she was punished instantly. Tears brimmed her eyes as memories flashed through her mind of the innocent people she had to kill, no witnesses. She screwed up and one got away, She knew what this would mean, she'd end up back on the chair.

She heard a sudden sound, jumping back her eyes locked on the door before her. Slowly it jolted open, standing there was a man in Hydra uniform. She lowered her head as he spoke in Russian, "Follow me now!" She stood up and followed the man, She couldn't risk making the situation worse. She didn't even bother to look at her surroundings, she kept her eyes ahead on the soldier as they made their way through the facility until they reached the main room. The Memory Suppressing Machine sat teasingly in the middle of the room, doctors and scientists surrounded the room.

The soldier grabbed her arm and dragged her over to the chair before shoving her into it. One of the doctors approached her and began cleaning up her wounds and stitching them up. The door opened again, Alexander Pierce walked in with a couple of guards. He was holding a file in his hand as he approached her, suddenly he sat on the stool before her. "This is the project you are working on? A failure if you ask me." He mocked as she sat quietly. Another man in a lab coat stepped forward, "I wouldn't underestimate her, her project is titled Wraith for a reason." He seemed impressed with himself as he spoke.

The door jolted open again as two more hydra soldiers walked in with another man. Something about the third man seemed familiar, his metal arm catching her attention before their eyes found their way to each other. Even from a small distance, his stormy blue eyes pulled her in, instantly she wanted to know more. "Bring the asset here!" Pierce ordered as the guards shoved him, he stopped beside Pierce while keeping his eyes locked on Alessia's. She didn't understand the sense of familiarity she held with him but the look in his eyes seemed to show signs of recognition.

"Who is he?" She finally spoke, shocked by how raspy her voice was followed by fear for speaking without permission. Pierce locked eyes on her, She was filled with regret and she flinched when he stood up. The room went quiet, no one had heard her speak before, she always responded in nods. She slowly turned my attention towards the man again, his eyes filled with an unknown pain. "How does that make you feel Seargent Barnes?" She racked her brain trying to understand why his face seemed so familiar. She couldn't remember anything and the headache that slowly made an appearance made me feel dizzy.

The man lowered his gaze, "She doesn't know you, perhaps you can stop resisting us. We only want to make the world a better place and that is what you do." Even she could hear the venom in Pierce's voice, the lies of making the world a "better place". She couldn't fight the scoff that left her mouth, Pierce's attention on her.

The pain on her cheek instantly reminded her why she never spoke even when she was addressed. "Leave her alone," A deep voice caught my attention, the man looked angry as his metal arm whirred as he opened and closed his fists. Pierce took a step back as the hydra guards raised their guns. Within seconds, the man knelt down and gently placed his flesh hand on her face. His eyes were filled with sorrow as he looked at her, "I promise we will be okay, that's my promise to you." He spoke quietly so only she could hear him as his eyes began to water.

She placed her hand on his and leaned into it, his gentle touch surprised her but made her feel safe and she knew she wouldn't feel it again. "I... I don't remember..." She looked into his eyes as he gave her a sad smile. "You will, one day... You'll remember..." He leaned his forehead against hers. She closed her eyes, ignoring the people in the room and focusing on the man before her. She let out a sigh of relief, "J-James..." He lifted his head back slightly, looking at her with shock. He noticed the confusion on her face and nodded with a smile.

Suddenly his lips were on hers, she melted into his hold as everything hit her slowly. From the first time, they had spoken to each other to their first attempt at escaping followed by the one mission they worked together where they managed to sneak into a movie theatre due to Alessia's own curiosity. Then the first time she could be themselves locked in a cell together while Hydra planned some big-time attack on a Gala event where they shared their first kiss. And finally, the promises they had made before her latest memory wipe where she tried so hard to hold onto those blue eyes.

"I promise you, Doll. We will find our way back, we always do." He promised. She smiled as guards approached them, pulling James away from her as two more shoved her into the chair and tied her down. "No! Why are you doing this to us?!" She screamed out as Pierce stood between them. He smiled with pride, "Because you both have caused some trouble for us and we need to punish you. What better way to do that than by making you forget each other." He held his head high as she made attempts to escape, James tried to fight back but guns were pointed at her head.

She looked at James as the machine started up, they placed a mouthguard forcibly past her lips as she tried her best to memorize everything about the man standing before her and hold on to the one thing that kept her grounded. She focused on the memories that meant the most, the first ones that broke through the wall in hopes that she'd be free of their control again. Her head began to burn as she closed her eyes, muffled screams left her lips as she tried so hard to hold onto those blue eyes. Unfortunately, when she opened her eyes, all she saw was... a stranger.

── ☆ ──

Alessia jumped up as tears fell down her face, her chest rose and fell at a fast pace as two arms wrapped around her like a safety blanket. She turned her head to see Steve holding her, she was back in the Avenger tower, In her new room. "He said everything would be okay," She mumbled under her breath as tears fell from her eyes. She didn't even try to fight the memories that continue to flash through her head like a tidal wave as Steve rubbed her back while telling her that she was safe and that everything was okay, but she knew deep inside that nothing will be okay again, Not until James was here beside her.

She finally managed to calm down with Steve's help and decided to have a quick shower, Steve asked her to meet him in the kitchen as he was gonna make something for her to eat. He told her that she had passed out in the lab over six hours ago and that he stayed with her as she tossed and turned, screaming in her sleep. After finishing dinner, she sat with Steve and slowly told him what she remembered. She noticed the smile he had on his face as she spoke about James being protective and looking out for her, but he couldn't hold back the comments when she mentioned the romance that was built from the friendship.

"So, you and Bucky?" Steve teased making the raven-haired girl blush. "Y-Yeah... He is amazing, really amazing. I just hope wherever he is right now, that he's safe and finding himself," Alessia said as she placed her empty dishes into the sink before sinking down on the couch in the main living room. Steve sat down next to her and let out a short breath before turning to her as she watched the night sky and myriad of lights throughout the city. "He'll be alright, Bucky is strong and he can clearly handle himself," Steve assured the worried girl. Alessia smiled in appreciation, "Well, he grew up with you so I would assume so." They both laughed before Alessia told Steve more about the Bucky she knew.

Steve was stunned at the knowledge of his former best friend's life with Hydra and the connection Alessia had to him, but he was happy that even after everything, he had someone by his side even if they couldn't remember one another during that time. And as he looked at Alessia, who was sipping from the coffee Steve had made, he knew that she was a good person at heart. It was then and there that Steve and Alessia made a promise to bring James back and help him, they knew it would be a challenge after everything that has happened but they had faith and for the two of them, it was enough.

── ☆ ──

-Rose <3
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