── THE LOST SOLDIER ──

── ☆ ──

After The Crash Of Shield...

James "Bucky" Barnes leaned back against the cool metal of the shipping container as he thought deeply about the changes within the past few days. The cool breeze brushed his hair over his face as he looked out to the rocky waves, hidden in the shadows, he let out an unsteady breath. He focused back on the memorial from the museum, trying his hardest to remember who this "Bucky Barnes" really was, the forties soldier was so foreign to the man he was now.

Bucky was thankful for his training, it allowed him the skills to escape the states and head to Europe by sneaking onto a cargo ship as one of the workers. He kept his head low and managed to get around without any issues, the only thing was working out a way to get by. He kept his eyes on the stars above him as they sailed their way across the vast ocean.

A painful headache rested behind his eyes as a reminder of the cracked wall that held itself high in his head, memories and mechanics that threatened to battle their way to the control centre. He focused on the sounds of the waves crashing against the metal of the ship as he calmed his mind.

For a moment, a single moment, it seemed to work until a ship siren rang out signalling the approached of the docks. He had to be prepared to sneak away without getting caught, doubt being filling his mind, something that seemed so foreign to him. The fight to return to his 'handlers' in his mind made him feel queasy or was it the sea.

He managed to sneak away in the shadows of the night, he made his way into the quiet dark streets away from the dock and headed in whatever direction he felt was right. Painful burning sensations seared through his head as he tried his best to ignore it as frightful screams filled his ears, he shut his eyes as he stopped in place.

His heartbeat began beating against his ribs like a stampede as his breathing quickened, he leaned against a nearby tree as his vision blurred. His mind raced to find a reason as to why he was having this response as a memory flashed across his eyes almost as though he was standing right there.

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"J-James, I-I can't B-breathe," He turned his head to the beautiful woman standing beside him, tears fell down her cheeks as her face turned pale. She was clasping onto her neck as she tried to breathe, his metal fingers wrapped tightly around her throat. Despite the clear pain and her body's instant fearful reaction, her eyes held no fear or pain.

Her eyes. They were an ethereal green hue with specks of yellow that reminded him of the sunflower fields from his younger years. Her long brunette hair cascaded down her shoulders, shaping her beautiful features. Her lips were parted as she made attempts to breathe, her soft pink lips that were turning a light shade of blue.

"I-Its O-okay J-James," Her soothing voice echoed through the hisses of pain and waterfall of tears. His heart wailed at the pained expression on her face, her eyelids fluttered as he realised who the woman was. He dropped his arm, she fell to the floor, gasping for air and coughing as he turned to the men in dark uniforms.

He glared at them as they raised their guns, they were in an alleyway outside the movie theatre. His fear had come true, they made him hurt her, his Doll, his sunshine. And he was gonna make them pay in ways that no man should suffer. He took a slow step forward as one of the soldiers began to repeat the words in Russian, he pulled out one of his knives throwing it right between the guards eyes.

Hr turned to the other soldier as fear was evident in his features, he made a move to grab the man when a soft, silent voice caught his attention. Bucky turned around to see her on her feet being held up by a man in uniform; Brock Rumlow. Bucky clenched his jaw as Rumlow turned his gun to her head, "Come with us or she'll suffer."

Bucky looked at her, her sad expression as she realised that he'd comply. Bucky knew this was a bad idea and she would suffer badly because of it, "Alright, just don't hurt her." Rumlow smirked at him as he moved closer to her, "You hear that Angel, he doesn't want us to hurt you. How sweet." Bucky's jaw clenched tighter as he was a few inches from her face.

Bucky had to fight every instinct he had to not raise his gun and shoot him, the only thing stopping him was putting her in harm's way, he couldn't do that. Bucky looked at her, she was begging him to run, he knew she was but he couldn't. He knew this would be a waste but it was worth a shot, "Can we have a few minutes before you tear us apart?" Rumlow looked at Bucky and thought for a moment.

With a smirk he nodded, the soldiers stepped away allowing the two small space of privacy. Bucky reached out for her and pulled her into him, she almost fell forward. "Why didn't... you run..." she took slow breaths as she composed herself. "I'd never leave my best girl behind," he lifted her head to look into his eyes.

Her eyes began to water again at the realisation that they were warned that one more mistake would lead to then being sent to separate facilities. They took that risk and Bucky didn't regret it, seeing her happiness in the small time of freedom was more than anything in this world. Bucky looked at the strong woman in his arms, "I made you a promise, we'll always find each other in the end."

She smiled as tears fell from her eyes, each one resembled a different memory they had shared. He began to focus on each detail, every dimple, every freckle or beauty spot. He let his fingers tangle with the ends of her hair as he focused on the way it always looks so good with no effort at all. And finally, he focused on her gorgeous eyes.

Her eyes were the hue of new spring growth, bright and soft all at once. There were flecks of strength, of the kind of green that comes only as summer advances. And they were never more beautiful than when she cried when her gentleness flowed over her cheeks.

They say green is the strongest colour because it ignites the new season after the passing of wintry days, and in that, her eyes were born strong, the green hue reminding him of sunshine and floral blooms. Her eyes spoke a million and one emotions at once as he cupped her face in his hands, pulling her in for one last taste.

As he pulled away from the woman who held his heart in the palm of her hands, taking in the final aspects of the beautiful art piece that had taught him to feel again, hr noticed the guards walking towards her, the ones behind him approached. "Alessia," She looked at him, fear finally taking over her features. "I will always love you." And with that, they were torn apart.

── ☆ ──

Bucky opened his eyes slowly, his head spinning as his chest fought against the cool air that consumed his body. He took in his surroundings, he was now seated on the cold ground, his fist clenched and unclenched. He let out a shaky breath making a final decision, he'd let the chaos die down and then he'd find her.

He lifted himself from the ground, lowering his head and tightening the jacket around him as he walked blindly into the dark of the night. Her every feature, her evergreen eyes, her beautiful smile, her melodic voice, her soft voice gave him the hope to go on. He made a promise and he'll damn well keep it, can't go making Steve disappointed.

── ☆ ──

A week later...

He was focused on the TV that sat in the quiet, almost empty pub as it spoke about the incident in Washington. Bucky felt a tinge of guilt as he was reminded of the hits he threw at Steve Rogers, his heart felt caged as his mind fought the emotions that weakened him. He let out a frustrated sigh when the TV caught his attention again.

"In other news, Tony Stark is celebrating the newest members of The Avengers. Their new member has been rumoured to have the same super-soldier serum as the great Captain America." The reporter spoke proudly, "The only other information we have about the woman is that she had taken a sniper bullet to the chest, sacrificing herself to save our beloved hero, Steve Rogers." Bucky smiled sadly, he knew it was her.

He focused his attention on the TV as people began entering the pub, "With this, she had won the admiration from Steve Rogers and the other Avengers with her selfless act. We'll have more on this tomorrow night." Bucky got up from the corner booth and headed out the door into the cool Brooklyn air. It seemed so different, yet so familiar at the same time.

He turned to the right and made his way to the broken, empty apartment building where he and Steve grew up, the last thing that remained of them and their past lives. He walked into the condemned building and made his way into a corner, pulling a book out of his bag along with a pen.

He closed his eyes allowing the new memory to form, he had learned that focusing on the memories as the headache pinged another allowed him a painless chance to remember them. The bad memories came to him when he was asleep, haunting him with a dark cloud each time he closed his eyes.

While the memories that came to him when he was awake, were the sunshine in the darkness. They prevented the dark cloud to swarm his fear-filled mind that held a wall begging to crumble to the ground. He focused on those green, golden-speckled hues and allowed the memory to make itself present with no fight and no force.

He made the final decision as he wrote out the memory in his leather bound journal that he'd go to this party and reunite with the woman he loved. He knew he was a work in progress but he also knew that if anyone could tame the crashing waves against the wall in his mind, it would be Alessia Elizabeth Hart. And she was worth every single risks.

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-Rose <3
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