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꧁꧂
THEY HAD RETURNED to the location they had been kept at for two years. "They" as in the Winter Soldier and Maleficent. The abandoned bank more alive and more evil than ever.
Maleficent had remained lifeless and without emotion.
The Winter Soldier, however was left in a daze and confused. His expression matching one of a beat puppy.
Maleficent sat strapped in her chair as the scientists examined her for any injuries. The Winter Soldier was doing the same, getting mechanical repairs on his arm.
Maleficent's head was filled with thoughts on her target.
Steve Rogers.
"I had another memory earlier." Charlie abruptly says as the two search through the bins.
"That's very good, Charlie-girl. What was it this time?"
"That's what I wanted to ask you. It was us two and this other guy. We were marching, all of us bloody. I had your shield in my hands. You had your arm around me."
"So what's your question?" Steve can't help but be happy that she's getting her memories back.
"Who was the other guy?"
"If I'm correct, it was your brother, Bucky."
Charlie couldn't help but remember the resemblance between Bucky and the Winter Soldier.
"Also, what were we back then? I notice we were always so close, and we grew close after I came back. I just..." She doesn't know what to say.
"We- we were something. We never put a label on it or anything, and we never did anything too serious. Just a arm wrap or a peck on the cheek." Steve is at a loss. He still has those same feelings he had for her when she disappeared, but she now does not feel the same way. Because she can't, because she can't remember.
"Oh," was her lame response. She cursed herself in her head. Charlie had no idea what to say.
"Let's continue looking, shall we?"
Maleficent sat with her head straight and her mind twisted.
She didn't know what to believe.
Before she could continue with her thinking, the man in the chair beside her lashed out, throwing his arm at the scientist working on it. The scientist was flung across the room.
The Winter Soldier sits up in his chair, sprung up and ready for a fight.
One he would not get until later.
"Winter," she called. "Chill." She spoke even though she knew she wasn't allowed to.
Guns were drawn on the two, ready to be fired when necessary.
The Winter Soldier relaxed slightly at her voice, the familiarity of it soothing to his jumbled mind.
Footsteps head towards the room they were in, a determined man aligning with them.
"Sir. He's unstable." A man stammers told Pierce. "Erratic."
Pierce continues walking, paying the man no mind. He enters the room the assassins were in, seeing the aimed guns.
He raises his hands, silently commanding the agents to lower their weapons.
That's something Maleficent admired. The power that one man had over all these people.
"And what about her?" Pierce questions, observing Maleficent.
"Normal." Pierce nods in approval.
The Winter Soldier stares ahead, not even looking at his handler.
Maleficent though, had her head held high with a neutral look in her eyes.
"Mission report."
Maleficent opens her mouth to answer, but a finger from Pierce makes her close it. He wanted the Soldier to answer.
The Winter Soldier didn't give him one.
"Mission report now."
Pierce walked closer to the Soldier, delivering him a slap to the face. The force was enough to spin the Winter Soldier's head sideways.
With a soft grunt, the Soldier finally turned his gaze on his handler.
"The man on the bridge." The Soldier had blurted the words out unintentionally. Maleficent stiffened her back, sucking in a breath. "Who was he?"
"You met him earlier this week on another assignment," Pierce answered with no hesitation.
"I knew him."
Winter... no.. Maleficent wanted to scream at him to stop, she just couldn't. That would get them both in a deep mess.
"Your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped the century, alongside Maleficent. And I need you both to do it one more time." A lie.
The Winter Soldier's face hardens before falling again.
"Society's at a tipping point between order and chaos. And tomorrow morning, we're gonna give it a push. But, if you don't do your part, I can't do mine. And HYDRA can't give the world the freedom it deserves." Another lie. There was no freedom when it came to HYDRA, not with the assets.
"But I knew him."
Maleficent stays silent throughout the whole thing. Now, she not dare move her eyes away from the wall. For, she knew what was coming.
Pierce stands, turning away from the two. "Prep him."
The Winter Soldier breaks on the inside. He hated those words.
"He's been out of cryo freeze too long."
"Then wipe him and start over."
"And 054?" The scientist asks, slightly skittish.
Pierce observes Maleficent, moving in closer to her face. "Make her watch. She doesn't need a wipe."
They push the Soldier back in his seat, strapping him down and hooking him up. He licks his lips before they put the mouth guard in.
They turn Maleficent's chair, making it face the Winter Soldier's.
Maleficent turns her eyes down, not wanting to watch.
Pierce leaves as the machine lowers onto the Soldier's head, putting his brain back in a blender.
The Winter Soldier breath quickens as he knows what's about to come. He tries to prepare himself for the pain, but he's never been able to.
The machine starts up.
Screams fill the small room as the Winter Soldier is electrified back into obedience.
The reason Maleficent was made to watch was because Pierce was trying to send a message.
This is what will happen if you act like him. Out of line.
• • • - J.S. 6. 21. 2021 Published: July 13, 2021 987 words
