Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Blink.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Blink.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Repeat.

The cycle SP-1D3R repeated, over and over, until they told it to stop. Until it ate, or slept, or sparred, or was tested.

Over and over.

It didn’t mind. It was an Asset. Assets didn’t mind, they couldn’t. Assets don’t have feelings, it was told, over and over. They do what they are told. Nothing more, nothing less.

Nothing more, nothing less.

So SP-1D3R repeated it’s cycle, waiting. For something. Anything.

It absently ran it’s fingers along the muzzle latched to it’s face, never taken off unless fed. For the soldiers’ safety, the men in black said. The sharp fangs beneath were deadly, it was told. Neurotoxins.

SP-1D3R knew all about those. About nearly everything science. It was smart. The men in black said so. But not smart enough to keep it’s fangs away, apparently.

The muzzle was black, identical to the one Asset Winter had. Asset Winter. Also known as the Winter Soldier. SP-1D3R knew it had some sort of relationship with the other Asset, but it couldn’t remember.

It could never remember.

SP-1D3R looked up as it heard footsteps, and a Black slammed his fist on the door. ”Food!” He barked in sharp Russian. A container was tossed in through the gap. “Take off the muzzle, eat, and put it back on.” The echo of footsteps retreated. SP-1D3R unlocked the muzzle, shoveled the bio-engineered slop into it’s mouth, and locked the muzzle back on, unable to deny a direct order.

Blink.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Repeat.

~~~

SP-1D3R slotted the gun into its holster on its thigh as the Black before it ranted on about its new mission. As soon as the Black deemed it knowledgeable enough, he snapped his fingers in SP-1D3R’s blank face.

”Pay attention!” He snapped. “This is a longer one. You must be successful.” SP-1D3R straightened.

”Взятый,” he intones.

”Рассвет.”

”Избиение.”

“Семь.”

”Лояльный.”

”черная вдова.”

”Одиннадцать.”

”Парк.”

And SP-1D3R was gone, only for Wolf Spider to take it’s place.

~~~

”again,” the man barked, and SP-1D3R pushed itself off the ground, clamping it’s jaw shut as a wet cough threatened to spill out. Labored breaths shook it’s shoulders as it squared up against it’s partner.

To SP-1D3R’s pride (no, no. Assets don’t get pride. Assets don’t get feelings. This was bad.) it had done quite the number on its opponent, who was also sporting some serious injuries.

”go!” The supervisor barked, and SP-1D3R lunged, nose screwed up against the fire spilling through its veins. It landed a punch, its bleeding knuckles roughing further against the rough fabric. A hiss (a hiss, unnatural, thats bad, the blacks will punish it) slipped out as a kick landed on it’s ribs (it’s bad side, it’s bad side, fuck, fuck, FUCK-) and SP-1D3R fell to it’s knees, where another kick was aimed.

It grabbed the foot, spinning and throwing her into the wall. Webbing flew from the spinneret on it’s wrist, trapping the opponent against the wall. “Spider!” The supervisor barked the bastardized version of its code. SP-1D3R Jerked to a stiff, perfect stance, forcing its shoulders back despite the resistance from its side. Why won’t it heal, it thought, though it knew the answer. Not enough food, not enough rest, not enough, not enough.

”what did I say about using your webs as an out?” Supervisor snapped (no name, never a name, SP-1D3R wasn’t enough for that), stomping over. SP-1D3R Pressed its lips together behind the muzzle, trying to figure out whether Supervisor wanted an answer. It didn’t have to, apparently, as Supervisor slammed a sideways fist into the ribs SP-1D3R was pretty sure were at least fractured, causing it to wheeze.

”you must fight!” Supervisor roared, sharp Russian slicing into its enhanced ears. “Trapping the enemy is a coward’s work! In a fight, either your enemy dies, or you do.” SP-1D3R Took a flaming breath in.

”yes, Supervisor.” The man stalked off, snapping his fingers, and another black led SP-1D3R back to it’s room. The moment the door closed, SP-1D3R collapsed to the ground, whines falling from its mouth as it took deep breaths, trying to reset its ribs before the healing did it wrong. It lay there for hours, each movement sending lightning up it’s body, and closed it’s eyes tight, willing it’s accelerated healing to work faster. 

~~~

When SP-1D3R came to, all it saw was black. It could feel the texture of it’s webs clung to it’s suit, the muzzle firmly in place. But it could also feel the cuffs around it’s wrists, and the firm metal chair it was bound to.

SP-1D3R blinked, and it realized there was cloth over it’s eyes. Strange. The men in black never used cloth. It heard voices, faint, to it’s right. Behind something.

It let out a sharp click with it’s tongue, rapidly translating the reverberations. Room. Another click. Thicker in one area. Door? Another. Another, less enforced. Glass? Something else was there, in the room, but SP-1D3R couldn’t figure out what it was. Too small.

The door creaked, and SP-1D3R swung it’s head over in that direction. Footsteps, getting closer. Three people. The fabric was ripped off of it’s eyes, and SP-1D3R blinked rapidly, mentally off balance at the sudden brightness.

It’s eyes snapped onto the people before it, and was met with no other than Captain America, Black Widow, and a SHIELD agent. Fuck.

Chapter Text

SP-1D3R kept it’s face carefully neutral, staring down Black Widow, who was in front. She stared it down, along with the other two, unreadable. Well, the Captain was pretty readable, but whatever. So this is her tactic? It thought, unimpressed. I though she was better than this.

”you seem bored,” she finally note after approximately fourteen minutes of silence, her tone measured. It didn’t respond. Instead, its eyes drifted to its left, where the glass it had heard before was. Oh. A one way window. Cool. “What’s your name?” Widow tried again. Nothing.

SP-1D3R took in its own image, the first time it had in… what, years? A blank face stared back. Hair covered in dirt and grease, dark and hanging just above it’s shoulders.

”we found you on top of a building, unconscious.” Widow stated. Weird. It thought its eyes were maybe brown? It couldn’t see from here. The mirror wasn’t quite mirror-y enough. They’re were dull and lidded, uninterested.

Black Widow continued to try to pepper it with questions, but SP-1D3R had a superpower that worked in it’s favor: zoning out. It let the words slide over it, eyes probing the room in excruciating detailCamera in the corner, it thought. Door to my right. One-way mirror to my left. Fun.

Theres no way I could break through that door fast enough to escape without resistance, and there’s at least three people behind the glass right now. By the sound of it, maybe Iron Man, Hawkeye, and Wanda. Wanda would be the main issue. I’d have to get past Widow first, though, to even get there. Captain wouldn’t be a problem, and neither would the SHEILD agent.

suddenly Black Widow slammed her hands on the wooden table, jarring SP-1D3R’s hands. It’s eyes dragged back to the ex-Red Room agent.

”you think this is, what, a game?” She snarled, face right in SP-1D3R’s. “You ignore my questions, not even bothering to look over? Listen here, Asset.” The title caused SP-1D3R to blink slowly, the only change in its black face. “We could have left you for anyone else, the HYDRA patch on your shoulder. We could take more drastic measures to get our answers.” She she thrust herself back into her chair. “Well?” She demanded, eyes glowering into him. “What do you have to say?”

another tactic, it thought. Making the person being interrogated feel indebted to them. Threat of violence. A display of power. SP-1D3R swallowed, shifting it’s muzzle and opening it’s mouth.

”you have no intentions of harming me,” it rasped, voice rough and creaky from disuse. When was the last time it had spoken? “Do what you must. I won’t give you anything.” They all seemed shocked at it’s vocal response, and started firing more questions at it.

But SP-1D3R was done. Not a single word left it’s mouth the rest of the time it was in the presence of Widow, SHEILD, or the Captain.

~~~

Captain Steve Rodgers had seen many things. War, for starters, of course. But then there were the things that came with it.

violence.

hatred.

fear.

The boy before him seemed to know too.

the dead look in his eyes, the dull reactions to each question thrown in his direction. The sharp noised from his mouth, able to survey the area around him. Not a single glance to where they were, yet he knew.

The black muzzle over his jaw and nose, identical to the one Bucky had worn.

The way he didn’t even flinch, when Natasha had slammed her hands on the table. The slow movement, the lack of urgency, the casual disinterest.

But there was also the other signs.

the bloodstains on his suit.

the double holsters on either thigh, made to hold only two of the guns they removed from his person.

the HYDRA patch on his shoulder, a red spider on the other, where Bucky’s star was.

The rough, ragged Russian, in a voice that knew little use.

Maybe they should bring Buck in, to try and talk to the boy.

He vocalized this idea, and the team turned to look at him.

”I mean, think about it,” he proposed, when they had all left the room and stood outside the window, watching as the soldier gently shifted his hands, not even making a move to test the cuffs that held him down. “He knows more about this kind of thing than anyone here. You all saw the way he reacted with Nat called him Asset.” Wanda shifted, eyes not leaving the boy. Tony pressed his lips together. Clint was looking from him, to Wanda, to the boy, and back.

”I don’t know,” He said finally, fingers running themselves over the grooves of the bowstring left. “What if that’s what they want? Barnes was HYDRA, and left. What if they, I don’t know, remove the traitor or something?” Wanda nodded.

”I agree with Hawkeye,” she said firmly. “We shouldn’t give the agent any sort of contact with Barnes. It could lead to disaster. What if the boy knows his code words?”

Steve winced, and Tony’s eyes darkened. He opened his mouth to say something, but Natasha cut him off.

”Sh!” She snapped. “Look.” She jerked her head at the boy. He was staring right at them, despite the glass being one way. Or, well, through them. His eyes were unfocused, and he looked nearly like he had fallen asleep with us eyes open. The moment they stopped talking, however, his eyes sharpened, blinked once, staring at them, then fell away.

”d’you think he can here us?” Clint murmured.

”да.” Everyone jerked as the boy responded In the same, painful-sounding rasp, staring head ahead, not even sparing them a glance. Nat’s eyes went wide.

”Again, with Russian,” Clint complained. “I thought HYDRA soldiers knew, like, a million.” The boy’s eyes flicked over to Clint, who stiffened at being caught in the dead gaze.

”I can,” he spoke in English, a moderate accent coating his tounge.

”everyone stop talking!” Wanda ordered, and the boy’s eyes slid back to the wall.

Steve sighed. Back to square one.

Chapter Text

SP-1D3R stared absently at the cuffs it was in, listening for any more speaking behind the glass. It had been there for… three days now, it believes (he? The avengers were calling SP-1D3R he. Should it be a he?).

‘And SP-1D3R was hungry. So, so hungry. So far, it-he had only been fed twice, and granted it was more food than… he… could ever remember eating at once, it was still not enough.

Never enough. Never enough-

SP-1D3R sighed through h…his… nose, willing more voices to start talking, to give him anything to do. Wolf Spider had to stay still and quiet for hours, but SP-1D3R was used to tests, training, hell, even sleeping would be better. But he couldn’t sleep, not in this situation. Small naps were what he got. That’s it.

Fuck this. 

SP-1D3R Glanced at the camera in the corner, then at the window (no once was there. Not since he responded. Stupid SP-1D3R). Then he carefully loosened the back of his muzzle, keeping it angled so that the camera wouldn’t see his full face, and reached into his mouth.

SP-1D3R grabbed one of his lower canines—the upper were his fangs and those took ages to regrow, he didn’t have that kind of time—and, using his sticky-ness, ripped it out of his gums. SP-1D3R didn’t even flinch, instead wiping the tooth on his suit to clean the blood, and set it on the table, re-fastening his muzzle and running his tounge along the now empty gum spot. Iron tang coated it, and he licked his lips.

He grasped the sharp tooth in his hand and held it tightly, then made an experimental scratch on the wooden surface. The noise it made was unpleasant, and SP-1D3R narrowed his eyes slightly. He shifted again, tucking his hands as far under the table as he could, and made a tiny spool of thicker web in his palm. SP-1D3R Separated it into two clumps, then decked his head to stuff them into his ears as makeshift earplugs.

there, he thought, satisfied. He got to work scratching down an equation that had been troubling him for weeks. Or, at least, SP-1D3R‘s weeks. He had no clue how long it had been in between missions. He worked on continuing it down, examining the numbers and stand-ins. This was one he’d been working with for an artificial web fluid, since this wrists tended to get irritated with overuse.

he glared at the numbers, as if they would work themselves out if he stared at them herd enough. Not once did his actual expression change, though. They hadn’t for a while. SP-1D3R Huffed quietly, writing some more letters and continuing on.

~~~

”What’s he doing?” Clint hissed as the boy ripped his own tooth out. Steve winced, and Sam exhaled sharply. Tony, however, zeroed in on what the kid was doing next.

”He’s writing,” he pointed out. Then the boy ducked his head, doing something to his ears, before he continued scribbling on the table. “Are those… equations?” Tony asked in disbelief. “HYDRA Jr. ripped out his tooth to do math?” He whipped his head around. “When are you guys gonna let me meet this kid? I need to take him down to the labs.”

Sam snorted. “Really? HYDRA Jr. is the one? Not, I don’t know, Bruce or something?” Tony raised his eyebrow. 

“I know how Bruce is, though,” he complained. “This kid is doing advance chemistry. On a table. With his tooth. If that’s not dedication, what is?”

”can we at least let Buck talk to him, first?” Steve said. “We need to make sure he won’t try to strangle us on sight. At least Bucky has the best chance, I mean.” Clint made a small noise in the back of his throat. 

“Still nervous about that idea,” he said, fiddling with his hearing aids. “I mean, Wanda made a good point with the word thing.”

”We got past that,” Steve argued. “Even if the boy did know them, they wouldn’t work.”

”I want to meet him.” Everyone jumped at Bucky’s sudden appearance, and Steve grinned. Before he could get a word out, FRIDAY called down from the ceiling. 

“The agent seems to have broken his cuffs,” she informed them. Everyone’s eyes snapped to the screen, tense, but only saw the boy sitting peacefully, staring at the cuffs as if he hadn’t noticed them before. They were broken apart, and as they watched, the boy didn’t make a single move to escape. Instead, he just continued to pry the metal off his wrists, holding it at an arms length to staring it.

”why isn’t he trying to get out?” Clint whispered, even though there was no way the boy could hear him from where they were.

”He knows he can’t,” Bucky said dryly. “Every asset knows their limits. This must be one of them.” The boy continued to examine the cuffs, then setting them on the table. “I want to talk to him,” Bucky repeated. He then spun and walked down the hall, despite the shouts of his teammates. Steve rolled his eyes.

~~~

James Barnes knew what it was like to be a part of HYDRA. To be an Asset, obeying orders and not moving an inch unless told. Thankfully, the boy seemed a bit looser on the end of the leash, still capable of individual thought. But from the way they had found him on the roof—hypothermic, yes, but also carrying a million weapons and a seeming inability to get himself somewhere warmer—Bucky could safely assume the boy had triggers.

He opened the door, and the boy glanced over. His eyes went from his face to his metal arm, and he jerked into a ridged, learned position. “Asset Winter,” the boy said in that same grainy Russian, voice rough. “Ready to comply.”

The words felt like a punch to the gut. He’s not even in the Asset mindspace right now, he thought. He’s just rained to be malleable. “Asset,” he replied, trying to fall back into his HYDRA persona without letting himself fall too far. “Codename?” The boy lifted his chin, eyes staring right over Bucky’s shoulder as he sat down.

”Codename Wolf Spider. Code SP-1D3R.” Bucky hummed.

”most recent mission report.”

”Mission failed. Target got away due to external circumstances.”

”What external circumstances?”

”Weather. Temperature dropped more than expected.”

”It was forty degrees outside. Easily combatable. Why did you loose consciousness?”

”Inability to thermo regulate.” Bucky startled. That was a huge weakness. Why didn’t HYDRA fix that? He let it sit, taking a new direction.

”What are the negative side effects of your abilities?”

”Inability to thermoregulate. Increased metabolism. Accelerated healing factor will shut down if unable to pull enough nutrients, as will web production.” Bucky sat there, milling about in his head. Those are huge downfalls. There must be some upside.

”Positive abilities?”

”Increased healing factor, natural web production, clinging to flat surfaces, mental precedent warning system, increased strength, increased speed.” That was quite the lineup. Bucky could see why HYDRA valued this one so much. Even with this new information, he couldn’t get rid of whatever had started nagging in the back of his mind. Remember, it whispered. This is important. Bucky frowned.

”Take off your muzzle. Let me see the injury in your mouth.” SP-1D3R reached back and unlatched the muzzle, setting it on the table. But Bucky just stared at the boy’s face, his brain screaming at him. REMEMBER! Bucky pressed his lips together and grabbed the boy’s chin, and he opened his mouth as Bucky examined the gap where the tooth was ripped out.

he wasn’t kidding. The new tooth was already poking out, a small spec of white in the red-pink of the gums. “Hm.” He let go, the the boy closed his mouth. “What are these?” He asked, tapping the complex equations. SP-1D3R hummed quietly.

”artificial web fluid,” he said in a slightly less monotone voice. ”The natural webs produced shut down when not given enough nutrients, and are therefore unreliable. Artificial webs will replace the naturally produced webs.” Then his face flickered, and Bucky recognized the weak attempt at a frown. “it’s not… working.” Bucky’s eyes widened as a memory resurfaced, one that he’d never even glimpsed before.

”It won’t work!” The brunette huffed, throwing his pencil on the ground. Asset picked it up, pressing it firmly back into the boy’s hand.

”try again.” The boy whined, a wordless noise, but gripped the pencil anyways.

hours later, a cry of triumph escaped him. “Papa!” The boy exclaimed. “I did it!” Asset rested his flesh hand on the top of the thick brown hair that sat on the boy’s head.

”well done.” The boy grinned.

Bucky stared at the boy’s face, overlaying what he was seeing with what he had seen.

”Petya?”

Chapter Text

“Petya?”

SP-1D3R blinked, furrowing his brow slightly at Asset Winter, who had an odd expression.

”I’m sorry?” He said, straightening in his chair. Asset Winter continued to stare at him, and SP-1D3R Had to admit it was strange. No one of high rank had ever spared him a glance this long before.

”Petya. Is that you?” SP-1D3R pressed his lips together minutely.

”I apologize, Asset Winter. I do not understand.” Asset looked sad. “My code is SP-1D3R, not Petya. Correct me if I am wrong, sir.” But SP-1D3R was so sure he wasn’t. He had been SP-1D3R his whole life. 

But… the name sounded familiar. If he thought hard enough, he could hear childish giggling in the back of his mind. Petya. Am I missing something? He looked back up at Asset Winter as he sighed.

”Petya was your name,” Asset said, voice low. “That’s what I called you when I was… training you.” SP-1D3R Blinked again.

”I apologize, Asset Winter. I had forgotten.” Asset shifted in his chair, crossing his ankles.

”I don’t expect you to remember, Petya. You are exactly what they wanted.” 

“Well done,” SP-1D3R heard, whispering in the back of his mind. “You’ll be perfect.” He drew his hands together, linking them as he tried to place the words.

”Three years ago,” he said slowly, thinking hard. Asset jerked, as if surprised. “Mission Canter. The helecariers.” SP-1D3R Frowned, small enough that only Asset would see it. “You never returned to the rendezvous point.” Asset Winter slumped in his seat, looking sad.

”I’m sorry, Petya. I meant to come back for you, but they had moved your location before I could.” SP-1D3R Clenched his hands, squeezing his own fingers.

”why didn’t he come back?!” A child screamed, tears running down its face. “You said he would come back!”

”You said,” SP-1D3R mumbled, then lifted his head, confused by his own words. What did Asset say? Why was he mad? Angered over something so trivial as losing a soldier? “What did you say?” He muttered, questioning himself. “You said… you promised. What did you promise? What did you say?” His voice was rising, eyes darting as more voices echoed his his mind.

”Papa! Papa, look!” Charcoal waving around in the air, a small child patting the wall.

a deep, rumbling voice, always replying. “Very good, Petya.” A rush of joy at every word.

A cold, metal hand on his back.

”Petya, you must be careful,” Papa told him. “They always watch, listen. Watch your words, even when alone.”

SP-1D3R Gripped his hair, and why was the table shaking? Oh, no that was him-it. It was shaking. Why? 

“Petya!” A voice roared, as it thrashed and screamed and cried as it’s arm burned, two fangs imbedded into it’s skin.

SP-1D3R Vaguely heard Asset Winter shouting something, and relief flooded it- no, no, that wasn’t right. Assets don’t feel. They don’t. Why was it feeling? Was it broken?

”Stop!” SP-1D3R—Petya? Piotr? Wolf Spider? It didn’t know anymore—Shouted desperately. “Stop making me remember! They’ll know, and Pierce, he’ll- he’ll put me- I can’t-“ Suddenly a metal hand clamped over his neck, and the voices stopped. The memories shut down, and SP-1D3R slumped, every muscle going lax. Oh. 

Safe now, it’s mind whispered, and SP-1D3R let itself fall into darkness, because Papa was always safe.

~~~

”Buck!” Steve shouted, his hands landing roughly on the edge of the one-way window. The boy was shaking, and Bucky was trying to coddle him, but- “Bucky, please, get out of there!” Bucky glanced at him, then shouted back.

”I can’t leave Petya!” Steve clenched his jaw, because despite trusting Buck for miles, what if, what if, what if.

But then the boy- Petya, apparently, started shouting something in Russian, and fear gripped Steve’s heart. Bucky lunged forward, his metal arm going for Petya’s neck, and Steve braced for the worst-

And then the metal hand clamped over the back of Petya’s neck, and Steve watched them both go lax and fall forward, as if shutting down. Petya’s eyes closed, head resting on Buck’s shoulder. Bucky was in a similar state, head down and eyes closed, but Steve knew he wasn’t asleep, unlike Petya.

He thrust himself away from the window and strode down the hall, pushing open the metal door. It thudded shut behind him, the lock clicking, and Steve hurried over and dropped to one knee, right beside the table.

”Buck?” He murmured, hand hovering over Bucky’s back. “Y’alright?” Bucky cracked open one of his eyes, a deep sigh escaping from his nose.

”yeah,” he rumbled. “We’re both okay now.” Steve nodded, standing up. 

“Why don’t you come outside,” Steve said, glancing at the window. “We can talk about what just happened. Or,” he added at Bucky’s glare, “we can go take a nap, because I know for a fact it’s been at least a day and a half since you’ve slept.” Bucky sighed, then gently maneuvered Petya into a comfortable position and stood up with a huff.

”fine,” he grunted, walking with Steve. “But only if you come with me.” Steve snorted.

”very well, your highness,” he replied, bowing while opening the door. Bucky smacked his head.

”you’re a punk,” he commented. Steve rubbed his skull.

”Ow.”

The others tried to pry answers out of them as they walked past, but Bucky just gave them his tired I-won’t-hesitate look and they backed off pretty quick. Except Nat, or course, but they had some sort of telepathic super-spy conversation and Nat just nodded and turned away.

”what was that?” Steve asked, and Bucky just smirked, kissing his jaw.

“The Russian hivemind.” Steve sighed.

”can I get a guest pass or something?” He whined teasingly. “I feel like you guys are just talking shit about out teammates.” Bucky shrugged.

”Bingo. You know what’s happening, you don’t need a guest pass.” Steve plopped his head on Bucky’s shoulder, who abruptly stopped walking and watched smugly as Steve stumbled.

”you suck,” Steve muttered, punching Bucky’s non-metal shoulder. Bucky caught him with a raised eyebrow, and Steve punched him again. “Not like that, you sonovabitch, and you know it.” Bucky snorted a laugh.

~~~

”How’d you do it?” 

Clint was the first one to break the question to Bucky. He raised a brow.

”Do what?” Sam gestured to the screen, where Petya was still sleeping. “You knocked him out, like, three hours ago. This is the longest he’s slept in the three days he’s been here.” Steve looked curious too. Bucky, however, just shrugged, taking a sip of his drink.

”It was an accidental trained response,” he admitted, looking away. “When he was younger, he would get nightmares, so I did that to ground him. It stuck, so whenever I grab the back of his neck he falls asleep.” Tony snorted.

”Quite literally a sleeper agent.” Quiet laughter rippled over the small group before they all fell silent again.

”what did you ask him?” Steve asked. “You two had quite the conversation before he fell asleep, and by the looks of your face, it wasn’t a great one.” Bucky sighed. He was doing that a lot.

”His abilities.” They waited for him to elaborate, but he stayed silent. Instead, he said “we need to feed him more.” Bruce hummed quietly.

”I can make a specialized bar like I do for you guys,” he offered. Bucky nodded once, and that was that.

”Not to be the Debbie Downer, but…” Tony looked at the screen. “What do we do with the kid?” Silence met his words. “Ah. Okay then.”