#captured.

   ”I’m very aware of what you do to the ‘other guys,’ and moreso concerned with what they do to you.” Ji’s got this look on his face, his dark eyes seizing Bucky and his wounds up in a calculating manner.

  There was only so many times he could keep returning with the man while he was covered in blood before they started questioning the value of him as a handler.

   ”I believe the American term is ‘You look like shit.’ Come here and let me attempt to patch this mess up.”

"I don't need your help," he groused. "Most of the blood's not even mine." An outright lie - or maybe not, he hadn't really been keeping track.

True to his word, Han had worked HYDRA over to the Soldier's favour. They didn't give him a house of his own, not at first, but after the first initial hours he was essentially left alone. A minimal guard was all he was given, time to recuperate and to read up on his files. Eventually, even a medical team who treated him like a human being, although they were nervous around him still. He hadn't decided yet if that was something he wanted to change.

Overall, he was given what he asked for, what he needed. Time, and answers, many of which did not paint HYDRA in a positive light. In the space they provided him, he warred with himself. Part of him reasoned that he had his answers now, that there was no reason to stay. But a dark, quiet part whispered back, in scared syllables he would not admit to: They had taken care of him. They would provide. This was what he wanted. This was the right choice.

Days passed. They gave him their conditions, and, unsure still what else he might do, he accepted. Moving into the house, along with his liason, kept his mind busy, gave him something to do while peripherally gears still turned. There wasn't a great deal of down time after, however, as his first assignment arrived mere hours after they'd settled in. Again, undecided, he accepted.

It was practically routine, practically an insult, but he understood that they wanted to test the waters. Doing so was a good idea. This would give him a chance to test his footing with them, as well. A team came by his home and ushered him away to field prep, where he was given his choice of an entire arsenal of weapons and introduced to the men who would be accompanying him. They were to take out an enemy facility. Survivors were not needed, not encouraged. Simple, straightforward.

As a compromise to choosing his team for this mission, they had provided him a direct line to his liason. Han would be staying back to communicate with him constantly, check up on his state, provide him with information as needed. While not within the line of fire, he would be with the Soldier every step of the way. An odd sense of security and comfort settled into him as he secured the earpiece, and thanks was on the tip of his tongue when they called ready and ushered the team onto the plane.