#yeahgetinline

He arrives in New York City, tasked with killing Captain America. At some point during his recon and intel gathering stage, he gets hits on Natalia’s name and then his own. Further investigation begins to cause fractures in the brainwashing - certain locations, slivers of memories of his life as Bucky Barnes, and finally, seeing Captain America aka Steve Rogers, even from a good distance. The mental fracturing continues to put a strain on his mental state - he can no longer tell what is real and what is not.

He begins to feel guilt as loss and grief etc and he abandons his mission as he is no longer able to function as a covert weapon. Large groups, the sights and sounds of NYC, and any intel threaten to make his situation worse. He is seen out and about by Natasha. She confronts him and, believing she is a figment of his imagination, he retreats. Natasha checks in with Fury, who has been aware of Bucky for some time but didn’t mention it, and then she decides to pursue him.

She finds him in a run down, abandoned development on the edges of the city. Unable to discern what is real any longer, and trusting her as either a hallucination or an old friend, he doesn’t fight her. She brings him into SHIELD, escorted by an entourage not unlike the back up she had while finding Bruce. Bucky is processed and given a spacious ‘cell.’ He receives heavy, 24 hour security. Only members with direct clearance from Fury are given access. This is not extended to Steve, due to the nature of Winter Soldier’s orders.

The process of identifying his mental state and understanding Bucky and Winter Soldier begins. Intensive therapy is used, as well as many other methods that Bucky agreed on. Eventually, physical tests are also run to measure what he is capable of, to study his arm, and determine how it is he survived. While initially resistant, he eventually cooperates with SHIELD as a favor to Natalia and in order to avoid being deported back to Russia, having failed his mission.

Eventually, Bucky is allowed more freedom. When it is decided he is not an immediate threat, he is allowed contact with Steve Rogers. While at HQ, Bucky meets Clint Barton. Though initially, it seemed they would not get along, their mutual affection for Natasha brings them to an understanding. Bucky is later allowed to leave and live in his own SHIELD appointed and guarded apartment. He begins to meet others, though his trust is still extended exclusively to Natalia and Clint. Somewhat, but not equally, to Steve.

At some point, Clint Barton (not of his universe) falls under the Loki of his own universe. Clint attacks Natasha under his influence. Enraged, despite their truce, Bucky suits up to go after Clint and put him down. When he finds him, instead of putting him down, he is able to help Clint fight through Loki’s hold. He breaks his leg in the process. This is the beginning of their friendship, independent of Natasha. They come to an agreement - if he turns Winter Soldier, Clint Barton will be the one to kill him. If Clint is ever unable to control himself and a danger to those he loves, Bucky will end his life.

They continue to spend time together, training and dealing with their ever distant Widows. Clint is a grounding force, as stubborn as Bucky and he is able to help with James’ rehabilitation. Clint earns the loyalty of Bucky Barnes, before anyone else. Even more then Natasha, Clint shares the knowledge of what it is be violated and undone, to have someone in your mind.

His Natasha makes sure to tell him that she is not interested in picking up where they left off in Russia and she becomes increasingly distance. In order to lessen the pain of it, he cuts ties and retains on a careful, professional relationship. At some point, while Clint is trying to find his way and eventually becomes Ronin, Bucky meets Tony Stark who comes to SHIELD to check out the newest recruit.

Still dealing with his new distance from Clint, his foreign relationship with Steve Rogers, and the loss of the only woman he loved in the life he had in Russia, he is easily drawn to Tony’s charisma and charm. Tony is quick to force Bucky out of his comfort zone and push his buttons. Bucky allows it for Steve’s sake and eventually, he comes to tolerate Tony without Steve as an excuse. They bond, once more, over a mutual affection for Steve, and the idea that they are both broken men. Tony, using a variant of some of his Extremis tech from when he was still Iron Man, crafts Bucky a new arm beyond anything SHIELD is capable of.