For Sinistral

[wearingthestars]

Option 1: (From the start of things)

For a time Billy held onto the hope that rescue would come. His friends were out there somewhere…unless the Warden had gotten to them. Or the Skrulls. Or one of countless other threats… But the Cube was run by SHIELD. The Warden might be unhinged, but surely he couldn’t just be black bagged out of existence by his own country.

To hear the Warden talk, Billy’s mutant status all but made him disposable, a plaything not protected by any of the laws and rights a human was granted.

He didn’t know what had happened to Teddy. He hoped selfishly that he was in a similar situation-another of the Warden’s toys- so that one day they might escape and be reunited. There were other days he thought it was better to believe he was dead and free of the mad man.

The Warden had made many different alterations to the devices he’d skewered through his ears, some of which Billy had yet to learn, but he was painfully familiar with the ear-piercing tone it emitted if he tried to remove them. It had brought him to his knees more than once before he accepted, he couldn’t tear the things out fast enough to escape it.

He could set it off whenever he liked, like a shock collar to correct behavior, or simply to amuse himself. Of late it had been put to use in the boy’s training. The Warden had adjusted the device so that he could remotely adjust brief instances where he could hear his own voice. Then it was a matter of getting him to speak the desired spell, which was where the tone was use liberally to compel him. And then again to silence him should he try to deviate and use the magic against them.

Pierce allowed the Warden control of the project up until these basic safeguards had been perfected, at which point the boy was swiftly removed and relocated. There was too much potential in that sort of weapon for him to be one of the Warden’s playthings. But he’d need to be trained up before he could be any use to HYDRA. An unreliable tool was no good to anyone. And there was no tool more reliable than the Asset.
If they needed to rewrite the boy in the end Pierce had no qualms trying, though the Asset was the only subject that had ever really come out of it some what intact. Pierce would rather avoid breaking a potential weapon before he even got to use it. And they could always show off just how the Asset was made to comply if the boy proved difficult. Pierce wasn’t particularly moved by the sight, but he’d seen hardened agents pale faced with witnessing the procedure, no doubt it would be a handy threat to keep in their back pocket.

And so Billy found himself faced with the Soldier. He spun around with a guilty expression, clearly having been examining the holding room for any sort of escape, and the sight of the man made him tense, unable to mask his worry.

“…Where are we?” he asked, voice off in a strange way, a little too loud and hollow, Billy unable to hear himself to modulate in anyway, and still not entirely used to the sensation despite how long it had been.

Option2: (Somewhere after they have at least the start of a bond)

The boy’s eyes were rimmed with red, and he looked up as the Asset was let in with an expression of relief that he likely couldn’t remember the last time he had seen even if he hadn’t been freshly wiped. And mixed with it was guilt, sure he was responsible for what had happened. For those horrible screams…

He was pointedly still, but his body tensed like he wanted to run to him, eyes flicking towards the cameras that watched over them and them back to the floor with a frown.

“…Do you remember?” he asked tentatively. Remember him? Remember what happened? Remember their training? It could have meant any number of things.

Comments

1.

[sinistral]

While the Asset's primary function was the elimination of targets deemed dangerous by HYDRA, it was not his only capability. From time to time he was deployed in a training capacity, with instructions to mold young recruits, or eliminate them. He did far more of the latter than ther former, but HYDRA never punished him for it. He was the best; they knew it. HYDRA hadn't been able to replicate his durability, adaptability, skillset and resiliency in a single candidate. He was unique.

Rarely was he instructed to work with a single student; usually he started with a group whose numbers dwindled as days passed. He faintly wondered what set this one apart from others he'd trained.

He'd find out soon enough.

"Irrelevant. Defend yourself," came the reply, brusque and to the point. The Asset had been told to train the boy, but given no indication of current skill. Therefore he likely had to evaluate, then report to his handlers. They would be watching through the camera feed. And they would not take any further delay on his part kindly.

[wearingthestars]

Defend himself?

Billy blinked, clearly taken aback by the instruction, and stepping back with an anxious breath, looking for help that wouldn't be found. "Please- I don't want t- nn-" he started, breaking off in desperate frustration, palms raised to try and ward the man off.

"Iwanthimtostop-Iwanthimtostop-" he tried to chant, glancing to his fingertips. No glow appeared to save him, and he was left with no choice but to try and evade as long as he was able, steeling himself for the world of hurt he was sure couldn't be far from catching up to him.

[sinistral]

The Asset came in fast, not quite with the speed he could do but definitely at the upper end of human capability. Still all his target managed was to raise his hands and talk to himself; he seemed a step away from shaking like a leaf. At the last minute the Asset diverted his punch to the wall, leaving a sizable dent.

"I said defend yourself. Do not fail me again." Two whole sentences were a lot for him, but he'd come in with next to no information on this recruit.

[wearingthestars]

Wide eyes flinched shut, freezing up at the threat just as he'd done so many time with Kesler and his gang of bullies, It took him a good second to absorb that the wall had taken the hit and not him, feeling his stomach drop out from under him at the sight of that dent, going quite pale.

"How am I supposed to- hh- to do that???" Billy fumbled, attempting to edge away along the wall and nearly tripping over himself., afraid to take his eyes off the man.

He tried to dodge, not that it did much good against the Asset's speed, and he raised his arms instinctively to try and shield himself instead, trying to will the magic to work without words.

"Please- I don't want to do this-"

[sinistral]

He came in again, fast. And again, the youth didn't move to counter. The Asset slipped around that clumsy attempt at a dodge, grabbing and twisting an arm behind his back. Resistance to the movement was laughable and after holding it for just a moment, he let the boy — young, so young looking — go.

"Combat abilities. Tell me, now." Would they really bother sending him someone so inexperienced?

[wearingthestars]

"Aaa- wa-wait-" Billy pleaded, wincing as his arm was wrenched back, and he scrambled to put some small distance between them once he was released, holding his shoulder.

The command confused him, that much was clear from his expression, but he wet his lips, trying to make himself speak. "I don't- mm- I'm...I'm a Young Avenger. I use magic mostly, and um- and electricity. I don't do this."

[sinistral]

"Pushups," he replied, then turned his attention from his companion to the cameras in the room. Audio and video both; nothing could hide either from the obvious equipment or the more hidden nodes.

"Objective unclear," he spoke calmly to the camera; the lack of inflection a long habit by now, keeping to English as Pierce preferred. "Asset does not train those who haven't completed basic training."

[wearingthestars]

"...push ups?" Billy repeated uncertainly, "Wh- you want me to do them, or-?" he tried to clarify, but he hesitantly sank to his knees to comply even without an answer.

It was a moment before the Asset got a reply through the speakers, and that it was Pierce himself and not one of the other Handlers spoke to the importance of whatever this was.

"HYDRA has come into the possession of a unique and powerful weapon, Soldier. One that could do the work of project Insight with a signal breath once trained. I trust you understand how valuable that makes it. I'd prefer not to risk breaking it by using the chair unless we have to, so we need you to show it how to be a tool of HYDRA- how to know it's place- before we can begin to train it's magic. He'll shadow you. You will correct him as you see fit, but there's to be no permanent damage, from yourself or the handlers. Understood? That means if you take him out for a mission you protect him first. Above all other mission parameters."

[sinistral]

Were the Asset more focused on his companion he may have forcibly started him on the pushups. Instead the speaker captured all his attention, because Pierce rarely spoke to his tool, except to give direct, important orders.

Those orders turned out to be quite unusual. The Asset rarely performed protective actions; in the short term, yes, especially when used to train the other Winter Soldiers. Long term only HYDRA's mission mattered; cut off one head and two more would take its place. By Pierce's words, this particular, newest recruit seemed a very important piece indeed.

He turned his attention back to his apparent trainee; judging by those pushups, he'd be practically eaten alive. "Understood," he acknowledged, not that he could refuse an order. With no more clarification needed he walked back over to his companion, pacing a circle around him to observe his movement and effort.

"Twenty more," he said.

[wearingthestars]

Pierce's words made Billy frown, distracted from his ordered as he listened in, though he started up again when the other man...the Asset? returned, cheeks hot.

He narrowed his eyes at the floor, and up vaguely towards the speakers where Pierce's voice had come from when the Asset wasn't directly in his eye line anymore, clearly not pleased with what had been said. "I'm not your weapon," he muttered softly.

His arms were all ready aching from the effort of the one's he'd done, and he lifted his head with a pleading look at new goalpost. Billy did try, though after the second time his arms gave out from under him he didn't pushing back up straight away.

"I can't-" he pleaded.

[sinistral]

Sharp heaping picked up that muttering, though he chose not to address it. That lesson would come in the reality of everyday life with HYDRA. The boy would learn soon enough.

He paused, when the arms gave out. Giving up so soon? After not even twenty? A poor showing indeed. He had his work cut out for him, in the physical training aspect.

"You will." Though the words remained in that neutral tone, they could be taken as a threat. The recruit would learn, one way or the other. "Or you will regret it."

[wearingthestars]

Looking up at the mass of muscle standing over him, Billy swallowed a bit thickly, clearly hearing the words as a threat. He breathed out a steadying sigh to draw his strength and tried to continue, clearly struggling. He didn't get much further before his arms gave out again.

"I'm trying-" he swore, forehead pressed to the floor as he tried to will his body to summon some kind of reserve strength, "Can we just-...can we just talk about this? I just want to go home- please-"

[sinistral]

"You are stalling with an attempt to appeal to me in the hope that I will say you don't have to finish. It won't work; you have six more to do." He went quiet as he considered the recruit. "Those six can take an hour, or all night. It's your choice, but not getting rest will not exempt you from tomorrow's training."

The Soldier rarely spoke so much to those he trained — rarely spoke so much at all. He needed to pause to swallow, and run his tongue over his lips to moisten them. "You are an Asset now. You have no home."

[wearingthestars]

"..." Tomorrow's training. Billy wilted, as though he hadn't thought far enough ahead to consider tomorrow yet. "...just the six? Then I can stop?" he probed warily. He thought he might be able to force himself to finish if that was the end of it for today, but if this was just the start...

Billy's eyes stung, and he blinked a few times to fight back tears, opting for a weak glare instead. "I'm not an Asset. I'm Billy Kaplan. And I will go home." Someday. Somehow.

[sinistral]

"Do you want me to make it more?" He could. "I asked for twenty. You've given me fourteen. You owe me six. Do not disappoint me." The Winter Soldier was a fair trainer at least. His recruit would learn.

Something in him twisted at the appearance of the defiance, something uncomfortable. But it wasn't strong enough to do anything like aiding the boy,or easing his time. It could almost be pity, not that he was capable of such an emotion. "You'll learn."

[wearingthestars]

"...no," he relented, frowning at the floor. Billy forced himself to push past the ache in his arms, telling himself it was all over after these last few. Each one felt like he'd never be able to push himself up again, muscles protesting, and more than once he collapsed without meaning to.

"What's- nn- what's your name? What do I call you?" Billy asked, trying to distract himself.

[sinistral]

It was something of a test: to see the defiance yes, but to see if the recruit possessed anything of determination. He was not disappointed with the way the youth finished, even if the pushups weren't the best in form. He could work with that.

"I am the Winter Soldier." Not his only designation, but the one most commonly used.

[wearingthestars]

"M'just gonna lay here for a minute," Billy mumbled when he finally finished, cheek pressed against the floor without care. He did the stupid pushups. And terrifying as he looked, this 'Winter Soldier' had probably done the least damage of any of the people he'd met since the Warden took him.

"Winter Soldier...s'like a superhero name," he mused absently, lips giving a faint sad smile, "I'm Billy," he offered. He'd said it before, but it wasn't a proper introduction. "Are you a prisoner too, Winter? Or are you one of them?"

[sinistral]

"You may have five minutes." Then he meant to remove his trainee from the room. It was one of the more multipurpose facilities, not exclusively for the Winter Soldier's use, and he didn't want others to step in with their own lessons or ideas. Pierce's orders were clear: the new Asset must be kept safe and unharmed.

"It is the designation of this Asset." Not a superhero, a tool for HYDRA. He did good work, important work, but work that needed the shadows and the secrecy, not the glitz and glamour of those the world called superheroes. "You are an Asset now too. You will be given an appropriate designation."

[wearingthestars]

"So generous," Billy teased instinctively, giving a tired sigh and making the most of the time he was given. Five minutes was something at least.

"What's wrong with Billy?" he asked pointedly, frowning. Or 'Wiccan', not that he was eager to share his own super hero background when he'd managed to find himself caught up by HYDRA. "...can I just call you Winter? It sounds more like a name."

[sinistral]

"Do you wish to remain here when someone else comes to use this room?" An empty suggestion, because the Asset could not allow his trainee to come to harm. But perhaps still effective to someone who didn't yet fully understand HYDRA.

"Assets do not possess names." Or any number of other things. In time this newest Asset would understand. "A designation is issued on orders from handlers. Your own will be chosen and issued at the appropriate time in your training."

[wearingthestars]

"...No," Billy muttered with a quiet huff, and after a short beat he reluctantly pushed himself upright. At least this suggested a little more freedom of movement than he'd had with the Warden. No shackles. But his very own...scary Soldier man.

"It's still mine, even if no one calls me by it," Billy countered, wondering then what the Winter Soldier's real name was. And would Billy get to a point where he was so eager to comply? "...how long have you been an Asset?"

[sinistral]

He watched the movement from prone to standing. Clearly his trainee was unused to such physical effort as the Asset had commanded,but he also did not know what had been done in the minutes, hours, days before he entered the room. HYDRA was not always kind to its Assets. "You will accompany me to my quarters. You may shower and sleep. Tomorrow your training will begin."

Unless the Asset received other orders, or direction on where his trainee should be kept. For now, the safest place was at the Asset's side.

"You will learn," he replied calmly; it was not a threat but a plain statement of fact. The question he simply dismissed. "Irrelevant."

[wearingthestars]

Both the promise of sleep and shower had Billy far more cooperative, almost eager to fall into place at the Asset's side.

"How do you know its irrelevant, you don't even know why I asked," he argued, less combative than before, but not able to let it go completely.

[sinistral]

Curious, the hint of eager energy despite a moment ago laying on the floor in exhaustion from a handful of pushups. Could the Asset work with that? He supposed he would learn; the potential seemed great.

"It is irrelevant because I have not always been deployed." Sometimes HYDRA put him in storage; it was preferable when the Asset had no active mission. The new recruit would learn.

[wearingthestars]

"But you've still...been," Billy argued weakly, mind not able to conjure something quite as horrible as the storage scenario on it's own. "...you don't want to be here though, right? You're like me?" Another prisoner, not like the rest of them. Someone who might even be able to help, if Billy played his cards right.

[sinistral]

He couldn't answer that question. He'd been, as the boy put it, but the Winter Soldier was nothing more than a ghost, a myth, a whisper before death. The length of service didn't matter. The length of the kill list didn't matter. He was deployed when needed, cleaned and stored when not. Another weapon, no different from the rifles HYDRA provided him.

When the questions continued he crowded the boy against the side of the corridor, trapped between his body and the wall, metal hand over his mouth. "You will not speak like that. It leads to punishment." And with Pierce's directive of no damage coming to the boy, chances were good for any such punishment to fall on the shoulders of the Asset.

[wearingthestars]

Billy cowed, easily herded against the wall, eyes wide. He nodded faintly to show his understanding, though his frown was plain enough even with his mouth covered. His mind- desperate for any shred of hope it could find- chose to interpret the lack of denial as chance that the Winter Soldier was just as trapped as him.

[sinistral]

The Asset held his trainee against the wall for a long moment, evaluating his expression. Trouble; this assignment would bring nothing but trouble. He would have to find a way to eliminate that aspect.

Personal wants didn't matter to HYDRA. Assets were to do as ordered: nothing more, and definitely nothing less.

He finally stepped away and started leading the way down the corridor again. His assigned quarters were not far and while not equipped for double occupancy, it was the only place he could assure his trainee would remain unmolested through the night. He would figure out better accommodation tomorrow.

"You may shower and sleep here. I will bring you a meal tonight; tomorrow you will start your training." A beat. "You are to do what I tell you. Is that clear?"

[wearingthestars]

Billy held still, feeling very much like his younger self making himself small when his bullies cornered him. He dropped his gaze anxiously, and when he was finally released he followed behind his trainer silently.

He looked around the small space, holding his tongue and nodding in response. He lifted his head at the final question, a brief glimmer of defiance in his eyes before he nodded again. "...I'll try," he offered. His obedience would depend entirely on what was asked of him.

He eyed the separate space eagerly, longing for some sort of privacy, however he could get it. "Can I shower now?"

[sinistral]

The Asset's quarters were better than a cell, though perhaps not by much: sparse furnishings and no personal touches, but everything was clean and kept well. Aside from the bed the space contained a desk and chair and a dresser, and not much else. The bathroom was similarly sparse but had plenty of clean towels on a shelf outside the shower stall. The Asset made a mental note to request double accommodations, as even adding a cot would cramp the space. Pierce would likely decide what he was allowed.

"I encourage you to try hard," he answered. "That I have charge of you is in your favor. Other trainers would not be so patient."

A shrug followed the question; he didn't need to be so strict as to define a hygiene schedule. "If you wish it. I would recommend a hotter water setting if your muscles are still sore. Do you have any food allergies that I need to know about?"

[wearingthestars]

That earned a reflexive laugh before Billy realized the Asset really did think he was a model of patience. And if Billy had a better understanding of things he might think so too. He flushed apologetically and pressed his lips together, nodding softly.

"Do they have cameras in there too, or do we actually get some privacy?" he asked hopefully. He hadn't been broken of his modest yet even with the Warden's poking and prodding. "No, not really," he answered truthfully. He wished he did; if they were so determined to keep him alive that could be a way to force their hand and get him out of this place long enough to escape.

[sinistral]

"There is no place you can be that does not have the possibility of observation." A simple fact; HYDRA could watch whatever and whenever it wanted to watch. "If you behave yourself, I will not have to observe you in person. If you disobey, you'll wish for just pushups."

See? A very fair and benevolent trainer.

"And do not think to deceive me about allergies or illness. It will not gain you any advantage." He could only train a functional recruit, not one who couldn't keep up with the regimen he meant to set. Failure to keep his recruit healthy would no doubt result in punishment from Pierce, even if it was the recruit's fault. "I am being generous tonight. Do not make me regret it."

i have been sick, i'm so sorry <3

[wearingthestars]

The weight of how far reaching that potential gaze of HYDRA could be couldn't properly be felt yet, but all ready Billy was beginning to have a inkling of understanding of the scope of what he'd been brought into.

"I'm behaving," he muttered with a touch of teenage sullenness, though he glanced away with a short nod to show he understood. "...I won't." =

No worries at all, take care of YOU

[sinistral]

It was for the best if Billy behaved. If ordered to do so the Asset would accompany him every waking moment, down to showers and bathroom needs. The possibility was not likely to be comfortable for either of them.

"You may shower then. And you may sit on the bed when you have finished. I will return shortly; do not attempt mischief in my absence."

What he would find when he came back with a tray of food remained to be seen.

Re: No worries at all, take care of YOU

[wearingthestars]

Even if it was ultimately only an illusion, the presumed privacy Billy was able to feel once left to shower allowed those walls to truly crumble. Not that he had been doing a particularly good job in holding back his emotions, they were displayed plain as day for anyone to read, but if his red rimmed eyes were evidence he had indulged in a moment of self pity under the cover of the water. He'd also tried fruitlessly to tamper with his ear mods, earning that ear splitting pain that brought him to his knees.

It meant at least that he wasn't up for much mischief when he emerged, still damp, to sit on the Asset's bed. His eyes skirted about, not that there was much to see, and he shifted uneasily, feeling like he was trespassing in a space that wasn't his. (Though it hardly seemed to be the Asset's either.)

He hurriedly swiped at his damp cheeks when the Asset returned, averting his gaze and straightening to try and cover for his embarrassment, sure that tears would get him no where with him. "Hey-" he greeted reflectively.

[sinistral]

The room itself was sparse, not offering up anything in the way of personal touches. Everything it held was functional, and it distinctly did not contain any weapons. It was doubtless more comfortable than a cell, and offered something more in privacy; that perhaps was the only thing it had going for it.

The privacy the new recruit enjoyed only lasted half an hour; the Asset returned to the room with a tray of food in one hand and a sleeping bag in the other. He set the tray at the small desk; the meal consisted of a chicken breast, canned peas, and rice, along with a glass of water. The utensils were plastic and useless as weapons; the sturdiest thing was the tray, a heavy sort of molded cardboard. All in all, it wasn't the worst meal in the world.

"You may eat," he said, brushing off the greeting. "And you may sleep in the bed tonight. Tomorrow your training will begin."

With that, he went about the beginning of his night routine, starting by taking a clean shirt and pants from the small dresser — clothes for sleeping, not for daily wear. With a sideways look at his companion he removed a second set of similar clothing from the drawer and left it at the foot of the bed for the boy. He'd use it or he wouldn't; the Asset was not bothered either way. He then disappeared into the bathroom for his own brief shower routine.

[wearingthestars]

The food might have been drugged, but even if Billy had thought far enough beyond his own hunger to worry about it, he would have reasoned that there were simpler ways to manage that when they had such complete ownership of him.

He waited until the Asset had disappeared before moving, quickly polishing away about half the meal and all of the water before leaving the rest. Maybe the Asset had eaten while he'd left, but Billy wondered if like the bed he was depriving him of his own share. It only seemed fair to leave him some.

He changed into the clothes, which didn't fit him well, but were serviceable enough for sleeping, and then lay out on the bed. He drifted off without meaning to, exhausted and too timid to attempt an escape straight away.

[sinistral]

Showering didn't take long; even so his trainee was already curled up in the bed when the Asset emerged. No matter; they had no further training this evening and the sleep would do him good as preparation for the morning. Surprising that he didn't finish the meal, but he ate enough that the Asset decided not to wake him to finish. He ate the rest himself; his metabolism could always use the extra calories. Then he turned out the lights and positioned himself on the floor with the sleeping bag, by far not the worst accommodation he'd had.

Sleep came and went; the Asset had learned not to dwell on anything in his dreams. Morning came after; the Asset rose and moved to wake his trainee with a hand to the shoulder.

"Wake up." A beat. "We will run this morning."

[wearingthestars]

It woke Billy with a fearful start, and he flinched back before he seemed to remember where he was. He groaned rubbed at his eyes, not a morning person or easy riser by any stretch, but the Asset didn't seem like the compromising sort..

"Run?" he questioned, blinking blearily as he sat up, frowning at the first reminder of the day that he couldn't hear his own words. It was a surprise each morning, like his mind forgot and had to learn all over again.