for Revolution Rising ~
Name: James Buchanan Barnes ("Bucky")
Alias: Winter Soldier
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and sunshine Patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
Age: 27
Species: human, enhanced with the Infinity Formula
Power(s): Bionic Arm (enhanced strength and speed, multiple abilities); delayed aging
Personality: at turns charming and reticent; resilient, temperamental, loyal; a fatalist but there is a flame of hope within him that cannot be extinguished
Likes: Brooklyn, swing dancing, baking, baseball, pirates, Peter Pan
Dislikes: himself
Bio: Bucky Barnes was a golden boy growing up, and a credit to the uniform when he joined the Army during World War II. Born with confidence, charm, and a handsome smile Bucky was popular throughout his youth, and women considered him a catch. A childhood friend of Steve Rogers, Bucky looked after the smaller boy, and made a point of including him. In a way, though Steve was frail and easily dismissed, Bucky looked up to his friend -- Steve was the man Bucky really wanted to be, even before he was 'Captain America'. The two friends reconnected during the war when Steve led a one-man rescue operation to find his friend behind enemy lines. After the successful rescue, Bucky joined Captain America's new team "The Howling Commandos" and the two fought side by side. During a mission, Bucky fell off a train, plummeting into a frozen valley and was presumed dead.
However, Bucky was found unconscious and near death by the Russian army. His arm was amputated and replaced with a bionic arm that granted him limited super strength and a host of experimental weapons abilities. Bucky's memories were wiped and he was reconditioned to believe he was a Soviet assassin -- and he was the best. As the Winter Soldier, Bucky conducted strategic assassinations all over the world; he also trained recruits in assassination and espionage. One of these recruits was Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, with whom he fell in love.
"Love is for children."
When Bucky was not on an operation or training, he was kept in cryostasis. Years went by while he slept which impacted his relationship and his sense of reality. His mind was constantly tampered with, his memories and his name were stolen, his friends were ghosts he was never certain were real. The missions were all he had.
After the Soviet Union collapsed, Bucky was reassigned to a General who used him as a personal bodyguard and assassin. During a mission with the General, Bucky was reunited with Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff, who now worked with SHIELD as founding members of The Avengers. Steve was able to restore Bucky's memories, but overcome by shame at everything he'd done, Bucky ran away from his oldest friend and the woman he'd loved.
Now, Bucky is joining SHIELD in an attempt to make amends for the horrors he accomplished when he'd forgotten who he was. Steve remains his inspiration, everything a "hero" should be, and his closest friend. A reverse from their earlier relationship, Natasha is now his mentor at SHIELD. James, as he now prefers to be called, is tentative to rekindle their romance, or to befriend others. He is quieter than the boy he was so long ago, and far more afraid, though only those who truly know him would be able to tell. His smile remains handsome, but his eyes are haunted. Within them, however, is the flicker of hope.
Model: Sebastian Stan
Collection: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/collection?id=2568446