Bucky's POV:
Sam and I fly back to the states. He seems to be resting well. I sit on a crate, as my mind is spinning. We have got to get the shield back. We have to honor Steve's legacy. We need to figure out what's going on with the Flag Smashers. I would like to know who the Nighthawk is. We need to protect Charlie and Maggie. I need to talk to Charlie. I'm more scared of the last thought. What is there to say?
He finally opens his eyes, looking at me. "You alright?" He asks. No. I nod my head, still focused on all my thoughts.
"Let's take the shield, Sam." My eyes never meet his face. This is something we must do. John doesn't deserve it. "Let's take the shield and do this ourselves."
"We can't just run up on the man, beat him up, and take it." He answers, sitting up he looks at me. "Do you remember what happened the last time we stole it?" Yes, I can't forget that time. Charlie was during that time.
"Maybe." I remember everything about that time.
"I'll help you in case you forgot. Sharon was branded enemy of the state, and Steve and I were on the run for two years. You remember Charlie? Of course, you do, she was on the run with us. She joined the Avengers, only to have been made a fugitive in a couple of months. I don't know about you, but I don't wanna live the rest of my life la vida loca. We just got our ass handed to us by super soldiers, and we got nothing."
"Not entirely true." I finally get up and walk over towards Sam's side. Someone I've wanted to tell Sam about for a long time. "There is someone that you should meet."
We land in Baltimore. Walking down the streets, Sam is just as confused as ever, but willing to follow me and trust me. As we get closer to the house, I'm taking him to, young boys on the sidewalk yell, "Hey, it's Black Falcon. What's up?"
"It's just Falcon, kid."
"No, no. My daddy told me it's Black Falcon."
"Is it because I'm black and I'm the Falcon?" He asks stopping to talk to the boy.
"Well, technically, I mean, yes."
"So, are you, like, black kid?" He asks, causing the other boy to laugh, Sam chuckles. "I got him, right?"
I lead him up the steps of the house. This isn't going to be easy. Not easy getting him to talk to us, and not easy for Sam, hearing everything. No trespassing. He's still trying to remain anonymous. I rap on the door. Hoping that we can see him. A young man answers the door, "We're here to see Isaiah."
"Nobody named Isaiah live here." He responds.
I sigh, "Look, we just want to talk to him." My voice is calm, steady, almost coming out in a whisper.
"You must not hear what I just said. You ain't getting in this house. Y'all can leave now."
"Tell him the guy from the bar in Goyang is here. He's gonna know what that means."
"Alright. Wait here." He finally drops his defensive tone. He's heard this story.
"Nice kid. How do you know this guy?" Sam asks.
We still stand motionless on the porch, "I used to. We had a skirmish during the Korean War." The young boy opens the door, allowing Sam and I entrance. Upon walking in I see him.
"Today's your lucky day. He said he wants to see for himself." The boy's arrogance returns to his voice. Obviously more confident with Isaiah present.
"Isaiah." I nod my head at the now old man.
"Look at you." His eyes heavily focused on my face. I haven't aged much, being in cryo most the time.
"This is, uh, Sam. Sam, this is Isaiah." Sam looks at me, still confused on the importance of Isaiah. "He was a hero. One of the ones that Hydra feared the most. Like Steve. We uh, met in '51."
"If by met, you mean I whupped your ass, then, yeah." I smile over at him. He's not wrong. "We heard whispers he was on the peninsula, but everyone they sent after him, never came back." Sam looks between us. Still confused, but interested. "So, the U.S. military dropped me behind the line to go deal with him. I took half that metal arm in that fight in Goyang, but I see he's managed to grow it back. I just wanted to see if you got the arm back. Or if he'd come to kill me."
"I'm not a killer anymore." I'm James Bucky Barnes.
"You think you can wake up one day and decide who you wanna be? It doesn't work like that. Well, maybe it does for folks like you." All four of us stand motionless in the room. Sam and the boy don't dare to interrupt Isaiah and myself.
"Isaiah, the reason we're here is because there's more of you and me out there."
"You and me." He scoffs at me, furrowing his brows.
"And we need to know how." My voice remains level and quiet.
"I'm not gonna talk about it anymore." He raises his voice as he grabs a metal box, throwing it towards a wall where it sticks in. He hasn't lost any of his strength. Sam and the boy's attention go to the box. Realizing just the amount of strength that Isaiah possesses.
He makes his way closer to me. "You know what they did to me for being a hero? They put my ass in jail for thirty years. People running tests, taking my blood, coming into my cell. Even your people weren't done with me." I'm ashamed.
"Isaiah..." Sam calmly tries to reason with him, and steady him.
"Get out of my house!" He shouts, anger and rage completely transparent on his face.
"Let's go, man, let's go." The boy ushers us out. Sam is almost frozen staring at Isaiah.
Sam, stalks away. Clearly furious about Isaiah and the fact no one has ever heard of him. "Why didn't you tell me about Isaiah? How could nobody bring him up?" I don't know how to answer, so I don't. "I asked you a question Bucky. Steve didn't know about him?"
"He didn't. I didn't tell him."
"So, you're telling me that there was a black super soldier decades ago and nobody knew about it?" Not entirely true. People knew, people also wanted to cover it up.
Sirens pull up beside us. I'm not in the mood for this. "Hey." One of the officers calls over to us.
"What's up, man?" Sam asks, still irritated, but keeping a level voice.
"Is there a problem here?" The other asks.
"No, we're just talking." Sam responds.
"We're fine." I add.
The officers walk closer to us, mostly to Sam, "Can I see your ID?"
"I don't have ID. Why?" He answers.
"Man, seriously?" Now, I'm the one irritated. Both officers focus on Sam as they circle around him.
"Okay, sir, just calm down." Really?
"I am calm. What do you want? We're just standing here talking."
"Just give him your ID so we can leave." I try to calm Sam.
"No. I'm not giving him shit. We're just talking." One of the officers places his hand on his gun. This isn't going well.
"Hey, hey. Is this guy bothering you?" He asks me.
"No, he's not bothering me. Do you know who this is?"
One of the officers knows who Sam is, as he whispers to the other. A crowd is growing on the streets watching us. "Hey, these guys are Avengers." He whispers.
The officer looks at Sam, recognition hits his face, "Oh, God, I am so sorry, Mr. Wilson. I didn't recognize you without the goggles." Sam's face goes from anger, to guilt, to disappointment. This interaction could have gone south really quickly. Because of his status, he was spared. "I'm really, really sorry about this."
Sam turns to look at me, and I can't keep his gaze, I turn to look away, only for another police vehicle to turn on their lights and siren to approach. "Guys, just wait here, okay? Just..." He walks off.
"Hey, I didn't tell anybody because he had already been through enough." I tell Sam, with disappointment he shakes his head at me.
"Um, Mr. Barnes, there's a warrant out for your arrest." Great.
"Look, the president pardoned him for all that." Sam tries to defend me. I can't take my eyes off the officer. What the hell?
"Not for that. You missed your court mandated therapy. It's like missing a check-in with your PO." I grimace at the realization that I screwed up. "I'm sorry, Mr. Barnes, you're under arrest." I walk over to the car as he cuffs me. I shake my head at Sam not knowing exactly what I'm...what we're, going to do.
__________________________________________________________________
Bucky's POV:
Officers lead me through the precinct and I see him. I hate him, "He's too valuable of an asset to have tied up." I hear him tell Dr. Raynor. How did this guy know I was here? "So just do whatever you got to do with him, then send him off to me. Got some unfinished business, him and I." He makes eye contact with me, almost smirking. "You too, Wilson. Oh, and Bucky, a little birdie told me you were here." He smiles an arrogant smile, "I'll be outside."
I turn scowling at Sam, he's probably the birdie. "James, condition of your release, session now. You too, Sam." She turns walking away, commanding us to follow. I still continue my scowl at Sam, of all the people he calls, it's John.
"That's okay. I'll be out here with..." He calls out to Dr. Raynor.
"That wasn't a request." Reluctantly we both follow.
This room is even more claustrophobic. There're not stupid trees, but it's empty, cold, and dark. She slams down her notebook. Making sure I see it. I hate that thing. "So... who would like to start?" She looks between us.
"Alright, look, Dr. Raynor? I get it, why you want me to talk to Freaky Magoo over here. But I'm 100% fine." Not all of us get to be 100% fine.
"It is my job to make sure that you're okay. And so, yeah, this may be slightly unprofessional, but it's the only way that I can see if you're getting over whatever's eating at you."
"This is ridiculous." Sam whispers.
"Yeah. I agree." Ha, we can agree on something.
"See? Making progress already. So, who wants to go first?" Her eyes shift between us. Neither of us speak up, or meet her eyes. "No volunteers?" Obviously. "Wow. How surprising." Sarcasm oozes out of her mouth. "Okay. We're going to do an exercise. It's something I use with couples when they are trying to figure out what kind of life, they wanna build together. Are you familiar with the miracle question?"
"Absolutely not." Sam answers as I say, "Of course not." I don't want to build a life with him.
"Okay, it goes like this. Suppose that while you're sleeping a miracle occurs. When you wake up, what is something that you would like to see that would make your life better?" She glances between us.
"My miracle would be that he would answer his phone that way someone else could deal with his ass." Sam spits out at me. Ouch.
"In my miracle, he would...he would talk less." I respond.
"You know what, I change my mind. Punish yourself, even though you're really punishing them. I'm going to say the same thing, that you would talk less. How ironic?" His eyes turn to glare at me.
I nod my head, of course. "You guys are leaving me with no choice. It's time for the soul-gazing exercise."
"I like this better." He can look into my eyes while I attempt to burn him.
"Oh, God. He's gonna love this." You're right, Sam. I will.
"Yeah, I'm ready."
"This is right up your alley." Sam squints his eyes at me.
"Turn around. Turn around. Face each other." Dr. Raynor urges us to look at one another.
"You should really enjoy this." Sam looks more pissed off now.
"I'm going to." I tell him with a cocky smile.
"I know you are."
"Yeah." My smirk is strong now. My body is completely turned towards Sam, he's barely moving his chair.
"Sam. Face each other."
"Let's do it. Let's stare. This is a good exercise. Thanks, Doc." I love this.
"Alright, good. Alright, get close." Closer? "Come on, closer." This is a joke.
"Which way you want to go?" I ask him. Now I'm irritated. "Right or left?"
"Why're your legs open?" He asks. "You know what? Fine. Here." Sam and I shuffle our chairs until our legs are placed in between one another. A little too close. "You happy now?" No. "We're locked in."
"That's a little close." I tell him. Too close.
"It's very close. That's what you wanted, right?" No.
"Guys!" Dr. Raynor screams. Let's get this over with. "Good. Now, look at each other. You need to look at each other in the eyes." Our eyes finally meet. Neither one of us are happy. "There, you, see? That wasn't so hard." It was actually.
And we're back to a staring contest. Both of us flooded with so many different emotions, none more than how irritated we are with one another. "Wait, what are you doing? Are you having a staring contest?" Yes. "Just blink." She snaps her fingers causing Sam to flinch. I win. "Sweet Jesus. Alright, James, why does Sam aggravate you?" The list is too long. I smirk over at her, where to start. "And don't say something childish." Fine then.
"Why did you give up that shield?" This is one of the more pressing aggravations.
"Why are you making such a big deal out of something that has nothing to do with you?" Because Steve was a brother to me.
"Steve believed in you. He trusted you. He gave you that shield for a reason. That shield is...that is everything he stood for. That is his legacy. He gave you that shield, and you threw it away like it was nothing."
"Shut up. He trusted you, too." I grit my teeth.
"So maybe he was wrong about you. And if he was wrong about you, then he was wrong about me." He was wrong about me. I'm a killer. I never should have been trusted because I fuck everything up.
Sam stares at me, fully digesting what I told him. "You finished?" He whispers, calmed.
"Yeah."
"Alright, good. Maybe this is something you or Steve will never understand. But can you accept that I did what I thought was right?"
After Baltimore, I realize why Sam did what he did. He feels America isn't ready, for him, a black man. I hang my head down, not wanting to admit the truth. He's not wrong. He scoffs, "You know what, Doc? I don't have time for this. We have some real serious shit going on. So, how about this? I will squash it right now. We go deal with that, and when we're done, we both can go on separate, long vacations, and never see each other again."
"I like that." I respond shaking my head.
"Great. Well, let's get to work. Thanks, Doc, for making it weird. I feel much better." Sam says looking at Dr. Raynor. "I'll see you outside." He slaps the side of my arm. I'm just drained. A lot has happened in a few days.
"Thank you." Dr. Raynor calls to Sam as he leaves the room. My body is frozen. "That was really great." I finally stand to leave. "I know that look. What's wrong?"
"What was rule number two again?"
"Don't hurt anyone." How can I not hurt someone? We're about to go to another damn fight.
"Goodbye, Doc." I turn as I walk away. I don't know if this is the best idea.
I meet Sam outside the precinct. "Well, I feel better." He says.
"I feel awful. Why did you call John?"
"I didn't." He tells me.
"Then who's his little birdie?"
A siren goes off in the distance. To show me an arrogantly smiling John and Hoskins, "Gentlemen." Oh, God. "Good to see you again." He taps on the squad car with a smirk, looking directly at me, and then I see her. Charlie. She gets out of the car turning to me, with a sad smile, and then smiles at Sam. She's the birdie. "Turns out, Charlie, here, did need my help. Just like I knew she would. She let me know that you were arrested, after Sam called her, and I worked it out for you to get out, with no more therapy. Everybody wins."
Charlie turns to look at him, "Don't act so cocky John. We're even now."
"No, I believe I did you a favor. I helped your soldier buddy out, now you help me out." He turns looking at her, still smirking. I hate him. My body goes closer to him. He will not hurt her.
"No, this was how you can make it up to me for threatening me in my office. And then you called me Steve's wife, even though we were never married on national television. And you mentioned my daughter, after I told you I wanted my private life out of the public. Apology accepted." She smirks up at him. I missed her bratty attitude. He goes even closer to her, but I run to stand in front of her, blocking him.
He takes a deep breath. "Fine. Fine. Look, if we divide ourselves, we don't stand a chance, you guys know that." I see he isn't planning on advancing in front of her so I move to the side, allowing her to interact if she needs to. God, she's beautiful. Her perfume wafts over to me, she smells damn good. Stop.
"So, what do you know?" Sam finally breaks the tension.
"Well, the leader's name's Karli Morgenthau. We've been targeting civilians who've been helping Karli move from place to place." I stretch going behind Charlie and leaning against the car, bringing myself even closer to her. Out of the corner of my eye I see her smile slightly. John catches the exchange and gives an odd glance.
"They geotagged a location then scrambled the signal." Hoskins turns to look at Charlie, he knows she works at Stark Industries, they know how useful she can be. "But our satellites have found their symbol popping up in various displaced communities all across Central and Eastern Europe."
"We think she's taking the medicine she just stole to one of these camps." John responds, his gaze constantly landing on Charlie and the closeness between us.
"Well, there are hundreds of those all over the planet since The Blip. So, I guess you'll have to look real hard." I tell him, wanting to tear his wandering eyes away from Charlie. She fiddles around with her gauntlet bracelets on her wrists. "It was you, huh? The Nighthawk?"
"Bucky, pay attention." I see her smile, and know I'm right.
"Good thing I have 20/20 vision, huh?" I hate him.
"Where is she now, Walker? Do you know?" I raise my voice slightly, even behind Charlie, she doesn't react to it.
"No, we don't know, Bucky. If you don't believe me, ask her to read me. That's what you do isn't it, Charlie?" His eyes glare at her, and my weight shifts. He notices the movement, almost smiling, "It's only a matter of time before we find out."
"Things are really intense for you, aren't they, Walker?" His eyes have fully focused on me. That's good, he needs to quit looking at her.
"Stop with the pissing contest. He has too many people in high places." Charlie casts in my mind. She's right.
"Take it easy. Look, Walker's right." Sam comes closer to us, blocking his view to both of us. "It is imperative that we find them and stop them." He turns to look at Walker and Hoskins. "But you guys have rules of engagement and all kinds of authorizations you have to get. We're free agents. We're more flexible. So, it wouldn't make sense for us to work with you." Sam turns, placing his hand on Charlie's waist as we all three spin around.
"A word of advice, then." The three of us turn. Sam and I tower over Charlie's small size. Perfect little doll, still. Her hand almost instinctively moves closer to mine. She wants us closer. And being this close to her makes me realize how much I miss her. How much I want her. And yes, how much I need her. The movement is noticed by Walker. He's not stupid. "Stay the hell out of my way." They turn to walk away, until he stops, looking back at us, "Oh, and Charlie, the world thinks you're married to Steve, I wonder what they would think when they see you screwing around on him with his best friend." He continues following Hoskins with a dark chuckle.
Mother fucker! "James, don't. He's not worth it." I grit my teeth as my fists clench. She's right.
"I hate him." I say out loud, not necessarily to Sam or Charlie, but to the universe.
I follow Sam as he leads us to the car. "So, what are you thinking?" He asks. Still Charlie walks in between us. It's like we're her personal body guards, but against a normal person, she could hold her own.
"Well, I know what we have to do. When Isaiah said 'my people'..."
"Oh, don't take that to heart. That's not what he meant." Sam tells me.
"No, he meant Hydra." Charlie grabs for my left hand. I don't push her away. She's worried. "Hydra used to be my people."
Sam scoffs before responding, "Not a chance." Charlie is staying quiet since she wasn't there. She listening, learning. And I know she won't enter mine or Sam's thoughts without consent.
"Walker doesn't have any leads." I answer. Hydra is our best bet. "James?" Charlie casts in my brain.
"I know where you're going with this, no."
"He knows all of Hydra's secrets. Don't you remember Siberia?" I turn looking down at her. She knows who I'm referring to. She hates him.
"So, you're just gonna go sit in a room with this guy?" I mean...
"Yea-yes."
"Okay, then." Charlie says smiling up at me. How does she do that? "We're gonna go see Zemo."
"Charlie, you don't need to get involved." Sam tells her.
"The hell I don't. If I hadn't been in Munich Bucky would have been road kill." She tells him. I knew it.
"Wait...you're the Nighthawk?" She nods her head at him. "And of all the things we've talked about you failed to mention that one? And you fly?"
"I kept it a secret from everyone. The only one who knows is Peter Parker." Ugh, that kid, "Bucky Barnes, if I hear you huff out another word about Peter, I'll personally kick your ass." She fully turns glaring at me. Here it comes, everything she's needed to say to me for the past five months, and I refused to answer my phone, thinking I was protecting her. "When you were refusing my calls, and Sam was off with the Air Force I had to make my own way. Peter finished the suit Tony started. He made it better, and it hides my face."
"I don't know why you would want to hide your face." I sweetly smile at her, hoping to take the sting away. Sam rolls his eyes standing behind her.
"Don't start that. You left me, Bucky. Over something I didn't have any control over."
"I know. I was stupid. I messed up."
"What happened?" Sam asked.
"Not going to talk about it now, Sam. In time, but you..." she turns facing me. "All I ever wanted was to be there for you. I told you where my loyalty lied. It isn't with him, and I'm making that perfectly clear now. It's still not with him." Sam glances up at me, knowing she's talking about Steve, but unsure if she's talking about the old man Steve. "The least you could have done was respond, let me know that you were okay. Maggie and I both had lost Steve. And then we lost someone who I thought would never abandon me. And you get mad at me for a secret when you kept a secret about knowing me before Bucharest."
"Wait, what?" Sam asks.
"Charlie, I really am sorry."
"I know. I accept your apology, but you sir, are...Sam, what's the word I'm looking for?" He fumbles around because he doesn't know what she's talking through, "Bucky, I love you, and because of that, I don't trust myself with you." Didn't see that coming. "I already have grabbed your hand, smiled at the sound of your voice, causing the biggest douche bag in history to pick up on my feelings for you. I want to be partners with you, but I can't...I can't go there." She fully looks into my eyes, "Not right now."
"I know." I hurt her. I deserved worse than what she gave me.
"But I want to. Eventually."
"Yeah?" I smile down at her.
"Yeah."
"Well, now that you two have spoken in each other's minds and made things really weird. Where's Maggie?"
"She's with Clint and Laura. I already explained what's going on."
"How did you know where we were?" Sam asks.
"Peter hacked into Redwing. It's Stark technology."
"I knew I couldn't trust Redwing." I say smiling over at Sam, ha.
"If it wasn't for Redwing you would have been ran over." Sam starts to say something. "I know the dummies hacked in too. I had to make sure that you guys were safe. You're family. And I am the Nighthawk." She smiles over at Sam.
"Why Nighthawk?" Sam finally asks.
"Tony named the suit. It's a play on Hawkeye."
We finally make it to the car, opening the door I let Charlie in the back, hesitating because I want to be in the back with her, but knowing that we can't go back to how it used to be. She should be treated properly. And she's not ready to fully trust me in that way, although I see that she wants me just as much as I want her. "Stop." She casts to me.
"Stop what?"
"Stop trying to undress me with your eyes. You're the one who left Bucky boy. You've missed out on good sex for the past five months."
I groan looking back at her. "I know. You keep reminding me, but I know. Trust me, I know."
"This isn't weird, is it?"
"No." I answer. It isn't. I think we both would do whatever we had to protect one another.
"Good. I've missed you."
"Missed you, too, doll." I look into her eyes, seeing the reaction she gives me to her pet name. She takes in a deep breath, as her eyes close slowly. Her tongue traces her lips before she shakes herself out of the moment. She does still love me.
"You did that on purpose, James." Her voice changes as she casts my name to me.
"As did you."