Charlie's POV:
We follow Sharon to her car, Sam jumps to the front with her, and Bucky opens the door for me, assisting me inside, as Zemo walks to the side behind Sam. Sharon intently watches me and Bucky; noticing how gentle we are towards one another. Both of us needing the other to know that even though we're taking things at a snail speed, we still desire to want to be close, and keep one another safe.
Everyone is silent. Possibly thinking just how much can we trust Sharon. I want to trust her, because Steve did, but I don't. Bucky senses my unease and places a hand on my thigh, struggling to calm my nerves. Here in Madripoor we don't have the upper hand. We know no one, and that gives me anxiety. We don't know where we're going, or who will be there.
"Hey, I'm not going to let anything happen to you." Bucky casts over to me, gently squeezing my thigh.
I meet his eyes, "I'm just nervous. Sharon and I don't exactly have the friendliest past. There's always been something I just don't like about her."
"For me...can you just trust me?" I sigh, shaking my head, "I would never do anything to actually hurt you. We've got to get you back to Maggie. If you ever feel this is too much, we'll leave."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Besides, she's smart, you couldn't control her." He's right. She was able to read me quickly.
"So, what's the deal with you two? You look like you're conversing without saying anything." Sharon looks back in the mirror at us.
"They are." Zemo says flatly. "She can also control people. You were able to pick up on her in your head." I elbow him, I don't want everyone knowing my secrets.
"Hmm...interesting." And then silence again.
When we arrive at her place, she walks briskly up the stairs. She has a heavily guarded home. Oddly Sam walks beside Sharon while Bucky and Zemo flank me. He keeps a protected stance over me, hand placed firmly on the small of my back.
When we walk in Sam takes a good look around, taking everything in. "Looks like breaking all those laws is treating you well."
"I thought if I had to hustle, might as well enjoy the life of a real hustler. You know how much I'll get for a real Monet?" She guides us further into the building.
"Easy. Deactivate your hustle mode. You sell fake Monet's." Sam looks at her, almost as if daring her to disagree with the fact that they're fake.
"No. She means real. This gallery is specialized in stolen artwork. Monet, Van Gogh. Classics." Zemo responds walking past us, fully taking in all the priceless artwork.
"It's true. You know, half the artwork in museums like the Louvre is fake. Real stuff sits in places like this." Bucky adds. I just look at everything in here. It's beautiful.
"Okay, guys, I see what you're doing. You're more worldly than good ole Sam."
"Yeah. What's Google say?" I giggle behind Sam as Bucky pulls me out of the gallery. "You need clothes that doesn't have your ass hanging out of them."
"I like this outfit." His grip on my wrist gets a bit tighter and he continues pulling me with him.
"No shit." Sam says surprised.
"Come on, you guys need to change. I'm hosting clients in an hour." She turns looking at me. "I'm sure I have something that covers you up a bit more, princess." This is why I don't like her. Bucky squeezes on my wrist again.
She leads me to a rack of clothes, and I sigh realizing how much I do actually hate this outfit. My fingers trace along the different dresses; silk, satin, lace, sequins, tulle, they're are beautiful. "I like the black lace one, doll." I smile up at Bucky and grab it off the rack. Sharon leads me behind a partition so I can change. What I'm wearing can just be thrown away. The new outfit is stunning. At first glance you would think that the black satin was a high-low dress, but it's shorts with a high-low train. The neck line is a modest sweetheart, but flows into long-sleeve black lace. I pull my teased hair up into a low ponytail, bumping up the back a bit.
When I walk out from behind the partition Bucky gazes at me with a half, I want to fuck you right now and half you're stunning look. "Wow, Charlie, you look amazing. I mean...much more comfortable." He rakes my hand with his as he goes behind the partition changing. I walk over to the couch sitting down.
"You no longer look like a courtesan." Zemo tells me. "Which, that was the point. You played the part well."
Sam continues to ruffle through the clothing rack. He pulls off his shirt before selecting another and Bucky comes from behind the partition and walks towards me, sitting as close as he possibly can on the couch.
Sharon comes back from changing, looks at a shirtless Sam and says, "Much better."
"What's going on, Sharon? You don't ever wanna come back home?" Sam asks.
Sharon shuffles to the couch, laying a jacket basically on me. Bucky scoots a bit further from me and pulls my body up next to his. "Can't keep your hands to yourself tonight, huh?"
"Don't want to." He gives the slightest grin.
"They'll lock me up if I step foot back in the States. Madripoor doesn't allow extradition."
"I'm sorry I didn't call, but after the blip and the chaos, I just..." Sam is such a good guy. He really does want to help everyone. I'm more of a cynic. You can't save them all.
"Look, you know the whole hero thing is a joke, right? I mean, the way you gave up that shield, deep down, you must know it's all hypocrisy." She tries to make Sam feel guilty because he wants to help.
"He knows. And not so deep down." Zemo answers, pouring himself a drink.
"By the way, how is the new Cap?" She asks.
"Don't get me started." Bucky's weight shifts and he places his metal arm high up on my thigh just at the mention of John.
"Please. You buy into all that stars and stripes bullshit." She walks over to the couch sitting on the opposite side of Bucky. "Before you were his pet psychopath, you were Mr. America! Cap's best friend." Her eyes fall to his hand on me. "Now look at you, grabbing onto Steve's sloppy seconds."
His hand tightens on me. "Wow. She's kind of awful now."
"Come on, how did this happen anyways?" Her hands flick between us. "You have a child with Steve and when he goes missing you run to his best friend? Sam next?"
"That's not exactly how things happened, Sharon." My voice is cold as I look directly at Sam. Trying to make sure to keep calm.
"Oh, Sam's not a super soldier. Is that what it is?"
"Are you still jealous that Steve chose me over you?"
"Looks like he chose not to be with you, too." She smiles, but not before I return a smile to her.
"Actually, I was the one who broke up with him. He just wasn't the man I wanted to be with."
"This is awkward." Bucky huffs.
"Words that needed to be said. When it came to Steve, you and I both were left lacking, Sharon."
"You built a life with him. How is your daughter by the way?" She looks at me blankly. I don't know what she's getting at. My eyes stare right back at her. Pissed she would ever mention my daughter. We stare at each other, wanting the other to fold, give up their dominance.
"We're not bringing her into this. You two finished?" Bucky looks over to me. "You feel better now?" I nod. Sharon and I will never be friends. Sharon looks over at me and nods, and our gazes move from each other.
"Karli Morgenthau and at least seven others have taken the serum." Sam changes the subject.
"You guys really should steer clear of all of this for your own safety." Sharon's eyes glance between all four of us. She actually sounds sincere.
"We know it's a risk, but we're not gonna leave until we find the one who cracked the code." Sam tells her.
"We got a name. Wilfred Nagel." Bucky says. His voice is low and soft. He's tired.
"Nagel works for the Power Broker." Sharon says getting up from the couch.
"We need your help, Sharon. I can get your name cleared." Sam says over to her as she pours a drink.
"You haggling with my life?" She looks over at Sam.
"Not like that."
"I don't buy that. You pretending like you can clear my name."
"Okay, maybe it is hypocrisy. Maybe you're right. What happened to you. But I'm willing to try if you are. They cleared the bionic staring machine and he killed almost everybody he's met."
"I heard that." Bucky huffs, he still stares blankly in front of him.
"I don't trust charity."
Sam crosses his arms. "Alright, a deal then. You help us out, and I... we will get your name cleared." His hand extends to Sharon's.
She glances over to me and I nod my head at her, if she helps us, I will do everything in my power to help as well. "I was able to help Bucky, with your help and cooperation, I will help you." I cast over to her. She grabs Sam's hand with a sigh, and takes a drink.
"Well, I sell to some pretty connected people. Lay low, blend in, enjoy the party." She begins leaving the room we're in before turning back around. "Try to stay outta trouble. I'll see what I can find."
"Trouble?" Zemo shrugs.
"I need a drink." I stand and walk to the bar cart and Bucky follows. "You don't have to follow me wherever I go, Bucky."
"I know. We should have some fun tonight." He whispers in my ear as I pour myself a drink. I offer him a drink from my cup and he takes it.
"This isn't a date." I pull the drink back to my hands and let the dark amber liquid burn down my throat warming me up.
"No. This is fun, but a date later?" I smile nodding at him.
The gallery has been turned into a club almost. Bodies, booze, music, and dancing permeate through the walls. The deep bass vibrates through my chest. I stand at the bar and ask for an Old Fashion. Bucky gets a straight scotch. I drink from my cup smiling up at him. After I finish my drink, I attempt to pull him out on the dance floor. Stubbornly he doesn't budge. I shrug before walking out by myself, he pulls at my arm. "Stay here and dance with me." I know this music isn't Bucky's favorite, but tonight I just want to have fun.
"People will want to get drinks; we're occupying too much space." I yell up at him. It's been a while since I've drank and I already feel the strong whiskey working through my body. Almost sensing this Bucky turns and orders another Old Fashioned and hands it to me. Sam spots us and walks through the crowd, I follow, and reluctantly Bucky comes up behind me, both hands on my hips as we walk to find a place to dance.
I don't drink too much from my most recent cocktail, so Bucky takes it upon himself to start drinking it, "I really would like to see you drunk, doll."
"No, you don't. I'm too frisky." I spin my body and grind my ass on him. He lets out a grunt before turning me back to face him.
"You're too much of a flirt right now, you know that?"
Without stopping my dancing, "You say that like it's a bad thing." His hands drift over my body as he pulls me closer to him with a jerk. His lips find mine as I taste the dark liquor on his tongue. My hunger for him, mixed with the alcohol in my system and the taste of his mouth is unbearable. Drinking and dancing on Bucky wasn't a good idea. I want him so much right now. The deep smokey flavor of the whiskey and scotch linger on him, I lap up every bit that I can.
I push myself off of him, looking up at his eyes smiling. His hands come to both sides of my face as he pulls me back into his lips. I am completely incapsulated in Bucky, I can feel the heat and electricity spread through my body the more his hands roam over me. He smiles pulling back, "You're creating that bubble again."
"Oh shit." I drop my hands from him. We can't do this with so many people around. I pull at his hand as I walk off the floor to where Sam is standing.
"You want to explain what that was?" Sam asks confused.
"Don't know. It's only happened twice. And it's usually...when..."
"When I really turn her on." Bucky says with a smile. I smack at his arm and Sam groans rolling his eyes.
"Hey guys. I found him." Sharon walks over to us. I don't know how he did it, but Zemo has made his way over to our side as well.
"Here we go." Sam says as we follow Sharon.
__________________________________________________________________
Bucky's POV:
We arrive at the shipping dock where we're led to believe that Nagel is. We walk through the never-ending mazes of shipping containers. Sharon leads the way, and Sam and I have taken our protective stance over Charlie. "Madripoor could give New York a run for its money." Sam says as Sharon navigates.
"They know how to party." Zemo responds.
"With that bounty on your head, the longer you're in Madripoor, the less likely you're ever leaving." She right, we're on a time clock and need to get out of here sooner rather than later. She stops, "Alright, he's in there. Container four-two-six-one." I look around, my assassin eyes roam our surroundings. "I'll watch while you guys talk to Nagel. But hurry. We're on borrowed time." She hands us all ear pieces.
I watch as Charlie readies her gauntlets, I've notice she favors these as they don't actually cause damage, plus will give her the ability to hover, if needed. She's still walking around in her dress from the night before. Her toned legs are exposed and her heels are shorter, she's not stumbled or fell once. Focus. Charlie isn't my target.
Sam opens the door with a creak. We look inside...empty. Did Sharon set us up? "Hey, Sharon. You sure this is the right one? It's completely empty." Sam says through his ear piece. I guide Charlie inside, continuing to keep my protective stance over her. I've got to get her back to Maggie.
"Positive. It has to be." She answers sure that she was given the correct information. I hope she did, and this information is accurate, and not her setting us up.
Zemo turns a flashlight on, glancing through the shipping container. Charlie and I stay close to the doors, in case we need a quick escape. Zemo walks deeper in the container. Determined that we are indeed in the correct container, that there is a secret to unlock. When he reaches the back, his hand touches the metal as his eyes flicker up and down, he gives the metal a forceful push, and it moves, revealing a hidden passage. Of course, he wouldn't have his lab in the front, right in the open.
Sam and I pull out a gun, "Doll, you got more than your gauntlets on you?" Charlie gives me a nod as she smiles. Naturally, she would have more, even if she doesn't have her full suit. Zemo allows Sam to go in through the front and he follows. Charlie steps in front of me as I bring up the rear. I look behind us, something just seems off, and we're leaving Sharon alone.
It isn't long until I see the lights of the lab, soft music plays in the background, allowing us to be stealthier than we actually are. I walk further ahead and get in front of Zemo, and as if he knows she shouldn't be bringing up the rear he shifts his body to be behind her. This is definitely the place. Test tubes, vials, jars line the walls and shelves of the lab. He will be able to create a super soldier army when he's finished.
We walk deeper into the lab and Sam and I spot him. Both of us look at one another, hoping that things go well. Things have to go well. Our group splits up and Charlie follows me to the left and Zemo stays behind Sam. Zemo is truly annoyed that this man would have the nerve to create more of this serum. He reaches over and moves the needle of the record and Nagel gasps before turning around, meeting Sam's eyes, "Dr. Nagel?"
"Who are you? What do you want?" His weaselly voice asks Sam.
"We know you created the super soldier serum."
Nagel's full body turns as he quickly walks towards Sam. He hasn't noticed that Charlie and I are still close by. "Get out of my lab." He doesn't engage or fight Sam, just continues walking past.
"Hey!" Sam tries to reason with him. His body stops with a jolt as he's then met with my fierce eyes. He glances quickly to Charlie's small body and her gauntlets pointing right at him.
"You know who he is, right?" Sam calmly asks. The man nods his head, Sam grabs his arm and points him at Zemo, "This is Baron Zemo. I know you've heard of him, too, right?"
"I'm more concerned with the girl. Such a high profile she has and yet everyone still wants her and can't get her." His voice is nasally and feels like teeth scraping on metal.
"What do they want with her?" My voice is steady.
He smiles, "They've been looking for her for years. Such a high price on her pretty little head. Do you have no idea who she is?" He knows he's struck a nerve and Sam knows he's got to change the subject before I kill him.
"You seem like a pretty smart guy. So, you better become conversational real quick." He brings his body over closer to us, slamming him up against the wall.
"How about a counter proposal? Make me a better offer and I'll talk." He glances over to me and Charlie, smiling at both of us. My body instinctively goes more in front of her.
"Guys, we have company." Sharon calls through coms. We've got to wrap this up.
I've had enough, I walk over to Nagel, grabbing his hand, and slamming his body down in a chair. My gun points at his head. I will kill him; he doesn't need to provoke me further. "Every bounty hunter in the city is here. We gotta go!"
I swiftly move my gun to where I won't actually hit the rat and I pull the trigger. His body heavily flinches and Sam gives me a warning look to calm down. "Okay. Okay." He answers clearly shaken. "I was brought into Hydra's Winter Soldier program to pick up their work after the five failed test subjects in Siberia." His beady eyes glance over to Zemo as does my own. "When Hydra fell, I was recruited by the CIA. They had blood samples from an American test subject with semi-stable traces of serum in his system." Isaiah. Sam realizes who he's talking about and is disgusted, I watch his facial expressions, knowing that he's furious and hurt about everything that happened to Isaiah.
"After much labor, I was able to isolate the necessary compounds in his blood." My eyes turn back to Nagel's. "I was a god. I did what no other scientist since Erskine was able to do." Zemo's attention goes throughout the lab, and he walks around looking at the shelves. "But mine was going to be different. No clunky machines or jacked up bodies. Mine was going to be subtle, optimized, perfect." He's insane.
"How have we never heard about this?" Sam asks.
"Because...before I was able to complete my work, I turned to dust. Then when I returned it was five years later, program had been abandoned, so I came here. The Power Broker was more than happy to fund the recreation of my work."
"How many vials did you make?" Sam looks over to Charlie before his gaze meets Nagel's again.
"Twenty. Karli Morgenthau stole those, so..." His eyes land on Charlie's and he holds his gaze, "I can only imagine what the Power Broker has planned for that poor girl."
"Where's Karli now?" Finally, his staring eyes turn to Sam when asked a question.
"I don't know where she is. But a couple of days ago, she called and asked if I could help someone named Donya Madani. Poor woman has tuberculosis. Typical of overpopulation in displacement camps like that."
Zemo's body comes back to where we are. "Well, what happened to her?"
Nagel shrugs, not caring. "Not my pig, not my farm." He looks around amongst us. "All this time with her and you really don't know who she is? Do you know what she's even capable of? The leverage you hold with her?" His eyes are steady on Charlie. "They really messed you up for you to not remember."
"What are you talking about?" She whispers at him. Her growing curiosity of everyone bringing up who she is, finally sets in.
"Your parentage."
"My parents are dead." Her voice sounds tired and blank.
"Not your real ones." He's cold as he looks at her.
"Doll, we don't have to do this here."
She turns and looks at me. "I don't want to do this Bucky."
"They've been looking for you for years. Your parents sure know how to hide you in plain sight. Even been able to look after you and be a part of your life." He laughs. Charlie steps over and smacks him.
"That's enough." Sam's voice is steady and deep.
"Is there any serum in this lab?" I change the subject to why we're here. Everyone knows about Charlie, but her. Everyone knows about my involvement with Charlie, but us. She silently thanks me. My gun goes back to his head. He refuses to answer, he's enjoyed toying with my girl.
"No." Nagel gives a sigh of relief when I move the gun off him.
I walk away, going closer to her, she needs me. Her eyes are glossy as she tries to deal with the task at hand. I place a strong hand to her hip, centering her. "Now what?" I ask looking at Sam.
"Hey, I'm not going anywhere, doll." I rub circles on her back, and her breathing steadies out. My hand cups her cheek as I search her face trying to get any of her emotions to come through.
Sharon runs through the lab. "Guys, we're seriously outta time here." Before anyone can respond Zemo pulls out a gun and shoots Nagel. I guess he solved the problem of no more super soldier serum.
"No!" Sam screams as he pushes Zemo up against the wall. Charlie looks down at Nagel, "I'm never going to know." She casts to me. I wish I could help her, but now we got to get out.
Sharon pulls the gun out of Zemo's hand. "What did you do?"
"Charlie, I need you to focus. We've got to get out of here, and get you back to Maggie. Can you do that?" Her hazel eyes meet mine as she nods. I see the shift in her posture as she knows that there will be a time for us to unravel her history.
The back of the lab blows up and I wrap my arms tightly around her as we crash through the floor. All of us groan and I lift my body up, pulling Charlie into me. My hand cups her cheek, "Bucky, I'm fine." She groans out. Satisfied with that for now, we look around. Chemicals of unknown substances rattle around and the entire lab is on fire.
"Anybody see Zemo?" Sam asks, pulling himself up off the floor.
"Let's go." I exclaim. Charlie grabs a hold of me as we all run out of the lab. It's whistling and dangerously hot as we run though the hall to the exit. We somehow make it out. "Alright! Wait for my signal!" Charlie gives me a nod. She pulls out a pistol from her side. Knowing that just the gauntlets won't be enough. These people want to kill us.
Sam runs out to the right, leaving me with Sharon and Charlie as we hide behind fallen shipping containers. We run around the corner, shooting in the direction of the bullets firing at us. Charlie releases a soundwave, immobilizing a man that I'm able to shoot. We play a dangerous game or shoot, duck, stand, soundwaves, shoot, duck. Even though we're surrounded all four of us are excellent marksmen.
"And you like living here?" Sam shouts at Sharon.
She aims and shoots before ducking back down, "It's not terrible."
I stand and shoot more. Thankfully I'm using my left hand because I hear a bullet bounce off of it. Ah. Charlie's eyes flick towards me and I nod letting her know I'm fine. We crouch back under the cover of the shipping containers and I shout at Sam, "I thought we were going left?"
"You went the wrong way!"
"I cleared the way!" I shout back at him.
"I came out first. You're supposed to follow me."
"And where are we now?"
"Guys, not the time!" Her sweet voice yells at us.
"I'm out!" Sharon shouts.
"This is a barricade." I continue my feud with Sam.
"It's in every action movie!" He argues back.
"Enough!" Charlie uses her empathy to stop our arguing. I feel my anger replaced with peacefulness as I look at Sam.
"That's not playing fair, doll."
"You two were acting like children. We have more important things to deal with right now." Her eyes are dark as she looks at me. I can see how exhausted emotionally she is.
An explosion happens that stops the shooting. We look over and see a masked Zemo taking out several men. "Go. Come on." I say clutching ahold of Charlie. Her skirt flows out behind her as we run away. More bullets surround us. I feel her skin pulse underneath my hand, as if electric currents run through her blood.
We run into the maze of the shipping containers as bullets continue to be shot at us. I drop Charlie's hand ripping off a bar from a container, hitting a man and throwing it into the shoulder of a woman before turning and following the group into a container. Charlie reaches back for my hand as we run to find an escape.
I bust through the back of a container and hear tires screeching, only to be met with an oddly calm Zemo in a car. "Supercharged." He tells us.
"You're going back to jail." Sam tells him.
"Do you want to find Karli or not?" Zemo answers.
"He's right. We need him." I tell Sam.
"You mind if I sit in the front?" I cast to her. She smiles and shakes her head no, jumping in the back. "And there's two of us, and at least twenty of them. Come on." I climb in the front and Sam gets in the back.
"Fine, but if you try that shit again..."
"I wouldn't dream of it." His icy cool voice assures Sam.
"Well, that was one hell of a reunion." Sharon says standing beside the car. My eyes stay fixed on Zemo. I don't trust him.
"Come back to the States with us." Sam wants to make things right for her.
"I told you I can't. Just get me that pardon you promised me. And Charlie for what it's worth, I'm sorry how things have been between us. But looks like you're right where you belong." She nods over to Sharon with a smile.
"Thanks for everything." Sam's body slides down in the seat. "You're not gonna move your seat up, are you?"
I've waited years for this moment. "No." I hear Charlie let out a giggle as Zemo drives off. Her body curls up and she lays her head on Sam's lap. Maybe I should have sat back there. Sam awkwardly tries to figure out what to do with his hands before he rests it on her shoulder. It isn't long until I hear her soft humming snores.
"You two should really look at that file." Sam tells me.
"I know. When she's ready. She has to be ready." I calmly answer. Zemo scoffs beside me.
"There's never going to be a perfect time to look into it. Everyone seems to know exactly who she is, and even why Hydra wanted her."
"It's true, James. She is important. She's powerful, more powerful than even she knows. A g..."
"It's her past, and she will dictate when she learns about it." I want this conversation to end. I listen and still hear her humming snores.
"Buck, Nagel said the people who raised her wasn't her parents. She was adopted obviously. Her true parents were able to be in her life. If she was adopted, Clint's not her uncle, and I doubt he's the one that's her father either."
"Sam..."
"No, when we were on the run people were looking for her then. Clint said it was because she aligned herself with you and Steve, but what if it's something more."
"It is." Zemo arrogantly answers. Sam nods his head basically telling me see.
"And when she's ready we will look in that file."
"Just trust her. Steve treated her like she was breakable. He always hid things from her."
"Like she was a breakable china doll?" Zemo asks.
My head flares up as I'm hit with a wave of déjà vu. "What did you call her?" I look over to him. He just smiles. "Sam, I'll encourage her to look. But this is something she has to do. I will not force her into it." He nods and the conversation is over. "In the file does it even mention who her parents are?" I turn to look at Zemo.
"No. There are guesses as to who her parents are." When this is over, we need to look in that file. Charlie's mystery is getting deeper.
__________________________________________________________________
Charlie's POV:
Sam paces the plane as he talks on the phone, "Donya Madani. She's a refugee, yeah. Okay, call me if you get a hit. Thanks, Torres."
Bucky sits beside me, his body turned to where he's looking at me cleaning his metal hand off with a handkerchief. I grab it from him, and begin cleaning in myself. I need my hands to be busy. Sam sits down with a huff, "You, okay?" Bucky asks.
"Yeah." Sam whispers. "Just thinking about all the shit Sharon had to go through. And Nagel referring to the American test subject like Isaiah wasn't even a real person. Just makes me wonder how many people have to get steamrolled to make way for this hunk of metal."
Bucky intensely watches as I continue to clean his hand. I lay down the handkerchief and trace my fingers along his. "Well, it depends on who you ask. That hunk of metal saved a lot of lives." His eyes turn to Sam, and I continue grazing his hand.
"Yeah, I get that. Alright. Maybe I made a mistake."
"You did." Bucky deadpans.
"Yeah. Maybe I shouldn't have put it in a museum. I should have destroyed it." My eyes meet Sam's. There's a lot of overwhelming emotions surrounding the shield and even Steve for me. He acknowledges my movement.
"Look, that shield represents a lot of things to a lot of people, including me. The world is upside down, and we need a new Cap, and it ain't gonna be Walker. So, before you destroy it, I'll take it from him myself." Bucky's body leans closer to Sam. He's giving him his utmost attention.
Before Sam replies his phone vibrates and he answers, "Yeah. Yeah." Zemo comes and sits in the chair beside Bucky, offering plates of food. "Okay. Thanks. Good work." He hangs up and looks over at me, "They found Madani...dead. She died in Riga, a city near the Baltic Sea."
"I have a place we can go. I, for one, am looking forward to coming face to face with Karli. Oeznik, we're changing the course." The three of us glance to one another, almost uncomfortable with how much we're trusting Zemo. He places headphones on and turns around with his eyes close. He's probably not listening to anything, just wants us to talk amongst ourselves.
Sam's eyes meet mine, "How are you feeling, Charlie?"
"I'm fine."
"Seriously? That's all you're going to say?"
"What more is there to say? We have a mission. We follow through, end of story." My body shifts around in the seat.
"So, you don't want to talk about what Nagel said to you?" Bucky asks.
"Not right now, no. I'm focusing on the mission."
"You sound like Steve." Bucky turns to look at me. I glare at him. He's right, when Steve was on a mission that's the only place his focus was on.
"Yeah. That...whatever is in that file, sounds like a lot. I barely remember my real, well who I thought were my real parents. And now there's someone, some people apparently in my life that are in fact my parents, and they're still alive. And I was in Hydra. People are after me, why? I don't know, but they are. And now I have to wonder, why would my parents give me up for adoption? And who exactly adopted me, and how did I end up in Hydra?"
"People have been looking for you for years." Sam softly tells me.
"Sounds like you knew about that. One of the many things Steve kept from me, huh? Look, that's a lot to unpack. And yes, I want to know. But then I'm dealing with all this. Sam, I get why you did what you did. I do, I think you were the perfect person to take up the shield. You are kind, you see the good in people, you're calm but authoritative, you care about people. And John, he's arrogant. And I have to watch the father of my daughter's legacy be run through the mud. She was so proud when she thought you were going to be Captain America. But I want you to want it."
"That's a lot." Bucky shakes his head, picking up my hand and holding it.
"It's been a lot for months now." He begins to remove his hand and I hold it tighter. "But Sharon's right. Oh, God I agree with her. I'm right where I'm supposed to be right now." Sam spins his chair around, grabbing headphones and placing them on before closing his eyes.
Before I can say anything more, my phone vibrates. It's Clint with a FaceTime. I excitedly answer making sure Bucky isn't in the frame. Maggie doesn't need that kind of confusing just yet. "Mommy! Where are you?" Her sweet little cherub face lights up.
"I'm on a plane little pearl. How is life on the farm?"
"Papa made me a little bow!"
I hear Clint giggle in the background, "Clint, she's three."
"Got to start them young. It's a little one. Just think if you started at her age." Maggie's face comes back in the screen, "Have you got Daddy's shield yet?"
"Not yet. Uncle Sam is working on it."
"Bucky, too?" Bucky's hand tenses tighter on my thigh.
"Bucky, too." I smile.
"Is he with you?" I look over to Bucky. "Are you asleep or awake? Pretty sure Maggie wants to talk to you." He gives me a big toothless grin and nods his head.
"He is. Are you wanting to talk to him?"
She squeals, "Yes!" I turn the phone to where Bucky is in frame, "Bucky! I've missed you. Where have you been?"
"I missed you, too, Maggie James. I had to do some work on myself. Needed some time alone for a bit."
"Does that mean you're coming home?" Shit. This isn't something Bucky and I have talked about. I see his eyes shift to mine as he searches for a way to answer.
"Eventually." He replies.
"Mommy, I got to go. It's bath time. I love you! Love you, too Bucky!"
"I love you too my precious pearl. Sleep well." The phone disconnects. "Sorry, I didn't think about how she would respond to seeing you."
"I really screwed up, Charlie. I shouldn't have left."
"No, we both needed that. I never got to actually thank you." He starts to interrupted me but I put a finger to his mouth. "No, you were right. We both had things we had to deal with, alone. I went from a relationship with Steve to you right away. But because of that time apart I became more independent. I figured out what I wanted. I never thought about how that would affect you. Yes, I know you knew about mine and Steve's complicated relationship, but it wasn't complicated after the blip. It was normal. I wasn't who I wanted to be with, but we had a good life. I made you deal with ugly emotions like jealousy with Steve, and it shouldn't have been that way. You love him, he's your best friend."
"How do you feel about him now?"
"Well, he's my daughter's father. He's an amazing man. I love him, and have always wanted the best for him, but I'm not in love with him. I don't want to be with him. I don't even look at him and fantasize about us. The only person I fantasize about is you. I understand why you feel the need to get this shield. And I agree. Steve was a good man. A hero, and also a legend. And I want the person who takes up that mantle to have the same values as Steve did."
Bucky's hand draws circles on my thigh, he pulls both my legs over his lap and pulls me into his chest, holding me as tightly as possible. "I never want to let you go again. I know you said you want to take time with us, and I want to give you all the time you need, but I'm also going to let you know I'm not going anywhere."
I pull my head off his chest, "I know." He looks down at me with a smirk before gently placing his lips on mine. My fingers tangle in his hair as I pull him closer, extending our sweet kiss to something more of a need. I needed to feel him on me. I move my legs to the floor before flipping my body to straddle him. His hands cup my ass and he pulls me closer.
My body instinctively reacts and I start slowly grinding on him, I hear him grunt before jerking his head away, "Not here, doll." I smile, seeing that we have an audience and stop with my movements. My lips ghost over his face and I trace my mouth along his neck. Finding the tender area where the shoulder and neck meet; I begin suckling and biting the area. Bucky's mouth releases a soft moan as he pulls me off of his neck.
Once I'm upright he returns the favor and kisses along my neck and collarbone. A hand drifts up under my shirt and his warm flesh fingers tickle up my skin before he cups my breast. Teasing and massaging it with his fingers. My breaths come out as panting as he continues to suck along my neck.
Creeping slowly his lips follow along my chest as he yanks my shirt down exposing the black bra, I have underneath. I feel him smile on me as he lowers the material. His tongue that drives me crazy makes contact with a nipple as he stimulates and teases me. Quickly he moves to the other side and begins to stimulate the other me.
His metal hand slides from my ass along my waistband and slips in between my legs. I whisper out a gasp as his hand finally makes contact with the heat and moisture that's pooling in between my legs. I bite at my lip trying to withhold any moan that may escape. While his mouth plays with one of my nipples, his right hand kneads the other, and his left-hand palms me through my jeans and then a feel a backhanded smack on my ass. Bucky and I both pause looking over at Sam.
"I really wish you two would quit while I'm right here. You've had your fun. Now fucking stop." I laugh as I crawl off of Bucky. Placing myself back how we were, my legs draped over his lap, as my head rests on his chest. He pushes himself to where he's leaned back more.
"I had to actually turn music on. Right behind me?" Zemo mumbles.
"We're taking things slow, right, doll?"
"Yes. Slow. I have to keep telling myself that." Bucky chuckles.
__________________________________________________________________
Bucky's POV:
We arrive in Riga, Latvia. Walking down the streets I hold tight to Charlie as Sam walks up ahead with Zemo. In another life this would almost seem normal. That long vacation that Charlie and I said we would take.
"I heard what became of Sokovia. Cannibalized by its neighbors before the land was cleared of rubble, erased from the map. I don't suppose any of you bothered visiting the memorial?" I know he's referring to the people who were actually involved with Sokovia, but it still stings. They were our teammates. "Of course not. Why would you? We are here." I glare up at Zemo. He doesn't know what all of us have been through.
I glance down at the ground, and a Kimoyo bead reflects the sunlight. They're here. I know that me getting Zemo out of prison will be frowned upon. But it was a necessary thing to do. I look back up and over at Charlie, pretending as if I didn't see anything. "I'm gonna go on a walk."
"You want me to go with you, James?" She asks. Yes. I don't want to lie to her, and I really don't want to be away from her.
"Yeah, I'd like that." The Wakandans not only adored Charlie, but there is a bit of respect towards her. Steve always kept her in the dark, thinking he was protecting her. I'm done with trying to do things that way. I want her to be my equal.
"You good?" Sam asks.
"Yeah. We'll see you guys in a bit." We turn and walk off. Needing to follow the beads. They'll be waiting on me. I look back making sure they go into the house and lean to pick up the bead. She sees what I pick up and knows what this means. My eyes look towards an alley. This has to be where they are. I look around, making sure no one is following me. Silently Charlie follows closely beside me.
Sure enough, I find another bead. I guide us into the alley way. Both our eyes glance around. "You dropped something." I hold the beads up, still walking down the alley. Charlie and myself spin around in the alley looking for someone, anyone. And then, I sense her. We spin back the way we were, "I was wondering when you were going to show up."
"I'm here for Zemo." Ayo speaks in Xhosa. I knew she would be coming. They want Zemo to pay for the death of T'Chaka. As they should.