Masquerade.
"You're early, the wedding isn't for another two weeks."
"Very funny. We need to talk. Is Barnes about?"
Corrie frowns at Nick Fury. "He is," she confirms.
"Get him in here, he's needed for this conversation."
Two and a half Weeks Later…
She walks into the hotel lobby.
It's central. High class. Expensive. Exclusive. She's never been here before but she's seen enough pictures from a wide variety of glossy magazines to know just how special this place is. It's popular with the privileged super-wealthy of the world. Even she can't afford to stay in a place such as this one so she's fully aware that a point is being made for her.
Corrie turns heads as she walks across the floor, the heels of her shoes clicking on the Italian marble floor. In her left hand is a sleek leather briefcase, a mobile phone in her right.
"You okay there?" The voice in her ear is quiet, confident but also concerned. Nick Fury.
"Absolutely," she murmurs as her eyes scan the people around her. They walk around like they own the place and maybe they do. Her eyes skim over the designer clothing, shoes, expensive jewellery and take in the air of entitlement their wealth seems to afford them.
"Vitals suggest otherwise." The voice is mild. She stops herself from rolling her eyes.
"Just want this done and dusted, that's all." Her lips barely move, her eyes still scanning her surroundings. There's a balcony that skirts the upper floor and she can see people moving around there too. There are far too many people here for her liking.
"Patience. You just need to hold your nerve."
"Easy for you to say. Okay. I think I see him."
The man in question, Patrick's mysterious superior, the man who had wanted the Winter Soldier and had been very close to acquiring him.
Piotr Markovich. A man of dual Russian and Sokovian heritage. An associate of Helmut Zemo, currently residing in the RAFT prison. A rising star within the reborn HYDRA organisation.
Tall. Skinny. Pure white hair and ice blue eyes. Known to be equally ruthless to friends as well as enemies. She knows that she has to tread carefully.
"Don't be nervous. You have eyes on you at all times. Good luck," the voice in her ear reminds her.
To the untrained eye, she looks to be the epitome of calm and control as she slowly walks across the lobby towards the small group of people seated in a small separate reception area. It's a cluster of dark leather couches set a short distance away from the reception desk. It's popular with arriving guests waiting to check in or out. The man she's interested in is seated in the centre of one of the couches and again to the untrained eye he looks calm and collected but she can see his eyes darting around his immediate vicinity. Looking for her. Her heart gives a double tap when those eyes flit over her face, return and then hold. He realises who she is. She takes a single deep breath and tightens her grip on her briefcase.
"Here goes, gentlemen," she murmurs.
"Miss Harris." His English is impeccable but beneath it she can hear an eastern European accent.
She feels the butterflies come to life in her stomach as the man on the couch gets to his feet. "It's an honour to make your acquaintance. Though prior to this meeting I did expect to be dealing with Mr Donoghue." His tone is solicitous, polite
"Well, now you're dealing with me," she responds. "Is that a problem because that wasn't the impression I got prior to today." His two bodyguards approach her and her spine prickles at the way that they look at her. They're huge in height and build, towering over her. Intimidating to look at and that's the entire point.
"No. It's not a problem. I find dealing with women very refreshing." He smiles a cold shark like smile. "I also hope that you don't mind if my associates pat you down?" he enquires and she sees the gleam in his eyes, the challenge.
"And if I did?"
"It's non-negotiable, I'm afraid."
She just regards him and then sighs.
"Fine, but if I feel hands where they're not supposed to be then I'm walking out of here." She holds her arms out and she turns her head and she glares at one of the bodyguards as he goes to take the briefcase from her.
"If you want to keep that hand then I recommend you don't touch that. It doesn't leave my sight til I'm good and ready." Her tone is pure ice. The bodyguard freezes and looks to his boss who just nods the one time. She feels hands pat her down, resting on her ass just a second too long for her liking and someone else's judging from the quiet snarl she hears in her ear.
"She's clean, boss," the second associate confirms after conducting a second sweep with an electronics scanner.
"Please…take a seat," Markovich invites, indicating the seat on the couch beside him. Slowly she sits down, keeping his two bodyguards within her line of sight, tucking her briefcase between the couch and the back of her calf.
"Coffee? Tea? Something stronger?" Markovich invites.
"Nothing for me, thank you." She doubts she could swallow anything. Markovich inclines his head.
"Then let's get down to business."
"You have access to my Asset? I was assured he would be here."
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't. He's here," Corrie assures him.
"Though to be honest, I was very surprised to hear from my intermediary that the sale was back on again. I was under the impression that when the original sale fell through that there would be no prospect of a second chance to purchase. "
"Your intermediary is misinformed. I needed to regroup and that took some time. I didn't want to blow my cover so it took a little bit longer than I expected to regain access to the Asset but it's been taken care of. I have him."
"Four years." She hears the reproach.
She makes herself look at him, into those cold blue eyes.
"You doubt me? These things take time. I had to be careful not to attract any unwanted attention. Do you want him or not? You're just a name on a very long list Mr Markovich, I'm sure the next one will be more than happy to double my asking price." She makes to retrieve her briefcase, giving the impression that she intends to leave.
"I want him Miss Harris, make no mistake. Otherwise I wouldn't be here in person to negotiate."
She pauses and she looks at him once more.
"Very well but be warned, my asking price just went up."
She opens her briefcase and takes out a manila folder and a tablet computer.
"How do you have him? I hear that he's no longer under HYDRA's control. The rumour is that the programming was successfully dismantled."
"Don't believe everything that you hear," she tells him. Silence drops as he assesses her anew. "He's still fully intact. The manual is part of the asking price." Corrie opens the folder. Inside is a red book with a star burned into the cover. She sees how he stares at it, the infamous Winter Soldier training manual.
"The first time I saw him, the Asset, was during a training mission in Siberia. A group of us were invited to observe. It was close to fifteen years ago but I've never forgotten it." His eyes brighten at the memory. " We watched as he took out six of HYDRA's best operatives without breaking a sweat. Killed them all. He was like a machine. Utterly obedient. He was a highly valued prize within HYDRA's organisation for decades and I'd like to have him at my side for when HYDRA rises again." His voice is soft with memories and Corrie just stares at him. Then Markovich blinks and focuses his attention on her again.
"In all of our past conversations, Donoghue never mentioned having a partner."
"Careful." The voice in her ear again.
"He wouldn't. He always liked to take all the credit for himself. How do you think he got access to the Asset in the first place? He didn't have the connections I had, still have. He never did."
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head a little.
"I know you were used to dealing with Patrick in the past but the circumstances have changed. You're dealing with me now. He told you he could get access to the Winter Soldier, right?. He told you that he actually had him in his possession before it all went south. How do you suppose he achieved that in the first place?" She stares at him. She feels her heart pulse in her chest. "Shall I remind you? For a year I made it my personal mission to learn everything there is to know about him. His history, his past. His skill sets, his strengths and his weaknesses. Hell I could give you his vital statistics if you asked for them. I had access to him. I know him. So today, all I'm here for is to get paid. What you choose to do with him after that is entirely your business."
"I should like to see him first."
She completes the set up of the tablet before she answers.
"All in good time, Mr Markovich. Money first then you'll get to see him."
"What if I announce that until I see him that I refuse to negotiate any further?"
Corrie sighs.
"Mr Markovich, please. As I've already said, you're just a name on a very long list. It's no skin off my nose whether you want to halt proceedings or not. Either way I'll still get paid." She holds his gaze.
She can see the impatience in his eyes. He's used to getting what he wants when he wants it. He doesn't like being kept waiting.
"You drive a hard bargain. May I call you Corinne? I can imagine your beautiful daughter doesn't appreciate being on the receiving end of such strictness either. She's a true beauty isn't she? All long legs and red hair. How old is she now?"
She feels alarm prickle along her spine.
"'Easy. He's just trying to bait you into a response."
"Are you by any chance threatening me, Mr Markovich?"
"I don't know. Am I? I thought I was just making conversation. Back to my Asset. I want to see him. Now." His voice is deceptively soft. She gives pause.
"I don't appreciate being threatened. It doesn't guarantee compliance. On the contrary…"
"Careful. Don't give him what he wants." That damned voice in her ear. She then sighs, loudly, somewhat dramatically. It makes Markovich's bodyguards look away, look at her, just for a minute or two, their expressions dually wary.
"We're going around in circles." She reaches for her tablet, at the same time sliding the folder back into the briefcase. Corrie flinches when he grabs onto her wrist and holds on tightly.
"We're not done."
"The moment you threatened my child then I'm afraid we were very much done, Mr Markovich." Out of the corner of her eye she sees both of his bodyguards move towards her, reaching inside their jackets and she has no doubt at all that they are armed.
"I'm done with asking nicely Miss Harris. Perhaps I'll take you instead and an exchange can be arranged through a different intermediary, though I can't guarantee in what condition you'll be when you're recovered by your team."
"Shit. We need to stop this now."
"Wait a minute. Give her a damn minute."
She stares at Markovich, ignoring the increasingly frantic conversation she can hear in her ear piece.
"Fine," she sighs and she retrieves her phone from beside the tablet. She makes a call, staring straight at Markovich as she does and she waits for it to connect. Every single sense remains on high alert.
The call connects.
"Send in the Asset."
What happens next is not what Piotr Markovich expects. She disconnects the call and pockets her phone as all of a sudden the lobby begins to fill with black clad armed SHIELD operatives. They swarm across the floor like worker ants, quickly heading in their direction. Alarmed, Markovich surges to his feet. He drags her up with him and in the blink of an eye he has her in front of him, an arm around her neck and before she can react to that she feels the sharp bite of a blade against her neck. Chaos explodes within the lobby as alarmed, the other hotel visitors begin to scatter in every different direction.
"It's time we left, Miss Harris, he whispers against her ear.
"I'm not going anywhere with you." Her heart is thumping in her chest now. Now. It has to happen now.
"You don't have a choice."
"I beg to differ," she retorts and she lifts her foot and using the heel of her shoe, stamps down on his instep. He promptly loosens his grip on her as he yelps in pain. She drives an elbow into his solar plexus, twice, hearing the air whoosh from his lungs at the same time. She wriggles free and heads towards her briefcase, scooping it and her tablet computer up, sliding it inside.
"Look up!".
She looks up.
She sees him rappel down from the balcony above her head where he's been all along. He's been listening in, monitoring the situation, hidden from view. Corrie watches him reach ground level, landing in front of her with surprising grace. He then looks over her shoulder and his eyes widen in alarm and all of a sudden she's being hauled behind him as he swings a punch at one of the bodyguards heading towards them. The bodyguard goes down. He then looks back at her.
"Hold onto me," he instructs, sliding his left arm around her waist. He pulls her tight up against him and she wraps both arms around him, the case slapping against his back.
"Brace yourself."
She presses her face against the side of his neck at his warning as all of a sudden they're airborne, moving upwards at speed.
He helps her over the balcony and quickly unhooks the cord. There's a frown on his face as he gently grasps her upper arms and looks at her, scanning her face.
"You okay?"
Corrie gives a rapid nod. "I have no wish whatsoever to repeat that experience," she gasps.
"Which part, the meeting with Markovich or the extraction?"
"Both!" she squeaks and hears his soft laugh as he draws her into his arms and hugs her for a moment before they then both look over the edge of the balcony. All three men are lying face down on the marble flooring, arms behind their backs, surrounded by a lot of people in black clothing with AK-47's aimed at their heads. They observe them as they're handcuffed and hauled to their feet and dragged away, out of the hotel.
Corrie looks back at Bucky to see him regarding her, a half smile on his face. "What?"
"Nothing. Just glad to be able to hold you again, that's all." She pulls her ear piece out and indicates for him to copy, which he does.
"I know why you were reluctant to talk about Markovich before," she begins and sees the shame that crosses his face.
"Yeah. Not my proudest moment."
"Do I need to remind you that you didn't have any choice in the matter?" He quickly shakes his head.
"Good. Let's go and talk to Fury," she tells him. "But down the stairs this time, I don't think my stomach could take another trip over the balcony." She hears him huff out another laugh as he takes her hand.
Fury is waiting for them beside the reception desk and watches them approach.
"You ever think of working this side of the table?" he enquires once they're within hearing distance. Corrie shakes her head.
"Hell no, I'm more than happy to work behind the scenes. That was terrifying, I was convinced I was going to blow it." Corrie replies.
"Nobody would've guessed," Bucky tells her.
"Maybe except Fury. I was so nervous going in."
"To be expected but you knocked it out of the park. You're a natural."
"Yeah the prissy English princess tone works like a charm when it's needed," Bucky murmurs and she rolls her eyes at him " What? Tell me I'm wrong," he adds on.
"You're not wrong," Fury confirms. Corrie gives him a firm look.
"Hey. I'm standing right here," she reminds them both "So what happens now?" she asks Fury.
"Well right now you need to go and see Jason and give him back his tech. I'm going to transport Markovich and his crew back Stateside. There are multiple warrants out for his arrest so there's plenty to work with regarding him in that respect. You two are free to carry on with your honeymoon with our sincerest gratitude. Well done Corrie."
"Thank you," she murmurs. She looks at her husband of less than seven days.
"Let's go. After I return Jason's tech to him, I want to go back to being Mrs Barnes full time." She sees the slow smile that crosses Bucky's face at the mention of 'Mrs Barnes'.
Two and a half Weeks Earlier:
Bucky is the last person to enter the building. A quick phone call had placed him in the main house, trying to beat Rory at Mario Kart and failing.
The three of them are in her office. The door is closed.
"So what's going on that has you showing up on my doorstep unannounced?" Corrie enquires.
"I know who Donoghue was in contact with to sell The Winter Soldier."
Corrie and Bucky exchange a single look.
"Who?" Bucky demands. "And how do you know?"
"His name is Piotr Markovich. He's of dual Sokovian and Russian citizenship, working his way up the HYDRA ladder. He's not at the top yet but he has aspirations to be." Fury watches as Corrie sits at her desk and gets to work on her computer. "And how I know is none of your business." He sees how Bucky looks at him. "Let's say matters of national security and leave it at that."
Presently the image of a middle-aged man flashes up on the wall mounted screen and all three look at him. Piotr Markovich is thin, to the point of emaciation with long arms and legs. His hair is pure white, brushed back from a narrow face and his eyes are a cold, cold blue.
"This the guy?" Corrie enquires.
"That's him. Does he look familiar to either of you?" This question he aims primarily at Bucky who stares at the picture for a long moment. Corrie watches him. He does know him.
"Vaguely," Bucky replies and that has her curious. She gets the impression that's not the entire truth.
"You have proof?" he continues.
"Wouldn't be here otherwise. He's been based in Berlin since just after the Blip. He's also going to be in Paris the week after next."
"Which is the same week we will be," Corrie murmurs faintly.
"I have an idea of how to bring him in. I know it's asking a lot given what's going on right now but I think it could work and I need your co-operation to make sure it does."
"Wait a minute, you want me to do what?" Corrie asks.
"I need you to inform his intermediary that the Winter Soldier is back on the market," Fury informs her
"And how am I supposed to do that?"
"By convincing him that you were Patrick's silent partner."
Corrie's jaw drops open.
"So you want me to do everything my ex-husband and Thaddeus Ross set me up and accused me of doing?"
"In a nutshell."
Corrie huffs out a sigh and exchanges a look with Bucky. His expression is blank, arms folded, just listening.
"What do you think?" she asks him.
"I think you need to do what you need to do."
Corrie looks at Fury. "It could work. I mean, he wouldn't tell them of a silent partner because his ego was so gargantuan and he liked all the glory for himself." She frowns as she mulls it over.
"What exactly would I need to do?"
She spends those two weeks baiting the trap. Using the contact information given to her by Fury. Collaborating with Jason on what technology to use. She spends hours researching Piotr Markovich, digging deep for every piece of pertinent information that she can find.
It's the day before the wedding.
"Markovich has taken the bait. Date, time location, it's all arranged." Corrie shows the messages to Fury who scrutinises them for a moment before handing the burner phone back to Corrie. He then looks at Bucky.
"You know what has to happen now, don't you?" He looks at Corrie when he doesn't get a response.
"We only have a short period of time to get this absolutely right. It can't go wrong. The minute Markovich smells a rat, he will disappear and God knows if or when he'll resurface. I know your wedding is tomorrow but the moment you get to Paris, you're going to have to separate. He will have people watching for you, looking for you. We're going to have to keep you both hidden. Separately. The first time Piotr Markovich catches sight of you, Corrie, will be at that meeting." He watches as they exchange a long look. "Just until he's apprehended."
Bucky heaves out a slow dissatisfied sigh. "Fine," he agrees.
It's late when the private jet touches down. The newlyweds exchange a long look as the plane taxis to a halt. Bucky reaches for her hand and he holds it.
"In a couple of day's time, it'll be over and we'll be together again." His voice is low. Corrie can't speak. She just nods instead.
"I'll be at the hotel, watching, you just won't know where. I promise you'll be safe." His eyes are intent on hers. "All you have to do is play your part."
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous," she admits. Bucky smiles very softly.
"I'd be shocked if you weren't but you got this."
"I need you to know something first, Bucky," she begins. She then takes a breath. "To make him believe that I'm genuine, I'm going to have to say some things. Things about you that will be…" she pauses before she tries again. "I need you to know that none of it is true. Not a word of it." She looks into his eyes at this. "I don't want you believing any of it, it's just a means to an end."
Bucky leans across and he gently kisses her. "I know. I have faith in you."
It's nearly time. Corrie glances at the phone in her hand and she takes a slow deep breath against the nerves squirming in the pit of her stomach.
She sees how Jason looks at her as he checks the mini camera that is the top button of her suit jacket. Tension is thick in the air.
Jason takes a step back. "You're ready to go," he tells her.
Corrie takes another deep breath and she turns and she looks at Fury. He's going to stay here with Jason and monitor the situation.
"Wish me luck?"
He regards her for a long moment before he smiles. "You don't need it."
Corrie knew that Markovich would want to see his purchase eventually. First she needed to get him to talk a little. She had to get him to believe that she meant business. She understood his initial reluctance to deal with a woman. The intermediary had done a great job of convincing him to meet with her. The intermediary being on Fury's pay roll in the first place.
So she played hardball and delayed until she got all of the necessary evidence, video and audio. The cell phone she carried recording his conversation, the button camera caught him on film demanding to see the Asset, the tablet computer locked into the WIFI signal, homing in on his cell phone, capturing vital information in the process. She just needed to get close enough to him for long enough for it to work. All thanks to Jason and his Tony Stark like genius. There was a code phrase for when the mission was accomplished.
Send in the Asset.
Just not the Asset Piotr Markovich expected.
Corrie taps on the door of the hotel room that's doubled as their centre of operations and immediately opens it, poking her head around. Jason is working in front of a bank of monitors, a mild frown of concentration on his face. It clears the moment he sees them both.
"Hey!" he greets, smiling widely.
"We're not interrupting anything important, are we?" she asks as they both come inside.
"Of course not."
"I'm here to return your Tech to you and to say well done. Everything passed muster." She hands the cell phone to him. She smiles when Jason hands her own back to her. She then shrugs off the suit jacket she'd worn to the meeting in a sombre shade of navy blue, the upper most button being a top of the range mini camera.
"Did it get everything?" she asks, handing the jacket off to one of Jason's assistants who will replace the button camera with an actual button. She sees how he grins at her.
"In surround sound crystal clear ultra HD. You were badass in there, Corrie. You held your nerve like a professional," Jason responds and he beckons her around to look at the monitors. With a few key strokes, he pulls up the footage from the hotel lobby. Corrie folds her arms as she watches it, Bucky beside her. They have access to all of the security footage within the lobby.
"I don't know about that," she murmurs.
"We do. This was your op the minute Fury brought it to you. You reeled Markovich in, got him interested in meeting up. If I didn't know better, I'd believe you were genuinely trying to sell the Winter Soldier to the highest bidder."
"I had to make him believe me."
"And he did. He tested you and he pushed you but you held firm. You were incredibly brave," Bucky murmurs from beside her and she glances at him and smiles faintly.
"Well I knew you were close by, somewhere, so that helped."
"Anyone else would've been intimidated by him, by his reputation. You spoke to him like he was a pain in your very fine ass. Kinda like how you used to talk to me and Sam back at the complex," Bucky reminds her and she bites back a smile. There is some truth to that statement, she has to agree.
"I'm just glad that it's all done and he's under arrest."
Her jacket is returned to her, camera free and with her own phone in her hand and her purse looped over one arm, the newlyweds make their exit from the hotel via a private exit.
"Do you think that's the end of it all?" Corrie asks as they merge into the busy street with the rest of the commuters and tourists. Bucky slides his hand into hers and gives it a squeeze.
"God, I hope so. We're owed a quiet honeymoon and that's what we're gonna get." He smiles at her and Corrie laughs.
"A quiet honeymoon, Barnes? I sincerely hope not."