I can't promise I'll be as quick to write the next chapters, but I'll try :)
I hope you'll enjoy this one !
Guy frowned in utter surprise. Why would a Countess take the trouble to call someone like the Flag Smashers ?
"What do you want with us, Contessa ?" he asked in a bitter tone of voice.
"I want to make you an offer, my dear boy."
A part of Thierrault was definitely repulsed by the superior tone she was adopting, and the way she insisted on the "my dear boy" as if the leader was just a small, naive child.
"Hurry up, I don't have all day."
"Well here is the deal, sweetheart, I offer you the Winter Soldier and my support, in exchange for your help and loyalty," said the Countess, articulating every syllable of every word very carefully.
The younger man simply stared at the people around him, his mouth hanging open in suprise for a few seconds. That was... Unexpected... And to be honest he did not know how to welcome the proposal.
"Oh, and of course," Valentina continued, "when I say I offer you the Winter Soldier, I am not talking about the shaming, weak American puppet he has become. I mean the real Winter Soldier, the Зимний Солдат, the fist of Hydra, the finest and most skilled Assassin, submitted at your orders. I'm sure he could be a valuable asset to your little operation."
Thierrault smiled internally. He could be valuable indeed, very valuable.
"And what is it exactly you want in return ?" he asked confidently.
"Not much, actually. To be simple, I only need two little things : I want you to be there if I ever ask you to do something for me, without protesting or asking questions, of course. And also, I want you to stay away from John Walker and not lay a finger on him. How does that sound to you ?"
Thierrault didn't answer right away, taking some time to organise his thoughts and looking at all the people who were gathered around him, giving him both questioning and trustful eyes. He knew he needed to make the call to affirm himself as a leader, yet he did not dare to act without consulting his partners. The deal the Countess was offering included a strong engagement toward somebody they knew nothing about... But the Winter Soldier... It was just what they needed, what he needed... He was absolutely sure of it.
But would the others agree to this proposal as well ? He wasn't so sure... Charles would, because he was his brother, maybe Djemal as well, but Jovan and Lisa probably wouldn't. Jovan would be way too paranoid about it, and Lisa would simply refuse by moral principles. Unfortunately for him, they both were the most appreciated and popular members of their small group, so most of the remaining Flag Smashers would probably follow them instead of their new leader, who had yet to prove himself worthy of his predecessor.
But they needed this Winter Soldier, he was a hundred percent sure they did ! What would be a better addition to a group like theirs than a renowned and feared legend ? What better way was there to force people to hear them out without resisting than fear ? And also, what better way to avenge Karli's death than hiring an assassin to make the Power Broker pay ?
Because regardless of what Lisa could tell him, Thierrault felt the need to make that woman pay. She needed to understand how much pain her actions had caused all around the world. She needed to realise that being called the Power Broker did not make you all powerful, especially against enraged and desperate Flag Slashers. She had taken everything from them, from him. Karli was and always had been much more than a leader, a partner, or a friend to him. She was the fire lighting up his soul, the serum coursing his veins.
The world needed to pay for what had been done to her.
And so, in an action that surprised even himself, Thierrault straightened himself, gathered all his courage and answered :
"Consider yourself to have a deal."
No, he hadn't discussed of it with his partners, because he knew it was the right thing to do. And he was the leader. If the others were unhappy with his choices, well... They were free to leave and handle themselves on their own !
Guy didn't sleep that night. He kept his eyes absently locked on the sleeping form of his brother. It hadn't gone as bad as he thought.
As predicted, Jovan, Lisa and a few others protested, scolded him and attempted to lecture him, but a few sharp glares, authoritative harsh words and reasoning had managed to settle things down pretty quickly. He was the leader now, and the greatest part of the group seemed to have realised and accepted it, finally.
He wasn't so sure about Charles though. He hadn't said a word during the whole argument, never defending or attacking his brother, and had barely spoken to him since. Guy knew he had involuntarily put him in an uncomfortable position. He could not side against his older brother, even though he might disagree with him. It was a matter of familial loyalty. And je could not really side with him either, be ause it would mean siding against Jovan, his childhood best friend. Guy suspected there might be something more going on between the two, but he had no proof of that. Just a feeling, some furtive looks and smiles, kind words... But it might explain this surprising neutrality, for Charles wasn't the kind of person to stay out of an argument, regardless of the topic.
Thierrault took out his phone and turned it on, blinking once or twice as the soft light blinded him in the night for a second. He unlocked it and absent-mindedly opened his inbox, where the Contessa had sent him all the instructions and the words, in Russian. It really amazed Guy how such seemingly random and harmless words had the power to change a man from regular citizen to a submitted machine. As he scrolled into the conversation, the man let out a small sigh. The whole thing would be a bit easier than he thought it would, actually. Use a pressure point, make him doubt, weaken his mind defences, then say the words.
They had a pressure point. The hardest part might be to catch him and Barnes. But with the strengths they had, exalted by their current angry and desperate state, and an element of surprise, they should be able to overtake them.
In fact, maybe the hardest part for Guy would be to say the words correctly without hesitation. He tried to pronounce them again, keeping his voice as a low whisper to avoid disturbing anyone's sleep.
"Zhela... Zhelaniye... R... Rza... Rhzavyy... Semnadtsat... Rassvet... Pech... Devyat... Dobro...serdechnyy... Vozvrashcheniye na...rodinu... Odin... Gruzovoy...vagon."
Yeah well... He still needed to to work on the pronunciation and fluidity, because that definitely didn't sound like Russian, more like some random mumble or something... Damn, his Russian lessons at school seemed so far away now... School itself felt like ages ago... Guy was barely 26 years old, he had been 20 when the Blip had happened... He and Charles had lost their parents for five years and never truly found them back, they had had to grow up on their own, and they had grown up too fast, like thousands of children around the world. He had had to take care of his 15 years old brother on his own all of a sudden.
The man bit his lip. He didn't want to think about these five years again. The past was in the past, what mattered now was the present, the fight.
He and Charles had not struggled to get some semblance of a life back only to have the little they had gained robbed five years later. It was time to make things right.
A few weeks later
Bucky's eyes opened wide upon hearing the old word being said once again. He had no idea how the boy had found this information, and didn't have time to worry about it. His current main concern was elsewhere. Everything was clear to him and Sam now. The Smashers wanted to bring the Winter Soldier back. And if they didn't succeed, it would be the death of Sam Wilson.
Bucky's nightmares and constant fears suddenly felt like nothing compared to the horror of what he had to face now...
"No, you don't understand..." he pleaded weakly, all his composure falling apart in an instant, "The words have no effect on me anymore... The Winter Soldier is dead..."
But Thierrault continued, relentlessly :
"Ржавый," Rusted.
"Please no ! Let him go ! It won't work !"
Bucky was truly desperate now, struggling with all his strengths to break free from his restraints and go to Sam. For a brief moment, he locked eyes with his partner, and what he saw made his heart sink even more.
There was no fear in Sam's eyes, no anger. Only concern. Concern for Bucky himself. Even when his life was endangered, Sam's concern went to the others. Bucky's trembling lips involuntarily parted in desperation. He could see no way out of this. Not this time.
Sam's only chance of salvation was the comeback of the Winter Soldier.
"Семнадцать,"
Bucky inhaled sharply. The words still hurt. And suddenly, a spark : maybe he could pretend, like he did in Madripoor. But would it be convincing enough ? What would he do if they tested him ? If they asked him to kill someone before releasing Sam ? He couldn't do that anymore... Would it work ? Yes... No... Maybe... Or... Argh... Wait... What... What had he just thought about ?
"Рассвет,"
Daybreak... Dawn... Rebirth... Life... Safe... Sam... Yes, Sam, he had to find a way to... Day... break him. What ? No. The man blinked his eyes and winced. All of his thoughts were mixing in his head. Was he going under again ? Was it how it felt ? No. No no no no no. He was free. Those days are over... 'Something is still in here'... Someone had told him this... He couldn't gather his thoughts enough to remember who it was but... What if...? No no no, please no... I'm free... The Winter Soldier is dead. Ayo has said the words and I didn't go under.
"Печь,"
Furnace... Hot... Sun... Wakanda... Yes but Ayo had literally disarmed him during their last fight... Someone had created a way to remove his arm without telling him... Shuri had made that... Shuri didn't trust him... But she had healed him... Then why...? Had she lied ? Was he really free ? Was there a chance that...
"Девять,"
Nine... Nine heads... Hydra... Fight... Kill... Assassin... Soldier... No ! Not anymore... Was free... Good... Peace... War... Soldier...
"Добросердечный,"
Benign... Bucky is benign... Useless... Need Soldier... He needed to fight... But against what... ? Couldn't remember... Fight... Kill... Target... Assassin... Orders...
"Возвращение на Родину,"
Homecoming... Come back... Soldier... Needed to fight... Soldier... Come back... Complete mission...
"Один,"
One... First... Best... Best soldier... Alone... Alone... No help... Work alone... No witnesses... Kill... Assassin...
"Товарный вагон,"
Freight car... Fall... Death... Bucky dead... Snow... Winter... Rebirth...
"Cолдат ?"
Soldier... Winter Soldier reborn... Ready. Mission... Orders... Obey.
"Я готов отвечить."
Ready to comply.
And here goes the second chapter !
I hope you liked it !