I don't own anything in this story. All rights belongs to the MCU
Know I'm not an English native. If they are mistakes (and I know there are), please kindly stay it to me
The action takes place after the vents of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series, episode 4
Bucky and Sam froze as their eyes landed on the two newcomers. At the same time, their mouth opened. A tear even glistened in Bucky' blue eyes.
Undeniably, one of them was Zemo, dressed in his awful ferry coat. There was no mistake. But the other... The other was their old friend. Except he wasn't old anymore. Just like ripped from their torn memories, there stood Captain America, his round shield on his arms.
There stood Steve Rogers.
« Steve... » James' call was like a prayer, barely above a whisper. He outstretched his good arm, not believing his eyes.
« Who the fuck are you ? » Sam spatted, already aiming a gun at Captain America. « I don't know what you're trying to do here but I know damn well you're not... »
« Yee of little faith » Zemo laughed bitterly. « Aren't you at least a little happy to see your friend back ? I mean, I've been through Hell and high waters to get him and... »
« How ? » Bucky asked, his eyes never blinking as he kept staring at his friend who tore his mask off.
It wasn't just a stunt or a doppelganger. It was truly Steve Rogers. It was him. Yet, something troubled the Soldier.
His eyes. They were the exact same blue and yet, they just didn't belong to Steve. Steve's eyes were kind whereas these eyes were mischievous. Steves's eyes were full of hope whereas these eyes were full of laughter. Steves's eyes were young whereas these eyes were centuries old.
« I might have stolen one vial of serum, as an assurance. And when all went down with the Dora Milaje and this John Walker, I remembered what I had said to you : there has never been another Steve Rogers... So, I flew to Brooklyn, found his old ass in a retirement home and injected him with the serum. An hour later, Captain America was on duty again. » Zemo explained with a smirk.
« What retirement house ? Steve's still.. » Sam started, his eyes two small slits.
« My neph... niece, » Steve said, correcting himself quickly « she put me there to sell the house... something about money problem, I don't recall clearly... »
Bucky was speechless, his mouth open agape as he still tried to let everything in.
Sam, on the other hand, kept questioning everything, a deep feeling in his guts telling him something was not right.
« Your niece ? Your niece as in Sharon Carter ? As in the one you kissed a few years before the blip ? » The Falcon asked, dumbstruck.
« Steve kissed his own niece ? » Steve turned to Zemo, his voice shocked « So much for self-righteousness... I can't believe the almighty Captain America is so twisted he willingly kissed his niece ! »
« What ? What is happening right now ? » Sam asked, confused. « Why is he talking about himself in the 3rd person ? And why is he not remembering Sharon ? I knew it was a fucking setup ! It... »
« I don't want to interrupt but, » Zemo interrupted with a false smile, « great people usually talk about themself that way... maybe the name Julius Caesar rings a bell to you ? As for the memory problem... Do you even know how old he is ? He was diagnosed with Alzheimer a week ago. I guess the serum didn't fix that... »
« Your mom's name was Sarah. » Bucky said with a steady voice, carefully taking a step to Steve's direction. « You're from Brooklyn. You used to put newspaper in your shoes. »
« And you're James Buckanan Barnes » Steve answered in a mocking voice. « We've been best friends since childhood. We went to Germany together. You once were the Winter Soldier who was controlled by Hydra. And, if what I witnessed is right, you cured from their mind games » he then turned to Sam « and you are Sam Wilson aka The Falcon. You never introduced me to your sister and your nephews »
Sam then deployed his wings and flew to him, making twists and turns before he only grazed him.
« On your left ! » He yelled before landing behind him.
Steve let out a small laugh before putting his shield near his heart. « You know, I can feel it now. The righteousness surging. If you want we can all have a rousing discussion about truth, honor and patriotism. God bless America and all... but Helmut told me about a guy who stole my shield and supremacist supersoldiers... »
« He didn't steal it. Sam gave it to him. » Bucky answered with a frown.
« First of all, I didn't give the shield to him. I gave it to the Government ! Second, the Flag Smashers are not supremacists. They fight supremacists. » Sam huffed.
« So much for the little respect I had for them... » Steve snarled. « So, now that I'm here, what's the plan ? »
« Speaking of the shield, how did you get it ? » Sam asked.
« Now wouldn't you like to know... » Steve said with sarcasm, raising once again suspicion within the Falcon.
But, before Sam or Bucky could answer, another shield came flying to them, almost hitting Steve who avoided it carefully by taking a small step aside.
John Walker appeared then, catching with ease the shield which came back to him.
« Am I really going to fight with myself ?... » Steve asked as he put his mask back on, a laugh escaping his lips « Shit, it's so weird to say things like that. »
« Language ! » Sam shouted to him, looking shocked while Steve was looking completely lost.
« Did I say something wrong ? » He then turned to John who was walking slowly to him. « Hey, you who have taken my name, can you tell me what I said wrong ? »
« There can only be one Captain America » Walker hissed through gritted teeth before launching himself to fight Steve.
« Wasn't he supposed to consider Steve Rogers like a brother ? » Zemo asked a frozen Bucky.
Sam took a step back as Steve and John began to fight, the thundering clash between the two shields almost deafening them.
Soon all Zemo, Sam and James saw was a blur of blue and red, an occasional shield rising to the air only to be taken immediately again.
« 100 for Rogers » Zemo bet, nudging playfully Bucky.
« He isn't Steve » the Soldier said softly, almost like a whisper as his gaze stayed focused on the fight.
« About time you acknowledge that ! » Sam snickered. « That's what I've been saying all along ! »
« Steve doesn't fight like that » Bucky whispered, obviously not having heard Sam. « And he would definitively not use knives like that ! Where did he find these knives ? »
Then, as if by magic, John Walker found himself in the heat of a battle without his shield but, with a trash can lid. Only Steve had a shield now, a brilliant smile on his lips.
« I cannot thank you enough for giving me back my shield, Captain ! » Steve said, saluting him mockingly. « But now, I believe my duty is to find some supremacists who fight other supremacists. Farewell, my wannabe doppleganger ! » He turned his heels, nodding to Zemo who took Sam and Bucky to follow him.
But before Steve joined them, he turned one last time : « Oh, I almost forgot. If you are a smart man, you will not wear that uniform or my name again... » Smirking, he went running to the three men, the shield carefully fastened on his back.