It seemed that nothing could wait until she got there. Aubrey barely had enough time to drop her stuff off in a hotel room before her cell was ringing. Bucky's voice rang in on the other end. The conversation was short, he gave her a set of coordinates and said they would be there in a plane. Of course, it couldn't be a location nearby, it just had to be Munich, Germany. Somewhere she could have gotten to faster if she had the information sooner.
"Have you left yet?" the words came out in a breath as she hurried to strap on various weaponry and tools. Her combat suit shimmered in the dim light as Bucky responded, something off in his tone.
"We're leaving soon, Sam is getting some stuff. Why?"
"Do you think I can make it there before you guys take off?"
"If you hurry, I'll try to stall him-" he rattled off where the hangar was.
"Buck?-"
He grunted in response, something clattering in the background. Aubrey put the do not disturb sign on her hotel door before popping open the window and carefully crawling onto the ledge.
"-Why can't you just ask Sam to wait for me?-"
As she pushed off the ledge, wings flared and jets purring, Aubrey waited for an answer, steadily climbing higher in the sky. "-Bucky?"
"Because" he mumbled
"Because why?" Aubrey blinked as the nano suit helmet slid over her head, the H.U.D Shuri had programmed appeared. The call transferred to the suit as she slid her phone into a hidden pocket. Several seconds passed before he mumbled the answer.
"Because maybe he doesn't know you're coming."
"Oh, lovely.-" she couldn't keep the sarcasm out of her voice as her keen eyes scanned the horizon for the hanger. The city had passed in a blur, giving away to less populated areas. A runway began to appear in the distance as she pushed her jets. "- I know how Sam loves surprises.-"
She got no answer and a moment later Aubrey spoke again, voice quieter this time. "- I know it hasn't been that long but I'm glad to be back. Even if I'm going to get an earful about it."
"I'm glad too-" the words were barely a whisper as she heard a familiar voice sound in the background. "- I gotta go, we're going to board."
"Alright, cya in a second" with a soft smile Aubrey hung up, watching as two figures headed towards what looked to be some version of a carrier plane. She began her descent, coming to a jog as her jets powered down and the nano wings slithered back into her bloodstream. She was just in time to see Sam and Bucky follow a camo-clad man into the plane. Taking long strides, she easily hopped in behind them. A devilish smile lit her face when Falcon turned around to say something and jumped in shock. A small part of her relished the effect as Bucky turned and gave her a smirk. Sam saw the look pass between the two and his mouth tugged down.
"I'm sorry, did I miss something? Aren't you supposed to be in Venice?"
Plastering a thoughtful look on her face, Aubrey's eyes flickered to the ceiling for a moment. "Mmmm, no, pretty sure I'm supposed to be here.-" pausing, she sobered. "-I haven't been keeping up with the news so I don't know much-" she shot a look at Bucky "-but I've heard...things."
The plane began to roll forward as they seated themselves. A row of seats was attached to either side of the plane, with boxes of cargo further in the back. Sam sat across from her as Bucky slid into the seat beside Aubrey. Heaving a sigh, Falcon put his elbows on his knees.
"Alright, tell me what you've heard and I'll fill in the rest."
"All I know is that...a new Captain America has been...appointed. Although I don't know how that could be possible because I thought you had the shield." She felt Bucky stiffen beside her and instantly knew that something had happened. Clearly, this was a point of animosity between the two as Sam's shoulders hunched ever so slightly when he responded.
"I...donated it to the Smithsonian, thinking they would keep it on exhibit. They have a whole area dedicated to Cap and the Howling Commandos. But it appears they had other ideas. Didn't take long for them to just pass it onto the next person."
"This new person...he's not..he doesn't have serum, right?"
"John Walker. Former Captain of the U.S. Army's 75th Rangers Regiment. Three Medals of Honor, he led an RS One mission in counter-terrorism and hostage rescue."
"The government can give him all the medals and honors they want, it's the heart of the person that can make or break. Have you interacted with him at all?" she couldn't keep the hard tone from her voice. It felt wrong. They shouldn't have just...pawned off Cap's shield...his legacy like that.
"No. And I'd like to keep it that way. But that's not the reason we're going to Munich. -" pulling his phone from his pocket, Sam flashed Aubrey a picture of a man whose face was covered by a black mask, on the mask was a handprint, stained red. "-This guy, he has connections all over Eastern and Central Europe and he's strong….too strong.-"
The weight of what Sam was implying knocked the breath out of her lungs. "What?" the word was whispered as he continued.
"-He's connected to this online group called the Flag Smashers, Redwing has traced them to a warehouse somewhere outside of Munich, that's where we're going."
"I don't trust Redwing," Bucky growled under his breath. Falcon shot him a look of fire as he shot back
"That's been established. But you trust him enough to call in Aubrey."
"He was right to, if this guy, this group, if they have the serum…" she trailed off, swallowing as Sam met her eyes, nodding.
"It could be very bad."
Aubrey shifted uncomfortably in her seat, watching as the two men sized each other up. Something had shifted between them. Although, her mind summoned up memories from when she'd first interacted with Sam, in Berlin. He and Bucky had been snippy with each other even then. A young man, who'd been introduced as Torres, dropped down from the cockpit.
"One minute until drop-off, Sam." he strode past, heading towards the back of the plane as the staring contest between the two continued. Heaving a dramatic sigh before pushing to her feet, Aubrey listened to them bicker, tightening her weapons and summoning forth the nano bow that was housed in rings.
"So, what's our plan?-" Bucky retrieved something from a cargo box, glancing at Aubrey.
Falcon remained silent as Aubrey put her commlink into her ear.
"-Great, so no plan"
"Thirty seconds!" Torres called from his spot by the open door. Rolling her shoulders, Aubrey's spine shivered as she felt the icy tingles from millions of Nanos exiting her body.
"Enjoy your ride, Buck" Sam quipped
"No, you can't call me that" Bucky's voice hardened
"Why not? That's what Steve called you, Aubrey calls you that"
"Steve knew me longer, and Steve had a plan."
"And Aubrey?"
Bucky ignored him as Sam stomped to the door.
"Fifteen seconds!"
"I have a plan."
"Really?-" Bucky stood from his seat, following Aubrey to the door. "What is it?"
The only answer they got was Falcon launching from the aircraft.
"Can't you two get along for five seconds," Aubrey grumbled before jumping, wings flaring to slow her descent. Her suit slithered on as her eyes stayed trained on Falcons red and silver suit. She landed just after he did and barely caught what he mumbled into the commlink.
"You know I have all that on camera, right?" the two traded barbs as Aubrey surveyed their surroundings. She was met with a dense forest on all sides but one. The brick and concrete warehouse looked as though it had been standing empty for centuries. Graffiti was plastered on almost every free surface, yet something seemed off about the place. Aubrey's mind picked up on it, her senses alert as her H.U.D appeared, spotlighting areas that had been recently disturbed.
"Someone's been here" She murmured into the comms as she and Sam ventured closer. It looked to be several smaller warehouses that surrounded a larger one. The first one they came to was empty, with only several small beams holding it up. The ground had been tread on so often that it had become solid. Sam's eyes were glued to the screen on his wrist that was connected to Redwing. Footsteps sounded at one of the entrances, her mind subconsciously recognized the gait. Bucky ambled up beside them, his metal arm gleaming in the light. He must have torn away the sleeve as it had been hidden earlier. Cautiously, Aubrey's eyes flicked around the empty warehouse, her senses on high alert.
"You're doing the staring thing again-" Sam muttered. Her gaze shot to him before drifting to Bucky, who looked as though he wished he could make Sam disappear. Oblivious to the deadly gaze, Falcon continued "-They're in there."