"So all this time, you've been rich?"
"I'm a Baron, Sam. My family was royalty until you destroyed my country." Zemo explained to them as they stepped onto his jet.
Somehow she'd never realized he came from such a wealthy family. First, they'd been introduced to the large garage full of antique vehicles. He'd said then that his family had spent centuries hunting down Hydra and ending the Winter Soldier program. She hadn't realized that others had even tried hunting down Hydra before Siberia.
Zemo greeted an elderly man in Russian as they settled onto their seats.
"You don't know what it's like to be locked in a cell" Shifting, he sipped on champagne, eyeing the three of them. "Oh that's right, you do."
Sam's posture stiffened as he attempted to change the subject. "Why don't you tell us about where we are going"
"I'm sorry. I was just fascinated by this. I don't know what to call it but this part seems important.-"
Aubrey crossed one of her legs underneath herself, noting the uncomfortable look Zemo gave her as she flipped a knife around her fingers. The blade would most definitely slice her skin open even if it just skimmed it. And she knew that pride rising as she successfully twirled it deftly around. However, the twirling slowed as Zemo brought another, smaller leather book from the pages of the large one he held.
She knew that book.
"-Who is Nakajima?" Zemo finished, eyes glued to Bucky.
The knife slipped from her grasp at the name and Aubrey barely caught it before it would have clattered to the ground. At the same time, Bucky launched forward. A small wheezing sound exited Zemo's mouth as the vibranium hand wrapped itself around the Sokovians throat.
"If you touch that again, I'll kill you," Bucky growled, and from the dark glint in his eye, she thought for a moment he actually would. He'd explained what Raynor was having him do, something she was supposed to do once her exile had been over. But it would have to wait until this was over. Tearing the book from his hand, Aubrey snapped it closed, fingers running along the roughened leather edge. Zemo gave a nod and heaved a breath as Bucky released him, sitting back down. She handed over the book carefully, eyes hardening as she glared at Zemo.
"I'm sorry. I understand that list of names. People you've wronged as the Winter Soldier. Although I'd like to know why she doesn't have-"
"Don't. Push. It." Bucky's eyes strayed from the window, flashing to Zemo before landing on Aubrey and softening for a moment before turning back to the clouds. She'd only seen his icy eyes for a moment but it was long enough to see the nightmares dancing in them. The Sokovian's stare burned into Aubrey's eyes as she stared back, mouth set.
"I've seen that book. It was Steves when he came out of the ice. I told him about Trouble Man. He wrote it in that book. Did you hear it? What'd you think?" Sam's attempt to change the subject was all too obvious. To her surprise, Bucky answered.
"I like 40's music, so.."
"So you didn't like it?"
"I liked it" his voice turned slightly defensive as Zemo finally broke eye contact with her.
"It is a masterpiece, James. Complete. Comprehensive. It captures the African-American experience."
Surprise played across Sam's face and his next words looked like they pained him. "He's out of line, but he's right. It's great. Everybody loves Marvin Gaye."
"I like Marvin Gaye." she sensed an argument brewing and attempted to cut in but Sam cut her off.
"Why don't we-"
"Steve adored Marvin Gaye" Those words were like a punch, aimed straight at Bucky. She watched as the breath got knocked out of him and his face closed off. He was shutting down.
"That's enough" the words were more growly than she expected but they had more important things to be discussing.
"I realized something when I met Steve. The danger with people like him. America's Super Soldiers. Is that we put them on pedestals.-"
"Watch your step Zemo"
"-They become symbols, Icons. And then we start to forget about their flaws. From there, cities fly, innocent people die-" Zemo's words paused for a moment and she watched emotion work its way through the man. He'd lost his family in Sokovia, T'Challa had told her as much and she knew the grief that brought. Her's had been temporary…his was forever. Chin quivering, sucking back tears he continued. "- Movements are formed, wars are fought. You remember that, right? As a young soldier sent to Germany to stop a mad icon. Do we want to live in a world full of people like the Red Skull?-" his head shook back and forth as he locked his emotionless gaze back in place. "-that is why we are going to Madripoor.
"What's up with Madripoor? You talk about it like it's Skull Island"
Glad to have moved on from the dark subject they'd been on, Aubrey gladly answered Sam. "It's an island nation in the Indonesian Archipelago. It was a pirate sanctuary back in the 1800s. Imagine a country with no laws. Everyone just does what they please and no one cares about it."
"It's kept its lawless ways but we cannot exactly walk in as ourselves. It would cause too much of a stir, attract too many of the wrong people. James, you will have to become someone you claim is gone. Aubrey, you as well."
Every muscle in her body froze at the Baron's words. Swallowing before puffing a breath out of her lips, Aubrey pulled her hair out of its ponytail and began twisting it into a tight braid.
It appeared that The Eagle would be paying an unwanted visit.
That was how she'd found herself walking along a glowing bridge in Madripoor. Music and light pulsed from the city. Causing a nervousness to reverberate through her bones. Her suit had materialized from the feather necklace she wore, knives and throwing stars glinting from various hidden pockets.
"We have to fix this. I'm the only one who looks like a pimp." Sam complained as they walked along the matriculate bridge.
"Only an American would assume a fashion-forward Black man looks like a pimp. You look exactly like the man you're supposed to be playing.-" Zemo corrected, adjusting his fur-lined trench coat. "The sophisticated, charming African rake named Conrad Mack, aka the Smiling Tiger" Zemo handed over his phone, a picture of the man on it.
Aubrey couldn't keep down the snort that bubbled up "unfortunately for us Sam doesn't smile enough for it"
"He does look like me, though…What is that smell? Acid?"
"Madripoor" Bucky sounded as grim as she felt. She'd wanted to talk to him before they did this but there hadn't been enough time.
"No matter what happens, we have to stay in character. Our lives depend on it. There's no margin for error. It shouldn't be hard for you two. There was no error for what, eighty years?"
"Shut up Zemo" Aubrey hissed, popping her neck as she willed the talons in her nails to grow.
He cleared his throat "High town is that way. Not a bad place if you want to visit. But Low Town is the other way." a black car pulled up and Zemo got in without hesitation.
"Let me guess, we don't have any friends in High Town," Sam said what they'd all been thinking as thumper rumbled.
Puffing a final breath out of her lips, Aubrey squared her shoulders. Fear prickled its way down her spine, afraid that if she fell too far into her other side that she'd never reappear. But this was something they had to do. With that last thought, Aubrey's mind shuttered closed as she felt the scary calm veil drop-down, covering everything that was important to her. Aubrey Cristo faded slightly as the Eagle rose from the dark depths. Her posture stiffened, eyes stopped glowing so brightly, and shimmering nails came to deadly points. She felt Bucky doing the same, mentally preparing himself for what was coming.
They had a mission to complete.