So, the first scene here is a deleted scene from the movie. I'm not going to be using many deleted scenes from the movies, but I felt this scene really showed what Steve was planning prior to everything spiraling out of control.
Before we get into the chapter, I just want to let everyone know that comic book history has been made today. Endgame has officially dethroned Avatar as the highest grossing movie of all time.
For a few minutes, it was silent, save for T'Challa's crying. Then, Thor placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I know your pain my friend," Thor said gently. "I lost my mother a few years ago. But you must remember that your father is still alive where we come from. We can make sure none of this ever happens."
For a few moments, it was still silent. Then, T'Challa seemed to pull himself together. He lifted his head, wiping his eyes of tears.
"You are correct," T'Challa said his voice gruff from the crying. "I apologize."
"You watched your father die your highness. You have nothing to apologize for," Steve said kindly and T'Challa nodded.
"You sure you can continue?" Tony asked.
"I must Mr. Stark. I must find out who murdered my father," T'Challa said with a dark look on his face.
Tony eyed him wearily before unpausing the recording.
At Peggy's wake, Sam and Steve are toasting to what Sam calls 'an honorable discharge'. They take a drink and Steve asks Sam if he's okay with retirement. Sam assures him he is and that he'll make a great civilian. Steve could to, Sam said as he pointedly looked over at Sharon.
"Are you trying to set him up at the wake of his first love?" Natasha asked as they all shot Sam strange looks.
"With her niece," Steve sad lowly, that piece of information making his attraction to Sharon feel very awkward.
"Yeah, that was bad timing," Sam admitted.
"It's just plain weird," Scott muttered and those that heard him couldn't help but agree.1
Later, Steve and Sharon sat at a table, Steve asking her if Peggy knew Sharon had been assigned to watch him in DC. Sharon confirms Peggy didn't know, as Sharon didn't want there to be secrets between her and Steve. Steve asks if Sharon is stationed in London but she says she's actually in Berlin, working for the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Sharon asks Steve about The Accords and Steve reveals he plans to 'take some time off'.
"I really can't see you just settling down Cap," Clint admitted as he looked over at Steve.
"It's either retire or sign. Don't have much of a choice, do I?" Steve asked.
"Let's all just agree Ross is a horrible person," Tony said and there were mumbles of agreement.
Sharon asks when he didn't have a uniform in his closet and the two have a coy exchange about Steve's suit.
Steve shifted as he watched the exchange. The whole thing just felt awkward and weird to him now that he knew her relation to Peggy.
The scene changes to a hotel. Steve and Sharon are standing in front of an elevator after Peggy has pushed the button. Sharon thanks him for walking her back before Sam walks up, saying there's something Steve needs to see.
The scene changes to Sharon's room. Sharon is on the phone as Steve and Sam watch the report on the bombing in Vienna. Surveillance caught the suspect, someone who is seemingly James Buchanan Barnes.
Steve put his head in hands, wondering how Bucky could have fallen this far as Sam and Natasha look at him in concern. As T'Challa eyes the scene, thinking he finally has his father's killer, Clint frowned.
"It doesn't make sense," Clint said and they all looked over at him.
"What doesn't make sense?" Wanda asked.
"Barnes bombing The UN and getting caught. The guy was trained by Hydra to be a ghost, to disappear without leaving any evidence. The only time he was ever seen was when he shot Nat, which only happened because he didn't expect her to survive, and when he shot Fury and you engaged him Cap. And why bomb The UN? It makes no sense unless…" Clint trailed off but Steve caught on to what Clint was thinking.
"Unless someone is setting him up," Steve realized and Clint nodded.
"Either that or Barnes finally snapped. Which, given that little flashback sequence we saw, doesn't seem impossible," Clint noted.
"The mind can only take so much strain," Natasha added and Steve frowned, wondering if Bucky was being set up or had just gone crazy.
Sharon tells Steve and Sam she needs to go to work.
The scene changes to Vienna. The Joint Terrorism Task Force is on the scene as T'Challa numbly sits on a bench, his father's ring in his hand. Natasha approaches him, apologizing for his loss. T'Challa tells her about how death is viewed in his culture, which Natasha finds peaceful. His father agreed, T'Challa says, but he is not his father. Realizing what he is thinking, Natasha says Barnes is the Task Force's priority but T'Challa says he will kill him himself.
T'Challa frowned thoughtfully as the others shot him doubtful looks. If what Clint said was true and Barnes was being framed, then his on screen self was going after an innocent man.
As T'Challa stalks off, Natasha's phone rings. Natasha answers and it's Steve, asking if she's okay. She confirms she is before looking around, knowing Steve is there. She tries to get him to back off and Steve asks if she would arrest him if he didn't.
"No, but someone else will," Natasha told him softly and Steve nodded in agreement.
"It's the situation the UN has created," Steve grumbled.
"If they wanted to make sure the bad guys win, they've sure done a good job," Tony grumbled.
Natasha said she wouldn't arrest him, but someone else would. That was how things worked now.
"No need to repeat yourself," Peter said in an attempt to break the solemn mood in the room.
It didn't work.
Steve says if Bucky is this far gone, he should be the one to bring him in. He's the one least likely to die trying, he says before hanging up from where he stood in a corner, wearing a cap and glasses.
"Well, you've gotten a lot better at blending in," Natasha noted, remembering how panicked Steve was when they were on the run from SHIELD.
"Would you really bring your friend to justice Captain? Even kill him if necessary?" T'Challa asked, honestly curious.
"If he made me," Steve said simply.
While his voice was even, his eyes showed the pain the thought brought him. He would not do it because he wanted to, but because Bucky would have left him no other alternative and the action would likely haunt him for the rest of his life. Everyone felt their respect for Steve grow in that moment. Particularly Thor, who remembered Loki turning on him with a pang, knowing he would not have had the strength to do what needed to be done if Loki had truly left him no other choice.
Steve walks into a restaurant and up to Sam, also dressed in a cap and sunglasses, who was posing as a customer. Sam asks if Natasha told him to stay out of it and Steve answers with silence. Sam notes Natasha might have a point. Steve argues Bucky would do the same for him but Sam argues that Bucky was a different person in 1945. Sam wants to consider all their options before they get into a bad situation.
"A wise decision Mr. Wilson," T'Challa said.
"Please, call me Sam. No one's called me Mr. Wilson since high school," Sam requested and T'Challa nodded.
Sharon walked up to them, a file in hand. Since the footage, tips have been pouring in, most of them dead ends. But there is one solid lead, she passes Steve a file. This is all the head start she can give him and she warns him that the police have a shoot on sight order.
Steve sighed, resigned to this, having known something of the like would happen when Bucky was named the prime suspect. It didn't make it any easier to hear though.
At a hotel, Zemo is in a room, a news report on the bombing in the background. Zemo has the red book out, reading it, practicing the words to get the pronunciation just right. Zemo is interrupted by a knock on the door. He places the book in a drawer and walks over to the door to his room. He reaches for s gun in his pocket but room service spoke up on the other side of the door, causing him to relax. He opens the door slightly and prevents the woman from coming in as a bomb is seen in the closet.
"It was him. He bombed the UN," Natasha said as it hit them.
"But why? And why frame Barnes for it?" Rhodey wondered.
"It has to do with whatever happened on December 16, 1991," Clint noted and Natasha nodded in agree.
"It's why he went after that Hydra officer. But what happened on that day that was so important?" Steve wondered.
"I do not know and I do not care. All I care is that this man gets justice," T'Challa growled.
"Be careful. Do not let your need for vengeance cloud your judgement," Thor said softly, remembering his actions when the Frost Giants had invaded Asgard and his father's after Frigga's death.
The scene changes to Bucharest. Bucky is at the market, buying fruit.
Steve's eyes softened as he saw his best friend, truly, for the first time since 1945. Aside from the long hair, it was truly Bucky. Not The Winter Solider.
Hearing sirens, Bucky walks out of the stand, a nervous reflex from being on the run for so long. Bucky sees a vender at a news stand eying him, so he walks over. Picking up a newspaper, Bucky saw the headline about the bombing and knows he is a wanted man.
At Bucky's home, a rather modest apartment, Steve was there, looking around. Sam radioed in, telling him German Special Forces were headed his way. Steve turns around to see Bucky standing behind him.
Steve tensed as everyone looked at him, wondering how this would go.
Steve asks if Bucky recognizes him, which Bucky claims to know him from the museum. Steve knows he's lying and Bucky relents, telling him he wasn't the bomber. Steve believes him, but warns him about the people coming for him. Bucky notes casually that it's a good strategy to go for the kill.
"He is far too casual about his death," Sam noted as Steve flinched.
Steve tries to talk Bucky out of a fight but Bucky tiredly says it always ends in a fight. The police come up the stairs, are at the door as Sam gives them five seconds. Steve demands to know why Bucky pulled him from the river, to which Bucky claims to not know as he pulls off the glove around his metal arm.
Sam shouts a warning as an explosive crashes through the window. Steve deflects it with his shield, the explosive shattering as it hit the wall before another crashes through and lands at Bucky's feet. Bucky kicks it over to Steve, who quickly places his shield over it, containing the blast as it detonates harmlessly.
"Okay, I get the shoot on site order, but they're throwing bombs into a civilian populated area?" Sam asked horrified.2
"Did they even bother to look to see if anyone else was in there?" Wanda asked disgusted.
"Since Captain Rogers was in there when they fired, most likely not," Vision noted.
Bucky lifts his mattress up, using it as a shield from the shots coming through the window. The police begin trying to force the door to Bucky's apartment open with a battering ram, so Bucky tossed the table over, blocking the entrance.
"Wow, he's strong," Peter said in awe.
"Metal arm kid," Rhodey pointed out.
Two Task Force members burst in. Bucky engages one as Steve trips up the other, causing his rifle to fire aimlessly. Bucky throws the officer to the floor as another one burst in. Steve takes out his gun and pushes him out onto the balcony. Steve then stops Bucky when he tries to follow the officer, saying Bucky will kill someone if this keeps up. Bucky responds by throwing Steve to the floor and jumping on top of him, raising his hand as if to punch him.
Steve watched stonily as everyone else tensed, wondering if Bucky would prove to be a friend or foe.
Bucky says he doesn't want to kill anyone before punching the floorboard next to where Steve's head is at. Bucky pulls out a duffle bag and throws it out the window. It landed on the roof of a building nearby as more officers burst in through the windows. Steve used his shield to block the bullets as Bucky sees another officer at the window. He throws Steve through the window, knocking the operative down as he and Steve fall on the balcony.
"So, looks like Barnes used you as a weapon Cap," Tony said, amused as Steve looked at him annoyed.
Bucky uses his metal hand to deflect the bullets one of the officers fires at him before grabbing the officer and slamming his head through a shelf, knocking him out. Bucky then takes a cinder block and used it to take out the second officer in the room.
"That was pretty badass," Rhodey said as they all looked impressed.
As Steve deals with the officer on the balcony, the police, having grown impatient, have taken to shooting holes in the door. Bucky puts his metal arm through it, knocking one out and startling the rest. Bucky then kicks the door off its hinges and begins engaging the police. One bursts through the glass above but Bucky knocks him out and begins taking the battering ram, knocking them all out.
"Cool," Peter said in awe.
"Say what you will about Barnes, he's one of the best fighters in the world. There's a reason no one who saw him lived until Nat and Cap," Clint noted.
Bucky then uses the cop who had come through the glass to swing down the steps and begins engaging the cops down there. Steve emerges from the room as one of the officers begins calling on the radio for help. Steve crushes the radio before jumping after Bucky. They begin engaging the police together but Bucky knocks one over the railing. He almost falls to his death but Steve catches him.
"So much for not wanting to kill anyone," Rhodey muttered.
"He's someone who's been fighting for as long as he can remember and people are coming to kill him. It's easy to lose yourself to the heat of battle that way," Natasha said, able to relate.
Steve scolds Bucky before yanking the officer back up, throwing him into the wall. Bucky rips off the railing, using it as a long, metal vine to swing down the stair case as Steve secures the officer. Bucky engages two more officers as Steve sees an officer about to shook at Bucky. Steve throws his shield, knocking the weapon out of their hand as the shield goes into the wall. Bucky looks back at Steve before jumping over the railing, falling two stories before catching himself on railing.
"Awesome," Peter said, amazed at Bucky's strength.
"Your friend is impressive Captain," Thor noted.
Steve was silent, thinking of all the pain and suffering Bucky had been forced to endure in order to get that strong and this good.
As Steve pulls his shield out of the wall, Bucky pulls himself back onto the stairs. Bucky beaks down the door before rushing down a hall and onto a balcony. Bucky then jumps onto the building where he had tossed his bag, only to be tackled by the Black Panther.
"Who is that guy?" Peter wondered but none of them had an answer.
"I don't know, but I think we're about to find out," Steve said grimly.
"Is he dressed like a cat?" Scott asked bewildered but everyone shrugged.
Unnoticed by everyone, T'Challa shifted uneasily. Now that he knew Bucky had not killed his father, it was clear that his on screen self was letting emotion drive his actions. And while he knew that it was Zemo, his on screen self believed it was Bucky. And thus, would focus all his grief and rage on him. T'Challa had a feeling it wouldn't end well. He was beginning to understand why he had been brought here.
Bucky gets up and the two begin to trade punches and kicks. It becomes clear to Bucky that Black Panther is extremely skilled. Black Panther lands a hit and Bucky is sent down to the ground, his back against an air vent. Black Panther attempts to strike him with his claws but Bucky dodges by jumping up. They trade some more blows before Bucky is thrown on his back. Bucky picks up some iron and uses it to block Black Panther's claws.
"This guy's no amateur," Sam noted, impressed by Black Panther's moves.
"Indeed, he has been trained very well," Thor agreed.
"But who is he?" Tony wondered and his friends all shrugged.
Wanda picked up a hint of pride andguilt and looked over at its source, T'Challa. She raised an eyebrow, wondering what that was about.
Steve comes out of the building and sees the scene. He calls Sam over and Sam flies in, seeing the scene. Steve jumps onto the other building as a police chopper rolls in. A snipper shoots at Black Panther, who turns away from Bucky. Impossibly, the bullets don't pierce his suit.
"Okay, what is this suit made of if bullets don't even phase it?" Sam asked as everyone but T'Challa stared at it in shock.
"I don't know, but I'd like to get my hands on it, might be able to make you guys better suits for battle," Tony mused.
Sam flies in and kicks the tail of the chopper, causing the pilot to fight for control. Bucky kicks Black Panther off him and flees, jumping down the side of the building. Black Panther follows, using his claws to slowly glide down the side of the building. As Bucky and Black Panther continue the chase on the ground, Steve jumps off the building as well, using his shield to cushion his fall. The chopper rounds the corner, firing at Bucky again.
"And now they're not even pretending to worry about civilian casualties," Rhodey said in disgust.
"Who are these cops, I want to keep an eye on them, make sure they can't put anyone in danger," Steve said with narrowed eyes.
"Let us ask the wizard when we see him next," Thor suggested and The Avengers found it agreeable.
Bucky jumps off the ledge and into heavy traffic. He heads into a tunnel, with Black Panther and Steve following him.
"And he can keep up with a super solider. Just who is this guy?" Clint wondered, growing more and more interested.
A police cruiser rolls up behind them and Steve stops, tackling the wind shield with his shield. Steve then jumps off, opens the door and throws the driver out. He shatters the wind shield before taking the car, driving after Bucky and Black Panther.
"You and stealing cars," Natasha cracked, remembering Steve stealing a car during the Hydra uprising and telling her he had done it before in 1945.
"it's one of my special talents," Steve joked.
"So you have a dark side after all," Tony said with a grin towards Steve.
"Like I said, you just haven't seen it yet," Steve said, confusing those who hadn't heard their conversation at the barn.
Steve drives passed Black Panther, but Black Panther jumps on the back of the cruiser. Seeing this in the rearview mirror, Steve tries to shake Panther off with no luck. Steve radios Sam as he becomes aware of the multiple police cruisers on his tail.
"And this is what making things worse looks like," Natasha said pointedly and Steve sighed.
"I know, but what was I supposed to do, watch them kill him for something he didn't do?" Steve argued.3
"I don't know, but Ross is going to use this to make things difficult for us," Natasha said.
"Ross is the worst," Tony said simply and they all nodded.
"The absolute worst," Thor agreed.
At the edge of the tunnel, Bucky is blocked by several cars. He jumps over several waste containers and continues running. Steve follows, driving through the containers and after Bucky. Outside the tunnel, Bucky takes a motorcycle from a man and drives into another section of the tunnel.
"Man, this guy is awesome," Scott said growing more and more impressed with Bucky's skills.
"Shame it had to come from so much suffering," Wanda said sadly and Steve grimaced.
Steve follows Bucky through the tunnel and Black Panther climbs onto the roof. Black Panther jumps off to try and get Bucky, but Bucky grabbed him by the throat. Bucky tries to throw him down but Black Panther hangs on to the back, bringing the motorcycle on its side. Bucky it able to use his metal arm to stop it from falling and kicks Black Panther off. Bucky lifts the motorcycle back up and continues retreating as Sam grabs Black Panther. They scuffle in the air as Bucky throws a small explosive onto the edge of the tunnel. It goes off, bringing some rubble down.
Sam stops as Black Panther launches himself through the air. He lands on the motorcycle, cutting the back tire. The motorcycle falls and the pair roll on the ground as Steve jumps out of the car, which flips over.
"This guy just won't give up," Clint said incredulously.
"But why?" Steve wondered and Wanda felt a spike of guilt from T'Challa.
Steve rushed over, tackling Black Panther away from Bucky before he can do anything. They stand up as multiple policer cruisers roll in, surrounding them. Rhodey, in his War Machine armor, lands and aims at them, ordering them to stand down. Rhodey tells Steve he's a criminal.
"How did we get to this?" Rhodey asked, all of them stunned by the turn of events.
"We didn't talk," Steve noted as they all looked at him. "Ross gave us a choice and, instead of facing it as a team, we let it tear us apart. We can't do that when we go back."
"Cap's right. When we go back, we tell Ross what we think of his so called 'compromise' and make sure none of this happens," Tony declared and the other Avengers looked at each other, nodding in unity.
Steve stands down, seeing Sam has been caught as well. Bucky is cuffed as Black Panther, seeing he is outnumbered, stands down as well. He removes his helmet and reveals the face of T'Challa, to the surprise of everyone.
T'Challa sighed as everyone turned to stare at him, knowing now they would all like some answers.
1: Chris and Emily had decent chemistry and Steve and Sharon had some good interactions in The Winter Soldier and Civil War. But her being related to Peggy is weird enough, but the fact that they started something at Peggy's wake just makes it even weirder. Honestly, Sharon just seems like a rebound. Which is a shame, considering their history in the comics.
2: Okay the shoot on sight order makes the police just attacking Bucky understandable. But throwing an explosive into the apartment? Let's ignore the fact that its unlikely Bucky was the only person living in that building. If someone other than Steve had been there and it had gone off, they probably would have gotten hurt or worse. And, considering they still threw it in when Steve was there, it's unlikely they checked if anyone was there. But they still kept shooting at Bucky when he was on the ground and heading into a civilian populated area. That shows a blatant disregard for civilian safety. I've heard a theory that the police that first showed up at the apartment was actually a Hydra cell looking to recapture Bucky and, frankly, it wouldn't surprise me given their actions.
3: Honestly, Steve probably did what anyone would have done, stopped his best friend from being killed once he was sure Bucky was innocent. I'm not sure I would have acted differently in his position. But, as Natasha pointed out, his actions did make an already bad situation worse.