June 23rd , 2016 - Bucharest, Romania
He looked down at the selection of plums, his gloved hand reaching into the wooden crate to test the firmness of the dark blue fruit. Bucky smiled, the one he selected feeling good. He had made a small life here in Bucharest and for the last month he had even started up with a daily routine. He'd wake up, write down his dreams, exercise, go out for a walk into the city and go to the market for fresh fruit and vegetables. Nobody knew him here – he could completely start over; be someone new. He liked that. Not being known.
"How are they?" Bucky spoke in Romanian to the vendor of the fruit stand. "Are they good?" The man nodded, replying that they were good. Bucky looked down at the fruit again with a small smile before looking back to the vendor. "Give me six?" He asked and then thanked the man as he began to pack up the fruit.
With his bag of fruit, Bucky walked away from the vendor having paid his fee. It was a cloudy day in Bucharest; a chance of rain. It was chilly when he woke up, much chillier than it ought to be during the summer. He dressed in a dark jacket with red henley underneath it to keep warm, though his body always ran hotter than most people – Bucky could still feel the chill in the air. He adjusted the black hat he wore on the top of his head, pulling it down to cover his face as he crossed the street, keeping any cameras from capturing his face. He had been in Bucharest long enough to know where all the street cameras were, thankfully. But as he got to the other side of the street; he felt something— a pair of eyes on him. Something that did not happen lately. Occasionally young women would glance at him, giggle, and then look away; he was used to that. But this felt different.
Bucky looked across the street, eyes scanning the area until they landed on a newsvendor where a young man was watching him carefully. Bucky looked away, hoping it was just a coincidence. But when he looked back, the vendor's eyes grew wide in recognition. Bucky walked over to the new stand slowly, watching as the man jumped from the seat he had been occupying and scurried away, looking over his shoulder at Bucky as he did so. Bucky moved quickly, grabbing the newspaper the man had been reading. His brows furrowed as he read the headline; 'Winter Soldier cautat pentru Bombardmentual din Viena' his eyes widened as he saw a picture along with the headline. A picture of him at the scene of the bombing . But it wasn't him. He didn't do what this paper was accusing him of – even if they had supposed photographic proof.
He looked around tensely, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to remain calm. Bucky tried to assure himself that he had time; he'd run back to his apartment, take the back way, avoid every single camera – he'd grab his things; his journal, the pictures he kept— he'd grab everything sentimental to him and leave, start off somewhere else where no one would find him.
Bucky walked at a fast pace, keeping his head low and then sprinted as he snuck into back alleys, jumping over fences to get back to his apartment in time. Leave, now. A voice ordered him. Forget about your stuff, get out! But he couldn't. He needed his journal – he needed the picture of Adelyn which she had given him, the news clippings of her and Steve. He couldn't leave them behind. Bucky got to his apartment, running up the stairs until he was on the top floor. But before he opened his apartment door, he stopped, sensing that someone was in the apartment.
He took in a long shaky breath, his hand moving to the door knob as he quietly and slowly opened the door. As he walked inside undetected, he saw a man in a dark blue armored suit with a familiar shield on his arm standing in the middle of his apartment, holding onto Bucky's journal as he stood in front of the refrigerator. Bucky kept his eyes on him, watching him close the book as he walked over to the fridge, taking off the pictures of Adelyn. Bucky was frozen – Steve was right in front of him. He could run, let Steve keep his things, give them to AJ to let her know that he remembered who she was...but he couldn't move. Not when he was this close.
"Heads up, Cap. German Special Forces approaching from the south."
Bucky heard the voice as only a murmur over Steve's comm system; a voice he didn't recognize. Where was AJ? Was she with Steve? Would she walk out of his bathroom in a matter of seconds and see him standing in the room watching Steve?
"Understood." Steve said back to the man. "Jay, don't do anything until I order it, do you copy?"
"I hear you, Steve."
He let out a hitched breath when he heard AJ's soft voice, alerting Steve that he was not alone in the apartment.
Steve turned to face Bucky, staring at him for a long moment before he finally managed to speak. "Do you know me?" He asked.
Bucky stared at him, mouth open to answer him but no words came out. He nodded his head slowly before speaking. "You're Steve." He answered. "I read about you in a museum." He lied, not knowing why. Maybe it was to protect Steve, but from the look Steve gave him – he knew Steve was about to call him out on his bullshit.
"They've set the perimeter, Steve. Do you have eyes on him?" AJ's voice came through again, causing Bucky to let out a shaky breath as he closed his mouth, teeth biting down on the inside of his cheek as he pretended not to be affected by the sound. By her.
Steve didn't answer her. He only continued to stare at Bucky. "I know you're nervous." He said, setting down the journal after placing the pictures and news clippings inside of it. "You have plenty of reason to be." Steve added. "But you're lying ." He pointed to the book, calling Bucky out.
"I wasn't in Vienna." Bucky said, knowing there wasn't much else he could say. Steve knew that he remembered him – that he remembered AJ. "I don't do that anymore."
"They're entering the building." Bucky heard the murmur of a man talking to Steve causing him to tense.
Steve took a step closer to Bucky. "Well, the people who think you did are coming here now. And they're not planning on taking you alive."
"That's smart." Bucky replied. "Good strategy." He said only to look up at the ceiling when the sound of footsteps approaching from the roof echoed in the small living space.
"They're on the roof." The voice told Steve. "I'm compromised."
"I'm not." Bucky heard AJ say. "Give me the go, Steve."
Bucky watched as Steve huffed, looking towards the door as the sound of many footsteps coming up the stairs grew closer. "This doesn't have to end in a fight, Buck." Steve tried to tell him.
Bucky walked next to the wall, pulling off his glove to reveal his metal hand as he waited for whoever was after him to break down the door. "It always ends in a fight."
"Five seconds!"
"You pulled me from the river!" Steve raised his voice. "Why?"
"I don't know." Bucky lied.
"And what about AJ?" Steve asked. "You don't remember her either?"
Bucky swallowed hard.
"Three seconds!"
"Yes," Steve said. "You do."
BREACH, BREACH, BREACH! A grenade crashed through the window at Bucky, who kicked it towards Steve, his oldest friend smothering the explosion with his shield. It was something they had done in WWII.
Bucky lifted his mattress when another grenade was thrown through the window next to him, shielding him from getting thrown back. When a banging against his door began, Bucky knew they were trying to break through the door. He threw his metal table at the door, the thick metal of the table getting stuck between the door and the hallway to keep the door shut. They'd need a lot more force to get the door open now. But the sound of the window in his kitchen breaking caused Bucky to spin around and see a man swing in on cables, another breaking through the window in front of him only to be met with a metal fist to his face and then grabbed him by the cables, throwing him against the wall roughly.
He ran over to where Steve was holding one of the policemen up by his gun, stopping him from shooting any further. Bucky ran forward, kicking him in the chest causing him to fly out the window.
"Buck! Stop!" Steve yelled, trying to grab him only to have Bucky quickly get out of his hold. "You're gonna kill someone."
Bucky grabbed Steve by the shoulder, throwing him down on the ground before punching a hole in the floor right next to where Steve's head was. He pulled apart the floor board, pulling out a backpack and quickly grabbed his journal off the counter and shoved it inside. He looked down at Steve who watched him curiously. Bucky huffed before flinging the backpack out of the broken window down onto the roof of the building next to them. More men entered the room before he could jump after it and began shooting at them. Bucky lifted his metal arm, blocking each shot from hitting him but Steve was quick on his feet, using his shield to protect the both of them better than his metal arm could. When a man came walked towards them with a gun, Bucky grabbed Steve and threw him at the man, knocking the cop out. He then stalked towards another cop who was shooting at him, protecting himself by holding up his metal arm causing the bullets to ricochet off and hit the wall next to him. Bucky grabbed the man by the throat, throwing him into the table next to the wall. At the sound of another cop coming towards him, Bucky grabbed one of the blocks of cement he used to work out and swung at the man, knocking him through the bathroom door.
Gunshots went through the door but before they could get in, Bucky punched through the wall to distract them before barreling through the door, the wooden object used as his shield as he ran through a bunch of cops outside of the apartment. Bucky punched and kicked and used anything he possibly could as a weapon to keep the men from getting him, a cop coming down through the skylight of the roof began to shoot at him and Bucky raised his metal arm to protect himself again. He grabbed at the gun, yanking the man with it into the wall. His eyes caught sight of the battering ram they were using to try and open the door and Bucky quickly grabbed it, swinging at a couple of cops with it, knocking them out.
Bucky saw more cops coming up the stairwell and grabbed at the cop who had come through the roof on a zipline and threw him down the stairs, using the zipline to go down as well. He made it down two floors past the cops and threw the knocked-out officer into the ones coming at him. There were too many cops now; even as he threw them off him and punched and kicked his way through them, more showed up. With his elbow, Bucky hit one of the cops hard causing him to fall off the ledge, only to see an arm grab him, stopping him from falling. It was Steve.
"Come on, man." He sighed in annoyance.
Bucky didn't say anything, simply elbowed another cop into the wall. As Steve hurled the cop over his shoulders and into a wall, Bucky grabbed at the railing, tearing it off its hinges and jumped down to another floor. When he landed, a cop pointed his gun at Bucky only to have Steve throw his shield at the cop, knocking him out. He looked up at Steve briefly before jumping down the stairwell. Once he saw a floor with no cops on it, he grabbed at the railing. He let out a loud groan as he pulled himself up, climbing over the railing. Bucky didn't bother looking back; he simply kicked open a door that led to a corridor, which he ran through until he was at a ledge, jumping off of it until he landed onto the lower roof of the neighboring building where his backpack was waiting for him.
He ran forward, only to be knocked down by something strong. When he looked up, a muscular man clad in a suit entirely of black stood in front of him, wearing a mask with pointed ears. It looked like a cat. The man extended his fingers, sharp claws popping out causing Bucky's eyes to widen. But he didn't let his fear of this unknown man get to him. He ran forward and swung at him, trying to strike him only to have the man slash at him and get in a good few kicks to his gut, kicking him into a nearby wall. He moved his head at the last second, keeping himself from getting cut with the claws that ripped through the metal wall.
The man spun gracefully and kicked at Bucky, knocking him down on the ground. When he ran at him, Bucky grabbed him by the sides and flipped him over, the both of them landing on their backs. The man got up faster than Bucky could, Bucky scrambled to grab the nearest thing he could use to protect himself— a metal bar— but the man's claws ripped it in half, coming at Bucky's face fast. He quickly grabbed at his wrists, using all his strength to keep the claws from coming any closer. It wasn't until the sound of gunshots from a helicopter above them going off that the man stopped fighting against Bucky. The bullets bouncing off his suit and protecting Bucky.
With the man distracted, Bucky broke free from him slinging his bag on his back as he ran forward, jumping off the roof to another level. Once he was on the ledge, he looked up to see that the man in all black was sliding down the building, following after him. Bucky huffed in frustration but jumped again onto another level of the building, running forward. A person ran out in his path, arm raised in front of her face.
"Duck!"
It was AJ.
Bucky did as he was told, feeling a gust of wind blow at him causing him to use his metal arm to grip onto the cement to keep him from flying backwards. He looked over his shoulder seeing that the man in the black suit had been knocked down.
"Go!" AJ yelled as she lowered her hand, Bucky finally seeing her face. He stood there for a moment, unable to move. But when a helicopter swooped down and began firing at him, he knew he had to run. He took one last look at AJ before running forward and jumping down onto an underpass, running through the traffic. As he ran, Bucky couldn't help but look back, hoping to somehow catch a glimpse of AJ again. Would she follow after him?
She didn't. But he watched as the man in black jumped down onto the freeway, Steve closing in behind him. The sound of sirens caused Bucky to kick up his pace, running faster than he ever had before in his life. He jumped on the back of a car, running on the roof until he was in front of him, still sprinting. Bucky was almost out of the underground freeway when cops' cars drove at him, coming in from the opposite side. He quickly hopped over the barrier.
A motorbike speeding towards Bucky caused him to stop, his arm reaching out for the handlebar as it passed, causing the bike to spin with Bucky throwing off the rider mid-air. He jumped on the bike while it was still in the air, quickly pushing down on the gas once it was on the ground and drove forward, sending cars careering out of his way. He managed to get pretty far before the man in black jumped on his back somehow, only to have Bucky fling him over his head, the bike leaning on its side in the process as the man in black held steady to Bucky causing him to kick him hard in the chest, the man flying backwards and into traffic. Bucky straightened the bike and pushed on the gas again, the bike lurching forward. Once he was close enough to the end of the underpass, Bucky threw a bomb up on the roof, bringing down rubble that would block off anyone who was chasing him. Just as he escaped the rubble, something slashed at the tire of the motorcycle, causing it to spin, knocking Bucky off of it along with it. As he rolled down the street, his side scraping against the pavement causing an awful burning sensation, Bucky watched as Steve leapt forward just as the man in black went for him, protecting Bucky from being attacked.
"Bucky!" He heard a voice yell, causing him to look over and see AJ running forward. She made it to him just as multiple cop cars began to surround them. He got to his feet, moving to stand in front of AJ to protect her from the cops. He watched as AJ moved in front of him, raising her hands only to have Steve quickly push them down. "I can take them," AJ hissed at Steve. But Steve refused to let her raise her hands.
Something flew down from the sky, a suit of metal with its arms raised at Bucky, AJ, and Steve.
"Stand down now !" A voice came from the suit.
"Stand down," Bucky heard Steve whisper to AJ as he swung his shield over his shoulder. Bucky looked over at her, watching as she took a deep breath before balling her hands into fists and raising them in the air in surrender. "Congrats, you two." The man in the suit said. "You're criminals."
Cops came from behind them and grabbed Bucky, throwing him down on the ground. "Don't hurt him!" AJ yelled in anger from behind Bucky only to let out a yelp, he looked over his shoulder to see her being restrained and placed in a pair of cuffs roughly.
If he fought against them to try and get to AJ, they'd only go harder on her. "It's okay." He whispered, though he knew she couldn't hear him over the noise.
It's going to be okay.
_
BERLIN
The ride back to Berlin was long. AJ kept her eyes trained on the large truck that carried Bucky, unable to look away. They put him in a metal box with bullet proof windows, a way to keep him locked up but still have eyes on him. Rhodey wouldn't let her talk to him; he wouldn't even let her ride with Sam and Steve. Instead, she was brought to Berlin in cuffs made by Tony with Rhodey guarding her. The cuffs somehow managed to keep her from using her powers and AJ felt a rage inside her that Tony had even invented such a thing.
They pulled into the secure building, Agent 13 and a short man with grey hair were waiting for them with armed guards surrounding the area. AJ couldn't help but roll her eyes as Rhodey extended his hand to help her out of the car. "Oh, now you want to help?" She snapped at him, yanking away from his help as she got out of the car by herself.
Rhodey sighed, moving to stand in front of her. "I'm just trying to do the right thing, Jay." He held up a key, dipping his head in the direction of her cuffs before looking back at her. "You want out of these things or what?"
"I want to know why Tony made them in the first place." AJ answered, moving her restrained hands out for Rhodey to un-cuff. Rhodey sighed again, putting in the key and then typing something into his arm causing them to unlock. AJ let the cuffs drop to the ground and walked away from Rhodey, spotting Steve and hurrying over to here he and Sam were.
"Are you okay?" Steve asked once she was in front of him, his hands moving to her wrists to examine them for any damage.
"I'm fine." She assured him, her eyes moving to look over in the direction of the forklift that was taking Bucky's little prison out of the large armored truck. She wanted to call out to him; ask him if he was okay. But Steve gently nudged her, causing her to look away.
"We need to go find out what's happening." He told her.
AJ nodded her head in agreement, following after Steve as he walked up to Sharon and the short man with grey hair.
"What's going to happen to him?" Steve asked.
"Same thing that ought to happen to you." The grey-haired man answered. "Psychological evaluation and extradition."
Sharon looked to Sam, AJ, and Steve, along with T'Challa who joined them to speak to the grey-haired man. "This is Everett Ross, Deputy Task Force Commander."
AJ opened her mouth to tell Sharon that she didn't care who this Everett Ross was; that she demanded to speak with Bucky. But Steve began to speak before she could.
"What about our lawyer?" Steve asked, always thinking logically. They were going to need a good lawyer.
"Lawyer?" Everett chuckled. "That's funny." He then looked to Sharon. "See their weapons are placed in lockup." AJ watched as Everett's men took Steve's shield and suit, along with Sam's wings. "Oh, we'll write you a receipt." Everett smirked but then looked to AJ, his eyes moving down to her uncuffed wrists. He glared, looking behind her at Rhodey. "Why is she uncuffed?"
"Because she's not a threat." Rhodey declared.
"Of course she's a threat." Everett spat out. "I want them back on her – now. And that's an order."
"This isn't necessary." Steve tried to argue, but Rhodey walked back over to AJ, holding the cuffs.
AJ looked at Rhodey for a long moment before holding her arms out, allowing him to put the cuffs on her again.
"Put it to the highest heat."
Rhodey locked the cuffs and looked to Everett, glaring at the man. "It'll burn her."
"Better her burn than an entire room turning into an ice box." He said with a shrug.
"I don't think that's necessary," Sharon started to say, only to have Ross hold up his hand, silencing her.
"Do it." Everett ordered. Rhodey raised his shoulders, not following orders. "Would you like to be placed in cuffs too, Colonel Rhodes?"
"Just do it, Rhodey." AJ said, causing Rhodey to look away from Everett. "I'll be fine." She tried to assure him, putting on a brave smile. He sighed, typing something into his suits arm and AJ winced as the heat scorched her skin but quickly sobered up, knowing that if Sam and Steve knew she was in pain; a fight would break out. "I barely feel it." AJ said, trying to be brave.
How could Tony create such a thing? All along; was he truly afraid of her? Did their friendship mean so little to him that he would create something that would harm AJ? The bracelets were one thing – they protect the other Avengers from feeling her powers. But these ? These were designed to subdue her. To hurt her. She didn't know how she was going to be able to look him in the eyes after all of this.
As they walked across a covered skywalk, Everett continued to talk to them. "You'll be provided with an office instead of a cell – now do me a favor and stay in it?"
"I don't intend on going anywhere." T'Challa replied, speaking up for the first time since they arrived to the building. AJ felt his eyes on her, causing her to look up at him as they walked. "Are you alright?" He asked, noticing the burns on her wrist from underneath the cuffs.
"That depends." AJ answered. "Are you still dead set on killing Bucky?"
T'Challa simply smiled at her, but did not reply. AJ looked forward, seeing Natasha waiting for them at the end of the hall.
When they met up with her, Natasha stood next to Steve as they continued to walk. "For the record; this is what making things worse looks like."
"He's alive." Steve replied. Because that's what mattered – if it hadn't been for them, the task force would have killed Bucky. Them or T'Challa. It was worth it because he was alive.
For now.
That thought caused AJ's stomach to twist uncomfortably.
They walked into a room where Tony was waiting for them, talking on his phone. "No, Romania was not Accords-sanctioned. And – Colonel Rhodes is supervising clean up."
"Try not to break anything while we fix this." Natasha told Sam, Steve and AJ as they walked into the room.
AJ could feel Tony's eyes on her, but she refused to look in his direction. "Consequences? You bet there'll be consequences!" Tony said to whoever was on the phone. "Obviously you can quote me on that cause I just said it – anything else? Thank you, sir." He said before hanging up, walking over to where Sam, Steve and AJ stood.
"Consequences?" Steve quoted Tony.
"Secretary Ross wants the three of you prosecuted." Tony explained. "I had to give him something." Tony said and then turned his back, walking over to Natasha.
"I'm not getting that shield back, am I?" Steve asked.
"Technically it's the government's property." Natasha said, looking back at them as she walked. "Wings, too." She looked at Sam.
"That's cold." Sam replied.
"Warmer than jail." Tony said, turning back to face them.
"Warmer than my cuffs?" AJ finally spoke up, causing Tony to look at her. His eyes went down to her hands and he walked forward, pulling a key out of his pocket and stood in front of AJ. But before he could unlock them, AJ pulled her wrists away from Tony. "Aren't I a threat?" She questioned; eyes narrowed in a glare.
Tony sighed, grabbing her wrists only to wince when he felt the heat of them. "Why are they on full heat?" He asked, looking at the guards who brought AJ, Steve, and Sam in.
"Ross's orders." One of the guards said.
Tony huffed, typing into his phone and AJ felt her wrist start to cool, healing her burns. "Better?" Tony asked as he unlocked the cuffs, releasing her hands. She looked at him, eyes narrowed in a glare and walked away. She didn't want to talk to him right now – she wanted to see Bucky. "Adelyn," Tony sighed, following after her.
She stopped and turned to face him. "Why even make them?" AJ asked.
Tony inhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was a last resort type of thing."
"I guess that's where we're at, then." AJ said, turning away from Tony and walking over to where Natasha stood.
_
Adelyn was mad at him. Tony didn't blame her but it still pained him knowing that she basically hated his guts right now. With Pepper gone...she was all he had. The person who made him be better – do better. And now she wouldn't even look at him. Tony spotted Steve standing in the conference room of the small office they were stuck in, watching the screen that had Bucky on it. What was it about that guy that made Steve and AJ lose all their common sense?
Tony walked into the room, pulling a black presentation box out of his pocket. "Hey," he said, causing Steve to look in his direction. "You wanna see something cool?" He asked. Steve didn't say anything; but Tony continued anyway. "I pulled something from Dad's archives." He said, placing down his jacket as Steve took a seat. "Felt timely. " He said, showing Steve the two pens that were placed in the box. "FDR signed the Lend-Lease bill with these in 1941. Providing support to the Allies when they needed it most."
Steve shook his head briefly. "Some would say it brought our country closer to war."
Tony huffed. "See – if not for these; you wouldn't be here."
"If it weren't for AJ – I wouldn't be here." Steve corrected him.
Tony sighed, rolling his eyes. "I'm...I'm trying to...what do you call it?" He sat down in the chair next to see. "-That," he pointed to the pens. "That is an olive branch. Is that what you call it?" He asked, smiling a little at Steve, hoping he'd take the offering.
But he didn't. Steve only changed the subject. "Is Pepper here? I didn't see her."
Adelyn hadn't told him? Tony hadn't sworn her to secrecy when he told her that he and Pepper broke up; but he at least thought she'd blab to Steve about it. She told him everything. "We're kinda...well," He sighed. "Not kinda ," They weren't on a break – they broke up. The real thing. Not together anymore. He was alone, yet again
"Pregnant?" Steve questioned.
Tony scoffed out a laugh. "No. definitely not." He answered. Though, a part of him did dream of having a family with Pepper one day. "We're taking a break." He used the word he swore he wouldn't. Because they weren't on a break. Pepper had made that clear. "It's nobody's fault." Tony shrugged his shoulders, seeing the look of sympathy Steve was giving him.
Steve shook his head, frowning. "I'm so sorry, Tony. I didn't know."
"A few years ago, I almost lost her. So I trashed all my suits. Then, we had to mop up HYDRA and then Ultron. My fault." He admitted. "And the, and then, and then...I never stopped. Because the truth is; I don't wanna stop. But I don't want to lose her." Tony looked to Steve. "I thought maybe the Accords could split the difference." He said, getting up from his seat and began to pace around the room. "In her defense; I'm a handful. Yet, Dad was a pain in the ass, but he and mom made it work." He said softly.
"You know...I'm glad Howard got married." Steve told Tony. "I only knew him when he was young and single."
"Oh really?" Tony faced Steve. "You two knew each other? He never mentioned that – maybe only a thousand times." He shook his head as he pulled back on his suit jacket. "God, I hated you."
Steve sighed. "I don't mean to make things difficult."
"I know," Tony said back. "Because you're a very polite person." He mocked.
"If I see a situation pointed south...I can't ignore it. Sometimes I wish I could."
Tony scoffed. "No, you don't."
Steve looked up at Tony, smiling slightly. "No, I don't...sometimes," He started to say but Tony interrupted him.
"-Sometimes I want to punch you in your perfect teeth." He admitted. "But I don't want to see you gone. I don't want to see any of the team gone." Tony's eyes drifted over to where AJ stood next to Natasha, eyes glued on the screen that monitored Barnes. "We need you, Cap." Tony said, looking back at Steve. "So far, nothing's happened that can't be undone if you sign." He pointed to the pens he had brought. "We can make the last twenty-four hours legit. Barnes gets transferred to an American psych-center instead of a Wakanda prison."
Tony held his breath as Steve picked up the pen, examining it. He wanted to shake him and scream; sign that damn thing! It'll save your life. But he knew Steve wouldn't listen to that. He needed to do this on his own. Steve stood up, pacing a little before turning back to look at Tony. "I'm not saying it's impossible." He began. "But there would have to be safeguards."
"Sure," Tony agreed. "Once we put out the PR fire, those documents can be amended. I'd file a motion to have you, AJ, Sam, and Wanda reinstated." He said, taking a seat at the table.
Steve narrowed his eyes at Tony in a glare. "Wanda? What about Wanda?"
"She's fine." Tony assured him. "She's confined to the compound, currently. Vision keeps her company."
Steve shook his head in anger. "God, Tony!" He raised his voice. "Every time – every time I think you see things the right way."
"-What?" Tony scoffed at Steve's reaction. He was acting like Tony locked Wanda up in Alcatraz. "It's one hundred acres with a lap pool – it's got a screening room. There's worse ways to protect people!"
"Protection?" Steve shot back. "Is that how you see this? This is protection?" Steve shook his head. "It's internment, Tony."
"She's not a US citizen."
"Oh, come on, Tony!"
"And they don't grant visas to weapons of mass destruction!"
"She's a kid!" Steve shouted.
"Give me a break!" Tony yelled back. "I'm doing what has to be done to stave off something worse." Why couldn't Steve see that?
Steve shook his head. "You keep telling yourself that." He said before walking over to Tony and setting the pen back down in the case. "Hate to break up the set."
Tony inhaled deeply, looking down at the pens.
He almost had him. Almost. If Steve had signed the Accords, Adelyn would have too. They'd be safe. But now Mr. Noble was putting both their lives at risk. And Tony wasn't about to lose Adelyn too.
_
The interrogation was starting. AJ kept her place next to Natasha as Steve and Sam now sat in the conference room watching. Tony had come outside where AJ stood, taking the spot next to her. "Can we talk?"
"No." She replied dryly, eyes focused on Bucky's face on the screen.
"Hello Mr. Barnes." The evaluator said. "I've been sent by the United Nations to evaluate you. Do you mind if I sit?" He asked. Bucky didn't answer, he only looked up at the top of his prison, eyes refusing to look at the man. "Your first name is James?"
Bucky yet again, refused to reply.
"I'm not here to judge you. I just want to ask you a few questions. Do you know where you are, James?" The man asked. But Bucky remained silent. The man audibly sighed. "I can't help you if you don't talk to me, James."
Bucky looked forward at the man. "My name is Bucky." He corrected him and AJ felt tears fill in her eyes. He remembered who he was. She took in a shallow breath, trying to control her emotions.
"Tell me, Bucky, you've seen a great deal, haven't you?" The man asked.
"I don't want to talk about it." Bucky replied.
"You fear that...if you open your mouth, the horrors might never stop. Don't worry," the man said. "We only have to talk about one."
The power went off and AJ stepped forward, closer to the screen as Bucky's face disappeared. "What's happening?" AJ asked Natasha who had the same worried look on her face.
"Get me eyes on Barnes!" Everett Ross demanded, talking into a radio.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y," Tony began to gear up. "Get me a source on that outage?"
AJ looked back to the conference room that Steve and Sam had been in only to see that they were now gone. "What the hell is happening?" AJ demanded an answer, walking over to Tony.
"Come with me." He said, grabbing her hand and dragged her along as he moved fast to get out of the room without anyone noticing he was taking her along with him.
Natasha quickly followed after them. "Please tell me you brought a suit." She said
"Sure did," Tony said, still holding onto AJ's hand. "It's a lovely Tom Ford – three piece, two-button." He mocked. "I'm on active duty, not combat!"
Sharon grabbed at AJ's hand, yanking her away from Tony causing the man to tug after her. "Follow me!" She said, as they all began to run in the direction Sharon was leading him.
"Where is he?" AJ asked as they ran down the stairs.
"Lower level. He's taken out over three dozen of our men. We need to get him contained."
AJ shook her head. "No, this isn't him – he knew how he was. Why would he start attacking people?"
"Something must have triggered him." Natasha replied.
Sharon pulled AJ over to hide behind a pillar while Tony and Natasha did the same a few feet away.
"Just let me try and talk to him." AJ pleaded with Sharon.
"We're in position." Natasha said over the radio.
AJ looked around the pillar and watched as Bucky managed to take one of the guards' guns, pointing it at the man's hand. But then was zapped backwards with a stun burst from Tony's ironman hand. AJ watched as Tony rushed forward, firing at him again only to have Bucky duck before the blast could reach him. Bucky charged forward, going after Tony, hitting him in the gut with his metal arm. Tony was no match for the Winter Soldier – especially when he wasn't geared up. AJ ran forward just as Bucky pointed his gun at Tony, her friend blocking the bullet from hitting him by absorbing it in his ironman hand. Tony yanked the gun away, smacking Bucky in the face with it only to be kicked in the stomach, knocking him backwards.
That's when AJ, Sharon, and Natasha ran up to Bucky to stop him. Sharon rushed Bucky, lifting her leg into a swing to kick him in his side, ducking out of the way before he could hit her which gave Natasha a chance to slide on the ground and punch Bucky in the groin, causing him to bend over in pain. AJ swung, hitting him on the side of the head causing him to fumble backwards. He looked up at her, eyes wild as he began to charge at her only to have Sharon kick at him again. But he grabbed her by the leg, flipping her backwards and throwing her away from him. Natasha leapt onto a table, jumping in the air as her legs wrapped around his neck and began to punch him as he ran forward and slammed her down onto one of the tables. AJ ran forward as the table smashed and Natasha fell with it. She jumped on Bucky's back, grabbing at his hair causing him to groan in pain, his hand trying to reach for her.
"Wake up, Bucky!" She shouted as he grabbed her by the leg and spun her off of him, pinning her down to the ground. His metal arm wrapped around her neck, tightening causing AJ to grab at his arm, using her powers to try and freeze it. "Bucky, stop!" She said as he looked down at her with a murderous gaze. "It's me!" She cried out. But he squeezed tighter. It wasn't until someone kicked Bucky in the side that his half-frozen metal arm released her. She gasped for air, grabbing at her throat as she watched T'Challa fight with Bucky now.
AJ stayed on the ground, unable to move, paralyzed with fear.
"Are you okay?" Natasha asked, crawling over to her.
"I'm fine. Go." AJ said, still not moving.
"I'm not leaving you!" Natasha argued, pulling her up off the ground.
"I've got her." A voice said causing both women to look over and see Sam standing in front of them.
Natasha helped AJ stand, "Get her out of here."
Sam nodded. "Already on it."
He grabbed AJ's hand and tugged her into a run. Together, they ran out of the building. "Steve's still in the building." AJ said, trying to get out of Sam's hold.
"We'll find him." He said as people around them rushed out of the building.
"I couldn't break him out of it, Sam." AJ whispered.
"Steve will." He tried to assure her. When they were far enough away from the building, Sam broke into a car. He helped AJ inside. The sound of something large crashing caused AJ and Sam to look at the building they had just run from, watching as a helicopter fell from the roof into the nearby river with what appeared to be a man hanging off of the helicopter. Sam looked back at AJ and smiled as he shook his head. "Think I just found Steve."
_
"How are you doing?" Steve asked AJ as they stood in an old factory; his hand reached out to touch her bruised neck and he frowned.
AJ sighed. "Better knowing that we have him." She spoke honestly, her voice raspier than usual.
"You know it was the Winter Soldier, right?" Steve asked her. AJ nodded her head. She understood that it wasn't Bucky who hurt her – that he had been put under mind control. But her neck didn't hurt any less knowing that information. "Maybe use your powers?" Steve suggested, knowing that if she used her powers, the pain would go away and the bruises would heal.
AJ shook her head. "I can't risk having cold patterns traced back here." She said with a sigh. "Not when we finally have him." AJ looked down at her hands for a moment before her eyes focused on Steve again. "What if he wakes up and...he's still the Winter Soldier?"
"That's why we have his arm contained." Steve said, placing his hand on AJ's arm to show her comfort, thinking she was scared.
"That's not what I meant." AJ said in a raspy whisper. "If he's the Winter Soldier...he won't remember us."
Steve frowned, pulling AJ into a hug. "We'll help him remember."
She nodded, hugging him back.
"Hey Cap," Sam called causing them to pull apart. "He's up."
AJ took in a deep breath. "You go first." She told Steve. "Let me collect myself."
Steve smiled softly at AJ and nodded his head, leaving her alone.
She stood a bit away, listening in on the conversation.
"Steve?" She heard Bucky mumble in a strained voice.
She walked forward, standing behind the walls of the room he was placed in.
"Which Bucky am I talking to?" Steve asked him in a stern voice.
It took him a moment, but Bucky finally answered. "Your mom's name was Sarah." He told Steve. He then let out a breathy chuckle. "You used to wear newspapers in your shoes." AJ moved her hand over her mouth, repressing a sob. Bucky had told her that story a long time ago – how Steve used to wear newspapers in his shoes to make himself look taller.
"You can't read that in a museum." Steve said, and AJ could hear it in his voice that he was smiling.
"And just like that – we're supposed to be cool?" Sam scoffed.
AJ inhaled deeply and moved out from behind the wall, walking into the room and watched as Bucky looked up at the sound of her footsteps, his eyes softening as she got closer to him. AJ stood there for a moment, just looking down at Bucky. She walked closer, lowering herself so that she was eye level with Bucky, her eyes locking with his. It was unreal; he was here - right in front of her. But a part of her still couldn't believe it.
AJ moved a shaky hand up to his face as she held her breath. Bucky stayed perfectly still as her fingers gently and slowly skimmed along his jawline. Her head tilted, studying every inch of his face. AJ took in every new freckle, each whisker, and every smudge of smoke and speck of dirt on his face as her shaky fingers traced each pattern. She exhaled as her eyes traveled down to his mouth, lingering there as her index finger moved down to the dimple in his chin causing Bucky to inhale sharply. It was something she had done when they were together, press her index finger or thumb to the dimple in his chin when they'd lay in bed together. Bucky would always smile wide before slowly leaning forward, pressing a kiss to her lips - knowing it was what she wanted. It was a small show of affection that she knew he loved and AJ couldn't help herself but do it now.
AJ looked up from his lips and back to his eyes, holding her breath as she waited patiently to see if he remembered her, heart beating rapidly in her chest as Bucky took in a shaky breath while as her hand dropped from his face.
Finally, he smiled. "Hey, Frosty."
And she couldn't help herself. AJ moved forward and wrapped her arms around Bucky in a swift move, hugging him tightly. He tensed briefly at the action, only to relax and move his free arm around her waist and pull her closer to him until she was in his lap, his body melting into hers as he hid his face in the crook of her neck. "Bucky." She cried, holding onto him tightly, fingers digging into the back of his shirt. "It's you ." She managed to get out the words. It was him – after all these years. He was there; right in front of her. AJ could hardly breathe. How was this not a dream?
"It's me." He whispered in reassurance, not letting her go. "I'm here." AJ let out another cry, letting her forehead rest against his shoulder as his free arm moved up and down her back. Sam cleared his throat, breaking up the moment causing AJ to pull away slightly, only to have Bucky pull her back to him. She sighed, knowing they had things to discuss. But really all she wanted right now was to be held by the man she loved. It had been so long – couldn't Sam just give her that? Bucky's grip on her loosened, letting her slowly pull away from him. He looked at her and then to Steve, his face twisting in pain as he looked back at AJ, seeing the bruises around her neck. "What did I do?" He asked, pulling away from AJ.
She opened her mouth to tell him it was okay, but suddenly she was off of his lap and being pulled up by Sam. AJ huffed, glaring at the man for taking her away from Bucky.
"Enough," Steve answered, moving to stand next to AJ and Sam now.
Bucky shook his head, closing his eyes. "Oh God," he breathed out. "I knew this would happen. Everything HYDRA put inside of me is still there. All he had to do was say the goddamn words."
AJ wanted to go back to Bucky and comfort him, but she knew now wasn't the time. They needed answers; quickly. "Who was he, Buck?" AJ asked him.
"I don't know." He answered, and AJ knew he was telling the truth.
"People are dead." Steve told Bucky. "The bombing – the set up. The doctor did all that just to get ten minutes with you...I need you to do better than I don't know ."
Bucky was quiet for a moment, closing his eyes briefly. "He wanted to know about Siberia." He finally spoke up. "Where I was kept. He wanted to know exactly where."
AJ frowned at his words, not understanding them. "Why would he want to know that?" Steve asked Bucky.
There was a beat, and then Bucky looked to them all. "Because I'm not the only Winter Soldier."
