Author's Note: Well we come to the end of Part Three. I'm writing a really long prologue for Part Four (we get to see how Zemo and Steve met during WWII). Give me a little while, and I'll get some chapters done and posted! I will also start giving you hints about the third story in my Avengers series.

So as always, thank you so much for favorites, follows, and reviews! I've been getting some really awesome reviews that totally make my day so thank you! I also wanted to say thank you for favoriting me as an author! To think that people actually love what I write is an aspiring author's dream! Thank you!

26 – Old Enemies – June 18th, 2012

The entire thing felt too much like a trap for Steve's liking. You didn't just walk into a castle without resistance. He hadn't felt good about this mission from the start, but he hadn't wanted to say something to Clint – he was their supervisor after all – or Aspen for fear of upsetting her. He didn't like going behind Fury's back. It felt wrong when he was the head of SHIELD and they were just starting out as agents, well, he was anyway. He didn't want to start off on the wrong foot.

The connection to Zemo was what had him the most worried. Under the best of circumstances, that name was unpleasant, but the idea that he might still be alive… It seemed impossible, but he had already seen impossible. He was alive after all.

Aspen hesitated in front of him and motioned for them to keep back. She had drawn her dart gun again and pulled the trigger. As if drawn like magnets to their targets, two darts shot out, curving around the bend. He heard two distinct thuds as two bodies hit the floor.

"I like this new design," Aspen said, her expression akin to a child getting a new toy. Clint had already moved ahead, disappearing down the hall. When Steve and Aspen followed, they found him pulling a scan card from one of the guard's pocket.

"Let's go," he said briskly. They found the room where the moonstones were kept easily enough and the two scan cards opened the doors. Clint seemed to have some idea of the castle's floor plan so Steve and Aspen simply followed his lead.

Several doubts crossed through Steve's mind. Wouldn't Clint's brother see the unconscious bodies of the guards and know something was amiss? What if another guard came along? The whole plan wasn't well thought out and though he understood Clint's desperation to save his brother, he wasn't sure this was the way to do it. They didn't even know when he was coming if he was coming. Or at least he didn't. Clint stayed quiet as they entered the room. It was more like a museum than a secure lockup, Steve noticed at once. Artifacts lined the walls on shelves and in glass cases. Pedestals stood here and there. He wasn't sure what anything was, but it was a thief's paradise.

The moonstones themselves glowed from a glass case. They were both the size of his fist. It was hard to believe that something so beautiful could be so dangerous, but he could see why a villain like Zemo would be interested in them if it was, in fact, Zemo who had sent Barney Barton to steal them.

"What now?" Aspen voiced his own question.

"We wait."

"Won't he see the guards and realize that it's a trap?" Steve asked. As Clint's eyes flashed to him, Steve caught an emotion he knew all too well in them. Desperation. "I'll go move them," he offered. "The lack of guards is suspicious too, but unconscious guards are a dead giveaway." Clint gave him a curt nod. He slipped from the collection room and found his way back to the two guards in the hall. After opening several doors, he found an empty study to shove them in. He wasn't sure how long the dart's effects would last, but Clint and Aspen didn't seem worried. The third guard out on the parapet he found a storage closet for. He quickly scanned the landscape from the parapet but could see nothing out of the ordinary. It all seemed too easy, too welcoming. It was a break-in that nearly anyone could accomplish with the right tools. He turned to find his way back to the collection room. A voice stayed him where he stood though. It wasn't speaking to him – it was far too muted for that – but his keen ears picked up on the strains of a conversation spoken quickly into what he assumed was a phone. He detoured down a side hall and walked soundlessly toward a heavy oak door that stood slightly ajar. From his vantage in the hall he could see a man standing with his back to him. Greying hair matched his tailored grey suit, and he noticed that the man kept running his hands through his already unkempt hair as if he was nervous about something. What Steve found unusual – at least for this time – was that the man was not using a phone but rather a radio to speak to whomever it was on the other end. It reminded him of the ones he had used during the war.

"…yes, yes, yes," he was saying in a thick Austrian accent. "All the preparations are complete." He paused. "It took some….adjustments, but it is all ready for you. And for him."

"Good, very good," came the response, slightly static and yet all so familiar. Zemo. The voice was wizened a bit, creaky whereas it had once been smooth and charismatic. Steve would recognize it anywhere though.

"The basement is the best place for it. The villagers should not get suspicious. They do not come near here anyway. We will be safe."

"Make sure that they do not find this when they arrive."

"I will make sure of it. But when do we use it?"

"All in good time. Be patient, Wagner."

"Yes, sir. I will wait."

Realizing that the conversation was almost over, Steve moved away, hurrying back to the collection room. Clint and Aspen were out of sight when he entered. He found his way back to the moonstones and heard Aspen call out his name. She was crouched behind one of the thick pedestals but rose when she saw him. "What took you so long?" she asked, voice anxious.

"Sorry, I overheard a conversation Wagner was having over the radio. He was talking to Zemo."

Aspen's eyes widened further. "You're sure?"

"I'd know that voice anywhere."

"What did they say?"

"They have some sort of…well I'm not sure what it is. In the basement. Wagner said he'd had to make some adjustments but that it was up and running. Zemo made it sound like he was expecting someone to come here. And then he mentioned 'them.' Why do I get the feeling that this is a trap?"

"Whatever Zemo is hiding here is not our concern right now," Clint said from across the rom.

"But that would mean that Zemo is in with Wagner. Why would he send your brother to steal the moonstones? Something doesn't smell right here."

"Zemo's a criminal. He's just stabbing Wagner in the back. Trust me, we see this all the time."

Steve felt torn. Part of him knew he needed to go investigate whatever was in the basement, but another part of him knew there was no budging Clint from his mission. He respected Clint's leadership, but this wasn't something he could ignore. He knew Zemo, they didn't.

"I've got to go down to the basement and see what they have," he said.

Clint's eyes hardened. "We need you here."

"No, you don't. You and Aspen are more than capable of handling this."

"So now you're disobeying ord-"

"Clint," Aspen held up a hand, interrupting him. "You're not being fair. You didn't give us orders. You didn't even pass this by Fury. Let him go."

Clint studied her for a moment and then nodded. "Go."

"Whatever Zemo's planning, it's not good," Steve said. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to justify his actions. He respected Clint and didn't want to get on his bad side, but right now all of Clint's focus was on his brother.

"It's fine. Go," Clint repeated with less malice in his voice.

"Be careful," Aspen told him.

"You too." He left the room and found his way down through trial and error, always keeping a wary eye out for guards. The lack of them was suspicious, he thought, but maybe Wagner trusted the isolation more than his guards.

He found a set of stairs that led down and assumed he was on the right track. He expected guards, but the basement at the bottom of the stairs was silent and still, devoid of any guards or security devices. Steve looked around in confusion. Maybe there was another level, a sub-basement below the ground? He paced around the room looking for possible hidden doors. A soft chuckle from the doorway stilled him. He turned around slowly to find himself facing the grey-haired man he had seen earlier. Wagner.

"I see you are still so much like your old self, Captain. Always following the trail to find the center of enemy headquarters. A good little patriot."

"There isn't anything down here, is there?"

"How very astute of you."

"You knew we were coming?"

"Place the right bait and anyone will follow it. Agent Barton will follow his brother, you will follow Zemo, and that young lady will follow either of you like a lost puppy." Steve clenched his fists. "Endearing really. Like lab rats scurrying to the cheese. You never fail to press the button. Sometimes the button zaps you though."

"That's cheating."

"It's science. Now I think I'll have you stay down here while I go greet our guest. He's very eager to see you again, you know."

Steve lunged for the man, but Wagner pressed a button on the wall and metal doors slid shut right in front of him, baring his exit. He pounded on the metal. It dented slightly under his fists, but wouldn't budge. His shield did no better. He turned to face the room again, looking for another means of escape but the dank basement was solid. There was no way out.

…

Aspen was getting cramped crouching behind the pedestal. She was about to readjust herself when she heard the door softly open and close again. She tensed. Was it Steve? When no one spoke she knew it wasn't. She saw a figure pass by where she was hiding, heading straight toward the moonstones. He was wearing a purple hood, so she couldn't see his face, but he was built like Clint and carried a bow. His quiver was attached to his leg, and she knew this was the same man she'd seen in Iceland. He had a definite purpose now and didn't look around before grabbing the moonstones and tucking them into a pouch at his side. Aspen saw Clint rise and take a step toward his brother. Like lightning, Barney Barton pivoted and struck out at Clint. Clint ducked.

"Barney! It's me! It's Clint," he said. "Your brother," he added when Barney didn't respond. Barney hesitated for a second, and Aspen thought he was going to respond but a moment later he shoved past Clint, running for the door. Clint stood dazed for a moment and then took after him.

"Clint! Wait!" Aspen flew after him, grabbing the door that had shut behind him and pulling. It wouldn't budge. She tried the knob again but it was locked. She banged her fists on the door in frustration. Steve was right, this was a trap. It had been so obvious all along and yet they had walked straight into it. Skilled they might be, but they still couldn't walk through walls. She pounded on the door, but either no one heard her or there was no one out there who wanted to let her out. She turned to the room. Surely there was something that could help her. She scanned the shelves and glass cases but she had no idea what anything was. She wished she'd brought her backpack with her after all. Now those explosives Clint had packed would come in handy. She paced back and forth like a trapped animal, her eyes scanning every bit of the room for a weak spot. There were no windows or vents though. No other doors. But there was a Chitauri weapon sitting in an alcove that she had missed before. She stopped mid-stride and backtracked. It was one of the guns used in the battle of New York. Something SHIELD hadn't been able to recover. She knew they hated it when things like that slipped through their fingers but right now she was grateful this one had. She grabbed it from the table and familiarized herself with the weapon before standing a good distance back and aiming it at the latch on the door.

The blast was loud. The door splintered and fumed as the blue energy seared it open. Aspen readjusted the Chitauri gun in her grip before leaving the room. She had no idea where Clint had gone, but she knew where Steve was. She looked around but she had no idea how to get to the basement. She picked a hall at random and took off at a run. She could hear voices echoing from different parts of the castle. Whatever secrecy they had hoped for was quite clearly negated. She took several wrong turns before she finally found a staircase leading down. Footsteps echoed behind her, but she ran on. There was a set of metal doors at the bottom of the stairs. She tried the latch but they were locked tight. There was a button on the wall but it did nothing when she pressed it. She heard something clank behind the doors.

"Steve?"

"Aspen?" She could hardly hear his voice through the thick doors.

"Yeah. I can't get the door open. Can you?"

"No, I've been trying."

"I might be able to blast my way in. Can you stand back?"

"Okay."

She gave him a moment to move away from the door and lifted the Chitauri gun. It took multiple shots to break open this door. Finally the metal melted under the pressure. Aspen saw Steve's hands reach through and pry the door open. As soon as the gap was wide enough, she dropped the gun and threw herself at him. He put the arm that wasn't holding his shield around her, looking surprised.

"I'm okay, it's alright," he said softly.

"I had no idea if you were alright," she said. She knew that if they were going to go on missions together, she couldn't get so worried over his safety. He could take care of himself, and she would only get distracted worrying. "Sorry. I'm good. I just don't know where Clint is, and I have no idea what's going on. All I know is that we were somehow expected."

"I think you're right. I'm afraid this is my fault."

"How would it be your fault?"

"He's after me."

"Who?"

"Zemo."

"What happened, Steve? Does he have some sort of grudge against you?" she asked.

"You could say that." He looked almost guilty. "It was back during the war. We didn't part on good terms. I accidently caused him some grave injuries – his face was badly burned in the process. I also destroyed some of his most important research. I know he holds a grudge."

"That's a long time to hold a grudge."

"I ruined his life. Burned his home. He's lived a long and bitter life. I'm sure me being alive after all those years doesn't help."

"Maybe you can tell me the whole story some day, but right now we need to find Clint and get out of here."

"How did you get separated? Did he find his brother?"

"Yeah, Barney showed up. He was too quick for Clint though which is saying something. It was almost like he had heightened abilities like you."

"You think he was given another version of the Super Soldier Serum?" Steve looked alarmed at the thought.

"No, he was just quick. His reflexes. He was built like Clint, not, well, not like you. Clint took after him and when I tried to follow the doors locked on me. I blasted my way out." She indicated the Chitauri weapon on the ground.

"Let's go find Clint before Zemo or whoever finds him first."

They headed back up the stairs, Steve with his shield strapped to his left arm, Aspen wielding her dart gun. At the top of the stairs, Aspen saw two figures waiting with guns. She'd hardly recognized them as guards when Steve flung his shield up, catching both in the face and knocking them unconscious before they had the chance to shoot. They sidestepped the bodies and stood in the hall looking left and right.

"Which way?" they asked in unison.

"Should we split up?" Aspen asked.

"I think we should stick together. Whoever locked us up made sure we were separated."

"Good idea." Aspen was relieved at the thought. Wandering the castle alone wasn't appealing to her in the least, and she felt less jumpy with Steve at her side.

"Let's go left," Steve suggested. "Start at the artifact room and move on from there."

Aspen nodded, allowing him to go first. He hesitated at every bend in the hall, but they didn't come across any other guards. "I don't understand," Aspen said quietly. "They capture us but they don't seem too concerned that we're loose unless security really sucks here. Not that I'm complaining."

Steve was frowning. "It all seems planned. Like they want us to keep going. Like lab rats."

"Like what?" She'd never been compared to a lab rat before, and she wasn't sure she liked it.

"Just something Wagner said before he locked me in down there."

"You met him?"

"For a moment. He made it sound like I was expected all along and walked right into his trap. Which I did. There was nothing in the basement."

"How were you to know?"

"I should have known. Zemo's tricked me before."

"You were just trying to do what was right."

"I'm not sure what to do now. I like to know who I'm fighting."

"The suspense is killing me too. I want to see this infamous Zemo."

"Don't be too eager to meet him. I'd rather keep you far away from him," Steve said seriously. She glanced at him to see his brow furrowed and a frown set on his face.

"I can handle myself," she told him. "I'm not afraid of him."

"You should be." He said no more, but Aspen felt a mixture of annoyance at his overprotectiveness and nerves at how serious he was taking this threat. "Someone who has lived that long and still feels the need for revenge is dangerous."

"He sounds psychotic."

"He is." He looked around the corner. "We're at the collection room. Wow, you did a number on that door, didn't you?" He threw her a small smile.

"It was in my way," she said with a shrug. "Where to now?"

Steve frowned. "I'm not sure. Did you see which way Clint went?"

Aspen shook her head. "I don't hear anything anymore. Let's go this way." Steve followed her as she walked toward the right, stepping lightly and keeping her ears alert for any noises. The castle was too still and it was making her nervous.

When a radio suddenly buzzed overhead and a voice came out over invisible speakers, she nearly jumped out of her skin. She collided with Steve, banging her elbow painfully on his shield.

"Attention Captain America, this is Fabian Wagner speaking. There is someone who wishes very much to meet you but since you have escaped the basement, I wonder if you and your lady friend might join me for some refreshments in the dining hall? Blasting through the doors will not be necessary. Take the hall to the right until you come to the double doors."

The thought that he knew where they were unsettled Aspen. It had been just a whole trick the entire time. They'd been lab rats, and they'd walked right into the traps. She might as well hand in her resignation right now. "I feel like Luka and Leia walking straight into a trap where they end up having tea with Darth Vader," Aspen said.

"I actually understood that," Steve said. "And you're right."

"What do we do?"

"Take the bait? I don't see what else we can do. Clearly he knows where we are and that we've escaped. He doesn't sound too concerned which worries me."

"And we have no idea where Clint is. Wagner could have him for all we know."

"We might as well get this over with." Aspen nodded, feeling a lot less brave than she wanted to be. She followed Steve to the right and down the hall until, true to Wagner's word, they came to a double set of doors. Aspen took a deep breath as Steve opened the doors.

Wagner sat at the very end of the left side of the table. The chair at the very end was turned away from them, but Aspen had the horrible feeling that someone was sitting in it. Wagner stood as they entered the room. He was a short man with grey hair dressed impeccably in a suit. His brown eyes were small and set close together.

"Ah, welcome," he said in an Austrian accent. "It's a great pleasure to see you again Captain. I wasn't sure how long we'd keep you down there, but it seems your young lady friend is more than capable of saving both herself and you. Very impressive. Does she have a name?" Steve set his jaw, and Aspen simply glared at the man. "No, well that will not do at all. Superheroes must have names, am I correct? We have Captain America and Hawkeye and, of course, my own personal friend, Trickshot."

Steve and Aspen exchanged a glance. So Barney was working for Wagner after all. "You wonder perhaps why I brought his brother here? My employer has a bone to pick with him. They have history, unfinished business. Our young archer friend crossed him awhile back, and that did not sit well. Not at all."

"What did you do to Barney?" Aspen asked.

"Saved his life. Well, not me personally. When he came to us, he was near death. A doctor, one of the best, was able to bring him back. Of course he needed to make a few adjustments to make sure he didn't make the mistake of turning against us. We saw to that. Now he is a loyal footman."

"What did you do to Clint?"

"Nothing yet. I was going to give Trickshot the order to kill him, but we'll see about that after lunch. Are you hungry?"

Neither Aspen nor Steve moved as Wagner settled down. A butler came in behind them, skirting nervously around Steve to serve his master. Wagner acted as if they weren't standing there at all. Aspen wanted to throw a chair at him, but she stood still, waiting for Steve's cue.

"What do you want from us?" he asked after a long pause.

Wagner looked up. "Oh I want nothing from you or your friend – what shall we call her? Nothing to do with birds – much too cliché. We need something with a nice ring to it."

"Why are we here then?"

"Did you not follow your friend here?"

"Yes, but you wanted me specifically here."

"Not me, but my employer."

"Fine. Zemo, right? Why doesn't he face me?" Aspen could see the fury building behind Steve's eyes. It wasn't an expression she saw often on him, but when pressed, his blue eyes seemed to dance with the emotion.

"I would, but I am enjoying the view far too much. Well what I can see." The chair slowly turned around, and Aspen found herself facing a man who wore a purple veil over his face. She couldn't see the damage from the fire but she could almost feel the hatred radiating off of him as he faced Steve again.

Steve tensed beside her, gripping his shield tightly. "Zemo," he said softly.

"Well, well, we meet again Captain America."