Once in custody, they're being transported to the government's headquarters inside Berlin. Sam and Steve had been stripped from their gear and forced to wear their civilian clothes. The collar around Connie's neck, making her drained as her powers had disappeared and that made her feel weak. Connie's forehead had gotten addressed and now she's supporting a medical wrap around her head.
T'Challa sits in the front, Connie and Steve on the other side of him, with Sam in the back. Connie tries to tug on the collar with a grunt, getting Steve's attention.
"You ok?" He asks.
"Yeah, but this collar is worse than a choker necklace!" She complains. "And it's itchy."
Silence fell. And after awhile, Sam's voice is heard from the back.
"So, you like cats?"
"Sam." Steve scolds tiredly, next to him Connie just looks out the window.
"What?" Sam is serious. "Dude shows up dressed like a cat. You don't wanna know more?"
"Your suit … it's vibranium?" Steve asks.
"The Black Panther has been the protector of Wakanda for generations." T'Challa explained, looking at Steve. "A mantle, passed from warrior to warrior. And now, because your friend murdered my father … I also wear the mantle of King. So, I ask you, as both warrior and king. How long do you think you can keep your friend safe from me?"
"My Bucky."- Connie starts, leaning forward and around Steve to glare at T'Challa.
"Connie." Steve shook his head when she looked at him.
She leaned back to sit properly on the bench next to Steve. "This isn't fair." She complained in a shook voice. "Bucky is innocent."
They finally arrive at their destination, as the motorcade drives into an underground tunnel. Steve and Sam help Connie out of the van. All three turn to look at Bucky, who briefly looks at them before he avoids any eye contact.
Connie tried to head in Bucky's direction, but Steve placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't." He warns gently. "Who knows what else Stark has planned."
"Remind me to burn down his beloved tower." Connie grumped with ice.
The three head inside meeting Sharon Carter and a shorter man.
"What the hell Carter!" Connie tried, but Steve was able to snake his arm around her waist and kept her back.
"What's going to happen to our friend?" He asked.
"Samething that out of happen to you. Psychological evaluation and extradition." The shorter man snarly replied.
"This is Everett Ross." Sharon introduces, slightly glaring at Connie who wouldn't stop glaring at her. "Deputy Task Force Commander."
"What about a lawyer?" Connie asks.
"Lawyer. That's funny." Ross narrows his eyes, and Steve glares hard at the shorter man.
"Will someone please take that damn collar off my best friend's wife?" The Captain demands.
"Not gonna happen. Absolutely not. She's an enhance." Ross answered coldly. "She along with Maximoff are dangerous." With that he turns to walk away.
"Where's Bucky!?" Connie rounds on Sharon with the demand.
"He's fine." Sharon answered, just as coldly. "He's being interrogated. If you want to follow me I'll."-
"Screw you!" Connie yells before she storms off down the hall.
"Sam, go after her." Steve turns to him. Sam has a serious look.
"Right." He gives a glare at Sharon before quickly following Connie.
XxXxXxXxXx
Connie walked into a room and sat down in a swirling chair, pulling her left leg up as she threaded her fingers together on her leg while looking defeated. Sam walked into the room and sat down.
The two friends stayed in a comfortable silence.
"You didn't have to help us Sam." She finally broke the silence, turning to him. "But thank you, Steve and I appreciate it greatly. No one else gives a damn."
"You're welcome." Sam nods. "Everything's about politics. They want somebody to blame. Barnes means the word to both of you."
Everett Ross suddenly strolled into the room like he owned the place, Sam stiffened.
"What do you want?"
"At ease Falcon. I'm here for Barnes."
"Pfft. You better stay the hell away from me." Connie growled. "Steve is Captain, and Bucky is Sargent!" She glares at Ross. "This how you treat military?" She demands.
"When they break the law, yes."
"Where the hell have you been living? Bucky was trained to stay out of public's eyes if and when he kills!" Connie stiffens as she stands to glare.
"Careful Connie." Sam warns gently.
Ross just continues to glare at Connie. "Alright." He snaps his fingers. "I've had enough." As he finishes, a few guards come in from behind him and they quickly surround Connie.
"Hey!" Sam yelled, moving forward and is stopped with Ross' hand held up as the guards grab Connie. "What the hell, you gnome?"
"Take her to the room." Ross demanded.
"Sam! Get Steve!" Connie cried as she struggles against the men.
"Right." He rushes out of the room.
XxXxXxXx
The room was lightly lit, there was only one cot with a blanket. Connie laid on the cot looking at the other side of the wall, she didn't know what was going on or hour many hours she was in this room, the collar still hurt her neck.
Suddenly a loud bang on the door is heard as it thuds and Connie frowns, she quickly covers her face with her arms as the door is blasted open.
A whistle of amusement is heard before Clint walks in. "Hey girlfriend. Miss me?" He greets with a smile.
"Clint?" Connie stood up from the cot.
Clint approaches her. "Stand still ok?" He instructs as Wanda stood in the broken doorway. "This might sting or tickle, or a pinch." He pulls out an arrow and moves it toward her neck gingerly. There was a loud noise, causing Connie to yelp in surprise and she watched as the collar fell to the floor. "Sorry."
Connie rubbed her throat and neck. "That feels good." Once the collar was off she could feel her enhanced powers returning.
"And an ugly bruise around your neck and throat." Clint said, looking at the nasty bruise, he then took her hand. "We gotta go. Captain needs us."
XxXxXxXxXxXx
A small beetle car drove up to park next to a big white van. Clint climbs out of the driver seat and moves around the van and meeting up with Steve.
"Hey, sorry to pull you into this." Steve said as the two shook hands.
"You guys are doing me a favor." Clint replied. "Besides, I owe a debt." He turns to glance at Wanda, Steve looks over at her.
"Thanks for having our backs."
"It was time to get off my ass." She shrugs.
"Where's Connie?" Sam asked.
"Right here!" Connie smiles as she walks around the van, she's now supporting a huge bandage on her forehead and her throat and neck is still black.
"Thank God, I thought I needed to punch Stark." Steve sighed as he and Connie hugged.
"You tried." Sam said.
Connie beams as she quickly moved towards Bucky and launched into his arms, the two hugged her tightly. Pulling away she snatches his right hand and pulls him around the corner away from everyone.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"Are you ok?" Bucky asks in concern.
"I will be." Connie nods with a smile. "I."- She didn't get to finish as he leans down to clam her mouth. Her hands roamed his chest before sliding up to lock around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. Finally, the need for air won making them pull away, his forehead resting on hers.
"I felt that, and I missed that." He breathed, and she smiled.
"Me too." She kissed him. "What we went through gives 'a long-term relationship' a whole new level."
He chuckles. "We can write a book about it." He kisses her cheek before pulling away. "We better get back to Steve."
Connie smiles as she hugs his right arm. "That picture you have of us back in the 40's, do you remember what happened afterwords?"
Bucky sighed heavily. "It's a vague memory, something about Steve being chased by a goose."
"That's exactly what happened." Connie giggled as the two start to approach Steve and the others. "He kept backing up, saying he wanted a better angle, he fell backwards and landed in the goose's nest, she chased him, then you chased the goose, and suddenly your being chased too." Her throat hurt from laughing and especially talking, but she didn't care. "And you both jumped into the pond to get away." She smiles up at Bucky just as they reach the others.
Steve arches an eyebrow. "The goose story?"
"Yep." Bucky nods, he looks down at Connie as she's tucked under his right arm. "Punk started it."
Steve raises his eyebrows. "Excuse me? Jerk, you're the one who kept."-
"As much as it feels so damn good to have both of you back in my life." Connie cuts in. "We have to move our butts."
"We got a chopper lined up." Clint nods, just as an announcement comes over the intercom in Germon, making the group freeze and Scott Lang jumps startled.
"They're evacuating the airport." Bucky informed.
"Stark." Connie growls darkly.
Steve looks around at everyone. "Suit up."