Certainty (A Bucky Barnes Fanfic)

━◦○◦2.3: Supersoldiers◦○◦━

episode 2 - Star-Spangled Man

Bucky muttered under his breath as he and Shay walked through the forest to the warehouse. He brushed dirt and pine needles from his jacket, still scowling. Shay kept close on his right side. She fidgeted with the straps on her arms, her breathing shaky.

"Shay," he glanced at her when they stepped up to the broken warehouse doors.

Redwing dove at them, but Bucky ignored Sam's impatience.

Shay grimaced in embarrassment, "I just . . ."

"Just be careful. There shouldn't be any need for you to overextend yourself," Bucky walked inside.

Shay had to trot to keep up with him, and he fought a smile. She wasn't short but decidedly average height and a head smaller than him. Redwing flew a little too close to Bucky, and Bucky swatted at it.

"Oh-ho-ho. Don't hurt him," Sam said through the earpieces, moving Redwing away.

Bucky rolled his eyes, and Shay chuckled. Distant voices reached his ears as they moved through the warehouse. And other sounds. Heavy sounds.

"You're doing the staring thing again," Sam informed Bucky when he and Shay joined him. "They're in there."

"Where's the guy?" Bucky paused his struggle to listen.

"I don't know. I think they're smuggling weapons, though."

"Well, I think you could be right," Bucky gave Sam a look.

Nothing else fit, especially as Torres said they stole from a bank in Switzerland. Sam made a humming noise but didn't take the bait. Rarity.

"But there's only one way to find out," Bucky looked back. "I see a clear path. I say we take it."

"We're not assassins," Sam hissed with teasing sharpness.

Bucky swapped dry looks with Shay and turned his gaze back to Sam, "I'll see you inside. Or not."

"Hey, come on, man. I'm just messing with you. Come back."

Bucky ignored him, making his way through the warehouse. He assumed Shay would find her own path. Probably one that was less obvious than his, even though he was quiet enough for it to not matter.

"Look at you," Sam laughed. "All stealthy. A little time in Wakanda, and you come out White Panther."

"It's actually White Wolf," Bucky shifted his shoulders.

"Huh?"

He almost grinned at Sam's confusion. Shay joined him from a corner, smiling.

"Is that your title now?" She breathed as they entered the bigger room, ducking behind shelves. "Instead of Winter Soldier?"

"I like it much better," Bucky gave a slight nod and stopped, watching the pair moving containers. "All right, we're inside. Therefore, way ahead of you. It's not great but very doable."

"Huh?" Sam's voice came beside him, and it was a century of practice that kept Bucky from jumping.

Bucky blinked at him, then at the rafters, "Hello. How are you?"

"Good. What did I miss?"

"Nothing."

Shay bit back a nervous giggle on Bucky's other side, watching the pair load a trunk, maybe two. They were strong. Sam was right; too strong.

"All right, let's go," Bucky moved forward when he spotted an opening.

Sam grabbed his shoulder, "No, wait."