Certainty (A Bucky Barnes Fanfic)

━◦○◦3.1: Creepy Rich Dude◦○◦━

episode 3 - Power Broker

They were going to see Zemo. Bucky wasn't sure how he felt about that, but he also knew that Zemo was the least troubling of the Hydra-related people he had met.

They drove back to Bucky and Shay's apartment, through the bustling Brooklyn night streets. None of them talked. Bucky wasn't sure whether it was because of exhaustion, annoyance, or the day's intensity. Shay didn't seem to be in pain, but she kept her gaze down in the backseat. Sam crossed his arms and stared straight ahead.

"Can you arrange a flight for us in the morning?" Bucky glanced at Sam.

"I already did. But if you want to change your mind -."

"I'm not gonna."

"Who is Zemo?" Shay shifted.

Bucky flexed his hand, " . . . a Sokovian baron. Had Hydra connections and was obsessed with ending supersoldiers. He used me to split the Avengers, killing King T'chaka of Wakanda in the process."

"How did he use you?"

"As the Winter Soldier, there was a pattern of words ingrained in my head. It's a common technique in . . . torture. Make your victim focus on a series of words or numbers, but, of course, Hydra literally programmed . . . the Winter Soldier," Bucky turned into their driveway. "Shuri took it out."

He hated talking about himself in the third person, but associating with the weapon he'd been before was worse. Especially when he had fought through the past months to separate himself from who he had once been.

"I thought you said you didn't have a driver's license," Shay unbuckled, opening the door.

Bucky followed her, "I don't."

"We just got you out of jail, and you are already breaking more laws?" Sam chuckled as they walked up to the apartment entry.

Bucky made a humming noise, pushing the door open. Shay stepped past him into the lower floor lounge.

"Shay!" Angie stood as soon as they entered the main room. "And Bucky. Where have you been? I have been worried out of my mind -."

"Sorry, Angie," Shay stepped over to the redheaded woman.

Angie pulled Shay into a hug. She was only shorter than Shay because of her aged back and shoulders. Her eyes narrowed between Bucky and Sam.

"Yeah," Bucky ran a hand through his hair. "Angie, this is Sam. He's one of the Avengers. Sam, Angie was a good friend of Peggy Carter. Steve knew her."

Angie looked at Shay. "You weren't tellin' me something, hun."

"I am afraid it's one of those things," Shay laughed nervously.

"Well, being friends with the director of Shield, I got used to that. All right. Just tell me, so I don't have to worry next time," Angie kissed Shay's cheek. "You all look exhausted. Go get some rest."

Bucky nodded, offering Angie a smile. Sam followed him and Shay to the elevator.

"It's funny how she treats you like her grandchild," Bucky whispered to Shay. "And me like I'm her age."

"You are," Shay gave him a look.

"I'm technically closer to your age than hers."

Sam snorted, shaking his head as they led the way down the hallway. Bucky stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked to his door. It took a moment of digging in Shay's bag before he found his keys and opened the door.

"Come on, Shay. Let's go ahead and talk," Sam followed Bucky inside.

" . . . only if Bucky opens some windows. Gosh, how is it so hot," she grimaced.