Certainty (A Bucky Barnes Fanfic)

━◦○◦3.2: Trust◦○◦━

episode 3 - The Power Broker

What incurred was more chaos for a solid five minutes. Even once Bucky had convinced Sam that he knew--somewhat--what he was doing, there was still a mess of confusion as Zemo gathered his things. Shamara never looked surprised, though when Bucky met her gaze, her expression warred between amusement, worry, and resignation.

"So our first move is grand theft auto?" Sam drawled as Zemo opened one of the cars.

"These are mine. Collected by family over the generations," he grabbed a bag from one. "I spent years hunting people Hydra recruited to recreate the serum. Because once it's out there, someone can create an army of people . . . like the Avengers."

Bucky swapped glances with Sam, but he didn't react. Used to the digs, especially from Zemo.

"I ended the Winter Soldier program once before. I have no intention to leave my work unfinished," Zemo looked from Bucky to Shamara. "To do this, we'll have to scale a ladder of lowlifes."

"Well, join the party. We've already started," Bucky crossed his arms.

"First stop is a woman named Selby. Mid-level fence I still have a line on. From there, we climb," Zemo put on a fancy leather and fur coat, lifting his eyebrows at Shamara. "James, would you please make the introduction of our charming comrade?"

"This is Shay Aro," Bucky said shortly, gesturing to Shamara.

"Aha. Baron Helmut Zemo," Zemo held out his hand.

"I have heard too much to truly say it's a pleasure," Shamara adopted a politician voice and chuckle.

Bucky almost blinked at her change in voice and posture as she let Zemo take her hand. Her accent was thicker, and she held her shoulders straight.

"I appreciate the honest civility," Zemo kissed her knuckles, smiling. "You are Jewish?"

"I know I do not look it."

"Indeed. But then, we can use that to our advantage. How did you end up with your unusual friends?"

Bucky opened his mouth, then shut it again as Shamara hummed.

"I am a part of a classified anti-terror organization in the Middle East. Thus, my slight hesitance at our introduction. However, supersoldier serum is a threat to the established governances of the Near East. I am determined to keep it from spreading any further," Shamara inclined her head to Sam. "We kept close tabs on the Avengers. When I heard about the new supersoldiers, I contacted Sam and James."

Bucky blinked at her, then nodded, "She was as lost as we were."

"Not the same," Shamara kept smiling. "Shall we? I am quite anxious to be truly started."

"Ah, as am I," Zemo clapped once and strode to the opposite side of the garage.

Bucky shut his eyes momentarily. God, I hope I'm not making a mistake. He breathed in again, fiddling with the kimoyo beads in his pocket. He followed Zemo, Sam, and Shamara out of the building onto the airfield.

"I am most curious as to how your organization functions. You carry yourself like a diplomat," Zemo informed Shamara as he led the way across the airfield.

A private plane sat on the tarmac near the borders of the field. Bucky had no doubt Zemo had called it from within his cell somehow. He squinted in the sunlight and slid his sunglasses on.

"We are a bit like NATO, but for the Middle East," Shamara shrugged with her hands, not her shoulders. "As a covert operation, we work closely with the UN security to hide our true purposes."