Second Sphere

Leverage

"Shame what's become of this place." Zemo tells us leading the way into a displacement camp. "When I was young, we used to come here for fabulous dinners and parties. I knew nothing of the politics of the time, of course, but I remember it being beautiful."

"I'm going to take a look around upstairs. See what you can find out here." Sam tells the three of us.

"I'll stay out of your way." Zemo says.

Walking around the courtyard Bucky and I both ask about Donya but no one will talk with us. At best they remain quiet, others just hurriedly walk away.

Bucky and I watch as Zemo sits down near some kids and offers them Turkish delight from earlier. One of the girls whispers something to him as Sam comes back down.

"It's starting to feel like a dead end." Sam sighs.

"The hell is he doing?" Bucky asks his eyes trained on Zemo.

"Nothing good." I mutter as Zemo walks back to us.

"Cute kids." Zemo nods towards the children and walks past us.

Back at the flat we collapse on the couch.

"Well I got nothing." Bucky says. "No ones talking about Donya."

"Why would they? They don't know us." I say slipping off the jacket so I can unfold my wings that have remained tucked away for the time we have been outside.

"Yeah, it's because Karli is the only one fighting for them. And she's not wrong." Sam says.

"What do you mean?" Bucky asks.

"For five years, people have been welcomed into countries that have kept them out using barbwire. There were houses and jobs. Folks were happy to have people around to help them rebuild. It wasn't just one community coming together, it was the entire world coming together. And then boom. Just like that it goes right back to the way it used to be. To them, at least Karli's doing something." Sam explains.

"You really think her ends justify her means?" Bucky questions. "Then she's no different than him or anybody else we've fought."

"She's different." Sam protests. "She's not motivated by the same things."

"It's not a black and white answer Buck."I add. "Good people can do bad things, you try and do what you think is right and end up making more and more questionable choices. At some point you look back and realize you've lost the actual reason you're doing it for. She's young, she's just a kid still."

Zeno walks over with a tray that has tea, stopping in front of us.

"That little girl. What'd she tell you?" Bucky asks Zemo.

Zemo looks between us all before setting the tray down on the low coffee table. "The funeral is this afternoon."

"You know the Dora's coming for you any minute. In fact they're probably lurking outside right now. Keep talking." Bucky tells him with a cold tone.

"Leaving you to turn on me once we get to Karli. Hmm. I prefer to keep my leverage." Zemo counters.

Bucky walks up and takes the glass from his hand throwing it against the opposite wall. "You wanna see what someone can do with leverage?"

"Bucky." I call standing up quickly.

Sam is closer than I am, "Take it easy. Don't engage him. He's just gonna extort you and do that stupid head tilt thing. Let me make a call."

Sam walks away.

"Do you want some cherry blossom tea?" Zemo asks quietly.

"No. You go ahead." Bucky follows after Zeno leaving the two of us.