Stark's Driver ~ A Bucky Barnes Story

Chapter 4- Bucharest

Her ears were ringing.

She was currently sat in an ambulance, trying to shout to the paramedic that she was fine, in broken German. Eventually the disgruntled woman seemed to get the idea so she hopped out.

Checking her phone she swore loudly. 13 missed calls from Tony, she dialed him and he picked up immediately.

"Hey, where the hell are you? Are you okay?"

"You're going to have to speak UP, my hearings all weird from the blast, are you OKAY?"

"IM FINE WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Ooo ouch okay too loud maybe don't speak up, I'm errrr," she looked around, "I'm just outside the UN building, where the first aid point has been set up, can you come get m-" she paused, "Wait hang on Nat's here." She began walking towards her.

"Talia, you still there?"

She hummed in response.

"Okay, I'm nearby trying to sort some stuff out with the Accords, don't worry about picking me up I'll be fine, stick with Nat, I'll call you."

"Okay, I'm glad you're ok Tin Man"

"You too, Dorothy."

She chuckled and sat down next to Natasha, who's fine purple suit was covered in dust, but she looked unharmed, "Are you okay?"

"Yeh I'm fine, are you? That was a pretty crazy stunt you managed, T'Challa told me to thank you, but he's...busy."

"I heard about, the king."

They sat silent for a few moments, then Talia spoke again, "Do they know who did it?"

Nat sighed, a worried look passing over her face, "Security footage has identified Barnes."

Talia blinked, processing, "James Barnes? Steve's Barnes?" She nodded.
"Shit. Where's Steve?"

"I think...I think he's going after Barnes."
Shit.

"Where's Barnes?"

~

Honestly it'd been too easy, she'd bullied Natasha into telling her (not that you could really do such a thing), shot Tony a text saying she was getting checked for a concussion and not to worry and bought herself a ticket straight to Bucharest.

Utilising the plane time, she used a tablet of Tony's she'd "borrowed" to do surveillance on this Winter Soldier guy. Steve had told her a little, but she had never seen a picture of him. The one on the internet was old, he looked young and happy, just joining the army. He was handsome, she supposed, and wondered what he looked like now, almost a century later.

Getting off the plane her phone rang, "Talia, what are you doing in Bucharest?!"
"Crap, how did you know- was it the tablet?"

"No- wait what tablet.. never mind Natasha just told me. What are you going to do- bring Barnes in yourself?"

"No...I just want to make sure Steve doesn't do anything stupid."

"Well you're too late that started last week."

She huffed, "Tony I know you're my boss, but are you really going to stop me from helping him? You know I would help you if it were the other way around."

He sighed, "If you get arrested I'm not bailing you out."
She smiled, "Sure." and hung up.

She was outside the airport now, looking around, she could hear sirens and gunfire in the distance, swearing she rang Sam, and hastily paid some guy all the money on her to borrow his motorcycle.

"Come on. Come on. Pick up!"
She was speeding through the roads now, the helmet smelled like shit but it would do.
"Talia? What the hell, this isn't the best moment!" he sounded out of breath.
"I'm here, in Bucharest where are you? I need to stop Steve from doing anything stupid."
"Oh god, it's too late for that, we're on the west highway, just gone into a tunnel. Don't die or Tony will kill me."
She chuckled and switched lanes, accelerating so hard she nearly rammed a lorry.

~

Steve had stolen one of the police cars, and was chasing Bucky down when he heard a small thump on the roof. The black clad, man thing was on the car. He swerved to try and shake him but he didn't move. What he didn't expect to see suddenly however, was a small motorcyclist next to his window, matching his speed, and grinning.

"Steve, you've got a bug on your windshield!" A bright teasing voice came through his earpiece.
"Talia! What are you doing he-"
"Shush do you want my help or not?"
He grinned at her through the window.

She hooked the motorbike under rear view mirror and then turned and swiped a leg up over the roof, kicking the suited guy clinging to it. She cheered as she dislodged him but unfortunately he leapt forward, jumping for the motorcycle in front of them Barnes was riding, he caught him by the throat and managed to shake him, leaving him rolling on the tarmac behind them.

Unhooking the bike, she set back on it and accelerated, pulling ahead alongside Barnes,
"Hey buddy- 11 o'clock!" He looked at her confused, but sure enough a  squad of police forces were coming right at them from the opposite lane.

He threw something at the ceiling above, causing an explosion they narrowly missed, but suddenly the ninja guy came flying forward, pulling him off his bike.

Steve had apparently jumped out of his car and tackled the cat man, as Talia managed to swing her bike round to a stop, jumping off and  placing herself  between Barnes and the fighting men.

Twenty more squad cars surrounded them, and then Rhodey landed sharply, halting the fighting, "That's enough."

They all looked at each other, hands in the air as Barnes was handcuffed, "Congratulations Cap, you're a criminal.
And you Talia, what are you doing?"

"Helping a friend", she put firmly, removing her helmet and flipping her dark hair back, the dark stranger started at the sight. Slowly, he removed his mask as armed guards surrounded them.

Talia's mouth dropped open. "You're Highness." Rhodey uttered, shocked.

"T'Challa?"