Winters War

Chapter 5:

Bacon sizzles in the pan beside me as I cook some eggs. Apparently sleep was not in the agenda last night. My tv plays the morning talk shows, letting the feeling of a normal life seep through. Storm plays in her play pen, making little sounds and giggles as she goes. I can't help but smile at her cuteness.

Suddenly the Senator's voice comes through my speakers. He talks about how the world needs something, a hero of sorts. Now that catches my attention. I make my way to my living room and place myself on the floor, my eyes glued to the screen. "We need a real person who embodies America's greatest values. We need someone to inspire us again, someone who can be a symbol for all of us. So on behalf of the department of defense and our commander and chief it is with great honor that we announce her today, the United States of America has a new hero. Join me in welcoming your new Captain America."

My eyes grow wide as I see a young man holding Steve's shield. "What the hell!" Suddenly the smell of something burning then catches my attention. Looking over I see smoke starting to come from the kitchen. Darting from the floor I run to the kitchen grabbing my smoking bacon and throwing it into my sink. Quickly I turn the faucet on and let the water rush over my now charred bacon.

My breathing is rapidly leaving my lungs as my eyes remain wide. How could they do this? They really just replaced Steve. I didn't anything could possibly hurt me anymore but this...this is just a kick in the balls. A sudden giggle makes me turn to Storm. This big toothless smile plastered on her little. "Oh you think this is funny huh?" She just continues to giggle as I make my way over to her.

       Gently I pick her up and carry her back over to the stove, making sure I turn it off. The last thing I need right now is to burn down my apartment. Together we head back to my spot on the floor and watch the morning talk show with the Cap wannabe. It's bad enough I have lost my friend and now they are trying to replace him. Who do they think they are?!

       "So you like being a hero."says the anchor. "I like making people feel safe, Steve Rodgers was a lot like that, he gave me hope." "What a load of shit."I snap. "Atttata!"said Storm. "You don't like him either?"I say as I look at her. She just blows a raspberry. "You are such a smart kid for saying that."I tell her before turning back to the screen.

         Then he said something I will never forget. "Even though I never met him, he was like a brother." He never knew Steve! How was he like a brother?! Steve meant the world to me and millions of other people, for this man just to try and take his place, take his shield....he should be ashamed. He is a disgrace to the memory of my old friend. I can't stand for this, I need to find Sam.

          I rapidly knock on Peppers door hoping she answers, the longer I wait the less likely I will be able to catch Sam. Suddenly the door swings open revealing the slender blonde woman. "Bucky what are you doing here?" "This is urgent Pepper." "Well what is it?"she asks me. "Sam gave up the shield. They have now given that shield to a new "Captain America"."

Her face is now stone cold, the warmth that was once in it has now vanished. "You mean they actually are trying to replace Steve?" "Not trying, did." Her jaw clenches at my words. "Please I need you to take Storm for a while, I packed everything she needs. I don't know when I will be back but you will really be helping me out. I just.....I already lost my wife, I have lost my best friend, I will not let someone else take away the memory of Steve as Captain America. Hell will freeze over before I let someone ruin that." She nods and gently grabs the Storm's things and placing them inside. "Thank you, you are such a saint." I tell her as I wrap her in a hug. "Of course, it's not a problem but Bucky," I stop and turn back to her from the porch, "if he thinks he will be a better Captain America than Steve, take that shield and kick his ass." I can't help but smirk at her words before taking off.

Eventually I track Sam down to this military building talking with some man. At first they give me a weird look as I walk in but I just brush it off. "You shouldn't have given up the shield." "Good to see you too Buck."he says as he descends the stairs to greet me. "This is wrong." "Hey, hey, look I'm working all right? So all this outrage is gonna have to wait." "You didn't know that was gonna happen?"I snap. "No, of course I didn't know that was gonna happen. You think it didn't break my heart to see them March him out there and call him the new Captain America?"

       "This isn't what Steve wanted."I tell him in attempts to reason with him. "Oh my god. What do you want me to do? Call America and tell them I changed my mind? Huh?" he pauses for a moment and sarcastically chuckles, "yeah, right, it's been a great reunion, buddy, be well." "You had no right to give up the shield Sam." "Hey. This is what you're not gonna do. You're not gonna come here in your overextended life and tell me about my rights."he finally snaps.

        "It's over Bucky. Besides, I have bigger things to deal with now." "What could be bigger than this?"I ask. At this point I feel like I'm pleading for the man to think this through. "This guy. His connections with rebel organizations all over Eastern and Central Europe, and he's strong. Too strong." "And?" "Well he's been connected to this online group called the Flag Smashers."

         From there everything he says becomes muffled. The world felt like it was moving in slow motion as I remember the night Blue told me about them. "Hey I'm going to be out of town for a while so I'm going to need you to take care of the baby while I'm gone." "Where are you going?"I ask. "There is this group in Europe called the Flag Smashers. They have been terrorizing small villages and towns raiding them for supplies. I was connected and asked if I could help out." "Contacted by who?" She just sighs before looking me up and down. "The U.S military." I watch carefully her slim fingers pick up clothes that were nearly folded and placing them in a bag. Her passport and boarding tickets stuffed in her back pocket. "Your leaving tonight?" "It's just for a few weeks Buck."

       Well a few weeks turned into months. "So that's where I'm going."he tells me. "Well I'm going too." "No you're not." "Damnit Sam yes I am, Blue was sent after them!" We both remain silent for a minute before he speaks. "Look I know u miss her, we all do but I can't have you coming. If I find out anything on her I will let you know but you are not coming. Besides they could be apart of the Big Three."

        "What Big Three?"I ask him obviously confused. "The Big Three." "Again what a Big Three?" "Androids, aliens, and wizards." He's got to be kidding. "That's not a thing." "That's definitely a thing."he swears. "No it's not." "Every time we fight we fight one of the three." "So who are we fighting now, Gandalf?" He gives me this confused look mixed with a bit of surprise. "How do you know about Gandalf?" "I read The Hobbit in 1937 when it first came out." "So you see my point?" "No, I don't. There are no wizards."

"Doctor Strange." "Is a sorcerer." "Ahhh! A sorcerer is a wizard without a hat. Think about it, right? I'm right. I just came up with that. It's crazy. But look that's not the point. These guys aren't magical. Alright? They use brute force like you, the incredibly annoying guy in front of me with a staring problem." "I'm coming with you."I say as I follow him to the plane. "No, you're not."