Fields of Bone // TFATWS

09

[Power Broker]

The Avengers made their way to Berlin, Germany to talk to Zemo. They arrived at a prison and were led down a corridor by a guard.

"He's just through that corridor," the guard informed, looking back to the three.

"Give us a sec," Bucky replied as the guard walked away. "I'm gonna go in alone."

Irina frowned. "No. You're certainly not going alone."

"Why?" Sam asked, looking Bucky up and down as he pocketed his hands.

"Because you're an Avenger," Bucky reasoned. "You know how he feels about that."

"It's not like you three were known for frolicking in the sun together," Sam said.

"He was obsessed with HYDRA. We have a history together. I got it. Rina's going with me."

Bucky and Irina followed after the guard and as they continued down the corridor, it grew progressively darker. The guard said codes to the camera to get them further in and the door opened with a buzz. Bucky and Irina went into the room. The walls seemed to have barbs sticking out. There was a glass door and wall. A rectangular ray of light shined on the ground, which held Zemo's feet and hands.

As Bucky walked closer to the glass, Zemo began saying in Russian, "Longing. Rusted." He stood, revealing his face. "Seventeen." He turned to Irina and said, also in Russian, "One. Gentle. TwIight."

Bucky and Irina answered in English, "Those days are over."

"I know. I just wanted to see how the new you reacts to the old words." He walked up to the glass and studied Bucky and Irina. "Something is still in there. In the both of you. But there is also a light between the two of you, something I noticed before."

Bucky smiled as he glanced at Irina. "She's the best thing to happen to me. Without her, I'm not sure where I'd be."

"At least you two were not conscious for most of your imprisonment."

"That time wasn't exactly a picnic."

"Certainly not," Irina added.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry," Zemo apologized. "It was never personal. You both were simply a means to a necessary end."

"I know someone-" He stopped himself. "Someone is recreating the Super Soldier serum. Rina and I need to find out who."

Zemo pointed between Irina and Bucky. "You are assuming HYDRA has something to do with this, which is why you came to me, which means you are desperate. Luckily, I know where to begin."

Bucky glanced at Irina. "Go back to Sam. I'll be there in a moment."

Irina stared at Bucky suspiciously before walking back to Sam who asked, "Where's Bucky?"

She shrugged. "He's going to do something."

"What makes you say that?"

"He told me to go, meaning he's up to something secret."

When he walked outside, he told the others about an address he'd gotten from Zemo about a possible lead. The three looked around the warehouse with flashlights.

Irina frowned. "Buck, there's nothing here. Tell me and Sam what you're up to. I've been around you long enough to know when you're up to something. You're up to something sneaky."

Bucky glanced at her before saying, "I want to break Zemo out of jail."

"I'm sorry, what?"

Sam shook his head. "What are you talking about? What do you mean you wanna break Zemo out outta jail?"