Traitor ~ Bucky Barnes

Traitor Pt. 2

Bang.

Katherine's eyes were closed. Her ears were ringing from the gunshot. Dropping the gun, she fell to the floor. All the tears she held back were flowing. Shit, shit, shit, she thought. Any and all emotion was catching up with her.

Bucky sat there, eyes wide. Katherine took the shot but missed. The bullet was shot near the side of his ear. Looking over at Katherine, he saw her crying, holding her head in her hands. She could not do it.

"Katherine?"

Her mind was going crazy. She could not deny any of it anymore. It was all out in the open. Katherine looked at the floor with tears flowing down her face. Each breath was heavy. Bucky started to move toward her. Grabbing her face, he made her look at him.

What Katherine did not understand was how Bucky could still be next to her. Looking at him, his face only had concern. There was no anger; there was only love. Her breaths were still heavy and quick. But her tears had stopped.

"I...I did love you." she said with a shaky breath. As much as Katherine tried to fight her feelings, she always knew how she felt. At first, it was easy; there was nothing to care for. She had only seen the Hydra weapon, someone dangerous. However, as time went by, she found herself slipping.

It was the little things. When Bucky would walk her home each time after her shift. Or teach her to dance. Even when they would lay in each other's arms, Katherine felt something. She knew she loved him when Bucky came to her, ready to run away. At that moment, she realized how much he meant to her and how much she meant to him. Neither could let go of one another.

Correcting herself, Katherine said. "I do love you."

Bucky smiled; he did not know what to say. He knew she loved him, but to hear her say it any mean it was different. Katherine could not shoot him because of it. Pulling her in, Bucky kissed her. But Katherine pulled away.

Shaking her head, she said, "No, no, you-you should hate me. I...used you."

"Katherine, I don't hate you. You taught me that I can love and that I deserved to be loved."

A single tear fell from Katherine's eye. Bucky's words were sad but true. Even if she was "using" him. The love was real; their experiences were real. Should he at least be mad at her? Yes. But, he could not bring himself to.

"I need you to tell me what you planned."

"No."

Katherine looked at him in shock. After everything that was done and said, Bucky asked her this. This was the one thing she could not do. To tell him what they planned would be betraying her father. She would rather die than betray him.

"Katherine, pl-"

"No! I can't."

"My friends are out there, please. If you meant what you said. Tell me."

Moving his hands from her face, Katherine looked away. Bucky was asked to betray her father. For what? For his friends? His friends were the guilty ones. They were the ones that let Novi Grad fall to the ground and killed hundreds. She would help Bucky but not them.

Bucky knew he was asking a lot. But, there was no other way. He had to know what they planned if anyone wanted to get out of here. His eyes were pleading, hoping Katherine would change her mind.

"I promise you, I won't let anything happen to you. We will get out of here together. You just have to tell me what you planned." said Bucky.

Looking back at him, Katherine considered for a second. Could she really take Bucky's words? And if she did, could she leave behind her father? Bucky was desperate. But, looking at him made her believe him.

Closing her eyes, Katherine took a deep breath. Then, in a soft voice, she said, "December 16th, 1991." Opening her eyes, she saw that Bucky recognized the date. "He is using the death of Howard and Maria Stark against you."

"Thank you."

Getting up, Bucky ran to the door, pressing the button it opened. Then, he went to find Steve and Tony. Only to realize it was too late. Tony was consumed by rage and was attacking Steve.

~

Bang.

Zemo heard the gunshot from the other room. A slight smile spread across his face. Katherine finished James. Seeing that Tony was not letting Steve go, the work was then done. Turning around, he left the chamber.

He arrived at the room that Katherine was at. Turning the corner, he saw her sitting on the floor. Her back facing him. As he scanned the room, there was no sign of James. Then, it clicked. James escaped. A look of shock and betrayal spread on his face.

"Katherine, what did you do?"

Hearing her father's voice, she turned around. It took her by surprise to see him standing there. But, there he was, looking down at her from across the room. Even with the distance between them, she could see the hurt.

Her face turned to a guilty look. Then, she said, "I'm sorry...but, I love him."Katherine did not need to specify who she was talking about. Zemo knew his daughter fell for James. He knew he should have never agreed to let her go to Romania and get close to James. This was his fault.

"I'm sorry," said Katherine.

"He does not deserve your love. James is just like the rest. He will use you for his goals, then leave you behind."

Neither of them said anything more. There was nothing else to say. Katherine was hurt because she could not bring herself to kill Bucky. But, seeing her father hurt from her betraying him was worse.

"You'll see," said Zemo.

Katherine looked down in shame. Seeing this, Zemo had nothing else to do or say. Turning around, he walked away from her. Leaving her behind as she did to him. He kept his head high, holding back tears. There was only one thing on his mind now.

Death.