Maya Stark

Chapter 74: Walker's back, again

Walking up the street, the red, white, and blue shield was easy to spot coming down the upcoming steps.

'We really have to deal with this guy again?' I mumbled to Sam, who ignored me.

'Karli Morgenthau is too dangerous for you guys to be pulling this shit,' Walker yelled at us.

'Ah!' Bucky said, sarcasm clear in his voice. 'How'd you find us this time?'

'Come on, man,' Lemar said, as we finally got to the steps. 'You really think three Avengers, one of them trending online, can walk around Latvia without drawing attention?'

'No more keeping us in the dark,' Walker said. 'You could start by telling us why you broke him out of prison.'

'He did that himself, technically,' Bucky said.

'You should really hear the plan,' I said, nodding. 'It was good.'

'There better be an unbelievable explana—'

'Hey,' Sam said, putting a hand up to stop Walker from getting any closer, 'Take it easy before it gets weird.'

'I know where Karli is,' Zemo said.

Zemo, Bucky, and I go to walk around Walker, but he puts up a hand stopping us. 'Well, where?' he asks.

'All we know is, it's a memorial,' Sam said.

Zemo starts walking up the steps, and Bucky and I follow.

'That means civilians,' Lemar said, as they follow us. 'High risk of casualties.'

'Alright, good, we'll move in fast,' Walker said. 'Take her by surprise.'

'No, I wanna talk to her alone,' Sam said.

'I'm not losing her again,' Walker said.

'Look, the person closest to her died, she's vulnerable,' I said, turning around to face them, walking backwards. 'Trust me, if there's any time to reason with her, it's now.'

'What?' Walker and Lemar run up stopping us from continuing on. I turn back around. 'No. Wait, no. Hold on. I think we're way past reasoning with her, unless you forgot the fact, she blew up a building with people still in it.'

'Sam, you walk in there cold, she could kill you,' Lemar said.

'If I go in hot and the op goes wrong, more people will die,' Sam said.

Walker looks at me. 'You're gonna let him do this? Are you gonna let your teammate, one of the last people left, walk into a room with a Super Soldier, alone?'

I almost laugh. 'I could see where you would think that would work, but yes. I am. We've all dealt with worse. And he isn't my teammate. Besides, he won't be alone. I'm going with him.'

'Maya, I'm not going—'

'Sam, get over it, okay? Yell at me later.'

Sam sighs but drops it for the time being. He walks around to the front, placing himself between Walker and I, and says, 'I used to counsel soldiers dealing with trauma, okay? And Maya here knows how it feels to lose someone you love, even if she doesn't actually go in. This is right in our wheelhouse.'

'Yeah, I know,' Walker said. 'And I know those soldiers, and know Maya's temper, which is why I know this is a bad idea.'

'Wait, John,' Lemar said. 'If he can talk her down, it might be worth a try.'

Walker scoffs and looks at Zemo. 'We'll deal with you later.'

'I'm sure it will all come to an agreeable conclusion,' Zemo said. 'My associate is just up ahead.'

The little girl from earlier stood, waiting, looking a little paranoid. Bucky and Zemo push past Walker and Sam, and I follow.

'I can't let you come in with me to speak to Karli,' Sam whispered to me.

'Sam, I'll be able to relate to her,' I said. 'Us two are the best option. And I'm not letting you go in there empty handed.'

He sighed but didn't say anymore. That may have been because we had met up with the little girl.

'Hello, my friend,' Zemo said. He takes out some money and hands it to her. 'This is for your family. Can you show us the way?'

The little girl motioned for us to follow and started to walk off. Zemo looked back at us and started following, us close behind.

'What the hell?' Walker said from behind me.

We followed the little girl into a building, and she points towards another doorway. People were walking in, and she stepped up into the building.

'Karli's in there,' Zemo said.

Sam and I start to walk forward as Walker grabs Zemo, handcuffing him onto something. I was too focused replaying the script in my head to really care that much.

'Hey,' Walker called to us. 'You got ten minutes.'

'Really?' Zemo said to Walker in annoyance.

'Then we're doing things my way.'

'Maya, maybe you should stay out—'

'Sam, if I stay out here, one of these people will be dead, and it won't be Bucky or Zemo,' I said, cutting him off. 'I'm not letting you go in there by yourself.' I walk through the door and into the building. 'Besides, I want to talk to Karli.'