Maya Stark

Chapter 76: The Dora Milaje

Back at the house, I finally showered. It refreshed me and I felt sharper, coming to my senses again. When I walked out, Sam was on a laptop, Zemo was laying on the couch with a washcloth over his eyes, and Bucky wasn't there.

'Were you ever offered it?' Zemo asked suddenly. I ignored him, knowing he was talking to Sam, and got water.

'What?' Sam asks.

'The serum.'

'No.'

'If you had been, hypothetically, that is, would you have taken it?'

'No,' Sam said, instantly.

'No hesitation. That's impressive.' Zemo grunts, taking the washcloth off his eyes. 'You two can't hold out hope for Karli.' I roll my eyes. 'No matter what you saw in her, she's gone. And we cannot allow that she and her acolytes become yet another faction of gods amongst real people. Super Soldiers cannot be allowed to exist.'

'Isn't that how gods talk?' said Sam.

'And if that's how you feel, what about Bucky?' I say.

'Blood isn't always the solution,' Sam said.

The front door opened, and Bucky walked in.

'Something's not right about Walker,' he said, taking off his jacket. He puts the jacket on the counter in front of me, grabbing a glass, and pouring himself something that looked like whiskey.

'You don't say,' Sam said.

'Well, I know a crazy when I see one,' said Bucky. 'Because I am crazy.'

'Can't argue with that,' I said, taking a sip of water.

'You two shouldn't have given him the shield.'

'We didn't give him the shield,' Sam said.

'Yeah, Sam gave it to a museum,' I said, emphasizing Sam. 'Reminder to anyone who needs it, that shield, was, is, and will never be, mine.'

Bucky opens his mouth to retort but the door opens loudly. Walker and Lemar charge into the room like they were about to take us down in two seconds. The thought made me smirk as I put my glass down and move so I'm behind Sam and between Walker and Zemo.

'Alright. That's it. Let's go,' Walker said. 'I'm now ordering you to turn him over.'

'Hey, slow your roll,' Sam said, walking forward a couple paces. 'And let's be clear, shield or no shield, the only thing you're runnin' in here is your mouth. Now, Maya and I had Karli and you overstepped. He's actually proven himself useful today. We're gonna need all hand-on deck for whatever's coming next.'

'How do you want the rest of this conversation to go Sam, huh?' Walker said. He chuckles. 'Yeah. Should I put down the shield? Make it fair?'

Sam scoffs and I step next to him, a ball of energy playing between my hands. 'It's hilarious how you think that's what makes this unfair.'

Walker eyed me for a second and then smiled a very creepy smile. He then put down the shield, leaning it against a pillar in the house. As he straightens, a spear flies by and hits the pillar where his head was a few seconds ago. All of us turn in the same direction. The Dora Milaje have lost their patience. This'll be fun, I'm sure. A bunch of women walk through the door, all with long, pointy, spears. I mean, most spears are pointy... that's besides the point. The leader says something to Bucky in Wakandan.

'Release him to us now,' she says in English.

'Hi. John Walker,' John said, walking up to her. I roll my eyes, letting the energy die in my hands so that I'm not perceived as an initial enemy. 'Captain America.' The women give him a dead expression. 'Well, let's, uh, put down the pointy sticks and we can talk this through, huh?'

'Hey, John, take it easy,' Sam said. 'You might wanna fight these two,' he gestures to me and Bucky, 'before you tangle with the Dora Milaje.'

'The Dora Milaje don't have jurisdiction here,' Walker said.

'The Dora Milaje have jurisdiction wherever the Dora Milaje find themselves to be,' the leader said again.

'Okay,' Walker said nodding. 'Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot.'

He puts his hand on the girl's shoulder and was quickly smacked in the arm with her spear. That's why you don't touch people without permission. Everything moved so quickly, I barely had time to back up. There was a lot going on. Walker was fighting with three and Lemar with three... or four. I stood in the back with Bucky and Sam, unbothered.

'We should do something,' Sam said, looking uneasy.

Bucky nodded. 'Looking strong, John.'

I smirked. 'Yeah, you're doing great.'

'Bucky,' Sam warned.

'I'm not helping him,' I said, shaking my head and moving to the counter to sit on it.

I watched Bucky step up and grab the spear before it could pierce Walker. 'Ayo,' he said. That must be her name. 'Ayo, let's talk about this.' She did not seem to be in the mood for talking.

I watch Zemo sneak around the fight and go into the bathroom. I had a quick thought to go make sure he wasn't trying to run off. But then I felt a kind of shock go down my spine. I turn to see a spear flying at me and I quickly catch it with my hand. I look out to the battlefield and there was one Dora Milaje woman who was looking at me without a spear. I quickly throw it back at her, yet again unbothered, but now confused about the shock that went down my back. I watched the fight, making sure Sam or Bucky didn't need help. I watched as Bucky's metal arm fell to the floor and the next thing you know, I was beside him in an instant. I don't totally remember moving, though. Bucky puts a hand in front of me, telling me to stay put and he stares at Ayo in shock. A slight look of betrayal peaks out of his features. He looked hurt. I know how that feels.

She walked around Bucky and I, heading to the bathroom and opening the door. The women fighting Walker, pulls her spear that had him locked to the table, making the shield fall to the floor. She kicks it up and catches it as Ayo walks out of the bathroom.

'He is gone,' she said. 'Leave it.' The women gives the shield back to Walker, though hesitantly, and I have a fleeting thought to use my powers to bring the shield to me. I get distracted as I hear Bucky pick up his arm and see him looking intensively at it.

'Did you know they could do that?' I ask him, as Sam stands up.

He takes a moment to connect his arm again. 'No,' he said, locking his arm in.

The three of us walk over to the bathroom, and I glare at Walker when I pass him. The tub was moved, and it was obvious Zemo had an escape plan.

'I can't believe he pulled an El Chapo,' Sam said.

'I can,' Bucky and I said at the same time.

'Come on,' Bucky then said, side eyeing me.