The Aftermath

Chapter 11

It doesn't take long for your group to arrive at a shipping yard where Sharon directs you all to a shipping container, handing each of you an earpiece. "I'll stand guard," she announces and you grudgingly agree to stay with her, not fully trusting the woman to keep all of you safe. You turn to look at the three men who are preparing to enter the container. "Be careful," you say and Sam and Zemo nod, Bucky steps forward to press a quick kiss to your lips, "you too," he whispers before they disappear into the container. You and Sharon move away from the container, scanning the area for danger in awkward silence. "How long has that been going on?" She finally asks in a scathing tone that makes you roll your eyes. "It's new," is all you say. "Bullshit." You turn to look at her with raised brows and she studies your face for a moment in surprise. "You're...serious," she says incredulously, "but...you've had eyes for each other for years." You sigh and shrug your shoulders, "apparently we were the only ones who were unaware of our feelings," you mutter as she stares at you for a moment longer before moving on. "Looks like we've got company," Sharon hisses just as you spot three heavily armed men approaching your location. The two of you easily take them out before splitting up. "Guys, we're running short on time," you say into your earpiece and wait for a response. "Bucky? Sam?" When neither of them respond you slowly begin making your way back towards the shipping container. "You've got two more incoming," Sharon's voice crackles into your ear moments before you come face to face with the assailants. You make quick work of it, taking down the pair of men with lethal force before sprinting towards the shipping container to warn your group. When you arrive, you do a quick scan of the area before slipping into the container and down to the hidden lab beneath. "Guys we have company and I'm not sure how much longer we can hold them off," you call out as you enter the lab before spotting a dead stranger. "What the fuck happened?" you ask as Sam angrily points at Zemo, "someone couldn't contain his murderous impulses!" You lock eyes with the baron and read the hidden emotions that are swirling in their depths.

"We're out of time!" Sharon screeches, as she rushes into the lab just as an explosion rocks everything. You land on the ground hard as heat rushes over you and alarms begin blaring as the chemicals around you start to hiss from the heat. Bucky was quick to reach your side, hooking an arm around you and hauling you out of the container with Sam a step ahead of you two and Sharon hot on your heels, Zemo temporarily lost in the confusion. "Follow my lead," both Bucky and Sam shout at the same time as they both burst from the container and head in opposite directions. For just a moment, you and Sharon are on the same page as you share a look, each of you darting after a man, you following Bucky and her following Sam before you find yourselves meeting in the same spot not too far away. The two men are involved in a petty bickering match as your group is met with a barrage of bullets and the four of you dodge and return fire. "Guys, now is not the time for this," you squawk indignantly as you empty your gun of bullets and curse. "Where the hell is Zemo?" Sam seethes just as you catch sight of a familiar figure in a mask atop a nearby container. The figure catches your gaze and nods towards a spot nearby and once you realize what he intends your yell a warning to the others. Bucky and Sam obey without hesitation and you have just enough time to grab the collar of Sharon's jacket and yank her down as another explosion rocks the shipping yard. Causing just the distraction you needed, Zemo jumps down and opens fire on the remaining assailants as Bucky grabs a loose pipe and runs it through a man who is charging towards you with such force that it explodes through his torso and pins him to the container behind him. An eerie silence falls over the shipping yard and that seems to be the end of it. "Are you okay?" Bucky asks as he rushes up to you, hands cupping your face as he looks you up and down. "I'm fine," you answer in a shaky breath even as your eyes dart to the corpse nearby. "He was going to kill you doll...I couldn't let him do that...I just reacted-," you shush his panicked rambling as you take his face in your own hands, mirroring his position. "It's okay my love. You did what you had to," you soothe him, running your fingers through his hair and lightly scratching his scalp, "I'm just...shit, I'm just shocked. Sometimes I forget that you have that kind of strength," you admit sheepishly as he gapes at you. "You aren't...scared?" "Of you? Never," you reassure him as you brush your lips across his in a reassuring kiss.