Riley's Girl

Crossed the Line

-Sam's Perspective-

You and Bucky walk out of the police station after what felt like hours. But was merely tens of minutes.

The cold air instantly hitting your face as walked out into the street.

"Well at least we know what prisons he's in now." Bucky let's out in a breathe.

You go to answer but you can get in is a nod as you hear a voice shouting.

"Hey guys!"

As you turn to your right, you roll your eyes as John Walker is sat against a nearby police car, shield on his back, full uniform on with his right hand man sitting right next to him.

His smile makes you want to punch him in the face. Instead you share a look with Bucky and walk over to him.

"Well, this should be fun." Bucky says under his breath, but just loud enough for you to hear him.

As you approached John and Lemar, Bucky doing his staring thing and you sighing more times than you've ever known yourself to sigh.

"What have you two been upto then?" John quizzes, being overly chipper.

Neither of you say a word, you come to a stop in front of them, whilst Bucky stands to their side, resting against the police car, rolling his eyes and sighing at John. Not even trying to hide his hatred for him.

There was so much hatred between you three that it couldn't even be described. He wasn't just not your captain, he wasn't Steve and he was trying to hard to replace him despite what his many, many, many TV appearances said. He wasn't humble, he wasn't modest, he was a show pony.

"Now, now boys. Come on don't be giving me the silent treatment." John digs deeper.

You roll your eyes, placing your hands in your pockets and sigh defeatedly "Okay, what do you want now John?" You ask.

You instantly regret asking, his smirk cuddles your stomach. He was getting cocky.

"Well it's quite simple Samuel. I want answers. I want results." Condescension filling his words.

You take a literal step back, furrowing your brows, making sure you heard him correctly. Before you had chance to retort Bucky steps in.

"Well contrary to what you think John. We don't work for you." Bucky bites back. You couldn't hide the smirk that spread across your face.

John looks to his right, peering through his lashes. The words stung him, you could see it. He was angry. "Is that so?" He hisses back.

Bucky enjoyed it. A little too much but you let him have it.

"Yeah. That is so. Like Sam said this morning, quit following us and go be a mascot." This time Buckys words were soaked in condescension.

John's face was picture perfect. He looked up at Bucky with hurt and anger, he truly thought himself Captain America. He didn't see that the government just needed someone for people to look at to distract them from Steve retiring.

He was a mascot. There was no escaping or denying it. He didn't inspire, he didn't motivate, he didn't sacrifice and he could never truly comprehend the sacrifice half Steve did for his country, time and time again. He wasn't prepared for that and he never would be.

That was one of his many shortfalls, the lack of sacrifice. He may have won countless medals, an impressive career yes. But as Captain America, carrying the mantle that represented 3 near end of world scenarios and he thought he measured to the man who lead the Avengers straight into the fights and won... giving him the chance to live another day. To just disgrace the shield.

You saw John take a step towards Bucky and with the heated gaze he was giving him, you knew it was only a matter of time before Bucky reacted, you had to intervene before a blood bath broke out. Well, before Bucky destroyed Walker.

"Okays guys, just relax. We've got more freedom than you John, so just back off or you'll get yourself in trouble." You try to sound sincere, but your thin patience was running out.

You watch him crink his neck as you both turn to walk away.

"Like Y/N?" John shouts. You hault. Your blood instantly boiling.

"Heard she got herself into quite crowd. So tell me again Sam, how was it that the flagsmashers escaped your grasp?" He asks, tilting his head. Grinning.

Youre the one now taking a step towards him. Feeling the cold connection of Bucky's vibranium arm discreetly grasping your wrist as you turned to face Walker.

The harsh cold, snapping you out of your growing anger fuelled daze with Walker.

"Let me tell you something John. You know nothing about her. About her life. Her trauma. So don't you dare talk about her again. You hear me? Her name is to never leave your lips again." You grit out through your teeth, standing a few inches back from Walker, but close enough to convey your point.

The smirk that spreads across his face, he found your weakness but you didn't give a damn. Y/N had been through enough and until you got to speak to her, no one was going to make their assumptions and hurt her.

You promised Riley you'd protect her.

You'd failed so far.

Not anymore.

You shake yourself off "I'll just remind you John, we've done more than you two have. We have a lead. So at least we know who and what we're looking for. Can you say the same?" You counter.

This time Lemar shifts awkwardly. You hadn't even noticed him during the encounter. He was so quiet.

You go to walk away again, Bucky leading the way, once again his voice echoing through the streets, hitting your eardrums like scraping metal against ceramic.

"HEY!" He belts.

You both turn to face him.

"You best get to work. Let's hope you find her again... because if you don't... her story could have a more dramatic ending than you'd ever dreamed of." John says, too calmly for your liking.

It send shivers up your spine, goosebumps coursing through your body. Your stomach twists and the anger bubbles inside you, your jaw clenched, as well as your fists, causing your knuckles and fingers to go white from the intense pressure.

You stand in that position for a few minutes as you watch him and Lemar walk away.

You let out a breathe you'd been holding in. You look at Bucky, he had a sad look in his eyes, like realisation hit him. You furrow your brows and slightly tilt your head.

It was your what'cha thinking Buck look.

"I guess it's safe to say, he's the perfect soldier but not a good man." Bucky breathes out, defeated again.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" You ask as Bucky walks away.

"When Steve was offered the serum. Abraham Erskine said he was chosen because he is not the perfect soldier but he is a good man. His intentions were pure, real, he could make a real difference. Walker.. Walker could be another me." You watch as Bucky dips his head as he fiddles with the glove on his vibranium arm.

"Hey. Come on. You're nothing like Walker. You're a pain in my ass sure. But Walker? No chance Buck, Steve was never wrong. So don't ever think he was wrong about you." You say softly to Bucky, you watch as he raises his head and gives you a small smile nodding.

You pat his shoulder and head off to the next destination.