Winters War

Chapter 30:

"Karli Morgenthau is too dangerous for you guys to be pulling this shit."snaps John as he follows us. "Ahh how did you find us now."shouts Bucky. "Come on. You think 3 Avengers can walk around Lativia with out drawing attention?" "No more keeping us in the dark."continues Walker, "you can start by telling us why you broke him out of prison."

"He did that himself technically."Bucky says. "Oh this better be an unbelievable explanation." It's then Sam cuts him off, "hey take it easy before it gets weird." The closer Walker gets to us the more I want to turn back and run. "I know where Karli is."Zemo adds. We begin to walk away but John grabs me by the arm. My eyes grow wide at the sudden pull. "Well where?" "Hands off."snaps Bucky as he wraps his arm around me, ushering me away from his grasp.

John's eyes jump between the two of us until Sam speaks, "all we know is, it's a memorial. So, we are gonna intercept her there." My muscles are tight but I am slowly beginning to relax again. Bucky presses me into his side, his arm still wrapped around my shoulders. It's nice to see that even when we aren't on the best of terms he still has my back.

"That means civilians, high risk of casualties."adds Walker's side kick. "All right, good, we'll move in fast. Take her by surprise."Walker smirks. Bucky starts to walk away, pulling me with him, Zemo by my side. "No, I want to talk to her alone."Sam explains to him.

Slowly I pull away from Bucky's side, I need to stop seeming weak in front of this knock off Cap. I don't need Bucky to protect me, I can protect myself. As I pull away his fingers lace with mine. I look at him, noticing how clenched his jaw is right now with John so close behind me. "I'll be okay."I whisper to him. Bucky's eyes glance over to me before slowly releasing my hand, but he still remains close to me.

Suddenly the pair of men are in front of us telling us to stop. "I think we are way past reasoning with her. Unless you forgot that she blew up a building with people still in it."snaps Walker. "Sam, you walk in there cold, she could kill you." "And if I go in hot and the op goes wrong more people will die." "You'll let him do this? Are you gonna let your partner walk into a room with a Super Soldier alone?" Bucky's face remains cold as John stands closer. "He won't be alone." I tell him, "I'll be with him.

John scoffs as he looks me up and down. "Karli might be more willing to talk if there is another woman there."I snap, sensing his judgement, "some women don't like talking to big Behring asshole men such as yourself." His eyes narrow at me, he's about to say something when he is cut off. "I used to counsel soldiers dealing with trauma, okay?"Sam says as he steps beside us, "this is right in my wheel house." "I know and I know those soldiers, which is why I know this is a bad idea."continues John. "Wait, John. If he can talk her down it might bd worth a try."interrupts Hoskins.

Another scoff leaves John's lips as he looks to Zemo. "We'll deal with you later." "I'm sure it will all come to an agreeable conclusion. My associate is just up ahead."Zemo says. Everyone turns to see a little girl watching us. Her clothes are dirty and her hair is tangled but she still seems to be cheery. I push past the others and slowly make my way towards her.

Upon a closer inspection I see this look of unease written on her face. "Hello my friend."Zemo carefully pulls out money from his pocket, handing it to her, "this is for your family." Faster than lightning she takes the money from him and stuffs it in her pocket. "Can you show us the way?"he asks.

With out a word the girl turns around, signaling to us to follow her. "What the hell?"questions Walker. "God is there anything you don't complain about?"I ask I turn back to him. Hoskins tries to cover the smirk plastered on his lips when he hears my words.

The door knob clicks as the young girl opens the door and points to a room. People are coming and going making it seem fairly easy to just slip in. "Karli is in there."announces Zemo. Sam and I make our way past the others when Walker's voice rings out again. "Hey. You got 10 minutes. Then we are doing things my way." I just roll my eyes and keep walking.

Candles light up the room, flowers cover even the barest areas in attempts to brighten the mood. It's very peaceful yet you can feel the heavy cloud bearing down on everyone. We listen carefully as Karli gives her speech about Donya and how much this lovely woman meant to her.

"I was alone. Until Mama Donya. Like a lot of you here, Mama Donya saved me. She clothes me, fed me, loved me." It's then she notices us and begins to back away, looking for a quick escape. Noticing the crowd around her she stays put, handing a child of the his mother. Her eyes never leaving us. "She taught me that we have to do for each other because they won't. And we know who they are. They imposed struggle and hardship on us, then labeled us as criminals for pushing back. But the struggle is what brings us all together. People who have nothing in common. For we are, after all, simply one world and one people. So live accordingly."

Somberly people make their way to the casket, placing this beautiful array of flowers on this woman. As I watch I start to question if Karli really is the bad guy here. "I saw you back there."she says as she turns to us. "You look like your doing better."she adds as she looks at me. "It's just us, we came alone."Sam assures her. "We just want to talk."I tell her. "Bold of you." "I'm sorry for your loss."Sam tells her.

I watch as her body stiffens, not sure of what to say or do. Instead she slowly begins to back away. "Don't condescend to me. I'm not a child."she snaps. "We aren't trying to condescend. We know what it feels like to lose someone."I tell her. "Yeah well your husband ended up being alive and came to save you." "Well I mean you did try get rid of him but pushing him off a moving truck, but that's besides the point."I say. She just rolls her eyes.

"We do really know what it's like. Believe me."Sam tries to explain. "No, you don't. Not like this." There is this moment of silence between the 3 of us. I think back to everyone I have lost. The list just keeps growing. "This doesn't have to be a war Karli."Sam tells her. "They started a war."she counters, "as soon as they kicked us out of our new homes and onto the street. People all around the world need me. Millions of them."

"We can't speak for millions but we understand you, myself more than anyone else."I tell her. Her eyes seem to soften the more I explain. "I understand your frustration."I say as I slowly step towards her, "I understand you helplessness. In fact I have been right where your standing. Where it feels like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders while the floor feels like it's crumbling beneath you." Unsure she takes a small step towards me.

"So you want me to stop because people are getting hurt right?"she says as she now begins to circle us, "but what if I'm making the world a better place?" "It's not a better place if you're killing people." Sam says, "it's just different."

She gives a small smile before sitting down, "you're either brilliant or just hopelessly optimistic." Sam chuckles a little earning more of a smile from Karli. "Well, can't I be a little bit of both?" "No."