*narrator pov*
You, Bucky and Sam were somewhere you didn't recognise, and the boys were arguing as you made yourself comfortable in an old batty armchair eating a packet of crisps.
"He blew up the UN. He killed T'Chaka and framed you for it. Did you forget that? You think the Wakandans forgot about it? It's a rhetorical question. They didn't" San argued. "I know why this matters to you, but it's pushing you off the deep end."
"Sam, we don't know how they're getting the serum. We don't even know how many of them there are. Let me just walk you though a hypothetical. Can I walk you through a hypothetical?"
"Aha this is not gonna be hypothetical" you laughed.
"What did you do?" Sam asked suspiciously.
"I didn't do anything" Bucky protested.
"He definitely did do something" you nodded.
Bucky ignored you and started to explain.
"The weakest point in any system isn't the software, the hardware, the meat ware. The human element. Now in this lockup it's nine to one, prisoners to guards. And if two prisoners start fighting then the protocol says four guards have to respond."
"And why would two prisoners start fighting at that moment Buck?" you giggled.
"My question exactly" Sam frowned.
"Who knows? There could be many reasons."
"Bet one of them is that you had something to do with it" you muttered.
"Look the point is, these things escalate. Lockdown procedures would have to be initiated, and with all those bodies flying around left and right, wouldn't be hard to slip down a hallway or two."
"You've really thought about this, haven't you..."
"And if the fire alarm got tripped" Bucky carried on, ignoring you. "While the prisoners were being separated, someone could use the chaos to their advantage."
"I don't like how casual you're being about this" Sam complained. "This is unnatural."
"Mhm" you agreed. "And also, where the fuck are we baby? This place seems old and I swear to god if a rat or some shit comes anywhere near me-"
You stopped talking when you heard a door open.
Zemo walked into sight.
"Woah woah woah" Sam objected.
"No, listen" Bucky said.
"Who 'dis?" you wondered.
"What are you doing here?" Sam yelled and started to walk towards him. Bucky got in the way.
"I didn't tell you 'cause I knew you wouldn't let this happen."
"What did you do?"
"We need him Sam."
"You're going back to prison!"
"If I may-" Zemo protested.
"No!" Bucky and Sam yelled in unison.
You laughed, putting crisps in your mouth, and the boys continued to argue.
Zemo looked at you confusedly.
"Sup" you grinned and ate another crisp.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"I asked first."
"I'm y/n."
"Y/n who?"
"Y/n Barnes" you smirked.
"Barnes? Are you his sister?"
"She is my girlfriend, you do not talk to her!" Bucky yelled, then turned back to Sam.
Zemo watched as you poured the crumbs from the crisp packet into your mouth.
"If your last name is Barnes, are you not his wife?"
"Nope. Just girlfriend" you shrugged. "It's complicated. I wouldn't ask."
"Hey what did I just say" Bucky marched over to stand between you and Zemo.
Sam followed.
"If we do this, you don't make a move without our permission" Sam instructed.
"Fair" Zemo nodded.
"Okay, Zemo, where do we start?" Sam asked.
Sam and Zemo made intense eye contact for a few seconds.
"Could we possibly start at McDonalds? I'm still hungry... and I'd love a milkshake."
Bucky sighed and held out his hand for you to hold, and he pulled you up from the chair.
Then, the four of you walked out the room, through some more doors, and into a parking lot.
"So our first move is grand theft auto?" Sam questioned.
"These cars all look really old" you stated.
"These are mine" Zemo informed. "Collected by family over the generations."
Bucky let go of your hand and started opening doors of random cars.
"I spent years hunting people Hydra recruited to recreate the serum" Zemo continued. Because once it's out there, someone can create an army of people... like the Avengers."
Zemo opened a car door and pulled out a bag.
"I ended the Winter Soldier program once before. I have no intention to leave my work unfinished. To do this we'll have to scale a ladder of lowlifes."
"Join the party, we've already started" Sam moaned.
"First stop is a woman named Selby. Mid-level fence I still have a line on. From there, we climb."
"Sounds fun" you grinned as you picked up Bucky's hand again.
"You have a twisted idea of fun" Sam sighed.
Bucky kissed you, before you started following Zemo out the building. Zemo noticed, and smirked without you seeing.
You got in a car, and Zemo drove it to an airport, where a plane was waiting for you on the tarmac.
"Private jet. Nice" you admired. "But! Does it have McDonald's?"
"Y/n if you want to come with us you need to shut up a little bit" Bucky warned.
"Sorry baby" you smiled and kissed his cheek. He stared straight ahead, at Zemo who was watching you.
"So all this time you've been rich?" Sam enquired.
"I'm a Baron, Sam" Zemo informed, still looking in your direction. "My family was royalty until your friends destroyed my country."
Zemo spoke to someone in Russian, who replied in the same language.
You boarded the jet one by one, and Bucky did not let go of your hand until you were sat down opposite him.
The plane took off, and you were all sat in silence until Zemo's butler came back with a glass for him.
"Apologies if that's a little warm, the fridge is out, but I will see if there is some good food in the gallery" the man said.
"Oh food! Yes!" you grinned.
He walked off and you sat quietly again.
"You don't know what it's like to be locked in a cell" Zemo started. "Oh, that's right. You do."
"Why don't you tell us about where we're going?" Sam asked.
"I'm sorry" Zemo said, ignoring Sam and picking up your hand. "I can't help admiring this ring. Did James really get this for you?"
Before you could say anything, Bucky had stood up and was holding Zemo by the neck.
"If you touch her again, I'll kill you" he whispered close to his face.
Bucky sat back down, pulling your hand so you got up from your own seat and sat on his lap.
"I'm sorry" Zemo apologised. "I didn't realise how much she was worth to you."
"Don't push it" Bucky warned.
You whispered in his ear, so the others couldn't hear.
"That... was hot" you smiled, then kissed him on the side of his head.
Bucky turned to face you, and placed a kiss on your lips.
You held the back of his neck and didn't let him stop.
"Oh come on guys" Sam complained. "Really? You gotta do that here and now?"
You ignored him and continued kissing.
"I don't mind" Zemo smirked.
That made Bucky stop and you angrily threw the screwed up empty crisp packet from your pocket at him. It fell to the floor before it hit him. You frowned disgustedly at Zemo.
"Where exactly are we going?" you asked, already bored.
"Madripoor" Zemo informed.
"What's up with that place? You guys talk about it like it's Skull Island" Sam commented.
"It's an island nation in the Indonesian archipelago. It was a pirate sanctuary back in the 1800s" Bucky explained.
"Oh shit... I remember pirates" you recalled. "That was a good time." - in the 1800s you had been 800 and something going on 900 years old.
"What does she mean?" Zemo enquired.
"Nothing. She's joking" Bucky lied.
"Sorry" you subtly whispered in Bucky's ear so Zemo didn't notice.
"Will you just be quiet?" Bucky pleaded.
"Okay baby. Love you."
Bucky rolled his eyes, but whispered "I love you too" back, and gave you a quick kiss.
"It's kept its lawless ways. But we cannot exactly walk in as ourselves." Zemo had carried on talking. "James, you will have to become someone you claim is gone."
"What about us?" Sam wondered, gesturing between you and him.
"I have the perfect covers for each of you.
———
The plane landed, and you changed into some new clothes.
"We have to fix this" Sam shook his head. "I look like a pimp."
"Yeah well at least you don't look like a fucking hooker" you complained.
"For the record I think you look stunning" Zemo commented, then turned to Sam. "And of course only an American would assume a fashion-forward black man looks like a pimp." He pulled out his phone and showed a picture to Sam. "You look exactly like the man you're supposed to be playing. The sophisticated, charming African rake named Conrad Mack, aka the Smiling Tiger."
"He even has a bad nickname. Hell, he does look like me though" Sam admitted.
"Okay, but who the fuck am I meant to be?" you asked.
"Oh you can just be yourself..." Zemo started.
"You don't think that'll be suspicious?" Bucky asked.
"... but you can act as my girlfriend for the time being" Zemo smirked.
"No" Bucky shook his head. "That is not happening."
"How else do you suggest we do this?"
"I don't know. But you are not going anywhere near here. Y/n... can wait outside."
"Right. Because leaving her alone is safer than having her with us. You wouldn't want to lose something so precious, now would you?"
Zemo was clearly enjoying Bucky's irritation.
"Fine" he hesitantly agreed. "But I swear to god if you try anything..."
"Yes, you'll kill me. I'm familiar with your ways James."
"Good."
"But just remember, if you break character, we could all die."
You walked over to Bucky and took his hand.
"I'll be fine baby. Promise" you smiled and kissed his cheek.
You got in a car that had been waiting for you, and it headed towards the city.
"Better take my hand, my love" Zemo teased when you got out. "Don't want anyone getting the wrong idea."
You rolled your eyes and begrudgingly held his hand instead of Bucky's.
The four of you walked, not far, until you were outside a bar.
"Here we are" Zemo declared.
"Ready to comply... Winter Soldier" Zemo said in Russian as you walked towards the bar.
You heard murmurs as you pushed through the crowd.
"Hello gentlemen" the bartender greeted. "... and lady. Who is this?"
"This is my beautiful prize, y/n" Zemo smiled, and leaned in to give you a kiss. You turned so he only caught your cheek, when he had obviously been going for the lips.
Bucky tensed, and Sam glared at him warningly.
"Wasn't expecting you Smiling Tiger" the bartender nodded at Sam.
"His plans changed" Zemo spoke for him. "We have business to do with Selby."
The bartender looked cautiously between the four of you, ending with Sam.
"The usual?"
Sam didn't know what to say, so he just nodded.
The bartender revealed a snake, and you pulled a disgusted face as he cut it open.
"Ah" Zemo remarked. "Smiling Tiger, your favourite."
The bartender handed the drink to Sam. You tried to hide your laughter at Sam.
"I love these" Sam hesitated, before pouring the entire glass quickly down his throat.
A man came up to the bar behind you, and Zemo turned to face him.
"I got word from on high" the man said. "You ain't welcome here."
"I have no business with the Power Broker, but if he insists, he can either come and talk to me..." Zemo said, then gestured at Bucky.
"New haircut?" the man asked.
"Or bring Selby for a chat" Zeno finished.
The man walked off again.
"A power broker? Really?" Bucky sighed.
"Every king down needs its king. Let's just pray we stay under his radar."
"Do you know him?"
"Only by reputation. In Madripoor, he is judge, jury and executioner."
"Are we sure this power broker is male? Because like, females make pretty badass leaders if I do say so myself..."
"Winter Soldier" Zemo cut you off, talking in Russian. He had noticed someone walking up to them. "Attack."
The man put a hand on Zemo's shoulder, and you gasped slightly as Bucky stepped forward and pulled it off.
He moved a few steps away, before starting to beat him up.
Behind Zemo's back, you reached out for Sam's hand and squeezed it as you watched Bucky fight more people that kept coming over.
"Didn't take much for him to fall back into form" Zemo mentioned.
Bucky held someone by the neck on the bar right next to you.
People started to pull out and cock their guns.
Sam put a hand on Bucky, but Zemo stopped him.
"Stay in character or the whole bar turns on us" Zemo said, then turned to Bucky and spoke in Russian. "Well done Soldier."
"Selby will see you now" the bartender said.
Zemo thanked him and Bucky let go of the man he was holding down.
Zemo was standing between you and him, so you just looked at him worriedly.
"You good?" Sam asked.
Bucky ignored him.
You were going to step towards him but Zemo dragged you away by your hand. He walked with you out the room, but you looked back at Sam and Bucky both following you.
Bucky half-smiled, comfortingly, and you nodded at him.
You walked into a room, where a woman was sitting on a couch.
"You should know Baron" she declared. "People don't just come into my bar and make demands."
"Not a demand. An offer" Zemo sat down, finally letting go of you. You backed against a wall, and stood next to Bucky.
He reached over and held your hand behind his back.
"A lot had changed since you were here last" Selby continued. She looked up at Bucky, who let go and stepped away from you slightly. Then she looked at you.
"Who's that?"
"Y/n is my love" Zemo smirked.
"I thought you were rotting away in a German prison. How did you find a girlfriend?"
"People like us always find a way for things, don't we?" Zemo stated. "I'm sure you've already figured out what I'm here for."
"You're taller than I'd heard" Selby pointed at Sam without looking. "Smiling Tiger."
She looked up at him, and Sam simply nodded.
"What's the offer?" Selby wondered.
"Tell us what you know about the super-Soldier serum" Zemo stood up and walked between you and Bucky. "And I give you him. Along with the code words to control him of course. He will do anything you want."
You clenched your fists in anger, until you made eye contact with Sam, and you let go.
"Now that's the Zemo I remember" Selby grinned. "I'm glad I decided not to kill you immediately. Yeah you were right to come to me. Arrogant, but right. The super-soldier serum is here in Madripoor. Dr Wilfred Nagel is the man you wanna thank. Or... condemn. Depending on what side of this you're on. The power broker had him working on the serum, but... things didn't go as planned."
"Is Nagel still in Madripoor?" Zemo asked.
"Oh. The breadcrumbs you can have for free" Selby teased. "But the bakery is gonna cost you, Baron. And before you get all cute, don't think you can find Nagel without me."
Suddenly, a cell phone started vibrating. It was yours. You pulled it out, and quickly hung up on Peter.
"Who was that?" Selby walked up to you.
"No one" you claimed.
"Selby, she is not part of this. You can leave her alone" Zemo got up and walked towards you also.
Selby got closer, just as your phone rang again.
"Answer it" she spat in your face. "On speaker."
"No I don't think I will" you frowned as you hung up yet again.
A text popped up on your screen.
"Hey y/n, you okay? Call me? Xx" Peter messaged you.
"Who is Peter?" Selby asked, inches from your face. She gestured at one of the men in the room, who pointed his gun at you.
"My... brother" you lied.
"Well. Call him back" Selby said.
The man with the gun got closer, with his finger hovering on the trigger.
You looked at Bucky, who nodded slightly.
You unlocked your phone and called Peter.
"Hey y/n, are you okay?" he asked as soon as he answered.
"Yeah Pete I'm fine."
"You said you'd call when you got back from dinner with Bucky. Is everything alright? Did something happen between you two?"
Selby looked confused, and very angry.
"Bucky?" she asked, then looked in realisation at the Winter Soldier. Then at Zemo. Then at the man with the gun. "Kill them."
He held the gun up to your head, and two shots fired.
