And We Go On

Roundtable Rival

Sam decides we need to try to move forward and check on these Flag Smashers. I ask to come along, and he agrees to talk to Torres to see what he can do. We reach the flight hangar and Sam stops to look at the poster of the new Captain.
I glare at the poster. I got what they wanted to do but this wasn’t the way to do it. He’d never be my Captain America.
“You met him?” Torres asks, walking up to us.
“No,” Sam responds.
“Thanks for doing this on such short notice.” Sam thanks him.
“Yeah no sweat.” He looks at me and smiles then back to Sam. “I’m just finishing up the checklist. You’ll be all good to go once you land in Munich.” We start moving towards the stairs that’ll lead us down to the floor, both carrying our bags of gear. As we round the corner, I see movement in the corner of my eye as I turn and I see Bucky walking this way. I freeze where I am and just stare as the two of them continue on. 
Bucky storms over to Sam and says, “Shouldn’t have given up the shield.”
“Good to see you too, Buck.”
Sam keeps walking past him while Bucky starts to follow him, continuing, “This is wrong.”
I slowly follow behind them, not bringing any notice to myself.
“Hey, hey, look, I’m working, all right? So all this outrage is gonna have to wait.”
“You didn’t know that was gonna happen?”
“No, of course I didn’t know that was gonna happen. You think it didn’t break my heart to see them march him out there and call him the new Captain America?”
“Steve didn’t want this.”
I roll my eyes. Yeah, I know he didn't. But Steve didn’t want a lot of things to happen, like you and me being in this situation. Or you being so withdrawn.
“Oh my god. What do you want me to do? Call America and tell'em I changed my mind? Huh?” Sam scoffs. “Yeah, right. It’s been a great reunion, buddy, be well.” Sam tries to say goodbye and walk past Bucky.
“You had no right to give up the shield, Sam.” He says as they finally stop.
I finally catch up to them and I go to stand on the right side of Sam, away from Bucky. Bucky finally notices me and his features change. He looks horrified, and worried, but also happy to see me. I don’t really know how to react, so I keep my face neutral. He goes to reach for me but Sam puts a hand out to stop him.
“Hey. This is what you’re not gonna do. You’re not gonna come in here in your overextended life and tell me about my rights.” Sam points angrily at him. Then he points to me, “And you’re not gonna force things to happen before you don't even realize and apologize for what happened.” He adds, leaning towards me.
“I don’t…” Bucky starts to say, then is lost for words.
“Forget it Sam.” I finally say and turn to start to walk away from both of them.
“It’s over, Bucky,” Sam finally says. I slow down and stop when I hear that. Did I really feel that way? Yes I was mad. But he never stopped caring for me or loving me, I knew that. But it also wasn’t right, feeling used as a placeholder.
“Besides, I have bigger things to deal with now.”
“What could be bigger than this?” I hear Bucky ask, and I can feel him looking right at me. Then he turns to Sam, making the comment towards the shield problem as well.
Sam then pulls out his phone and begins to tell Bucky all about the Flagsmashers. How Redwing traced something outside of Munich and then the banter started. They go on saying something about the big three, The Hobbit and I can’t help but start laughing out loud. They continue their banter then Sam laughs too.
Finally Sam adds, “Look these guys aren’t magical. They’re strong, like Steve. Like the guy in front of me with the staring problem.” Sam turns to meet me and we both start walking towards the open airplane deck.
“I’m coming with you.” Bucky states and follows us.
“No you’re not.”
_______
Well, he came with us. Guess he wouldn’t take no for an answer. And so the staring contest began. No one said anything, but I sat beside Sam and just watched the two of them watch each other. Occasionally Bucky glanced at me, but refused to lock eyes with me.
That annoyed me.
Then Sam got up and walked to put some additional gear on. Bucky got up and stood next to him asking, “So what’s our plan.”
Sam just turned around, putting his earpiece in, but didn’t answer.
“Great. So no plan.” He sits back down.
“Thirty seconds!” Torres shouts from the front.
“Enjoy your ride, Buck.” Sam says. At that, I walk to the front with Torres and don’t acknowledge Bucky as I pass. Okay, maybe I was being a little harsh. But as usual, when we had something to work through, someone was causing trouble in the world and we were preoccupied. At some point I'd have time to talk to him. If I felt like it.
“No, you can’t call me that.” I hear Bucky reply.
“Why not, that’s what Steve called you?”
“Steve knew me longer, and Steve had a plan.”
Boys. I can’t help but roll my eyes as my back faces them.
“Fifteen seconds to drop.” Torres states.
“I have a plan.” Sam says, as he reaches Torres he harnesses me as needed and we jump out, him carrying me. We slowly touch down and he unhooks me, having Redwing come out. We hear a noise and I look at Sam, confused.
“There’s no way.” I say incredulously.  Sam pulls up the feed and we watch as Bucky jumps out of the plane and crashes through the trees, landing hard on the ground. I stare at the video in shock, and then without warning, I start laughing hysterically. I knew he wasn’t badly hurt and part of me felt bad, but this man truly was crazy.
“You know I got all of that on camera, right?” Sam says through Redwing.
“Get out of my face, Sam, or I'll break it.”
Sam gives Bucky the coordinates to meet up with us in the abandoned warehouse we found.