Riley's Girl

Desperate Measures

You were walking down a long, white, clinical hallway with an armed guard escorting you both, only emphasising how truly desperate you had both become. Not only had you suggested this, Bucky agreed to with it. 

The guard then slowly comes to a halt, nodding towards a steel door "He's through there."

You and Bucky turn and look at one another, just as you're about to open your mouth to speak, Bucky beats you to it. 

"I'll take it from here. You wait for me." His voice stern, and he had the most serious look on his face, it was unnerving even to you. Then his words sink in, you shake your nerves aside, feeling your eyes widen at him. 

"What? Are you crazy?" you tilt your head, in utter disbelief. "Not a chance, you shouldn't be alone with him." You were dumfounded that he would even make such a suggestion given his history.

You sigh, having to take a glance down the hallway to compose and recentre your thoughts "Besides getting him means it helps Y/N. I need this to work." Your voice trails off, as the overwhelming feeling of failure consumed you. If you failed, it meant you'd break the promise to Riley, but more importantly, she'd be hurt or worse... killed.

Bucky takes a step towards you, his face still serious, but his eyes had softened "You think I don't know what's at stake?" his voice now matching your earlier disbelief. You hung your head, worry and guilt tearing their way through you. He takes a deep breathe, you then feel his hand on your shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze.

As you met his gaze, he gave you a soft smile "I've got this man. Have a little faith." You give him a simple nod, as you exhale.

"I'll be out in 10 minutes." Bucky says determined as he follows the guard who was waiting by the door just ahead of you both, disappearing through the door. The very thought that you had no input in this part of the plan, made you more anxious than ever. What if sending Bucky wasn't the best plan? What if it's the worst thing you two could have done? Had you just signed your bestfriend's girl death certificate? 

-Bucky's Perspective-

You walk through numerous secured doors, waiting patiently as you hear buzzers go off, followed by the clicking of locks and the sliding of the doors that allowed you through the glass cell sitting right in front of you.

The corridor that lead up to it, was dotted with spotlights illuminating enough ahead of you to walk safely without lighting up the entire corridor, as you finally reach the cell you come to a stop. 

"Long time, no see." you say plainly. 

You couldn't fully see him, just the bottom half of his body as he was literally hiding in the shadows, something that wasn't a surprise for him. He spent most of his lifetime hiding in the shadows. It was how he functioned. 

But much to your surprise, he sat forwards, exposing himself to the light and finally showing his face to meet your gaze. You once again looked upon the man who tried destroying you... Zemo. 

"James Barnes." He spoke coldly, but there was a hint of smug. He knew you coming here was desperate, and he was right. 

You were. But it was time to swallow your pride. 

"I need your help." 

He tilts his head and smirks "Oh, is that so?" 

You stare at him, unamused by his attitude. 

"What with exactly?" He was uninterested, he was making it very clear that he was in no way going to help you. He stood from his bed and walked over to his unit on the other side of his cell and seemed to be making a drink. 

"There's a new super soldier serum." you said matter of factly. You were now the smug one, you had no doubt in your mind that this would grip onto him and would categorically win him over. As well as hiding in the shadows, his main life purpose was to rid the world of and to quote him, himself my kind. 

Now you were right. 

Zemo's head whips up to look at you, horror was etched across his face. You saw that his breathes were becoming shallow and you could hear the gulp he took when the reality sank in. You had his attention. 

Perfect, Sam was right coming to him. Even if the plan was absolutely insane. 

Zemo then takes steps slowly to the glass. Once stood directly in front of you, he lets go of a breathe he was obviously holding and rolls his eyes. "What do you need me to do?" he asks. 

You remained stoic, remained calm, but inside you were relieved. You could now save Y/N and everyone from having to ever experience your torment or Karli's wrath again.