Riley's Girl

TMI

Zemo pours himself a cup of tea. Thinking to himself if he should say what he is thinking, hell why was he thinking of it. Nothings ever stopped him saying what's on his mind before, why start now. 

"Even with the attitude, I have to say Miss Y/N is far more pleasant than you, soldier." making a dig at you. 

It pulls you out of your trance as you stared at the window, you were now instead staring at him, with nothing but hatred and distain. 

Without even looking at you, or moving his eyes off pouring his tea "That look you're giving me right now is a prime example." he taunts, forcing a sigh from you. 

"I see her point now."

"What point is that?"

"You never shut up", you spit out.

"Yes." he spoke plainly, unusually for him "Pity." sarcasm, there he is. "I do wonder, how she came to have so much knowledge of events that happened before our dusted departure though." he spoke in that voice, the one where he was trying to make a point, without actually making the point. 

The hidden agenda one, the one he used when he drove the wedge between Steve and Tony exposing your own Winter Soldier antics. That voice that makes you want to rip his throat out. 

"That is none of your business." you immediately go on the defensive, shutting him down before he starts his mind games again. "We got you out, to track her down and yet she tracked us down." you look at him with doubt, dipping the corners of your lips. "Clearly, she's more resourceful than any of us realise." you were smug, you felt you had the upper hand and crushed his spirit, even a little. 

But you were wrong.

"Yes it would appear so." he begins, dramatic as usual. "The bigger question is then... how resourceful is she?" he asks rhetorically, his usual mind tricks.

"Zemo, just get to your damn point." you had enough.

"She survived the blip, she got in with the flagsmashers gained their trust and just decides to leave now? and survives again... Come on Barnes that doesn't strike you as suspicious." he questions, almost genuinely. 

"It doesn't. It strikes me as resilient, tough and determined. Now watch your damn mouth. As long as Sam trusts her, I trust her, you on the other hand." you grit through your teeth, him now pushing your buttons. 

He nods his head "Fair enough." he looks to the side, thinking for a moment "your doubt is justified..." you look at him closely as you see him thinking of his next words. "Your confidence however, appears foolish." once again, he sounded genuine. 

You glance at him, worried that he may know something you don't. Worrying about who Y/N really was, what was she capable of? Did Sam really know the woman she was now? Or was this just another one of Zemo's mind games to split you two up and weaken you, it wasn't something he was afraid to do to a team. 

During their discussion, you had been frozen outside Sam's door, looking at it, raising your hand to knock before dropping it straight back down, shaking your hand free of the nerves and shakes you had. 

You were trying to build up as much courage as you could to not only see him again, but to properly face him. You were just as stubborn as one another, but this time you had  to win. 

On the other side of the door, Sam was slumped in a chair in his room, reminiscing as he stared at old photos of you and he, him and Riley and the three of you together. Hoping, praying and begging that nothing bad had happened to you, that you were still alive.

Hoping he hadn't broken the only thing Riley promised him to do. 

You take one final deep breathe. "Come on, this is for him, not you. Toughen up." you give yourself a pep talk and reminder of the reason you were even stood there. You knew this was risky, but this was a risk you were not only willing to take but needed to take. 

You raise your hand and knock three times, awaiting a response. 

"Come in." Sam shouts shakily, his emotions obviously overwhelming him. 

You slowly open the door, and set eyes on your bestfriend, your heart skips a beat. Your palms instantly clam up. He hasn't looked up from his pictures, not expecting anyone other than Bucky or Zemo, because why would he think you'd be there. 

"Hey there fellow musketeer." you say softly with a small smile. 

He stops messing with the pictures, staring forwards before he raises his eyes to meet your gaze. His expression remaining stoic, no visual reaction to seeing you. 

Your nerves now a wreck... shit this was a bad idea.