White Panther--Bucky x Y/N

Chapter 24

2023

It took Sam a little bit to answer.

"Why are you making such a big deal out of something that has nothing to do with you?" Sam said. You sighed. This again.

"Steve believed in you," Bucky said. "He trusted you. He gave you that shield for a reason. Not me, not Y/N, not anyone. He gave it to you. That shield, that is...that is everything he stood for. That is his legacy. He gave you that shield, and you threw it away like it was nothing."

"Shut up," Sam growled.

"So maybe he was wrong about you," Bucky said. "And if he was wrong about you, then he was wrong about Y/N and I."

"You finished?" Sam said.

"Yeah," Bucky said, pissed.

"All right, good," Sam said. "Maybe this is something you, Y/N, or Steve will never understand. But can you accept that I did what I thought was right?"

Bucky hung his head, biting his lower lip. Sam scoffed.

"You know what, Doc?" Sam said. "I don't have time for this. We have some real serious shit going on."

Raynor rolled her eyes.

"So how about this?" Sam continued. "I will squash it right now. We go deal with that, and when we're done, we both can go on seperate, long vacations, and never see each other again."

"I like that," Bucky said, turning his gaze to you.

"Great," Sam said. "Well, let's get to work."

He looked at Raynor dramatically. "Thanks, Doc, for making it weird. I feel much better. I'll see you outside." Sam slapped the side of Bucky's shoulder than stood up in his chair and left the room.

"Thank you!" Raynor called after him. "That was, really great." Bucky stood up in his chair and turned to face you, holding his hand out.

You stood up slowly, deactivating the suit.

"I know that look," Raynor said, looking at Bucky. "What's wrong?"

You grabbed Bucky's hand and you both looked at Raynor.

"What was rule number two again?" Bucky asked.

"Don't hurt anyone," Raynor said. Bucky stared at Raynor for a moment.

"Goodbye, Doc," Bucky said. And he led you out of the room.

~~

Once outside of the police station, it was back to the sound of the busy streets.

Sam was waiting for both of you.

"Well, I feel better," Sam said. You rolled your eyes.

"I feel awful," You said. Bucky squeezed your hand gently. A police car siren whooped just a few cars away.

There stood John and Lemar.

"Gentlemen, and Lady Panther," John said. Bucky looked at John, than kissed you on the head, still looking at him. "Good to see you again."

You rolled your eyes.

"Look, if we divide ourselves," John said. "We don't stand a chance, you guys know that." Bucky rested his arm on the top of the police car and swung his other arm around your shoulder.

"So what do you got?" You asked.

"Well, the leader's name is Karli Morgenthau," John said. "We've been targeting civilians who've been helping Karli from place to place."

"They geotagged a location," Lemar said. "Then scrambled the signal. But our satellites have found their symbol popping up in various displaced communities all across Central and Eastern Europe."

"We think she's taking the medicine she just stole to one of those camps," John said.

"Well, there are hundreds of those all over the planet since The Blip," Bucky said. "So I guess you'll have to look real hard."

"Good thing I have 20/20 vision, huh?" John said. You looked at Sam who looked at you, smiling, holding in a laugh.

"Where is she now, Walker?" You said. "Do you know?"

"No, we don't know, Y/N," John said, raising his voice. "It's only a matter of time before we find out."

"Things are really intense for you, aren't they, Walker?" You said.

"Take it easy. Look, Walker's right," Sam said. Bucky and you looked at Sam as if he was the craziest person on earth. "It is imperative that we find them and stop them. But you guys have rules of engagement and all kind of authorizations you have to get. We're free agents. We're more flexible. So it wouldn't make sense for us to work with you. And besides, we have Y/N."

You smiled at him when he said that, making you feel appreciated and strong.

Sam led you and Bucky away.

"A word of advice then," John said. All of you turned to face him. He looked at you, right into your soul.

"Stay the hell out of my way, and Y/N, don't come running to me if Bucky breaks your heart," John said. You showed him your ring on your finger than held the middle finger up. You turned around on your heels and started walking away.

~~

It was late at night, but you, Bucky, and Sam were still walking out on the sidewalks, Bucky holding your hand. No one has spoken since the talk with John. Until Sam decided to speak.

"So, what are you thinking?" Sam asked.

"Well, I know what we have to do," Bucky said. "When Isaiah said 'my people'--"

"Oh, don't take that to heart," Sam said. "That's not what he meant."

"No, he meant HYDRA," Bucky said. You didn't look at Bucky, but you were paying close attention to what he was saying.

"HYDRA used to be my people," Bucky continued. Sam scoffed.

"Not a chance," Sam said.

"Walker doesn't have any leads," Bucky said.

"I know where you're going with this," You said, stepping in front of Bucky and stopping them from walking. "My answer is no."

"Same here," Sam said.

"He knows all of HYDRA's secrets, doll," Bucky said to you. "Don't you remember Siberia?"

"So you're just gonna go sit in a room with this guy?" You said.

"Yes..." Bucky said. You hesitated.

"Okay then..." You said. "We're gonna go see Zemo."

~~

The images of chess boards, security guards, and a small, quiet cage is all you could think about.

You zoomed in your mind and saw a shadow. A hunched over shadow sitting on a thin bed.

And there sat Zemo.