BOOK 4 of the ORPHIC Series
DISENTHRALL
/ˌdisənˈTHrôl/
set free.
~~~~~
When Lucille 'Lucy' Opal Baker starts adjusting to a world without Captain America and more government therapy sessions...
T H E F A L C O N A N D T H E W I N T E R S O L D I E R
17
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"That's too coincidental to be a coincidence."
Madripoor, Indonesia July, 2024
SAM GLARED AT THE four supposed bodyguards circling him and Zemo. They were seated in the goddamn warehouse, waiting for Lucy, Bucky and Rumlow to return. A part of him wanted to tell Steve how fucked up the ex-HYDRA asshole really was. A part of him wanted Steve to take the shield from Walker and smack Rumlow in the face with it. Yeah, that sounded real satisfying. Or maybe he'd use his wings to shove him into the ground. Hell yeah, that sounded even better. He could feel Zemo glancing at him ever so often, boredom having overtaken him.
Sam was sure he was going to start spewing some philosophical shit that he had no interest in. His knee shook with nerves as they waited in silence.
It sucked, the way that Lucy and Bucky were practically powerless against Rumlow. It wasn't like it was programming, Sam reminded himself, it was something psychological and mental and something that definitely had to do with the guilt they both tried so hard to hide. Sam had seen those eyes turn dark with self-loathing, he'd seen those eyes form a guilt so strong it made his stomach turn.
It was a rare occasion when he caught it, but catching it made it all the more real.
And Sam, well, Sam wasn't qualified for this. Hell, Dr. Raynor wasn't either–maybe that's why it seemed like the pair were getting worse. If only Tony was here. Sam dismissed the thought, pushing the memory away. It wasn't like Pepper had stopped helping the pair– for all Sam knew, Pepper was still keeping tabs on them to make sure they were okay.
Still, Sam wished there was something he could do. But it was overly frustrating when it was clear James didn't want his help, and, consequently, Lucy.
The doors to the warehouse opened and Sam lifted his head.
The guards had pointed their weapons at the sound, but immediately lowered them when they recognized the person who entered. Sam narrowed his eyes as Henry stomped forwards with a hospital bed rolling behind him. Brock was to the left of it, holding onto it while Klause pushed it forwards.
Relief filled his body when he saw Lucy and James, though Lucy had somehow got ahold of her Avengers uniform. Sam stood to his feet, Zemo following suit. The frustration in his eyes was carefully concealed as he observed James.
Sam watched, disturbed by the way James slightly stiffened, letting Zemo scan him like he was some sort of package. It made him want to throw up and punch Zemo at the same time.
