The four made their way to the street hoping Zemo wasn't too far gone. As they searched the streets, Sam's phone began ringing and he answered. "She said what? Right. Hold on, hold on. I know, I know. Listen, pack an overnight bag and take the boys."
"What happened?" Bucky and Reya asked.
Sam lowered the phone. "Karli called Sarah. She threatened my nephews." He spoke into the phone again. "Okay. Go somewhere safe. Only pay cash. All right? Let me know when you get there. I know. Look, I love you. I'll never let anything happen to you and the boys, you know that. Okay. Bye." He hung up, looking at Bucky, Reya and Jessie. "Karli wants to meet. She left a contact number." His phone chimed. "She said come alone."
"I'm coming with you."
Jessie nodded. "I am too."
---
The four made their way back to the house and the Avengers changed into their uniforms.
---
They made their way to the address Karli had sent.
"Karli!" Sam shouted, looking up to see her leaning over a railing. They walked up the walkway and around the area, Sam leading. "You called my sister? That's how we're gonna play this?"
"Sam, I would never hurt her," Karli replied. "I just wanted to understand you better." She glanced at Bucky, Reya and Jessie who stood further behind Sam. "I see you, um, didn't come alone."
"You have to end this now."
"I don't wanna hurt you. You're just a tool in the regimes I'm looking to destroy. You're not hiding behind a shield. If I were to kill you, it'd be meaningless. I was gonna ask you to join me. Or do the world a favor and let me go."
Sharon, over the comms, said, "Hey, Sam, new Cap is moving, looks like he's found them, or maybe they found him."
"It's Walker," Sam informed.
Bucky and Jessie jumped off the balcony, but Karli hit him halfway down. Jessie barely managed to avoid Karli's attack. He groaned and Jessie frowned at Karli.
Sam glanced at Bucky and Jessie. "I'll send you two the location. Go!"
Bucky and Jessie ran off. Reya chose to stay with Sam.
---
Bucky jumped off a building ledge, then caught Jessie who jumped down, and ran through the streets, being chased by Karli.
Sam and Reya got to the building the Flag Smashers were hiding in, just in time to see John send a man flying through the air and over the stairs with one punch. The pipe the man was fighting with was bent and was thrown down. The man got up and ran away.
Sam stared a moment and asked, "What'd you do?"
"They've got Lemar," John answered, not slowing his stride as he walked past him.
Bucky and Jessie ran in and attacked the Flag Smasher. Jessie was knocked into a wall and let out a pained groan, immediately putting a hand to her head. The Flag Smasher wrapped an arm around Bucky's neck and Bucky used a foot to push off the wall before knocking the Flag Smasher back into another wall. Bucky managed to free himself and grunted as he kicked the Flag Smasher, knocking him down the stairs.
Bucky helped Jessie up and asked, "You okay?"
Jessie nodded. "Not the first hit to the head I've gotten."
He leapt from the stairs over the railing and landed on the ground while Jessie chose to run down the stairs. Bucky kicked the Flag Smasher, knocking him through a wall.
Bucky and Jessie walked closer to the unconscious Flag Smasher and said, "Stay there."
John, Bucky, Jessie, Reya and Sam followed the Flag Smasher into a large with windows covering the ceiling and most of the walls. When they got halfway into the room, they turned to see two more Flag Smashers jumping down. John sent the shield flying into both, but it did nothing to stop them, just knocked them off balance. Bucky twirled his knife in the air.
John fought another who pulled out a knife and asked, "What's with all the knives?"
Jessie punched a Flag Smasher back, ducking before another could hit her and kicked him back.
John and Reya continued fighting. The Flag Smasher Jessie was fighting pulled out a knife. Jessie grabbed his wrist and threw the knife to the side.
The blade was caught by Bucky who said, "Watch where you're throwing things."
"Sorry," she replied.
They continued fighting and one of the Smashers grabbed her from behind. Jessie glanced back and kicked him, sending him to the ground with a groan. She turned to see another running directly for Reya and Sam.
Bucky punched them in the face, knocked them down and said, "You're welcome."
Karli kicked Lemar, knocking him into a pillar.
The sound of breaking concrete caught her attention and she turned to see Lemar laying in front of a pillar, his body still and his head leaning to one side.
She ran up to him and checked his pulse before lowering her head.
John rushed towards his friend, trying to wake him up. "Hey. Hey. Hey. Lemar. Lemar." He repeated his friend's name, unable to wake him. He glanced to his sister. "Jess, you gotta him."
Jessie shook her head. "Lemar is gone. I'm sorry."
"You have to help him!"
"John, I can't. He's dead. I can't work miracles." She saw Sam, Reya and Bucky running after the Flag Smashers and muttered, "Shit." She turned back to her brother. "Don't do anything stupid." She ran off.
John got up and ran towards one of the windows. He jumped out of it and landed on a van. John looked around and shouted, "Where is she?!"
John caught the shield and used it to knock down one of the Flag Smashers who wasn't wearing a mask.
"It wasn't me!" the man cried from the steps as he tried defending himself. "It wasn't me!"
Jessie moved in front of the man and yelled, "Stop!"
John stared at her. "Don't make me hurt you. Move, Jess." He pushed her out of the way.
John turned to the man and used the shield to stab him, killing him. The crowd gasped and John yelled.
Jessie stood and pushed John. Not thinking in his anger, he knocked her in the head with the shield, causing her to fall. He straddled her and brought the shield to near her abdomen. Before he could strike, she managed to crawl away as she looked at him in fear.
Sam, Reya and Bucky ran up, looking in horror. The three stared at the crimson tainted shield.
Bucky caught site of the shaking blonde and frantically checked her over. "Did he hurt you?"
Jessie shook her head. "No, not really, but he... Bucky, he... He..." Her breaths increased and she ran a shaking hand through her hair.
Bucky took her hands and gently rubbed the back of them with his thumbs. "Hey, look at me. I'm right here. You're safe now."
Jessie glanced to her brother warily.
Bucky gently shifted her chin, turning her gaze back to him. "Hey, it's okay. I'm not gonna let him hurt you."
She nodded slowly as she asked quietly, "What happened to him?"
"I'm not sure. But we'll figure it out, okay?"
"Okay."
YOU ARE READING
Never Back Down // TFATWS
AkčníSam and Reya are newly dating after years of dancing around their feelings. Six months into their relationship, new threats emerge. Some, mainly a group of radicals, feels life was better during the Blip while others disagree. It's up to a group...
