Rumors and Ghosts

v. joining forces

[The Star-Spangled Man]

Bucky and Anastasia sat in their apartment as they watched the reveal of the new Captain America. Bucky had his hands to his knees as he and Anastasia stared intently at the TV.

"Did you know Steve Rogers?" the announcer asked.

"I was two years out of West Point when Steve came back on the scene," Walker replied. "I followed his career very closely as an Avenger. I like to think that I modeled my work after his."

Anastasia frowned, shaking her head.

"So, you've always wanted to be a hero?" the announcer questioned.

"I liked that what I was doing would make people feel safe. Steve Rogers was the kind of guy and girl who could do that, he gave me hope." Bucky and Anastasia tilted their heads, the former with a slightly seething expression. "So, even though I never met him or her, he feels like a brother." Bucky pursed his lips and Anastasia's frown deepened.

"Wow."

Anastasia and Bucky shared a look.

---

Sam looked at a poster of the new Captain America which read 'CAP IS BACK - JOHN WALKER'.

"Seems like a good guy," Torres commented. "You met him?"

"No," Sam said. "Thanks for doing this on such short notice."

As the two walked away, Torres replied, "Yeah. No sweat. I'm just, uh, finishing up the checklist. You'll be all good to go once you land in Munich." They walked down the metal stairs.

Bucky and Anastasia stalked up to Sam and the former said, "Shouldn't have given up the shield."

"Good to see you too, Buck, Anastasia."

"This is wrong."

"Hey, hey, look, I'm working, all right? So all this outrage is gonna have to wait." The three walked toward a plane.

"You didn't know that was gonna happen?"

"No, of course I didn't know that was gonna happen. You two think it didn't break my heart to see them march him out there and call him the new Captain America?"

"This isn't what Steve wanted," Anastasia told him.

"Oh, my God. So, what do you two want me to do? Call America and tell 'em I changed my mind? Huh?" He chuckled. "Yeah, right. It's a great reunion, buddy, Anastasia, be well."

"You had no right to give up the shield, Sam," Bucky retorted as the three of them stopped.

"Hey. This is what you two are not gonna do. You two aren't gonna come here in your overextended lives and tell me about my rights. It's over, Bucky, Anastasia. Besides, I have bigger things to deal with now."

"What could be bigger than this?" Anastasia asked.

Sam pulled out his phone and showed them a picture of a masked man, the leader of the Flag Smashers. "This guy. His connections with rebel organizations all over Eastern and Central Europe, and he's strong. Too strong."

"And?" Bucky pressed.

"Well, he's been connected to this online group called the Flag Smashers. Now, Redwing traced them to a building somewhere outside of Munich. So that's where I'm going."

"Well, I don't trust Redwing. I can't speak for Anastasia on that."

Anastasia shrugged, saying nothing, with a small smile.

Sam looked between them a moment. "Hold on a minute. You two don't have to trust Redwing, but I'mma go see if he's right. 'Cause I have a feeling they might be part of the Big Three."

"What "Big Three"?" Bucky and Anastasia asked.

"The Big Three."

"What Big Three?"

"Androids, aliens and wizards."

"That's not a thing," Bucky told him.

"That's definitely a thing."

"No, it's not," Bucky and Anastasia argued.

"Every time we fight, we fight one of the three."

"So, who are you fighting now, Gandalf?" Bucky questioned.

Sam looked between them. "Wh- How do you know about Gandalf?"

"I read The Hobbit in 1937 when it first came out."

"So you see my point?"

"No, we don't. There are no wizards."

"Doctor Strange."

"Is a sorcerer," Anastasia said.

"Aah!" He chuckled. "A sorcerer is a wizard without a hat. Think about it. Right? I'm right. I just came up with that. It's crazy. But that's not the point. These guys are magical. All right? They use brute force just like you, the incredibly annoying guy and the lost princess in front of me with the staring problem and the occasional snarkiness." He started walking off.

"Grand Duchess," Anastasia corrected.

"Whatever."

"We're coming with you," Bucky decided as he and Anastasia followed after him.

"No, you're not."

Bucky and Anastasia continued after Sam.

---

The plane flew to Munich, Germany.

An alarm blared and Torres skipped to where the three Avengers were before saying, "One minute to drop off, Sam." He walked to another area of the plane.

Sam, Anastasia and Bucky stared at each other.

Sam leaned forward, then Bucky, and both stood, followed by Anastasia, who was fed up with their arguing.

As Sam grabbed his goggles, Bucky asked, "So what's our plan?" Bucky walked away and Sam put in his earpiece without answering.

Bucky sat down and added, "Great. So no plan."

"Thirty seconds!" Torres said, looking out the open door.

"Enjoy your ride, Buck," Sam told them.

"No, you can't call me that," Bucky argued.

"Why not? That's what Steve called you and what Anastasia occasionally calls you."

"Steve and Anastasia knew me longer, and Steve had a plan and Anastasia thinks quick on her feet."

"Fifteen seconds to drop," Torres informed.

"I have a plan," Sam replied as he walked towards the open door.

"Really?" Bucky and Anastasia asked, standing. "What is it?"

Sam jumped out, extending his wings and Bucky muttered, "Great." His voice rose. "Where's the chute?"

"We're at 200 feet," Torres replied. "It's too low for a chute."

"We don't need it anyway." He and Anastasia walked to the door.

"You two sure about that?"

"Yeah."

Anastasia glanced at Bucky, seeing the fear in his eye and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Bucky offered her a small smile, ripped off his sleeve to expose his Vibranium arm, let go of her hand, and jumped out with a yell.

Anastasia put on a parachute, then jumped out of the plane.

Bucky grunted and groaned as he fell to the earth, hitting it with a thud. He let out another groan. Anastasia landed beside him and unclasped the parachute from around her before gathering it up.

Falcon said, "I have all of that on camera. You know that, right?"

Bucky stared at Redwing and retorted, "Get out of my face, Sam, or I'll break it."

"Okay, head north. Come on."