The Fall - Book 2

262. What the fuck is going on?!

DECEMBER 28, 2020 — BUCKY

"Do you think they're shapeshifters?" a woman's voice whispers.

"Really, Sinclair?" two voices whisper back.

'That sounds like Tony...and Steve,' I think.

"Well, yeah. I mean, you tried to choke a robot before! That's what Nat said! Plus, I mean...look at 'em.... Look at him!"

I try to open my eyes, but my lids feel like they weigh two tons.

"Réa? Can you hear me?"

"Bucky?! Oh, gods, you're alright!" The relief in her tone and that pours through our link causes my eyes to prick with tears. "I was so scared...I...you know what, that doesn't even matter right now. All that matters is that you're okay." She pauses. "You are okay, right?"

"Yeah. A little sore, and my head hurts, but I've had worse."

"Okay. Why don't you check on the others...I'll be here."

With a quiet groan, I manage to do so, wincing when bright, harsh light spears into my eyes. Forcing myself into a sitting position, I see the others leaning against the wall of the...my eyes search the room, recognizing it as one of the Hulk-proof containment cells at the compound.

"You guys okay?" I ask, my voice gruff; they all nod in response.

"That's enough talking," Tony's voice carries through the cell.

"Really, Stark? You're going to tell them they can't talk? We can hear everything; it's not like they're going to plan an escape."

'Yep, that's Steve's voice. But what is he—'

"Tony, what's going on? What are we doing in here? Where's Réa?"

"Who's Réa?"

I freeze, and my eyes move from Tony to a petite woman with multicolored hair.

"Who's Réa?" she repeats as she walks closer to the glass, and I realize this is the aforementioned Sinclair.

"Réa...something's not quite right...."

"What do you mean? What's going on?"

"Just...where are you?"

"I'm at the compound with Vision and Rhodey. When you..." she hesitates, "I came up here after you stopped responding. To see if they knew what happened."

"I—"

"Hey! I asked you a question!" The woman—Sinclair—taps the glass. "Who's Réa? Better yet, who are you?"

"Sweetheart, I'm going to try to let you see and hear this," I tell my wife.

"Okay."

"I'm Bucky."

"No, you're not."

"I really am."

"You look like Bucky...just like they," Sinclair gestures to the others, "look like Nat, Wanda, Bruce, Sam, Clint, Loki, and Thor. Doesn't mean you are them."

I'm not sure how to respond to that. Before I can, Nat pipes up.

"I want to know who you are," the redhead's tone is stern. "Because even though they look like Tony and Steve, they're obviously not—"

"Except they are."

"N—"

"This back-and-forth isn't getting us anywhere. Go get Wanda. The real Wanda," Steve...

'Nope, not Steve,' I think.

...Not-Steve interrupts Nat. "She can do her mind stuff and get us some real answers."

"Are you getting any of this?" I ask my wife.

"Yeah...that's...I wonder...." She trails off; after a moment, she speaks again. "I need to talk with Stephen first, but I think...I think you somehow wound up in a parallel universe."

I'm stunned into silence.

"If I'm right, the fact that our link is still strong means that we should be able to get to you. Again, I'll need to speak with Stephen first." She pauses. "Just...no matter what happens, promise me you won't try to shut me out."

"I promise."

"Okay. So. I'm going to get Conall ready, and blink to the Sanctum. I'll do like I did earlier—sort of mute the link—but I'm not going anywhere."

"I'll get as much information as I can. Might help you and Stephen figure out where exactly we are."

"Alright." She pauses again. "I love you, Bucky. I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Réa."

I return my focus to my current surroundings while Sinclair is mid-sentence. "...you just poof! Show up here, and—"

"Sinclair! Enough!" Not-Steve and Not-Tony snap.

The woman lets out a huff and crosses her arms. "Imposters," she mutters, then falls silent.

"Okay," Not-Tony continues. "Since you all insist on maintaining this ridiculous façade, you're going to be spending some time in here until we figure out what exactly to do with you."

"I said we should get Wan—"

"That's a start, Capsicle, but we need an actual plan."

"Yeah, Steve, Wanda's a person, not a plan!" Sinclair says, then pauses, tilting her head to the side. "That is a really good idea, though." She pats Not-Steve's shoulder. "Gold star!"

"Okay, you two, out," Not-Tony says.

As Not-Tony, Sinclair and Not-Steve turn to leave, I see the woman slip her hand into the pocket of her hooded sweatshirt.

"Oh god, Nova, not another sticker," Not-Steve grumbles.

"Yes, another sticker! You earned it!"

"Fine," he sighs. "Just...no more phallic ones."

"Phal...no. Say it, Steve. Say the word."

"Nova—"

"Say it!"

Not-Tony shakes his head as the trio exits the arrest area, Sinclair—Nova—still badgering Not-Steve. Once the trio is gone, I look at Wanda and discreetly tap my temple. She nods, and I immediately feel her in my mind.

"It's crowded in here," she quips.

"Yeah, this is weird. Anyway.... I'm going to tell you Réa's theory, and you can tell the others."

"Okay."

I relay Réa's idea about us having somehow managed to wind up in a parallel universe. I feel Wanda exit my mind, and though nobody speaks aloud, I know the moment she's told the team, because Clint speaks.

"What the fuck is going on?!"