Not Quite a Soldat

8

The sound of Steve's shield banging against the safe bunker that Zemo was becoming louder with each footstep Chanel took to where they were. Rusted. Everyone else was too preoccupied fighting the soldiers to help him get to Zemo or help get Bucky out. Seventeen. Chanel was pushing herself to go faster. Daybreak. Bucky froze before running up to the bunker that held Zemo and punching at him with all his might. Furnace. Chanel had taken a wrong turn but quickly rerouted herself. Nine. Even Wanda couldn't stop the soldiers, they fought in too close combat to let her get a chance to use her powers. Benign. Tony had moved Rhodey into a corner, the only thing he could manage to do after seeing the video of Bucky killing his parents. Homecoming. Peter barely missed the punch of a soldier and Clint became very protective over the obviously young Avenger.

"Chanel, what the hell are you doing?!"

Tony yelled, finally snapping to attention. One. Bucky turned around in shock hearing her name.

"Freight car."

"No!" the others yelled.

"Attack them," Zemo said. "Kill them all and then yourself."

Steve, being the closest, braced himself for a blow that never happened. For whatever reason, Bucky didn't move.

"I said attack them."

Chanel didn't stop looking at Bucky. Maybe it was dumb but she showed him the gun and threw it away from her, back into the hallway she came from. Chanel grabbed the knife and slid it across the floor. Bucky didn't make a move to grab it, not right away.

"Soldat?" she asked, tentatively.

"готов соблюдать."

"I don't speak Russian."

"Ready to comply," he switched to English without a second thought.

"Will you help us stop the rest of them? The other Winter Soldiers," she added quickly as Chanel watched Bucky's eyes scan the room trying to figure out who the 'us' was versus the 'them'.

Bucky nodded and began to work with Steve. They didn't have time to process Chanel screaming 'no' as she watched Zemo shoot himself. His revenge had failed and he wanted to be with his family. If his plan had succeeded, that was always the ending for him— returning to his family. Chanel focused on the rest of the room to see they had put down all the other soldiers. Bucky stood straight and everyone was on eggshells. They watched him pick up the knife and place it in her palm. He waited with no expression for Chanel's next instruction.

"I'm sorry, I don't know how to turn it off. I don't know the word... come back, Bucky."

He didn't turn off but followed her to the quinjet that was brought back around.

"What's wrong with him?" Ross asked as they stepped off of the quinjet. He was surrounded by guards and other heads of security from different countries.

"Zemo said the words," Steve explained.

"Why isn't he locked up? He's still—"

"Under her control."

"Chanel?"

"Zemo said the words and Buck turned around and followed her."

They watched the way Ross cringed and everyone knew Steve had somehow just said the wrong thing. Before they could stop it, Chanel and Bucky were being arrested. The most Ross could do was tell them to be gentle and put them both in the same cell.