14

(More bad things. I am sorry. Also, I accidentally hit publish before even beginning to write. Also also, consider yourself lucky because I had about five days before school starts back up and I had quite a few summer reading assignments and I only just started one of them, but I was writing this instead.) 

Walker POV 

I make my way through a not-so-high-security prison, looking for a specific prisoner who may be able to help me take down Barnes. All I really want is that damn shield back. After everything he and Wilson have done to me, I should at least deserve to keep that. 

I'm surprised they even let me in here. Maybe the news of my sudden unemployment hasn't reached them yet. This place is in the middle of nowhere, after all. 

They let me into the cell, telling me she's completely harmless. 

"I'm John Walker," I introduce myself. "I just want to talk." 

"I know who you are." She rolls her eyes. "What do you want from me?" 

"I need to control the Winter Soldier," I tell her. "I just don't know how." 

"You can't. The trigger words no longer work, and even if they did, why would I help you? What would I get out of this?" 

"I can free you from here," I offer, but she looks bored. My next offer seems to pique her interest immensely. "I can also get you your precious asset back." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Bucky POV 

"You look nice," I tell Sam, referring to his outfit. "Going out?" 

"I've got a date. Don't worry, Nat already did a background check. She's good." 

"That's good. What's her name?" 

"Liliana. Now, get outta my house so I can lock the doors." 

"I can lock the doors," I try to bargain. 

"No, man, go home." He starts trying to physically push me out the door. 

"But your shower's a lot nicer than mine. My water pressure sucks."

"You can shower tomorrow. Get out; I'm gonna be late." 

He eventually gets me out of the house and I walk home. The door to my apartment is unlocked. I enter the apartment as silently as possible, opening a drawer near the door that contains a small gun. 

Someone is definitely in here. I can hear them. It could be Steve. Whoever it is, is loud and stupid and inconsiderate, and Steve checks all those boxes. 

I follow the sounds into the bedroom I don't use and flick the light on, effectively startling the intruder. It's not Steve, but my guess was close enough because it's Budget Captain America. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" I demand. 

"Barnes," he sighs, looking unreasonably surprised despite the fact that I live here. "You know me, man. I'm not here to hurt you. Put the gun down." 

"You're crazy and I hate you. I'd gladly shoot you. Why are you here?" 

"I'm looking for something." 

"Well, I don't really... own... things, so you're not gonna find it here." 

He drops the friendly act and takes a threatening step towards me. Not fazed in the slightest, I cock the gun and point it at his face. 

"Look, Barnes," he snarls. "I know you know what I'm talking about, now where is it?" 

"I don't have it," I lie. What can I say? I'm stubborn and territorial. 

"That's fine. I don't need your help anyway." 

"If you honestly think I'm just gonna let you-"

"Sputnik," is the last thing I hear before everything goes black. 

------------- 

I wake up, confused. I look around the stone room and find John Walker sitting there, looking incredibly bored. 

"Finally, you're awake. I checked in Wilson's house; the shield isn't there, and I looked everywhere in your tiny, sad apartment. Where the hell did you put it?" 

"How did you know about...?" I ask, instead of answering him. 

"About how to knock you out? I basically sold you for information about you, so I could steal from you." 

I squint at him. That makes no sense. I've got a headache. A train passes nearby. Very loud. Must be close.

"The shield," he prompts. "Where is it?" 

"Why do you even want it?"

"Because it's mine. Now where is it?" 

That's something that I can understand: wanting to fiercely protect something that belongs to you. Except it isn't his. 

"I dunno," I grunt. "Go fuck yourself." 

Possibly over the top, but I hate this guy. 

He gets up from where he sits, walks over to where I'm laying, and kicks me in the face, cracking my skull against the stone floor underneath me. 

"I'll just go ask Steve." He makes sure I see the gun he's holding as he starts to walk away. 

"No, no, wait!" I protest, that hardwired need to protect Steve coming in handy like usual. "It's.. it's underneath the floorboards. Under the bed. In my apartment." 

"Great. Thank you. Now, stay put." 

To make sure I stay put, he stomps down on my ribcage, a sickening crunching noise filling the air, and, for good measure, shoots me in the left leg. Twice.  

"I'll be right back." 

I watch as he leaves and as soon as he's gone, I fish my cellphone out of my pocket and call Sam. 

~~~~~~~~~

Sam POV

My phone rings. I try to ignore it because I'm on a date and that would be very rude, but it just keeps on ringing. 

"That sounds important," Liliana points out. 

"Probably," I rub my hand over my face tiredly. "Would you mind if I-" 

"No, not at all!" she assures and I check the caller ID. 

It's Bucky, so it must be important. He never calls, especially when he knows I'm out with someone.

"It's my brother," I lie a little bit. "He's got a lot that's... wrong.. with him, so it might be really important that I take this. Is that okay?" 

"That's perfectly fine! Family first." 

"Thank you. I will be right back." 

I leave the restaurant and answer the phone. 

"You alright, Bucky?" I ask. "You called, like, eight times." 

"Yeah... n-no..." 

"Which is it?" 

"No," his voice is shakey and he sounds a little distant.

"What's wrong? Do you need me to come over there?" 

"I'm... I'm not at home. My chest hurts." 

"Where are you? What happened?" 

"I don't know... there's a train." 

On cue, I can hear a train whistle from his end of the line. 

"Okay. Gimme one second; I'm gonna come get you." 

I re-enter the building to explain the situation to Liliana. 

"I'm really sorry,"  I tell her, hoping it doesn't sound like I'm trying to blow her off on purpose, "but my brother needs me to go get him. I think he's in trouble, and-" 

"I understand completely," she cuts me off. "Go find your brother. We can do this some other time." 

"You're the best," I tell her, running back outside. I get into my car and start driving, though I have no idea where I'm even going. I'm still on the phone, so I speak to Bucky. "I'm gonna hang up and call Stark so he can track you, okay?" 

"'Kay."  

"Okay. I'll be there soon." 

(Okay I was gonna do the whole thing of this chapter but it's already been two months since the last one and on the off chance someone is reading this as it gets updated, I dont want to keep them waiting too long.)