Zeemster scurried along the dusty floor, stopping every few seconds to sniff the air for those pesky Hydra agents who stomped around in their heavy boots and shouted their angry words. The base was filled with them. The hamster tiptoed to the nearest corner and peeked around the wall, silver whiskers twitching as it searched for any sign of danger.
The coast was clear.
He squeaked and waited for the sound of tiny paws pattering over the floor behind him.
Noodlezeem waddled his way to the corner, little tail wagging once he spotted his comrade.
Zeemster pointed towards the door at the end of the hallway, just around the corner, and Noodlezeem let out a quiet wouf in agreement.
They had crawled through endless hallways of the base, hiding from large black boots and squeezing through piles of rubble, looking for this room.
Zeemster still didnt know why he needed this room in this base, he had woken up one night with a strange dream and knew that he needed to be here. Just like those dreams where he craved small powdery treats, and steamed his whiskers into flowery smelling liquid, and nibbled on a Hydra agent’s face until his screams woke the little hamster from his slumber.
Noodlezeem had the dreams too, though it was harder to communicate them when all the little daschund knew how to say was wouf—and sometimes a little whine when he wanted food, which was always. They were the same somehow, Zeemster knew it, like pieces of a puzzle—though, the last time Zeemster had tried to do a puzzle he had ended up eating the pieces and had a terrible tummy ache for days afterwards. He hoped that this room might hold the answers.
When Zeemster unlatched the door, standing on the tippy top of Zeemter’s damp nose while Zeemster stood on his back feet, and they both saw a man tapping away at a computer, they knew that this man was another piece of the same puzzle.
Zeemster held up a tiny paw, telling Noodlezeem to wait outside—the hamster was far better at sneaking than the wiggly dog—and scurried into the room.
The man at the desk squinted his eyes at the screen, oblivious to Zeemsters sneaking steps. He had the same golden-brown hair as Noodlezeem, and his silver-collared coat matched the spotted fur around Zeemsters neck. Zeemster had to admit that the man bore a striking resemblance to himself, with his rounded cheeks and his button nose. Then Zeemster spotted it…
The shiny ring dangling out of the side of the computer.
Zeemster knew it was important, and he must have it. He was scurrying across the desk before he even realized where his tiny feet were taking him.
He couldn’t help but let out a tiny squeak of excitement when he sniffed at the ring and the little pink device that was attached to it. He still didn’t understand why it was so important but he knew he needed to get it out of the computer somehow. But for all his struggling and squeaking and scrambling, the tiny hamster couldn’t pull that ring away from the computer that the man was still clacking away at.
One last try, Zeemster thought as he crawled up the ring and nibbled on the metal chain that seemed to tether it to the computer.
He let out a terrified squeak when a hand circled around him, lifting him and the keyring from the table and then instantly dropping him back down again. The man let out a shriek of his own as Zeemster grabbed the shiny ring and scurried away as fast as his little feet could carry him.
The door had swung shut after him, so Zeemster scampered around the room, keyring dangling from his mouth, until he saw a set of leaning file cabinets. He didn't like the look of the rubble and rocks that had fallen over them, but he could hear the man’s footfalls behind him so Zeemster had no choice but to squeeze under them.
He froze at the first rumble above him, wiggling his whiskers as a plume of dust filled the air and then settled. He waited, beady eyes looking around for anything ready to fall, any hands reaching for him, and any of those powdery little treats that someone might have left around—he should have eaten before he came.
It was quiet.
Then it wasn’t.
All at once, a light flickered on and shone directly into his eyes, followed by a hand reaching for him, scaring him so deeply that Zeemster dropped the keyring and ran. Then the room shook and dust flew everywhere as bits of ceiling and wall tumbled over the screeching filing cabinets. Hamster-Zemo squeaked and Human-Zemo screamed.
“James,” a voice filtered through the dust and the name made Zeemsters little heart flutter, “I need your help.
-
Noodlezeem waited patiently outside, his tail wagging like a propeller as he stared up at the door that the little hamster scurried through just moments ago. His stomach groaned, aching for a buttery croissant or a juicy peach—he should have eaten before he came here. Zeemster’s missions always made him hungry. In fact, everything made him hungry.
He couldn’t help but let out a little whine when his floppy ears picked up the sound of shrieking, human and hamster alike, and then loud rumbles and a crash.
He scratched violently at the door, vowing to break it open with his little paws, but it was too thick. Then he tried jumping for the door handle, but he was still too short without Zeemster helping. He resolved to prodding at the foot of the door with his twitching nose, whining for the little hamster to squeak back, but the room was silent.
Noodlezeem let out a growl as the sound of footsteps echoed behind him. He could hear someone walking down the hall, their heavy boots heading towards the very door that he had been scratching away at. With his teeth bared and the hair on his back sticking straight up, Noodlezeem prepared to rip the pesky Hydra agent to shreds.
But it wasn't a Hydra agent after all.
Noodlezeem let out a happy wouf when the man rounded the corner, his spiky black hair covered in dust and his shiny metallic arm glistening with blood. Noodlezeem’s heart leapt in his little chest and he wiggled in place, somehow knowing the man was safe.
That was until the man saw him and startled, jumping back and yelping. Noodlezeem startled himself and zipped back down the hallway, running right between the man’s legs. He could hear the man grumble out a quiet curse and mention something about rats which made Noodlezeem growl. He knew Zeemster hated that word.
—
Zeemster had abandoned any thoughts about going back for the keyring. He scampered under cabinets and over rubble, even tiptoeing over the familiar man’s back at one point as he desperately made his way towards the door. He had had enough of the dust and the collapsing ceilings and grubby little hands grabbing him, he wanted to go home.
He looked back at the familiar man—at his little butt wiggling from between the called cabinets—and hoped he might see him again someday and uncover the strange connection they had.
He scampered under the desks, squeaking as he heard Noodlezeem’s barking behind the door. Just when he realized he had no way of opening it from his side, it burst open and another man walked through.
Zeemster didn’t even look— he had had enough of humans for now—and bolted through the door, sniffing the air for his partner in crime.
He found Noodlezeem pacing at the end of the hallway, his nails clicking on the dusty floor as he spun in worried circles. Zeemster squeaked in excitement and the noodle-dog woufed back, his entire body wiggling when he spotted his friend.
Once Noodlezeem managed to stop his happy dancing, he lowered his head so the tiny hamster could climb up on his back. Zeemster dug his little hands into Noodlezeem’s soft brown hair and held on tight as the dog pranced through the base, sniffing his way back to the bag of wires and little red sticks that Zeemster had made the dog bring along.
Zeemster may not have solved the mystery of why they had to come here, but they still had one more job to do.
-
The base erupted into a cloud of smoke and flames and fiery rubble behind them, rumbling into ruin as Noodlezeem ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. Zeemster squeaked happily as he held onto the dog's fur, glancing over his furry shoulder at the chaos they had caused behind them. The pair ran off through a field of wildflowers, the bright flames of what had once been a Hydra base shining behind them.
-
“WHY THE FUCK DID YOU SET OFF THE EXPLOSIVES BEFORE WE GOT OUT THE BASE?!” Zemo growled as Bucky hurriedly shoved him out of the exploding base. He winced at the uncomfortable shift of the USB drive still inside him.
“I DIDN’T SET THEM OFF!” Bucky screamed back, lunging forward to shield Zemo from a hurtling piece of rubble as it crashed down just inches away from his shoulder.
“Well then WHO DID?” Zemo seethed.
“Fuck if I know, I killed everyone else!” Bucky picked the baron up and tossed him over his shoulder, carrying him away from the rumbling base as it collapsed behind them. It had been a close call when the base started blowing up around them, but with his enhanced speed he knew he could get him and the baron out of the way safely. “It was probably those fucking rats!”