Guarded Heart

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Chapter 20

Steve looked at Bucky, eyes wide "Fuck", then startled at a sound from behind him. Furrowing his brow he retreated into his room to grab his phone, whispering "Loki?"

He heard an annoyed breath "Obviously. Do tell me you're on your way."

Confused Steve replied "On my way?"

Loki huffed "Yes, Steven on your way. Have you suffered a stroke since last we spoke?"

Steve shook his head forgetting that Loki couldn't see him "No, but I am pretty confused right about now."

Loki scoffed "She didn't tell you? She told me you were all on board and she was sending the blueprints to you. Did one of you oafs get a message with the blueprints?"

Steve looked at Bucky "Uh, yeah, Buck has em."

"Well that's something I suppose. I'm almost at her house and would appreciate if you could rally Barnes and back us up before Zemo arrives. She told me 2-3 hours when I spoke to her 15 minutes ago. Best to err on the side of caution and have everyone in place within an hour. Can you manage, love?"

Steve started pulling on a black pair of jeans "Yeah, we'll be there. Be careful."

Loki chuckled "Don't get sentimental on me now, Rogers. See you soon."

Bucky was looking at Steve expectantly "So? What'd your boyfriend have to say?"

Steve glared "He's not my-. Nevermind that. He's on his way to Y/N's house. She told him we were down with this insanity and would meet them there."

Bucky shook his head "What the fuck is she playing at? Fuck!" He ran his hand through his hair "Get dressed. Stealth is probably best. Well armed" He looked over his shoulder "You too, Sam. Out the door in 15. Message everyone, including Fury."

Bucky woke his father and they dressed, armed up and piled into the SUV, pulling out 17 minutes later, with 2 more cars following them. Bucky and Steve sat in the back seat looking over the plans, arguing softly and trying to find a way to get in.

"Look, there's a tunnel we can access in the guest house that goes into the sunroom, which is just off of the living room where I'm assuming she would be. We need to get ourselves set up in these passages" Steve pointed on the blueprint "Where we can listen in and get to her quickly. She has Pietro so isn't completely defenseless."

Bucky scoffed "Yeah, he was shot a couple of days ago and left the hospital early, against doctors advice. Not sure he will be much use.

Call Loki and find out where they are and if we should start there or if there's another place."

Steve called Loki "Hey babe, we're almost there but where exactly do you want us to start?"

He listened and nodded for a couple of minutes. "Right. We'll see you soon." He put his phone in his pocket "Staging at the guest house then we move in to the various hiding places. Jesus, Y/N's father was more than prepared, this house is crazy. Secret passages, multiple weapons caches and booby traps that can be activated with an app. An app that also accesses security cameras all over the house and tracks movements. I'm downloading it and sending the link to you."

Bucky nodded "We need a place to park where Zemo won't see a bunch of cars and get suspicious. This only works if he buys her story and we don't want to fuck it up  for her."

For the rest of the ride there, they were all quiet, each preparing themselves for battle but hoping it wouldn't get that far.

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Sitting in her fathers office, Y/N tried to calm her racing heart. Contrary to popular belief she didn't have a death wish, she was simply fed up with her lack of control in her own life. Dreykov, Natasha, Zemo, her father, fucking Bucky.

Her left shoulder was aching and carried a slight odor, like death rotting her flesh away. She was pretty sure she was running a fever as well, likely had an infection. She knew the dressing needed to be changed, she needed to get some sleep and take it easy for awhile but this had to be done. She couldn't rest while Zemo was still out there plotting against her. As she mumbled to herself, she didn't realize how unhinged she was becoming.

Y/N was at the point where she didn't really care anymore if she survived this mess as long as Zemo didn't. Dying would be better than living the rest of her life looking over her shoulder.

She needed pain meds but wasn't willing to chance them taking away her edge. Her mind didn't consider that concern when she lit up a joint in an effort to relax.

The doorbell rang and she jumped out of her seat. She took one last long drag off the joint and exhaled slowly, trying to blow out the anxiety she was feeling. After a couple more calming breaths she stood slowly and headed for the front door. As she walked she fidgeted with her dress, it was one Zemo had always liked as he tried to mold her into some depraved 50's housewife role. It didn't fit quite right due to her missing limb but Wanda did the best she could. Silk stockings were attached to her corset and pink pumps that matched her dress perfectly waited on the floor.

Her hair was styled with a ribbon that matched the trim on her dress. She quickly stepped into her shoes, wobbling the first few steps before gaining her balance.

Y/N didn't realize she had started off walking at a reasonable rate that was slowing as she moved closer to the door. She smoothed her skirt and checked to make sure her weapons were secure and out of sight.

Pietro stood by the fireplace giving her an encouraging nod. Wanda had been sent to the panic room to keep her safe. She was practically a mind reader when dealing with people but not much of a fighter.

The doorbell rang again making Y/N speed up until she was there. She silently said a short prayer and then made sure it was Zemo and one of his men, someone she didn't recognize, before she opened the door.

"Helmut, you look very handsome" she stuttered nervously and moved aside "Please, come in. I have your favorite scotch if you'd like a drink." She didn't mean for that to come out as a question but sounding nervous played into her game. "I made some of your favorite rolls, the ones with cheese and garlic. Come sit in the living room."

Zemo eyed her suspiciously, she had fought him too hard through their entire relationship, to just cave like this. "Thank you my dear. You look quite lovely, is this all for me?"

She tittered nervously "Of course. I contacted you to end this war but have realized that you're the one that I want to marry. It's always been you, I just needed to grow up about some parts of the business. They may be distasteful to me but it's all part of the game.

I don't want to be a boss and carry the weight of peoples lives. I want a simple life, taking care of the man that I love. I would be happy to let you handle business. All I need is you and my horses, not even competing just for pleasure."

Zemo looked her over, she really was delicious but this didn't sound right. "Are you sure my love? This is a huge turnaround for you."

"I know Helmut but the last few years, hell the last few weeks have taught me a lot and on top of the list is that I don't want this pressure, this responsibility."

He moved closer grabbing her hand and pulling her flush against him. His voice lowered "I could give you that life and anything else you want but I have to know I can trust you. Submit to me. Right now, on your knees and prove your devotion. Show me the whore you will be for me and me alone."

She followed his orders, smiling seductively when all she wanted was to kill him. She opened his pants and pulled them down to reveal his partially hard cock. Before she could wrap her mouth around him he stopped her and put himself away.

He smiled wickedly at her as he pulled her to her feet "Wait my love. I have something better. I know your friends are here but I'm not sure where. You'll help me find and kill every one of them. Then I will know you are sincere."

Y/N kept the seductive mask on her face afraid to look in his eyes, hoping he took it as submission. "Of course, Helmut. I'm not great at killing but I'll do what it takes."

Zemo chuckled "I saw the security footage of your confrontation with Natasha. You took her and Clint out, two shots and after your shoulder was hit. I'm sure Clint regretted training you so well, at least for a second, before he died."

She fiddled with her hands "I was angry, they took almost everything away from me. Bucky is an idiot but he-"

Zemo looked at her sadly "He refused to listen when you warned him about her. Refusing to consider your evidence. He even refused to listen to his own brother." He sighed "It's alright my dear, it will take much longer to repair our bond and ensure my trust in you but I'm happy to kill them."

"I'm so sorry, sir. I know I'm weak, that's why I need your strength. At the head of my family your power will be beyond your imagination." She kneeled in front of him, "Please, sir."

Zemo felt himself getting turned on, he had never been able to get her to submit to him like this before, she was too headstrong. He knew he should wait until Barnes and Loki were taken care of before taking his spoils but his cock was straining against his pants at the sight of her kneeling and submitting to him. He wanted Barnes to see her like this on her knees, make up ruined and face fucked out.

He cleared his throat.

She got his message and pulled him back out, straining to look anything besides disgusted as she worked him just how he loved.

Bucky and Steve were behind a bookcase in a passage off the living room. Bucky felt sick listening to her trying to convince Zemo that she wanted him. Words that he wanted to hear her say to him but for that dirtbag. Bucky wanted to shove the bookcase aside and kill him. He tried to ignore the meaning of silence coming from that room. Well, not quite silence he could hear her slurping and Zemos groans and words of praise.

Steve gave him a dirty look and pointed at his watch to give Bucky the message that they had to wait.

Zemo shouted when he finished in her mouth, touching her cheek gently until he grabbed her hair and pulled until she yelped. "Do you believe I'm stupid my love? That I wouldn't realize you set me up." He spat in her face then shrugged "Maybe if Barnes wasn't a mouth breather I wouldn't have been able to hear him" he pulled her up to her feet by her hair causing Y/N to shout in pain "Come on out Barnes before I kill your lady love. I know you're behind the bookcase." He shook his head.

"I'm disappointed, you all seem to have a very poor opinion of me. As though I would walk in to such an obvious trap unaware." He slapped Y/N's face with his free hand "Now face me Barnes before I pull my gun out."

Bucky looked at Steve in a panic, who shrugged and pushed him ahead. Bucky stumbled into the bookcase, making it turn and almost fell before straightening himself out. Steve walked behind him, smirking.

Y/N gasped "Helmut, you must believe me I didn't conspire with Barnes or any in his family. He has betrayed me too many times to trust him with my life."

Zemo shook his head "You think I can't see how he looks at you? You knew he would try to save you just as well as I did. Lucky me, I get to kill you both and take over your families."

"Please, Helmut, sir. I'll be a good wife for you, like you wanted."

Bucky started to object when Zemo reached up Y/N's skirt and pulled a knife out. "If you are sincere why are you armed? I doubt this is the only weapon you have hidden."

He brought the knife up against her throat "This is much better. I can hear your heart racing my sweet. Don't worry, I'm going to kill you last. Maybe take a bit more pleasure from you before I do. Unless you find a way to convince me to keep you."

He looked at Bucky as he stiffened and smirked "Barnes, put down your weapons and instruct your men to do the same or I'll kill her in front of you." He put a little pressure on the knife at her throat, creating a thin line of blood.

Feeling the trickle of blood on her neck brought Y/N out of her haze and made her realize she did want to live. She hoped it wasn't too late for her self preservation to be kicking in.

Bucky looked over at Steve in a panic to see that Steve and Sam were both putting their guns down so he did the same while his mind raced to find a way out.

Before any of them had the chance to come up with anything, a gunshot rang out and Y/N crumpled to the floor.