Unwanted interactions.
With no time left to think about what happened, Kenya zipped Bucky and herself near where she had left Sam, finding the man cornered along with Zemo by three unknown and armed guys. They were about to take business in their own hands when three shots were heard, and a silhouette went close to them. Without thinking, the girl ran to it and using her levitation powers let the figure stuck in the air.
“Who are you?!” She menacingly voiced, only hearing grunts from the counterpart.
“Maximoff.” Sam warned.
“Kenya Maximoff?” The person, who now had a feminine tone talked. Letting her on the ground, she took of the hat which covered her real identity, ex-CIA agent Sharon Carter. “Little Maximoff? The teen who only knew how to be invisible?”
“Yeah, she kinda doesn’t exists anymore.” She replied with humor.
“Sharon.” Bucky called. “How…?”
“Am I here? Well, that’s an easy answer. After helping them assess to catch Zemo’s ass to save your ass, the government wasn’t so forgetful with me.” The woman had a new shade of darkness with herself, which Kenya recognized well.
“That’s so America. Alone by yourself without your family, whilst every man you helped is a hero for doing the same you did.” The blonde smile at her, almost thanking about not blind and acknowledging the unfairness she’d been through. “Which being a worthy reason for being mad, doesn’t make you trustful enough. Why are you helping us?” Sharon chuckled unbelievably.
“I was wondering the same. Do you have a good reason for me not giving you out to the power breaker?”
“We can help.” Sam intervened. “I’ll talk to people for you to obtain the pardon, letting you go back to your family, your job. But please, this situation is beyond us. Super soldier serum is involved, another hand would come in handy.”
“I think you're quite fine with Miss Silverwitch down here.” She responds, admitting Kenya’s credit for the foundation. After a few seconds of silence and exchanging looks with everyone, the woman sighed putting away her gun.
“Thank you.” Bucky mumbled, receiving a wink back.
“I have a place in Hightown, some people I know could have information.”
“I hope you have different clothes there because these costumes are incredibly uncomfortable.” Kenya added, letting her guard down to walk along with her.
“That’s a costume? I wouldn’t notice if you don’t tell me. It fits you well.”
“Ah, you’re just being nice.” She fake smiled. Zemo cleared his throat and everyone gave him a death stare.
“If I may-“
“Shut up, Zemo!”
*
Kenya had to skip the small tour Sharon gave them of her home, since she received a call from her job. She was walking around what seemed a living room, with clothes already prepared for her and her friends in advance. It made her frown. How much could she earn to have servants, allies, guns and even original paintings? Suspicious. Just when she was about to search for more strange things, her call was ending, and everyone came to the room.
“No, don’t do that. Send Coleman back to Seattle and tell her to contact Dr. Deluca, he’ll help if she says it’s from you. Alistair will take charge of Center 3 instead. About the truck problems just gave those dudes whatever they want to be happy, we’ll have to fire them by the end of the month anyways. As always, send the extra devices and clothes to another foundations. If they don’t accept, you can always shove those things on their as-“ She laughed at Jensen’s reaction by her almost swearing, because she was on speaker and his child could hear everything. “Okay, yeah, that was it. Bye George, and bye my little Jensen.” She hung up.
“If it isn’t the Big Boss.” Sharon commented.
“Well, you can understand it more than anyone.” She walked past them. “You’ve got a beautiful place.”
“Thanks.” The woman quickly changed subjects. “I thought you’d prefer this kind of fit.” And was successful while making it. It was a woman’s suit, except that it was all made of leather. Formal and badass at the same time.
“Yeah, I’m not wasting any second not wearing this.” She accepted it and grinned at Bucky after entering a room to go change.
While they were getting changed in the living room, Sharon, Zemo, and Sam’s voice went to second plan after Bucky was deep down in his thoughts. How was it possible? Where did he get the confidence to ask for such thing as a kiss? And worse, how could that even work? Did it mean anything big for her? Because to him, it felt like finally being awake. It wasn’t his dream what motivated him to kiss her, it was his whole self being practically in love with the girl since forever and just realizing about it.
“Right, Buck?”
“Huh?” He turned to Sam, who was sitting on a couch with Sharon.
“Kenya. She’s different.”
“Of course, she is.” The blonde said. “She built an empire, now I see she's got these amazing powers, and her smartness isn’t something to be underestimated. She is a self-made woman.” After side eyeing the soldier, she smirked. “But Bucky already knew that.” He cleared his throat.
“Well, she’s my…”
“Okay, let’s get sum bitches.” Kenya walked to the room gaining everyone’s attention. “Isn’t that something boys say to get laid before a party?”
“You have an amazing quantity of knowledge of American people.” Zemo stated. “Yet it’ll not be useful unless you're really seducing someone.” Kenya rolled her eyes.
“It was a joke. I can’t go, frankly. My people called me over and I need to be taking off here soon.”
“What happened?” Bucky asked, only her noticing disappointment on his tone.
“Someone important passed away.”
“Well, let me make a call and I’ll get you a plane in a minute.” Sharon offered, suddenly on a better mood. As if her departure was good news. “In the meantime, you guys can go to the party.”
“Take care.” Sam grabbed her shoulders. “If anything happens just give us a call.”
“Same for you. If Sharon wasn’t here, you’d be doomed.” She joked, to ease the man’s worry. He side-smiled and moved away, making her face Zemo. “I’ve never tried travelling around countries while zipping around, but I’m not afraid to try if you give me a reason to do so.”
“Don’t worry Miss Maximoff, we both know that I’m probably the most eager to solve this.” She nodded, changing her look to Bucky who was already staring at her.
“Don’t give me that look.” She warned.
“What look?”
“The I-don’t-agree-with-you-leaving-but-I-have-no-choice look.” The soldier rolled his eyes.
“I’ll wait until the car’s here.”
“Well, I’ll leave you alone then.” Sharon added. “It was nice seeing you, Maximoff. Maybe in another life we could be a great team.”
“I’m sure we would.” Kenya smiled, again, feeling suspect in her guts.
*
It seemed like a contest. The first one to look away, losses. The first one to address the kiss, losses. The first one to breathe, losses. Honestly, Kenya would give up easily if she knew what to do or say. Was it needed, though? If it were only a mission kiss then it was okay and they could move on, but two of them know it wasn’t. Matter is, she was leaving. They spent the last few days together just like the old times, making her happier than she ever thought it would.
“So, you are leaving.”
“I’ll go wherever you guys are the second I’m free.” She reassured.
“No, that’s… That’s okay, you have millions of things to deal with. It’s just… it was nice spending time with you.” He rambled, making Kenya think he is being cute.
“It was, right? As if time didn’t happen and it’s just another day in Wakanda.” She nostalgically grinned, while in a confident boost grabbed his real hand. “Please don’t take me away from your life. I may be busier than the president, but I’ll always have time for you.” Bucky’s heart threatened to jump out of his chest.
“I’ll… try.” And here they were, sitting in the couch next to each other. Kenya’s head was laying on a pillow as she looked at him. The man couldn’t help it, his vibranium hand once again combing her hair.
“You’re doing the look.” This time he let out a laugh.
“What look?”
“The I-want-to-kiss-you look.” She giggled.
“The one that kid gave you years ago and made you have a panic attack?”
“Yup. But this time I’m not having one.” Playfulness was all over her face, as Bucky’s hand massaged her head.
“Oh, is that so?” His voice sounded low and rasp. She nodded, almost falling asleep thanks to his touch.
“Mhm. I like that look on you.” He widely smiled this time, using his other hand to cup both girl’s cheeks and got slowly closer to her.
“The car’s here!” The blonde’s voice sound and they immediately separated. As she appeared in the room they already stood up. “I got you a bag with things you may need and why not, a little gift or two.”
“Wow, thanks Carter.” She genuinely smiled, because despite her suspects, the woman was still nice with her. “I hope next time I see you is in the U.S.”
“That makes two of us.”
Bucky accompanied her to the car, none of them said anything and just hugged one another before Kenya got in the vehicle. After closing the door, it went out and he again was left alone. Yet this time, there were another kind of memories in his mind. Luckily enough, he only had to stay a few minutes in the party before Sharon came in with the information they needed. The scientific who replicated the serum was there, and his name was Wilfred Nagel. The woman volunteered to go with the three of them to confront him and defend themselves at the same time, since their heads still had price after the murder of Selby. Bucky wasn’t too harsh on himself regarding what happened and almost happened again with Kenya, mainly focusing on just missing her. It was easier.
*
Although Kenya lacked experience in this kind of missions, she was handling it very well. She wasn’t lying when she told someone important is dead; she just omitted its link with Karli Morgenthau and Flag Smashers. And of course, the fact that she had a little help from some old friends. Said friends were the reason she didn’t even tell Bucky about it, because apart from the fact that their alone time was headed in another direction, it wasn’t his place to know at the moment.
“You were not lying when you said he freed Zemo.” A thick accent greeted her. She had been waiting a few minutes for the woman with clothes and wig as a cover to arrive at the small and hidden Café. “I should arrest you from not preventing it.”
“You know it was the only way, Ayo. Thus, I kept my promise and not even Bucky suspected of me.”
The minute Kenya received information after talking to Dr. Raynor, she identified a name and called Shuri for help. Donya Madani. She was one of the few people from the shelter she stayed as a little girl, who treated her as she should’ve been treated her whole childhood: with love and dignity. Although she took care of her for less than two years, they marked her enough to involve herself and sadly getting to her funeral. The Wakandan people helped with information which she wants could give to Sam and Bucky, but now that she was here, she knew they were arriving at any second.
“They recently destroyed a GRC supply depot, that girl is mixing grief with the fight.” The girl nodded at the warrior’s words. Just as scheduled, a phone call alerted both.
“Sam? Yes, I’ve heard. Latvia? I’m nearby. Tell me where you’re staying. Zemo is…? Of course, he murdered him. Damn. Okay, let me know when you’re here.” After hanging up Ayo nodded, waiting for her to talk. “They found the man behind the super serum replica, Zemo killed him. As we predicted, Karli stole twenty vials of it. The three of them are coming here soon and here’s the address of where they’re going to stay.” She handed her a napkin. “Thank you for getting the information I needed.”
“Thank Princess Shuri.” She asserted. “But I must recognize your skills. Seems like years haven’t taken away what Dora Milaje taught you.”
“They never will.” She sipped at her coffee and frowned, she never liked it. “I assume you’ll stay around to get Zemo.”
“If Barnes and Wilson had the audacity to set him free, we will make it an advantage for us. Not even a million years are enough to forget the guilty behind King T’Chaka’s death.”
“Oh, I know. Anyways, do you know when Shuri will be free? She promised and forced me to have vacations to spend time with her. I hadn’t stop working since the minute I knew what working was. Though she’s still basically a teen but I guess no matter the age some things never changed.” She laughed, but after looking Ayo’s death stare stopped. “Well, I should leave. See ya.”
*
James Barnes walked down alone with a heavy heart in the streets of Riga, Latvia. A few minutes ago, he had an encounter with an old friend, Ayo, who was one of the key pieces to his recovery from the Winter Soldier condition. It reminded him of all the bad days he used to have, fighting the urge to just give up on his life and end things instead of keeping on trying. And just as she was coming from the other corner of the street, Kenya came into Bucky’s life as a light and something to look up to. The woman was dressed with a large brown coat and boots, wearing the brightest smile when seeing him.
He didn’t even realize that most of the times he struggled back then, the only thing that got him out of bed was her annoying ass forcing him to. Going to train, just walking around, talking, or doing nothing. She was always there. She always came to him when he needed it. Jeez, she even knew better than him when he needed it. And here now she was, once again appearing at his distress.
“I sense you’ve seen Ayo.” Bucky looked down and gloomily smiled.
“I should’ve imagined you knew all this time. Guess the student becomes the master.” Kenya gave him an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry. I hated not telling you things.” Unconsciously she grabbed his hand, and instead of reacting he just intertwined their fingers together.
“S’okay, let’s just walk.”
They did, yet unbeknownst to each other imagining how a life side by side would be. Just a normal couple walking around Europe, looking serious in the outside but their hearts bumping in their chests as if they were teenagers in the inside. They didn’t need words, laughs, chemistry, or loving looks. Holding hands in silent was more than enough. Sadly, that daydream came to an end when they arrived at the flat’s location. Sam and Zemo were already there, so their alone time was done too.
“Can I get a kiss?”
*
“Eleven injured, three dead.” Bucky read. Kenya didn’t hide the fact she already knew it thanks to Ayo.
“Now more than ever, we gotta stop her.” Zemo stated.
“She’s just a kid.” Sam asserted.
“I could’ve been her.” Kenya added, finally joining the conversation. “I knew Mama Donya, she took care of me for a while before I fell in the hands of Hydra. I was an abandoned child more than once. The system failed me and her too.”
“But it doesn’t take the fact that she’s a supremacist. Besides that, they are a whole army of super soldiers. This world doesn’t need them. No offense.” He turned to Bucky. “It won’t stop until you kill her, or she kills you.”
“We don’t need you anyways.” Bucky went on to say. “Kenya already knows where they’re having a reunion, we just gotta find out were.”
“I can be your tour guide then.” He went through the cabinet’s pf the kitchen. “Anyone wants Turkish delish?”
*
“I searched through the entire building.” The girl exhaled, as three of them watched Zemo interacting with the kids left at the GRC shelter. “This place is shitty. I’m already calling Jensen to do something about it. If any government fights me about it, I don’t care.”
“I talked to some people, but no one gave a thing.” Sam added. “What in the hell is the man doing?” Silently, Kenya turned herself invisible and went to the Sokovian man’s position. The girl gave him the address of the memorial.
“She told him where it is. But he doesn’t need to find out we know that.”
“Good girl.” Bucky whispered.
*
Once back in the apartment, no one got to even breathe before Kenya almost forced Zemo to not even try playing games and just take them to the funeral. Worst case scenario, they’d use google maps instead of him. He had no other choice but to comply, so they started to walk to the place.
“Morgenthau is too dangerous for you to go like that.” The girl’s eyes could blow out of how hard she rolled them.
“Piss off, Walker.” Bucky said, stealing the words from her thoughts. “How did you find us?”
“Did you really think two avengers and a famous pretty face would be unrecognized to people here?” The blonde jackass and his partner were running downhill towards them.
“That had been working until now.” She spoke.
“Should’ve thought about it before releasing him.” Lemar pointed towards Zemo.
“I know where Karli is.” He defended himself.
“Great, now they’re coming with us.” Sam expressed, annoyed.
One more time, the men started to discuss without purpose. Of course, Walker insisted on creating an attacking plan, and Sam having the voice of reason strongly believed in talking things out with Karli first. Then they started to mess with Bucky, and things escalated from discussing to fighting their egos. Luckily Hoskins convinced his friend to talk first, so the conversation was over, and they moved on. When arriving, Kenya stepped in front and made them listen.
“I knew Mama Donya, so I’ll do the talking. If any of you dares to get an inch closer than agreed, I’ll hurt you. Yes, I’m talking to you and only you, Walker. Sam comes with me and Bucky, you know what to do.” The man nodded.
“Are you sure you can do this?” Sam asked, as they both entered the building of the memorial.
“Trust me, if Walker doesn’t intervene, tomorrow you and I will be helping out Sarah to not sell that damn boat.”
“Deal.”
*
“Those words were very lovely. I know she would’ve like them.” That’s the first thing Kenya said after being left alone with Karli.
“A sympathetic comment, nice entrance.” She answered. “I got to admit, I was and still am a big fan of you. Mama Donya used to talk about you sometimes.”
“She remembered me?” The curly haired nodded.
“She saw how much you cared for your loved ones even at a young age and look what you’ve done. I just wish it could’ve helped her too, you know.” Resentment owned her tone.
“Don’t be unfair. I’ve been fighting with the government for years. I know you know I occasionally helped no matter how legal it was, so enough with the grudges. With me, with them, with everyone. You’re hurting innocent people. That serum is a representation of power abuse, everything that was done to us. Do you really will lower down to that? What are you waiting for? To lose even more people you love. Because believe me when I say it hurts stronger the more it happens.” The young girl seemed affected by her words, keeping silence. “Think about it. Stop for a second and look around. You still can turn back. I can help you, all of you. I’d go to jail if it’s needed, but please stop this nonsense.”
“I…” Karli was lifting her hand, when suddenly Walker stormed in and interrupted.
“Morgenthau, you’re arrested.”
“Oh, so that’s what you meant when you offered help.”
“No! Fuck, Walker. Stop!” She yelled, as Bucky and Sam forced with them. The so-called Captain threw a fist to the red headed and she defended herself very well. Kenya was about to interfere, but Bucky stopped her. Shots were heard and all she remembers is trying to chase down the teen who was running away, physically hurt. “I… I can help.” She whispered, before falling unconscious.