This Hero Bullshit
“Ready to comply, Winter Soldier?” Zemo asks under his breath, as they make their way into the bar. His Russian just as annoyingly fluid as the last time.
Bucky doesn’t dignify it with a response. They’re surrounded by hoards of people, all carrying weapons, trying their best to look as terrifying as possible. He feels a hand on his forearm, stilling him. He can’t quite explain how electrifying the touch is. He’d blame it on faulty wiring if it were his left, but the fascinating thing is, it’s his flesh arm being grabbed. He turns to face the bearer of it.
“Are you sure about this, James?” Y/n’s touch remains gentle on his arm, and Bucky can’t help but stare where they’re both connected.
“Zemo isn’t my favorite person either, but—”
“—No,” She cuts him off. “I mean, this.” She points at him, “Pretending to be him again. You sure about it?”
Sam’s right, Bucky does have a fucking staring problem. And needs to be rectified, like, now. Because all his staring along with his silence gives off the very wrong impression, and Y/n lets go of his arm, with a hushed apology.
For a century-old man, Bucky should really consider wearing his big boy pants and speak up. Because the moment it’s gone, he misses the touch.
“James?” She urges, softly.
Oh fuck, yeah, Bucky’s supposed to talk, yeah, what was the question? Oh yeah, Winter Soldier, “It’s not like we have a choice,” he grits out, finally looking up at her.
“That wasn’t what I asked,” she says.
“Y/n—” Bucky begins.
“—I asked if you’re sure about this? If you don’t want to do this, I’ll find a way,” her voice matches the determination on her face. “So I’ll ask again, are you sure, James?” Her eyes are a mixture of determination and… concern? For him? Who the fuck is this woman, and why the fuck is she being nice to the man who tortured her on behalf of Hydra?
When Sam had mentioned that they should bring her on, he was reluctant not only because he was unsure if she would want to see him, but also because he thought he’d have to endure gut-wrenching coldness and the signature Stark snark that would wound him bit by bit. He knew he deserved it, so he was prepared for it. But this unadulterated kindness that she’s hauling at him in waves is throwing him so off balance, he almost forgets he can speak.
So he just nods in response.
She lets out a breath. And nods as well. She looks… uncomfortable. Bucky can’t really blame her. Zemo insisted she wear something… unlike herself. So she’s stuck wearing a red, sinfully short sequin dress that hugs every single one of her curves. She looks beautiful, obviously she does. But she doesn’t look liker herself. She hasn’t complained once though, unlike Sam. She hasn’t even made a single move to make it seem as though Zemo’s insistence has bothered one bit, until now… in front of Bucky.
Is she… Does she… feel comfortable? With him?
Well, fuck.
“Look, I won’t lose it… but if I do,” he hesitates.
“I’ve got you covered.” She looks at him pointedly, “But it won’t come to that.”
And Bucky would be lying if her trust in him didn’t make him want to fall on his knees. A part of him even relaxes, believing that this might turn out well enough.
He’s utterly fucking wrong of course because obviously it fucking doesn’t.
Sam drinks some disgusting-looking fish shit, that even makes Bucky choke up, while Y/n just wears a small smile in the corner. Then Zemo proceeds to get dragged into a fight, Bucky as the Winter Soldier steps in and finishes it off. He makes quick work of the assailants without breaking a sweat, getting concerningly lost in his role. After which they meet Selby, which just goes far worse. Bucky thought if there was any one of them that was going to get their cover blown it had to be Y/n, but it’s been a ‘well fuck’ kinda day, and it turns out to be a call from Sam’s sister that throws things for a spin.
Now, about two hours, several broken bones (none of them theirs) and one guest appearance by Sharon Carter later, they’re all sitting around at her place in Hightown.
Sam’s picking out a shirt, while Bucky sits on the god-awful yellow couch, now wearing a black tux that covers both his arms. Zemo is off to the side, helping himself to Sharon’s pretty expensive scotch when the woman herself walks in.
“Much better,” she comments at Sam who is finally putting his damn shirt on. She walks over and drops her jacket next to Bucky on the couch, before making her way over to the desk behind her.
“What’s going on, Sharon? You don’t ever wanna come back home?” Sam asks. And Bucky doesn’t even have to turn around to know he is wearing his concern on his sleeves.
“They’ll lock me up if I step foot back in the States. Madripoor doesn’t allow extradition.” She dismisses it easily.
“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t call, but after The Blip and the chaos, I just…” Sam tries.
“Look, you know the whole hero thing is a joke, right? I mean, the way you gave up that shield, deep down, you must know it’s all hypocrisy,” Sharon comments, her voice chastising.
“He knows. And not so deep down,” Zemo interrupts.
“He did what he thought was right. He didn’t know they’d hand it over to that new boy,” Y/n walks into the room.
Bucky’s head turns to face her instantly. And now, now she looks fucking stunning. She’s wearing a cerulean blue pantsuit, with… a very sheer white blouse underneath. But she looks comfortable, untouchable. She walks over and sits down on the couch next to Bucky. He tries his best not to stare at her like she’s the fucking moon. But he’s having a hard time.
Sharon just hums, then asks, “By the way, how is the new Cap?”
“Don’t get me started,” Bucky comments, snarky.
“Please,” Sharon scoffs, “You buy into all that stars and stripes bullshit. Before you were his pet psychopath, you were Mr. America! Cap’s best friend.” She makes her way over to the couch, wedging herself between him and Y/n.
“Wow. She’s kind of awful now,” Bucky notes.
To which Sharon just laughs, before turning to Y/n, “This reminds me, what are you even doing here? Last I heard you were retired… and laying low.”
Y/n shrugs in response, “I’m in Madripoor; couldn’t lay lower if I tried.”
Sharon scoffs again, “Come on. I’m surprised to see you here, which is saying something considering the company we’re in. I thought if anyone was done with this hero bullshit, it’d be you.”
Bucky doesn’t really like the insinuation.
“Well, Agent 13, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have yet to stop believing in ‘this hero bullshit’,” Y/n throws back.
“Even after Tony?” Sharon challenges.
Yeah, she’s really fucking awful now.
“No,” Y/n counters, “Because of him.”
Atta girl! Bucky cheers in his head.
“So you’d call yourself a hero, then?” Sharon asks.
“When did I ever say that, cupcake?” Y/n smiles, “But just cause I’m not a hero, doesn’t mean I’ve stopped believing in those who are.” Her eyes are pointedly fixed on Sam as she speaks, and Bucky can’t help the smile that breaks out on his face.
Sam flusters at the compliment, before clearing his throat and saying, “Karli Morgenthau and at least seven others have taken the serum.”
“You guys really should steer clear of all of this for your own safety,” Sharon warns, and Bucky notices something pass over Y/n’s eyes as she looks at Sharon. It’s so brief, he wouldn’t have caught it if he wasn’t staring. Which yes, he knows it’s a fucking problem alright? He’s working on it, okay? Rome wasn’t built overnight or whatever it is they say.
“We know it’s a risk, but we’re not gonna leave until we find the person who cracked the code,” Sam says.
“We got a name. Wilfred Nagel,” Bucky adds.
“Nagel works for The Power Broker,” Sharon informs them, getting up from in between Y/n and himself, walking over to the decanter, and pouring herself a drink.
“We need your help, Sharon,” Sam begins, “I can get your name cleared.”
“You haggling with my life?” Sharon throws back.
“Not like that,” Sam defends.
“I don’t buy that,” She says as she leans by the table, then adds, “You pretending like you can clear my name.”
“Okay, maybe it is hypocrisy. Maybe you’re right,” Sam gets off the chair he was sitting on, walking over to her, “What happened to you. But I’m willing to try if you are.” And Bucky has to admit, he’ll always admire that about Sam; his reliance on helping people. “They cleared the bionic staring machine, and he killed almost everybody he’s met,” Sam says, his voice lower.
Man, fuck Sam.
“I heard that,” Bucky throws back.
“Look, fine. I can’t get it for you, but she sure as shit can,” Sam points back to Y/n, over his shoulder. “She got Barton and Lang out of the Raft on house arrest. She’s the one who got Bucky’s pardon.”
“You did?” Bucky looks up at her, shocked.
She shrugs like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“She’s the best lawyer there is,” Sam reassures. “She’ll get it done.”
“You would?” Sharon asks her.
“Would’ve done it months ago but—and this isn’t much of an excuse—but with all the shit with Thanos, it just—” Y/n replies.
“—Slipped your mind?” Sharon suggests snidely.
“—Got too much. Human or not, depression kicks you in the balls,” Y/n answers patiently, “Like, I said, not much of an excuse but I am sorry.”
“I don’t trust charity,” Sharon says.
“All right, a deal then.” Sam folds his arms, “You help us out, and I get your name cleared,” Sam urges, extending his hand over for her to shake.
Sharon considers for a second, and then slips her hand into his, shaking it. She stands up, takes another sip of her drink, placing it back on the table, “Well, I sell to some pretty connected people. Lay low, blend in, enjoy the party,” she says while walking over to the stairs. “Try to stay outta trouble. I’ll see what I can find” And then she’s gone.
“Trouble,” Zemo says with a cheery smile, getting off his chair.
“Oh before I forget,” Y/n says as she’s getting up off the couch and taking quick steps over to Zemo.
And before Bucky even has a moment to process it, Zemo is pinned to the wall, with Y/n’s hand around his throat. There’s nothing but murder in her eyes. Both Bucky and Sam are behind her in an instant.
“Y/n—” Sam begins.
Her grip on him is tight as she begins to push him up against the wall with her bare hand. His toes flail in the air, off the ground. And though she never explicitly says this is regarding the altercation with Selby, where he treated Bucky the same way Hydra used to, everyone in the room is aware of it.
“Please get this through your thick skull, Baron, he is not your plaything,” She says, her voice even, “But you certainly could become mine.”
He knows he should probably stop this, but man, it’s pretty fucking hot.
… wait, what?
“Y/n!” Sam warns.
She lets him go. Turning away she walks over to the decanter, pouring herself a drink, she throws back without turning, “Don’t tempt me, Helmut.” She chugs the whole thing in one go.
And this really had been a day of well fucks, hasn’t it? Bucky thinks, smiling softly.