You Wanna See Him Bite?
“You guys go ahead. We’ll catch up,” Bucky tells Sam and Zemo as they reach the door to Zemo’s place. Sam gives him a knowing smile before nodding and walking in. Zemo follows suit.
“I’m sorry—” Y/n says at the same time as Bucky asks, “You okay—”
They both look at each other and Bucky can see her lips curve up. He can’t help but respond similarly. They’re both standing on the steps in front of the large black gate, facing each other. Bucky’s one leg is resting one step up.
“You go ahead,” he implores.
He carefully follows her movements as she runs a hand through her hair grabbing onto the top for a second, sighing in frustration, and then letting go. Her head falls as she says, “I’m sorry. I know I talked a big game about not fucking up on the job and then proceeded to do just tha—”
“Do you seriously not listen to a word I say?” Bucky cuts her off. She looks up at him in confusion. So he continues, “You don’t always have to have your shit together you know? You’re only human.”
“Well…” she squeaks, cocking her head and raising her shoulders, “technically…”
Bucky chuckles, turning away a bit, “You know what I mean.” He can’t keep looking at her, she looks too damn charming. “Work with me here, please.”
She lets out a small laugh too, “Let’s just say I’m human enough.”
Bucky hums in agreement. “You okay?” He tries to go for casual but misses by a mile, only sounding noticeably concerned.
She looks away then, the smile falling off her lips, “Not really,” she states. She looks back at him after a pause and adds, “But I’ll get there.”
Bucky can’t help but smile at her perseverance. He knows he’s being corny, but he can’t help it.
“What?” She asks, smiling as well.
“Nothing.”
She pushes him amicably, “Tell me?”
He sighs, and because it’s just her and no one else here, he says, “Just like seeing you like this. Badass is a good look on you, sweetheart.”
Now what you need to understand is that Bucky hasn’t watched a lot of modern films. He prefers reading but on one Sunday afternoon, he was sweaty from all the nightmares and all the not owning an air conditioner. So he turned on the TV to distract himself from all the melancholy. He was channel surfing when suddenly his remote died and on the screen was an animated rat, cooking food… Fine. The remote didn’t die. It was an animated rat cooking! Sue him, he found that plenty distracting, okay? Anyway, he’s getting off the point here. Point is, the animated rat, whose name he later found out was Remi—yes he watched the whole fucking movie and cried when Ego ate the ratatouille, fuck off—ran out through a window and the frame froze as he began narrating his life story. Point is, right now, right fucking now, Bucky, just like Remi, can physically hear the world pause and the narration begin.
Because he just called Y/n Stark, sweetheart.
Not when she was panicking. Not when she was barely holding on and very distracted, no. He called her that in broad daylight without so much as a single regard for the repercussions that might have on his mental wellbeing.
Point is, he’s fucking frozen… and blushing.
Y/n, however, this brilliant woman, just smiles. If it were anyone else he’d presume they were unaware of his inner monologue but cause it’s her, he knows she’s laughing because of it. She can read it on his face and she’s fucking enjoying every second of it. And just as a cherry to top it all off she says, “Right back atchya, sunshine.”
Well, fuck.
He thinks he’s heard her call him that in a dream before…
But then suddenly it clicks. The plane!
However, before he can do anything with that revelation, she’s making her way up the stairs and opening the door. Holding it open for him.
Seeing as he’s nowhere near the ladies' man he once was, he decides to be a pussy and just walk right in, avoiding the implications of the whole interaction.
“Something’s not right about Walker,” Bucky says, taking off his jacket. Now that he’s back in here, he remembers exactly what Walker did and he’s pissed off again. All the smiles from the previous conversation are gone. He can spot Zemo laying on the couch, with a drink in his hand. While Sam is sitting at the round dining table next to the kitchen island.
Bucky likes the idea of a drink too so he walks over to make one.
“You don’t say,” is Sam’s response. Bucky can hear the small smile on his face.
He places his jacket on the kitchen island and pulls out the liquor from the shelf, saying “Well, I know a crazy when I see one.” He pours himself a glass. “Because I am crazy.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Sam replies.
Y/n has settled herself opposite Bucky on a stool at the kitchen island. She’s looking at him with something in her eyes he can’t quite place. Zemo behind her is now sitting up and watching the interaction with interest.
He looks over at her, asking silently if she wants one as well. She nods. So he pours another.
“Shouldn’t have given him the shield,” Bucky notes, capping the decanter and putting it on the table. He pushes over her glass.
“I didn’t give him the shield,” Sam defends, getting off the chair and turning over to him.
“Well, Steve definitely didn’t,” Bucky counters, taking a sip.
“James,” Y/n warns him.
Suddenly, all heads whip over to the door as it opens. “All right. That’s it. Bucky, Sam, let’s go.” Walker says as he barges in with Lemar in tow. Think of the devil… “I’m now ordering you to turn him over,” He commands Sam while pointing over to Zemo. “
Zemo gets off the couch, standing up and walking behind Sam. Y/n gets off her chair as well, while Bucky walks to the head of the table.
“Hey, slow your roll,” Sam warns. Bucky can finally hear his patience waning and he isn’t sure if that’s good or bad. “And let’s be clear, shield or no shield, the only thing you’re runnin’ in here is your mouth.” Yeah no, definitely a good thing. Sam continues, “Now, I had Karli and you overstepped. He’s actually proven himself useful today,” He says looking back and pointing back at Zemo who is now standing in front of the bathroom door. “We’re gonna need all hands on deck for whatever’s comin’ next.”
“How do you want the rest of this conversation to go, Sam, huh?” Walker threatens. Bucky notices even Lemar narrows his eyes at his friend at the words. Sam, though, must relent somewhat because then Walker adds, “Yeah,” he lets out a mocking laugh. “Should I put down the shield? Make it fair?” His smile is so snide, Bucky wants to punch him in the teeth. “Or do you prefer Bucky doing all the fighting for you?” He asks while putting his shield down against the pillars next to him. Sam lets out a small condescending laugh in response.
But then, “Okay. I’m new, so help me out here… Why do you keep calling that?” Y/n interrupts before anyone can start throwing punches.
“What?” Walker asks, looking at her, confused over the sudden change in topic.
“Why do you keep calling him that?” Y/n reiterates.
“Who?” Walker fumbles.
“Him,” she points at Bucky.
“Bucky?” He balks.
“That,” she chides, pointing a finger at him.
John fumbles some more, his jaw dropping, “Cause it’s his name?”
“Umm, I’m pretty sure it’s his nickname,” she corrects. “You know? For friends to call…? Ergo, not you.”
Walker’s jaw clenches.
“While we’re on the subject, Baron Asshole,” she points at Zemo. To which Zemo grumbles his disagreements softly, knowing better than to interrupt, “Agent Wilson,” she continues, pointing towards Sam, “Ms. Stark,” pointing towards herself. “And Sergeant Barnes,” she bites out, pointing at Bucky, leaving no argument for Walker.
Walker points a glare towards her and if looks could kill… But Y/n doesn’t even flinch. She looks painfully calm, like dealing with a child, which technically she is, considering she is older than the concept of sliced bread.
“I’m pretty sure he’s not a Sergeant anymore,” he snarls.
It’d hurt Bucky’s feelings… if he gave two shakes of a rat’s ass what Walker thought of him, but he doesn’t. So, Bucky doesn’t care to interject, doesn’t expect anyone else to either, seeing as Walker isn’t entirely wrong.
But Y/n does interject, hostility laced in every word, “I’m pretty sure you’re not Captain America… Yet here we are…”
Zemo whispers a soft, ouch. While Bucky’s lips twitch up, emotions bubbling inside him, that he can’t name all at once, but one of them he’s sure is pride.
Walker looks murderous, “This shield—”
Y/n cuts him off, “Wasn’t given to you, therefore doesn’t belong to you.” There’s a small edge of sympathy in her voice, Bucky notes.
“It is mine!” John shouts to counter her calmness, “It was given to me. I was chosen for this—”
“—by a bunch of bureaucrats, in ugly ill-fitting suits, hopped up on power they don’t know how to use…” Y/n pauses then, “But who cares what they think?” she smiles, looking back at Sam, who’s turned to look at her with a smile of his own. Bucky realizes he is wearing a small smile as well.
She turns back towards Walker who’s trying to come up with a response. She sighs then, tired. “Look Walker, I know you. I’ve seen you on the field, in action, under pressure. I’ve read your files too. I know what’s in them, and what’s not…” John looks up at that, eyes confused and… afraid.
She continues, unperturbed by his reaction as if she was expecting it. “You’re a good soldier, you are. Some of the best I’ve seen… and I’ve seen aplenty.” She smiles reminiscing, and Bucky’s heart does a thing that he doesn’t want to examine right now, so he focuses back on her words. “But, a good soldier with a very expensive frisbee, Captain America does not make.” Her voice is laced with a hint of resentment, sure but mostly it’s coated with pity—for Walker who cannot live up to the legacy Steve left behind—and care—for the legacy itself.
Bucky understands then, no matter how much she dislikes Steve in that moment, she will always respect him, his legacy. And while a part of him is unbelievably grateful, another feels… envious?
He doesn’t have time to recognize the emotion in its entirety though, because Walker doesn’t see her sympathy as an olive branch but another attack. So, he counters, “Oh so what, you’re the leading authority on who can and cannot be Captain America? Why? ‘Cause you were his little slu—”
Before he can finish his thought there’s a glass thrown across the room, missing Walker’s head only by an inch and crashing into the pillar next to him. His eyes wide, filled with terror. All eyes turn to the assailant; Bucky.
“Finish that sentence,” Bucky challenges with a snarl, “I fucking dare you.” His voice is soaked in disdain, low enough to be a growl.
Walker flinches, Lemar holding him back at the side. He turns his gaze back to Y/n, who unlike everyone else, hadn’t turned to look at Bucky, instead kept her eyes fixed on John. She seems calm but the way her shoulders are pulled back and her hands are shoved into her pockets, he knows from experience, it means nothing but trouble.
“What? He’s your guard dog now?” John asks irate, head nodding towards Bucky.
Y/n finally looks at Bucky then, at his vibranium arm, “With those claws?” Her eyes slowly move up to meet Bucky’s, almost as if she’s… checking him out? And a fucking thrill runs up his spine. “A wolf maybe,” she pitches, a small, coy smile breaking onto her face. And he cannot help but reciprocate the action because fuck him! The woman is going to be the death of him.
Y/n turns back to face John then. “You wanna see him bite?” She’s wearing the meanest, cockiest smile he’s ever seen. It’s nothing like the one she gave him only a second ago. “I’ll let him.” She sounds so confident in Bucky’s ability; he has to take a moment to adjust.
Walker scoffs, “Why? The infamous Static too afraid to face Captain America?”
Bucky can’t help but clench his fists.
But Y/n as per usual remains unfazed. Hell, she even lets out a soft laugh, mocking, “I’ve fought the original and left him flat on his ass. You think you’re worth my time, kiddo?”
Zemo whispers another louder, ouch. While Sam flat out laughs.
The moment however is somewhat serendipitously broken, as a spear comes flying through the room, crashing into the pillar next to Walker.
Bucky looks back and there stands the Dora Milaje. There’s three of them in total. The one who threw her spear stands in a corner, diagonally behind Sam. While Ayo walks in through the main door with another woman.
Bucky exhales softly, regretting ever even enlisting in the damn war back in the ’40s.
“Even if he’s a means to your end… Time is up,” she states in Wankandan. “Release him to us now,” she adds in English for good measure.
Walker the dumb bitch, turns around looking at them, “Hi. John Walker. Captain America.”
Ayo does not move, just stares at him like he’s a really ugly bug she’s about to crush. Which is pretty apt.
Walker, nerved by the lack of response, looks around. “Well, let’s, uh, put down the pointy sticks and we can talk this through, huh?”
“Hey, John, take it easy. You might wanna fight Bucky before you tangle with the Dora Milaje,” Sam forewarns. Without looking Bucky knows he’s wearing a smug, knowing smile.
“The Dora Milaje don’t have jurisdiction here—” Walker tries.
Ayo cuts him off, taking a step towards him, “The Dora Milaje have jurisdiction wherever the Dora Milaje find themselves to be.”
“Okay,” Walker chuckles nervously before adding, “Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot,” And the dumb fucker decides to rest his arm on her shoulder.
Thus begins Ayo’s well-earned and unstoppable assault on John Walker.
Lemar joins in, and so do the other two Dora’s.
Sam walks over to where now Bucky and Y/n are standing close together. “We should do something,” Sam tells them both as they watch the two men get absolutely annihilated.
Y/n takes a long sip from her drink and then offers it to Bucky (probably as reparations for the one he threw at Walker on her behalf). Bucky smiles in thanks and finishes the rest in one go. He sets the glass on the table, and folds his arms, “Looking strong, John.” Bucky shouts out.
He continues watching in amusement as Ayo knocks the spear right on Walker’s face. “Bucky,” Sam calls him in alarm.
And fuck Sam for having a damn conscience.
As Ayo is about to bring the spear down on John, Bucky catches it midway, making her turn to look at her, “Ayo,” he tries. But she begins fighting him as well. “Ayo, let’s talk about this!” He pleads.
But she’s unrelenting.
He’s trying his best to fight her, but he knows he’s barely holding his own. He can spot Sam step into the fight behind him as well, to save Lemar. Y/n though, he notes remains where she is.
While he and Sam are thoroughly getting their asses handed to them, they shout out in unison, “Y/N!”
She exhales audibly before stepping in and stopping the back of a spear hitting Sam’s face, with one hand, and using the other to catch one to stop the momentum of Ayo’s spear.
“Is this really necessary?” Y/n asks Ayo, speaking fluent Wakandan. That throws Bucky for a fucking spin.
“You made it necessary,” Ayo replies in Wakandan as well.
Y/n grunts in response before the rest of the two Dora charge at her.
He can’t focus much on her, other than have a general idea of the fact that she is very easily holding her own, unlike Bucky who barely blocks Ayo’s spear with his left arm. She pushes the blunt end into his chest, which Bucky brushes off. Only for her to move in closer, jab two fingers into his left shoulder, following with fluent consecutive motions, the result of which is his arm detaching and falling to the floor.
As the arm clanks onto the floor, Bucky can’t do anything but look at her in a mixture of shock, betrayal, and helplessness. In that moment, he feels more broken than he has in a while.
Suddenly, “AYO!” comes a thundering shout from behind him. It’s Y/n, and she is fury incarnate.
The other two Dora’s have stood down, noticing the outburst.
The look exchanged between the two women is a battle between fire and ice. While Ayo’s stare is cold and unforgiving, Y/n is nothing but rage and vengeance.
“You’re getting rusty,” Ayo says snidely in Wakandan. Y/n’s jaw just clenches in response.
“Zemo’s gone,” Y/n says in English, after a moment. Her anger is evident.
Ayo gives one last look over to him before walking over to the bathroom and walking in to inspect it.
Another Dora walks over to where her spear is stuck onto the table with the shield wrapped around it and pulls it out, letting it fall. Walker watches helplessly from where he’s sitting on the ground next to it. She steps on the shield, catching it over her arm.
Ayo walks out, “He’s not here,” she states. “Leave it,” She points to the shield,
The Dora reluctantly hands it over to Walker as all of them walk out.
Bucky picks up his arm, inspecting it. Meanwhile, Sam asks, “Did you know they could do that?” while getting off the floor.
He places his arm back, and spins it once for good measure before replying, “No.”
Sam walks away to check the bathroom while Y/n walks over to him, concern etched on every single part of her face.
“You okay?” She asks, gently. Her hand, Bucky notes, subconsciously makes its way onto his forearm.
He nods in response then asks, “You speak Wakandan?”
Her face is still nothing but worry as she looks at him, almost lost in thought. Bucky wants to get lost in it. She answers a few seconds too late, “Oh?” she fumbles before realizing, “Ugh, yeah. I trained with the Dora Milaje in the ’60s for a bit.
And for the umpteenth time, Bucky thinks; well, fuck!