THE FADING FALLEN ● Bucky Barnes X OC ● 18+ ● ENGLISH [COMPLETE]

Chapter 42

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At Karli's former childhood home, they learned more about the young woman and her foster mother, Donya.

Also about the chaos after the blip. How borders were opened, the unwelcome were suddenly welcome and the whole world held together. But only for so long, until a few months ago everything fell back into old and dull patterns.

They didn't get any more information. At least that's what Emilia thought until Zemo dropped something.

Back at the safe house, she sat next to Sam and Bucky on the couch while he continued to refuse to spill the beans.

"Keep talking."

"I prefer to keep my leverage on that one."

Bucky's patience thread was finally broken. He stood up, walked toward him, and grabbed the cup from Zemo's hand, which he hurled away with all his force. The porcelain shattered against the wall with a loud clang.

"You wanna see what someone can do with leverage?"

Emilia hated to see Bucky like this. Tense, restless, and angry. Even though he was no longer the man from the 40s, there was still a part of that Bucky in him.

She didn't want Zemo to take that away from him, too, like everything else of his old life had already been taken away.

Bucky was a good man, with his heart in the right place. But in the presence of this slick baron, he seemed a different man.

The fact that all he would ever see in him was the Winter Soldier and his deeds, he let Bucky feel every second.

"This isn't getting us anywhere, Barnes."

Her soothing voice didn't really help at that moment. Bucky would have liked to wring his counterpart's neck.

Only when he felt her regretful gaze on him did he step back. It didn't escape him how a moment later she was staring at Zemo with a completely different expression in her eyes.

"If the Dora Milaje show up here, your leverage won't help you. So speak out, now."

Emilia despised this man and could understand Bucky's reaction all too well.

'Hurry up, Ayo. Before I do something I will regret...'

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It wasn't long before the new wannabe Captian America also appeared on the scene.

John Walker gave her uncomfortable goosebumps. Ever since he was celebrated at his parade.

She preferred to just keep walking when he suddenly appeared with his companion in the narrow alley in front of them.

"No more keeping us in the dark. You could start by telling us why you broke him out of prison."

Walker pointed threateningly at Zemo and caught sight of Emilia behind him: "Who the hell is this? That face looks kind of familiar."

"Hi. Emilia Carson. Just as unpleased about making your acquaintance." The put-on smile punctuated the dry sarcastic undertone of her voice.

Bucky couldn't help a satisfied smirk at Walker's astonished face at her sass. She noticed and looked to him.

Shrugging her shoulders innocently, she subconsciously returned his smile. He didn't miss the dimple deepening on her cheek. Zemo's voice snapped him out of his brief stupor.