𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓.
❝ whole world watching ❞

WHEN BUCKY FINALLY RETURNS to the Latvian safe house, Natasha is already there and they're packing Svetlana's bags.

She hasn't brought much with her on this little "family vacation" to start with, but they're gathering up what little she has — her sundress and her jeans, the Madripoor dress, her black and silver uniform. It's all going with her.

Svet doesn't look well. She looks younger than she has in years; skin and bones and three shades of sickly pale. She's not the vibrant and healthy young woman she was yesterday. She's not Svetti. She hopes she's not Plan B. She's not sure what she is.

The truth and the nightmares have taken a toll on her.

And the look of her takes its toll on Bucky as well.

Natasha looks up when he enters the flat, one eyebrow arched and face perfectly blank. She doesn't say anything so he doesn't either, not for a long moment. He waits for her to scold him, to yell at him for endangering their daughter, for breaking Rule #4, for not doing what she told him, but she does none of that.

"Natalia."

"James."

Bucky nods, "You're here."

Natasha nods back, "I'm here."

Sam glances between the couple with wide eyes.

Even Zemo looks a bit uncomfortable.

It's awkward. Awkward because Svetlana can't seem to look at Bucky. Awkward because Svetlana won't tell Natasha what went on. Awkward because Bucky and Natasha never discussed what was said on their date a few days ago. They each stare at each other for a moment, an entire silent conversation hanging in the air between them without anyone actually voicing it.

It's terrible. So they move on.

"Well, the Wakandans are here. They want Zemo." Bucky announces, finally allowing himself to walk completely into the safe house, "Bought us some more time."

Sitting by the counter, Sam looks up to ask, "Were you followed?"

When Bucky answers in the negative, Zemo frowns, "How can you be so sure?"

"Believe me." Folding Svet's hoodie, Natasha dryly responds before anyone else can, "He knows when he's being followed."

Svetlana stays silent. Natasha continues the task of packing her daughter up to go home.

Dressed in a bathrobe and dabbing on cologne, Zemo spins lazily from the window, "It was sweet of you to defend me, at least."

"Hey, you shut it!" Sam cuts in sharply, "No one's defending you. You killed Nagel."

"He killed somebody?" Natasha raises a brow, tone distinctly not looking for an answer, "Why does that not surprise me."

Zemo shrugs rather indifferently for a murderer, "Do we really have to litigate what may or may not have happened?"

"There's nothing to litigate." Sam is in disbelief, "You straight shot the man!"

"Guys!" Bucky suddenly calls, looking down at his cell phone, "Karli bombed a GRC supply depot."

This actually stops Svetlana in her tracks, forcing her to look sharply up at everyone else, "How bad is it, Papa?"

"Eleven injured, three dead." Bucky presses his lips into a fine line, reading off the cellphone, "They have a list of demands and are promising more attacks if those demands aren't met."

Sam sighs, head tilting back as he eyes the ceiling like it may have answers.

"She's getting worse. I have the will to complete this mission." The baron watches them closely, "Do the four of you?"

"She's just a kid," Sam argues quietly.

"You're seeing something in her that isn't there. You're clouded by it. She's a supremacist. The very concept of a Super Soldier will always trouble people. It's that warped aspiration that led to Nazis, to Ultron, to the Avengers."

"Hey, watch it." Sam sharply chides, "You're talking about our friends."

Bucky cuts in wryly, "The Avengers, not the Nazis."

"Important distinction," Natasha smirks his way.

He finds it within himself to smirk back.

Sam keeps fighting, "So, Karli is radicalized, but there has to be a peaceful way to stop her."

"The desire to become a superhuman cannot be separated from supremacist ideals."

Svet tries to think about that; she tries to think about those ideals and none of them make sense. She didn't do it to become a supremacist, to become better than anyone. She took the serum so she could fight against the bad people, she took the serum so she could see her papa again.

"Anyone with that serum is inherently on that path. She will not stop. She will escalate until you kill her." Zemo's head tilts, voice dropping low, "Or she kills you."

"Maybe you're wrong, Zemo." Bucky argues evenly, silhouetted against the stained glass window, "The serum never corrupted Steve or Svetla."

Bucky glances Svet, but she quickly looks away.

"Touché. But there has never been another Steve Rogers, has there?" Wrinkles form around his eyes as he squints the girl's way, "Until dear little Svetlana."

The girl blushes a little, ducking her head and avoiding everyone's gaze. His words churn her stomach, make her heart thud painfully against the interior of her chest, make her ears start to ring again — just like they do when she has one of her migraines.

She's not like Uncle Steve. She's not good enough to be like Uncle Steve.

"Well." Bucky's voice echoes in the wide room, dropping onto the couch next to Svet's backpack, "Maybe we should give him to the Wakandans right now."

Zemo blinks innocently, "And you'll give up your tour guide?"

"Yes."

"No, he's got a point." Natasha sighs thoughtfully, if not a bit regretfully, "You broke him out of prison. You might as well make use of him while you have him."

The Sokovian is pleased, "Thank you, Ms. Ro—,"

"Do not address me." Natasha doesn't even look at him.

Svetlana blinks and Bucky smirks a little.

"From my understanding, Donya is like a pillar of the community, right?" Sam leans forward on the stool, elbows on his knees, "So, when I was a kid, my TT passed away—,"

Bucky hesitates, confused, "Your... TT?"

"Yeah, my TT, yeah."

Natasha scratches her brow in amusement.

Svet is just as confused, head cocked, "Eh, Uncle Sam, what is a... a 'T—T'?"

"It's like an aunt, Svetti." Sam's much more patient with her than he would have been with Bucky, explaining, "When I was a kid, my aunt passed away and the entire neighborhood got together for a ceremony. It was like a week long. Maybe they're doing the same thing for Donya?"

Svetlana suddenly looks sharply Natasha's way, and maybe they're beginning to form a silent language of their own because a silent yet somewhat stilted conversation passes between them.

When she is at least somewhat confident she's got the message right, Natasha sighs and shrugs a shoulder in concession, "Worth a shot."

Bucky glances between them with an unreadable expression.

Sam, however, looks obviously unsure, "I thought you two were leaving?"

"We are." Natasha crosses her arms over her chest, "There's no harm in a little sightseeing before our flight, is there?"

Svet hopes not.

Once in the city, Natasha finds it interesting to watch Bucky and Svet move through the city. The swagger that they had during their HYDRA years is long gone and with the simple clothes, few people take notice of them. It's no wonder that none of them could track them down all those years ago. They're just an ordinary father and daughter walking down the street, keeping all of their extraordinariness in check.

It makes her happier than she thinks she has any right to.

Happier than perhaps the current situation allows.

The tension is so thick, she doubts even one of Clint's arrows could cut through.

They eventually arrive at a run down estate, separating into two groups with Sam and Svet to take a look inside while Natasha and Bucky watch Zemo around the courtyard. Inside, refugees turn them away, either too fearful or too angry to offer any information, while outside Bucky is a pillar of tension and Natasha narrows her eyes as Zemo bribes small children into being friends with handfuls of Turkish Delight.

They end back up at the safe house with absolutely nothing to show for it.

As the heavy doors close behind them, Sam points out, "This is because Karli is the only one fighting for them."

"And she's not exactly wrong," Natasha exhales as she sits back on the crouch.

"What do you mean?"

The woman purses her lips, elbows resting on her kneecaps as she explains, "You guys weren't here to see what it was like. The world was... very different after Thanos snapped. For five years, people were welcomed into countries that have kept them out for centuries. There were houses and jobs. People were happy to have each other around to rebuild. It wasn't just one community coming together, it was the entire world coming together. And then... just like that—," she snaps her thumb and middle finger, sensing the hush falling over the room, "It goes right back to the way it used to be."

Sam inclines his head, dropping onto the couch at her side, "To them, at least Karli's doin' somethin'."

"You really think her ends justify her means?" Bucky argues quietly, pointing towards Zemo, "Then, she's no different than him or anybody else we've fought."

"She's different. She's not motivated by the same things."

"The little girl, with the Turkish Delight." Svet narrows her eyes at the baron who waltzes over from the kitchen, "She told you something, yes?"

After a beat, Zemo confesses, "The funeral is this afternoon."

"You know the Dora's coming for you any minute. In fact, they're probably lurking outside right now." Bucky spits irritatedly, jaw clenching, "Keep talking."

"Leaving you to turn on me once we get to Karli?" The baron considers this, head tilted and eyes squinted, "Hmm. I prefer to keep my leverage."

Bucky's nerves are far too frayed to be dealing with this. The man shoves himself up to his feet, pacing around to rip the small glass from Zemo's hand and then hurl it into the wall behind him. Svet flinches back when the glass shatters and splinters of crystal fly everywhere.

Bucky leans in real close, voice low and dangerous, "You wanna see what someone can do with leverage?"

Natasha and Svetlana just watch now, both of them suddenly straight—backed and tense, like they're ready to step in  — though on whose behalf, it would be hard for anyone else to say.

"Take it easy. Don't engage him." As always, it's Sam that steps in to look at him over his shoulder, "He's just gonna extort you and do that stupid head tilt thing."

Zemo blinks and quickly straightens, realizing he was indeed doing that stupid head tilt thing.

As Sam steps away to make a call, the baron forces himself to appear casual, "You want some cherry blossom tea?"

"No." Bucky hisses with a sneer, "You go ahead."

After Sam's conversation with their pal back in Madripoor, a new lead takes them out the door until Natasha suddenly stops and rubs her fingers into her forehead with a quiet hiss.

Svet stops immediately, taking her hand, "Mamulya? Chto ne tak?" What's wrong?

"Nat, you good?"

It's Sam who asks, but Svet can see Bucky's eyes studying her mother know, trailing over her with expert precision — noting any subtle flinches or winces. She feels a tinge of warmth spread through the coldness that's consumed her ever since Madripoor. She tries to chase it, but the trail is lost too soon. She gives up trying.

The cold is close to consuming her now.

"Yeah." Natasha's brow wrinkles, shaking her head, "Just got a headache all of the sudden."

And then, all of the sudden, an all too familiar voice is calling from down the street, "Karli Morgenthau is too dangerous for you guys to be pulling this sh—t!"

Svet jumps and then groans at the sight of none other than John Walker (still with the shield) and Lemar Hoskins angrily striding down the cobblestone steps towards them.

Natasha tsks in resigned understanding, "That explains it."

Svet is already grumbling under her breath.

"Ah!" Bucky scowls, calling out to the two men, "How'd you find us now?"

"Come on, man," Lemar jogs closer, looking a bit incredulous, "You think two Avengers can walk around Latvia without drawing attention?"

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

"He did that himself, technically."

Natasha rolls her eyes his way, "Barely technically."

Bucky shrugs, admitting to nothing.

Walker bursts, arms flailing over his head, getting in Bucky's face, "This better be an unbelievable explana—!"

"Hey!" Sam shoves him from getting any closer, "Take it easy before it gets weird."

"It is already weird," Svet softly points out, hand instinctively fisting Bucky's sleeve.

Her uncle considers this before agreeing tiredly, "Weird—er."

"I know where Karli is," Zemo moves to step around the pair of men, but Walker immediately blocks his path, "Well, where?"

"All we know is, it's a memorial. So, we're gonna intercept her there."

"That means civilians," Lemar notes, "High risk of casualties."

Walker doesn't seem to care, "All right, good, we'll move in fast. Take her by surprise."

"No." Sam shakes his head, leading the charge down the street, "I wanna talk to her alone."

The man continues to argue with her uncle as they move along, trying and failing to leave them behind in the street. It's not until Walker steps in their path and tells him that Karli Morgenthau could kill her uncle that he actually manages to get them to stop.

"You'll let him do this?" Walker hisses at her father, face scrunched in judgemental disbelief, "Are you gonna let your partner walk into a room with a supersoldier alone?"

"He's dealt with worse." Bucky's eyes narrow, head tilted back, "And he's not my partner."

Natasha rolls her eyes. Svetlana bites her lip.

"I used to counsel soldiers dealing with trauma, okay? This is in my wheelhouse."

"I know! And I know those soldiers, which is why I know this is a bad idea."

"Wait, John." Hoskins speaks quietly, a voice of reason against Walker's violent action, "If he can talk her down, it might be worth a try."

Walker scoffs before turning an angry gaze onto Zemo, "We'll deal with you later."

As always, Zemo does not care, "I'm sure it will all come to an agreeable conclusion. My associate is just up ahead." He nods towards the same little girl from the courtyard, leading them up a narrow ramp, "Hello, my friend!"

"What the h—ll?" The fake captain mutters from behind.

"Honestly John, just shut the h—ll up," Natasha sighs wearily.

Bucky smirks a little wider.

Eventually, the little girl directs them into the boiler room of an old rundown mansion on the eastern side of Riga. Walker is busy handcuffing an irritated Zemo to the wall, who is making snide comments all the while, while Sam moves towards the front entrance of the staircase. Svet wrings her hands in front of her, a swirl of emotions storming inside of her. She can feel the words building up in her throat until she can't keep them back anymore.

"Uncle Sam?"

He pauses right at the door, turning to find her standing stiffly amongst everyone else, her hands still fumbling in front of her.

"I..." Svet swallows hard and chooses her words carefully, "I would like to come with you."

Walker immediately jumps in, "Whoa, whoa, I'm not about to authorize a kid—,"

"You," Bucky jabs a finger Walker's way, eyes dangerous, "Don't get to authorize anything involving our kid."

Natasha barely spares Walker a glance as she gently pulls Svet aside with Bucky in tow. The girl looks between her parents, eyes wide and serious — looking decades older than her eighteen years.

Her mother tightens her jaw, "Svetti, I don't know how I feel about this..."

"I might be of help to Uncle Sam... Karli and I, besides, we have the same serum running through our veins. We are the same at least in that. Maybe she needs someone who understands, in more ways than one."

It's strange how Natasha so easily understands that this is a conversation that runs deeper than just the here and now. She takes a deep breath, nods, and then glances at Bucky who just watches her for a long moment. Svet forces the trembling in her hands to stop, drawing in a long deep breath before looking him right in the eye. It feels like the first time, in a long time, though it was only yesterday.

There's that blankness there in his face because he knows they have company, but she can see those emotions she has learned to read so very well in his eyes. He's analyzing and he's angry and he's uncertain and he's scared. But not just because of this.

Finally, Bucky clears his throat and nods a little, "I trust you, Svetlana."

Svet feels herself flinch a bit. A flurry of memories swarm her mind, nightmares flooding in from the night before of a gun pointed at Mr. Nakajima's son and a kill order on her papa's lips. She obeyed that order. Little Svetlana, who was always Svetlana, not mind—controlled and twisted into something else like her papa, obeyed that order. A cold sweat breaks on the back of her neck. Trust. What's trust between two killers? How could he trust her — of all people?

Her lashes flutter a little, "Spasibo, Papa."

Bucky steps back.

Sam eyes her for a long moment, "All right, Slugger, let's do this thing."

Their footsteps quietly echo in the wide warehouse, moving through window—lined hallways until they find a wide open foyer. Small white bouquets and small candles surround a woman in a makeshift casket, a sheer sheet draped over her pale body. The girl Svetlana recognizes as Karli Morgenthau stands amongst a crowd of quiet trembling people, holding a little boy and giving a speech. 

The girl waits until everyone else has left the room before she speaks, "I saw you two back there."

Svet and Sam slowly emerge from the shadows of the archway, the former's small hands partly raised to show their peaceful intentions.

"We came alone." Sam's voice carries in the now cold empty room, "We just wanna talk."

"Bold of you." Karli's dark eyes flick between the uncle and niece, "She your bodyguard?"

"My name is Svetlana — Svet." She forces a smile but shakes her head all the same, "And he does not need one, promise."

Sam takes the lead, as he should, "We're sorry for your loss."

"Don't condescend to me." The older girl bites back, "I'm not a child."

"I'm not. I know what it's like to lose someone. Believe me."

"No, you don't." Karli argues with a snap, "Not like this."

"Yes." Svet speaks up, voice gentle but firm, kind but serious, wise but still young, "Much like this, Karli."

The two redheads look at each other, really look at each other until a flash of slight familiarity slashes between them. Yes, because they both have the serum, but it's something more. They wouldn't be that much different in age of time and circumstance hadn't separated them. They each took their turns standing on the precipice of this — taking justice into their hands for the sake of what they think is best.

Svet wonders if maybe the reason she came in here is because she needs to prove to herself she's still no longer on that precipice, the urge to jump was far too strong, to feel all that terrible guilt lift from her shoulders until her spine hit the ground with a vicious snap. 

"Let me go."

Svet shakes away the flashbacks and steps slowly closer, "This does not have to be a war."

That flash of familiarity pulls back and Karli raises her chin, "They started a war as soon as they kicked us out of our new homes and onto the street. People around the world need me. Millions of them!"

"Right, I can't speak for millions, but I understand you." There's a low sincerity to Sam's voice, one that draws the girl in, "I understand your frustration. We understand your helplessness."

"So, you want me to stop because people are gettin' hurt, right?" Karli glances between them, pacing slowly closer, "But, Sam, Svet, what if I'm making the world a better place?"

"No, it's not a better place if you're killin' people. It's just different."

Svet feels those words settle in her chest, carving through the years worth of armor she built around her heart. Maybe she's been wrong. Maybe she's not dirty. Svet looks down at her hands and she doesn't see blood on them anymore. She can wash it off. She can get clean.

Karli eyes him for a long moment before smirking, "You're either brilliant or just hopelessly optimistic."

"Well." Sam chuckles softly, "Can't I be a little bit of both?"

"No."

"This guy we know, who knows more about supersoldiers than anyone else on the planet, he says... you're a supremacist."

Karli is horrified, "Me?"

Svet winces a little, "Unfortunately so."

"That's ridiculous!" She cries, pacing around the space between them, "Everything I do is to end supremacy! These corporations and the beasts who run them, they're the supremacists."

"So, let me ask you: you have more serum, right?"

Karli appears confused, "So?"

"Are you going to increase your army?" Sam sits at her side, voice softer, "You're killin' innocent people."

"They're not innocent." Karli suddenly hisses indignantly, "They're roadblocks in my journey and I'd kill them again if I had to!"

Svet nearly flinches at the venom in her voice. 

"Wow..." Sam pointedly exhales and looks away.

"No, no!" Karli sounds desperate now, "I didn't mean it like that. You tricked me into sounding like..."

Svet arches a brow, "Like those beasts, Karli? Like the people you are fighting?"

The other redhead shakes her head and licks her lips, "The people I'm fightin' are trying to take your home. Why are you both here instead of stopping them?"

Sam considers this a moment before deciding upon honesty, "You know, my sister's waiting for that exact same answer. We're not your enemy. We agree with your fight. We just can't get with the way you're fightin' it." His head tilts towards the casket, "And I'm sure she wouldn't either."

Karli is just softening when a voice suddenly booms from the archway, "Karli Morgenthau, you're under arrest!"

Svet swivels around, eyes flying wide at the sight of the group they left outside walking purposefully into the room. Each doing their best to stop them, her father grabs onto Hoskins' arm just as her mother strides quickly after Walker.

A look of betrayal sears across Karli's face as she backs away, "This is what that was?"

"No." Sam stretches a hand out, "Wait,"

"Karli." Svet gets closer, voice hurried, "We are not with Walker, just listen—,"

But the other girl can't hear them now, anger taking over, "Tricking me until help came?"

"No," Walker determines, shaking Natasha loose, "We had enough time to talk."

"You and that symbol are bullsh—t!" Karli spits at him, "Why don't you—,"

Karli hurls a fist forward, knuckles smashing into the shield so both Walker and Natasha are hurled to the ground. Sam drops too, Natasha's body colliding with his own. Karli throws out a sharp kick but Svet knocks it aside, launching forward until she catches her other wrist.

"Don't do this," the girl whispers, insistent, pleading.

Karli's expression contorts as she rips free from Svetlana's grasp, shoves her back, and then runs for the backdoor. Svet immediately takes off after her, leaving her uncle and parents in her wake.

"James—!" Natasha yells pointedly, helping Sam back to his feet.

Bucky nods back, "I've got her!"

He shoves Hoskins aside and sprints after both girls, with the others not far behind. Soon, they're fighting their way through this maze of an estate, all separated and chasing after one another. By the time Svetlana finally fights her way through the house and a horde of fellow supersoldiers, she's too late. Always too late. Her boots skid over the metal staircase, gaping down at the overturned table and fallen body of Zemo. Karli is gone and in the place of her is Walker, crouching down near him, hand on the broken concrete.

"Where is Karli?"

"Gone." Walker snaps back, not lifting his eyes off the ground, "No thanks to you and your handlers."

Handlers. Svet's hands curl into fists at her sides, already sensing Hoskins and the people who are her family as they run up behind her. They're all panting and looking a little worse for wear, but they're alive and here and too late.

Sam heaves a breath, peering over her shoulder, "What did we miss?"

Svet eyes the ground, the broken glass and blue liquid splattered across the floor. Something shifts in her chest and her brows wrinkle a little, "Where are the vials, Walker?"

The blonde man slowly looks up at them, red creeping into his blue eyes, before he breathes, "They're all gone."

━━━━━━

NATASHA AND BUCKY TALK.

Or at least, they know that they need to. Mostly, they've been walking around the block under the guise of "scouting", seeing if they can catch any last traces of Morgenthau and her team. Really, they know they won't find anything — not until they regroup and decide how they're going to move forward. It doesn't really matter, though. It's clear enough they're all sticking around until that happens.

Bucky has been stealing occasional glances at Natasha as they silently stride along. She's getting easier for him to read nowadays, though he suspects that's more because she's letting him.

"You're staying," it's not a question.

"We're staying," she confirms.

He doesn't breathe a sigh of relief because her eyes are fixed on him and she's not one to miss something as obvious as that. Still, he can tell she knows. He's relieved as he's regretful. They continued walking in silence for a few moments before Bucky sighs, not looking at her.

"So you're not p—ssed?"

"Oh no, I'm definitely p—ssed..." She smirks as he snorts a little, "But I understand."

"Thank you," he tells her, and he means it. And he thinks that maybe he owes her something in return, so he starts with the truth, "She—She knows. About Nakajima. At least part of it."

"I figured." Natasha nods slowly, "And?"

"And... this happened."

Bucky motions ahead to the apartment where their daughter is currently with Sam and Zemo, clearly meaning the strange tension, those painful silences, that secret he never should have kept still hanging between them.

"We haven't lost her, James." Natasha sees through him all too easily, knowing his fears without having to say it, "Talk to her. Explain. You want to make right for the things that you had her do in Hydra? That is step one."

Nothing else needs to be said. After all, they both know she's right.

Natasha usually is, Bucky thinks wryly.

When they finally push back into the flat, they find a casual scene. Sam is on the computer and Svet is sitting tiredly on the countertop while Zemo is stretched out on the couch with a washcloth over his eyes and a tumbler in his hand. Svet watches as they walk in, looking halfway between relieved and confused as she takes them. She's not sure how to define this new... something between her parents. She likes it.

Bucky announces, "Something's not right about Walker."

"You don't say," Sam sasses.

"Well, I know a crazy when I see one." Bucky tugs off his jacket, pouring himself a glass of whiskey, "'Cause I am crazy."

Sam scoffs, "Can't argue with that."

"Uncle Sam..." Svet quietly chides as Natasha leans on the counter at her side.

Bucky shakes his head, "Shouldn't have given him the shield,"

"I didn't give him the shield!" Sam argues back.

"Well, Steve definitely didn't."

"Okay. We are not doing this all over again," Natasha determines firmly.

Before either man can argue, their front door is kicked open without warning, and Svet realzies Walker must have followed them (again) because he's suddenly there and already ordering, "All right, that's it. Let's go! I'm now ordering you to turn him over."

They all quickly move to their feet, congregating in the middle of the kitchen, already subtly preparing themselves for a fight.

"Hey, slow your roll. Shield or no shield, the only thing you're runnin' in here is your mouth." Sam snaps defensively, hands extended out in front of himself, "Now, Svetlana and I had Karli, and you overstepped." He nods towards Zemo who slowly steps off to the side, "He's actually proven himself useful today. We'll need all hands on deck for whatever's comin' next."

"How do you want the rest of this conversation to go, huh?" Walker's voice lowers into a low chuckle, eyes blazing in obvious threat, "Yeah. Should I put down the shield? Make it fair?"

Svet's stomach twists in irritation while Natasha scoffs, "Unbelievable."

Walker slowly sets it on the ground and takes one step forward before a spear is suddenly slicing through the air. It collides into the pillar, embedding itself into the concrete, spear swaying back and forth with a quiet hum.

From both sides, a squadron of Wakandan warriors Svet recognizes as Ayo, Nomble, and Yama suddenly step into the room, their red and gold armor catching the light. Natasha glances sharply at Bucky who straightens off the counter, eyes that are suddenly more grey than blue lowering to the ground. Svet fights against the urge to go to him immediately, hand hovering over his elbow, feeling like he's just out of reach. 

"Nokuba uyindlela yokuphela kwakho, ixesha liphelile." Svet's father has been teaching her Wakandan in the past few months so Colonel Ayo's words land before she rolls over into English, "Release him to us now." Even if he is a means to your end, time's up.

Zemo looks nervously around the room.

Natasha shifts slightly, already taking in about five things she doesn't like about this situation.

"Hi." The fake captain immediately steps forward, smug smile on his face, "John Walker. Captain America." When there is absolutely no reaction, Walker glances around and scoffs a little, "Well, let's, uh, put down the pointy sticks and we can talk this through, huh?"

Svet's eyes widen in shock and the complete lack of respect.

"Hey, John, take it easy." Sam smirks a little, pleased to have some back up, "You might wanna fight Bucky before you tangle with the Dora Milaje."

Walker is arrogant as usual, "The Dora Milaje don't have jurisdiction here—,"

"The Dora Milaje have jurisdiction wherever the Dora Milaje find themselves to be."

"This is true," Svet acknowledges quietly.

Natasha shrugs in agreement.

"Okay." Walker chuckles, "Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot—,"

He sets one hand on Ayo's shoulder before the soldier is twisting away and slamming him first in the arm, then the knee, and then the face. The small family promptly stands back and watches as Walker and Hoskins get their a—es handed to them by the Dora. Svet can't decide whether she's more relieved or entertained; it's a close tie.

Zemo takes a sip of his whiskey.

Sam leans over to murmur, "We should do something."

"Why?" Natasha shrugs, chin nodding to the Dora warriors, "They've got it under control."

Sam rolls his eyes, "I meant, to make sure Walker doesn't get himself killed."

Svetlana is of the opinion that this really isn't their problem.

Bucky is equally unconcerned, casually calling out, "Looking strong, John!"

"Bucky..."

Her papa heaves a sigh, and then both Bucky and Sam are entering the fight as well. Svet grumbles and goes to follow, but Natasha quickly snatches onto her arm and pulls her back with wide clever eyes and a sharp shake of the head.

"Let's let the boys handle this one...?"

The younger redhead's eyes widen in surprise before quickly looking back at the Dora Milaje warriors currently beating up her father, uncle, and other men who so happen to be present.

"I concur!" The girl replies smartly.

They continue to watch as the men battle it out, Bucky and Sam doing their best to broker some peace. Svet has resigned to keep nervously watching until suddenly the tip of Ayo's hand gets caught between the flesh of her papa's shoulder and the vibranium of his arm. With three swift movements, Bucky's arm flashes gold and then drops lifelessly to the ground with a dull thud.

Svet catches her breath and flinches towards her father, all thought of that coldness in her chest, that terrible distance between them completely forgotten.

Bucky freezes, blue eyes locked on Ayo's face in some tragic mix of horrified shock.

The warrior leans in to hiss, "Bast d—mn you, James."

Bucky physically recoils, all of the fight leaving his body in an instant. 

Svet barely registers the fact that Dora Milaje have left when she runs over and gently picks up the lifeless limb. Feeling nauseous, Svet sucks in a deep breath and slowly holds it out to him. Bucky still looks shocked when he takes it from her, flesh hand shaking just a bit.

Sam glances tentatively over his shoulder, "Did you know they could do that?"

"No."

His vibranium arm groans as he twists and clicks it back into place, flexing his fingers.

"What the h—ll did she do?" Natasha looks between them, "You two all right?"

Bucky purses his lips and Sam nods tightly.

"They weren't even Super Soldiers..." Walker's bewildered voice drifts over their shoulders, both he and Hoskins flat out on their backs by the wall, breathing heavily.

There's a war waging itself beneath the mask of Bucky's face now, in those blue eyes that Svet inherited from him. It hurts her to see him struggle, to know that there's a wall between them, to know that it can't be broken down until they talk about it. Svet doesn't flinch at the cool metal of her father's hand, weaving her fingers with his.

"Zemo." Natasha suddenly hisses through her gritted teeth, and when they all glance her way, her lips twist and she sighs, "He's gone."

━━━━━━

SVETLANA MISCALCULATED.

It takes Zemo disappearing, Karli Morgenthau threatening Sam's sister and nephews, John Walker taking the serum, yet another fight breaking out, Lemar Hoskins being killed, until she's sprinting through the streets of Latvia, her family on either side, bloodied and bruised, for her to understand.

She's lucky, she realizes; she had nearly fallen over the edge of that precipice, felt that vicious snap, but she'd been pulled back. She isn't on the ledge anymore. She's made her choice. She isn't that person. She's still trying to be better.

She knew that it was someone else's turn on that precipice — that dangerous scale of choosing between right and wrong.

And it isn't until her boots skid to a halt in the middle of a Lavtivian courtyard with the whole world watching that she sees that there is more than one person on that precipice, and watching blood of an innocent and now decapitated Flag Smasher drip from her uncle's red, white, and blue shield, she realizes.

John Walker chose wrong.

━━━━━━ annie speaks ━━━━━━

WELL HELLO THERE. okay, so i know it's been a good bit since i've updated and i am VERY sorry about that but i have an excuse? excuse being: this chapter gave me so much crap, it was so hard to write? why? i don't know, but i low key still hate it. ugh. is it okay? what do you think?

natasha is finally here and in the action (and she's here to stay). sam is still being an amazing uncle and counselor, (i believe in sam wilson supremacy). and bucky and svet have SO much to work through, ugh. they've never really had to deal with this sort of thing before but it's super important that they face this and get through it now. i know it's weird them being all a lil angsty, but don't worry, these things all come to a head next chapter.

and so does everything else, hehehe, a fight with john walker anyone? and then the louisiana vacation? oh frick yes, i'm so excited for next chapter!!! tell me your thoughts?

ALSO, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE NO WAY HOME TRAILER? AHHHH

now, funny thingamabob time: