THEY WERE BACK in Germany the very next day. Bucky, Y/N, and Sam walked through the hallway of the Berlin prison following the guard.

"He's just through that corridor." He informed them and pointed.

"Give us a sec." Bucky replied.

The guard gave a nod and left them to their business. Y/N, now wearing a gray coat with his polo, put his hands into its pockets.

"I can't believe we're here right now." Y/N remarked. He never thought he'd even be in the same vicinity as Helmut Zemo.

"I'm going to go in alone." Bucky said.

"Why?" Sam asked.

"You two are Avengers. You know how he feels about that."

"It's not like you two were known for frolickin' in the sun together."

"He was obsessed with HYDRA. We have a history together."

"He's the guy who framed you for T'Chaka's death. He almost got you killed." Y/N cut in.

Bucky exhaled, "Trust me. I got it."

Bucky left the two and walked into the corridor.

"You think this is a good idea?" Y/N asked Sam.

"You have one you care to share?" He replied.

"Not at the moment."

"Then this is our best bet."

Y/N leaned against the wall, thinking back at the year 2016. It feels like so long ago, yet recent.

"This guy broke us apart. He's the main reason why Tony and Steve fell out. The reason why we went on the run for two years." Y/N spoke.

"You don't think I know that?" He shot back.

Y/N shook his head and looked towards the corridor Bucky just walked into. Sam sighed and got closer to him.

"That guy's the reason I was stuck with sleeping on sofas because you and Wanda took the beds." He added.

Y/N chuckled, "You had the chance to take the beds. You also could've shared."

"Oh, for sure. With who? Steve?"

"There was that one time Nat offered you space on her bed. But you said no."

"Yeah...so?"

There was silence for a moment as the two looked at each other, then soon erupted in laughter.

"You're something else, Wilson."

"What? Me turning down the chance to sleep with Black Widow? We had to keep things professional, hence the sofa being my friend."

"Whatever you say, man. Just admit you were shy."

"Bite me."

After some time, Bucky came back from speaking with Zemo. He motioned the two to walk with him, and started following him into the lower level of the jail. Y/N and Sam were confused as he handed them flashlights to navigate the dark corridors.

"We might need to get Zemo to come with us." Bucky suddenly spoke.

"What are you talking about? You wanna break Zemo outta jail?" Sam asked.

"Where the hell even are we, Bucky?" Y/N asked, "Have you lost your mind?"

"We have no leads, no moves, nothing."

"What we have is one of the most dangerous men in the world behind bars." Sam said.

"We also have eight Super Soldiers that are loose." Bucky rebutted.

"Zemo's gonna mess with our minds. Especially yours. No offense."

Bucky went to a switch and turned on the lights of the room. He looked at Sam, "Offense."

The rest of the lights flickered on as Y/N realized they were in a garage. Bucky continued to talk.

"Super Soldiers are against everything he believes in. He is crazy, but he still has a code."

"I've been on the wrong side of that code, Buck, and so have you. He blew up the UN. Like Y/N said, he killed King T'Chaka and framed you for it." Sam shot back.

"I know you didn't forget about that, Barnes. And I'm sure the Wakandans didn't either." Y/N remarked.

"I know why this matters to you, but it's pushing you off the deep end." Sam added.

"We don't know how they're getting the serum. We don't even know how many of them there are." Bucky responded, "Let me just walk you through a hypothetical. Can I?"

Sam raised a brow, "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything." He replied.

"Quick response. That means you did something." Y/N said.

Bucky took a breath before explaining his hypothetical. 

"The weakest point in any system isn't the software, the hardware, it's the meatware. The human element. In this lockup, it's nine to one, prisoners to guards. And if two prisoners start fighting, then the protocol says four guards have to respond."

"So why would two prisoners randomly start fighting at that moment?" Sam asked.

"Who knows? There could be many reasons. But the point is, these things escalate. Lockdown procedures would have to be initiated and with all those bodies flying around left and right, wouldn't be hard to slip down a hallway or two."

"That's an...interesting scenario." The young man spoke.

Bucky continued, "And if the fire alarm got tripped while the prisoners were being separated someone could use the chaos to their advantage."

Sam chuckled, "I don't like how causal you are being about this. This is unnatural. Are you—" Sam then darted his eyes around realizing the space they were in, "And where are we, man?"

Suddenly, the three heard a door open. They looked to their right and saw a man walk through the corridor into the room with them. It was Zemo, wearing the disguise of a prison guard.

"Whoa. Whoa, whoa." Sam started saying in shock.

"Sam, listen." Bucky tried to ease him.

"What are you doing here?" Sam exclaimed as he started walking over to Zemo. Bucky got in front of him while Y/N simply stood on the side.

"I didn't tell you guys because I knew you wouldn't let this happen." Bucky said.

"So this hypothetical wasn't just a hypothetical was it?" Y/N asked.

"We need him."

Sam ignored his statement and pointed at Zemo, "You're going back to prison!"

Zemo took off his hat and began to speak, "If I may..."

"No!" Bucky and Sam both yelled, which caused Zemo step back.

"Apologies."

Bucky turned to Sam, "When Steve refused to sign the Sokovia Accords, you backed him." He looked at Y/N next, "You ended up doing so too. You two broke the law, and you stuck your neck out for me. I'm asking you to do it again."

Sam looked down as he thought, while Y/N nodded at Bucky's words. Personally, it wasn't going to take much convincing for him to help his friend out.

"I really think I'm invaluable—" Zemo started to speak again.

"Shut up." Sam interrupted, then sighed, "Okay. If we do this, you don't make a move without our permission."

"Fair." Zemo replied.

Sam glanced at Bucky and Y/N before turning back to the Sokovian.

"All right, Zemo. Where do we start?"

• • •

ZEMO EXPLAINED HOW they needed to talk with a woman named Selby, as she knew who could be developing the serum. They traveled to a hangar where his private jet awaited him.

Now sporting a dark-magenta shirt, black pants, and a dark blue wool coat, Zemo walked with Sam, Bucky, and Y/N towards the aircraft.

"So all this time you've been rich?" Sam asked.

"I'm a Baron, Sam." Zemo began, then glanced at Y/N before continuing, "My family was royalty until your friend here and his posse destroyed my country."

Y/N thought of the Battle of Sokovia years ago. He didn't know what to say in response but a simple apology.

"I'm sorry about that."

"I don't need the apology of an Avenger. I already got my solace back in Siberia." Zemo replied, mentioning how he caused Tony and Steve to fight in the bunker and ultimately broke apart the team.

The three walked up to the airstair where Zemo greeted his butler in their native language, "Hello, Oeznik."

"Welcome, gentlemen."

"Old friend." Zemo replied and pecked him on both cheeks.

They all entered the jet and sat down. It wasn't long until they departed and were in the air. Sam sat across from Bucky on one side while Y/N was stuck with sitting across from Zemo on the other.

Oeznik, the butler, handed Zemo a glass of champagne, "Apologies if that's a little warm. The fridge is out. But I'll see if there is some good food in the gallery."

Zemo smirked and started to speak in Sokovian, "If it doesn't pass the smell test...give it to them."

Oeznik chuckled softly before walking away, "It's good to have you back, sir."

Zemo took a sip of his champagne as he looked at the three men. Y/N leaned back on his seat, having just heard what he told his butler.

"I'm not eating anything your butler gives me."

Zemo raised a brow, surprised yet impressed that he understood the language.

"I know Sokovian, just so you know." Y/N added.

"Quite the linguistic feat, Y/N. I'm sure Miss Maximoff is impressed." Zemo said.

It didn't come as a surprise that Zemo knew about his relationship with Wanda, since she was a Sokovian native like him and most likely found out after doing his research on the Avengers before the Vienna bombing.

"It took some time. But I'm glad to be at an intermediate level." Y/N replied.

Zemo sneered and leaned on the table, "Nezaujíma ju, že sa jej milenec podieľal na zničení jej vlasti? (Does she not care that her lover was involved in the destruction of her homeland?)

Y/N chuckled and didn't respond, but Zemo kept going.

"Dôvod, prečo je jej brat šesť stôp v zemi. (A reason why her brother is six feet in the ground)."

Y/N looked at Zemo and leaned over the table, "Dávaj si pozor na slová, Helmut. (Watch your words, Helmut)."

Zemo let out a light chuckle. Sam could basically feel the hostility brewing despite not understanding what they were saying. He decided to speak.

"Why don't you tell us about where we're going?" He asked.

Zemo was already looking through the pages of a journal when he heard the question, "I'm sorry. I was just fascinated by this. I don't know what to call it, but this part seems to be important."

He picked up the book and looked at Bucky, "Who is Nakajima?"

The soldier immediately sprang up and pinned Zemo against the seat upon the realization that he had his journal.

"You touch that again and I'll kill you." Bucky threatened, before letting go of his neck and sitting back down.

Zemo cleared his throat, "I'm sorry. I understand that's a list of names. People you've wronged as the Winter Soldier."

"Don't push it."

"I've seen that book." Sam began, "It was Steve's when he came out of the ice. I told him about Trouble Man. He wrote it in that book. Did you listen to it? What'd you think?"

"I like 40's music, so..." Bucky answered.

"You didn't like it?" Sam asked in a shocked tone.

"I liked it."

"It is a masterpiece, James." Zemo chimed in, "Complete. Comprehensive. It captures the African-American experience."

Sam darted his eyes toward him, "He's out of line, but he's right. It's great. Everybody loves Marvin Gaye.

"I like Marvin Gaye." Bucky said.

"Steve adored Marvin Gaye." Sam added.

Y/N decided to cut in, "I told Steve about Billie Jean. Did you like it?"

Bucky didn't respond, Sam and Zemo didn't either.

"Anyone? Okay."

Zemo decided to continue the conversation, "You must of really looked up to Steve. But I realized something when I met him. The danger with people like him, America's Super Soldiers, is that we put them on pedestals."

"Watch your step, Zemo." Sam warned.

"They become symbols. Icons. And then we start to forget their flaws. From there, cities fly, innocent people die. Movements are formed, wars are fought." Zemo looked at Bucky, "You remember that, right? As a young soldier sent to Germany to stop a mad icon."

Bucky didn't reply and just looked out the window.

Zemo continued, "Do we want to live in a world full of people like the Red Skull? That is why we're going to Madripoor."

"Madripoor? What's up with that? Sounds ominous." Y/N remarked.

"It's an island nation in the Indonesian archipelago. It was a private sanctuary back in the 1800s." Bucky explained.

"It's kept it's lawless ways. But we cannot exactly walk in as ourselves. James, you will have to become someone you claim is gone."

Bucky just stared at him, understanding what he's inferring. He's going to have to act like his old persona to be on that island.

"And what about Y/N and I?" Sam asked Zemo, "I'm pretty sure the folks there aren't going to be too keen about Falcon and Specter being on their turf."

"I am sure Y/N can simply shadow us in his invisible form." Zemo replied.

"Well, long story short, I don't have that ability anymore." Y/N told him.

Zemo raised a brow, then sighed. He began to think as he looked at the both of them.

"No worries. I have an idea."

• • •

THE FOUR MADE it to Madripoor later that night. They walked down the path beside the bridge with Bucky wearing a vest that exposed his vibranium arm and Zemo wearing his usual attire.

Sam wore a well-decorated maroon suit with some gold chains. Y/N wore an all-white suit with a bow tie along with an eyepatch covering his left eye.

They both thought they looked ridiculous, more so Sam.

"We have to do something about this. I'm the only one who looks like a pimp." He said.

"Only an American would assume a fashion-forward Black man looks like a pimp." Zemo responded, "You look exactly like the man you're supposed to be playing. The sophisticated, charming African rake named Conrad Mack, aka the Smiling Tiger."

Zemo handed Sam his cell phone showcasing a photo of the man. Sam scoffed, "He even has a bad nickname. Hell, he does look like me though."

Y/N kept looking straight ahead at the city line as he asked, "And who am I supposed to be? A guy from The Great Gatsby?"

"You are a guy who's alias is Patch. I've associated with him once before, but never got his full name. Besides, he hasn't been seen in quite some time." Zemo explained, and showed him a photo of the man.

"I don't have his sideburns." Y/N said after inspecting it. He looked like a cross between a man and a feral animal.

"Like I said, he hasn't been seen for quite some time." Zemo replied.

"Are you sure they won't recognize me?"

He shrugged, "You shouldn't worry. Many people still think the Specter is dead."

The four of them took a car into the city. They walked through what seemed to be the strip, filled with small markets and people attempting to sell God-knows-what. One building garnered the most attention, the Brass Monkey Saloon.

Once inside, they walked through the crowd of shady occupants and made it to the bar.

"Hello, gentlemen." The bartender greeted, then looked at Sam, "Wasn't expecting you, Smiling Tiger."

"His plans changed. We have business to do with Selby." Zemo said.

"The usual?" He asked Sam once more, who gave a simple nod in response.

The bartender took a dead snake out from a jar and began cutting out its heart. He dropped the small organ into a shot glass filled with alcohol and placed it in front of Sam.

"Your favorite, Smiling Tiger." Y/N jested while still playing along.

Sam glared at him, but picked up the glass anyway. He played along too, "I love these."

He hesitated for a moment before taking the shot. He swallowed it as Bucky and Y/N looked away in disgust.

Seconds later, a bald man came up to Zemo and grabbed his shoulder.

"I got word from on high. You ain't welcome here." He told Zemo.

"I have no business with the Power Broker. But if he insists, he can either come and talk to me...or bring Selby for a chat."

The man glared before walking away.

"Power Broker? Really?" Bucky asked.

"Every kingdom needs its king. Let's just pray we stay under his radar." Zemo replied.

"Do you know him? Y/N asked.

"Only by reputation. In Madripoor he is judge, jury, and executioner."

As Zemo spoke, he glanced around and noticed a few men walking towards them. He turned to Bucky and spoke in Russian.

"Winter Soldier. Attack."

Before a man can lay their hands on Zemo, Bucky grabbed his arm and bent it. The man groaned as Bucky dragged him towards the middle of the saloon before slamming him into the ground.

Another man ran up to Bucky, but the Winter Soldier evaded his attack and countered with a punch to his chest. He hit him again with his knee before kicking him into another man that was going to attack.

Zemo pushed a guy towards Bucky, who weirdly chose to fight as well. The soldier immediately dodged his punch and landed a right hook across his face. He finished him off with a hit from his metal arm and sent him flying into a column.

Sam and Y/N looked on, a piece of them feeling bad that Bucky had to resort to violence as the Winter Soldier once again.

"Didn't take long for him to go back into form." Zemo remarked.

A few more goons tried to fight Bucky, but he deftly took them down. He grabbed the last man by the neck and pinned him against the bar.

The room got quiet, the only sounds being the clicks of several guns by some of the patrons.

Zemo went up to Bucky, "Well done, soldier."

The bartender, who had watched the whole thing unfold, spoke to them.

"Selby will see you know."

"Thank you." Zemo thanked as Bucky let the man he was grabbing fall to the floor.

"You good?" Sam whispered.

Bucky looked at him, not giving a reply but just a nod. Y/N could tell by his body language that he felt some type of way. But of course, the 100-year old man didn't want to show that type of weakness.

Bucky turned away and followed Zemo, with Y/N and Sam tailing close behind.