When Sparks Fly

Notebook

Zemo leads us farther into the building, as we walk into another room he turns the light on, showing a room full of cars. I look over to Sam, a bit concerned and very suspicious. Sam shares my concern, "so our first move is grand theft auto?"

"I think our goal is to stay under the radar," I look over to Bucky, "the last thing we need is to risk your pardon."

Zemo opens the trunk to one of the cars, "these are mine. Collected by family over the generations."

"I've definitely seen worse and weirder family collections," I look over a couple cars.

"I spent years hunting people Hydra recruited to recreate the serum." Zemo moves from car to car grabbing a couple things out of them, "because once it's out there, someone can create an army of people..." Zemo looks over to Sam and I, "like the Avengers."

"It's worth noting only two of the Avengers are super soldiers. Technically only one now, because Steve is gone and Bucky isn't really an Avenger due to the rules of his pardon."

"I ended the Winter Soldier program once before, I have no intention to leave my work unfinished. To do this, we'll have to scale a ladder of lowlifes."

I chuckle and crack my knuckles, "my favorite kind of ladder. But you're be joining a party we've already started."

Zemo walks away from the three of us, "first stop is a woman named Selby. Mid-level fence I still have a line on. From there, we climb."

I look between the boys and shrug, we walk out of the warehouse and are blinded by the light of day. Zemo had gotten changed into a sweater and trench coat. We walk to a private jet and Sam takes the words out of my mouth, "so all this time you've been rich?"

"I am a Baron, Sam. My family was royalty until your friends destroyed my country."

I stop for a second, "well, someone just became a lot more attractive." Bucky looks back to me and raises his arms as if to say 'what the hell.' I shrug, "what? It's not like I'm gonna do anything."

Zemo walks up to the older man standing outside the plane, speaking like they're old friends. I'm not sure what they're saying, since I don't speak Sokovian, but it's close enough to Russian that I get the majority of it. The two men kiss one another on the cheek, which I have to say is very sweet, it is interesting to know that Zemo had somewhat of a normal life before he lost his mind. Zemo glances back to us, "please," he leads us into the plane.

I smile to the man and nod my head to him, "spasibo." I'm hoping thank you in Russian is close to thank you in Sokovian.

We get settled in and take off before the man comes out with a glass of champagne handing it to Zemo, speaking to him in English, "apologies if that's a little warm, the fridge is out. But I will see if there is some good food in the galley." Zemo smells the drink and looks up to the man, speaking in Sokovian, but I pick up on the words, 'doesn't,' 'smell test," and 'them.' Knowing Zemo I guessing the liquid is either low quality or spoiled and he wants us to drink it. The man chuckles, "it's good to have you back, sir."

He heads back into the galley and we look over to Zemo as he takes a sip, "you don't know what it's like to be locked in a cell." He looks between the three of us, "oh. That's right. You do."

Sam sighs, "why don't you tell us about where we're going?"

"I'm sorry," Zemo shakes his head as he looks over a pamphlet. "I was just fascinated by this. I don't know what to call it but this part seems to be important." Zemo picks up Bucky's note book from the Pamphlet. "Who is Nakajima?"

Bucky and I both lunge at Zemo. I get to him first since I'm closer to him. I place a hand around his throat, "if you touch that again, I'll kill you."

With my free hand I give Bucky the notebook, "and if she doesn't I will."

I release Zemo and Bucky and I sit back down. "I'm sorry," Zemo rubs his throat, looking over to me, no doubt surprised that I didn't shock him then and there. "I understand that list of names." He looks over to Bucky, "people you've wronged as the Winter Soldier."

Bucky glares at Zemo, "don't push it."

"I've seen that book," Sam looks down to the notebook in Bucky's hand.

I nod and chuckle, "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 hear it? What'd you think?"

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

I nod, "it's true. That's all he listens to if I'm not there."

"You didn't like it?" Sam's jaw hits the floor.

"I liked it," Bucky nods.

"It's a masterpiece, James." Zemo nods, placing his hands together in a little pyramid, "complete. Comprehensive. It's captures the African-American experience."

Sam looks between Zemo and Bucky, "he's out of line, but he's right. It's great."

I nod, "everyone likes Marvin Gaye."

Bucky looks over to me, "I like Marvin Gaye."

"Steve adored Marvin Gaye," Sam nods.

"You must have really looked up to Steve," Zemo picks up his drink again. "But I realized something when I met him. The danger with people like him, American Super Soldiers, is that we put them on pedestals."

I look up to Zemo, who's across from me, "watch it."

"They become symbols. Icons. And then we start to forget about their flaws. From there, cities fly, innocent people die. Movements are formed, wars are fought." Zemo looks back to Bucky, "you remember that, right? As a young soldier sent to Germany to stop a mad icon. Do we want to live in a world full of people like the Red Skull?" Zemo shakes his head, "that is why we're going to Madripoor."

"What's up with Madripoor?" Sam shrugs, "you guys talk about it like it's Skull Island."

I take a deep breath, "it's an island nation in the Indonesian archipelago. It served as a pirate sanctuary in the 1800s. But it hasn't since formed any kind of law system. So it's still just as lawless. But we wouldn't be able to just walk in as ourselves," I look over to Zemo.

Zemo nods, "James will have to become someone he claims is gone." I take a deep breath, worried about what this will do to Bucky's mental health.