❨ 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄           . . .            𝑏𝘰𝘰𝑘 𝑖 ❩
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
━━━ 𝙱𝚄𝙲𝙺𝚈 𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙴𝚂/ ❛ 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗂𝗌 𝖺
𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗐𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋
𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗀𝗎𝗅𝖺𝗋. ❜

𝙸𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙽𝙴,                 ┊                   024
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ∘♡⋅°
𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑   𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆

━━━━━━━━   𝓢teve had brought the Quinjet into land beside Zemo's caterpillar truck on the remote icy mountain top. The jet's wings folded up beside the fuselage. On board Bucky pulled out a rack of guns labeled 'Romanoff'. He took a light machine gun before glancing over to Melody who adjusted her suit in the back, his eyes averted as Steve approached him.

He smiled softly looking between the two. He turned his attention back to his best friend, "You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck?"

Bucky smiled in remembrance, "Was that the time we used our train money to buy hot dogs?"

"You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead." Steve scoffed.

"What was her name again?" He asked.

"Dolores. You called her Dot." He chuckled shaking his head.

"She's gotta be a hundred years old right now."

"So are we, pal." Steve placed his hand on Bucky's shoulder. "Got a thing for brunette's now, I'm guessing." Bucky's smiled brightened as he looked away from Steve. "Come on." He nudged him as Melody walked out nodding to the two with a smile.

"He can't have been here more than a few hours." Steve informed the two next to him who walked side by side into the bunker.

"Long enough to wake them up." Bucky nodded as they traveled down into the depths inside a caged elevator. It stoped in the bowls of the bunker, the doors slid open. Steve nods to Bucky and heaves up the cage door. Bucky raised his machine gun ahead of him as they walked along a corridor, keeping close to a wall.

Bucky looked into an alcove full of junk before the trio walk up the staircase. At the sound of a loud thud they spind around, aiming down the corridor. Melody's hands raised in front of her before she tilted her head at the door.

"You ready?"

"Yeah." Bucky nodded.

"Wait." Melody said stepping forwards as the double doors parted, and were forced open by Iron Man. Steve stared in surprise. Tony walked towards the trio and retracts the suit's helmet.

"You seem a little defensive." Tony noted to the two men before turning to Melody, "Little Mermaid." He nodded earning a bright smile from the blonde.

Bucky kept his gun up while Steve walks to meet Tony with his shield covering his body. "It's been a long day."

"At ease, Soldier. I'm not currently after you." Tony nodded to Bucky who eyed him warily.

"Then why are you here?" Steve asked.

Tony looked to Melody who nodded, "He's here to help us." She said softly reaching towards Bucky gently pulling his gun down.

"Exactly. Could be your story's not so crazy. Maybe. Ross has no idea I'm here. I'd like to keep it that way. Otherwise, I gotta arrest myself." He shrugged.

"Well, that sounds like a lot of paperwork." Steve said as he lowered his shield. "It's good to see you, Tony."

"You too, Cap." He nodded to Steve before turning to Bucky who stood next to Melody. "Hey, Manchurian Candidate, you're killing me. There's a truce here. You can drop the glare . . ." He nodded to the former assassin.

Melody placed her hand on his shoulder instantly he relaxed.

"I got heat signatures." Tony informed the three.

"How many?" Steve asked.

"Uh, one."

"Maybe we should split up?" Melody suggested earning a head shake from Bucky.

"No." His low voice said his grip on his gun tightening.

"Maybe she's right." Tony nodded, "Cover more ground that way. Plus, four of us, call if back up is needed."

Steve looked to Bucky who shook his head sternly then to Tony who surveyed their area. Reluctantly he nodded, "Okay. But call if you find something."

"No." Bucky denied his hard eyes narrowed on Melody as Steve and Tony nodded to one another backing away from the two. "You know what's down here, if they see you they'll-"

"I can protect myself." She said with a smile.

"I know you can." Bucky sighed, "It's just you never fought them. They're not like me, Mel-"

"And if I find one you'll be the first one I call." She said looking up at him holding onto his flesh hand, "I'll be okay."

Bucky nodded hesitantly, his hand tightened around her own. "Just . . . be careful."

Melody nodded before giving Bucky's hand one more squeeze and disappearing down the hallway.

"I'm guessing she's got this level." Tony noted before walking in the opposite direction, "Got this way."

"She'll be okay, Buck." Steve nodded placing his hand on his shoulder before walking up the steps, Bucky following behind him.

Melody walked down the dark hall, her hand raised as a blue hue radiated the hallway. Her head tilted trying to hear for anything; a heart beat, breathing, anything. Only to be met with silence.

Maybe they had moved their bodies to a different bunker, she thought to herself.

Clattering echoed behind her.

Melody came to a halt her head tilted slightly trying to listen carefully for any movement but nothing. Turning around her eyes narrowed a light caught her eyes, "Shiny?" She whispered to herself as the object gleamed in the dimly lit hall due to Melody.

Hesitantly she approached the object, "Shiny." She smiled brightly at the elegant looking watch that laid on the concrete ground. As she reached for it she gasped as she felt pressure in her neck.

A pink liquid none other then Carraigeen filled her veins. She whimpered as her vision blurred, slowly drifting off into darkness.

𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 . . .

           𝓑ucky, Steve and Tony ran into one another as the corridors ended into one main hall. They enter the vast chamber the lights flickered on. Hazy, yellow mist decends within the capsules. The trio looked around for the familiar blonde nymph.

"Where is she?" Bucky immediately questioned, panic rose in him as he approached the double doors he had entered only for them to slam shut. "Steve-" He began, stopping in his tracks as the dead bodies of the soldiers laid in the capsules.

"If it's any comfort, they died in their sleep." A voice echoed through the room. "Did you really think I wanted more of you?" Helmut Zemo questioned Bucky whose eyes were hardened.

"What the hell?" He rasped out, "Where is Melody?" He questioned the three standing around the room looking for a way out.

"Taking a nap. Back, to why you are here. I'm grateful to them, though. They brought you here."  Through the glass windows Zemo appears in a control room. Just as Steve hurled his shield at the glass but it flies back to him almost instantly. "Please, Captain. The Soviets built this chamber to withstand the launch blast of UR-100 rockets."

"I'm betting I could beat that." Tony countered his glare directed at the man.

"Oh, I'm sure you could, Mr. Stark. Given time. But then you'd never know why you came."

"You killed innocent people in Vienna just to bring us here?" Steve questioned in disbelief, glancing around for a familiar blonde.

"I thought about nothing else for over a year. I studied you. I followed you. But now that you're standing here, I just realized . . . there's a bit of green in the blue of your eyes. How nice to find a flaw." Zemo said to the soldier.

"You're Sokovian. Is that what this is about?" Steve asked.

"Sokovia was a failed state long before you blew it to hell. No. I'm here because I made a promise."

Steve eyed the man carefully before approaching him steadily, "You lost someone?" He asked unsurely.

A look of grave adorned his features, clicking his tongue he said, "I lost everyone. And so will you. Melody, through there." He announces as the doors slid open revealing a dazed Melody Lockhart.

Immediately Bucky walked over to the blonde steadying her and walking her over to where the other two men watched the monitors. His brows furrowed, his heart began to beat fast as he read the date. The familiar surroundings.

"An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumples from within? That's dead . . . forever." Zemo said.

"I know that road. What is this?" Tony asked his eyes scanning the monitors anxiously.

"The date . . ." Melody trailed off letting go of Bucky's arms as she approached the monitors next to Tony who gave her a confused look, "My muña." She whispered.

The video plays. The car that the Winter Soldier forced off the road crashes into a tree. Tony watched intently next to Melody; as the Winter Soldier rides up and gets off his motorbike.

Steve watches Tony's uneasiness increase. Where as Melody's eyes began to water, he swallowed harshly knowing she was putting the pieces together.

The driver lies on the ground beside the car. It's Tony's father, Howard.

"Help my wife. Please. Help." Howard cried out. The Winter Soldier walked over and hoisted him up by his hair. He stares at Howard's bloody face. Howards stares back pleadingly. "Sergeant Barnes?"

Melody looked up meeting Bucky's guilty eyes, who quickly averted them to the floor unable to look at the girl, tears breaming his eyes.

"Howard!" Tony glared at Bucky. In the video the Winter Soldier pounds Howard hard in the face with his metal fist. "Howard!"

In grief Tony closes his eyes for a moment unable to watch. On screen his father slumps dead. The Winter Soldier puts him in the driver's seat with his face against the stearing wheel. Tony stares in horror. Maria's in the passenger seat with blood streaked down her face. The Winter Soldier walks around and grips her throat. Expressionless he strangled Maria.

Melody winced looked away from the screen. Where as Tony watched stunned as The Winter Soldier walks up and aims a gun at the surveillance camera.

"We've all lost somebody. Even you Melody. Don't you remember that night?" Zemo questioned as the blonde sniffled looking to the glass window in confusion, "The ship? On the way back from his mission; the crew was met with these fascinating creatures, beautiful. A woman and a man was left standing after they fought."

Melody shook her head, "N-no." She stammered stepping back, she winced as flashes formed before her eyes, she placed her hands to her head as the pain increased. "Stop." she growled.

"The king and queen of Atlantica. Come to save their little princess."

Melody whimpered shrugging Steve's hands away harshly, "And The Winter Soldier, shot her. Dead. You can still hear her cries can't you?" Zemo turned to Bucky whose eyes watered avoiding everyone's stares. "It's what keeps you up at night. Knowing, that the girl you've fallen in love with is the same one you nearly killed all those years ago. The one who you murdered her mother. And has lied to this entire time."

Melody blinked as her mind became fuzzy, hundreds of thoughts ran through her mind, confusion evident but also familiarity. She knew the man behind the glass was telling the truth, and by the look on Bucky's face she didn't want to believe it.

"Is it true?" She asked just above a whisper, Bucky remained silent. "You're lying." She turned to the man and shook her head, "This is fake, you've made this all up as a part of your plan."

"My plan is to only expose you all. And I have." He said simply, "Look into his mind, see if it is false." He nodded to Bucky.

Melody's lips quivered as she stepped in front of Bucky who raised his head up slightly, his eyes held guilt. Her eyes fluttered shut as memories flashed before her.

With a gasp she stepped back starring at the man in disbelief.

"Daor." She hiccuped, her body felt numb as she looked at him in pain.

"Melody-" Steve began only for him to be caught off as Tony lunged for Bucky, he quickly stepped in front of him. "Tony. Tony."

Consumed with grief and tears glistening in his eyes he turned and looked at Steve. "Did you know?" He asked. "Did you know he did it?" He asked referring to both him and Melody's parents.

Steve swallowed, "I didn't know it was him."

"Don't bullshit me, Rogers! Did you know?" Tony demanded.

Guilty Steve looked down, "Yes."

Melody looked at the two in betrayal, "Friends don't lie." She whispered recalling Steve's words he had told her when she had first joined the team. Something she had pride herself to live by, by not lying to her friends, her family. And the closest people, the people she trusted with her life, and loved; had done just that.

Tony stepped back, his chin jutting upwards twitchily. Tony reengages the Iron Man helmet. He punches Steve to the floor and deflects gunfire from Bucky, disarming him.

Melody stepped back watching the three fight. Emotions ran high, her chest ached unsure as what to do. Fight or defend. Her mother's teachings ran through her mind, her eyes narrowed. Her once light and doe eyes now dark nearing black as she stared at the three in anger.

A look that had been far gone since the first time they had met her and her family.

Tony grabbed onto Bucky and flies across the chamber. He slams him onto the floor, then jumps on his arms. Steve's shield hits Iron Man, distracting him. Allowing him to barge him backwards, Iron Man shoulders him to the floor and shackles his ankles.

Melody made her way towards Bucky with a glare she gripped the collar of his shirt before sliding him out of the chamber. She stomped towards him raising her hand above her as boulders collided to the ground behind her sealing Tony and Steve off in the chamber.

"Melody-" Bucky began as he stared up at her.

"Shut up." She growled, starring at him in disgust and anger.

Standing to his feet he staggered to the rocks only for him to be thrown across hitting the wall. Melody grabbed him by his jacket sending repeated punches his way.

Bloodied and bruised, Bucky looked up at her as he laid on the ground. Melody grabbed him tossing him against the wall once more, "Fight me!" She demanded, punching him in his jaw.

Bucky winced feeling blood trickle down from his eyebrow, "No." He shook his head blood dripped from his cracked lips. "I'm not going to hit you." His sad eyes looked into her own; her eyes softened slightly. "Do it." He nodded, "Hit me. Kill me. But it won't change what happened."

Melody's eyes breamed with tears, "Do you remember it?" She asked ignoring how weak her tone sounded compared to moments ago.

Bucky nodded weakly, "I remember everyone." He admitted as a tear fell from his oceanic eyes. "Everyday. Every night."

"Good." Melody bit back, though she didn't mean it. She knew it's what triggered his nightmares. His cries and rapid heart beat often kept her up resulting in her lulling him to sleep. It pained her to see him in such way, and they both knew it. "You lied to me."

"I know." He nodded solemnly, "I was going to tell you."

"When?" She pressed her eyes holding nothing but fire and betrayal, "When were you?"

"After today. I just needed to figure out why you couldn't remember." He answered, "And I think you already know why you don't."

Melody's eyes hardened, an explosion sounded off below them. Signalling the two men had come through and in the same room as the two.

"That wasn't your choice to make." She hissed before punching him once again, Bucky groaned clutching his jaw. Pulling him by his hair she continued her assault on the former assassin, "You all lied! You're all liars!" She shouted as Bucky allowed her to take out her frustrations on him. "You lied." Hit. "Steve lied." Hit. "Kepa lied! Kai lied!" Growing frustrated with him she slapped his chest forcefully, "FIGHT BACK!" Melody shrieked slapping Bucky across the face. Tears breamed her eyes as she hit his chest repeatedly.

Bucky clutched onto her frame hugging her into his chest as she sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry." He said over and over into her hair, "I'm sorry." He hiccuped clutching her tightly.

Melody fell weak into his arms, ignoring the two men below them as she starred emotionless to the stone wall behind them.

Within in seconds Bucky was yanked from Melody, his body dropping to the ground beneath them.

Melody stumbled to the ledge seeing Tony attacking Bucky mercilessly. Steve looked up at Melody with a pleading look before he and Bucky teamed up on Iron Man. Clenching her jaw she jumped from one landing to the other until she landed on the flat ground. Snow covered the surface as she approached the three men and pulling them apart.

"I thought you were on my side, little one." Tony said looking to Melody with a look of hurt. "He killed your mom. He killed mine - how can you still side with him?"

Melody glanced behind her to the two men who laid on the ground in pain. "This won't bring her back. This won't bring your parents back, Tony." She spoke softly. He frowned, she grabbed a hold of his metal arm and shoved him into the wall. "Stop this, and we can all go back, please." She pleaded desperately, a tear fell from his left eye, "I don't want to be here anymore." She whispered.

"I'm sorry, Mel. But, he killed her." Tony apologized before he shot her backwards, Melody's back collided with the stone wall.

Bucky replaced her and clawed at Tony's headgear, a roar left him as he was shot back with a blast. Melody's eyes met with his crouched figure and missing arm. He weakly looked up at her as he was shot back once more, his body falling in front of her.

She winced covering her eyes as a blast collided with Steve's shield, the bright yellow light burned her vision as she looked down to a heavy breathing James Barnes. Her eyes began to water as she didn't know what to do to ease his pain.

"He's my friend." She looked up seeing Steve now blocking her and Bucky's figure, looking up at Tony.

"So was I." Tony said in a hurtful tone, just as he sent a punch his way and threw him across the room, "Stay down, final warning."

Steve stood up shakily holding his fists up, "I can do this all day."

Bucky reached over and grabbed onto Tony's boot only to get kicked in the face harshly.

Melody winced as Steve and Tony fought each other. Steve sat above Tony punching him repeatedly.

"Steve!" Melody cried out just as he hit his shield into Tony's chest.

Steve grabbed his shield and walked over to Bucky helping him up.

"That shield doesn't belong to you." Tony shouted, Steve turned his back. "You don't deserve it. My father made that shield!" Steve stoped walking, and raised his chin, before dropping the shield onto the floor.

Melody glanced over her shoulder seeing Tony weakly laying on thew floor, blood coating his face. Her lip quivered before she walked away, "I'm sorry." She whispered loud enough for him to hear.

Melody walked alongside Steve and Bucky to the Quinjet. Her doe eyes filled with mixed emotions, she hated it. Thoughts clouded her mind as she thought of everything and everyone; her mother, father, family, friends, Bucky.

She knew he had been controlled by HYDRA and didn't know what he was doing. But, it didn't change the fact he murdered her mother. She didn't know if she was upset with or her family more. The people who were supposed to look over her, protect her had lied to her, her entire life. And for what cost? She wanted to scream, cry all at once, she didn't like the feeling the felt.

Heartache, grief.

"We have to get to the submarine for everyone else." Steve informed Bucky and Melody who seemed to be off in her own mind. "Mel?" He asked softly adjusting his grip on Bucky's side.

Her gaze remained ahead of her to the ocean, "I'll swim there."

Steve parted his lips, "Are you sure? There's plenty of room-"

"I. Will. Swim." She repeated sternly, "I'll see you there." She said before walking away from the two towards the water.

Steve looked to Bucky whose regretful eyes remained on her figure.

That's when they knew everything was about to change.

© VAAINE