Note: to better appreciate the goings-on at this story's background, I would suggest reading Secret invasion or the Mighty Avengers and New Avengers issues connected to Secret Invasion.
Captain America
“Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot…”
Part five.
Manhattan – a new day, and the television is signing on with the national anthem. Like every morning, it presents promises of becoming a good day – if luck would have it, a carefree day even. Not so for Bucky Barnes, as he stares pensively at the man across him on the dining table – a man, he has, on occasion asked for help – and helped.
“So let me get this straight…” he finally says – this after a moment of silently absorbing everything that Nick had just presented to him. “I’m to look if Natalia suddenly acts different?... off, as you’d say? And if I’ve probably cause for concern, I kill her, no questions asked?” If there is any concern in his heart, Bucky’s voice does not show it.
“Yes”, a short and sweet response – coming from a face used to giving difficult orders. Bucky notices no hesitation, and thinks to himself that ‘This is serious’. He quietly accepts this reply, then… looking Nick Fury in the eye; he finally asks the one other question that’s been bugging him… “What made you think I’m not one of them?”
“The truth?”
“Yeah, Nick… the truth.”
“Alright, guess that’s a fair thing ta ask me after what I’ve just laid down on ya.”
Nick Fury leans forward, and the sun’s morning rays touch on his profile, very briefly - but long enough for Bucky to notice that fatigue has slowly been creeping into Fury – whatever this is, its taken… is taking a great toll on this man.
“I didn’t risk trustin you kid… I’ve been watchin you – keeping track of yer activities these past few days until I thought you were the real deal.”
“Hnh,” Bucky states… “That explains the feeling I’ve had at times about my being watched – but I thought it was someone Stark might have had placed.”
Bucky remembers having at least three instances when he felt he was being watched. The most recent one was just an hour ago, as he was winding down from a night of patrolling with both the Patriot and Hawkeye – Kate Bishop, not Clint Barton. His thoughts briefly return to last night.
The two teens looked excited – alive, as they were patrolling - and he could empathize with their feeling, since he felt the same as the young Bucky Barnes – partner to the super soldier that was Captain America.
Their youth, their idealism and their excitement - truth be told, he liked having them around, in a controlled environment at least, for they helped him connect to his old self – a self he needed to rediscover, and in doing so, perhaps find the ideals he believed in before.
Walking back to the training room, shield in hand, Bucky was about to place it on its resting place, when he felt something – like he’s being watched. Moving with practiced fluidity, Bucky throws the shield and it ricochets into two walls before bouncing off something softer. He is rewarded with a soft grunt, and Bucky sees a materializing Fury on the far end of the room where the shield stopped. He’s on the floor, rubbing his side and says without any preamble – “Was wondrin if you could really handle the shield, guess this answers my unasked question, huh?”
Bucky’s thoughts returns to the present as he hears Fury talk again.
“Nope, not Stark; nice instincts by the way, back there – but, yeah, there were a few hostiles – some I’ve convinced to stop observin you, and it did necessitate this meetin.”
Fury’s last remark gets a slight eye-brow raise as a reaction from Bucky, and he at least feels satisfied that his last statement got a reaction – even a seemingly small one.
“See, you were under their radar – after all, you were supposed to be dead and they didn’t expect ya to be around. I was kinda bankin on that to continue, until ya did something stupid like appearin on national TV durin those riots a few weeks back.” He shifts his stance to lean forward – a way of emphasizing what he was about to say. “Now, we’ll have to assume they know you’re here, and will make adjustments – especially since yer wearin the suit that counts.”
Fury points to the discarded upper uniform of Captain America, not out of necessity, but for emphasis. “That tells em yer important in some way… and they’re reevaluating your presence. I sure as hell would.”
Again silence… as these two look across the table at each other – one weighing everything that’s been told him – the other, hoping that his urgency has come across.
It is Bucky that once again breaks the silence. “Ok, I’m in. Aside from what you’ve just told me, how else can I help?”
Fury gives a slight smile, then continues…
“Fer now? by stayin careful, stayin alive… and trustin no one completely. Oh yeah… and keep yer eye on the kids – one of ‘em’s liable to be important real soon. If my instincts are right, their team’s been infiltrated too, here’s who I think is the spy in their midst.” He presses a small button from a disk and a 3-D image of Stature comes to view.
Bucky looks at her image and says “So what can I expect – who is she supposed to be spying on? For what purpose?”
Fury presses another button and a separate image appears – this one of the Hulkling. “Steve, during his Avenger days, made reports about how the Skrulls were after this kid. Apparently, he’s got royalty in his veins; which means he’s a target. I mean, why hide a bodyguard…”
Bucky realizes where this is leading to and finishes the sentence “… unless the role is not to be a bodyguard, but an assassin.” Bucky stands up, looks beyond the window and mentions “Is this why you got me into this particular role? Because of my recent past? Damn it, Nick…!” visibly irritated, “I’m trying to forget my past as an assassin and you serve it back to me!”
Nick raises his voice too “Now hold it right there, junior…! First of all, I did not say anythin about assassinatin anyone. Your role is purely to observe and prevent an assassination – its counter-assassination, and like it or not, your old hobby puts you in a position to do the job better than anyone I know.”
With that, Fury stands up and turns to leave…
“I’m done here – told ya what ya need ta know. I’ve got other things ta do too. This damn invasion can strike any time. If ya don’t want the job, I’ll just look fer someone else ta do it.”
Bucky looks at Nick and answers “Okay, so I was jumpy a bit. I’ll do it. I’ll keep an eye out for the kids - shouldn’t be too hard, I’ve already got Eli and Kate doing patrols with me – any of them Skrulls?”
Fury looks to him and answers “As of last night? Nope.”
“That’s pretty reassuring.”
No one said it was easy, kid.”
With that he presses another hidden switch on his person, and then says a parting shot – “Oh, and if were you, I’d get the security of this place beefed up. First, Barton… then Wilson…? Ya might as well tear down yer walls and place neon welcome signs.”
“I was about to do just that…” Bucky interjects.
“By the way, suit fits ya. Say what ya will about Stark – but his instincts ta give ya the identity were dead on. I’ve called in a few favors, so you can expect some special ammunition via my usual shipping routes.
Fury starts to disappear, going the way he came… “I’ll call ya usin the same method in Paris – if this invasion pushes through, we’ll be needin everyone we can gat a hold of. Should I contact you in a different manner, automatically trust that it ain’t me.” And as his face disappears, “Good luck to us both kid.”
“Yeah, Nick… good luck to us both” he states – but honestly wonders if Fury’s still around to hear him.
Bucky looks to the morning… thinking through what he’s just learned, and is pondering his next move. He’d kept out of the recent civil war between heroes – this one though, looks most likely to engulf him.
It is at this point that he hears his communicator beep…
Its Natalia… or is it?
Captain America
“Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot…”
Part five.
Manhattan – a new day, and the television is signing on with the national anthem. Like every morning, it presents promises of becoming a good day – if luck would have it, a carefree day even. Not so for Bucky Barnes, as he stares pensively at the man across him on the dining table – a man, he has, on occasion asked for help – and helped.
“So let me get this straight…” he finally says – this after a moment of silently absorbing everything that Nick had just presented to him. “I’m to look if Natalia suddenly acts different?... off, as you’d say? And if I’ve probably cause for concern, I kill her, no questions asked?” If there is any concern in his heart, Bucky’s voice does not show it.
“Yes”, a short and sweet response – coming from a face used to giving difficult orders. Bucky notices no hesitation, and thinks to himself that ‘This is serious’. He quietly accepts this reply, then… looking Nick Fury in the eye; he finally asks the one other question that’s been bugging him… “What made you think I’m not one of them?”
“The truth?”
“Yeah, Nick… the truth.”
“Alright, guess that’s a fair thing ta ask me after what I’ve just laid down on ya.”
Nick Fury leans forward, and the sun’s morning rays touch on his profile, very briefly - but long enough for Bucky to notice that fatigue has slowly been creeping into Fury – whatever this is, its taken… is taking a great toll on this man.
“I didn’t risk trustin you kid… I’ve been watchin you – keeping track of yer activities these past few days until I thought you were the real deal.”
“Hnh,” Bucky states… “That explains the feeling I’ve had at times about my being watched – but I thought it was someone Stark might have had placed.”
Bucky remembers having at least three instances when he felt he was being watched. The most recent one was just an hour ago, as he was winding down from a night of patrolling with both the Patriot and Hawkeye – Kate Bishop, not Clint Barton. His thoughts briefly return to last night.
The two teens looked excited – alive, as they were patrolling - and he could empathize with their feeling, since he felt the same as the young Bucky Barnes – partner to the super soldier that was Captain America.
Their youth, their idealism and their excitement - truth be told, he liked having them around, in a controlled environment at least, for they helped him connect to his old self – a self he needed to rediscover, and in doing so, perhaps find the ideals he believed in before.
Walking back to the training room, shield in hand, Bucky was about to place it on its resting place, when he felt something – like he’s being watched. Moving with practiced fluidity, Bucky throws the shield and it ricochets into two walls before bouncing off something softer. He is rewarded with a soft grunt, and Bucky sees a materializing Fury on the far end of the room where the shield stopped. He’s on the floor, rubbing his side and says without any preamble – “Was wondrin if you could really handle the shield, guess this answers my unasked question, huh?”
Bucky’s thoughts returns to the present as he hears Fury talk again.
“Nope, not Stark; nice instincts by the way, back there – but, yeah, there were a few hostiles – some I’ve convinced to stop observin you, and it did necessitate this meetin.”
Fury’s last remark gets a slight eye-brow raise as a reaction from Bucky, and he at least feels satisfied that his last statement got a reaction – even a seemingly small one.
“See, you were under their radar – after all, you were supposed to be dead and they didn’t expect ya to be around. I was kinda bankin on that to continue, until ya did something stupid like appearin on national TV durin those riots a few weeks back.” He shifts his stance to lean forward – a way of emphasizing what he was about to say. “Now, we’ll have to assume they know you’re here, and will make adjustments – especially since yer wearin the suit that counts.”
Fury points to the discarded upper uniform of Captain America, not out of necessity, but for emphasis. “That tells em yer important in some way… and they’re reevaluating your presence. I sure as hell would.”
Again silence… as these two look across the table at each other – one weighing everything that’s been told him – the other, hoping that his urgency has come across.
It is Bucky that once again breaks the silence. “Ok, I’m in. Aside from what you’ve just told me, how else can I help?”
Fury gives a slight smile, then continues…
“Fer now? by stayin careful, stayin alive… and trustin no one completely. Oh yeah… and keep yer eye on the kids – one of ‘em’s liable to be important real soon. If my instincts are right, their team’s been infiltrated too, here’s who I think is the spy in their midst.” He presses a small button from a disk and a 3-D image of Stature comes to view.
Bucky looks at her image and says “So what can I expect – who is she supposed to be spying on? For what purpose?”
Fury presses another button and a separate image appears – this one of the Hulkling. “Steve, during his Avenger days, made reports about how the Skrulls were after this kid. Apparently, he’s got royalty in his veins; which means he’s a target. I mean, why hide a bodyguard…”
Bucky realizes where this is leading to and finishes the sentence “… unless the role is not to be a bodyguard, but an assassin.” Bucky stands up, looks beyond the window and mentions “Is this why you got me into this particular role? Because of my recent past? Damn it, Nick…!” visibly irritated, “I’m trying to forget my past as an assassin and you serve it back to me!”
Nick raises his voice too “Now hold it right there, junior…! First of all, I did not say anythin about assassinatin anyone. Your role is purely to observe and prevent an assassination – its counter-assassination, and like it or not, your old hobby puts you in a position to do the job better than anyone I know.”
With that, Fury stands up and turns to leave…
“I’m done here – told ya what ya need ta know. I’ve got other things ta do too. This damn invasion can strike any time. If ya don’t want the job, I’ll just look fer someone else ta do it.”
Bucky looks at Nick and answers “Okay, so I was jumpy a bit. I’ll do it. I’ll keep an eye out for the kids - shouldn’t be too hard, I’ve already got Eli and Kate doing patrols with me – any of them Skrulls?”
Fury looks to him and answers “As of last night? Nope.”
“That’s pretty reassuring.”
No one said it was easy, kid.”
With that he presses another hidden switch on his person, and then says a parting shot – “Oh, and if were you, I’d get the security of this place beefed up. First, Barton… then Wilson…? Ya might as well tear down yer walls and place neon welcome signs.”
“I was about to do just that…” Bucky interjects.
“By the way, suit fits ya. Say what ya will about Stark – but his instincts ta give ya the identity were dead on. I’ve called in a few favors, so you can expect some special ammunition via my usual shipping routes.
Fury starts to disappear, going the way he came… “I’ll call ya usin the same method in Paris – if this invasion pushes through, we’ll be needin everyone we can gat a hold of. Should I contact you in a different manner, automatically trust that it ain’t me.” And as his face disappears, “Good luck to us both kid.”
“Yeah, Nick… good luck to us both” he states – but honestly wonders if Fury’s still around to hear him.
Bucky looks to the morning… thinking through what he’s just learned, and is pondering his next move. He’d kept out of the recent civil war between heroes – this one though, looks most likely to engulf him.
It is at this point that he hears his communicator beep…
Its Natalia… or is it?
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