Battle Cry // TFATWS

XIV

As the group started making their way to the funeral, they heard a voice say, "Karli Morgenthau is too dangerous for you guys to be pulling this shit."

John and Lemar walked down a flight of stairs and Adalyn muttered, "Wonderful."

Bucky walked closer to John and Lemar before saying, "Ah! How'd you find us now?"

"Come on, man," Lemar replied as he shook his head while he and John continued down the staircase. "You really think three Avengers can walk around Latvia without drawing attention?"

John quickly spoke before anyone else could. "No more keeping us in the dark. You could start by telling us why you broke him out of prison."

Bucky said as the three slowly walked up to the bottom of the staircase, "He did that himself, technically."

"This better be an unbelievable explana..."

Adalyn cut him off. "It's not. Now back up before I shoot your little ass." She pulled out one of her guns and spun it around for effect.

Sam put a hand in front of her and nodded before saying, "Hey, take it easy before it gets weird."

Zemo smirked. "I know where Karli is." The four walked around John and Lemar.

John placed a hand on Zemo's chest and demanded, "Well, where?"

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

"That means civilians," Lemar clarified, looking around the group. "High risk of casualties."

Adalyn frowned. "Karli's a leader. She's not going to put her people in the line of fire unless she absolutely has to."

They continued down the street and John said, "All right, good, we'll move in fast. Take her by surprise."

"No, I wanna talk to her alone," Sam told him.

"I'm not losing her again."

Adalyn nodded. "He's right. The person closest to her died, she's vulnerable. If there's any time to reason with her, it's now."

"What? No. Wait, no." John grabbed her wrist, causing her eyes to narrow. "No! Stop. Hold on. Stop, okay?"

Adalyn glanced at his hand on her wrist, used her free hand to pull out one of her guns and pointed it under John's chin. "Let go of me. Now. Bucky, stay where you are. John, if he knows what's good for him, will obey me."

John and Adalyn glared at each other and he let her go before saying, "I think we're way past reasoning with her, unless you forgot the fact that she blew up a building with people still in it."

"Sam, you walk in there cold, she could kill you," Lemar warned.

"If I go in hot and the op goes wrong, more people die," Sam reasoned.

John looked between Bucky and Adalyn before asking, "You're both gonna let him do this? Are you two gonna let your partner walk into a room with a Super Soldier alone? Ada, are you going in with him?"

Adalyn narrowed her eyes. "Adalyn to you. Sam can do it."

"He's dealt with worse," Bucky added. "And he's not our partner."

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

"Yeah, I know," John replied. "And I know those soldiers, which is why I know this is a bad idea."

"Wait, John," Lemar called. "If he can talk her down, it might be worth a try."

John scoffed and pointed to Zemo. "We'll deal with you later."