Eminent Silence

by Tristan Carey

  'I don't think this is a good idea,' Bucky objected.

  'Well, we didn't ask you,' Vielka muttered, earning her a glare from Bucky. She saw Natasha smirk slightly, but she didn't say anything. 'So what's the objective now?'

  'We need the Viscount's phone. If our hunch is correct, he will be keeping a lot of info on there and we can create a copy of it so we can keep tabs on who he's talking to and what about.'

  Vielka nodded, taking a sip of her coffee and thinking for a moment. It would be difficult but remembering how handsy the Viscount was at their last meeting, she was certain she could handle it.

  'So how do I get in?'

  'Well funnily enough, it seems you left an impression on the Viscount last time, he sent an invitation to your 'make up company's website' email.'

  'I don't like this,' Bucky said again, walking away from the table. Vielka rolled her eyes and looked back at the screen, Clint was now standing next to Natasha.

  'See, I told you it was because you had boobs,' he said with a grin.

  'Natasha?' Vielka asked dully.

  'I got this.' WHACK!

  Vielka shut the screen of the laptop and finished her coffee before looking to Bucky. He was sulking on the lounge. 'You, go get your arm on, we're going shopping.'

  He frowned and looked like he might refuse, but she looked at him warningly and he rubbed his hands over his face and groaned. 'Fine!'

  Bucky and Vielka walked through the streets of Como until she finally found a store she seemed satisfied with.

  He followed her in, rather unwillingly. His gut instinct told him that everything about this plan was risky. Although he knew she was more than well adapted at taking care of herself, something did not sit right with him about her going in alone.

  He trailed behind her as she scanned the racks of swimsuits. 'You keep looking sulky like that, baby, and I'll make sure I give you something to sulk about,' she said in a low voice, as she bent over and looked at a garment on a low rack.

  He glared at her back, she was wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a sleeveless turtle neck that just covered her to the tip of her shoulders and fitted close to her curves. When he was younger, and normal, he might have found her alluring but right now he found her very agitating.

  She stood up, holding a garment in her hand. 'This one will do, let's get out of here.'

  'Oh hi!' A woman damn near shouted, walking over to them. Bucky saw Vielka stiffen and curse under her breath, making him smirk slightly. 'Can I help you at all?'

  Vielka glared at Bucky before turning around to face the shop assistant. 'Oh hi,' she said in the sweet American voice that she loved so much. 'Oh, I'm quite alright. I'm just going to buy this one, I think.'

  'That one? Oh, it's nice, but what's the occasion?' The young Italian woman asked, taking the garment from Vielka.

  He could see she was already getting agitated, which he was ashamed to say, he was getting a little pleasure out of her discomfort. 'She's going to a big pool party,' Bucky answered for her, she turned to glare at him, her jaw clenched. 'You know the type, big names, gorgeous girls.'

  'Oh my god! Are you going to Viscount Fiori's party? Oh, I'm so jealous! Come, we will find you something much better than this.' She proceeded to grab Vielka by the arm and lead her further into the store, mouthing abuse back at him as she glared at him.

  He chuckled to himself, following behind. He was going to pay for this, big time, so he may as well enjoy it. The shop assistant was grabbing garment after garment off the shelves, ignoring Vielka's protests. She ushered Vielka into a changing area, before offering Bucky a seat close by.

  He sat back and relaxed, listening to Vielka's protests from behind the curtain as the shop assistant entered after her. He had to do his best not to laugh aloud, covering his mouth with his hands to control himself.

  She had been gone for about 40 minutes before the protests subsided. He furrowed his brow, mildly concerned about the sudden quiet, when the shop assistant stuck her head out from the corner, beaming at Bucky. He raised his eyebrows, as she grinned, before she stepped out of the curtain and pulled it back.

  He peered past the curtain, there was a wooden door further behind it, which slowly opened. Bucky's jaw dropped somewhat as Vielka walked out, she was wearing a black one piece with a high neck that fitted tightly to her curves, but unlike so many of her other outfits she'd worn since they arrived in Italy, this one had a cut out that showed her cleavage. There were no scars there.

  There were also cut outs at the side and he spotted signs of a tattoo poking out from the edge of the right cut out. He raised his eyebrows as she stepped out further. Her hair had been tied higher and she wore black heels with gold detailing and straps that Criss-crossed up to just below her knee.

  Bucky licked his lips slightly, feeling his mouth suddenly very dry. He quickly bit his lip when he saw the look on Vielka's face. She may just kill him later.

  'Look, it paid off, didn't it? 100%, the Viscount will want to keep you close to him now,' Bucky argued as Vielka dumped the bags she had been forced to buy. Bucky's reaction had not helped her protests against the shop assistant at all. He'd sat there gawking like a 15 year old school boy.

  She rounded on him to tell him so, but when she found him standing before, him looking at her in frustration, she found she really couldn't. For starters, he wasn't that old when he underwent enhancement. He was only a young man, if all accounts were true.

  He had also spent the larger part of 80 years under mind control, of which she highly doubted meant getting close to anyone of the opposite sex with an arm like that. Add to that, he was probably right, the Viscount would probably find the outfit choice far more alluring than her original choice, if Bucky's reaction was anything to go by.

  That didn't mean she couldn't still be annoyed at him though. 'Argh!' she exclaimed turning away in frustration and throwing her hands into the air.

  'Look, sorry I threw you under the bus with the assistant, but it worked out, trust me!'

  Vielka spun around, landing a well placed punch to Bucky's left cheek that forced him to take a step back with the power behind it. She glared at him as he raised an eyebrow in surprise, running his tongue over the inside of his cheek. 'I may have deserved that,' he said after a moment. She huffed and stormed into the bedroom with her bags to get ready.

  Bucky sat on the lounge waiting patiently, wearing a hoodie over his uniform, his gloves on to help cover his titanium arm. He was going to be ready in case something happened at that party.

  He rubbed the left side of his jaw, which, surprisingly, still smarted from her punch. It had definitely caught him off guard, but he couldn't blame her either. If anything, he was impressed, yet again, by the amount of strength she had.

  She soon walked out, her face looked very glamorous and her hair sat high on her head in an extremely high ponytail with a large intricate looking design going through it. Her face held a sullen look, seemingly still annoyed at him. She had a light coloured trench coat over her swimwear, moving to the table with her handbag and a small case. She motioned for him to join her and he complied, not wanting to anger the Australian any more than he already had.

  She opened the case and inside were ear pieces for both of them and a small tablet that could easily fit into the palm of Bucky's hand. She also reached into her handbag and pulled out a handgun, waving it before him. 'It won't come to it, but... precautionary.' He nodded, as she showed him the tablet. 'Natasha will be calling at the beginning of the operation, keep that channel open so she can hear what's going on, our ear pieces link to that.'

  'Okay, are you going to be carrying?' This was something that had been a concern for him since the idea had originally been put before them by Natasha.

  She looked at him with a deathly glare. 'Yes, I can totally hide a weapon in that outfit, Bucky.'

  He gulped and looked apologetically at her. He should just keep his mouth shut for awhile.
>
  'Let's go.'

  Vielka stepped out of the car elegantly, smiling at the valet that opened the door for her. She glanced back and nodded to Bucky, before turning and striding confidently up the stairs. She heard him begin to drive away, revving the engine a little more than necessary, she thought.

  A young woman greeted her at the top of the stairs of the mansion that stretched out before her. The hostess was flanked by two large, yet finely dressed, security guards. Looking at their jackets, she could tell they were carrying side arms, possibly even something bigger. She gave her name and was led further into the party to a makeshift cloak room, where she was helped from her coat.

  She heard the whispers as she strutted from the room, accompanied by another hostess, leading her towards the pool area. She was well aware of the men staring at her as she followed the hostess to the bar. 'You have your own private area over here, ma'am,' the hostess said, motioning to a wall of private cabana type areas. Vielka smiled gratefully at her, although was very aware that her cabana seemed to be the furthest and, somewhat, out of view of the main pool area.

  She ordered herself a drink, before walking towards the cabana, smiling at a group of ladies who lounged by the edge of the pool.

  Once she was at her cabana, she chose a lounge closest to the entrance of the cabana, so she could keep an eye on proceedings.

  She touched her ear piece carefully, pretending to fidget with her earring as she reclined on the lounge. 'Bucky?' she murmured.

  'I'm here.'

  She hated to admit it, but hearing his voice gave her a feeling of mild relief. 'You've got Comms open with Natasha?'

  'Yep, we're here too,' Natasha's voice came through loud and clear.

  'Any sign of Fiori?' Bucky asked, she could hear a hint of anxiousness in his voice.

  'Nothing, but I'll wager he will come and find me very soon,' she muttered, watching as another group of women walked by, seeming to glare at her. 'There was a private cabana waiting for me, so he was expecting me for sure.' Arrogant bastard. 'Security guards are armed too.'

  'Why would you need armed guards for a pool party?' Natasha wondered aloud, although they all had a general idea for the answer to that.

  She looked towards the pool, there were a few men in the water who wouldn't have looked out of place from a swimwear shoot for a men's label. A few of them looked back at her, smiling or winking at her. She raised an eyebrow but didn't respond to them.

  She had only been sitting for about fifteen minutes when she felt someone's eyes on her. She looked across to the other side of the pool, seeking to find out who was watching her and froze.

  Her heart leapt into her throat and her breathing hitched. She looked away quickly, before looking back up to see he still stared at her, a smirk on his face.

  There was no mistaking who it was.

  'Vielka, your heart rate just shot up, what's going on?' she heard Natasha ask through her ear piece, her voice laced with concern.

  'I've got to get out of here.'

  'Wait, what?' Bucky demanded. 'Do you need help?'

  She didn't answer, instead standing quickly and making a move to return to the entrance. She stopped fast when she saw another familiar face, their arms folded across their chest as they stood to block her path.

  She looked behind her, sure enough, another one moved into position. 'Fuck.'

  'Corporal.'

  She stood ready, although she couldn't help thinking she was not dressed for this shit. She looked back to the man standing in front of her. 'Lieutenant.'

  'We've got someone who wants to see you,' the one standing behind her said, as the man who had been watching her from the other side of the pool, moved to stand next to the Lieutenant.

  'They should really book an appointment, I think I'm free in about... 50 years?'

  'I think he's done waiting, Corporal.'

  'Nuts for him then, huh?' she said, analysing her surroundings. She was wearing heels which would hinder her slightly, but could also prove useful too. 'I'm kind of flattered, though.'

  'Why?' the one behind her sneered. She glanced behind her, giving him a small smile.

  'He sent three of you to get me,' she said with a smirk, before moving quickly, grabbing a sun lounge to her left and throwing it at the two in front of her. She turned quickly to fend off the grab from the man behind her, he was quick and she knew it. She was quicker though.

  'Hold on, Vielka!' she heard Bucky in her ear.

  He moved to punch her, but she blocked it with her forearm, before aiming her own jab to his shoulder, hoping to throw him off balance slightly. It was enough and she was able to kick his side, which was now unprotected as he tried to regain his balance, and then brought her leg back slightly, before slashing across his face with her heel. She left a deep gash in his face.

  He was quick to compose himself though, blocking another punch she threw with her left arm, before grabbing her right, trying to pin it. She used the chance to knee his mid section, putting an elbow into use and connecting with the side of his head. He flew into a nearby wall, as she turned to face the other two who had untangled themselves from the lounge she had thrown.

  By now, the other partygoers were fleeing in fear as they fought fiercely, causing destruction as they did so.

  The two men ran towards her and she worked to block their punches and kicks, ducking and weaving as they kept closing in on her. She tried to throw in her own attacks as she blocked theirs, but together they were two quick for her. The Lieutenant's kick connected with her mid section, sending her flying back into a wall and she landed to the ground heavily.

  She strained to push herself back to her feet, the breath knocked from her lungs as they both charged at her again. She blocked the Lieutenant's boot, before catching his second's hand, she pulled them both off balance, striking out at both of them with her long leg. She connected and they were both sent crashing into a, now empty, cabana.

  She went to make a run for it, but the first man to attack her had finally gotten to his feet and tackled her to the ground. She fell, but used her momentum to flip him over her, as she had done with Bucky while they were sparring, except flinging him off of her with her leg strength and she sent him crashing into an outdoor table on the opposite side of the pool.

  The other two stood and began making their way towards her, the look on their faces telling Vielka they weren't planning on taking it easy on her, regardless of what their orders might be. She turned her head quickly to look for the other and saw he was clambering out from the table he had destroyed, but as she did so she felt her earrings hit her cheek.

  'Oh, EMP!' she murmured, grinning. She hit the button on her earring and all three men immediately froze and collapsed to the ground.

  She was now breathless as she struggled to her feet, knowing their systems wouldn't take long to reboot. She could hear gun fire in the distance, guessing that Bucky was fighting his way in and it spurred her on to keep running.

  Bucky was fighting his way through fleeing partygoers and less than welcoming security guards. He ducked behind cover as another one shot at him, waiting for him to reload before standing and taking his own shot. The guard fell to the side, Bucky running forward hurriedly, his eyes constantly seeking out Vielka.

  He had heard her in his ear, she had sounded panicked initially, and then conversed with someone she seemed familiar with. She was now breathing heavily like she was running, and every now and then it sounded like she was in a struggle. The last thing he heard her murmur was something about her EMP.

  He turned a corner and saw her fighting off a guard, taking his weapon and using it to knock him out. She was only wearing her swimsuit and heels, although she looked like she had been thrown around a bit, her hair falling down around her face now, and she had a few cuts and abrasions on her arms.

  'Vielka!' he shouted. She turned and looked towards his voice. When she saw him she gave a smile of relief, befor
e moving to join him.

  She had barely taken a step when a sword was placed against her neck from the shadows of a side corridor. She froze, holding her head up as the sword slid across the top of her swimsuit, causing her to grimace slightly. 'Vielka...' an icy cold voice said. 'I haven't heard anyone call you that in a long time, Corporal.'

  Vielka looked sideways at the person who had spoken, and her face paled. Bucky kept his side arm trained on the shadow as a tall man stepped out.

  He was wearing black fatigues, with gloved hands and red hair. Bucky clenched his jaw as he leered at Vielka. 'Let her go.'

  'Or what? You'll shoot me? Risk hurting her? I doubt it.'