Author's Note: little side story that covers the conversation between Sam and Phoenix during Chapter 10 (Crossing Paths). Side-Story II touched on it a bit so I decided to expand on it more. I'll eventually break from the films and the show for more side stories because keeping them limited to what we have seen would constrain other possibilities.


Germany

Sam Wilson broke from Bucky to approach their agitated friend. Phoenix paused in her pacing when she noticed him. "You okay?" he asked, crossing his arms. The humanshifted chimera looked around him to see that Bucky and Zemo were having their own talk. "That human...he got into my head," she admitted before dropping her gaze. Sam cocked an eyebrow. He ran a hand over his face. "Want to talk about it? It might help," he suggested. Phoenix looked up at him uncertainly. "I don't know. In hindsight, it was kind of careless and stupid of me to give Zemo's words any weight," she responded. "I won't pressure you but helping people with things like this was my job back when I first met Steve. You're not a war vet to my knowledge but I can still apply my techniques to this situation," Sam shrugged.

Phoenix was looking at Bucky and Zemo again before she took a deep breath. "You really have a way of making me feel safe enough to open up," she said, giving Sam a smile. The Falcon returned it and nodded his head to indicate she could carry on. "After Bucky and I separated in the prison, I stayed with Zemo. Mainly to keep an eye on him and to strengthen his charade. Less chance of him being stopped if I played the role of an innocent he was getting out to safety," she began. Sam nodded, getting the answer Bucky had refused to give when he came out alone. "While we were waiting for the signal, Zemo, he...he implied things," Phoenix said, her face turning a shade of red Sam wasn't aware something like her could turn. Concerned, he took a step closer. "What sort of things?" he prodded.

The shifter was wringing her hands together. "He implied there was tension...of a sexual nature between me and Bucky," she said in a low tone, afraid of being overheard. Sam hadn't been expecting that. "You serious? Is Zemo still in the dark about what you are?" he asked. "He is and it's going to stay that way," she responded. Running his hand over his chin, Sam gave a sidelong look to the other men still deep in their own talk. "And is there?" he then asked. Phoenix gave him a look of shock. "No!" she insisted. "Then you know he was just pulling your leg, Phoenix. That's kind of Zemo's gig. He gets into your head and makes you doubt things. And to be honest, this was why Bucky didn't want you going into the cell with him," Sam pointed out. "But I didn't want him going in there alone either," she protested. Sam held his hands up, wordlessly telling her to calm down.

"You two are so much alike, it's terrifying. You're the more levelheaded one compared to Bucky so I thought you'd be okay but considering Zemo got to you, perhaps there's some merit to what he was saying," he ventured. Phoenix scowled but it was aimed more at herself for her weakness than it was at Sam. "There's nothing between me and Bucky beyond friendship, Sam," she huffed. "I believe you because you're inherently honest. I just don't know if he would be honest with me if I posed the same question to him. I'll level with you that I'm more concerned about Bucky wanting something more from you," the Falcon responded. Phoenix slowly looked up at him, tilting her head. "You really think he would, knowing full well what I am?" she asked. Sam just shrugged. "I don't find it very likely but I have to consider all the possibilities. I know you for what you really are, Phoenix, but at face value, you're one beautiful woman. It's almost inhuman purely because of what you are in truth. Bucky's not an idiot but at the same time, he's a guy who has had a lot stolen from him," he explained.

Phoenix looked down, doubt starting to creep into her thoughts. Sam poked her arm to get her attention again. "Look, I don't want to imply that Bucky would do anything untoward to you and I know full well that you could take him in a straight fight. I just want you to be careful because you don't know humans very well and you probably don't know what men, especially, are capable of. I don't want you getting into trouble if Bucky somehow forgets what you are and snaps," he said. The chimera's violet eyes were thoughtful, though she was stone-faced. Sam realized with a jolt that she was well aware of what men were capable of and not just in the context of her creation and later experimentation.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked. At his nod, the shifter looked down at her hands before clenching them. "Do you really think Bucky is capable of such things?" she asked. "I don't think he would ever do something that horrible, given his own experiences. And it's pretty clear to me that he cares about you, hence why he wanted you to stick with me," Sam responded. Silence fell for a moment before Phoenix spoke again. "I don't think there's anything to worry about, Sam. I trust Bucky as I've never trusted a human before. I can't imagine him seeing me as anything but a chimera," she said, resolutely. "That makes both of us. I probably know him better than you do but you don't need as much history with him to make a call on whether you trust him or not. I just want you to keep your mind open to the possibilities that come from knowing a guy like him. He's worlds safer since he got the Winter Soldier programming out of his head but he's still one of the most dangerous men out there. I don't want you getting hurt," Same responded.

Phoenix slowly nodded, feeling calmer now. "Thank you, Sam. I think I'm doing better now," she said. "Anytime. I hope I didn't put you off your bond with Bucky with my hypotheticals," Sam responded. "No. You actually gave me something to keep in mind. I'm old and pretty untrusting in most circumstances. Given Bucky's past, I should be more careful with him than I have been," she conceded. The Falcon gave her a grin while Phoenix took a deep breath and sighed. "You good?" he asked. "I'm good," she responded. She still seemed a bit agitated but Sam figured that she was still a bit unnerved by what Zemo had said. He filed it away to bring up with Bucky later whenever the time was right. At the moment, they had the Flag-Smashers and the issue behind Steve's shield to take care of.

Bucky and Zemo approached Sam and Phoenix. "We're ready to move out," Zemo said before throwing yet another insincere smile at the woman. Phoenix just glowered before putting Bucky between them. The White Wolf cocked an eyebrow at her before looking at Zemo. "Leave her alone," he said. Zemo just shrugged. "The princess might as well get used to this partnership, James," was all he said before the four companions left the warehouse on the compound and headed for the airport.

Phoenix brought up the rear, her eyes on Bucky's back. She mulled over what Sam had discussed with her about him but she knew in her heart of hearts that he was a kind, gentle man. After everything he went through, Phoenix was confident he would never do anything to hurt her. That encounter a few years ago? That wasn't him. She knew it wasn't. Taking a deep breath, Phoenix reaffirmed to herself that what she told Bucky in Zemo's cell was the truth. She would continue to follow him until he gave her a reason not to. She would be watching him from here on out. She also came to the conclusion that during their last meeting six months prior, Bucky had been hiding his true mental and emotional state from her.

The chimera could understand why. He didn't want her worrying about him. In truth, she had thought he wasn't as okay as he made himself out to be but she had chalked it up the fact that Steve had left. Her mood started to drop when she realized that she never really took Bucky's actual feelings into account during all those meetings. At least not to the level he deserved. She needed to rectify that and fast. "Bucky, I need to tell you something," Phoenix said, reaching out and taking hold of his sleeve.

The men paused when she spoke up. Phoenix's violet eyes remained on Bucky's when he turned to look at her. He read her expression and looked to Sam and Zemo. "Give us a minute," he said. Shrugging, Zemo walked off with Sam following. "What's up?" Bucky then asked as he gave the shifter his full attention. Phoenix looked down for a moment before sighing. "I think I've been willfully ignorant," she said. Crossing his arms, the White Wolf just waited. "It seems that every other time the two of us have been together, I never really gave much thought into the trauma you're carrying. I'm not much of a friend. I'm sorry," she said, bowing a bit. Bucky took a deep breath before putting a smile on his face and setting a hand on her shoulder. "I think both of us are at fault there, Phoenix. I never let the full extent of my inner demons show and I honestly don't want to burden you with this. I've said as much when we were at my place," he explained.

Phoenix looked up at him, mulling it over. "Let's not worry about that now. I promise that if I feel like we need to dig into my issues a little deeper, I'll come to you. Right now, we need to focus on the mission at hand. You can't afford to be distracted by my problems," he further explained. The shifter nodded and mirrored a hand on his shoulder. "Fair enough. I needed this off my mind one way or another. You can count on me, Bucky. I'll protect you this time," she said, dropping her hand. She walked past him to rejoin Sam and Zemo. Bucky hung back for a moment as he watched Sam undoubtedly ask if things were okay. "Honestly, Phoenix...with what we're up against, I'm more worried about you. You're a stranger to this world and its people. Because of that, I swear that I will protect you," he thought.