Zemo ran frantically. He still had a greater plan to carry out—he couldn't be captured by the Avengers yet.
Boom!
A shield symbolizing freedom struck him head-on, the force sending him flying before he crashed hard onto the ground.
"Zemo, your plan won't succeed." Steve retrieved his shield, looking down at the man on the ground with a complicated expression.
Zemo was pitiful. His family had died in Sokovia. In the end, it all traced back to the Avengers—without Ultron, there would have been no Sokovia disaster. They bore that responsibility.
Steve knew it well. Many had died because of them. There were countless people like Zemo, but few were as extreme—and as calculating.
Renzo descended slowly beside Steve, silently watching Zemo.
"Hey! I got you!" Scott nearly lost hold of Zemo earlier. Compared to a trained soldier, his own combat experience was lacking.
"You think you can get away? Not happening!" Scott immediately pinned Zemo down, locking his arms.
"Huh? Captain? I caught him!"
"I can see that…" Steve replied, somewhat helpless. Scott was enthusiastic—if a bit loud. A good man, but not the easiest partner in the field.
By then, the police had arrived. Natasha and T'Challa also rushed out from the building, both visibly relieved to see the attacker restrained.
"Captain," Natasha greeted Steve, then glanced at Renzo. Neither spoke. The tension from the previous day still lingered.
Renzo had thought it over. What he said yesterday had indeed gone too far—exposing the deepest scar in Natasha's past so bluntly had been cruel.
"Sorry, Natasha," Renzo said quietly. "I lost control yesterday and ignored your feelings."
Natasha didn't look at him. "Don't mistake me for someone fragile," she said evenly. "I'm the Black Widow."
Renzo smiled faintly. That was enough—he knew she had forgiven him.
"Bucky?" Natasha only now noticed the man pinned beneath Scott. She glanced at Steve, concern flashing in her eyes. Bucky was close to him—capturing him like this could complicate things.
Scott yanked off the disguise, revealing Zemo's pale face.
Zemo looked up at the Avengers gathering around him, a sense of despair settling in. His plan had failed.
"Why?" he demanded, eyes burning with rage. "How were you waiting for me in advance?"
"Everything leaves a trail," Renzo said calmly. If they had been on the same side, he might have admired Zemo. Intelligent, patient, perceptive—like a master strategist from another era.
He had nearly accomplished the impossible—driving a wedge between the Avengers through sheer will and planning, pushing Steve and Tony into opposing sides, reducing the team to a name in all but fact.
"Oh, you self-righteous bastards!" Zemo spat. "You enhanced people should die for the innocent lives lost because of you."
"Hatred has blinded you," Renzo replied, shaking his head. There was no reasoning with him now. Zemo's entire world had been consumed by vengeance.
And now, with his failure laid bare, even his last shred of dignity had been stripped away.
Crowds had begun to gather—civilians, journalists, drawn by the commotion. Instinct told them this was a story that could shake the world: an attempted assassination tied to the Avengers themselves. The political implications alone were explosive.
No reporter would miss something like this.
Zemo looked at the crowd, a thought forming in his mind.
If I can't succeed… then no one will.
He suddenly struggled, forcing his head up under Scott's grip and shouting at the top of his lungs, "Tony Stark's parents were—"
Before he could finish, Renzo struck him across the head. Zemo went limp instantly, unconscious.
"Take him away," Renzo ordered, his expression cold.
He had almost achieved his goal. The truth about Tony's parents was known only to a few—Tony and Steve included. If Zemo had exposed it publicly, it wouldn't just be humiliation—it would have shattered both of them, dragged their names through the mud, and ignited a media storm.
Once the reporters got hold of it, they would amplify it endlessly. Public opinion would turn even more sharply against the Avengers. Even Stark Industries might choose silence—because the truth would speak for itself.
Renzo watched as Zemo was loaded into a police vehicle, unease lingering in his chest. Tony was still missing. So was Bucky.
Natasha frowned slightly. Something felt off. It was clear Renzo and Steve were hiding something—something important.
...
Bucky knew he was in trouble.
He had suddenly become the target of an intense manhunt. The FBI had nearly cornered him using scattered leads and relentless sweeps. He spent his days and nights hiding—in slums, under bridges, among garbage heaps.
He needed to find Steve. Only Steve could help him now.
But—
Bucky ducked suddenly, avoiding a drone sweeping overhead.
He held his breath until it passed. These past few days, drones had been everywhere. There was almost nowhere left to hide. He barely even had time to find food.
"Stark-made…"
Bucky's heart sank. Tony Stark's sudden pursuit wasn't random. The man who preferred luxury and indulgence wouldn't waste his time chasing someone insignificant.
From what Bucky knew—even criminals like the Vulture had only drawn FBI attention, not Tony's personal involvement. Stark didn't bother with threats that didn't concern him.
Which meant there was only one reason for this relentless hunt…
__________________________________________
You can read early chapters on Patr*on. If you enjoy my work and would like to support me, consider becoming a patron. My Patr*on username is Renzo28557.