The Souls

Speculation about how and when they would escape the Soul Stone went on for ages after Doctor Strange made his revelation. He, of course, did not participate in the conversation. People would simply make a suggestion and watch his reaction to see if they were close. But Stephen's Poker face never faltered.

But still, the lot would not shut up. Stephen even tried to glance at Loki, the only one who wasn't harrassing him, to ask for help, but the god only smirked and waved his fingers.

Apparently he hadn't yet forgiven him for the whole falling in empty space for 30 minutes, thing.

Eventually, Strange decided to ignore them all, opting to meditate. And so they left him to float cross-legged above his chair with his eyes closed.

Whether the Sorcerer was meditating, sleeping, or just really good at staying still, they didnt know.

And so the heroes were forced to move onto other conversation.

Namely, their battles against Thanos.

"Well we already wrote told you how we lost," Quill said to the rough circle of heroes, "How did your fight fail?"

"We didn't exactly fail," tried Shuri.

"Well..." Quill took qn exaggerated look around, "It kinda looks like you did."

"Quill is correct," nodded Drax, "And to be truthful, I am quite sure you did far worse than we did."

There was a croaky snort next to Drax as Groot punched his arm.

"I am Groot!"

Gamora nodded, "He's right. Thanos did have all the Stone's by the time they tried to fight him. They were at a clear disadvantage.

Quill scoffed, "That is neither here nor there."

Seeing the impending argument, T'Challa decided to stop it before it could even begin.

"Look, let us not start another quarrel. We all fought with everything we had." his eyes snapped to Shuri before she could speak up, "All of us. Not one more than another."

Bucky couldn't help but let out a quiet snort, "Some people fought a bit too hard if you ask me."

"What do you mean?" asked Peter.

"Well I admire not giving up and standing up to Thanos, but some people were just being stupid. Like, I saw someone try to hold him back with his bare hands. What kind of idiot is going to try to stop a Titan with his bare hands? That's just stupid."

Next to him, Sam stared for a long time, then he snorted and looked to T'Challa, "You gonna tell him, or should I?"

T'Challa tried not to smirk, "You can take this one."

Bucky frowned at them, "Tell what?"

Sam shook his head at the man next to him, "Well Bucky, the only kind of idiot who'd go against a Titan with his bare hands is also the kind of idiot who'd jump on a grenade. Or jump out of a plane without a parachute. Or break through a 7 story high glass elevator. Or shoot up dangerous drugs to sneak into World War 2. You get where I'm going with this?"

The colour drained from Bucky's face as realisation hit him slowly. He slumped against the sofa, "Goddammit Steve," he growled.

Drax was in awe, "That is incredible! Tell us more of this brave soldier." he leaned forward, "Such reckless behaviour is most admirable. Quill, why aren't you as good as these other humans?"

Quill just glared at him, but T'Challa chuckled, feeling sorry fo the man, "Do not feel bad, Captain Quill. Captain America is not like most humans. Do not think to compare yourself to him."

Quill leaned back, chuffed at being defended by the handsome King. But then he shot up again.

"Wait wait wait wait. Did... did you say Captain America?"

"I did" nodded T'Challa.

Quill blinked. "Captain America. As in, Steve Rogers, Brooklyn born, punched Hitler in the face, Captain America?"

"That's the one," nodded Shuri with a smile."

"Captain America! He's alive?!" Quill was almost off his seat in excitement, "Oh my god. Oh my god, Captain America! I thought he was dead. How... how isn't he dead? Wouldn't he be like, a hundred years old by now?"

"One Hundred exactly, yes," nodded Vision, "Startling considering he looks no older that 30."

"Well you're one to talk." scoffed Wanda, "You're like, three."

Quill just shook his head, still in awe at the news that Captain America (The Captain America) was alive! "But... but how? How is that possible?"

"Apparently Super-Soldier-Serum means you never die," shrugged Sam, "Just ask this old geyser here. You've gotta be pushing about 150, right Barnes?"

Bucky didn't bother to answer, and just rolled his eyes at Sam.

"I am so confused, right now," Quill was still shaking his head, "How is that even possible?"

"Bucky will explain it to you," Sam yawned, "Who better to tell you about Captain America than his own boyfriend."

Quill's eyes went even wider, if that was possible, "You're Captain America's boyfriend?" he gasped, "oh my god, you're so lucky," he was so excited he didn't even notice the narrowed eyes Gamora threw at him from his side.

"Is that true?" Peter Parker gasped, unable to keep himself from jumping in, "Mr Barnes, Captain Rogers is your boyfriend?"

"N- no!" Bucky spluttered, "No that's not-"

"I didn't even know Cap liked dudes! Wow, I totally owe MJ twenty bucks."

"Wait no!" Bucky tried to cut in, but hardly anyone was paying attention.

"Well of course Rogers likes men," Loki rolled his eyes from his chair, suddenly interested in the conversation, "No straight man would wear a costume that unbearably tight."

"See Vis, I told you," Wanda muttered to her boyfriend.

"No!" Bucky tried to speak over the ruckus, "Stop, just... hang on a second-"

He was interuppted by Peter eagerly waving a hand at him, "Oh my god, it all makes so much sense now!"

"Oh yeah? How's that?" Sam was grinning from ear to ear, proud of himself for starting something, especially seeing how embarrased it made Bucky look.

"Well yeah," Peter carried on, "You know, the airport fight from two years ago? I mean, why else would Captain Rogers go against the other Avengers like that? I mean no one does that for a friend."

"Oh my god, no." Bucky shook his head quickly, "No no no, that's not what-"

"I can't believe I never figured it out before," Peter slapped his forehead, "and who better to date Captain America than Jesus himself?"

Bucky's spluttering turned to choking "What?" he all but wheezed "What the hell does that even mean?"

Peter shrunk back a bit when he realised what he just said.

"Well... well you gotta admit Mr Barnes," he shrugged, "You kinda look a lot like a...a sexy Jesus."

Bucky could only stare with bulging eyes and a gaping mouth. Before he could even say anything, there was another yell.

"That's it!" Quill snapped his fingers, "I couldn't figure out who you reminded me of, and now I get it!"

"Jesus?" Mantis tilted her head with a frown, "The one the humans worship?"

"Yeah!" Quill nodded excitedly, "He totally looks just like Jesus."

"I am Groot." Groot scoffed, shaking his head.

"He is right," Drax nodded, "If Jesus was as good looking as this man here, why would the humans kill him?"

"Wh- what did... what? No!" Bucky stuttered, shaking his head, "I don't look like... like Jesus. Stop saying that."

"I think it has a lot to do with your hair," Wanda chipped in.

"Oh yes definitely your hair." agreed Vision, "And also your new beard."

Shuri snorted, "If you think he looks like Jesus now, you should have seen him when he was all depressed and refused to bathe. The resemblance was uncanny."

"Shuri!" Bucky gaped at her.

"She is right, Bucky, I'm sorry." T'Challa said, not looking sorry at all, "You were like a sad nomad. I mean, you made friends with the lambs."

"Those were goats," Bucky argued, "Not at all the same thing."

"Wait, you had goats?" Sam was grinning, enjoying this a little too much, in Bucky's opinion, "Why the hell were you hanging out with goats?"

"I told you. He was too depressed to do anything else." shrugged Shuri.

"Oh no, why were you depressed?" Peter asked, sounding worried.

"I was not dep-"

"Well, Captain Rogers hadn't come to visit in a while so-"

"For god's sake Shuri." Bucky all but growled.

If possible, Sam's grin widened, "Oh is that so!" he turned his whole body towards Bucky, reveling in the other man's embarrassment.

"None of that is true," Bucky said through gritted teeth, trying hard not to just give up and hide behind his hands, "I mean why- why would I mind that Steve didn't come a lot. He's freaking Captain America, he's got important stuff to deal with. He can't spend all hia time worrying about me."

"Oh I am sure your lover does not mean to make you feel neglected Mr. Jesus," Mantis said quietly, going over to Bucky and laying a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Alright, that's it!" Bucky snapped, "You people need to stop. Steve is not my... my lover okay? We're just friends and before you ask, no, I don't feel anything else for him. And that goes both ways, so if we could all talk about something else now please and...and why... why are your antenna glowing?"

Mantis still stood over him, her hand still on his shoulder.

She blinked, "My antenna are the source of my powers." she said.

Bucky gulped, "Your... your powers?"

"Yes. I am an empath," she explained, to Bucky, and the rest, who were now listening intently, "my powers allow me to feel someone's feelings when I touch them. They also allow me the ability to tell when someone is not being honest."

Bucky blinked up at her for awhile, and she blinked right back.

"You can... you can tell if someone's lying? Just by... touching them?"

She nodded, and Bucky squeezed his eyes shut, taking a deep breath.

"Mantis."

"Yes?"

"Please stop touching me now."

Mantis removed her hand quickly, and went back to her chair, where ahe sat quietly.

The silence drew on, as Bucky let his head fall into his hands.

"I am Groot?"

Quill sighed, "Yeah bud. Jesus is totally crushing on Captain America."

:::

Sam looked at Bucky, who still had his elbows on his knees and his hair covering his face.

A while had passed without him moving. Everyone had gone back to their own conversations. They were still discussing Bucky of course, just more quietly now.

Poor guy. Sam had to admit, he felt kinda bad for him, being put on the spot like that. But this was Barnes.

He liked it when Barnes was embarassed.

Becasue, you know... he didn't like the guy. Like at all.

At all

Moments later, Sam just sighed loudly, "If it makes you feel any better, Steve was pretty depressed too. Having to stay away so long."

Bucky scoffed under his hair, "Whatever, Wilson."

"Nah, I'm serious. We couldn't just fly around freely, you know. Being war criminals and all. He drove me crazy with all that 'when can we go back to Wakanda' shit of his. Of course he tried to play it off as wanting to see all the technology, but who are we kidding, Steve can barely email."

Bucky had finally lifted his head a little, and Sam could see one eye looking back at him. He didn't know why he was even trying to make him feel better. He still really didn't like him.

"Totally pissed me and Nat off with his moping. You know, he tells people that that beard of his is just a fashion statement or whatever, but I know it's cause he just couldn't be bothered to shave for so long. He was pathetic, seriously."

Bucky was almost sitting up now, a ghost of a smile on his face,

"Yeah?"

Sam nodded, "Yeah totally. So don't worry about it Barnes," he clapped him on the shoulder, "Your boyfriend was just as pathetic as you when y'all were separated."

The tiny smile vanished, "He's not my-"

"I know, I know," Sam, just chuckled, "Not your boyfriend. I've heard that load of shit from him more than enough times."

Bucky was back to glaring at Sam, and he sat back with his arms crossed.

Sam just smirked, and got up off the couch, leaving Bucky with his thoughts. He found himself going towards the King and Princess. Although considering all his visits to Wakanda with Steve, Sam knew them more as just Shuri and T'Challa.

"Well I think the old man is a little closer to admitting it now. I'm that much closer to winning that bet."

T'CHalla just shook his head, "Sam, I really don't think the bet is still valid with all of us dead."

Sam just shook his head, "You're just saying that cause you're scared I'm gonna beat you."

T'Challa just scoffed at the grinning American.

Many months before everything went to hell, Sam had made a bet with the royals, about whether Steve or Bucky would be the first to admit to their oh so obvious feelings.

If Bucky was first, Sam would win, and T'Challa would have to grant him full citizenship in the country of Wakanda. Of course, if it went the other way, there really wasn't anything Sam had that he could offer to a pair of Royals, which was good because all Shuri really wanted was epic bragging rights.

Back in the loveseat, Bucky was glaring at the three of them, as if knowing that they were talking about him, but too proud to go over and say anything. Shuri shook her head at him, bemused.

These idiotic boys and their stupid pride...

"Now tell me, Falcon," she said, crossing her legs, how long exactly will you and the Jesus man pretend to hate each other."

Sam scoffed, "Trust me, princess, there ain't no pretending in that department."

Shuri just raised her eyebrows, a smirk on her face, "Oh really?"

"Hell yeah, really. If it weren't for Steve I'd have nothing to do with that old pain in the ass."

Shuri just shrugged, "Oh please, you know as well as I do that you do not hate Bucky. Just admit it."

Sam just raised a challenging eyebrow, "Thats where you're wrong, kid."

Shuri's smirk only grew, "Sam, you forget that I have access to all the cameras in my lab, and if you don't admit it to me now, I will tell Bucky exactly how many times you visited him when he was in cryo and you thought nobody was looking."

Sam's smile was wiped right off. He blinked at her a few times, and then settled his face into a snarl.

"You wouldn't."

"Do you want to try me?"

Sam's glare intesified. He stood up with a huff, "You are one annoying little girl, you know that?"

"Yes yes, I love you too Sam."

He just glared, and turned on his heel, storming back to his seat.

He threw himself down and sat back with crossed arms.

"They're even more annoying that you," he huffed.

Bucky just scoffed, glancing at the siblings who were laughing in their direction, "Don't I know it