The Souls

Shuri's relief was short lived. The man in front of her was still hurt. So, so badly hurt. Just because his heart was still beating didn't mean he was out of the woods. She shot to her feet, still shaking from exhaustion.

"Doctor Strange?" She called out to the dark field behind her. Stephen hurried towards her, "Yes Shuri."

"I need... I need a portal please. To my lab at the Palace."

Stephen nodded, and moments later, a yellow ringed portal materialised near them.

She looked to T'Challa, and he nodded before she could say anything.

"I will go prepare what you need," he told her, immediately hurrying through the portal.

"Loki?" Se said next, "Would you levitate him through? I don't want to risk anyone carrying him. Just in case."

Loki nodded, coming from Thor's side towards Tony.

Still on the floor with him, Pepper's hands were caressing his still unconcious face.

"It's okay, Tony." she whispered, still holding back tears, "You'll be okay, alright? You're gonna be okay."

Loki waited for her to move away before he lay his hands above Tony, and the man started to rise to the air.

Pepper stood, following him up, her eyes not leaving his face

"I... I need someone who will remove his armour," Shuri said, "Which one of you is the strongest."

"I am."

The answer came from both Thor and the Hulk. The two glanced at each other, smiling, and then both stepped forward to help.

"What can I do?" Peter spoke up, tears dried in his face, "I... I can help him. Let me help."

He looked at Shuri in desperation, but it was Pepper who answered him.

Not moving away from Tony, Pepper reached for the boys hand, gripping it tightly in hers.

"You are helping," she told him, "he'll want you there when he wakes up."

Peter sighed in relief and squeezed her hand gratefully. Gamora helped him up and all but handed him over to Pepper as she pulled him closer.

Loki was the first to go through Stephen's portal, Tony Stark hovering in front of him. Peter and Pepper followed closely behind, not letting Tony out if their sight. Thor and Bruce went after them, and then Shuri herself headed for the yellow ring.

She hesitated for a moment before stepping through. Shuri took a deep breath, and turned to the Avengers on the field, "I will try my very best." she told them quietly, before disappearing into Wakanda with the others.

The yellow ring slowly disappeared after her, once again leaving he remaining Avengers in darkness.

Steve kept staring at where the ring had been. Where they had all disappeared. He wanted to smile. To cheer. To celebrate. But he was too damn exhausted to do any of that.

They had won. Tony had done it. Thanos was gone. They had won.

And this time, no one had had to die to make it happen. They had won.

And Tony would be okay. Steve felt it in his gut. Tony would be fine.

Finally able to tear his eyes away from where the portal had been, Steve turned to the Avengers on the field.

They too had finally broken out of the focus of the battle and the shock of winning. People were moving, finding their friends, and finally dropping their weapons. Laughter was heard as people embraced, and some cries were let out as people noticed injuries that had been hidden by adrenaline.

Life was returning to the battlefield. He saw Natasha sitting with elbows on her knees, her back leaning against Clint's as she smiled up at Okoye where she stood, leaning on her bloodied spear.

Rocket, hardened, snappy, mean Rocket, had his arms wrapped so tightly around Groot he night have chocked him if he weren't made out of... tree. He didn't even object when Peter Quill fell to his knees next to them, throwing his arms around the pair. From different parts of the battlefield, each Guardian limped towards the impromptu hug.

Steve saw Valkyrie on the floor, petting the head of her Pegasus as it took a much needed rest, and Carol on her knees as she stared at the fascinating creature. Whether she was staring at the Pegasus or at Valkyrie, Steve couldn't quite tell.

Scott and Hope sat leaning against some rubble, eyes closed and breathing heavily, their hands gripped between them. Wanda and Vision sat in a similar position not far away from them.

The Avengers were recovering and recuperating. They would be okay. They would all be oka-

"Steve?"

Steve's heavy breathes caught in his throat.

Oh... oh god.

His breathes came to him slowly as he tried to slow his heart.

The last time he had heard that voice... he had turned around to see him turn to dust. He had turned to see him... to watch him die. Again.

Right in front of him. Again.

So he guessed it made sense that this time, Steve did not want to turn around.

He stared straight ahead as he heard the steps approach from behind him. An eternity seemed to pass before they stopped right behind him.

"Steve?" he heard again. But this time, he also felt a soft grip on his shoulder.

He could feel the metal even through his clothes.

Steve turned, following as the hand on his shoulder coaxed him slowly around.

Oh... oh god.

For a long time, he did nothing but stare. Stare and wait for him to disappear.

It took Steve far too long to realise that that wasn't going to happen. Not this time.

"Bucky," he finally breathed out, shaking his head.

The man in front of him gave him a crooked smile, "Hey Punk." he said softly.

Before he could say another word, Steve found himself stumbling forward. His shield clattered forgotten to the ground, and Mjolnir slipped through his fingers with a clang. Steve heard neither one as he held out his arms, and Bucky caught him in a fierce embrace

Steve's eyes were wide behind Bucky, his eyebrows drawn together as he allowed himself to feel Bucky all around. Feel his breath, feel his warmth, feel his presence.

Oh god. Bucky.

Steve didn't even realise that he was crying until he heard Bucky whispered comforts at his ear.

He didn't even realise that his exhausted legs were finally buckling beneath him until Bucky guided them both down to the ground until they were kneeling in the dirt.

Not once did their grip on each other loosen.

He didn't even realise that they had a sudden audience watching them. Watching them hug on the floor. Watching Bucky rub his hand up and down Steve's back. Watching Steve cry into his shoulder.

Even if Steve had noticed them, he wouldn't have given a damn.

Five years, he had spent without him.

Five. Years.

How much of that time had been spent writing letters in his room? Letters he knew would never be read. Letters that were ruined by falling tears as they were written?

How many of those nights had he spent biting down on his fist to stifle his cries so that Natasha wouldn't hear him in the other room. Only for her to hear him anyway, and sit with him, letting him bite down on her shoulder instead.

While he cried for his best friend. While he cried for Bucky. He'd spent all that time, all those years, crying for Bucky, and now here he was. He was here. right here in Steve's arms. Now it was his shoulder he was biting down on as his whole body shook with stifled sobs.

Steve tightened his grip around Bucky, deciding now that he would never let go. Not if God himself told him to. He could hardly even hear the words Bucky kept whispering into his ear. He could only concentrate on the constant chant on repeat inside his own head.

Bucky Bucky Bucky Bucky Bucky Bucky oh god it's Bucky.

It took everything in Bucky to swallow down the lump in his throat over and over and over again, as he heard Steve cry quietly by his ear.

Steve. Oh Steve Steve Steve.

"It's okay, Steve," he kept whispering in his ear, "It's alright. You're alright, I've got you. Tony's fine, Steve, everyone's fine. He'll be alright Steve. You're alright, I've got you."

The words were a constant chant as his hand rubbed up and down Steve's back.

Oh Steve. Steve Steve Steve.

The man was absolutely exhausted, Bucky could feel it in the body slumped against his. Not just from the battle they had just fought.

From these past five years of trying and trying and failing to save everyone. From the constant weight of the world that he felt was always on his shoulders. From watching his friends die all those years ago. Watching his friends fight almost to the death only minutes ago.

From fighting tooth and nail without a reprieve for hours. From watching Tony nearly give his life for all of them. For the whole world.

Of course the man was exhausted.

"It's alright, Steve. You're alright. We're all fine, you hear me? Everyone's fine."

As he whispered his ear, Bucky's own eyes squeezed shut as he revelled in this moment. revelled in the fact that... that Steve was here. Right here in Bucky's arms. It had only been days for him, so he knew he hadn't suffered nearly as much as the other man had, but still. Still.

Bucky felt his arms tighten around Steve. It was nearly overwhelming. He didn't want to let him go. Not ever. Not if he was ripped away.

"I've got you Steve. You're alright buddy."

Bucky was so caught up in his thoughts, in drinking in the fact that Steve was here, that he almost missed the fact that Steve's arms had lost a bit of their grip. That the quiet sobs by his ear had turned to heavy breathing. That Bucky's own arms were now the only thing holding him up.

Whether he had passed out from exhaustion or had fallen asleep was irrelevant. All that mattered was that he was resting. At last.

Bucky wasnt the only one to notice that Steve had fallen unconcious. Footsteps approached them, and Bucky lifted his eyes to Sam standing above him. He knelt down next to them, placing a soft hand on Bucky's shoulder.

"You wanna take him to lie down somewhere?"

Bucky nodded slowly. A thought occurred to him, and he tried to look around without moving Steve.

"Okoye?" he called quietly.

The general stepped into his vision seconds later.

"Your hut remains untouched," she told him, knowing what he was going to ask, "Would you like to take him there?"

Bucky nodded again, and Sam stood up.

"Yo, Strange. Could you help out with another portal thing? To Bucky's place in Wakanda, just outside the city?"

Stephen only nodded with a small smile, and with a wave of his arms another large ring appeared again in the middle of the battlefield.

With great care, Bucky manoeuvred Steve's body so that he could hook one arm under his knees and another under his shoulders. He stood up, being very careful not to jostle him.

He ignored all offers for help. He knew that Drax was very capable of carrying the soldier, and so was Rhodey with his Iron Suit and Wanda or Stephen could have just levitated him, and Scott could hold him in his hand if he grew big enough.

But Bucky made it clear, without even a word, that at that moment, they would have to pry Steve Rogers out of his cold dead hands.

Sam led the way through the portal, Okoye and Natasha following after. Bucky couldn't help but smile as soon as they were on the other side.

T'Challa had always told him that he had a place in the palace. He spent quite a lot of time in there. But this little hut by the lake where he had first woken up after coming out of Cryo is the place he called Home.

It warmed his heart to hear that it was still there after five years. Just as he had left it.

Bucky lay Steve gently on his bed, staring at his sleeping face as he did so.

"Alright Buck, you take a seat now, alright? you're exhausted."

Bucky shook his head at Sam still not looking up, "I'm fine."

The three behind him exchanged rolling eyes. His eyelids were dropping and his arms were shaking and he kept swaying from side to side.

Of course he was exhausted. They all were. Natasha pulled a chair up and put it behind Bucky, and she and Sam pushed him gently down onto it.

He didn't resist, still watching Steve as he was sat down "Really I'm fine." he assured them.

They only nodded at him, smirking and rolling their eyes behind his back. Not a minute later, Bucky was fast asleep, his head resting on the edge of the bed, only inches away from Steve's.

As it turned out, there were many more exhausted soldiers out there who were in me if beds and showers and food and it seemed that Wakanda's doors were more open than they had ever been.

Doctor Strange's portal was no longer the only one that linked Wakanda to what was left of the Avengers Compound.

Four more had been created and people trickled back and forth through them.

A separate portal was made for Clint pto be able to return to his family.

His hand was gripping Natasha's as he approached it, unable to stop his tears as he saw the door of his house open on the other side.

The two had stayed there with their family for hours before even thinking about returning to Wakanda.

The Hospital was packed with wounded soldiers. The doctors were perplexed, as many of their newest patients weren't human, but the Kong had instructed the best care for them so they did their best.

The Number one patient, of course, was deep in the palace, inside Shuri's lab, under a file titled, 'Broken White Boy #4'.

The princess worked tirelessly. through the hours. Even with Bruce Banner and Wakanda's best Trauma Docter by her side, the amount of damage Tony's body had taken was overwhelming.

On the other side of the door, Pepper and Peter sat with racing hearts as they waited. Rhodey joined them not lot after, followed by a somber Nebula. A few hours into waiting, the door opened to reveal Happy Hogan, and in his arms, Morgan Stark.

Her eyes brightened as soon as she spotted her mother.

"Mommy!" she held her arms out, and Pepper scooped her up from Happy and hugged her close.

She squeezed her eyes shut as she held her daughter, only now realising how close they had come to never seeing her again.

"Mommy, are you okay?" Morgan asked, her hand cupping Pepper's cheek.

"I'm okay sweetie." Pepper whispered, "I'm okay."

Morgan hugged her mother again, before speaking into her neck, "Happy said Daddy's hurt," she said quietly.

Pepper swallowed hard as she went back to her seat, holding Morgan in her lap, "He is honey. Daddy is hurt. But he's in there now with a doctor and uncle Bruce and Shuri, and they're fixing him. They're gonna make him all better."

Morgan nodded with a sniff. Alright then. If Mommy said. that Daddy would be fine, he would be. There was no need to worry. She looked around and waved at her Uncle Rhodey and Aunt Nebula. They looked like they might be hurt too, but if they weren't in the hospital with Daddy, they must have been fine.

Morgan leaned forward against Pepper's chest again, letting her mom put her arms around her.

It's then that she saw the person next to her mom. He wasn't a grown up, but he wasn't a kid like her either. He was one of those big boys and... and he looked kinda familiar.

Plus, he was staring at her with really wide eyes.

Morgan waved, "Hello." she said quietly.

The boy blinked at her many times, and then waved back, "Hi," he smiled.

"I'm Morgan Stark." she introduced herself like she had been taught to.

The boy smiled at her, "I'm... I'm Peter Parker."

Morgan smiled back at him, and then frowned. Hey... she knew that name. And now that she thought of it, she knew that face too.

Her frown deepened as she thought, and then she finally gasped as she remembered.

"Hey! Are you my big brother that Daddy always tells me about?"

Peter's mouth dropped open in shock. He only continued to stare at the little girl not knowing how to answer the question. Not knowing if he even could without crying.

So Pepper answered for him "Yeah honey, he is."

Morgan's smile returned to Peter as her head lay on her mom's shoulder. He was now staring at Pepper with wide eyes and an open mouth.

He was positively stunned, and his heart almost hurt from how much it was swelling.

Morgan looked at Peter in worry. He looked like he wanted to cry, so she reached out a hand and brushed his cheek, just the way Daddy did when she was crying.

"Don't worry Peter," she told him, "He'll be okay. Mommy said so."

After several tries, Peter managed to return her sweet smile.

"You're right Morgan," he said through a tight throat, "He'll... he'll be fine."

It was hours later when Shuri and her assistants could confidently say that he was stable. Facing a long, long, long recovery.

But stable none the less.

As soon as they were told the news, those outside stormed into the room, a flood of relief flowing through them.

"He's still unconcious," Shuri explained, "And will stay that way for a long time. I... I don't know how long. He will wake when he is ready, but considering all his injuries..."

Pepper hugged the girl close to her, "We understand," she told her, "Thank you so much Shuri. Thank you."

Shuri returned the hug with a smile. She was so glad she had been able to help. So happy that her inventions and technology had been able to save Iron Man.

She was ecstatic.

But what she needed most now was a bed. Oh god, how she needed a bed.

Behind her, her brother seemed to read her mind, pulling her from the room and allowing her to all but collapse into his arms.

T'Challa carried her to the closest room with a bed as lay her down gently. He hoped that no one would need her for the next few hours, because god knew, his sister deserved some rest.

Back in Bucky's hut, Steve Rogers was still unconcious. He had been stripped of his battle gear and cleaned from the worst of the filth on his face. Vision had brought in his shield and Mjolnir, and they were sitting by the door.

Bucky had woke up and fallen back to sleep twice while Steve stayed sleeping. He had started to worry when the hours kept passing, with Steve not so much as stirring. But then Natasha admitted to sticking a needle in him to keep him asleep longer.

"You know if he wakes up all he's gonna want to do is get up and see who he can help." she shrugged, "He's gotta fucking rest whether he likes it or not."

Bucky had agreed wholeheartedly, but that still didn't mean he was going to leave his side. He had forced Sam and Nat to take beds inside the palace with everyone else, while he slept on the chair next to the bed. People came in and out of his hut, some just to drop by, some brought him food, others came with updates of what was going on on outside. Natasha brought some more sleep drugs for Steve.

He only felt slightly jealous when Sam walked into the hut, cleaned. and showered and well rested from sleeping in a bed. But it still took a lot of verbal abuse and finally, physical force to get Bucky out of the hut and into a shower.

"He's gonna be out for a long time, Barnes, you're not gonna miss anything. Come on get out of here, you stink."

After making him promise seven times not to leave Steve's side, Bucky finally complied and made his way to the palace.

As it turned out, Sam had been right. He did feel a thousand times better after a shower and a change of clothes.

He wanted to quickly make his way back to Steve, but then he found himself walking through the palace. At first he thought it was aimless wandering, until he found himself standing outside Shuri's lab.

He sighed to himself. Great. He hadn't wanted to come here, not at all, but he guessed that even his subconscious knew that he needed to.

He knew where Tony was being kept. The same room where he had been while Shuri had been fixing him. He walked slowly through the lab to the door he knew should go to.

He stood there for two full minutes before he grew the courage to lift his fist.

Bucky knocked softly on the door. Too softly, really, as if a part of him was hoping no one would hear and he could use that as an excuse to leave.

When Sam had told him that everyone was visiting the still unconcious Tony, Bucky has told him that Stark wouldn't want him there.

"All the more reason to go while he's unconscious." he had shrugged.

Bucky had still refused at the time, but he guessed he had always known that Sam was right. His knowledge was flawless, so... here he was.

And as he stood outside that door, thinking Bucky, realised that the only thing worse than showing up, was not showing up at the bedside of the man who had singlehandedly saved the world.

So here he was.

But still, that didnt mean he couldn't be weary of going in there.

Tony hated his guts. And with good reason. He didn't know how to face the man whose parents he had murdered.

And sure, Hydra's Asset was not Bucky, but he still did it. So yeah,. facing Tony wasn't something Bucky wanted to do. Unconscious or not.

And that's why he cursed quietly under his breath when he heard Pepper Potts' soft voice answer from inside.

"Come in."

It only took him a few more seconds to turn the door knob and walk in.

Tony Stark was lying still on a hospital bed, hooked up to a fair number of machines. Bucky had no idea what exactly they were doing, but by the looks of it, they were keeping him alive. And since Shuri was the one to have put them there, he was positive that they would do the job.

But that didn't take away from the fact that Tony looked absolutely awful. The right side of his face was scorched. His right arm in a sling across his body. Bucky wondered if the rest of his body under the sheets was just as bad.

Holding six Infinity Stones had absolutely taken its toll on the man. A miracle was the only reason he was alive.

Well a miracle, and Shuri.

"Bucky. Hi."

Bucky's head snapped from Tony, to the woman at his bedside.

"Pepper." he said quietly, "Hi. I just... I wanted to... to see how he was doing. I hope thats okay."

"Of course," she nodded, her eyes returning to her husband, "I... I don't really know. Shuri tells me that all we can do is wait. She doesn't really know when he'll wake up." she gulped hard, "If he'll wake up."

"He will." Bucky heard himself say, "He saved the world. He has to wake up."

Pepper nodded, he hands clenched on the edge of the bed, "You better be right, Barnes."

Silence followed her whisper as the two looked at the prone figure on the bed.

Well, silence except for the beeping of those machines. The sound was unnerving. uncomfortable and grating. Just reminding them that Tony was just on the brink.

Bucky only spoke again to try and drown it out.

"Where is everyone?" he asked quietly, "I... I assumed it'd be packed with visitors in here."

Pepper chuckles softly, "It was. Happy just took Peter and Morgan to go get a hamburger. Rhodey kept nodding off so I sent him to bed. Nebula was getting irritable so one of the Gamoras took her for a walk. Dragged her, more like." she let out a chuckle, which turned to a yawn, "Everyone else has been in and out." she shrugged, and looked up at him again, "I was wondering when you would come."

Bucky swallowed hard, "I... I didn't know if he would want me here." he said quietly, "Didn't know if you'd want me here."

Pepper regarded him for a while, and then looked back at the bed.

"Well Bucky, are you still Hydra's weapon?"

The blunt question made Bucky blink. "I... n...no. No I'm... I'm not."

"Well then I don't see a problem."

Bucky stared at her, still blinking. He didn't think it was exactly that simple. But hearing Pepper Potts say it...

This was the first conversation he'd ever had with this woman, but already he could tell that whatever ahe said was law.

So maybe... maybe if Pepper Potts said it was that simple... maybe it was.

"I need a shower."

Bucky's thoughts were cut off at the sudden sigh.

"I so... so... desperately need a shower."

Bucky was sure if he should answer, but he did anyway,

"Well.. uh, you have an entire palace at your disposal. The Wakandan's here have been real hospital to everyone. Showers are all over the place."

She smiled, "How long do you think those shower lines are?"

"I'm pretty sure everyone will be happy to step aside for Iron Woman." Bucky snorted. He sighed softly at her smile, "Go on over there. I... I can stay with him for a while."

Bucky winced as soon as he said it. Why in the world would he say that? He almost took it back, but then the look of faint relief on Peppers face made him stop.

"If... if he wakes up-"

"I'll call you immediately." he promised.

Pepper nodded slowly, but still hesitated.

"You haven't left his side, Pepper. Not once. He would want you to be comfortable. Just... just take some time. He'll be fine."

Pepper's eyes were trained on Tony's face as she contemplated Bucky's words. A few seconds later, she let out a small sigh.

Her hand went up to Tony's face and she stroked her thumb under his eye.

She stood up with another sigh and then forced a smile onto her face.

"Thank you," she told Bucky, "Ill be back really soon."

Bucky managed to let out a smile of his own. It stayed glued on his face minutes after she had left.

Well... this was awkward.

The closest he had been to Tony Stark before today was the day he found out that Bucky... well.

He was almost afraid to move closer to him. He had to talk himself into going over to the chair that Pepper had just vacated. He didn't sit though. He already felt pretty useless looking at the man right now. Sitting would only make it worse.

That day in Siberia, he had run away from Tony as soon as he thought the man would react.

He didn't seem like someone who would listen to reason. Who would let Bucky speak for himself. Who would believe that he hadn't meant to.

It wouldn't have helped for Bucky to try to explain anyway, seeing as even he hadn't believed it wasn't his fault. Still, he hadn't even tried to do anything but flee.

Well it was different now. They were... teammates. They were Avengers. And Bucky was no longer Hydra's weapon. And he believed it this time.

And Tony... well Tony was a good man. A great man. After all he had done for all of them...

He had given his life. Literally. Bucky had nothing but admiration for the comatose man in front of him.

The wariness he felt now wasn't because of Tony. But because of himself. He knew that he owed Stark a lot. With all he'd taken from him, and all that Tony had given, he owed the man everything.

But at the moment Bucky didn't have anything to give. Well, except one thing.

He swallowed hard, and then let out a long sigh, gripping the back of the chair in front of him.

He cleared his throat.

"Uh... Stark?" he said softly. He swallowed again, "Tony?" he sighed again, "So I... I know you can't hear me. But I know I won't have the guts to do this once you wake up. Not... not yet, at least."

Bucky rubbed at the back of his neck, "I'm sorry." he finally managed to let out, "I am very sorry about... about what I did to your parents. I never would have laid a had on them... on anyone... if I had been myself." he swallowed again. Speaking to an unconcious person was a lot harder than he expected.

"Howard... your dad was great. I knew him... before. I loved all the science crap he was always doing. He would put up with all my question when he was working, never told me to get lost even when he should have. The guy loved bragging about his inventions almost as much as Shuri." he chuckled quietly, "He even promised me a flying car on e he figured out how to get it to work. He would have done it too if he hadn't... well, if I hadn't..." Bucky shook his head, "the guy was a genius. Passed that onto you, obviously."

Bucky's voice softened still, his hands gripping the chair in front of him even harder.

"Tony, I was under Hydra's control at the time, and I didn't have a choice. I didnt even know who I was. Know who they were. It... it took me a while to accept that it was their fault. Not mine. Took a lot of involuntary therapy and... and a lot of good friends. So I know now that killing them... it wasn't my fault. But.. but I'm still the one who did it. It was still me. And for that I'm sorry." he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, "I'm real sorry."

Bucky clenched and unclenched his fingers, flesh and metal. He breathed out. He didn't think speaking could take so much energy out of him. He didn't plan on doing it again. Well not until he grew the guts to say it when Tony was awake.

He sighed again, glad that it was over with, and then...

"Well it's about damn time."

Bucky's eyes flew open and immediately landed on the body of front of him.

The body he had thought was unconcious, but was now blinking tired eyes up at him.

He was awake. Tony was awake.

And Bucky could do nothing but stare. He saw Tony swallow with difficulty.

"It's about seven year's late, Barnes," he said slowly, "But considering the circumstances, I accept your apology."

Bucky still just stared.

"'Specially considering it sounds like you liked my old man a lot more than I did."

Finally gaining back some life, Bucky blinked rapidly, and licked dry lips, "How... how long have..."

"Have I been awake?" Tony finished for him, "A while. Just... just too tired to open my eyes. And you've been talking so much I couldn't get a word in anyway."

Bucky stayed staring wide eyes at the man. He hadn't been prepared for this. Not at all. And now his brain was jamming. Where was Sam when he needed him? Where was Steve? Or Pepper?

Pepper!

Bucky reached quickly for the phone on Tony's bedside table, but the hoarse voice stopped him before he could even dial.

"No no, don't. Don't call anyone. Not yet."

Bucky shook his head, "Pepper said-"

"Pep," Tony's lips stretched into a smile as he said the name, "No you leave Pep alone. I bet she's been sitting here driving herself crazy all day."

"I- I promised her I'd call as soon as you woke up."

"Don't," Tony insisted, "Let her have a little break. She needs it."

After some seconds, Bucky nodded but held onto the phone, "Well I've at least gotta call Shuri," he said, "She'll want to-"

"No calls," Tony said firmly. Well,as firmly as he could as his throat was recovering from the trauma it had received.

"But Tony-"

"I'll probably be asleep again in a few minutes anyway," he said, his blinks getting slower as he talked, "No point alarming anyone just yet." when he heard Bucky try to argue again, he sighed, "You just apologised to me Buckman. That means we're friends. And friends do favours for each other. Well I'm cashing in, alright?"

Bucky didn't say anything, and Tonys eyes locked with his, finally forcing him to put the phone back on the table.

Tony let out a small sigh, that racked through his still healing lungs.

He shut his eyes, going back to looking unconcious, while Bucky still stared at him.

Tony sighed again, "Would ya sit down? You're making me nervous."

Bucky only hesitated for a few seconds before doing what he said.

He finally found his voice again.

"You dont... you don't want me to leave?"

"Nah," said Tony, his eyes still closed, "How could I possibly kick you out after such a sweet speech. Never would have pegged the Winter Soldier for a sap."

Bucky couldn't help but return the smirk hinted on Tony's lips.

"Well I thought you were unconcious." he reminded.

"Weill it's too late now, no backsies." Tony's smirk turned into a smile.

Bucky smiled softly too, "I wasn't gonna take it back."

Tony nodded, "Good," he sighed softly, "Good."

Seconds passed, and Bucky assumed he had gone back to sleep, but the Tony spoke again.

"So I got a couple questions," he said.

"Yeah?"

"Firstly, why the hell am I not dead? Or did I imagine my body deteriorate after I snapped all the uglies away?"

Bucky let out a soft snort, "No. No you didn't imagine it. You... you were very close. To dying. Said your goodbyes and everything And then Shuri happened."

Bucky explained everything from that moment. From Shuri slapping this disks to his arc reactor, the tranfer to her lab in Wakandan, where they now were. .

He told him how everyone was scattered between Wakandan and what was left of the compound. Many of their alien allies had returned to their own homes, while some stayed on earth for the meantime. To help clean up. To help the injured. To bury the fallen.

He told him how Peter and Morgan had been inseparable from the moment Happy had brought the little girl to the makeshift hospital room.

Hearing that made Tony's smile widen to a grin.

Bucky talked while Tony interrupted with questions every once in a while. He talked even when Tony stopped asking questions, his breathing evening out. His talks softened to whispers, and finally silence when he was sure that Tony was sleeping.

Bucky leaned back in the chair, a relieved smile on his face. When he looked at the sleeping man now, it was comforting rather than daunting, because this time, he really was just resting. And he would be up again. Running his mouth about how he had saved the world and how they all owed him their lives.

Bucky couldn't help the smile on his face. Tony would wake up again. He would be okay. They would all be okay.