Chapter 2
Sam had the apartment to himself for the first time since the fight with the other Avengers. And he felt lonely. He’d lived alone for years after getting back from the air force, why did he suddenly feel so lonely?
Sam found himself visiting the palace fairly often. He’d just sit in the room where they were keeping Barnes, watching as Shuri worked on him with Wakanda’s advanced tech.
“Welcome back, Wilson,” Shuri said one morning when Sam came into the room. She took a sip of her tea before opening up a toolbox. “You should be happy to hear Rogers is visiting today.”
“He is? Why?”
“He insists on checking in on Mr. Barnes,” Shuri said, messing around with equations on her holographic computer system. “He just better not get in my way.”
Steve got there a few hours later, with Natasha in tow. She looked bored out of her mind as she followed Steve into the room with Sam.
“Captain Rogers, Mister Wilson, Miss Romanov,” Shuri said, nodding to the trio.
“How is he?” Steve asked, walking over to the cryo chamber.
“We are making progress. I’ve been developing some treatments for his recovery. We should be bringing him out soon.”
“That’s-”
“Before you get excited, Captain,” Shuri said, holding her hand up, “his recovery process requires minimal contact from people he tried to kill or people his victims were tied to while he was under HYDRA’s influence.”
“So, basically, that means that the three of us can’t be around him,” Natasha said. “Wow, Sam, this must make you pretty happy. An excuse for you to avoid Barnes.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure,” Sam said.
“You okay, Sam? You seem distracted,” Steve said.
“I’m fine, just have a lot of work stuff on my mind.”
Nat looked at him skeptically, but Steve accepted the excuse and went back to looking solemnly at Bucky’s sleeping figure.
“What does the recovery involve?” Nat asked. “Just out of curiosity. HYDRA did a number on him.”
“We’re going to try to set him up in a peaceful place where he can develop a routine. I found the best therapist for him to go to while he’s sorting through his memories. I will keep you all updated weekly, if you would like.”
“Yes, definitely. Thank you, Shuri,” Steve said.
“Mr. Wilson? Ms. Romanov?”
“I’m good. I can get the information from Steve,” Nat said.
“Mr. Wilson?”
“Um, sure, I guess. Why not?”
“Great. Now get out so I can get back to work.” She shooed them out of the room, slamming the door behind them. “Oh, thank god. Let’s get you fixed up here, Sergeant Barnes,” she muttered, adjusting the measurements of the replacement arm she was building.
Sam’s apartment complex overlooked a decent-sized lake. Across from that lake was the small goat farm Shuri had set Barnes up in. Sam swore if he squinted he could see the man’s hut. He often found himself wondering how the man was faring without Steve, how many memories he was rediscovering. Shuri had him in an abundance of classes to catch him up on everything that happened while he was with HYDRA and on the run. Most of them were history, but a few were meant as a way to get Barnes his GED. Apparently, Barnes had dropped out of school at 14 to join the workforce. The weekly emails Shuri sent out catalogued his slow, yet steady progress.
After a few months, Shuri brought Sam to the hut where Bucky was living.
“Why are you bringing me?” Sam asked her. “You know we don’t get along. Last time we talked didn’t end too well.”
Shuri shook her head. “You two just need to talk. He feels bad about it, you know. Talks about what he did a lot. And I have a feeling the two of you can find some common ground in the realm of Captain Rogers’ stupid decisions. She smiled before knocking on the door to Bucky’s hut.
“Bucky! We’re here!” she called.
The door opened and Sam had to stifle a laugh.
“Oh, my god. You look like White Jesus,” Sam said, taking in Barnes with the robes and the long hair pulled up into a bun.
Bucky smiled. “It’s great to see you too, Wilson.”
“I’m going to leave you two be,” Shuri said, walking back towards the palace. “Please don’t wound each other.”
Bucky cleared his throat. “Hey, Wilson, I, uh, I wanted to say I’m sorry. For, you know, trying to murder you.”
“You know what, Barnes? I’ve thought about that a lot too, and I’m not really mad about it anymore. I mean, I still think you’re kind of a dick, though.”
Bucky smiled a bit before the two fell into a slightly awkward silence.
“So. Uh, Shuri said you’re recovering memories pretty well?”
“Some of them,” Bucky said. “Lots of Steve getting his ass kicked.”
Sam laughed. “Yeah, well, he’s still doing that. So, how’s goat-herding going?”
“Uh, well, it can be hard with just the one arm sometimes but,” he shrugged, “I manage.”
“So, do you have any particularly interesting memories of Steve?”
Bucky laughed. “Sure do. I’ll make you some tea and I can share my 1940s stories while you share the stupid things he’s done since being defrosted.”
Over time, Bucky and Sam formed a friendship. Of course, they still made jabs at each other and insulted each other all the time, but that’s just what friends do.
Sam sighed, heading home after a long day of counseling at Wakanda’s version of the VA. As he got to his apartment complex, he heard his phone chime with a text. He pulled his phone out of his pocket to see what Steve was telling him. Apparently, they had found Wanda and Vision, but some aliens attacked them and Vision was in critical condition. Sam quickly typed a reply saying he would meet up with them as soon as possible. They had also found Banner, by some twist of luck, and were coming in with Rhodey as well. Sam quickly tossed his work stuff down and changed so he could make his way to where they were all meeting up.
“There’s going to be a fight,” Steve warned everyone when they all met in a conference room. “Thanos is making plans to get the Infinity Stones. He sent some of his minions out to try and kill Vision.”
“Great. We never can rest, can we?” Sam said.
“Apparently not, Mr. Wilson,” T’Challa said. “Shuri, are you sure the sergeant is ready for another battle?”
“I’m sure,” she said. “He’s made a lot of progress, and I don’t think he’d be content to just sit on the sidelines. Not when Captain Rogers is risking his life.”
“Where is he?” Steve asked.
“He’s getting suited up for the fight,” Shuri told him. “Come on, I’ll take you to see him.”
They walked down to the front of the palace where the armies were suiting up, preparing to go into the battle that was inevitably coming. Steve’s face broke into a wide smile when he saw Barnes.
“How are you doin’, Buck?” Steve asked.
“Pretty good for a semi-stable 100-year old man,” Bucky laughed as Steve wrapped him in a hug. Barnes gave Sam a small smile over Steve’s shoulder. “Also, I hate the beard, man. Hate it.”
Steve laughed. “Thanks, Buck. Missed you too.”
“You know, Cap, I actually agree with Barnes for once. The beard is terrible.”
“Oh, screw you, Sam.”
Sam laughed and followed Steve to their waiting posts.
The battle wasn’t easy. While there were more casualties on Thanos’s side, it was still hell for the people fighting for Earth. The Avengers ran into the forest to try to stop Thanos from killing Vision and stealing the mind stone. Wanda did her best to hold him off, but she could only last for so long. Thanos collected all the stones.
Sam was wandering through the woods, trying to find someone else. He felt his arm start to tingle. Before he knew it, half his body was turned to ash, the rest of him following quickly.
Then the world went dark.