Chapter 4
Bucky did go back to Wakanda the next morning. He said his goodbyes to Sam and Steve before getting on the jet with T’Challa and Shuri.
Sam stayed in America to talk with Fury and Hill about transferring the shield from Steve to himself, as well as clearing the names of the Avengers, and Barnes. It was a lot of paperwork, and a lot of yelling with Ross.
“Look, we’ll sign the Accords if a few revisions are made,” Sam promised after the third week of debate, running his forehead.
“What kind of revisions?” Secretary Ross asked.
“Well, there are superheroes popping up all over the world now, right? What if we made some kind of Avengers International program? You know, fight the battles in your own land unless you need backup, in which case you call us. Unless it’s a HYDRA problem, in which case SHIELD takes over.”
“Why should SHIELD take over if it’s a HYDRA problem?” Ross asked, crossing his arms across his chest.
“Well, it was literally founded to stop HYDRA almost a century ago, so I’m pretty sure they’re more equipped to handle them.”
“He has a point,” Rhodey said, nodding towards Sam. “I think these amendments to the Accords are reasonable.”
“I also want James Barnes’s name to be cleared.”
“What? No way. No.”
“Are you serious? Look, you can’t honestly hold him responsible for his actions when he was under HYDRA’s command. Do you still blame Clint Barton for what he did when Loki controlled his mind?”
“Well, no, but-”
“It’s the same damn concept, Mr. Secretary. Barnes had absolutely no control over what he did under HYDRA. THey pretty much threw his brain in a blender and treated him like a fucking machine. He suffered so much under HYDRA, and you’re trying to make him suffer more? You know, he still can’t eat the amount he needs because of how malnourished HYDRA kept him. When we shared an apartment, do you have any idea how many times he woke up screaming from a nightmare? Do you have any idea how heartbreaking it is to see him shaking and scared? He is not that killer HYDRA forced him to be. He’s been going to therapy regularly and he’s been trying to get his memories back in order. He’s a big old dork who loves animals and he doesn’t deserve to be treated like he’s a criminal. He’s been through hell, he shouldn’t have to continue going through it.”
Secretary Ross looked at Sam, analyzing his face. “All right. But only if he goes to therapy and regularly reports his progress.”
Sam sighed. “Thank you, sir. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Now, about Rogers. How are we handling the media situation?”
Maria launched into the spiel about the cover story for Steve while Sam zoned out, his mind drifting to Bucky and how great it would feel to tell him he could come back.
Sam landed in Wakanda and almost ran off the jet. Fury was letting him give Barnes the news and he didn’t know why he felt so excited. He made his way to Bucky’s hut, only to find out from one of the kids he wasn’t there. Apparently he was spending the day in the palace with Shuri, learning about Wakandan tech and learning more about pop culture. Sam made his way to Shuri’s lab, still excited to tell Bucky the news.
“So, you don’t have to even touch the wheel to drive the car?” Sam heard Bucky ask when he reached the lab. “That’s so cool! You know, Howard Stark tried to make a flying car in the 40s. I went to see it at an expo the night before I shipped out and- wait, I told you this story already, didn’t I?”
Sam poked his head in to see Shuri smiling at Bucky. “Yes, you did. But remember what your therapist said? The more you repeat something from your past, the more it’ll stick.”
“Knock-knock,” Sam said, stepping into the room.
“Sam!” Bucky said, walking over and briefly hugging him. Sam noticed he didn’t have his arm attached. “What are you doing here? I thought you had things to do in America.”
“Well, I do. But I got some news I couldn’t wait to share.”
“Alright, I’ll bite. What happened?” Bucky asked.
“Well, as of two days ago, all of the misdeeds you did while under HYDRA’s control have been 100% pardoned.”
Bucky crossed his arm across his chest. “What’s the catch?”
“Nothing too bad,” Sam said. “Just, uh, more therapy with mandatory check-ins with Ross.”
Bucky let out a dry laugh. “Okay. So, my options are stay in Wakanda, where I’m welcomed and have people that care about me and I'm not seen as a threat, or go back to America, where I’ll be treated as clinically insane indefinitely.”
“What? James, that’s not what it is.”
“Isn’t it, Sam? Isn’t it? Because no matter how hard I try or what I do, the States are still going to see me as an assassin and a HYDRA agent.”
Sam sighed. “I tried, Barnes, I really did. I tried so hard to get them to clear your name.”
“Why? Why go through all that hassle for me?”
“Because you’re my friend, James. And I care about you. And, oh, god, I’m gonna regret saying this, I miss living with you. I miss when we were roommates. I didn’t feel as alone. And I really can’t be Captain America and live in Wakanda.”
Bucky looked at Sam, scanning his face. “You’re being honest?”
“Why would I make up a lie like that when I know you can use it as blackmail later?”
Barnes smiled at Sam. “I guess you’re right.” He sighed. “Maybe the conditions aren’t really all that bad. I mean, they could have actually put me in an asylum.”
“So, are you going to come back?” Sam asked.
Barnes sighed. “I’ll think about it.”
Sam found Bucky sitting in front of his hut, a baby goat on his lap.
“Hey man,” he said, walking up. “I have to head back home. You make a decision?”
He sighed and stood up, the kid still in his arms. “Yeah. I was, uh, I was saying goodbye.” He kissed the head of the goat before setting it on the ground to run off. “I’m gonna go back. I figure Captain America needs a sidekick. You know, since the bird guy is gone now.”
Sam scoffed and punched Bucky’s flesh arm. “Come on, you loser. Let’s go home.”