Chapter 3
“Steve!” Shuri came running over to him and engulfed him in a hug. “Steve, Ayo came to check on me, but then she turned into ash! What is going on, what happened?” Steve could hear how frightened she was just by her voice. In the two years he had known her, she had never sounded so scared. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn’t have it in him. They had to find Thanos as quick as they could.
“Shuri, Thanos just erased half the universe from existence,” Steve said bracing for shock, but instead Shuri pulled back with a hard look on her face.
“Where is my brother?” Steve took a deep breath in.
“He vanished. So did Bucky.” Shuri turned away, but Steve could still see tears falling down her face. He knew her pain. While he had not lost a brother, he had lost his lover. His soulmate. Again.
“We have to find them,” she whipped around to face him with a fierce look on her face, “we’ll get them back and make Thanos pay for what he’s done.”
“Yes,” Steve said straightening up at the tone of her voice, “we will, but right now we have to group up and see who is alive.” Steve turned around and saw Thor and Okoye talking with M’Baku. He gestured over to them to Shuri and she nodded.
“What do you mean-“ M’Baku started.
“Half the universe is gone. That’s what just happened. Thanos acquired all the infinity stones and wiped out half the universe,” Thor said tiredly.
“Where’s T’Challa?”
“He’s gone,” Okoye whispered with a haunted look on her face, “I’m sorry.” M’Baku turned away. Steve knew he and T’Challa had something. They both refused to make it official, but everyone knew.
“We’re getting them back,” Steve hoped he sounded confident. He was trying so hard to push his despair and aching over Bucky away and bring out The Captain, but it required so much energy. M’Baku turned to him, looked next to Steve, then back at Steve.
“Bucky, too, huh?” M’Baku said looking at Steve with sympathy. Just as Steve knew about T’Challa and M’Baku, the Wakandans knew about Steve and Bucky. After Bucky woke up from cryo freeze, Steve had run up to him and kissed him on the spot. Steve recalls hearing Shuri laughing and T’Challa shushing her. Steve and Bucky had spent the last few months just being. They tended to a farm out in Wakanda, and were just content with each other’s company. Steve would kill anyone who stood in his way to have Bucky back again. A giant purple alien included.
“Steve,” he turned to Nat’s voice, “we can’t find Sam.” Steve slammed his eyes shut willing the pain to go away. He had to get him. He had to kill Thanos.
“Is that a raccoon?” M’Baku said suddenly.
“No, it’s a rabbit,” Thor replied.
“No, I’m Rocket, and I want in on this Thanos killing project you guys got going.” Steve wasn’t phased at all. He had just met a talking tree.
“Ok, rabbit,” Thor responded giving a fake smile and a thumbs up, “I told Brünnhilde to meet me at the Avengers complex with her friend.”
“I need to find the rest of the Guardians,” Rocket said.
“Also, we need to figure out where Tony went and if he’s alive,” Rhodey added. Steve felt his stomach drop. He couldn’t even think about Tony and what he had done to Bucky without getting upset. Even after two years, the visual of Tony blasting Bucky’s arm off replayed again and again in his head, fueling him with more anger. Steve had pushed that anger aside and reached out to Tony, but he hadn’t gotten any calls besides the one Bruce made.
“We’ll split up,” Steve talked with The Captain’s commanding voice causing everyone to look at him, “Rhodey, Okoye, Bruce, Natasha, and Rocket go try to find Tony and Rocket’s friends.”
“Woah woah, you mean like, in space?” Rhodey said throwing his hands up.
“Yeah, Cap,” Steve cringed as Bruce used the old nickname, “I’m not sure we’re qualified for that.”
“Rocket comes from space he knows how to navigate through there. Okoye and Natasha are capable of adjusting to new environments the best, and you two are going to help find Tony,” Steve explained.
“What? Like using us as Tony bait?” Bruce expressed.
“Sure, if that makes you feel better. Thor, Shuri, M’Baku, and I will head to the Avenger’s compound and find Brünnhilde. We’ll keep in contact the whole time and if you need help or find Thanos, let us know and Thor will use the Bifrost to get us to you.”
Steve could feel everyone’s eyes on him, but he just looked at Shuri.
“We’ll get them back.”