Chapter 4
The silence was deafening. You still couldn't believe it.
"You remembered..." You gasped softly and Bucky nodded guiltily, "We'll talk about this later," You smiled as you stood up and put the dishes in the sink, "You and Steve need to catch up first,"
You almost ran up the stairs, leaving the two men in the kitchen. You still couldn't believe that Bucky had actually remembered that he was going to ask you to marry him.
"You been alright?" Steve was unsure of his question
"She helps," Bucky said slowly, "Tells me stories from... before,"
"And you remember," Steve asked
"Sometimes," Bucky answered, "Some things are clear, some things... she reminds me of them,"
"When you did you know it was Y/N," Steve pressed
"When I saw the ring around her neck," Bucky gave a sad smile
"I missed you, Buck," Steve stood up and sat next to Bucky
"Why?" Bucky couldn't understand the kindness
"Because I swore to be with you til the end of the line, pal," Steve reminded him, "I'm not the guy that backs down,"
The two men spoke to each other for a while; Steve spoke more because he was just happy to see his best friend again. Bucky listened, short sentences growing longer as the conversation progressed.
"I know a guy," Steve explained, "He's far away but he can help... With whatever they put inside you,"
"I can't leave her," Bucky stated, "Not again,"
"Y/N can come too," Steve placed his hand on Bucky's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze, "We'll figure it out. It'll be alright as long as we're together,"
It was almost evening when you were woken up by the knock on your door. You had cried yourself to sleep; you couldn't understand why wouldn't Bucky tell you that he remembered.
You jolted up and saw the darkness in the room and the fading light of the sun coming through the window. There were no knocks when you woke up so you had no idea if you dreamt it or Bucky had come around to your room.
Tears stained your face and your eyes were bloodshot. You splashed cold water on your skin and stared at yourself in the mirror. Breathe, breathe, breathe, You chanted to yourself
You exited your room and went down to fix dinner. Your brain was in turmoil; Bucky knew who you were but he still said nothing. Why? You kept asking yourself but you had no answer. Quietly, you began to make dinner. You preferred ordering out but you figured that making things Bucky liked from before would help him remember; you didn't know it was working that well.
"Y/N," Bucky's cracked voice echoed in the kitchen
"Bucky," You smiled as you turned around, "Dinner's just about ready, why don't you sit down,"
He looked at you and awkwardly slid onto the seat in front of the counter. You busily set the plates and glasses, whereas Bucky's eyes just kept following you.
"Y/N," He finally spoke again and you turned around to see the guilt in his eyes, "Sorry for not telling,"
"No, no," You rushed to his side, "Don't be sorry,"
In that moment, all your knowledge for how to deal with psychological traumas went out the door as you held his face tenderly and told him repeatedly that he had nothing to apologize for
"Should've told you," He whispered and you shook your head
"You're not obligated to tell me anything you don't want to," You told him fiercely, "You're a free man, you're free to do what you please, you're free to say what you please,"
"I'm leaving with Steve," He stated suddenly and your world stopped
"Where are you going?" You whispered as you heart filled with dread and your hands pulled away from his face
"Away," Bucky avoided your gaze, "I'll go tomorrow,"
"Sure, I'll pack your things," You turned away and kept your voice even, "Well, just be safe,"
You set out dinner and began eating with a soft smile plastered on your face and sadness in your eyes. Bucky wasn't alright but he was a trained assassin and you might have had a long life but he had been taught to read people. He knew that leaving you was a bad idea but he wanted to be better for you. He wanted for them to take away the words that could turn him into a weapon once again.
The house echoed with silence. You had packed everything for him at night but your heart broke to see that Bucky had left without even saying goodbye in the morning.
"Hello," You answered your phone as you put the TV on mute, there was footage of an explosion playing
"Y/N," Steve's voice came through, "I'm so sorry, I had no idea that Buck left without saying anything!"
"It's alright," You lied, "I understand where he's coming from,"
"No, it's not alright," Steve said in a hushed tone, "Y/N, I want you to know that he's doing this for you,"
"I don't..." Confusion hit you, "What do you mean?"
"He wan- b- sa- you-," Steve's voice began to break
"Hello? Steve, I can't hear you," You spoke loudly but there was no point
The connection was lost. Bucky had left two weeks ago and now the news was flooded with the death of T'Chaka with the implication that Bucky had done it.
Why did you have to go? You turned back to look at the TV which had Bucky's face on it, I could've kept you safe
You felt helpless. You didn't know how your world was crashing down. You didn't know who to call or talk to. The only one you knew was Steve and even he had been labelled as a fugitive. After living for so long, you knew well enough that there were always three sides to every story. The winner's side, the loser's side and the truth. Steve was your oldest friend in the present time but your world had been shaken hard enough that you were questioning everything.
Seven months later, your phone lit up with a blocked number trying to call you. You answered it but didn't say anything.
"Y/N," You heard Steve's voice come through, "Don't talk, just listen,"
You swallowed. You knew what was happening. He was calling from a secure line but your phone could still be tapped. You gave a shaky breath and he knew that you were on the line.
"Click any button twice so I know it's you," He stated and you pressed the number 3, "Okay," He relaxed, "Oh thank god I found you,"
Your lips parted but you pressed your hand to your mouth
"I need you to pack everything and go to the airport. Ask for Ayo and then tell her I'm worried about flying because a storm might be coming," He spoke, "Do you understand?"
You pressed another button to send a bleep to Steve
"You'll board a plane, don't worry about your passport," He said hurriedly, "I want to bring you to a safe house. If you want to come, I hope you do... Get to desk number 7 at midnight. Tonight" He paused, "It's gonna be hot,"
The line dropped and you finally took a breath. Was Steve really trying to smuggle you out the country? Did you want the US government on your back? These questions rushed to you but then you remembered that on paper, you were supposed to be 95 years old. You looked at your phone again, it was noon. You had at least ten hours to make the decision.
"Fuck it," You whispered to yourself as you pulled out your largest suitcase.
Steve wanted to smuggle you without telling you anything? Fine, you'll do it but you'll complain throughout while being difficult on top of everything else. You put in all sorts of clothes because the only indication of the weather you had been given was that would be hot. How hot? Again, you weren't sure.
"Where you going?" The cab driver tried to make conversation
"It's a surprise!" You said cheerfully, "It's my birthday, so my friends are taking me for a surprise trip,"
The driver laughed and made a comment about you having true friends and you laughed with him. Lying came so easily to you, it even shocked you at times.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" The man asked you at the desk
"Yes, I'm looking for Ayo," You said unsurely as you looked at the number seven behind him
"And why is that?" A heavily accented voice asked you
When you turned to look, needless to say, you felt out of your depth. The dark woman commanded space and she was looking at you as if weighing her options about what to do with you. You cleared your throat as her eyes swept over you and your luggage as if looking for threats.
"Um..." You were off to a shaky start, "I was just a little worried about flying," You swallowed, "I was told that a storm might be coming,"
Ayo nodded and turned to walk away. You followed her wordlessly, you massive suitcase being dragged along as well.
"Was it necessary to pack so much?" She cast you a side glance
"I don't even know where I'm going," You confessed
"I can assume that perhaps our friend wasn't very clear," Ayo got into the elevator and you followed
"Not exactly," You agreed, "All I knew was where to go, what to say and expect warm weather,"
Ayo had a smirk on her face, not a smile, no. It was a smirk, perhaps it was the most that she could pass off as a smile.
"Things will be clear soon enough," She stated and a plain black jet came into view
Another dark-skinned man took your suitcase and you followed Ayo into the private plane with an extravagant interior.
"May I ask where are we going?" You finally asked as the plane took off
"Wakanda," Ayo answered and you sat dumbfounded