Don't tell me... [that you love me]

"I've always done whatever I felt like doing in life. People may try to stop me, and convince me I'm wrong, but I won't change."*

"Tony Stark! How good to see you again! How are you? Is everything alright?," he was greeted by a familiar voice right after he got off the plane. Wakanda's airport was small, but big enough for his private jet. The day was warm and windy, sun high on the sky. You can say the weather was pleasant. The air smelled the scent of trees and various flowers. They were among some wild jungle after all. A safe place where noone would be looking for them.

"I've had worse," the genius said walking towards the young King. First he wanted to shake his hand, but at the very last moment he changed his mind and it ended up with bear hug. "Hi, Kittykat."

T'challa was one of the few who really, sincerely rejoiced at his arrival. Besides him there were also Natasha, and of course, Steve. And that's all. Wanda gave him a contemptuous look when he passed her. Clint, who was also with them didn't even look at him. And Sam, like Sam – he shrugged and tried to pretend everything is fine. If Steve brought Tony here then he had to trust him, and that meant he should at least try do to the same. Besides, it was Stark who helped them escape from prison. Wilson had mixed feelings. There was also Scott, the Ant-Man, but he wasn't happy to see the new guest either. Tony felt uncomfortable, there was a thick tension in the air. Someone put a hand on his shoulder, he looked nervously behind him. Rhodey. He returned the smile and adjusted his sunglasses. After this he felt strong enough to take a step forward, and not backwards. Steve was relieved when Tony nodded his head. So, was he prepared that Stark could get back on his plane and go home? It wouldn't be surprising. Almost one and a half week ago, on the day when Steve walked him home, he returned to Wakanda to prepare everything for Tony's arrival. If he decided to come, of course. If he wanted to withdraw, noone would blame him. If he still needed a little more time... But what it would change? Time doesn't play the role here. He was to help his parents' murderer. Yes, he knew it all was HYDRA, but still... He smiled weakly when Steve came up and hugged him, whispering silently his "thank you". Was he doing this for him, or for himself?

"We unfroze him a week ago, he's in 'safe room'. We also prepared everything you asked for." Steve said, this time aloud. He took a genius arm and led him to the white building, walls covered in ivies. The palace of Wakandan King. Rhodey was escorted by T'Challa himself. "Vision chose not to come? Wanda misses him, was it because of her..."

"Nonono. Vision for sure would be happy to see her. He just said it's not the best idea to come here right now. He stayed in New York just in case I'll need anything from home." Tony responded quickly following Steve to a large, spacious living room with fireplace. The walls were white, decorated with frescoes illustrating exotic animals. They were beautiful.

"They would make a perfect couple. Coffee?"

"Are you playing a matchmaker, Rogers? And yes, strong espresso. No sugar."

Tony walked around the room for a while, watching the surroundings. Big, leather sofa worthy of a king and before her, on the floor, laid the truest fur and head of a bear. People still have such trinkets at home? During the night he would probably get a heart attack if he saw such thing. Large, panoramic windows overlooking the terrace and even further to the dense forests. Beautiful region. Nothing but to go out with a good book and sink into another world. But he didn't come here to relax. He came to do what exactly? Steve asked him for impossible. Tony studied some of Zola's notes. Throwing out this programming was not possible. It created a second personality within Barnes. Individual words only triggered it. Those brought it to the surface. Deprogramming wouldn't help here either. So how Tony could help him? He hoped that he'll come up with some idea eventually. Winter Soldier was prone to orders, he just had to serve and do what he was told to, or else he would be punished. It couldn't be discarded. Well, unless they were to slice Barnes' brain into pieces in hope they will cut out the right one. Lottery. Anyway, Steve wouldn't allow such things. Tony felt hopeless, helpless. He can't do anything here, can he? He's an engineer, not a biologist. Coffee that Steve was holding right before his nose brougth him back to reality.

"Earth to Tony," the blonde laughed sending him a warm smile. Tony took his coffee and once again lost himself in his thoughts. He had no clue of what Steve was talking again. When he got hit by a ball of paper he woke up.

"Sorry. Did you say something?"

"I asked about Rhodey and his rehabilitation. Did you sleep at all lately? You need a break, Tony. Lack of sleep doesn't serve you well," Captain sighed putting down his cup of tea on the table.

"Everything is fine with me. I slept entire four hours the previous night, that's enough. As for Rhodey... rehabilitation will no longer be needed. He still wears his equipment, but we slowly take it away. I don't want to throw him into deep waters, we're going to set aside all the aids with time." he said not even trying to hide the pride in his voice. He made it. Within the last week he worked even harder, but it paid off. They applied the mixture of what Tony created to the Rhodey's spinal cord and bones. He slowly regained his fitness. They both didn't want to strain him so he was still walking in his equipment, but maybe in two more weeks he'll be able to throw it out.

"How?" Steve looked at Stark like he was going crazy.

"I invented a cure for his ailment. Well, not a cure, it won't heal the damage. We've applied nanonerves combined with vibranium. Also calibrated sensoring chips. Vibranium strengthen the skeletal system, small ammount to not cause any more harm. He can control everything else with brain-computer interface, I made it very small and we decided to put it in his cerebellum. To be able to walk normally he must focus and think about it, it's still little difficult but he'll get used to it." the genius explained observing the face of Captain America, whose jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

"I'm impressed," he mumbled "For you, really nothing is impossible."

Tony Smiled in response. There are many impossible things for him. And they were pretty simple. For example, how to be happy longer than ten minutes. They sat in silence for a moment. Then Steve took him to his new room, to rest and get some sleep. This room also was large. To the right there was a panoramic window giving a view of surrounding area. It could be shaded, so that the sun wouldn't enter inside. At the centre of the room there was a temping, big and comfy bed. To the left there were doors leading to bathroom, which was also huge. T'challa evidently liked a lot of space. Tony walked over to the bed and collapsed on it. He didn't even care to remove his clothes or shoes. He felt oddly sleepy since he drank coffee that Steve has made him. Had he tossed sleeping pills in there? What for? He put his head on the soft, feather pillow and watched the sky outside the window. It began to cloud. It didn't last long as he was seized by a dreams.

He was in a dark room, a pile of cables scattered on floor, an accumulator somewhere alongside them. The Cave? No. He saw a faint light before him, there were doors. He heard someone whispering around him, strange language. Similiar to the Russian, or maybe not. Creation of his imagination. Noone was here after all. He wasn't afraid of dark, was he? Something scraped beneath his feet, but he didn't stop. He was afraid of what he could see there. As he reached his destination he groped for the handle and pulled it. The door was open but there was no light anymore. Behind them was, however, something he really wanted to avoid. A Portal. The overwhelming void, Chitauri flying in his direction. Big, flying monsters that could swallow him in any moment. He desperately wanted to run, he wanted this so much... but he couldn't. Something held his legs in place. His heart sped up dangerously. He shouted, he was scared.

He woke up screaming, accompanied by lightning. Sweat trickled down his forehead. He buried face in his hands trying to calm down. Sleep is not good. He can't sleep. When he slowly came to himself he noticed he was under the covers, his clothes on the chair beside to the bed. He was wearing only boxers right now. Someone had to strip and cover him with a blanket. He looked towards the window. Dark sky, it was night time, stormy one. He reached for the note left on a bedside.

'Basement. Workshop and labolatory, 4D. Safe room – down the hall to the right, room 3D. Ready when you ready. He'll be waiting. All your things are already there waiting for you.'

T'Challa's handwriting. He looked at the clock. Half past fourth. He sank back into the soft cushions, cluthing the note. Too late for visit. But he couldn't sleep now anyway, might as well check on his new, temporary workshop. He scrambled out of the bed, took a quick shower and with still wet hair went to the basement. 4D was the one and only room at the very end of the corridor. When he entered inside the lights were turned on automatically. The first thing he noticed was the wall at the end of the room that was strange and black. It looked like big, wide-screen TV. T'Challa really had a weird taste when it came to decorations. He ran the main computer in middle of the room and his portable one to upload FRIDAY to the system. He heard a strange sound from behind the black wall. He flinched but he told himself it was all the ducts doing. He didn't like this place, but when he heard a familiar voice he felt safer.

"Hello, Boss," said FRIDAY, immediately putting a lock on the door. The code was the same as they had at home.

"Hello, my baby girl. Could you make me a coffee, honey?" he asked, looking around for the coffee maker.

"On it, Boss," he heard a clicking sound somewhere to his right. Coffee. Life-giving essence. He walked towards small cupboard where his drug was poured to a red, funny-looking cup. Once again, he heard a strange noise from behind the black wall. He frowned.

"FRIDAY, what is behind this wall?"

"This is the room of Sergeant Barnes. The so-called 'safe room'," she took long to answer. FRIDAY just started adjusting to the new place and system of Wakanda. So there is this 'safe room'. They really had to put it here? They wanted Barnes located in his workshop? Is it even safe?

"Where is the entrance?" he asked, hoping to hear a different answer than the one that appeared in his head.

"On the wall to the left is a panel opening and closing the door. On the console next to you can set the intensity dimming. You can also set the option 'transparent' to see what is on other side, Boss." this was what he feared the most.

"Is this Venetian mirror?"

"No. Sergeant Barnes will also see you, Boss."

"Can he hear us?"

"Not the exact conversation, but is aware that some sounds come from here."

"He's not sleeping?"

"Apparently not. There are no cameras in that room, I can not say more, Boss." she replied apologetically. "Should I make it transparent?"

"No. First I must think of what to do next," he picked a small box which contained papers he studied recently – Zola's records and red, Soviet book with codes. So he sat on the couch opening the notebook with writings with one hand. In other hand he held a cup of coffee. He read. He studied. He thought of all possible options, but none of them meet his expectations. Perhaps he could try to change the program, but it could do more harm than good. Overwrite program... maybe programming reverse. No. No. No. The brain is a tender organ. Zola experimented regardless of consequences, but that doesn't mean he would do the same. He couldn't afford it. He had to clean up the mess Zola has made and repair the damage he had done. He didn't know much Russian, but he had FRIDAY to translate everything on the screen next to him. Longing, Rusted... ah, these strange words. They were bringing the murderous part to the surface. Split personality. A personality that was formed after a trauma. Independent... however, because of the super-soldier serum they had to brainwash him regularly so he would be under control. This was crazy, but also fascinating. Tony didn't intend to brainwash him. Maybe he could...

"FRIDAY, do you think we could give it a go with educating him? You know, convince him killing is not life-goal. Socialize him. Pull him out of this madness and teach him how our world looks like."

"I don't know. But I think it's worth a try," his AI answered. For a moment, he analyzed his own words. Yes. It was a good plan. The safest of all he had so far. The safest for Barnes, of course. However, he will have to first discuss it with T'Challa and Steve. Or at least – inform them of his intentions. A little smile crept across his mouth.

In the morning, Tony showed up in the main dining room for a breakfast. For the rest of the night he was working on improving his nanonerves and chips. They got eggs with bacon, and orange juice – for the rest, Tony got his (4th) morning coffee. After the meal they talked about planned movie marathon, which would take place in week or two. By this time they had to choose movies. The genius waited at the table untill only Steve and T'Challa were left there. Earlier he sent them a look with unspoken messages to stay with him little longer. They had to talk.

"Perhaps I know how to help him," he started after a long silence. "But it's quite risky."

"What do you mean?" Steve frowned. Stark said nothing and blonde was already angry.

"HYDRA programming can't be discarded, can't be overwritten. Programming only controls the second personality. You can't throw it away. Unless you want to risk and cut his brain surgically. Memories are gathered in our whole brain, in all areas, but they're divided into sectors. It would be enough to cut the right one," he said taking a few sips of his life-giving essence. Safe start.

"It's not an option," Captain harshly replied. "So what is your plan?"

"As I already said, Barnes has a dual personality. At first I thought it was some kind of hypnosis, but it's not. Those personalities are independent of each other. One belongs to your fella before the war, and the other is soldier-killer. Programming allows to control him by anyone who will say the magical words. They brainwashed him multiple times to keep him under control, he's learning and evolving. Adapting. Can you imagine the killer with free will in the wild? I don't. But that's it. My plan is to pull him out and teach the world. It's crazy, but I don't have other ideas. You agree with me or not – I'm going to do it." he smiled, finishing his coffee.

"Tony, it's not a good idea. Maybe we should think more about possible solutions to this problem..." T'Challa started after noticing the fury in Steve's eyes. They both expected something else from him.

"Well, you can think on. I'm going to carry out my plan. Sink or swim. Now excuse me, I'm going back to workshop." he rose from the table, took the remnants of coffee and headed toward the exit.

"How to you want to pull Bucky's second personality?" Steve asked suddenly.

"That Soviet book will find its last usage."

"Tony, you can't!" the blonde shouted, but Tony had already left the room. T'Challa tried hard to calm him down somehow, but Steve was furious.

"I'm going to work a little with your evil twin," he said right after he entered the 'safe room' where his object was sitting. His aim. His mission. The room was small, a place for a bed, two chairs, a table. A small glass shaft through which they probably were giving him food. And a small bathroom with a shower and toilet. This room was so different from everything he saw here in the building.

"Winter Soldier..."

"Yes. I want to talk to him. I want to create some sort of cooperation with him. You can't get rid of him. He'll stay with you 'till the end of your life. Staying frozen won't help you."

"How you want to do it?" vulnerable, gray eyes looked up at the genius. Horror filled them when Tony showed him the Soviet journal. "...no. Please..."

"You'll be safe. I promise. I'll be here with you all the time. I want to help you," Tony assured, sitting on a stool next to the latter. Barnes nodded. The genius felt sorry for him. "Ready? Longing... Rusted... Dawn... Seventeen... Stove-" he noticed Barnes was trying to fight it, he put a hand on his shoulder to calm him. It worked, gray eyes looked back at him. A glimmer of hope and trust. "Nine... Kind-hearted... Homecoming... One... Freight car." Suddently the eyes which glowed with hope and trust were replaced with empty and cold ones... We're home.

"Готовы соблюдать"**

"Hello, Winter Soldier. Can I simply call you Winter? You are Winter."

"Winter." the man before him repeated after him. He was waiting for orders like a trained dog.

"Yeaaaah... just like that. Winter, listen. There are no handlers or orders anymore," Tony saw how the confusion sneaked on the face of the latter. "There is no The Chair. You're a free man. You can do whatever you want ... well, almost."

"I do not understand."

"Let's start with something easy," Tony said, pulling a stool closer to the soldier. "What's your favourite fruit? Maybe some dish you like?"

"I..." long pause. Too many questions? "The Asset has no favourite dishes..."

"Your name is Winter, not Asset."

"Winter."

"You have the right to have favourite dishes, your own tastes, desires and dreams. You are a human. A free man," Tony put a pressure on the last few words to give the latter a hint of what he was trying to say. He knew Winter still doesn't understand. But Tony will teach him all of this.

"...I think I like plums. And spaghetti," the soldier replied uncertainly.

"Listen, Winter. What do you say, next time I'll bring you here stuff you like?" the genius suggested grinning from ear to ear. He saw once again Winter's face painted with confusion. So many questions with no clear answer. In addition, someone wanted to do something for him. "Yes or no? It's your choice."

"...Yes?" though it sounded more like an another question rather than a certain answer, it was enough. He made his very first decision. Tony thought it'll take more time than this. Maybe without constant brainwashing he would recover faster? What will happen if he'll recover? Is he going the right direction?

The first step has been taken. And there is no way back now.

Tell me your secrets
I'm scared to tell you mine
Tell me I'm worth it
Maybe this will be alright ***