Bucky Barnes

- - - - -

"How have you been, Princess?"

Ana looked to the young Wakandan beside her as they trekked down a large, grassy hill in the middle of the afternoon together. The sun was high, radiating warmth onto their skin. Ana's hands brushed against the skirt of her floral sundress, before they readjusted the strands of short hair that kept on flying over her eyes. Before she left New York, Ana took it upon herself to dress nicely. She even brushed her hair. Shuri had a hop to her step as she trudged down the hill in her sneakers. She was bubbling with so much energy, something that made Ana smile.

Shuri glanced up at Ana with a slight shrug of her shoulders before she jumped over a rock. "Busy. Ever since Erik's failed attempt to take over my home, T'Challa and I have had our hands full with cleaning up the mess he left behind." She threw an arm at the land they were nearing that had been the battlefield. The terrain was unkept and muddy. Weapons and machines that had been destroyed littered the ground, marking up an image of a forgotten feud. Skid marks in the dirt stretched for half a mile, and charred spots in the grass told them both that it had caught fire.

"Is everyone okay?" Ana frowned.

Shuri nodded. "Oh, yes, they're fine. A bit thrown, but they'll get back into the routine in no time. My only concern is my brother. Now that he has revealed Wakanda to the world, he has given himself another large responsibility to uphold."

"With great power comes great responsibility." Ana quoted, before sending Shuri an assuring smile. "T'Challa will figure it out, and in the end, I'm sure everything will be fine."

"I hope so." Shuri sighed.

Ana stopped next to a downed aircraft, and sized up the huge machinery. The wings were torn off, and she could even spot a few claw marks on the nose of the jet. "A lot of jets scattered around. You need any help moving 'em?" She asked, looking at the teen who paused in thought.

Shuri kicked the side of the jet, causing the exterior to fall off. "They're basically scrap metal now, and I would like to use their parts for other projects. So if you don't mind, can you compact them." She motioned with her hands for Ana to press them together.

"How compact?" Ana questioned, lifting the front of the jet with one hand.

Shuri had to pause and note how effortless the action was for Ana.

"As much as you can." Shuri beamed, activating the camera on her Kimoyo Beads. She recorded as Ana used her super strength to crush and mould the jet into a large sphere. Ana dusted her hands off, and rested her elbow on the object that now stood a metre tall.

"Did somebody order a human sized marble?" Ana chuckled, lifting it over her head, posing as Shuri snapped a quick photo of her.

"Again!" Shuri clapped, laughing. Little kids from the village nearby arrived, greeting the Princess and advancing on Ana. They pointed at the large ball, asking if they could play with it. Ana placed it down carefully, and chuckled when they pushed it around like a huge soccer ball.

"Careful!" Ana called after them, hearing their gleeful giggles.

"How is it that you have a wide knowledge of language?" Shuri questioned, guiding Ana to a hut off to the more quiet and isolated part of the land.

"Before I became this, I was a normal kid going to a normal college with normal friends." Ana replied. "I majored in language and history, and I hoped to become a teacher and travel. That was before I was recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D."

Shuri gave her a smile. "Do you ever think about the life you would've had if you hadn't been recruited? A normal life with a normal job..."

Ana grinned lopsidedly, and looked down for a brief second. Of course she used to think about it. A normal life. A normal job. But Ana found that normal wasn't for her. "One thing I've learned, Princess, is that normal is boring. If I ignored the agents that were sent for me, I would've ended up teaching at Midtown Science, to a bunch of teens that preferred numbers and elements over World War Two and Italian. Don't get me wrong, teaching is a rewarding job, but who I am now, the things I do — I feel like I make a difference. With my abilities, I'm helping people left and right. I'm stopping the bad guys at home and abroad. I'm a superhero, and it's incredible. Sure it has its downsides... but the pros outweigh the cons by a long shot."

"That was well put." Shuri told her.

"Thank you, Princess." Ana smiled.

The Warrior noticed two boys and a girl sneak into the hut, whispering something about a White Wolf. She assumed they made up a nickname for the unfamiliar man in their village. Behind her, Ana saw the large pond surrounded by lush trees and brushy shrubs. The sun was reflected on the surface of the lake, illuminating the area with a golden glow. There were two huts in front of her. A fire-pit and outdoor sitting area was set up in the centre of the two shelters. A few Wakandans were sat on a bench, enjoying a small lunch together. The two boys and girl had suddenly dashed out of the hut a particular soldier was in, running towards Shuri and Ana.

"Are you playing around with that man again?" Shuri asked, affectionately hugging them.

"No." They answered in English, snickering and ducking their heads shyly when Ana knelt down and threw them a grin.

"What is the name you tease him with?" She asked, tilting her head.

"White Wolf!" They chanted, laughing together. Ana cooed at how adorable they were, and gave them all a high five. "You're it!" They declared once the young girl patted Ana on the shoulder. Ana gasped playfully, and raced after them when they sprinted down the bank of the lake. Their little legs wouldn't put enough space between themselves and Ana. One of the boys shrieked when he had been scooped up in her arms, throwing his head back and laughing.

"Who's it now, huh?" Ana taunted, putting him down and evading his reach when he tried to poke her shoulder. She spun and was about to jog back to Shuri when her eyes landed on him. On Bucky. Her breath caught in her throat and heat rushed to her cheeks. He had to lower his upper body to fit through the doorway and step out. She stumbled when the kids locked their arms around her legs, declaring she was now the chaser. Because Ana was distracted by the man, the children's weight on her caused her to trip over and land on her back.

She let out a laugh when they stacked on her, "Who wants to see me grab the oversized soccer ball and throw it into space?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow at them challengingly.

They all widened their eyes, sharing a look, before leaping off of her and running for the compacted jet. "We do!"

"So do I..."

Ana's focus was switched to the man now standing over her. She lit up with a smile, ignoring the way her heart seemed to beat too fast for her to register. He extended his arm out, palm open and waiting for her to take it so he could help her up off the grass. She reached up and intertwined their hands together, allowing him to pull her to her feet. There was no time wasted, and Ana engulfed Bucky in her arms, holding onto him tightly. Bucky hadn't expected the sudden move, and grunted when their bodies met. He eased in a light chuckle as Ana exhaled heavily.

"It's good to see you again." Her voice was muffled against his shoulder. He heard it though.

Bucky wrapped his one arm around her back, pulling her closer if that was even possible. He shut his eyes, and welcomed the comfort she provided. He felt the way she placed a hand on the crook of his neck. Ana moved her face so she could peck his cheek, though he sensed the action and did the same, capturing her lips in a kiss. Ana wasn't disappointed, and returned the gesture, smiling into it.

In the distance, Shuri covered the children's eyes with her palms.

Reluctantly, Bucky and Ana pulled away, but their hold on each other never wavered. Their eyes locked, and a sense of ease and serenity washed over them. Ana raised a hand and let it rest on his jaw, smiling as he leaned into her touch. He kissed her palm, and sent her a charming wink, bold enough to make a girl weak in the knees.

"I've been dreaming about this for a long, long time."

Ana sighed, content.

"Welcome back, Bucky Barnes."

- - -

"Ana, you do understand that Barnes has to remain in Wakanda for his own protection, yes? You can't take him back to America."

T'Challa looked away from the man currently being looked at by his genius sister, and turned to face Ana who had her arms crossed over her chest. Before the two had entered the laboratory, T'Challa greeted Bucky and congratulated him on a swift recovery. Shuri then led Bucky to her lab to make a final round of tests to ensure his body and mind were at healthy levels and to give him a crash course of how she was able to remove the influence Hydra had on his mind.

Ana glanced at the King. She had registered his words, and made peace with the fact that things can't cool down overnight. There would still be a target on his head outside of Wakanda. He wasn't safe. Not yet, at least. "Otherwise he'll be made and a battalion of JSOC agents will swarm around him. I know. And I hate that. He and Steve grew up in Brooklyn. I want nothing more than to take him back to the place he used to call home. Before the war. Before Hydra. I only want what's best for him, and right now what's best for him is to stay here." She replied.

T'Challa placed a hand on her shoulder, offering her a sense of sympathy on his part. "I hope you two get a shot at a true life out of the shadows in the future." He told her sincerely.

Ana gave T'Challa a soft smile in return. "Me too."

Bucky could tell Ana was doing her best to not let the concern she had for him show on her face. She would give him a smile whenever they caught each other's gaze through the lab's glass walls. He decided to keep his attention on Shuri as the Princess completed the remaining tests on her tablet. As she tapped away on the clear screen, he looked down at his left shoulder. He pulled back the material that had been slung around it, and stared at what was left of the amputated arm.

Shuri took note of the action, and thought to step aside to grant him space.

Bucky remembered the fall. When the railing on the shot off train cart gave in, he remembered the look on Steve's face when he couldn't reach any further. He remembered screaming as he dropped for what seemed like hours until he hit the ice. He remembered blacking out. He remembered being dragged to a shelter by Hydra men. Even then, the images in his mind were blurry. He could still remember the sound of the saw as it cut off the dead flesh of his shoulder. The exposed nerves made the pain unbearable, causing him to black out once again. When he woke up, the missing arm had been replaced with a metal version. James' muscle memory kicked in and he attacked the unfamiliar men watching him intently.

"Bucky?"

Bucky was forced out of his own mind when he heard Ana call his name. She rested a hand on his knee, and tilted her head as she surveyed his expression. He looked... lost.

Ana looked back at Shuri, and gave her a small smile. "Can you give us a minute, Princess?"

"Of course." Shuri nodded, and exited the lab to meet up with her brother.

Ana raised her hands and placed them in either sides of Bucky's face. He instantly leaned into her touch. Her hands were so warm. Rough, but that was to be expected from the life she lived. Cuts and missing layers of skin due to burns adorned her hands. Still, her touch was welcoming and calm.

"You alright?" She asked softly.

"I'm not really sure how to answer that." Bucky tried to smile. But it dropped. "I'm glad I'm out of cryo. I can't thank the Princess enough for what she's done for me. I've got my mind back. But with it, a whole lotta bad memories."

"You'll push through, Buck." Ana whispered, trailing her fingertips down the side of his face. She stopped when he had clenched his jaw, and looked at him in the eye. "You will." She repeated, this time with more conviction. "You know why?"

"Why?" He gruffed out, looking down.

Ana lifted his chin, "Because you have me. You'll always have me."

Bucky looked at her, and mustered up a small smile.

"I know."

Ana took his hand. "Come on, you must be hungry."

Bucky eased off the stretcher and walked with Ana out of the lab, still holding her hand. "I could go for some lunch." He replied.

"What are you feeling?" Ana asked, beginning to list her favourite foods. "Pizza, maybe some subs, or even a couple of burgers?"

Bucky grinned.

"All of the above."

- - -

Ana and Bucky found a quiet area to eat and catch up. It was past the city in the village area, close to the place Bucky had woken up in. The sky was darkening, showcasing a beautiful setting sun. Ana looked to Bucky as he sipped on his water, raising a hand to prop her head up on. She was on her side, fumbling around with the empty can of soda in front of her. She had a million things to ask him, but she knew it wouldn't be a good idea to bring up subjects he wasn't keen on getting into just yet.

Bucky lowered his gaze from the sunset and sighed. "Ana, you've been staring at me for the past ten minutes and you haven't said a word." He spoke lightly, facing her and frowning softly.

Ana puffed out the air from her cheeks. "I'm sorry. It's just now that you've got your mind back, I'm worried about you. You already had trouble sleeping when you couldn't remember a thing, and now that you do..." She paused, and sat up. "Well, like I said, I'm worried."

Bucky moved closer to the anxious Warrior and snaked his arm around her waist, coaxing her to lay her head on his shoulder. Ana did so and looked at her fiddling fingertips, waiting for him to reply.

"I know that it's not gonna get better just like that." Bucky began. "It's never that easy, is it? Nightmares are gonna be the regular. But now that I'm free... I don't gotta worry about being forced into something I don't want to do. I don't need to watch my back or look over my shoulder anymore — or as much, anyway. I can finally find peace out here, with you. That's what I'm focusing on right now. Not the nightmares, not the past... just you."

Ana faced him, and held onto his hand. "Either way, Buck, I'm gonna help you. Because you damn well deserve it. I'm gonna take care of you. I'm going to remind you everyday that you will heal. With time, it'll get better. You're strong. You won't let the past get the better of you. You'll focus on the future. You'll fight every day to see the next. You'll learn to live with your demons. You'll forgive yourself. And you will not feel guilty for the things you had no control over. You won't lose this war, you hear me? Bucky Barnes, you will win."

Bucky leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss. There was nothing else more to say. He knew he could count on Ana. He believed he would get better as long as he had her. They broke apart, and Bucky opened his eyes, smiling at the woman in front of him.

"I hope so."

- - - - -

Hey everyone! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please let me know what you thought about it! Ana and Bucky have finally reunited and now they have a chance to be together without having to worry about the outside world. In this part of the book, Steve and the others will arrive and I've got a cute moment lining up that I hope you guys will find interesting to read. We'll explore more of Bucky's past that may or may not link up with future plans I've got for this book.

Ant-Man and the Wasp will come up right after this phase, so from now on, there will be mild spoilers until then!

Q- If you had to eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?