Chapter Text
Wakanda is peaceful.
Bucky is sitting by the water, fingers carding through the grass with his good arm, propped up on his metal one. He can hear the children laugh, probably up to no good somewhere around his hut. He feels her before he sees her, but he doesn't talk, not when she sits down beside him and not when she starts braiding the grass around his new metal arm. He only turns to look at her when she clears her throat, a few minutes later.
‘’He’s coming to see you’’
Bucky hums.
‘’Steve?’’ He assumes. His friend has been coming and going, never staying long enough for it to mean anything. Sometimes it feels like even if he never left, Bucky would miss him anyways.
‘’No’’ Shuri says, looking up to stare him in the eyes and Bucky frowns
‘’Who?’’ he asks and there's a grave look in the younger girl's eyes.
It hits him square in the chest when he realizes who she’s talking about.
‘’Why?’’ He whispers but he knows why.
He knows Tony Stark has been looking for revenge since that day he learned what happened to his parents. Surely he must have proven not to be a threat if T’Challa allowed him to come, but it seems likely he is not coming here to get buddy-buddy with him. Bucky looks away, feeling the wind through his hair. If Stark came here to kill him, he probably would let him.
Shuri shrugs, looking in the same direction as him, at the lake in front of them. She was rarely this silent.
‘’He says he wants to talk. Says he has an offer.’’
‘’An offer?’’
‘’Yes. He should get here in a few hours’’
‘’Okay’’ Bucky says, now pulling nervously at the grass. ‘’Should I- Is there anything I need to do to prepare?’’
The girl chuckles at that.
‘’I don't think so. My brother will come get you when the little King’s plane gets to our border’’
‘’The little King?’’
‘’That is what he calls Stark.’’
‘’Stark is not a king’’
‘’Might as well be’’ She says and she is right.
Bucky swallows. He is not scared, but it feels like he has been given a death sentence. He doesn't want to fight.
He only flinches a little when the girl puts her hand on his shoulder.
‘’My brother will protect you’’ She says, so sure of herself that Bucky cannot do anything but offer her a little lopsided smile
‘’I know’’ He says
He’s not sure he deserves it.
It takes a while before Shuri leaves, but when she does Bucky is gone not long after her. He walks towards the little hut he has learned to love, and he finds different clothes, as he expected. A simple T-shirt and jeans. He puts them on and looks down. He doesn't have a mirror here, but he can imagine how… normal he must look. How casual.
It reminds him of a few months ago, only a few days after he was finally free.
Steve was sitting beside him in his hut. He had gotten there a few hours ago, as soon as he had learned the news. Bucky hadnt have any time to get ready, still wearing his robes. He didn't mind them usually, it was nothing like he had ever worn before, made him feel like a new man somewhat. It didn't make his mind buzz the same way it did when he smelt leather. Still, here, in front of Steve for the first time since he went to cryo sleep, he felt weirdly hyper aware of what he looked like to the other guy.
He remembered him, most of the time. Captain America.
Steve.
It was still hard for Bucky to make out most of the memories that twirled into his mind, but everytime he thought of something good, this guy’s face would be there. That had to count for something, surely.
Steve was talking, beaming up at him, and Bucky was simply listening. He didn't understand why Captain America would be so happy to see him, not after everything he had done, but he didnt feel like pointing it out, not when he looked at Bucky like he was the sun.
Bucky raised a hand carefully and touched Steve’s collar, rubbing it between his two fingers to feel the fabric. Steve wasn't talking anymore, looking down at his hand.
‘’You look different. Without the suit’’ Bucky explains
‘’Yeah’’ Steve says, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
‘’I like it. Looks like my Steve.’’ Bucky says before realizing what he had said and dropping his hand. ‘’I mean the Steve from my memories. The tiny one’’
Steve had smiled at that, but there was something in his eyes and he left quickly after. Bucky felt cold.
They never mentioned it again.
A little knock on the threshold snatched Bucky away from the memory. T’Challa was standing in the doorway.
‘’Ready?’’ He asked
‘’Yeah I am.’’ Bucky nodded, and he walked out of his little home.
When they got to the landing site, Stark was already there, talking with Shuri and her mother. He tensed a little when Bucky and T’Challa appeared in his sight but didnt stop talking, so Bucky figured at least he wouldn't try to kill him right there on the spot.
‘’Your Majesty’’ Stark nodded when they were finally in front of him. ‘’Barnes’’ He said, acknowledging him with a cold nod. He didn't look him in the eyes.
Well that was promising.
‘’Mister Stark’’ T’Challa welcomed him. ‘’Now that you are here, will you finally tell us what brings you on this day?’’
‘’Yes.’’ Tony says, and his whole body tenses, the charming facade dropping. ‘’I thought-’’ He starts taking a small breath in. ‘’I thought me and Mr.Barnes could go on a walk’’
If Bucky didn't know better, he’d think Stark was nervous .
‘’A walk ?’’ T’Challa asks and suspicion seeps in his voice
‘’Yes. A walk’’ Stark repeats
‘’We can go on a walk’’ Shuri says
‘’No.’’ Tony insists. ‘’I want to take a walk with Mr.Barnes. Only.’’
Him and T’Challa seems to be having a fight though eyes contact only.
‘’Let’s go then.’’ Bucky says, stepping in.
Everyone, including Stark, seems to be surprised by it but he holds their eye contacts.
‘’Alright.’’ Tony says and Bucky leads him towards the forest. It is his favorite place to be, and it does seems perfect for a walk.
‘’Wait.’’ T’Challa says, and for a second Bucky thinks he’s going to take Tony right back into his plane to send him away. ‘’I hope it goes without saying that this is a peaceful environment, Mr.Stark.’’
‘’Of course it does’’ Tony says, a little offended. ‘’I’m not wearing a suit, am I?’’
T’Challa considers him for a second but he ends up dismissing them. Bucky knows they’ll be watched anyways, from a distance. There's no place in Wakanda that isn't heavily surveilled.
They walk silently for a while, way after they cross the entrance of the forest. Bucky is tense, half expecting the man beside him to start yelling. Last time he saw him, Tony Stark had tried to kill him.
Bucky had deserved it.
The day is beautiful, the perfect temperature. Wind is still blowing softly and birds are singing. If Bucky wasn’t fighting every urge in his body to face the man walking by his side, this might’ve been enjoyable.
This is a threat. Eliminate the threat.
Bucky shakes his head and controls his breathing. He is at war with his own mind. It is the worst feeling in the world.
He knows this is a test for him just as much as it is for Stark. Is he able to control himself?
He stops dead in his tracks, Stark walking a few steps ahead before turning back to him, eyebrow raised.
‘’You have come here to kill me.’’ Bucky says, an affirmation more than a question
Starks huffs and pinches his nose in an annoyed way, making Bucky doubt for a second.
‘’I have not come here to- For fucks sake.’’ Starks mutters under his breath.
‘’Why, then?’’
‘’I have come here to take a walk. With you.’’
Bucky stares at him, unimpressed.
‘’Shuri said you had an offer.’’
‘’Did she?’’
‘’How much is my life worth, then?’’ Bucky asks.
He doesnt think T’Challa would accept any kind of money offering, but he doesn't see any other thing that could make sense.
‘’I have NOT come here to kill you’’ Stark insists, voice raised.
‘’I have killed your parents.’’ Bucky says and Stark breath hitches at that.
They stare at each other for what feels an eternity before Stark speaks again
‘’Hydra did. You were just a pawn’’ Tony says, and it sounds like a script he has learned. Maybe something that was told to him a lot. Maybe something he told to himself a lot.
‘’It was still me. Still my hands’’ Bucky says, looking down at said hands, eyes burning through the metal one as if staring at it for long enough would make the blood from his hands fade away. It never did.
‘’I know’’ Tony says
‘’And yet you are here to take a walk with me’’ It hits Bucky then. He knows why the man has come. ‘’You want me to apologize?’’
‘’Apologies won't bring my mother back’’ Stark barks and Bucky flinches slightly backward.
‘’I am sorry’’ Bucky says and he sees the anger in the other man’s face, in the way he stand, tense as a bowstring.
‘’Dont’’ Stark growls. ‘’That’s not why I’m here’’
‘’Then why?’’ Bucky asks again.
‘’Steve is hiding away. With half of the team.’’
‘’You want me to find him?’’ Bucky asks, brows furrowing. Surely Stark wouldn't expect Bucky to betray his friend like that.
Unless it is a mission.
‘’Well, not really, no’’ Tony says, anger melting into awkwardness. ‘’I was hoping perhaps if he saw that I was… making efforts then he would come back.’’
‘’Why do you want him to come back? I thought you were mad at him.’’
‘’ I am .’’ Starks says and his voice is like thunder. ‘’But I guess I… The world needs their Captain America. And if I must be the bigger man then so be it’’
‘’And your solution is coming here to walk with me?’’
‘’Well, yes, that and getting your pardon from the state etcetera etcetera.’’
‘’You did what??’’ Bucky asks.
He knows that is a big deal. T’Challa has been trying to find ways for months to do that, but it was almost impossible without exposing Bucky’s cover.
‘’You’re all pardoned.’’ Stark repeats. ‘’Woohoo’’ He says half heartedly, making jazz hands in the air but only silence answers him. ‘’You’re welcome for that, by the way. Had to kiss Ross’s ass for months’’
‘’But why did you come here? Couldn't you just.. call Steve? Tell him?’’ Bucky asks, still confused.
‘’I suppose I could’ve. But first I wanted to come here. See if I could… tolerate you. Since we’d be around each other a whole lot.’’
‘’And?’’
‘’Suppose I could come take a walk with you every once in a while. Until I don't feel like repeatedly punching your head into a tree’’ He says, like a joke. Bucky knows it isn't.
‘’Okay’’ Bucky nods, and he starts walking again.
‘’Where are you going?’’ Stark asks
‘’Walking’’ Bucky says, and so they do. They walk in silence for a long while before their steps takes them back to Tony’s plane.
T’Challa isn't waiting for them.
‘’I will see you next week.’’ Tony says and Bucky nods
It takes a lot of walking before Bucky feels comfortable enough to start conversation, or even participate in the one Stark would sometimes start himself, unable to stop once he starts rambling about some subject. They fall into a routine rather quickly, and Bucky sometimes catches himself looking forward to Stark’s visit.
One day, as they are walking back, Bucky notices Tony is quieter than usual. He doesnt point it out, thinking Stark must have one of those days, the ones where he can barely look at Bucky. The ones where they walk for fifteen minutes before it is too much.
Tony clears his throat, and Bucky looks up. They’ve reached his plane.
‘’See you next-’’ Bucky starts saying before Stark interrupts him
‘’Wait! Wait.’’ The man clears his throat again, clearly uncomfortable and Bucky furrows his brows.
Maybe he’s done something to offend the man, maybe he changed his mind. Maybe he won't be coming back. Bucky is surprised at the way his heart sinks slightly at the thought. He supposes he’d started to see Tony Stark as a friend.
‘’What is it?’’ He asks, hoping his nervousness doesn't show in his voice.
‘’So, I’ve talked to Steve’’ He says.
Ah, so that's why then. Stark doesn't need him anymore. He’s already convinced Steve enough. Bucky stays silent.
‘’And I guess we were wondering, if, you know, you’d be comfortable coming to live with us. At the tower. Steve came back last week and I’ve talked to T’Challa too. He says if you are ready…’’
‘’Okay’’ Bucky agrees almost immediately.
He likes Wakanda.
It is peaceful.
But it is not home.
‘’Great’’ Tony says, clapping a hand on his shoulder, startling him a little bit. ‘’So uh, I guess I’ll tell that to Rogers and we can call T’Challa and come pick you up somewhere this week. Sounds good?’’
‘’Sounds good’’ Bucky says with a little smile.
When Bucky falls asleep that night, he doesn't have a nightmare. Instead, he dreams of Brooklyn, of a tiny little apartment. Of Steve.