Brooklyn Heights
Living in Wakanda was luxurious in many ways, but it was a luxurious prison for those Avengers on the wrong side of the Sokovia Accords. Scott Lang was the first to arrange to leave Wakanda and return to the protection of Hank Pym. Besides missing his daughter, it appeared that he missed Hank Pym's daughter, also. Next up to leave was Sam. Even though he was Steve's closest friend in many ways, especially with Bucky back on ice, he missed his sister and his mother. King T'Challa arranged for counterfiet papers and passport for Sam, as well as giving him traveling money. That left Clint, Wanda, and Steve.
Clint was almost insufferable until he contacted Fury and Coulson and they arranged for Laura and the kids to leave they farm for a place that he bought long ago in Ireland to be used in case of emergency such as this one. Now that they were settled in Connemara, Ireland, he was the next to leave Wakanda. Since he felt a responsibility for Wanda, he convinced her to leave with him and go to Ireland. She didn't want to leave Steve, their leader and someone she had grown attached to, but with the help of Steve, Clint convinced her that she'd be safer with him. They left a week ago leaving only Steve in Wakanda.
"Captain," T'Challa greeted him using his rank out of respect, "please join me."
A member of his all female body guards, the Dora Miljae, escorted Steve to the dining table where T'Challa sat sipping a local wine. Steve sat down and T'Challa motioned the bodyguard to leave. She did.
"Dinner will be served in a few minutes," he smiled. "Enjoy some wine, Captain."
Steve poured himself a glass.
"Thank you, your majesty," he replied then sipped the wine. "Delicious."
"You can only get this wine in Wakanda. The grapes are locally grown at one of our hydroponics farms," T'Challa stated with some pride.
Steve shifted in his seat then he took another sip of wine. T'Challa knew Captain Steve Rogers to be a man of action. Living safely in Wakanda went against his nature.
"So, Captain, you appear to be," T'Challa paused for a moment choosing the right American expression, "antsy."
"Everything here in Wakanda is amazing and I am honored you have allowed me and my people to stay here. Plus what you are doing for Bucky is more than I can ask, but I don't belong here and I don't like hiding," said Steve.
"A good portion of the world would arrest you and place you in a formidable prison if you are caught outside of Wakanda," said T'Challa.
"I know," Steve said with a bitter laugh. "Still, I can't stay. I need to go home."
"As Captain America?" T'Challa asked.
"No. I am no longer Captain America. I have given up my shield. I can't go home as Steve Rogers, either, because he is a fugitive. But I do have an alternative," said Steve.
"What is that alternative?" asked T'Challa.
"Long ago with the help of Nick Fury I bought a building in Brooklyn Heights. I bought it under the name of Grant Leary," he explained.
"Grant is your middle name," stated T'Challa.
Steve nodded then smiled, "Leary is my mother's name. Nick was thorough. I have a social security number under that name and have been paying taxes since I bought the building. I have five tenets. The top floor is empty and waiting for me. It is part apartment and part artist studio. I just need new papers, license, and passport with the name Grant Leary under his social security number."
"That can be arranged," nodded T'challa. "You intend on being an artist, Captain?"
"I started my professional life doing sketches for one of the newspapers. I couldn't paint back then because I was color blind. The serum cured that," Steve smiled.
"I will be very interested in seeing the works of Grant Leary," said T'challa.
"Me, too," smiled Steve.
"I will miss you, Captain. You are a righteous man and there are few of them in this world," said T'Challa.
"If you ever need me assistance, Your Majesty, I will be there for you," said Steve. "What you are doing for Bucky I can't repay."
"Hopefully, James Buchanan Barnes will be able to join you in Brooklyn some day soon," grinned T'Challa.
It took only a few days to deliver the papers, New York City license, and passport Steve needed. Now that he was packed in looked in the mirror. His blonde hair was now brown and he had grown a beard and dyed it brown. Along with a baseball cap and glasses, he didn't look like his old self. T'challa suggested loose fitting clothes to hide his obvious athletic build. He was ready to leave. Or, at least, after a visit to see Bucky.
The medical center now guarded their cryonics lab where Bucky was frozen in time. Steve stood in front of his old friend then gently reached out and touched the glass. It was ice cold to the touch. Between the two of them they had spent too many years on ice.
"Captain, I'm glad I found you here," said T'Challa, who entered with two of his guards. "I know you are leaving soon."
"Within the hour," Steve said then turned and faced T'Challa.
The King stood there with a round silver shield in his hands. Steve was sure it was made of vibranium. T'challa smiled and tossed it to him.
"I have never seen a man use a vibranium shield as you do. It is a marvel," he said.
"I can't accept this," said Steve.
"It is yours. If you notice the hinges on the inside of the shield all you have to do it press the catches and it folds in two for easier carrying. I have had a vibranium carrier made for it. You can carry it like a briefcase," said T'Challa.
"You Majesty, I can't accept this," said Steve again.
"It is a gift, so you must," smiled T'Challa.
Steve looked at the shield in his hands then up at T'Challa. He smiled then nodded his head. King T'Challa nodded back.
It was good to be back in Brooklyn. When Fury assisted him with buying the building, he also helped him set up a bank account where the rents where deposited monthly, along with a some of money Steve had from back pay from his years in the ice. He was Tony Stark rich but he had no fear of being poor again. The first thing he did once he settled in to the fourth floor of his building was buy art supplies, including canvases, brushes, and many tubes of paint. Once he had his art supplies, he found a local supermarket and bought food. His metabolism hadn't changed. He needed more food than a normal man to keep his body in pique condition.
Since he bought a black and red King of the Road Harley Davidson with saddlebags, he could only fit a limited amount of food in the saddlebags. He stuck to protein, steaks, chops, burgers, eggs, potatoes, bread, and a six pack of beer along with cereal, milk, sugar, and coffee. Of course, once he got the food into the refrigerator, he realized he had no dishes, flatware, or pots and pans. There was food but nothing to cook it in. He deal with that tomorrow and instead went on into the neighborhood to find somewhere to eat.
He found a place called Clark's Restaurant, which was open from 7Am to 8:30 PM that appeared to sell basic food and lots of it. There was two hours before closing and it was crowded so he assumed it was good. Steve stepped into the place and a hostess smiled at him.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"Table for one," he said.
She seated him. He looked over the menu and decided to order a chicken parmigiana to eat there and a Philly cheese steak sandwich to go. The waitress, an attractive blonde who was barely in her twenties, came up to his table.
"What can I get you?" she grinned.
"Chicken parmigiana with a Pepsi," he said.
"New to the neighborhood?" she asked him.
"I've been away for awhile," he smiled.
"You have to come here for breakfast. It's a killer," she said then walked away to place his order.
Steve sat back and exhaled. For the first time in a long time he felt as if he was at home. Brooklyn had changed but it was where he was born. It felt good to be home. Once he was settled he'd check up on his team then he do some painting. Maybe his life was complicated right now, but there may be a chance he'd finally feel like he belonged in this time. Living a simple life might be very good for him.