Love, let's talk about love

Is it anything and everything you hoped for?

I get a feeling on you (x2)

This may be the night that my dreams might let me know,

All the stars are closer (x3)

This may be the night that my dreams might let me know,

All the stars are closer (x3)

– Kendrick Lamar ft SZA

'I am placing James Buchannan Barnes into your care'

Ayo raised an eyebrow.

When Okoye first summoned her into her office, it was, no doubt, a matter of importance.

Coming here was like coming into a war room. All that was, would, and will be discussed would be of the strictest and most confidential in nature.

This however, was not what she expected. Okoye continued:

'Captain Rogers and his friends have become fugitives in their own homes and 117 different countries'

Okoye flicked her wrist, and a holographic screen appeared. On it, the names and places of all territories in question. 'as you already know, our King has made it clear that they are under Wakandan protection; and their whereabouts - to the rest of the world – is unknown. And I'd like to keep it that way'

Ayo spoke, at last:

'why me?'

It was Okoye's turn to raise an eyebrow.

'Need I say it? You are one of the strongest members of the Dora Milaje, and my Second – in – command. There are some within Wakanda who do not like interfering with the outside world, and more still who believe that Sergeant Barnes is the one to kill our previous King.'

'Thus far, only The Royal Family, select members of The Wakandan Design Group, and The Dora Milaje know about these arrangements. That is why I have chosen you. Your skills will ensure the safety of Wakanda from the outside world, and the safety of The Royal Family from within.'

Okoye touched her hand.

Intimacy was a common thing amongst the Dora Milaje. They were raised like one unit, sisters almost. Once upon a time, a touch like this had sent shivers down Ayo's spine. And she delighted in spending time with Okoye, as she did too. The connection was there, and no one could deny it. But Wakanda and their King always came first, and what they had before was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. Whilst this was an action of their sisterly bond, Ayo could never quite forget the times before, when a touch like this meant something else entirely. But she knew more than anyone else that that would not be possible, and resolved to be happy with what they had now.

Ayo took her hand.

'I will not let you down'

Okoye nodded and gave Ayo permission to leave.

It occurred to Ayo as she walked through the winding palace halls that she would be guarding one of Wakanda's greatest secrets, and the world's most dangerous man. Of course, she knew the extent of his notoriety, and fancied herself capable of taking him up on that challenge. To see who was more dangerous in that respect.

James Buchannan Barnes.

Bucky Barnes.

The Winter Soldier.

'Are you sure about this Buck?'

James looked up.

Steve's baby blue eyes bore into his own. To the untrained eye, one would assume gravity in his stern gaze. A set determination inspecting those within its line of sight.

The eyes of a Captain.

But James knew Steve well.

Saw the way his eyes skittered back and forth from his eyes to his injuries. His hands in his pockets, concealing the fists he made when he was anxious. And his stance – although casual – was stiff and rigid. He was still naturally, but never so unforthcoming.

Steve was afraid.

Steve may have had a reputation as Brave, Strong, Fearless, and Just, a package that came with the moniker of Captain America, but he was very much human. Steve was just as selfish, as cowardly, as a mess as anyone else. But the fact of the matter was, that Steve was less of these things then anyone else. He strived to be better, and it was in his efforts that he was. Steve was as much Captain America as he was as Steve Rogers.

Perhaps that was why Bucky had loved him. A lifetime ago, it had only been friendship between the two. They always had each other's backs. But as they grew older, the feelings where there, growing with them. As natural as the air they breathed.

There hadn't been a need to say anything about it.

Only they had to be careful.

Bucky could not bear to see Steve tear himself apart, and neither could Steve bear the stress he had put his friend through. Had they continued as an item, they would surely have broken apart. Their relationship (whether as friends or as lovers) ending because of one of their many stupid arguments. So it was friendship they had settled with, and friendship they would continue with.

Bucky smiled.

'I can't trust my own mind. So until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head, going back under is the best thing. For everybody.'

Steve looked down. A dejected smile forming on his lips. It was Bucky's turn to protect his friend. But the only way he could do that was by getting himself fixed. Steve had gone through hell and back, risked prison to find him, and now, he was still looking out for him. It was enough.

It was more than enough.

'Captain Rogers, Sergeant Barnes'

Bucky stood at once. The authority of the voice evoking a dormant response. The King walked in, two women in crimson armour flanking him either side. 'at ease Soldier, Captain. You are amongst friends here. There is no need for such formalities.' Bucky relaxed, Steve's own stiffness unfurling beside him.

T'challa inspected the pair briefly, an air of sympathy in his gaze. 'Your Cryostasis chamber is ready Sergeant Barnes. But before I can permit you to go in, I must impart important information to you, and Captain Rogers' T'challa said.

'your being in Wakanda is a Secret. Many of my own people do not know of your existence within Wakanda. And for safety reasons, your whereabouts shall remain unknown to the rest of the populace. Only select individuals know about this arrangement, and one such person shall oversee your safety for the duration of your stay'

Behind T'challa, one of the women at his side stepped forward. 'this is Ayo. She will be in charge of your safety.' Ayo looked at him, and somehow, the air had become sparser.

Bucky had prided himself on his ability to read people, something he had naturally developed over time, and had become more pronounced as The Winter Soldier.

Somehow, this woman's presence knocked the wind out of him.

Her eyes were both gentle and grave. With the warmth and depth of a mother, but with the ferocity and mercilessness of an Amazon. Her dark form spoke of years of intense training, and a grueling regime. Her appearance suggesting a harsh and authoritative figure, that was not to be challenged. But beneath all this, there was an element of determined confidence in her ways. Not foolhardiness, but a senseless, selfless, thing about her that spoke of an unchallenged strength and a devoted loyalty to her King. Whether it was intentional or not on the part of T'challa, Bucky knew what she was.

She was a Protector.

It occurred to Bucky suddenly that in the seconds it took to observe her, he had read her faster than anyone else. And he had looked away just as fast. If she was as good as T'challa had suggested, she would have noticed a change in him. Bucky focussed on her lips. A nervous habit he had learned from childhood.

'Good afternoon Sergeant Barnes' Ayo said, Bucky noting a lack of change in her voice. Good, she hadn't noticed. Bucky looked up, forcing himself to meet her gaze. 'It's lovely to make your acquaintance Miss Ayo' he replied.

They made their way to the cryostasis chamber. The room was nicer, safer than all the other rooms he had been placed in the past. Even the clothes they had given him to wear was comfortable. The staff explained the procedure to him: he would be in cryostasis for an indefinite amount of time. The pod would act as an x-ray, scanning the signals his brain made in reaction to some of the words used to trigger his activation. Once they established a pattern, they would be able to access a deeper part of his consciousness and make suggestions to his brain to associate each word to a memory, rather than the becoming of The Winter Soldier.

'in order to do this, we will need your compliance, of course' Shuri said, smiling. 'You will be asleep, but you will be awake also. It's called hypnagogia or waking dreams. Whilst in this state, your mind will process what to do, and with some effort, you will be able to do so as well.'

Bucky was strapped in place.

The pod was comfortable, and Bucky found it easy to relax into it. As he closed his eyes, his thoughts wandered to Ayo. Her presence unnerved him. Not that he was afraid of her, just wary. He had met others like her, fought them and had seen the depths they would go to for a cause.

Protectors like her were rare in his previous line of work, but he knew them when he saw them. They were devoted, loyal, unwavering in the sight of adversity, and lacking fear and doubt in anything. And their strength knew no bounds.

Kind of like Steve.

They were the best and worst kind of people to cross.

And if anyone crossed her, they would be in a world of hurt.

The air froze over, and in his final waking moments, he thought only of Ayo's lips.