Candace still wanted to find him. But that was hard with Captain America and half the Avengers on the wanted list as escaped prisoners. She knew there was one person not on the wanted list, she loathed the idea, but despite her aversion, she was as determined as ever, especially after learning who Bucky was and what he had been through, to help him. So with a groan she booked a flight during her Christmas break to Los Angeles. She had pulled some strings with her dad's old college friends who had helped Mr Stark with his therapy, she was granted an interview under the pretense of asking him to fund better education for the impoverished. She went to Stark's compound with an air of determination. The elevator opened and she took a deep breath. Everything Stark stood for was against what she felt, he had alienated his own teammates and undermined freedom.
The voice of the elevator called out "Candace Ross to see you Mr Stark", piping into his lab. He looked up and took off his safety goggles.
FRIDAY invited Candace to sit. She sat and waited for Mr. Stark in the lounge pulling a book from her bag to peruse.
"Hello there" Tony said coming into the room dressed casual professional.
"Candace Ross" she said standing to her feet and shaking his hand.
He grinned "Nice to meet you Candy" he said cockily.
"Only one person gets to call me that, it's Candace or Miss Ross thank you please" she said firmly.
"So whose that lucky guy?" he said trying to smooth over her ruffled feathers "and why has he left you a Miss?" he grinned in a friendly way.
"His name is James Buchanan Barnes and he saved my life, nothing more, so he's not obliged to change my last name" she said and Tony whirled, looking back at her like she had hit him with a rock.
"He saved your life" he said sitting down and gesturing for her to do the same. He closed the door to his office.
"Yes, in Bucharest, only a few weeks before he was framed for Vienna."
"How do you know that?"
"Logic and digging deep in the internet. Not all those conspiracy theories are theories, and if Bucky was himself, like he was the night I met him, there's no way he could have done that. He's a hurting man not a villain. He needs help not to be hunted all over the world" she said glaring a little pointedly at Tony.
"I take it helping the impoverished get an education" he said looking at a paper on his desk "is not what you're here for Candace?"
"No, but it was a way to get in. My father is a leading therapist, and so he knew yours and I used those and any other connections I could to get an interview, just so I could tell you. If you ever hear from Captain Rogers, or anyone else who knows Bucky, my father would be willing to help him. He specializes in PTSD and he'd do it free of charge. His way of paying back Bucky for saving my life" she said "or at least my reputation and freedom, which is more important than my life to me."
"What makes you think I know where Captain America or the Winter Soldier are?"
"His name is Bucky, and I don't know that you do, but you were my best hope. Please, Mr. Stark, he's a hurting man, not a criminal. The things he's done, they weren't his doing. I didn't know who he was when he saved me, but to me he is the man who saved me. That's who he is now, not the KGB special weapon, not the 1940's best friend of Steve Rogers. The hunted and haunted man who can't sleep at night who saw a girl about to be abducted or worse and came in and did the right thing. That's who he is now."
Tony was silent. He was still hurting because Bucky had been the one to kill his parents. But the haunted man who couldn't sleep at night could have just as easily been describing him as the Winter Soldier. And in fact, her words forced him to realize, that Bucky had it far worse than he ever had. He lived with the guilt of not being on good terms with his father, Bucky lived with blood on his hands, blood put there by others. It dwarfed the hell out of his own head issues and he knew it.
"Very well, but I don't know where they are, and getting ahold of them is impossible" he said with a wink letting her know the last part was false. He looked around. He felt that his office might not be safe, the aftermath of the Accords had him paranoid "I'll let you know where you can find the funding for your project" he said smiling with another wink. She stood up, the childish part of her wanted to hug Tony for being so generous to a stranger, the other part of her reminded her that this man was responsible for the schism in the Avengers and Bucky being even more hunted than ever.
"Great meeting you" he said, acting like hadn't just committed treason against the Accords. He shook her hand.
"You as well."
"Have a safe flight" he commended as she opened the door "and thank you" he said.
She turned and looked at him curiously.
He shook his head, not wanting to admit that he was wrong and that she was right. And that he had been wrong since the moment he had put the Accords forward. She flew back to Dallas and told her dad what she had accomplished as she spent Christmas with her family rather than down in San Antonio by herself. The festive season hit full swing. And despite her enjoyment of the festivities, she still awaited that phone call from Tony Stark. New Years Eve came. She felt certain no call would come then, Tony would be partying it up so much that he wouldn't be sober enough to think straight, much less dial a phone.
But nonetheless, an hour before midnight on the west coast, her phone rang.
"Hello" she said, not recognizing the number, and moving outside of the living room to take the call.
"Yeah, Candy" he said, knowing in part it would annoy her, and also knowing that it would serve as a passcode.
"Tony" she said, not wanting to say Mr Stark in a crowded house.
"Yeah, I think Wakanda would be a great place to start your school for the impoverished. You should go speak English there" he said faking a drunk slur in his speech.
"Thank you sir, I'll definitely visit. Anyone I should speak to in particular?" she asked.
"Tee Cheeto, the king" he said laughing. "Happy New Year and a late Merry Christmas dear" he said and then the line went dead with a beep.
Candace grinned widely, and many asked why she was smiling even wider than usual.
"I just got some good news is all" she said smiling. A few hours into the 1st when she got ready for bed she made sure to include Tony Stark in her night prayers. She realized she had been unfeeling. If the tabloids were right he and Pepper were no longer together, and she felt being alone on New Years must surely be difficult. As for she she had had a great night with good friends and family and some first rate alcohol to boot! She decided she might let the school know she was taking some time, possibly the next semester off, due to an illness in a loved one or some such excuse, or maybe to travel abroad. She'd think of something when her head was clearer. And just to help throw suspicion off she'd fly into Egypt, and then find her way by car or boat to Wakanda.
