Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot (such that it is) of this particular story.
Seventeen
As Bucky watched Tony and King T'Challa shared their words of parting, it was hard for him to decide who was more relieved to see the back of the other. Tony walked down the hallway quickly without sparing another glance backward and the two soldiers followed him.
Bucky noted that no guard remained with the King, though he knew better than to think he'd need one.
"How are you feeling, Sergeant Barnes?" T'Challa asked, approaching him.
Bucky wasn't sure how to answer. 'Fine' was not truthful and T'Challa would know it, but he also didn't want to say how he actually felt.
"I'm not sure yet, Your Majesty," he settled for. "But I am grateful for all you've done."
T'Challa smiled. "You are the first outsider to address me with the title of a king. Most call me 'Your Highness'. I suppose I could have corrected them but they never meant anything by it, and it didn't seem overly important; not to mention, I was used to it at the time. How did you know to say it?"
Falsworth's grinning face flashed into Bucky's mind. "Old friend from England. Don't know why it came up but one night at a pub he drank enough to regale me about rulers. He always called Kings and Queen by 'Majesty' and I couldn't keep the others straight. I'm pretty sure I learned more about King George the 6th than I ever needed to know."
"Your memory continues to return, then?"
Bucky nodded. "Yeah."
"You'll be glad to have your journals back, then."
"They were confiscated when I was arrested." Bucky shook his head. "Who knows where they are now."
"No," T'Challa corrected him. "They're here. We obtained them for you. Strictly speaking, no one knows you've been woken up, or even that you were here to begin with." T'Challa started out of the room and Bucky understood that he was meant to follow. "I've kept them guessing as to what side I was on in your concern and made it clear that the journals might contain information needed in Zemo's trial. They were compelled to hand them over to me. Zemo was convicted, by the way."
"That was fast. Not that it shouldn't have been but...," something occurred to Bucky. "How long was I under?"
"Just under a year and a half," said T'Challa. "Seventeen months. It's 2017 now. Something tells me you're used to that change."
"A bit," Bucky said, quietly. "Huh, I was born in 1917. Guess I'm 100 years old now."
"Happy centennial, Sergeant Barnes." T'Challa smiled widely. "You look good for your age!"
Bucky barely kept from rolling his eyes and wondered at how easily he and T'Challa were able to get along.
Bucky was not expecting it when they entered the hangar from the hallway. In front of them was a huge jet that was just finishing being prepped; around it moved many soldiers and airmen.
"One of Stark's," T'Challa informed Bucky. "In a rare act of humility, he left his name off of it." They shared a tight smile and just for a moment the image of Howard Stark—black hair, ridiculous mustache, and suspenders—appeared to Bucky and his smile softened a bit. Then he remembered Howard as he'd last seen him—white-haired, on his knees, confused to see his old friend alive and pointing a gun at him—and his smile fell.
"This is the jet you will be heading out on. Your travelling companion did not want to hassle my security so she stayed on board to wait for you." He motioned to a man at his side who approached with Bucky's pack.
Bucky took the pack, relief flooding through him. "Thank you for this. This means…."
"We did not look through the journals. I'm sure the others did but we did not. I hope we will never have reason to regret that decision."
Bucky met T'Challa's eye. "I hope to never give you reason to. Thank you for everything you've done to help me. I'm not worth it."
"I attacked you for the death of my father, and it was not your fault. If I were the only one hunting you, I may have taken your life. Not to mention, you were a prisoner of war for seventy years and used against your will. Anyone who had been through that alone would deserve this protection. Your own government refused to give it so I did." T'Challa held out his hand and Bucky shook it. "I'm sure we'll meet again, Sergeant. Take care of yourself."
"You, too, Your Majesty." They exchanged one last look and T'Challa turned and walked back the way they'd come in taking several of the men with him.
Bucky heard him call back with a chuckle in his voice, "Good luck with Nguyen."
Bucky looked back toward the jet wondering where he was supposed to board when a young woman approached. "Mr. Barnes, my name is Connie Nguyen, I'm one of the pilots. If you'll follow me, I'll take you aboard." She turned walked back toward the jet quickly and Bucky followed. As if she knew he would, she began talking again, rattling off details in the most apathetic voice Bucky'd ever heard. "We'll be leaving in ten minutes and the flight will last fifteen hours. No, you may not know the destination. Yes, you may use any of the amenities on board. Captain Rogers, I believe, ordered some clothes to be stocked for you so you'll be able to change if you want. There are flight attendants on board who will bring pretty much anything you ask for, screw with them and I will stop caring about that arm of yours long enough to put my boot up your ass, don't think I won't."
Bucky stopped. "I wouldn't… do that."
"Just a warning I give to everyone, Barnes. You're not special. Now move. I said ten minutes and I meant it. This bird is getting in the air and we're to make sure you're on it." She started up the steps and Bucky followed.
Princess PrettyPants- Thank you for leaving a review! One of the things that bugged me most about Tony in Civil War was that forgiving Hawkeye when Loki brainwashed him was a non-issue. He didn't blame him at all. But when Bucky was brainwashed into doing the things he did it's, what, still his fault? Eh, sure Tony. The only thing I got was his troubles coming to terms with knowing his parents murderer.
Thanks for reading my story everyone! I hope you enjoy it. Reviews appreciated.
