And here's the second part! I hope you like it, please let me know what you think!

I don't own the characters or places!


The conference in Vienna was even worse than Steve imagined. As soon as they showed up, everyone expected them to sign those damn Accords. The Avengers had decided to arrive together – Tony, Natasha, Sam, Rhodey and Steve had come. Leaving Bruce and the twins in New York had not been an easy decision, but it was better this way. They would have attracted too much attention. Clint also didn't show up since he was still somewhere with Phil and his team.

Steve had been surprised to find that Rhodey wanted to accompany them. After all, he wasn't an official part of the Avengers yet. However, Tony's best friend had emphasized that this was also important to him. And maybe he didn't want to let the Avengers go alone.

Before going there, they had decided to let one of them do the talking. No one had been surprised when Tony offered to do it. He always knew what to say. He'd shrugged off all the questions about their opinion towards the Accords and just charmed the reporters until they were able to vanish into the building. There, no more reporters had waited for them, but politicians. Many of them.

The biggest surprise were the people from Wakanda, a small country in Africa. Their king T'Chaka was there, together with his son T'Challa. Tony had told him once that Vibranium came from Wakanda, but he didn't think of it very much until now. Something about T'Challa bothered Steve. He knew that this man wasn't a politician. He rather looked like a warrior.

The others seemed to have similar thoughts. Especially Natasha looked at him with interest on her face. "Why are you here, if I might ask? I always thought Wakanda is a very peaceful country."

"We are." King T'Chaka agreed. "However, some time ago, there was an incident with stolen Vibranium from our country. Someone wanted to use it to produce weapons." He didn't sound happy at all.

"Did you catch him?" Steve asked.

"Not yet." This time, T'Challa answered. "But we will." The determination in his voice confirmed his assumption. This man wasn't just a normal prince.

Steve just wanted to ask how they would do that, but he was interrupted by many people walking towards the conference hall. A few people wanted to make speeches – king T'Chaka was among them – and it would start now.

First, it was pretty boring. They were all talking about the threats the world was facing nowadays, how they could be prevented and how important it was to have everything under perfect control. Between the speeches, Tony kept whispering comments into his ear and Steve had to try very hard not to laugh.

Then T'Chaka stepped forward and all the attention in the hall turned to him. He talked about the situation in Wakanda, the Vibranium that was stolen and how sad they all were that innocents died at the mission that had gone wrong. While he was talking, Steve noticed that something caught Tony's attention next to him and when he looked more closely, he saw that T'Challa was also looking in that direction.

"EVERYBODY GET DOWN!" T'Challa shouted suddenly.

"Watch out!" Tony called at the same time and grabbed Steve's hand. Steve reacted immediately and pulled the person on his other side – Natasha – to the ground as well. The explosion destroyed parts of the building and suddenly, the room was filled with the cries of people.

Someone ran past him and Steve noticed that it was T'Challa. His father was lying on the ground, motionless.

"Come on, we have to go after him!" It was Sam's voice that took him back to reality. Just in that moment, Steve realized that Tony wasn't next to him anymore. He was standing close to the big hole in the building the explosion had caused.

Steve knew what Sam was talking about immediately. He'd also seen the man who'd caused the explosion. Bucky. Or rather the Winter Soldier.

"Alright, but we won't be fast enough!" Inwardly, he cursed for not having his shield close by.

"I am." Tony was walking towards the door and gestured for them to follow him. While doing that, they ignored the people who were yelling at them to stay inside. "I've got the suit right here. JARVIS is already trying to track him." He tapped against his chest where the reactor was hidden under his shirt.

"You can't go after him alone!" Steve protested loudly.

"It's our best chance." Tony raised his eyebrows. "Or does one of you have his super suit right here?" When no one answered, he laughed. "I thought so. But don't worry, you won't be completely useless." They shared surprised glances when Tony walked towards a car close to the building, but no one protested. When Steve recognized the driver, he laughed.

"Thank you, Happy." Tony grinned and opened the luggage space. In there was Steve's shield as well as Sam's wings. "I've been expecting trouble. I couldn't get your suit, though." He glanced at Rhodey apologetically.

"Don't worry, someone has to keep those in check. I'll do that." Rhodey gestured at the police officers who were running towards them.

"I'll help you." Natasha said immediately.

"We shouldn't waste more time." Tony agreed and right before he could step into the suit and fly away, Steve grabbed him and kissed him.

"Be careful."

Tony smiled slightly. "I always am."


In the end, they were able to catch Bucky with the help of T'Challa, who really was a warrior. The Black Panther. It had been very close – Bucky was a good fighter and prepared for everything. For some time, he was even able to shake off Tony and Sam.

Of course it was Steve who had to face him and Bucky did everything to get away from Steve. Just like last time they fought, Bucky knew exactly how to avoid getting hit by the shield and Steve had trouble dodging away from all his attacks.

He lost the shield in the course of a battle on an empty parking deck and cursed inwardly when he noticed that the others – Tony, Sam and T'Challa – weren't there to help him. Bucky grabbed his throat and lifted him off the ground. Steve coughed and tried to talk to Bucky again, like he'd already done during the battle, but no sounds would escape his lips. He also couldn't loosen Bucky's grip around him. Just when his vision already started to blur, Bucky let go of him.

They both fell to the ground and Steve could see the cause of this sudden change. Tony was standing over Bucky, the shield in his hands. Apparently, he'd hit Bucky with it. On the head. Hard.

"Steve, are you alright?" Tony sounded worried when he knelt down next to him. From the corner of his eyes, Steve could see T'Challa and Sam grabbing Bucky to make sure that he wouldn't wake up and try to escape soon.

"I'm fine." Steve coughed and tried to smile at Tony. "Thank you."

"Don't scare me like that!" Tony muttered. "That was stupid."

The sound of sirens getting closer made Tony frown. "This won't be nice." He muttered. "They'll make it look like we're the bad guys now. Just let me do the talking." Those words were also directed at Sam. Then Tony raised his eyebrows at T'Challa. "Nice suit."

"You too." T'Challa said and then he kept staring at Bucky darkly. Only then Steve realized that Bucky had killed his father, the king of Wakanda.


"I want to talk to him." Steve said sternly. They had just arrived in front of a dark looking building he knew Bucky would get locked in for now. "Maybe he recognizes me."

The soldiers that got out of the van with them just looked at him silently.

"I don't think that they're even listening to you, Steve." Sam threw in quietly.

"As I said, let me talk." Tony muttered and looked at them warningly. "One wrong word and you'll never even get the chance to see him again." He didn't sound happy at all and it took Steve a moment to realize why. Suddenly, he remembered a conversation with Tony many months ago.

Did you love Bucky? Back then?

Look, I'm sorry for acting this way, but you always talking about Bucky... It hurts.

Tony had never liked Bucky and he had always been worried what would happen if Steve ever saw him again. Because he might not be Bucky anymore, even if Steve still didn't believe it. His best friend was in there, he knew it. Back then, Steve had been so caught up in Bucky's appearance, that he nearly forgot about Tony and his feelings at all. He knew that it still hurt Tony to think of it. And now Bucky was back.

He cursed inwardly, Did it already look like he was choosing Bucky over Tony again?

Steve took Tony's hand and squeezed it. "I love you."

First, Tony raised his eyebrows in surprise, but then he chuckled. "I love you too, Steve. What's wrong?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. I just wanted you to know this."

Their short conversation was interrupted when T'Challa appeared next to Tony.

"Your suit is made of Vibranium." Steve noted and T'Challa nodded.

"The Black Panther has been the protector of Wakanda for generations." He explained. "A mantle, passed from warrior to warrior." It looked as if he wanted to continue, but their arrival in the entrance hall of the building stopped him.

The first thing Steve noticed were many heavily armed soldiers waiting for them. In front of them stood Sharon Carter, together with another man. He wasn't very tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a light gray suit, had his arms crossed and didn't look pleased at all. T'Challa made a surprised noise and when Steve glanced at him, he saw that he was watching the man in front of them closely.

"What will happen to him?" Steve asked, the question directed at no on in particular.

"Psychological evaluation and extradition." The man answered simply and before he could say anything else, Sharon interrupted him.

"This is Everett Ross." She introduced him. "Deputy Task Force Commander."

Steve opened his mouth to reply, but this time, Tony was faster. "Agent Ross, it's a pleasure to meet you." He said with a wide smile. "We are very grateful that you can provide a secure place to keep Mr. Barnes for now."

Ross raised his eyebrows sceptically. "For now?"

"For now." Tony agreed immediately. "No one knows where we'll go from here, after all. Or am I wrong?"

Everett Ross stared at Tony for a few moments before he sighed. "No, I think you're not, Mr. Stark." He muttered resignedly, not pleased to be talking to Tony at all. Steve had to breathe in deeply to stop himself from chuckling and from the amused look on Sam's face, he knew that his friend felt the same. It had been a good idea to let Tony do the talking. Again, Steve felt proud that this incredible man had chosen him of all people.

"Come on, let's go." Ross gestured for them to follow him further into the building. When he was about to walk past T'Challa, he smiled. However, this time, it wasn't a fake smile. This one seemed to be honest. "Prince T'Challa, it's an honour to meet you and I'm so sorry for your loss."

Those words seemed to take T'Challa by surprise. He bowed his head. "Thank you, Agent Ross." If he'd looked at him curiously before, it was nothing compared to now. And apparently, Ross was also fascinated by the person in front of him. They looked at each other for a few more moments before Ross cleared his throat and led them to a small conference room.

"Someone will talk to him soon." Ross said once they were all seated. "We have to know more about his psychological state." He looked at Tony and Steve. "You said that he's not always the 'Winter Soldier' as you call it?"

Steve nodded. "Hydra can control his mind."

T'Challa looked just as sceptical as Everett Ross. "How should that be possible?"

"It's a long story." Tony muttered and it was obvious that he didn't want to explain it now. "Took us some time to figure that out as well."

"And he recognized you the last time you met?" Ross asked Steve.

"He did." He confirmed.

Ross sighed heavily. "Let me summarize it. You want to go in there and talk to him before our expert arrives, just because you think that he might still know that you were his best friend so many years ago?" He raised his eyebrows. "That's a little thin, isn't it?"

"He recognized Steve two times, by the way." Sam added. "The second time, Bucky even saved his life."

"It's worth a try." Tony threw in. "What do you have to lose? Either he recognizes Steve and might tell him who planned the attack, or he won't. As simple as that."

"You know that nothing is simple, Mr. Stark." Ross said. "Actually, you all shouldn't even be allowed to be here with me right now. After all, you didn't sign the Accords yet and you just ran through the city in your suits and caused lots of trouble. Normally, I should lock you all up until Thaddeus Ross arrives to decide what to do with you." He smiled slightly. "Not to mention that your other friends hindered police officers from doing their jobs just to make your little chase possible."

Steve shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Of course Ross noticed this. "They're gone. Jumped into a car and vanished with it, no one knows where they are now."

From the way Tony's lips twitched at this, Steve was sure that he knew exactly where Rhodey and Natasha were right now. Luckily, Happy had come to Vienna.

"Now to you." Ross turned to T'Challa "You would be in trouble as well if anyone knew about your stunts in that suit." He breathed in deeply. "Wakanda already offered to sign the Accords, so I didn't report you to other authorities yet."

T'Challa looked at Ross in surprise. "You didn't have to do this."

"I know." Ross said simply and his lips twitched. "If this all goes wrong, I'll be in lots of trouble because of you." This was directed at all of them.

Steve stared at the man in front of him. Honestly, he'd expected lots of trouble coming from Everett Ross. He seemed to be rule-obsessed. Apparently, he'd been wrong.

"That means you'll let me talk to Bucky?" Steve asked hopefully.

"I still don't believe your story." Ross emphasized. "If this goes wrong, I might as well lose my job. So please don't do anything stupid in there. I'll be watching the whole time. You also won't be allowed to get too close to him. You get five minutes and not one second more."

"Thank you." This was the first time Steve smiled at Ross and it was an honest smile.

"And if he recognizes him, you'll just let all the accusations against him drop?" T'Challa didn't sound happy. "He killed many people. He killed my father!"

"I won't do anything then." Ross declared. "I'm not allowed to make those kinds of decisions. However, I want to give it a try. You don't have to like this, prince T'Challa." He glanced at Steve and the others. "I just can't shake off the feeling that there might be more to their story than we believe right now."

Ross and T'Challa looked at each other silently for some time until T'Challa nodded. "I know that you're right." He sighed. "Then let's get over with it."

Everett Ross nodded. "Follow me."


"Do you know who I am?" Steve asked and leaned against the wall next to the door. Everett Ross had said as soon as he'd take one more step into the room, the conversation would end immediately. Steve could feel them watching him through the glass. Especially Tony. Steve had sensed his unease when Ross declared that he would let him talk to Bucky in private, but there hadn't been a moment to talk to his lover in private.

"You're Steve." Bucky said simply. "I read about you in a museum. And you were my friend."

"You remember that?"

"Your friend hit me pretty hard. That made a few memories come back." He meant the moment when Tony hit him on the head with his shield. "I didn't want to kill those people."

"I know." Steve replied.

"You believe me?" The surprise in Bucky's voice was hard to miss.

"Of course I do. Hydra has controlled you."

"They found me again. I thought I'd be safe in Europe." He frowned. "That was some time ago. The mission was to wait for the right moment and then attack."

"They didn't specify it?" Steve's mind was racing. The Avengers had defeated Hydra some time ago, so they couldn't have known about the conference concerning the Accords.

"No. When I heard of that conference, it was like my mind wouldn't work correctly anymore. I just had to get there and do something." He sighed. "That's a horrible feeling."

"But now you're better?" Steve asked hopefully.

"That blow on the head made the other voices vanish." Bucky whispered. "At least for now. Until they find me again."

"Hydra doesn't exist anymore." He explained. "You're safe now, Bucky."

"You want me to believe that? I'm a prisoner here, Steve." He laughed dryly. "Most probably, they'll lock me up forever after everything I've done."

"Bucky..." Steve began, but in this moment, the door behind him opened and he knew that his time was over. "I'll see you again." Steve smiled at him one last time before he left the room and the door was locked behind him.

"Well, that was interesting." Ross said thoughtfully and led them back to the conference room. "Our expert has just arrived, he'll talk to him soon."

"What do you think of this?" Steve whispered to Tony.

"Would explain why he recognized you before." He said. "When a good blow on the head makes Hydra's control vanish." He smiled slightly, but it didn't reach his eyes. Instead, Tony just looked worried.

"What do you think they'll do with him now?"

"The things he told you aren't of any importance, considering that Ross let you in there on his own." Tony muttered. "We'll have to see what their expert says."

"That Bucky's crazy?" Steve guessed.

"Yeah, something like that." Tony agreed.

Back in the conference room, Ross looked at them thoughtfully. "Seems like your story isn't completely insane."

"So what are we going to do now?" Steve asked.

"Maybe we could get him a trial." Ross said slowly. "I know that they aren't planning it."

"Might be worth a try." Tony agreed. "Though I doubt that it would help him."

"He's a murderer." T'Challa threw in. "He has to take responsibility for his actions."

"Just that it weren't his actions. Hydra has controlled him!" Steve snapped.

"We might know that, but others don't." It was strange to hear Tony this patiently. "And how should we make them understand?"

"He believes us now too." Steve looked at Everett Ross.

"Partly." Ross crossed his arms. "Look, I can't do anything for you. I did already more than I'm allowed to. You have to solve this by yourself."

"Maybe I can make some calls." Tony muttered and only now Steve noticed how tired he sounded. When he looked at him, he noticed the unhappy look on his face. And here they were again. Discussing Bucky. Didn't Steve plan to be there for Tony, no matter what happened with Bucky?

He took his hand and squeezed it. They exchanged a small smile and only then Steve was able to relax again.


"How are you going to explain that?" Ross shouted while they were running towards the control room. "He attacked people and escaped!"

"I don't know!" Steve declared loudly. "He was himself when I talked to him, you saw that!"

"We have to catch him before he can leave this building!" Ross told them.

"JARVIS says that your expert wasn't the real one!" Tony shouted in this moment. "The real one is dead. He manipulated Bucky!" Steve stared at him wide-eyed. Why didn't they think of checking the expert before?

"How do you know?" Ross asked breathlessly.

"Just had a look at the records. He's got some kind of book he's been reading in." Tony explained. "You go to the control room, we will try to stop him downstairs. And get hold of that impostor!"

To Steve's surprise, Ross just nodded and they parted ways.

"I can't believe that we have to chase him again!" Sam shouted angrily.

"We have to catch him." T'Challa said sternly.

"We will." Steve answered.

Easier said than done. Since they were still inside that building, it wasn't easy to catch Bucky. He used many tricks and the civilians who were still inside didn't make it any better. Sam and Steve didn't have their gear right now and Tony couldn't use the Iron Man suit inside without causing too much damage. The only one who was able to stand a chance against Bucky was T'Challa, but he could also fend him off easily.

"Tony, watch out!" Sam shouted suddenly and Steve had just enough time to turn around to see his lover flying through the air, right into a glass wall that separated two rooms. The glass shattered and Steve's heart was about to stop. Fear was cursing through his veins and he was glad to see Tony moving when he got closer. He was covered in blood, but otherwise, he seemed to be alright.

"I'm fine. Go after him!" Tony muttered when Steve knelt down next to him. "This is important, now GO!"

Steve hesitated for a few moments, but in the end, he turned around and ran after Sam, T'Challa and Bucky. Suddenly, he felt angrier than he did in a long time. Even if Bucky was his best friend and an innocent in all this, Steve couldn't just let him hurt Tony.

This time, Steve knocked Bucky out without hesitation when they finally got a hold on him. Even while they were fighting Bucky, a part of Steve's mind was with Tony, praying that he was alright.


When they returned to the base, Tony and Everett Ross were already waiting for them. Tony was still wearing the bloody suit, but otherwise, he looked fine. There were a few cuts in his face and the suit was ruined. Through a few holes, Steve could see bandages. Only then he released the breath he didn't know he'd been holding until then.

"Are you alright?" Steve asked once he was standing in front of Tony.

"Just a few scratches, nothing serious." Tony said and smiled slightly.

That's when Steve couldn't hold himself back any longer. He wrapped his arms around Tony and pulled him closer. When his boyfriend flinched, he let go again immediately. "Oh god, I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Tony shrugged it off. This time, Steve was more careful when he hugged Tony.

"I was so scared." Steve whispered. "All that blood..."

"You know that you won't get rid of me that easily." Tony joked and kissed him softly. "You caught him?"

Steve nodded. "I knocked him out again. Maybe it will help."

"Interesting way to test that theory." Tony said with a slight smile on his lips.

"He hurt you." Steve muttered darkly.

Tony touched his cheek carefully. "Stop worrying, I'm fine. I've lived through worse."

"I shouldn't have let you face him alone."

"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but maybe we should concentrate on the problem at hand?" Everett Ross' voice threw in. He was looking rather uncomfortable now. "We'll lock him in again and Secretary Ross wants to come over later. He also still waits for your answer considering the Accords."

Steve sighed. "That won't be fun."

"We'll manage that." Tony threw in and took his hand. "Then let's get inside. Happy and the others will also arrive soon." He grimaced. "I hope he brings that new suit I ordered. I have to get out of these clothes."

An hour later, they were sitting in the control room. This time, Natasha and Rhodey were there as well and Tony was wearing a new suit – dark gray with a red shirt, Steve thought it suited him very well. They were just discussing how that impostor could get to Bucky that easily.

"He stole the identity of your expert." Tony explained. "JARVIS was able to reconstruct how he did it. His true name is Helmut Zemo." He swallowed. "He's lost his family when..." He glanced at Steve. "I think you know when."

He did. And from the looks of it, the others knew as well.

"I can't believe that he escaped." Sam muttered. "Who knows what else he's up to." While saying that, he glared at Ross.

He sighed. "We couldn't catch him in that chaos he caused." He muttered darkly.

"JARVIS is on it." Tony said. "Though it would be good to know what he wanted from Bucky."

Steve frowned at him. "What do you mean?"

"I don't think that he only wanted to cause trouble by manipulating Bucky again." Tony explained. "There was something else and we have to know what it is. I doubt that he would have taken this risk only to make our lives more difficult."

"Then we have to talk to Bucky again." Steve said and looked at Ross expectantly.

Everett Ross held up his hands. "I can't let you to him again. And besides, he's still unconscious."

"Why do you think that there's more to it, Tony?" Natasha asked curiously. "I mean, mad people tend to do unlogical things."

"This was planned too well." Rhodey threw in. "I mean, he knew how to manipulate Bucky. I bet it wasn't easy to find out about that."

"Does he have ties to Hydra?" Steve asked.

"Nope." Tony shook his head. "Nothing. I don't even know how he got to know so many things about Bucky."

Steve ran a hand through his hair. "I don't get it. Why would he do all this?"

"This incident proves one thing." T'Challa, who'd listened to their conversation silently until now, said. "Your friend is dangerous. With that book, anyone could control him again."

"I won't let you take him to Wakanda." Steve declared.

"No one will take anyone here." Ross threw in loudly and glared at them. "If someone would ask me, I'd just say that we lock him up forever. But you can be lucky that no one will ask me." He sighed. "And maybe I also have my doubts now."

The last sentence made them all look at him in surprise. Ross chuckled uncomfortably. "I also can't shake off the feeling that something's wrong here."

"Then you have to let me talk to him again." Steve said immediately. "Otherwise, something bad might happen and we can't prevent it."

"And that's why the governments want to control you so badly." Ross noted. "Who says that your intervention won't lead to all those events in the first place?" Something in his voice told Steve that Ross was actually considering letting him talk to Bucky again.

"When Secretary Ross arrives here, we won't get a chance to talk to Bucky again." Tony spoke. "It would be now or never."

They all turned to Everett Ross expectantly. He looked at all of them silently and Steve had the feeling that his eyes stayed on T'Challa a little longer, but in the end, he nodded. "Alright, I know that I will most probably regret this, but let's get on with it."

Steve smiled at him. "Thank you."

"Thank me again when this is over." Ross muttered and again, they made their way to Bucky's new cell.


"He doesn't want anyone to listen to the conversation." One of the soldiers who were guarding Bucky said. "Otherwise, he won't say anything."

Ross didn't look happy at all. "What is so secret that only Mr. Rogers should know?"

"Only one way to find out." Steve said simply and noticed the disappointed look on Tony's face. He took his boyfriend aside. "You know that there's no other way. He will only talk to me, no one else."

"He wouldn't even know if we're listening." Tony muttered.

"But I would and you know that I'm a terrible liar." Steve took his hands. "You have to trust me with this."

Tony sighed deeply. "I do. It's just..." He shook his head. "Nevermind."

"Tony..."

"Just go in there. I'll be upstairs." Steve knew that Tony's smile was forced. "See you later." After one last kiss on the cheek, Tony left with the others, who also didn't look happy. Steve felt his heart drop when he saw Tony leave like this. It seemed like Bucky was standing between them and there was nothing he could do to lessen the distance that was building itself between him and Tony.

He took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. He would fix things with Tony later. Right now, he had to focus on the problem at hand. And that was Bucky. His friend was in trouble and there was no way Steve would let them lock him up again.

The conversation with Bucky was shocking. Apparently, he wasn't the only Winter Soldier. There were more of them, still asleep and Zemo planned to wake them. If he succeeded at that, it would end in chaos. There was a reason why Hydra didn't wake them yet.

However, this wasn't the worst part of the conversation. Zemo also wanted information about a special night. When Steve heard the date, he froze. He knew what had happened on that day. Just that Tony's parents didn't die in an accident, he got to know now.

"He's important to you." Bucky noted when he saw Steve's expression. "Their son."

"His name is Tony." Steve whispered. "And I love him with all my heart."

Bucky smiled. "I'm happy for you, Steve. You deserve some love." He frowned. "Will you tell him?"

That was a good question. Could he even tell Tony about this? What would it do to him? How would it influence his view on Bucky?

He swallowed. "I don't know." He said honestly.


In the meantime, Tony was sitting on a bench outside, thinking of everything that happened.

"May I sit down next to you?" A voice asked and Tony looked up, just to see T'Challa standing in front of him.

"I thought you were inside with Ross." He noted.

"I was, but he's busy right now." T'Challa smiled slightly. "Trying to reduce the damage we've done with our chase."

"You like him." It wasn't hard to miss.

"Surprisingly, I do." T'Challa sounded thoughtful now.

"Why does this surprise you?" Tony wanted to know. "Because he doesn't want to let you take Bucky to Wakanda?"

"Because I always thought that everyone outside of Wakanda is selfish and only follows his own goals. But Ross listened to you and he even gave your friend a chance to talk to Bucky." He frowned when he said his name. "He's not what I expected."

Tony smiled. "He seems to think the same about you." He noted. "If you consider that he keeps looking at you curiously when he thinks you're not watching."

At this, T'Challa actually laughed. "You're very attentive, Mr. Stark."

"It's Tony." He corrected him.

"Then call me T'Challa."

They sat there in silence for some time and Tony kept thinking of Steve. What was Bucky telling him now? Was he happy to have his friend back, even if he was still locked up? Would things change between them if they were able to free Bucky and prove that he was innocent?

"You will head back to Wakanda soon?" He asked, mostly to distract himself from the dark thoughts.

T'Challa nodded. "I will be the next king of Wakanda." He shook his head slowly. "I never thought that it would happen this soon."

"I'm sorry." Tony said slowly.

"In my culture, death is not the end. It's more of a... stepping-off point. You reach out with both hands and Bast and Sekhmet, they lead you into the green veldt where you can run forever."

"That sounds peaceful." Tony noted.

"My father thought so." T'Challa nodded. "But I am not my father." While saying that, he touched a ring on his finger.

"You know that you might not get your revenge." Tony said thoughtfully. "Bucky Barnes and the Winter Soldier are two different persons in the same body. They might also decide that he's innocent."

"You hope that." T'Challa frowned at him. "But not for yourself."

"He's very important to Steve."

"And you love him enough to ignore your grudge against Barnes for him."

"Yes." Tony said simply. "Even if I have the feeling that he's always standing between us. I know I shouldn't be jealous, but I can't help it. Bucky here, Bucky there..." He shrugged. "We'll see where it will lead in the end."

"I've heard that people call you selfish. But when I hear you now, I think that you're a very selfless person, Tony Stark." T'Challa smiled at him. "Steve loves you, everyone sees that. Don't let this tear you apart."

The sound of footsteps made them both look up. When Tony noticed the sad look on Steve's face, he wondered how much of the conversation his lover had heard. However, there was something else on Steve's face as well. A stern determination.

"You should come inside. We've got a problem." Steve told them. Tony and T'Challa exchanged a look before they followed him inside. On their way, Steve took Tony's hand and squeezed it tightly.