CHAPTER FORTY-TWO – Mi Amour
[JANUARY 2017]
Thaddeus Ross stood tall, hands clasped behind his back and unable to contain the building disgust as the armored cell door opened on my long-awaited release day.
I fought a smile, deciding it prudent not to anger him. "Why the long face, Ross?" I questioned innocently. "Don't tell me you've grown to like me?"
"Releasing you goes against my better judgement, Renard."
I stepped out of my self-contained room, stretching my arms high above my head.
"You should've thought about that before you signed on the dotted line." I walked alongside him, his bitter disappointment heightening my excitement.
"I got you in here, and if your history proves anything, I'll have you back here soon enough."
"And what crimes would you judge me by in that instance?"
"There's no shortage from your long and varied career, it wouldn't be difficult to have charges brought against you for war crimes."
"War crimes," I muttered, unable to stop some of my contempt for him from spilling out. "Is that how you explain away HYDRA's treatment of POW's?"
"Stark can't protect you forever." He avoided my direct challenge. "I won't make another deal to save you from a permanent place here."
I followed him into a processing room, signing various release forms before accepting the bag of clothes from my arrival five months before.
Ignoring Ross, I went into a side room to change slowly into jeans and a grey sweater. Stepping into a pair of black ballet flats, I moved over to a small mirror positioned on top of a filing cabinet. My thoughts wandered towards the future whilst pulling my hair into a ponytail, I didn't know if Bucky remained in stasis, or if Steve would speak to me whenever we reunited.
Five months living in a fortress under the ocean suddenly seemed like a lifetime away from everything I knew. But I didn't regret my decision. I'd chosen my family, keeping Michael close and restoring my relationship with Tony enough to know we could trust each other no matter what the future held for us. Protecting my family had to be my main priority.
Opening the door, Ross no longer stood alone. My heart jumped to see Michael and I rushed to him, hugging my son until he gasped for air.
"Mom!" He laughed.
"Sorry." I pulled away enough to kiss every inch of his handsome face, unable to fight the happiness bursting inside me. "You look great, I can't believe you're here."
"Wouldn't have missed it for the world." Michael beamed.
"I assume I can leave now?" I turned to Ross.
He curtly nodded, jaw tightening as the two of us walked away together.
"Tony not with you?" I linked my arm with Michael's.
"Nah, he's busy but sent me on his new helicopter, it pilots itself."
The heavy pressure doors opened to the cargo hold and the helipad exposed to the clear morning. I didn't look back as we boarded Tony's helicopter.
"I tried to get you out earlier, mom, but Ross said conditions weren't great to get out here, paperwork was missing… all bullshit of course." Michael rolled his eyes settling into his seat.
"He was using any excuse to keep you in longer, if Tony hadn't bugged him so much, he probably would've left you here."
"Probably," I agreed as the helicopter lifted off the helipad, ascending from the prison. "Listen, there's something I need to tell you, last week when Tony came to visit, we worked out my release with Ross, and I agreed to an amendment."
"What kind of amendment?" Michael asked cautiously.
"There'd be no home detention or probation, as long as I turned over my American citizenship."
"Mom!"
The helicopter dropped abruptly, Michael turning his attention to the panel beside him and gaining control of the aircraft.
"What the hell, mom?"
I place a reassuring hand on his arm. "It's okay–"
"How's that okay? He asked you to give up the one thing you've fought for!" He bubbled with rage. "All you've ever done is serve the U.S."
"It's one country out of a hundred and ninety something."
His gaze snapped to my face, a realization overcoming him. "You're leaving, aren't you?"
"I told Ross I'd retire to the house in France–"
"But you don't plan on staying there."
I shook my head. "I'll make arrangements to get to Wakanda from there."
"You're taking a big risk, if Ross finds out–"
"He won't–"
Unable to hide his pained expression, Michael shook his head. "You can't give up everything–"
"I don't see it like that." I shifted closer towards him, an arm wrapping around his tense shoulders. "You and Mariko get to live your lives without my past hanging over your heads, and you can come to Wakanda whenever you want… if Steve won't block my attempt to enter."
"He won't," he sighed. "He's not pissed at you; he's been keeping himself busy too."
"Doing what?"
He shrugged. "You know him, always a cause to fight somewhere."
"That's what worries me."
"I'll change the coordinates to Wakanda, you get some rest."
I kissed his cheek. "You can see why I agreed, can't you?"
"Course I can, don't mean I have to like it." He sighed. "Ross is a dick."
"Yes, but it's over now." I relaxed against the seat, turning my attention out the window.
-x-
Michael's suggestion of rest was just that. I couldn't bring myself to rest, not with the simmering emotions churning my insides. Five months I'd dreamed of this moment. Five months I'd wondered what would be waiting for me on the outside. And for five months I feared I'd destroyed the one thing I'd always wanted.
I'd shut the past away as I signed released forms, giving up my citizenship to the country I'd fought for, called my home since I was twenty years old. Just as I'd done when I'd run away from New Zealand in search for adventure. A new future, something unknown laid before me, and my only wish was to see Bucky on the other side.
"Mom?"
I snapped out of my thoughts, gaze focusing on Michael moving pass me to open the doors.
"We're here."
"Will you stay long?" I asked as we disembarked together.
"Just till morning, I'll bunk here."
"No, come back to the apartment."
"I promised Pepper I'd be back before anyone noticed." He smiled drawing me into a hug. "Me and Mariko will come out when you've had a chance to settle in, she wants to check out Shuri's lab."
I nodded giving him an extra squeeze before we parted ways.
Heading to my apartment, I entered, surprised to find the lights on. Pulling off my jacket I stopped halfway as Bucky wandered out of the bedroom. My heart seemingly stopped beating for a second until a smile slid across his lips and his happiness spread its warmth through my entire body.
"Bucky," I murmured, my jacket slipped unwittingly from my grasp to the floor. "You're out."
"A couple of months now."
My stomach dropped.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"Steve told me what you did," he remarked walking towards me as if he'd swayed straight out of my dreams into real life.
"I can explain–"
"Later."
A blush settled across my cheeks as his bold blue eyes raked me from head to toe, promising a sleepless night I wouldn't want to forget any time soon.
"You're here now, that's all that matters." His mouth came down on mine without warning, telling me without words I was exactly where I needed to be.
We stumbled like drunks towards the bedroom, all reason fleeing, leaving only the madness of desire. Clothes fell all over the place as Bucky's merciless mouth rained hungry kisses upon me, dominate in his need to make up for the lost time.
Banging into the edge of the bed, his strong arm saved me from falling back, holding me against his bare chest.
"I've missed you,"
"Me too." I lost my hands in his hair, tugging him close as we kissed.
