4

"Steve represented the best in all of us. Courageous, righteous, hopeful. And he mastered posing stoically." This drew some laughs from the crowd. "The world has been forever changed. A few months ago, billions of people reappeared after five years away, sending the world into rejoicing but also turmoil. We need new heroes. Ones suited for the times we're in. Symbols are nothing without the women and men that give them meaning. And this thing-" He picked up the shield. "-I don't know if there's ever been a greater symbol. But it's more about the man who propped it up, and he's gone. So today we honour Steve's legacy, but also we look to the future. Thank you, Captain America. For everything. But this belongs to you."

On that note, after taking one last long look at the shield, Sam handed it over to gloved museum staff who safely placed it behind the glass of the display case and locking it up. Sam stepped down from the podium.

"Agent." Rhodey approached Carina as the crowd dispersed following Sam's speech.

"Colonel Rhodes." They shook hands.

"So I hear you're going by 'Carina' now," Rhodey said.

She nodded. "Yup, my real name, as I always should have. Ah, there he is," she said as Sam made his way over, and embraced him in a hug.

"Hey, thanks for coming."

"Of course, definitely wanted to be here for this."

"Think I'm doing the right thing?"

"Steve gave it to you, trusted you with it. I think he would have supported your choice."

"Thanks, Carina." He looked around. "No Bucky?"

"No, I'm afraid not."

"Figured, otherwise he'd be at your side watching like a hawk."

"Yeah, we're like each other's body guards. I wanted him to come with me but he didn't want to so, just me."

"Well thank you, I'm glad you're here."

"Of course, Sam. I think the shield is a great addition to the exhibit."

"Yeah, I think so too."

"How was it?" Bucky asked when she returned from her quick trip to D.C.

"Good, Sam did a very nice speech. And the shield's in the Steve exhibit so it's fitting. Sam was very appreciative that I was there, and he asked about you." Bucky just mumbled something, making her roll her eyes. "How was Dr. Raynor?"

"The same. She thinks I'm clinging too much to what's familiar, meaning you, which is natural in unfamiliar situations."

"Yeah, definitely makes sense."

"But she thinks I should step out of my comfort zone more."

"Like stop ignoring Sam."

"I'm not ignoring Sam."

"You're definitely ignoring Sam. You've said like three words to him in months." Again, more mumbling from him. "Well, did you tell her about Yori? You're making some friends-"

She was cut off suddenly by what sounded like a choked sob. Whirling around, she found Bucky leaning over the table, hand pressed over his mouth trying to do just that, choke back a sob.

"Buck!" She was at his side in an instant. "Did something happen?"

"I killed his son, Carina," he managed to stutter out. "On a mission, several years ago. He saw me take out some enemies of HYDRA, so I had to kill him too. Leah, the waitress at the restaurant we always meet at, said it was nice that I was spending time with him. She said, you lose a spouse you're a widow, you lose your parents you're an orphan, but there's no word for when a parents loses a child. I did that to him. I tried to tell Yori, he's next on my amends list, but I couldn't, I just couldn't. I remember him. I remember all of them."

"Oh, Buck. That's so awful, I'm so sorry, I don't even know what else to say..."

"I'm a monster."

"No, no, don't you dare go back to that." She cupped his face in her hands so that he would look at her. "You know that wasn't you, not really. Come on, you've come so far, don't go back there."

She held him as he cried, trying not to cry herself.

In Wakanda, six years previous, Bucky had still been going through his peaceful recovery, thanks to King T'Challa, Princess Shuri, and the Dora Milaje.

Carina, then still going by Karen, had been on the run after the breakup of the Avengers and its aftermath. 'Karen Granger' had actually proved to be a good alias while being on the run.

She had received a notification from Princess Shuri of the strides Bucky had made in his recovery. They were going to try the trigger words again to see if he was cured from his brainwashing now, and Carina wanted to be there. She wasted no time in traveling to Africa.

"Carrie," he cried when she arrived at the area Ayo had arranged, far away from the city and citizens just in case the Winter Soldier was not completely gone yet.

"Hey Buck."

"You're here."

"Yeah, I am. I wanted to be here."

He smiled, but sadly. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," she assured him.

"I won't let you hurt anyone," Ayo promised.

Bucky looked extremely uncomfortable as he sat down on the other side of the fire.

"Hey," Carina soothed. "It's going to be okay. You're going to be okay."

He gave her a thankful smile.

Two other Dora came forward, crossing their spears in front of her as a protective shield in case Bucky did go rogue.

"Buck, no matter what happens, I'll be right here with you, I promise," she said as Ayo stepped forward.

"It is time."

"You sure about this?"

"I won't let you hurt anyone," she repeated. Then she began to recite the Russian words:

Longing

Rusted

Seventeen

"It's not going to work," Bucky broke in, but she continued.

Daybreak

Furnace

"Come on Buck, fight it, I know you can," Carina said softly.

Nine

Benign

Homecoming

Bucky was in tears now, clearly fighting hard against the horrible power of the words.

One

Freight Car

With the last word, nothing happened. There was a moment of collective silence and waiting.

Still, nothing happened.

"You are free," Ayo announced. He looked up at her and she nodded. "You are free."

Now Bucky's sobs became those of relief. Carina burst into happy tears herself, rushing to him and wrapping him up in a crushing hug.

Now, six years later, as she held her sobbing husband plagued by memories of the dark past he had been forced to endure, Carina realized that perhaps in some ways he was free, but in terms of the memories, he may never be free.

A week after Sam had given up the shield to the museum was when it happened.

Bucky and Carina were watching the morning news with their coffee when a 'breaking news' story began to play.

"Unrest in the wake of recent events has left us vulnerable. Every day Americans feel it. While we love heroes who put their lives on the line to defend Earth, we also need a hero to defend this country. We need a real person who embodies America's greatest values. We need someone to inspire us again, someone who can be a symbol for all of us. So, on behalf of the Department of Defense and our Commander-in-Chief, it is with great honour that we announce here today that the United States of America has a new hero. Join me in welcoming your new Captain America!"

A guy in a red and blue suit strode down the steps, shield on his arm, and flashed a cheeky wink at the camera.

The two gawked at the screen. "What the hell?"

Carina's family trying to 'Americanize' themselves was inspired by Max Lord's similar situation in Wonder Woman 1984 where he thought he had to play the 'white businessman' in order to succeed. I thought it was a really interesting narrative, and so sad that he thought he had to hide his true self.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed as always! :)