Notes:

I don't think this needs a trigger warning, but let me know.
There is mention of the aftermath of the previous chapter, but it's not graphic.

Another heart beat drummed against his chest.

Bucky hadn't intended to fall asleep; hadn't thought it was possible. So, he was surprised to find himself waking as a weight lifted from his arm. Long hair tickled his face as it left the pillow and cool air hit his chest.

Shay was gone before the memory of the previous night came back to him. His eyes traced the thin trail of dried blood on his forearm. So, he hadn't imagined it.

He rolled onto his back, hugging the thin blanket to himself. Closing his eyes, he tried to recapture the fleeting feeling of warmth and comfort, but it was futile in the cold light of morning.

By the time he'd convinced himself to leave his room, Sam and Steve could be heard bickering over cereal in the kitchen. There was no trace of blood, torn cloth or discarded knife in the hall. Nothing to indicate that anything had taken place the night before.

He worried that she might be trying to hide her injury from the others, until he saw the concern on Steve's face, and the hard knowing glint in Sam's dark eyes.

"Shay has decided to spend some time away. T'Kazu's family has been asking her to stay with them ever since we arrived." Sam said.

"She showed you what I did to her hand?" Bucky asked, clenching his own fist.

"Yeah. She said it was her fault. Bucky, what happened?" Steve's eyes bored into him, pleading.

"Found her on the floor," he pointed lamely at the end of the hall. "I thought… checked for a pulse. Must have scared her, I didn't realize she was the one holding the knife."

"It's been getting worse since Nat left, but she refused to let either of us sleep on the floor in her room." Sam said, shaking his head with a grim expression on his face. "I hoped Wakanda would give her some peace but it takes time, and time away from all of us might be good for her."

"Do you really think it's a good idea to send her somewhere where she doesn't know anyone?" Bucky asked angrily.

Steve sighed, "it's not up to us Buck. Shay made her decision. And you saw how they doted on her at the ceremony, she'll be in good hands. She's been so busy taking care of everyone else, its about time for her to get a little of that back." His hand brushed the well-worn path over his brows and through his hair. "She's got Pippin with her; he won't let anyone near her that isn't safe. And she'll call us if she needs anything."

"I'm going for a run." Bucky said, turning sharply and stalking out the front door.

"Should I go after him?" Steve asked Sam quietly.

"No, let him run it off, he'll talk when he's ready. Both of them need a little space to stop blaming themselves."

Upstate New York,

Her legs were growing cold.

She had been sitting with her back to the old oak for half an hour, worrying at the edges of her sleeves. Footsteps approached.

"Wanda?"

"You came."

"You did ask me to meet you here." Vision's human mask turned up in a visible question.

She chuckled at the innocence of his confusion. "I wasn't sure you'd want to see me."

"I will always want to see you."

It was awkward at first, sitting side by side on a park bench.

Apologies and explanations.

Forgiveness.

"You have been quite… productive, while you've been away." His hand rested atop hers cautiously.

"You've been keeping up?" Wanda squinted up at him, turning her hand over to twine their fingers together.

Vis tapped the side of his head, "the internet is second nature, to me." He smiled gently, "It has helped me see both sides of the argument with more… clarity. There was no perfect answer. We each chose what we believed was the lesser evil. But now I see that perhaps a better solution is possible."

"Wakanda dropped out of the accords, at least until they can be reformed."

"And many others are following, eager to align themselves with such a powerful nation."

"You disagree?"

"I neither agree nor disagree. Politics, are not easy. There is far more grey in it, than I am comfortable with. One thing I do know, the Avengers need each other, almost as much as the world needs us."

"I need you to get a message to Tony."

"Of course."

Notes:

Thanks so much for reading!
If you've never left a review before, I'd encourage you to just write one or two things about any of these characters that speaks to you personally. I'm fascinated by the small things that make a character meaningful to many different people.