A/N: Hi guys! Happy New Year
So, remember: the first chapter was kind of like a teaser of what's to come. We're now going straight back to what happened right after Civil War. Hope you enjoy it!
Steve had lost count of the number of times he had envisioned the conversation he would have with Hermione when he saw her again for the first time since the raft prison. The words he had imagined himself saying had evolved over time and varied depending on his mood, but the overriding message he wanted to get across to her was that he loved her and was sorry that he'd put her in the position where she'd had to turn away from him.
That didn't mean that he wasn't frustrated with her - sometimes even a little angry - that she had made such a huge decision without involving him. And then, a few moments later when he recalled what she'd been through at the time, he felt incredibly guilty for thinking so negatively towards her.
It would've been quite easy to take out some of his frustration and despair on Natasha instead after she'd agreed to go along with Hermione's crazy scheme to send her family off without her. However, Steve would never forget everything that Natasha had done for them both: she'd stayed by Hermione's side during a hellish labour when Steve hadn't been there; she'd gone to the raft prison (right under Ross's beady-eyed gaze after she'd stunned T'Challa to allow Steve and Bucky to escape) and then voluntarily become a wanted criminal by joining Steve on the jet and turning her back on the Accords. Yes, he would be eternally grateful to Natasha. He didn't like to think about how hard he would've found things recently without her. She knew him almost as well as anybody and she was a comforting presence in these trying times.
T'Challa had been as accommodating a host as it was possible for a new king to be. Bucky, Natasha Steve and his daughter's arrivals into Wakanda had been very much kept out of the public eye of the native Wakandans for privacy's sake, but Steve still saw enough of the reclusive country (supposedly known to be one of the poorest in the world) to see that the people here were used to dealing in secrecy.
The first couple of days were spent within a medical facility deep in the rainforest. Steve was hardly an expert when it came to advances in science and technology, but he was quite certain that Tony would be fascinated to see what was being used in Wakanda (even though it hurt to think of the battered and bruised friend he'd left behind in Siberia). Bucky had agreed to be cryogenically frozen at the facility with little persuasion and only a small amount of apprehension. It was obvious that Bucky had a strong sense of guilt for the suffering others had endured, and Steve's reassurances that it wasn't his fault - that he'd been a pawn in HYDRA and Zemo's games - had little impact in improving Bucky's mood. It was clear that he was tired of not being fully in control of his own mind, and wanted to be out of harm's way until a solution could be found to free him of his demons.
Before he'd stepped into the pod, Bucky clasped Steve's hand tightly in his. "I really hope you can bring your family back together again, Steve." He glanced in the general direction of the room Steve's daughter was resting in whilst under observation. "She's really going to be OK?" he'd asked hopefully.
"Seems like it," Steve replied with a small, relieved smile. Bucky had been content to look on the newborn behind two sets of security screens but Steve hoped that his best friend would be able to meet his daughter face to face one day.
Amid all the pain and despair, Steve's daughter was one of the few things to bring him joy. Almost all of his time was spent with her: watching her, holding her, loving her. She was so perfect, so precious. It wasn't lost on him that he had been prepared to sacrifice his chance to ever meet his child in order to stop Zemo, and this created a powerful desire within him to cherish every moment with her - every breath and heartbeat that Hermione was missing to protect them both.
His eyes might have focused solely on his daughter but his thoughts never strayed far from his wife. He was desperate to take Hermione into his arms and take away all the pain and heartache he was sure she was suffering. With every touch of her skin against his, Steve had been only too aware how much Hermione loved him, how she had grown excited about bringing a child into the world with him and how devoted she was to her friends. Being cut off from so many of those she loved would be utterly devastating to Hermione - whether she'd chosen to enforce some of the separations or not. When Natasha had told him of Hermione's decision, only the probability that it would risk his daughter's life and liberty had prevented him from forcing the Wakandan pilots to turn the jet back to the raft prison.
"We can't just leave her there," Steve argued, his despair causing him physical pain. "Nat, please - she needs help." All of those involved in their line of work had their own demons to fight but Hermione's battle for mental health had been a struggle since her ordeal at Thanos's hands. He could only imagine the fresh damage the last few hours' trauma had inflicted upon her. Surely her decision to cut herself off from him was proof that she wasn't in the right mental state. And, what was worse, it was his actions that had led to her suffering.
Seeing his anguish, Natasha gripped his arms tightly and forced him to meet her gaze. "You can't go back, Steve," she insisted calmly. "If you get caught, you're wasting everything she's just sacrificed. I'm just as worried about her as you are. I promise we'll send help but we've got to be smart about it."
Unfortunately, with the rest of their team locked up in the prison with her, there were very few options left to them. The obvious choice - the only choice, really - was Harry. However, it was too risky for him to go to the highly-classified prison. Ross would be watching Hermione's every move and throwing Harry into the mix had the potential to only make things worse for her if he was discovered there. And so, with the permission of the Wakandan pilots, Steve crafted a message that they could send to Harry's emergency phone number, explaining how things had gone disastrously wrong and how Hermione would need him - but that he would have to wait until he found the right time to go to her. Seeing the words in black and white in front of him, Steve felt like the worst husband in the world and his spirits weren't lifted much by the short reply from Harry that wound its way back to Steve a few days later that simply said, 'I'm with her'.
Steve didn't know whether it was better or worse that Harry's reply had been so brief. Perhaps Harry was trying to save Steve pain by not going into detail about how Hermione was suffering, but it didn't prevent him from imagining it. It was an unbearable situation to be in but he had to take heart in knowing that she now had someone to lean on...
"They tell me your daughter is thriving," T'Challa said warmly when he managed to take some time out of his new kingly duties to visit. "I am very pleased to hear it."
"Thank you - for everything," Steve said earnestly. "I can't tell you how grateful I am that you helped get her away from Ross and have given her a safe space for a few days - and with Bucky too. I can't thank you enough."
T'Challa nodded at him and then looked down at the baby girl as she wriggled slightly in her sleep. The king positioned his little finger by her hand and she reflexively grabbed onto it, making both men smile. "I am honoured to help in whatever way I can."
They both watched her in silence for a few moments until Steve enquired how the king was stepping into his role.
"My father has left behind a legacy that is a lot to live up to," T'Challa said softly, continuing to gaze at the tiny infant. "But I will do everything I can to make him proud - to give the people of Wakanda another king that is worthy of them." He let out a short breath of laughter and glanced up at Steve. "Her grip is so strong!"
Steve nodded, already aware.
"She will grow up to be like her father," T'Challa predicted.
"I'd rather she didn't: that she could have a safe and normal life," Steve revealed, "But now that she's here, I can only prepare her for what the future might hold."
"I hope she has a blessed life," T'Challa said, finally able to regain the use of his little finger when the baby girl let go.
"Thank you," Steve said again.
"There is a house my family have used when distance from Golden City is desired," T'Challa told him. "It is yours to use for as long as you need it."
Steve's eyes widened. "Your highness - " he began but T'Challa waved the title away. "T'Challa, I'm greatly honoured by your offer but I can't accept - I've already been too much of an imposition on you."
T'Challa looked untroubled. "Where will you go?" he asked knowingly. "Your daughter is four days old and both yourself and Ms Romanoff have been declared criminals by every United Nations government. I do not much fancy your chances beyond my borders at this moment."
Steve's shoulders slumped slightly. T'Challa spoke the truth but accepting help from others - and such a substantial gift at that - didn't come easy to him.
T'Challa placed a hand on his shoulder. "You have given so much to others: let someone else take care of you for a while."
"I don't know what else to say to thank you," Steve said honestly.
"There are benefits to being friends with a king, no?" T'Challa said with a smile.
Natasha walked into the room, inclining her head respectfully to the newly coronated king. "Your highness," she greeted with just the smallest teasing hint in her voice. Any ill-feeling between them after she'd stunned him seemed to have been resolved. "Are you here to do your kingly duty of kissing babies?" She paused. "Or is that the pope?" she mused out loud before shrugging her shoulders unconcernedly.
T'Challa told her of his offer to move them into a home for the foreseeable future and Natasha added her thanks to Steve's. "And now if you'll forgive me, I must leave - I have business in South Korea."
Steve looked at him in surprise and T'Challa hesitated a moment. "Am I right in thinking that you have both encountered Ulysses Klaue recently...?"
The next time Steve saw the king of Wakanda, T'Challa seemed to have aged a few years even though only a handful of days had passed. Something big had happened, Steve was sure about that: he'd sensed it from the people who lived and worked around the river home even before T'Challa showed up looking a little haunted. The Wakandans had been wary, gathering to gossip in small groups but unwilling to tell Steve or Natasha what they whispered about. He'd spotted Malaika, the Wakandan woman who helped him take care of his daughter, wiping away tears a couple of times and when he asked her what was wrong she denied that there was anything. "It is not true," she told him defiantly.
When T'Challa arrived a day or two later, Malaika let out a moan of joy at the sight of him and barely remembered to show her respect for her king before embracing him tightly and speaking quickly in her native tongue. T'Challa looked at the woman fondly and gave the watching Steve and Natasha a slightly sheepish grin.
"Malaika thought I was dead," T'Challa explained, his hand still clasped tightly in both of Malaika's as they entered the exquisite lodge that Steve wasn't at all used to calling home yet.
"Everyone said you were dead!" Malaika retorted hotly.
"That's what you wouldn't tell us?" Steve asked in faint disbelief - no wonder the people had been so unsettled.
"I told you it wasn't true," Malaika reminded him before looking at T'Challa with fierce pride. "Not my sweet boy."
"Malaika was part of our household when my sister and I were growing up," T'Challa explained. "She was like our third parent. I hope you'll forgive me for presuming you would need some help learning how to take care of your daughter," he told Steve, who just laughed because it was definitely accurate, "and I could think of no one better to give you advice."
"Well, you have given me no children of your own to look after," Malaika teased the king. "I'm not getting any younger, you know. Did I hear that Nakia is back in Wakanda? You were always so fond of her, weren't you? Such a lovely girl," she confided in Steve and Natasha.
"Stop, my heart," T'Challa used the term of endearment affectionately. "We cannot force these things." But there was a hint of amusement in his face and this grew into a smile after he momentarily paused before saying, "Yes, Nakia is here."
Malaika let out a gasp of delight and brought his hand up to her mouth to kiss it. There was suddenly the newly familiar sound of Steve's daughter crying.
"Ah, she is hungry again," Malaika guessed. "Never have I known such a hungry baby." Steve had moved instinctively to tend to her but Malaika held out her hand to stop him. "I'll go to her - as much as I am sure my king loves me, I know he is not here to see me."
Malaika kissed T'Challa's hand again and he embraced her. The baby girl's cries grew in intensity. "I am coming, Nomlanga," she called.
T'Challa smiled after her before turning back to Steve and Natasha as they moved to take seats out on the veranda. "Nomlanga," he repeated. "You know what that name means?"
"Greedy pig?" Natasha guessed semi-seriously - Steve's daughter did seem to need an excessive amount of food.
"The sun," T'Challa corrected her. "It's a name you might give your son or daughter to signify how they will grow each day. It is a strong name that will let your child grow from the start and prepare for a future that is bright. The name signifies strength - both of the mind and the heart, as well as positivity, life, vibrancy and power."
Steve stared at him for a few moments, a little stunned at the seriousness of T'Challa's words. It was only a nickname, surely?
"Names are very important in our culture," T'Challa said, as though reading Steve's thoughts, "and Malaika is particularly gifted at choosing an appropriate moniker for her charges: the names she chose for myself and my sister proved to be rather prophetic."
An unexpected warmth filled Steve's chest. He had no way of knowing whether anything T'Challa had said was true but it almost didn't matter. "Well, if my daughter grows to have any of the strength Malaika sees in her, I will be a happy father," Steve said softly. "I haven't given her a name yet. Hermione and I wanted to wait until the baby was born and, well, then we didn't really have time." Steve shook his head. "I don't want to choose a name for her without Hermione - though who knows how long that will be," he murmured quietly, his gut clenching painfully.
"Hopefully not as long as you think," T'Challa said and Steve's eyes focused on him intently.
"What do you mean?" he asked quickly, his heart suddenly thudding inside his chest.
Before revealing the reason behind his words, T'Challa informed them about the recent unrest within Wakanda.
"Why didn't you ask us for help?" Natasha wondered.
"You were invited here to come to a place of refuge," T'Challa pointed out calmly, "Not to fight my battles for me."
Steve wasn't inclined to argue with a king and certainly not when he'd hinted at a meeting with Hermione, but he still would've preferred to have the chance to come to T'Challa's aid after everything the king had done to help his family.
"The loss my country and my people have suffered as they fought each other should never have happened. My uncle's son should never have been abandoned just so Wakanda's secrecy could be upheld. Shutting yourself off from the rest of the world does not keep you safe," T'Challa said softly as he appeared to take a moment of inner reflection before refocusing his eyes on Steve and Natasha. "I am going to bring Wakanda out of the shadows and start building bridges that will allow us to share our knowledge and resources for the first time. Next week, I will travel to Vienna to announce to the United Nations the new path Wakanda will tread. I will also invite a delegation from the UN to visit the country before the end of the month, and I will insist that your wife be amongst the party."
Steve couldn't speak. Natasha gripped his arm comfortingly and sent him an encouraging smile.
"Obviously, we'll continue to keep your presence here a secret and ensure that all meetings between you are kept away from the other delegates," T'Challa continued as Steve struggled to find the words to express his thanks. "I know that this is unlikely to resolve your predicament but…" he tailed off and shrugged a little.
"No," Steve blurted, "I- I cannot thank you enough. The chance to see and talk to Hermione again - to show her how well our daughter is doing - that's everything to me." He stood, T'Challa doing likewise, and grasped the king's hand tightly.
T'Challa looked pleased. "Families should be together," he said. "It pains me that the Accords are the reason that yours is separated - that isn't what they were intended for." He sighed. "How often our good intentions fall short."
"As long as there is a tomorrow, we have the chance to make amends," Natasha said sagely.
But for Steve, that 'tomorrow' seemed to take an age to arrive. Before he left for Vienna, T'Challa showed them how they would be able to watch the broadcast of the meeting with the UN. Steve knew that it was unlikely that Hermione would be there but he couldn't prevent his eyes from scanning the heads of the attendees whenever shots of the crowd were shown. Ultimately, he was left disappointed that he was unable to see any sign of his wife, but he appreciated the meaningful speech T'Challa made. It was clear that he was beginning to create a legacy that King T'Chaka would be proud of.
"I'm sorry - can you repeat that, sir?" Rhodey asked, staring a little wide-eyed at the image of Secretary Ross that he was currently video-conferencing. "Did you say - "
"Yes, Wakanda," Ross interrupted impatiently. "King T'Challa is finally permitting envoys into the country. You and Rogers are to be part of the team that flies out next week."
Rhodey started slightly at the name but then he realised that Ross was talking about Hermione and not Cap. Even though they'd been married for about a year, he still wasn't used to thinking of her as being a 'Rogers' yet. "Yes, sir."
"King T'Challa asked for her specifically but, whilst her husband is still at large, I'm not prepared to let her go off on her own anywhere remote where I can't keep an eye on her - that's why you're going too," Ross informed him brusquely.
Rhodey frowned. "Has T'Challa not just invited Hermione so that she can be reunited with her daughter?" he suggested. "The baby was taken by a Wakandan ship, wasn't it? I doubt there's any ulterior motive."
"I'm not willing to take the risk," Ross replied. "We can't afford to have Steve Rogers evade captivity after so blatantly flaunting the Accords. And as long as Barnes is still out there, he's a threat. Hermione Rogers will lead us to them eventually, I'm sure of it - we just have to wait for her to slip up. I know I can rely on you to report back or act accordingly to anything suspicious that you see, Colonel."
"Of course, sir," he answered, instinctively standing a little straighter at the use of his rank.
Ross nodded curtly. "I'll be in touch."
The call was ended but Rhodey continued to stare at the blank screen for a few minutes. Eventually, he sighed and then tapped the screen a few times until it started dialling Hermione. She didn't answer the first two times he rang but he persevered. He knew that she'd answer eventually and he was proved correct when she showed up on the screen on the third attempt.
"Hey, you at the Tower?" he asked, not bothering with a formal greeting and therefore cutting her off before she could try and push him away. He recognised the decor of her surroundings and jumped in, "Yeah, I can see you are. I'll be over in ninety and then we'll go get some sushi, alright?" Her eyes widened and her expression became pained. Sensing that she wanted to object, he pushed, "Hermione?" and she deflated.
"OK," she agreed.
"And don't think about putting in a request to leave the country," he warned. "You know I'll follow you and I don't think that the sushi will travel that well."
Her lips made the slightest of twitches and then she nodded. "I'll be here."
He and Hermione had never been particularly close. In a large ensemble like the Avengers, you always had some members that you clicked with more than others. Apart from their time searching for The Mandarin and taking on Aldrich Killian three and a half years previously, he and Hermione hadn't really spent any time together, just the two of them.
And then Leipzig had happened.
He knew he wouldn't be able to even drive his car down into the city if it hadn't been for her. He probably would've died - he certainly would've suffered life-changing injuries - but thanks to Hermione's actions he came away from his fall from the sky without a scratch (well, no more than he'd already gotten from taking on Cap's team).
Hermione had saved him.
In return, she had nearly lost everything.
Unbidden, an echo of her screams from the airport came back to him and he gripped the steering wheel tightly.
He knew that she didn't blame him for what had happened, and he'd been in enough battles over the years - both as War Machine and in the Air Force - to know that shit happened that you couldn't control or prevent. But he still owed Hermione a debt and he was determined to look out for her - especially given what had happened since.
It was bad enough that she had parted from both her husband and newborn baby within a few hours of each other but something else had happened too - he just couldn't quite put his finger on it. He knew that Tony was involved and, in all honesty, it had to be bad with the way Tony was giving her the cold shoulder. Given what Rhodey had seen of their friendship in the past, he wouldn't have thought it possible for Tony to stay away from her in her hour of need, but his attempts to patch things up between them had fallen upon deaf ears.
Hermione had begged him not to talk to Tony about her - the anguish seemingly forcing her body to shrink in on itself - but Rhodey had only been able to ignore her wishes for a couple of days before hunting down his oldest friend to find out what the hell was going on.
Tony had retreated to the Avengers Facility and had looked pleased to see Rhodey until he revealed the reason for his visit. As soon as Rhodey mentioned Hermione's name, Tony's emotions shut down.
"I don't want to talk about it," Tony muttered, turning away.
Rhodey grabbed his arm, holding him in place. "I don't get it - what's happened between you two? The last I knew you were getting a load of doctors to help her and now you can't even hear each other's names."
"I don't want - " Tony started to repeat.
"She needs you, Tony," Rhodey interrupted impatiently. "She just gave up her family and most of her friends are either missing or locked up. I'm doing my best to help but she's been wrecked by all of this, man."
Rhodey could see that his words were making Tony uncomfortable but his friend remained motionless. Rhodey shook his head. "This isn't you, Tony."
Tony shook his hold off irritably. "Friendships end, Rhodey. Sometimes they dwindle over the years and sometimes they just break off in a moment... and there's no turning back what's been said and done."
"I don't believe that."
"Well, that's what's happened. Granger and I -" he paused. "Hermione and I have hurt each other too much and, what's worse, none of it was intentional. We need to keep away from each other..."
And nothing that Rhodey had said afterwards had convinced Tony to change his mind. He still didn't know exactly what had happened between them: the only thing that Tony had let slip at one point was that Hermione had kept something from him. This seemed like a bit of an overreaction to Rhodey, but he also knew that it had to have been something that cut Tony very deeply to make him behave this way.
Rhodey was also certain that whatever had caused this rift was something way more than just a few words at Hermione's hospital bedside, and he highly suspected that it had something to do with Steve and Barnes. Ever since that dreadful day, Hermione had been trying to convince Secretary Ross that Barnes had been framed: that her husband had left Leipzig to take on the threat posed by Helmut Zemo. The Sokovian was now in the custody of the Joint Counter Terrorist team but Hermione's arguments had produced no difference. Secretary Ross didn't care that the actions of Cap, Sam and the others could be justified - they had broken the terms of the Accords and that was that.
As someone who'd spent so much of his life in the military, Rhodey was used to there being a chain of command. The way that the Avengers had more or less flouted laws to accomplish their goals in the past had never sat comfortably with him, and he had actually welcomed the idea that they were going to be accountable for their actions through the Sokovia Accords. During their, well, civil war, Rhodey had been disdainful of Steve and his seemingly incessant need to be 'right' all the time. In hindsight, Rhodey should've known that Steve wouldn't be willing to put his family into jeopardy just for the sake of righteousness - that there had been a worthy reason behind his actions - but what was done, was done. Now they all had to live with the consequences of the Avengers being torn apart.
Though they had broken the terms of the Accords, Rhodey couldn't see how the likes of Sam and Clint deserved to be somewhere like the Raft. Nor could he stand the sight of Captain America being labelled a criminal on the news channels. He wasn't in the habit of questioning orders but the last couple of weeks had had a profound effect on him, and he felt quite certain that things had been better off the way they were before. This would be fine if the consequences could be reversed, but there was no quick-fix to repairing the ruins they'd left behind.
When he got to the Tower, it took a fair amount of persuading to get Hermione to step away from her work and leave the tower with him.
"But I need to finish prepping my notes for my meeting," she argued. "It's to discuss what will happen to the members of the Avengers that are being held on the Raft."
"They're letting you sit in on that?" Rhodey asked - momentarily distracted from his aim of getting her to leave the Tower.
Her shoulders tensed a little. "Secretary Ross didn't want me allowed," she admitted, "but I still have allies in the UN. Some of them have contacted me and expressed sympathy and regrets over…" She flinched and took a deep breath. "Over what happened. I intend to exploit that sympathy as much as I can to help my friends."
She looked at him with a slight air of defiance - as though challenging him to criticise her plan. Did she think he wanted his friends locked away? That the military lifestyle was so ingrained within him that he couldn't look beyond the fact that Sam and the others had broken the law and therefore deserved their fates?
"You think I should disapprove?" he asked her.
She deflated a little. "I don't know," she murmured.
"Not everyone is against you," he told her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to be on battle-alert with me."
Her shoulders dropped and she rubbed at her eyes wearily. "I'm sorry, Rhodey."
"It's fine," he told her truthfully before giving her back a small pat. "Let's go get some dinner, yeah?"
She nodded.
The sushi restaurant was busy enough that they wouldn't be noticed but not so crowded that they couldn't have a private conversation for fear of being overheard.
"So, do you think they'll listen?" Rhodey asked when Hermione had ordered them a selection of dishes.
"The council?" she asked and he nodded. "I think some will but there are some hardliners who want the public to see them following through on the pledges set out in the Accords. I know that there are those that want to show leniency given the threat that was implied at the time, but I think that they're outnumbered by those who think Steve's actions were just arrogance and an unwillingness to trust the UN."
Rhodey frowned. It didn't sound too hopeful.
"I've got to try, Rhodey," she said softly, perhaps sensing his pessimism.
"Yeah, I know," he replied. As long as there was a chance, she'd carry on the fight - that was a given. And he was also aware that this cause provided another opportunity for Hermione to keep herself busy. He didn't blame her: the events of two weeks ago had been very traumatic for her and it was understandable that she would distance herself with work rather than process the emotions she'd been repressing. But Rhodey didn't know what to do to help her. Would a good friend just stay by her side and give her time to work things out on her own? Or should he try and help her confront the feelings she was hiding from? This wasn't the sort of friendship he was used to and it bothered him that he might be letting her down.
"Do you want any sort of a statement from me?" he offered in response to his feelings of inadequacy.
"Thank you," she said gratefully, "but I'd rather keep you out of it."
"You would?"
"Secretary Ross thinks you're his man - coming out in support of those who broke the terms of the Accords might rob him of that belief," she said calmly.
Rhodey chuckled lowly. "Good point. Anyone ever tell you that you're pretty smart?"
She let out a short, sarcastic laugh. "One or two."
Their opening dishes arrived and Rhodey eagerly tucked in.
"Mmm," he murmured. "Thank God I have you to order for me - I can never remember what half of these dishes are called."
He noticed that she was picking at her food rather than eating it. It wasn't the first time this had happened and he felt another stab in his gut that maybe he wasn't doing right by her.
You wouldn't expect anyone to look well after what she'd been through but, then again, she wasn't just 'anybody' when she had all her magical abilities and body enhancements courtesy of Thanos. Consequently, her body didn't look like that of someone who was only a couple of weeks along from having a baby - but everything else about her looked sickly. Her skin was pale and splotchy and her eyes seemed almost sunken in her head. When he'd tentatively asked her last week whether she'd been sleeping, she'd reassured him that she was using a potion. But the dark circles under her eyes had only grown since then and he doubted that the potion was doing its job properly.
For a young woman who had always come across as so strong, it was galling to see her so broken now.
At least, with the upcoming trip to Wakanda, a part of her would be coming back together.
"It's good news about Wakanda, isn't it?" he said warmly but, to his surprise, Hermione froze.
She glanced up at him and then returned her gaze to her uneaten food. "I'm not going to Wakanda," she said stiffly to her plate.
Rhodey paused with his glass of water halfway to his mouth. It clunked noisily when he returned it to the table. "What?"
He saw her hands briefly clench into fists. "I'm not going to Wakanda," she said more firmly, her eyes burning with some strong, defiant conviction.
"I don't understand," Rhodey said slowly, his forehead creasing as he stared at her. "T'Challa asked for you specifically. You can see your daught-"
The electricity in the restaurant suddenly blew with a few sparks. There were a few startled yells as they were plunged into darkness.
He heard Hermione mutter, "Damnit."
"That was you?" he asked quietly, though he was pretty sure that he knew the answer.
"Yes," she replied tightly as the restaurant staff tried to calm their customers. "I think we'd better leave."
"Can't you fix it?"
"Of course, but I don't fancy the chances of it not happening again."
"Oh." He heard her fiddling with something, then he felt a new wave of power surge from her. Before he could see the electricity restored, he felt her grip his arm and then he experienced a squeezing sensation.
They were back in Avengers Tower. "Oh," he said again. "I thought we were going to walk out."
Her posture was rigid. "I shouldn't be amongst civilians if I'm experiencing outbursts. Ross would make sure I was reprimanded or locked up somewhere. I'm trying hard to convince him that I'm not a threat to others and I know he's just waiting for me to slip up."
Rhodey shook his head at all the pressure she was under. She might look broken but she was hard as steel inside - yet even steel could crack if the force was too great. He needed to find a way to take some of it off her: he had to get her to open up to him. He knew that she had used Sam as something like a therapist and, though Rhodey couldn't boast much experience of lending that sort of support, he might be one of the few people she'd be willing to talk to now.
This proposed trip to Wakanda was obviously a sensitive subject but he had to step up and be there for her.
"I'm sorry about ruining dinner," she said, walking away from him in the direction of the kitchen. "I left some cash on our table before we disapparated if you were worried that we skipped out on the bill."
He hadn't even considered what had happened in regards to their food given the sudden change of scenery and his concern for Hermione. He tried not to fall into her ploy of changing the subject and followed her to the kitchen.
"I'm sure I can use what we've got in the fridge to put something together," she continued, pulling on the fridge door. Rhodey pushed the door closed. She glanced at him in surprise at his proximity.
"Maybe later," he said gently. "I think we should talk first." He saw the reluctance in her eyes but he pushed on. "Tell me what's in your head. I know I'm not Steve or Sam, but I want to help. I can only do that if you let me in. Being strong doesn't mean you have to do things on your own."
Her wary expression flickered and then disappeared as the tension melted out of her. She hid her face in her hands as she started to sob and Rhodey pulled her against his chest, rubbing her back gently.
"It's OK," he said quietly. "Things'll get better."
It took her a few minutes to settle down and he was relieved that her magic hadn't found another explosive release. Even so, he steered her over to the lounge area so that they were further away from the appliances and knives, and then brought her some water and a box of tissues.
"Going to Wakanda will just shatter my already broken heart," she confessed in a tone barely above a whisper. Rhodey's own chest panged in sympathy at the pain in her voice.
"But why?" he questioned delicately. "You can see your daughter - you can bring her home."
Hermione shook her head. "But that's just it: I can't. I'm not able to take care of her. I'm not fit to be her mother."
"Hermione," he began but she cut him off, her eyes glistening.
"I'm not, Rhodey," she told him, her voice emotional but insistent. "I can't provide the stable, safe environment that she needs." She held out her trembling hands towards him. "I can't even risk letting my skin touch hers - all my thoughts and feelings, my doubts and fears, flooding into her - how can that be good for a newborn baby?"
Rhodey rubbed the back of his neck, worried that he was out of his depth but determined to stay the course. "I know there's solutions you can put in place to protect her," he said. "And we can find someone to help with the childcare."
Hermione shook her head again. "When I put my daughter on that Wakandan jet, I knew it wasn't just a short-term solution, Rhodey. I gave her up in the knowledge that she would be with people who would care for her, love her and keep her out of harm's way until it's safe for my family to be reunited: T'Challa's invitation doesn't change that."
Something clicked into place in his brain. "You're keeping her away from Ross."
She nodded. "He can't get to her there - nobody can. She can't be used to manipulate Steve out of hiding, or as another hold over me."
Rhodes frowned. "I understand your concerns but I think you might be overreacting a little - Secretary Ross isn't evil or anything. He wouldn't use a child against you like that."
"Maybe not," Hermione allowed, "but with everything I've been through I am not willing to take the risk. And don't forget that if I take her out of Wakanda, Ross will be amongst many interested parties that will want to have her under close supervision in case she displays any sign of being an 'enhanced individual'. I have no doubt that she'll fit under that criteria but there is no way that I want my daughter's name on any sort of list."
"OK," Rhodey said slowly. "I get it. I can see how much it's hurting you, and I am in awe of the strength that you're showing. But..." he paused. "Do you not even want to see her? To check on how she's doing?"
Hermione grimaced. "I'm not strong enough for that," she said, a couple of tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. "It was hard enough to let," she faltered and swallowed thickly, "to let her go once… I don't think I could do it again."
More tears flowed down her cheeks and he put a consoling arm around her shoulders.
"Maybe," he said tentatively after she'd taken a couple of minutes to compose herself, "maybe you think you're not strong enough because you're picturing yourself going through it alone. But I told you earlier, Hermione - strength doesn't have to be a journey you take on your own. I'm here to help you through this whether you come with me to Wakanda or not."
He hoped she'd agree to go because he wanted to see some happiness coming back to her life. Sure, there might be a large dose of heartbreak if she did choose to leave her daughter in Wakanda, but he wanted her to get the chance to see that the child was faring well, to bond with the daughter she was going above and beyond to protect.
In the end, she agreed to go. However, Rhodey wasn't sure whether it was his offer of support or Secretary Ross's irritated hint that she would be risking international relations with the newly cooperative country should she turn down the invitation after T'Challa explicitly asked for her to be included in the party, that made her change her mind. Even if it wasn't the former, he was glad that he was in a position to help her stand tall and face her problems once again. Maybe he wasn't such a shoddy friend to her after all.
T'Challa returned to the riverside lodge four days after his speech to the UN. Steve had found that the best way to combat his increasing restlessness was to go out and join the Wakandans as they maintained the estate. He soon learned that there was plenty to do keep the land and the river a thriving ecosystem and he threw himself into any physical labour he was offered when his daughter was asleep. Sometimes, he even took her out with him: showing her the beautiful country as he cradled her in his arms - though he knew her eyes weren't strong enough to perceive it yet. It was when he was on one of his hikes that T'Challa found him, sitting under a tree by the riverside with his baby girl asleep against his chest. It had been a rare moment of tranquility but as soon as Steve's eyes picked out the figure walking towards him, all of Steve's previous worries flew to the forefront of his mind. However, before he could even think about standing, T'Challa held up a hand to show that he should remain where he was.
"What a beautiful spot," the king greeted quietly, noting the sleeping child as he joined Steve underneath the tree.
"They're all beautiful spots here," Steve pointed out and T'Challa laughed gently.
"True," he admitted. "We are blessed."
They watched a dragonfly hover a few feet above the surface of the river for a few moments and then it sped off out of sight.
"I liked your speech," Steve told him. "The world as one tribe - how I wish that could be achieved."
"Thank you," T'Challa replied. "It was gratifying to lead my country in taking this first step on our new path of hope."
"Was your message well-received?" Steve asked.
T'Challa's lips twitched slightly in amusement. "As I'm sure you saw on the broadcast, most of those assembled were, understandably, unable to appreciate what my country has to offer to the world. However, the proposed visit was welcomed and the UN has accepted the invitation to send a delegation in two weeks' time."
Steve tried not to look too desperate as they came upon the matter he was anxious about. "That's good news," he said in as calm a voice as he could manage.
"The party will mostly be made up of representatives from our border countries and the World Health Organization, who I think will greatly benefit from our work on vaccines. There will also be two members of the UN's World Security Council and, at my insistence, representatives of those who have signed the Sokovia Accords. Your wife and Colonel Rhodes are expected to attend."
Steve let out the breath that had been keeping his body rigid with tension, and briefly shut his eyes as he leant his head back against the trunk of the tree. "That's such good news," he breathed and then looked at T'Challa. "Thank you," he said, for what felt like the hundredth time.
The king nodded his head but Steve couldn't help but notice a hesitancy lurking within his features, and his body became tense once more. "What is it?" he asked worriedly.
T'Challa frowned slightly. "I had no contact with your wife whilst I was in Vienna - as far as I know, she wasn't present in the city - and an acceptance of her invitation to Wakanda was conducted through the proper channels. However, another message was communicated through the contact you used to send her help two weeks ago."
"You had a message from Harry?" Steve asked in surprise as something began to claw away at his stomach: whatever T'Challa had to say couldn't be good.
The king looked at him sympathetically for a few seconds before saying, "When she comes to Wakanda, Hermione doesn't wish to see you."
Steve's gut clenched painfully and his heart ached in despair at the conveyed message. "I see," he murmured quietly.
"I'm sorry, my friend," T'Challa said gently. "I know how much you were looking forward to being with her again."
Steve nodded mutely. What could he possibly say?
All of those countless conversations that he'd pictured having with Hermione over and over in his head during the last couple of weeks faded away into silence now that he knew she couldn't even bear to be in the same room as him.
He just prayed that he hadn't lost her forever.
A/N Poor Steve :(
I've never written from Rhodey's PoV before so that was fun to try out and to evolve his friendship with Hermione.
This is actually a combination of 2 chapters - that's why it's extra long. All the Steve PoV was supposed to be chap 2 and Rhodey PoV chap 3 but I didn't like how that worked so I smushed them together to make a bumper one. You're welcome!
Tony is definitely being harsh here, I know. It's not about the Bucky-omission anymore. He's protecting himself from getting hurt again. Trying to cut himself off from the pain and shame of what happened in Siberia.
I know we were light on the events of Black Panther but it didn't feel right to insert Steve and Natasha into what was a very personal war for the people of Wakanda.
Anyway, let me know your thoughts.
Lil Drop of Magic