That evening a crowd gathered on the battlefield. The murmurs hushed as Queen Ramonda lit a single torch. She began a plaintive chant, the song gradually reaching a crescendo, until the rest of the assembly joined in, their choir of voices reaching upward. It was to honor the fallen. In Wakanda, they believed death was not the end. A long moment passed, then multiple torches were lit, replacing reverence with joy.
Wakandans knew how to throw a revel. A mixture of traditional ceremonies and an amazing light demonstration put every laser show Steve had ever seen to shame. Thor basked in the reflected glory, accepting all the handshakes, bows, and salutes. Wanda put on her own display, shooting the red rays of her fire like energy upward into the night sky, making images soar above their heads, impressing those who had never seen it. At one point, the children did a dance and one of them pulled Bucky up from the sidelines, coaxing him to join. He had shed his uniform and now dressed in Wakandan clothes, he joined in, jumping, clapping, right in step with everyone else and what's more openly enjoyed it, exchanging smiles with his fellow dancers. They had accepted him into Wakandan society. They had given him something Steve wanted to, but never could.
"He's happy here," a voice came from beside him. It was Sam. Steve, so intent on studying Bucky allowed his enhanced senses to betray him. "That's the one good thing came out of that mess. He's got a home here. He never complained, back at the compound, but he told me he never thought we accepted him and here he's… the White Wolf of Wakanda. The title's a little too grand if you ask me. Might go to his head."Back at the compound. He was at the compound in this reality. He confided in Sam. They are friends here. He's still the White Wolf.
"I thought everyone had moved on…" Steve did his best. This Sam seemed to share the witty humor and love of conversation like his counterpart. If he could just keep him here, this Sam could give Steve much-needed information as he prattled on. Not this Sam. SAM.
"We tried. I didn't say anything at the time but I got tired of Doctor Banner lecturing us all the time and you pushing your agenda on us, yeah, we tried. Here though, he can start over. The Asset never came here, and what with him saving T'Challa's life and all…"
He saved T'Challa's life. Doctor Banner…The Asset. Steve's eidetic memory went into overdrive as he stored the new information away. Natasha and Bruce stood together, across the pavilion, the reflection of fire from nearby torches played across their faces. He never considered Natasha shy, but she had a gentle smile on her face as she looked up at Bruce. Starting over. I hope it works out for you both.
"What's with them?" Sam asked, noticing the couple. "Not like her to hang around something like this, and why isn't she updating us on how Agent Barton's doing? He's hates being in the hospital, last time I talked to him, he was so mad he couldn't be here with us, swore so much, I think he broke the connection. I know she doesn't like to talk about it, but she is the only family he's got."
Damn! "It's nothing. They're just glad to have come out on the other side," Steve said, his heart sinking but glad they had a location on Clint. He was safe. Agent Barton?
"Yeah, that's probably it. Funny, I thought they hardly knew each other," Sam stared at the two for a long moment, while Steve added another thing to his list. "Well, I have to talk to Colonel Rhodes, see if I can persuade him to cut through the red tape so I can get my wings fixed. Who knows, if he's in a good mood he might let me get a new pair. Funny him leaving Bucky alone, but he's a stickler for appearances, probably didn't want to cause a scene in front of the Wakandans but that won't last. See you around…"
Steve watched his friend disappear into the crowd of swaying happy Wakandans, unsettled at the way he had described the affable Rhodey but glad he passed on some small bits of intelligence. At some point, the team would have to get together and compare notes. The intruders were one surprise away from giving everything away.
In the early hours of the morning, Thor, the God of Thunder, Rocket, and Groot said goodbye to Wakanda and their friends. Thor's powerful swing summoned the tunnel of light and the Bifrost Bridge encircled the three, taking them on their way to the unknown. Thor promised to keep them updated as to his progress. Steve wished them well. He didn't envy them their journey because out there, just as here, they would find everything changed from the familiar world Thor knew. At least they had Groot with them, maybe he could in his own way, educate them on what they needed to know.
By dropping veiled hints among themselves, the remaining team members arranged a meeting outside the Palace in the same place where their Quinjet had first arrived in the other timeline. The memory of Bucky's smile and embrace was still fresh in Steve's mind but he had to push it down. He couldn't go back.
"So what have we learned?" he asked.
"Apparently, from what I learned from Sam, I'm Colonel Rhodes, one of Tony's operatives. I'm supposed to take Barnes in," Rhodey said. "And I'm not going to, seeing as I'm not the same Rhodey and Tony when he gets back, won't be the same Tony. I'm going to pretend to put all that on hold in the spirit of goodwill because of winning the battle but I can only use that excuse for so long."
"It sounds like they call everyone by their formal titles unless they're very good friends. Bucky is the White Wolf of Wakanda, he worked with the team for a while, and he's living here because of something I did, and he saved T'Challa's life. He and Sam are friends. I'm still Captain Rogers, Tony is Mr. Stark, Colonel Rhodes, Doctor Banner, Agents Romanoff, and Barton, and Princess Shuri. She told me to tell Mr. Stark to call off his operatives," Steve asked. "Which I will do, even though no one what that means and apparently the other Steve was… pushier here?"
"Wonder if I should call Tony Mr. Stark?" The seriousness of the situation cut through Rhodey's half-hearted joke. "Did anyone else see their counterpart? I think I saw Colonel Rhodes, for about a second, before the fog cleared. Looked angry."
"I saw the other guy," Steve said.
"I saw mine," Natasha said. "I thought she was going to bump into me, but she disappeared almost like I absorbed her. It was weird. She smiled at me, almost as if she knew what was going on. Wong didn't warn us about that."
"Maybe Wong didn't know," Bruce said. "The guy I saw looked like he was on the verge of laughing." He and Natasha were standing together, they had been inseparable all evening. Steve braced himself to do what he had to do.
"Natasha, I hate to be that guy, but, here, in this place, Clint is in a hospital, and he's waiting for you."
Natasha's eyes widened, then her brows knit together in confusion. "Clint's injured, waiting for me… to do what? He's got his family, or does he?" she asked. Steve could see the thoughts running through her head, her expression changing as one idea replaced another.
"According to Sam, you're it," Steve said. It took a minute, then the full force of his revelation hit her. "Could be he has a secret family here, don't know. In either case, you and Doctor Banner apparently don't socialize outside of work."
"No. No… oh damn…" She turned to Bruce, and neither one said a word, just one long intense stare.
"Keep it together," Steve said, using his most authoritarian voice. "I am sorry. I had to tell you because if Sam noticed, it won't be long until others notice and ask questions. We can't go rocking the boat on anything… and we need you, Natasha, to be on your game. If anyone can find out information about our new life here, and let us know what's going on, you can."
Natasha turned back to him, her eyes were that familiar steel that Steve knew so well. "There's too much at stake and we can't fall apart, none of us. I know you're upset about you and Bucky not being on speaking terms. After everything you've gone through, I'm so sorry," she said.
"Yes, I am too, but we can fix that if I can find out what I did to cause it. But we need you to do your job."
"Don't worry. I'm on it." Without looking back at Bruce she disappeared into the complex.
Bruce stared after her for a moment, then turned his attention back to Steve. "Don't feel bad. It was hardly anything at all, it's not like we have to mourn a lost relationship or have a lot of memories together or anything. It's just…" he didn't have to say anymore.
The group was unwilling to split up, but they didn't want to draw attention to themselves by staying together so one by one they melted back into the crowd until the party ended. Eventually, a young man wearing official-looking emblems on his robes ushered Steve into the Palace to the guest accommodations.
Once there, he couldn't sleep. His quarters were too big, a full suite rather than just a single room, very similar to the place he stayed in when he came to Wakanda in his other life. He had more than enough space but he couldn't settle, opting to wander the halls of the Palace. He knew the other team members were doing something similar, pacing around their rooms or lying in bed, looking at the ceiling, wondering if they had done the right thing. He knew what Natasha was up to; she was out there, somewhere, using every skill she had to find out what they needed to know.
All over the world, people were coming into contact with dazed loved ones. The thought of what they had done to them made Steve start to feel guilty. Should they have just stayed where they were and mourned their losses? Other people had to endure great tragedies, what made them so special?
He answered his own question almost immediately. He wanted Bucky back, damn it, and Sam too. The team saw sorrow all over the world, so when they got the chance to wipe it all away they took it, like children running loose in a candy store. Grief made people do strange things, but if things went wrong here, it was all on them. Then his more practical side kicked in, scolding him. Things might be rough for a while, but it would be nothing like the misery they had endured in their old lives. They spared these people a world of pain. He knew one thing for certain; he didn't like these back-and-forth conversations in his head.
The guards nodded as he walked by but did not impede his night wandering. He came across a long open hall with floor to ceiling windows on all sides. People still milled in the lit pavilion even though the party had ended hours ago. He looked up into the night sky and thought of Tony, so far away, experiencing his own difficulties with the change. He was confident that somehow Thor would find him, fill him in on what was happening here and see him home safe. He hoped it would be soon. The team was incomplete without him.
Close by he spied Sam, walking with a Wakandan woman who barely came up to his shoulders. They didn't appear to be flirting, just talking. Whatever it was, it looked intense, maybe they were reliving the day's events. Steve realized that despite the similarities, he didn't know a thing about this new guy. His eyes went out from the immediate area to the hills beyond the Palace complex. Somewhere out there, Bucky was settling in for the night, ready to start tomorrow again in the simple village he now called home, living in exile because of something he had done.
Despite his misgivings, Steve breathed a prayer of thanksgiving. It was over; they had done it. As difficult as his change would be, at least now, he had his best friends back.