Author's Notes: This is the beginning of Part Two of Return to Life. On Ao3 it is divided into two parts, the second part is called "The Blending' but here I decided to keep it all part of the same story and yes, as promised, Peter Parker has shown up and plays an important role.
The Summary for the Second Part- An unseen force is using the events of The Blending to advance their agenda. Peter Parker unwittingly pulls the enhanced humans into an unexpected adventure. Despite saying otherwise, Bucky is still not comfortable with the revelations about himself and his relationship with Steve.
One, two, three…" a chorus of children's voices rang out in English and with a loud crash, the large dead tree fell over. A job that might have taken days was over in a few hours. The timber would frame a home for a newly married couple, the stems and branches made into baskets and carved into tools and toys. Eventually, a new tree would grow here in its place.
Bucky and Steve stool back to observe their handiwork. Helping take down that tree pushed their combined contribution to the limit. It was hot and sweaty work but it felt good to have the job done.
A young girl walked over to them, carrying a stone jug, and a tray covered with small woven bags of various colors. She gave Bucky the jug and a offered him a small red bag. He didn't take it, opting to drink his fill of water instead, then passing the jug so Steve could take a drink. She appeared puzzled for a moment. Someone called her name, diverting her attention. Bucky reached down and took two blue bags off her tray instead. Her attention came back to Bucky. Her puzzlement grew more pronounced until she glanced over to Steve who handed back the jug. Comprehension finally sunk in. She walked away, going around to the group, offering everyone who helped with the project water and her small gifts.
"It's a good luck talisman," Bucky explained to Steve. "From the couple's families. A thank you, it's full of herbs, spices, expensive, hard to find stuff. Good for cooking, or you can throw some on your fire and make your house smell nice and if you hang a red one by the door, it can be a signal you're ready to find a spouse. The blue one means… you're good with the way things are."
"A nice custom," Steve said, taking one of the small bags and giving it a sniff. "But if they think you should put yourself on the market means someone somewhere must be interested. Maybe we should say something. Not that I care, but people might start asking questions."
"Let them talk. I can do what I want here and don't have to explain myself," Bucky said. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I try not to be a jackass about it, but it's no one else's business."
"It's up to you, but if someone asks me, I'm not going to lie," Steve said. It was still a point of contention between them. Sam and Natasha knew, but he was their mutual friend and would keep quiet; she was far away in New York, looking after Clint.
"Of course you won't. That's you. I don't want them thinking things about us that aren't true and I don't want to explain why they aren't true because, to be honest, it doesn't make a lot of sense. I don't really understand it myself so I don't want people asking me questions I can't answer. Is that so wrong?"
"It's not that difficult…" Steve said. Bucky turned away, watching as the villagers processed the wood from the tree, carefully cutting off the branches and bits of old vines that had grown up around it.
"Our work here is done," Bucky said. He didn't want to talk about their personal matters so he shut down the conversation. He took the blue bag back from Steve. "I'm going to go back home and take a swim in the lake, cool off. You can stay… if you like. I mean, we're not joined at the hip or anything."
He walked off toward his home. It was a hot day and the conversation made him flustered but as he neared the lake, it dissipated. Other things took over his mind. It had been three weeks since their three teammates had returned to the States. The last they heard progress on the treaties was going well, but they hadn't heard about Ms. Pott's or Clint's reactions to what had happened. Steve was worried because every message they sent out to their friends came back unanswered. Bruce buried himself in his work, upset about something he wouldn't talk about and seemed unconcerned about the lack of communication.
The water, warmed by the mid-morning sun soothed his tired muscles. His vibranium arm, coated with a special protective alloy, allowed it to shed water. He stayed in for a long time, coming out to dry himself off, go back to the hut, dress in fresh clothes and start lunch. Steve hadn't returned. Maybe one of the village families had asked them to eat with them, and Steve being Steve, wouldn't refuse. They had been joined at the hip for the past few weeks and being apart for a few hours wasn't the end of the world.
He started to hang the spice bags just inside the door but considering the implications of that for a moment. That small action might send a signal. He was doing his best to convince himself he wasn't ashamed or embarrassed about what he was, or his relationship with Steve. He still hadn't come to terms with how different he was from the rest of the world. He didn't want people coming to him with questions he couldn't answer. Even though he was comfortable with himself, he didn't want to be thought of as a freak and then there was that one unspoken fear... He pushed it all away. He took the gifts to the kitchen, deciding he would use them for cooking.
He ate his own lunch outside taking time to consider his chores for the rest of the day. He wouldn't wait for Steve, there were plenty of things he could do on his own. He ticked off a list in his head, his eyes going out over the lake as he considered how almost perfect his life was. If it wasn't for that one thing...
Something cut short his moment of contemplation. Footsteps coming from the wrong direction to be Steve. It could be Sam. He often dropped by unannounced, but he was with Thula, off working in some remote part of the kingdom but that didn't sound like him. As the footsteps grew closer recognition started to sink in. The stride was familiar, but out of place here. He never came here, allowing Bucky his privacy. Turning around he saw him, standing on the small hill above his pavilion, wearing casual clothes. T'Challa, King of Wakanda had come to pay him a visit. Two members of his bodyguard stood back at a respectful distance. Bucky stood up to greet him.
The King always spoke first. "Greetings, White Wolf. I apologize for this intrusion," he said. "I have what might be disturbing news."
"There was no need for you to come yourself," Buck began but T'Challa held up his hand. At that moment Steve walked out of the forest along the path that led down from the village. He stopped short when he saw the King.
"Captain Rogers," T'Challa said, acknowledging him.
"Your Highness," Steve said politely. "On a walkabout?"
"This isn't a social visit. Something's wrong, Steve," Bucky said. "Very very wrong."
"I have a message from Mr. Peter Parker. It seems Agent Romanoff, Colonel Rhodes, and Mr. Stark both fell into a coma not long after they returned to New York. It's been over two weeks. That's the longest that anyone has been in that state. As they are your close friends, I thought you should know right away. Mr. Parker is a rather excitable young man, with an overactive imagination. Perhaps a word from you might ease his mind."
A silence passed between them.
"Does Bruce know?" Steve asked.
"Yes, and Sam Wilson. I sent him word as soon as I heard. Any way we can help, with our resources, our doctors, just say the word and they are at your disposal. Once again, forgive me for disturbing you."
"Thank you for telling us," Steve said.
The King turned and walked away with his entourage. They watched them until they disappeared over the top of the hill.
"Damn," Steve said. "Damn." He wasn't one given to pacing but now he was, down the lake and back up again. "Two weeks. No wonder Peter was worried enough to muster up the courage to send us a message."
"Why them? Why is it taking them so long to wake up?" Bucky asked, catching up with him. Steve shook his head, his mind far away. "Do you remember anything from when you were asleep?"
"Vaguely," Steve replied. He stopped for a moment to stare out over the lake. "It was like one long dream. You were in it, everybody was in it but I don't remember the details. I heard voices…. was I different after I woke up?"
"Yes. You remember things you shouldn't remember, for one thing. Are you going to New York?"
"I don't like Peter going through this alone," He went to the fire circle and sat down. " We'll have to get together with Sam and Bruce and decide what to do. And what's with this 'you' business? If I go, you're coming with me. You can leave now, remember?"
"Leave Wakanda?" Bucky asked, taking a seat beside him. Their home, the lake, the forest were suddenly more beautiful than they ever had been and all the generous people of the village had become his family. Going back to New York meant going back to the compound. He had pushed that part of him far away but the memories were still there just below the surface, waiting for the right moment to return.
"You left twice, remember. Your missions?" Steve persisted.
"Missions are different."
"How? How are they different?"
"Because… I knew I'd come back here, home at the end. If we leave…"
"We'll come back. I promise, this is our home, but sometimes we have to take care of business. You were part of the team, you accepted that a long time ago. And Tony, Rhodey and Natasha, they're our friends and while Peter's just a kid, he's a powerful kid. He might do something…"
"Stupid?" Bucky supplied knowing Steve would be too nice to say it. "I remember what you were doing when you were his age. A lot of stupid stuff, some before the serum and some after.…"
"Which is why I don't think we should leave him on his own. I remember what it was like."
"But can we actually DO anything except stand around and stare at them while they're sleeping and hold Peter's hand? I mean, the thing has to run its course."
"It won't hurt to give the kid a little moral support. This will hit him hard, he really looks up to Tony. And I seem to remember you saying something about wanting to visit Brooklyn again? How about we go check on him and if there's nothing we can do, we'll just have a little vacation, and then come home. It's the least we can do. Let's go talk to Bruce, see if we can communicate with Sam and have a word to your very supportive and long-suffering neighbors about helping you out for a few days."
Steve made a good argument and there was nothing Bucky could say to counter it. To ask him to ignore this would be selfish and the kid could probably use a friendly face. He had been resting here a long time, and maybe it was time to take a trip and face those other demons that he had tried so hard to forget.
"As long as we come back home," he said. "And by home, I mean here."
"We will. I promise, " he said, giving Bucky a loud smack on the cheek, as a way of sealing