At some point in the night, Bucky turned over to sleep on his stomach. Steve took advantage of the moment to raise himself up and inspect his shoulder and the scars still visible outside the protective cover. Now came the time to wait and hope his rapid healing abilities would kick in one more time. Even if that happened, the procedure to replace his arm again would be a very delicate operation.
Bucky listened to Shuri's reservations, and dismissed it, setting off alarms in Steve's head. Bucky wouldn't even consider a future different from the one he created for himself. He set his attitude in stone, his stubbornness a match for Steve's. A small hidden part of Steve wanted this. Bucky in this state meant he would need him forever, giving him a valid reason to stay close to him. He immediately scolded himself for his selfishness. A long time ago he admitted to himself something about Bucky made him lose all common sense, something beyond love. He shook the thoughts away. He didn't want to give into any kind of self-analysis at the moment.
Instead, he did something unselfish. He reached over to his companion; he pulled back his long hair, and kissed him on the back of the neck, several times, and let his fingers slide down his back. Bucky came awake and turned himself over, smiling up at Steve.
"Didn't you get enough last night?" He asked.
"I told you, I could never get enough of you," he replied, "And before you say a word, I admit to everything, pure sappiness."
Bucky laughed and but his mood turned serious. "My offer still stands," he said. His offer of sex, of crossing the next line. He did this from time to time and this sentiment always touched Steve. "We talked about this. I accepted that you don't want me in that way, and as long as you don't want anyone else that way…" he said.
Bucky laughed again. "No chance. No worry about me cheating. That should be a plus."
"It is. Besides, it would be little more than masturbation, because try as you might you wouldn't be into it, almost be like using you for a tool, and I could just buy myself a blow-up doll if I wanted…"
"A what?" Bucky asked. He raised himself up with his one arm. Steve wanted to reach out and help him but he didn't need to. He pushed himself upright with ease.
"A blow-up…" Steve began but the utter confusion on Bucky's face stopped him. He would never get used to things like this going over his companion's head. "Oh, forget it…"
"You mean people…" a faint look of disgust crossed his face.
"The point is, I'm fine. Don't worry about me," Steve said. A knock at the door broke into the mood.
"Steve, Bucky, Sam out here!. Wake up! A lot of shit's about to go down!"
"What the hell… Just a minute," Steve called out as he dragged himself out of bed and pulled on his clothes. He intended to help Bucky but he didn't need to. He had pulled himself out of bed.
"You going to be ok?" He asked. Bucky nodded and reached for his shirt. Leaving him there, he stumbled to the main room. "What's up?" He asked, opening the door to find Sam pacing in out in the hallway. "Come in."
"Sorry to wake you," he said, walking into the room without breaking his stride. "I'm up early because Thula supposed to be back this morning… anyway, I found out Colonel Rhodes, Rhodey is on his way here. Somehow the Security Council found out about what happened, don't ask me how, and they want… well, they want the arm and Bucky."
"What?" Steve asked, shocked. Behind him, he heard the door to the bedroom opening.
"Did you hear?" he asked. Bucky nodded, his face unreadable, holding his sling, the one thing he needed help with.
"In all fairness, they're spooked by what happened with Thanos and whatever it's worth, Rhodey doesn't seem all that eager to complete this mission," Sam said. "But he asked to come because it's him.. and us."
"They can't do that. They can't take him!" All of Steve's worst fears came crashing down around him. The familiar knot of fear rose in his chest and the images started to flash. He forced himself to stop and take a deep breath.
Sam noticed his hesitation, but said nothing about it. "I guess they think he's dangerous…"
"Dangerous? After everything, he's been through… the man has one arm!"
"What can I say? We've been called an emergency meeting in the conference room. T'Challa is mad and I can't blame him. They can't override his authority in his own country but they're arguing treaties, pacts, and charters and all that but Bucky is the White Wolf… He'll do everything he can to protect him," Sam said.
Bucky said nothing but crossed the room and sat down. He ran his fingers through his hair and let out a sigh. "Why can't they leave me the hell alone?" he asked. Steve moved behind him to put his hands on his shoulders.
"Tell them we're on our way down," Steve said. "I'd love to know who did this!"
Sam shrugged his shoulders in reply." Rhodey will be here in a few hours. If we want to make any kind of plan, we need to do it now," he said. He nodded to both and left the room.
After eating a quick ready-made breakfast, they were back in the familiar room where all the major decisions took place. A hologram danced above the main table.T'Challa, to his credit, was doing his best to keep from shouting at the images.
"I cannot allow this to happen," he said. "You cannot overstep the rights of a sovereign nation in this manner. We have taken every precaution and you cannot take a citizen of this country against their will…"
"Barnes, is a citizen of Wakanda?" Steve didn't recognize this person, but the mannerisms of the holographic man reminded him of all the bureaucrats he had faced in his time.
"I granted him citizenship the moment he came here," T'Challa said.
"Isn't that an honorary thing?" This from a woman with a familiar face.
"It makes no difference to us," T'Challa replied.
"Is this true?" Steve lowered his voice.
Bucky nodded. "Yes, had a little ceremony, I've got a certificate and everything. Vibranium letters that glow in the dark."
"Why didn't you tell me this?"
He shrugged his shoulders. The way Bucky treated his privileges in the wealthiest country on earth would never cease to amaze him. Anyone else would have waved it around like a prize. No wonder the people here loved him and gave him things.
"Besides, The White Wolf is under a doctor's care. We cannot release him!" T'Challa continued to argue with the images.
"Your Royal Highness," The woman again, her voice gentle. "We understand the debt and your affection for the man, but after the recent upheavals, you must understand that we would wish to take precautions and Wakanda did sign the…"
"I understand. Colonel Rhodes is welcome to observe our protocols. You may even interview The White Wolf, and his medical team, if he consents but neither he nor the prosthetic are going anywhere because It's not mine. It belongs to the White Wolf!" T'Challa said. With a single word, the hologram disappeared. He noted Bucky and his demeanor changed and seemed a little embarrassed at his display of emotions. "I am sorry you witnessed that. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, all things considered. How did they find out…?"
"The Security Council intercepted our message to Thor. It seems they are monitoring all interplanetary communications."
"Is that even legal?" Tony's voice cut through the conversation as he entered the room. He yawned Right behind him Bruce and Sam. Vision and Wanda entered last deep in conversation, not arguing but ironing out the details to something. With a wave of the hand, T'Challa showed that everyone should take a seat.
"They told us what they want," T'Challa said. "I will allow Colonel Rhodes entrance, as he is a friend and can be reasoned with, but nothing more!"
"The last thing I want to do is cause another international incident," Bucky said. "I'm sorry I put you in this position."
"We saw what happened, you did what anyone would do," T'Challa said. "This is not your fault."
"When Rhodey shows up, we could always fake arrest him and put him in protective custody," Tony said.
"What?" Sam asked.
"Oh, nothing terrible, put him up in the guest accommodations here." Everyone in the room gave him a stony glare." It's just a suggestion!" he said in the way of protest.
"Rhodey might even go along that, but it would only make things worse," Bruce said.
A noise cut through their conversation. T'Challa waved his hand through the air and a different hologram appeared over the table. "What now?" he asked.
The flickering image stabilized, revealing a young woman with long dark hair, light brown skin. An attractive woman, but something was different about her. Something otherworldly and yet familiar.
"Valkyrie!" Bruce said. That answered that. An Asgardian.
"Bruce," She said and smiled. "Greetings to you, T'Challa, King of Wakanda. My name is Brunhilde of Asgard. I am responding to the message you sent asking for aid, which we have just received."
"Thor? Is he ok?" Bruce asked.
Brunhilde sighed and looked at something outside of their view. "He is in good health, but two days ago he fell into a deep sleep. He told us everything and gave us a warning that this would happen. We Asgardians became aware of the blending, even though we did not know how it came about. His coming back to us and his explanation confirmed our suspicions, but he cannot help you, at least not for the foreseeable future. I am the temporary guardian of our people and cannot leave. He would help you but…"
"We understand," T'Challa said. "Thank you for responding."
"Can I talk to you, later?" Bruce asked. "I'd like to… catch up."
She smiled. "We will arrange something. Good day." The hologram disappeared.
"Well, that takes care of that," Tony said. "Thor has a thousand years of memories to sort through, the only one we know of who can make this stuff… inert. What other options are out there?"
Vision cleared his throat. "Wanda and I discussed the possibility of the two of us, together, doing what we can to help." Everyone in the room turned to face the couple.
"You no longer carry the Mind stone…" Tony started.
"But I still have many useful abilities. The two of us, working together might find a way to recreate the means by which Thor renders this…. power inert. If you would at least allow us to form a plan of…"
"We would do conduct our experiment far away from here, away from any technology," Wanda said. "We have to try."
"It belongs to White Wolf. What would you wish us to do?" T'Challa asked.
Bucky sat up straight in his chair. "The thing is infected and of no use to me. I'm not opposed to letting them try as long as they do as they suggest, go away, to some uninhabited area. If that doesn't work, we have to wait until Thor wakes up if the Security Council will let us wait, but the longer the wait, the more nervous they'll get," he said. "Can't Wong just transport the thing away?" he asked.
"That's why I'm here," Tony said, the rhythm of his voice unnaturally slow. "I received a message from the Sanctum in New York just a few moments ago. Wong is fast asleep. Other sorcerers exist but they are guarding all the Sanctums…"
"And they can't leave. Transporting it might create other problems somewhere else, and we've caused enough trouble as is," Steve said. "We need to take care of this ourselves."
"All right," Bucky said. "Wanda and Vision have my permission to take this thing and see what they can do about it, and for the record, I'm not planning on going anywhere." He held T'Challa's gaze for longer than normal until T'Challa nodded back.
"I understand," he said in response. He turned to address the rest of the room. "Colonel Rhodes will be here within the hour. I suggest we prepare for his arrival." With those words he walked out the door, followed by a bodyguard.
"I've got to go meet Thula," Sam said to Steve and Bucky, keeping his voice low. "See you in a few."
The rest of the group left, leaving the two of them in the room. Bucky sat still for a long time, his eyes fixed on the far wall. Steve waited for him to speak.
"The others can go met Colonel Rhodes, Rhodey," Bucky said. "I don't want to get him in trouble with his superiors, so the farther I stay away from him, the better. You can go see him."
"I'm staying with you," Steve said. "You need me. You can do a lot of things for yourself, but not everything…"
Bucky turned to him. "I do need you," he said. He held up his hand and placed a finger on Steve's lips. "I mean what I said. No sappiness this time. Let's go back to the room… and wait."