Hey everyone! Here's chapter 22, I hope you enjoy it! As I was finishing this up it hit me that… there might be only one or two more chapters left. It's really happening, this fic is coming to an end.
Anyway, like always, I don't own anything.
X_X_X
A week passed since Steve left and the duo were slowly accepting life in Wakanda. Bucky had his metal arm removed and had been sent to help out in the farms.
Wanda, on the other hand, had been dragged by Shuri into her labs and was there mostly to offer an ear. It turned out that the Wakandan princess was rarely allowed to go out and make friends with other girls around her age. Wanda was more than happy to follow the younger girl around and chat about anything and everything.
"Whoa, hold up," Shuri said, holding her hand out to stop Wanda from taking another step. "Why didn't you tell me you were good at chemistry?"
Wanda shrugged.
"I didn't think I was good. I only studied things in books when I was at the Avengers base. Tony said he'd help me get into college but that never happened," she said bitterly.
"Wanda!" the younger girl exclaimed.
Wanda took a step back in confusion.
"Shuri!" she said back.
"I could have had you helping in the lab! We could work here together instead of you just watching me," Shuri said happily.
"Aww, but I like watching you. You're the sunshine to my day," Wanda said teasingly.
The other girl laughed and began shooting different ideas at her, which Wanda was more than happy to help in. In exchange for helping in the lab, Shuri would make sure to give her the material required for getting her high school education completed.
From that day on, Wanda spent most of her days in the lab, this time working on her own projects for the place that was giving her refuge.
However, Wanda soon noticed that without Shuri's presence, other Wakandan's would glare at her and talk behind her back. The only reason she knew they were speaking ill of her was because she was able to go into their minds and understand everything they were saying.
"Shuri, I don't think your people like me," she said right away as she walked into the lab.
Shuri turned away from her task with a frown.
"What makes you say that?" she asked.
"Well, they glare at me, for one," Wanda said, crossing her arms. "And I can read what they're saying, what they're thinking."
Shuri rolled her eyes.
"Ignore them, Wanda. They're just bitter. Everyone close to us know that you did your best, but not everyone is perfect. We don't blame you for what happened in Lagos. And those who do don't deserve your attention," she said, turning back to her work.
Wanda thought about what the younger girl said and found herself smiling. She was right, and Wanda would waste no more time on bitter people. She turned to leave but Shuri's voice stopped her.
"Hey, Wanda," she called. "T'Challa's coronation is in a few days. Would you and Bucky like to come? It's open to all of our residents."
Wanda smiled.
"Thank you, Shuri, but I personally don't think I'll go. I don't want to cause discomfort to those still not used to me- it would ruin a precious experience for them. "
Shuri smiled and dropped her utensils to give Wanda a hug.
"You're too kind, Wanda. But thank you. I'll make sure to wear a hidden camera so you can still watch the ceremony," she said.
Wanda laughed.
"I'm pretty sure you already have a camera in your outfit somewhere, ready to capture T'Challa's most embarrassing moments."
The princess grinned.
"He makes it too easy."
X_X_X
"Hey!" Wanda exclaimed, walking around a small tent and seeing Bucky feeding two goats. She took a moment to admire his traditional clothes. They complimented his skin color.
"Hey!" he called back with a grin.
"I'm looking for the White Wolf. The villagers said I could find him here," Wanda said with a teasing grin.
Bucky laughed.
"I don't know where they got that name," he said with a shake of his head.
"I like it," Wanda said. "It suits you."
"You think?" he asked, getting up and making his way over to her. She noticed with amusement that the goats followed him.
"Yeah. It seems that the world's deadliest assassin was made for the farm life," she said with a smirk.
"Oh yeah, I'm definitely putting all the training to use. Especially with these two," he said, tilting his head towards the goats.
One of them came up to her and bumped her hand.
"These are Buddy and Steve," he said. "Steve's the most stubborn."
As if in response, the goat under her hand let out a loud bleat.
Wanda fell into a fit of giggles.
"That's so fitting," she said.
Bucky smiled up at her.
"So, is it true you're moving out here now?" Wanda asked once she's calmed down.
"Yeah, Shuri thought it would help me get to know myself better. And I enjoy it, so why not? I'm already here from sunrise to sunset anyway." he said.
"I'm glad you found something you enjoy," she said.
"What about you?" he asked.
"I'm helping Shuri in the lab. Apparently I'm good at chemistry, but I honestly just feel like she's making it a bigger deal than it is," she replied.
"Well, you must be good if she's letting you work in her lab. I know how picky she is with who she lets touch things in there," he said, remembering the time when she'd thrown a bead at him when he'd only picked up a pencil.
"I hope so. With everything I've done that hurt them, I just want to help out in any way possible."
"I'm sure you don't need to do anything. Knowing Shuri and T'Challa, you're already forgiven," he said.
Wanda let out an amused huff.
"Yeah, they tell me that pretty much everyday," she said. "By the way, are you going to the coronation?"
Bucky shook his head.
"I told T'Challa I didn't think it'd be good for me to attend. Some people still think I was the one who killed their previous king. You?" he asked.
"Nope, for pretty much the same reason, except I killed 11 of their people instead of their king," Wanda said softly.
They both watched as the goats got bored and ran off into the distance.
"Hey, would you like to join me for dinner tonight?" Bucky asked. "It's the first meal I made by myself in a long time. With organic ingredients, too."
His hopeful grin melted Wanda's heart.
"I'd love to," she said.
He invited her into his tent and she watched with fondness as he explained what he did everyday on the farm.
X_X_X
Wanda watched as everyone around her became tense as the hours passed. T'Challa had gone out to retrieve Klaue and apparently everyone wanted him dead. Or at least punished for stealing their vibranium. Even Shuri was distracted, saying she needed to be available to her brother at all times.
Wanda found herself walking a lone, familiar path to a hidden section of Wakanda.
"Wanda, what are you doing here?" Bucky asked as she came close to his designated land.
"Uh, I just wanted to talk, I guess. Everyone in the castle is on edge and it's stressing me out," she said.
Bucky walked closer and observed her.
"There's more," he stated.
Wanda took in a deep breath and looked around her.
It was nearing night time and she could see the stars clearly in the sky as they appeared. Suddenly she felt silly for wearing a sleeveless dress out since it was doing very little to protect her from the cool air.
"Come on, let's get you next to the fire," Bucky said, sensing her discomfort.
"I had him in front of me," she said.
Bucky looked at her in confusion.
"Klaue, I had him in front of me. Pietro and I were sent to intimidate him, to get him to give us the vibranium. He escaped, and now he's bothering the Wakandans again," she explained.
"And you feel guilty?" he asked.
Wanda nodded.
"You and Steve, what am I going to do with you two," Bucky said, glancing up at the sky.
Wanda snorted.
"I'm not as bad as he is," she said.
"But you're nearly there," he replied without missing a beat.
Wanda knew that was true, so she shrugged.
"You don't seem very comfortable or relaxed there," Bucky said after a while.
"I'm not," she said.
"So why do you stay?" he asked.
Wanda hesitated.
"I've nowhere else to go," she said, looking down at her hands. Her black nail polish was coming off already and she'd just painted them on two days ago.
"Wanda," Bucky said gently. She looked up at him and his blue eyes sparkled with the light from the fire.
"You're more than welcome to stay here with me," he said, reaching out to take her hands in his.
"I know it's not much, and you'd probably prefer sleeping in the castle rather than in a tent outside in the middle of nowhere, but my tent is always open for you. I know we could make it work."
Wanda felt her heart clench in her chest.
"I… I don't know," she whispered.
His hand pulled her closer until she could feel his body heat through her dress.
"Wanda, you understand me like no one else. We've been through so much together already. There's something here between us, I can feel it. Can't you?" he asked.
Dazed, Wanda nodded her head in confirmation.
"After all this time, after all we've been through, here we stand. It makes sense for us to be together, don't you think?"
Wanda felt her whole world shift and in the center there he stood.
"Yes," she whispered, taking a small step closer to him.
Her hands reached up to cup his face and he leaned into her touch.
"Yes," she said with a shy smile. "Yes, I'll stay."
The grin that spread across his face was breathtaking and Wanda felt herself falling for the way his eyes crinkled with joy.
They both noticed how close they were standing, their breaths mixing in between bit her lip as she looked up into his deep blue eyes, but his gaze was at her lips.
Wanda didn't know who pulled who in first, but in the next second their lips were on each others. She ran her hands through his hair and gently pulled.
Bucky's answering moan had her melting against him, wanting to get closer and closer until they became one. Based on the way he was pulling her against him with his arm, he wanted the same thing.
With all her will, Wanda pulled away. The smack of their lips broke the silence of the night.
Bucky rested his forehead against hers and grinned at the bruising of her lips.
"Welcome home," he said.
Wanda felt warmth spread in her body and knew she finally was home. With a carefree laugh, she pressed her lips against his once more.
