As Wanda walked in, she noticed that Prince T' Challa was sitting in a wheelchair on the balcony of his bedroom.
"Come in further, Miss Wanda. Please join me here outside." He said, while watching the sun go down.
Wanda nodded and joined the Prince, also admiring the view." Good afternoon, Prince T'Challa. How are you feeling today?" she asked, and saw that he was motioning her to take a seat.
She smiled and sat in the chair next to him.
"I'm doing very well, Miss Wanda." He replied, as his eyes darted in her direction.
Wanda felt so good at the moment, living with the knowledge that she was the one who helped save The Prince's life." I'm happy that you're OK, Prince." She answered, a smile appearing on her pretty face, relief written all over it.
"I've been told that it was a very close call, Miss Wanda. I admire you for pressing it, because I've also been told that a few of my advisors were against you saving me. You handled their resistance well. Even when they threatened to put you on the next plane back to The US, you held your own and insisted on saving my life, at that moment not concerned about your own well-being." The Prince said, his voice filled with admiration and such gratitude.
"Well, they did what they thought was the right thing; I don't blame them you know. You are their Prince; they only wanted to protect you." She said.
At that, he raised an eyebrow." From you? You would never harm me." He stated, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I think they were, maybe still are afraid of my powers." Wanda replied, and let out a deep breath.
The Prince nodded at that, and smiled at her." I admire your fearlessness and bravery, Miss Maximoff. I admire your kindness, empathy and loyalty. And I owe you my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
As those words reached Wanda's ears, tears began to pool in her emerald eyes." Well Prince, I consider you more than an ally or the man who gives me shelter, clothes on my back, food— even though I'm not able to eat your kind of food, so your chefs make burgers and fries especially for me. You are a true host and such a great man, I couldn't let you die." Wanda said, her voice breaking in the end. She then paused, and continued." I consider you my friend, and I would do anything for my friends. Anything!"
"Even if it meant your own demise?" he asked.
As Wanda attempted to push the tears back, she replied." Yes, I only have friends now, Prince. I don't have parents anymore or a brother. I've lost them and the only reason I am still sane at the moment, is because of my friends. They've become my replacement family, and I can't go on living without them. I'd give my life for any one of them. For Steve, Sam or Clint."
"Or James Barnes." The Prince added for her.
Wanda's eyes widened at that, shocked that he knew that she knew about Bucky.
"Prince, I…" she started, but he held his hand up.
"You think I don't know everything what goes on in my own Palace?" he asked, and placed a hand on Wanda's upper arm.
She avoided his gaze, and struggled with her thoughts, not quite knowing what to say to him at the moment." I'm sorr… "She began, but he gently cut her off.
"He means a lot to you." the Prince stated, not even asking it. He then smiled sadly at her." I know how it feels not being able to be with the one you truly care for. I don't blame you for trying to be close to him, even only in your head. And I won't hold it against you, Miss Maximoff. I would never."
At that, Wanda almost rolled her eyes at him, but held it back. 'Why do people in this country keep thinking that Bucky meant more to her than a friend?' she wondered.
Bucky was her friend! Their relationship was platonic! Nothing more. But Wanda knew that it was no use trying to convince the Prince otherwise, so she let it go and let out a deep breath instead." Prince, I apologize for what I did to Adigun. But I just wanted to see him. Bucky is my friend. And that day I felt so lonely, and I had just lost contact with Steve and Sam, not knowing if I'd ever see them ever again. Not knowing if they're alive or dead. I just needed to see Bucky; that was at that moment the only grip, the only support I had to keep me from going insane… from giving up." She confessed.
"I know, Miss. I know the feeling. It is easier to just give up and stop fighting." He stated, as he locked eyes with her.
She nodded." Yes, but seeing Bucky through Adigun is the only reason why I don't want to give up. It's why I don't want to stop fighting! And I believe I will see Steve and the others again." Wanda explained, and gave him an apologetic look." But I assure you, it was that one time. I didn't try anything after that; I wanted to, believe me I did, but it was wrong of me to use Adigun. So, I stopped with using my powers on him."
The Prince smiled and said." Well, Miss Maximoff I believe you. And I have to say this; I owe you my life. Thank you for that."
Wanda smiled back, and replied." You're so welcome, Prince. Your people are the luckiest for having such a great leader."
He nodded at that." Well, Miss Maximoff, it is tradition in my country, that when one owes the other their life, their forever indebted to them." The Prince commented, his voice and the look in his eyes serious at that very moment.
She shook her head at that." Oh, no. It's OK, we're fine. I did it with all my heart. You're not indebted to me forever. No, Prince." She replied, babbling in the process.
"Yes, I am and I'm very serious about these things, I don't take it lightly, Miss Wanda. But there is a way to level it." He remarked.
"OK?" She replied, as she decided to go along with it, because The Prince had made up his mind about being indebted to her. There was nothing she could say to change his mind." What are we talking about? You can give me or do something for me, so we're even?"
The Price nodded, and smiled." Yes, I will do anything you ask of me. But we'll never be even, because I'm forever in your debt."
Wanda sighed at that, and at that moment, something in her head clicked, while her eyes started to water, her throat closing up." Anything?" she asked, her voice trembling.
He nodded and said." Anything."
As that one word left Prince T'Challa's lips, Wanda's mind gently took her back in time.
** Flashback **
"It must've been hard losing it. Bucky, how do you feel about not having a left arm anymore?"
As those words left Wanda's lips, she slowly looked up at Bucky, afraid of his reaction. He stood up from his seat, and walked over to the sink to wash his hand. In anticipation, Wanda waited, not knowing what to expect… what he was going to say or do.
At that, Bucky sat back in his chair, still not answering her question. Instead Bucky locked his blue eyes on Wanda's green ones, the atmosphere all of a sudden thick with tension. In those few seconds, she experienced such an indescribable feeling. The pain and agony in those blue eyes were tugging at her heart, making her hands clench into fists, the feeling almost unbearable.
"I'm so sorry for that." She apologized, even though she had nothing to do with him losing the arm.
Bucky shook his head, as a sad smile appeared on his face." It's not your fault, Wanda. You shouldn't be apologizing… for anything."
She nodded, while attempting to push her tears back, remembering all that she saw and experienced when still inside his head not that long ago." You wanna talk about it? We don't have to, if you don't want to, you know." Wanda carefully said, as she reluctantly placed a hand on his wrist, patting it gently for his comfort.
Bucky's eyes landed on her hand at that, and let out a breath." You know, the first time I saw what they've done to my left arm all those years ago, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Most of the time I saw it as a tool, a weapon. I always had a hate/love relationship with my metal arm. Sometimes I felt lucky to have it… and there were times that I truly and deeply hated it with a passion! When I was finally free from the clutches of HYDRA, I started to see my metal arm as a part of me, accepting it. Because before that, I didn't; I refused to accept it as my own. But then the fight happened with Tony Stark and it was gone. Just like that!" he confessed, his voice trembling when the last words left his lips.
Wanda's throat closed up at that, and grabbed his hand, holding it tightly in hers, attempting to comfort him." I'm sorry, I wish I could do something to make you feel better. I really do." She whispered, and caught his gaze.
"I'm not fine with it, you know. I do miss it and it sucks that it's gone. But I can't be sad or angry about it, because that thing has caused so much pain and destruction in the past. I'm kind of glad also…" he said, and let out a deep breath, and then he shook his head." I don't know, Wanda…"
She squeezed his hand at that, and cleared her throat." You have mixed feelings about losing it." Wanda stated, while she observed Bucky.
As those words reached his ears, he nodded." Yeah, you're right. I do have mixed feelings." Bucky agreed, and paused for a moment, while locking eyes with her." Since when have you gotten so wise, Miss Maximoff?" he then remarked with a tad of tease in his voice.
At that, she blushed lightly at the compliment and decided to change the subject." Hey, Bucky I still have no idea how to eat this huge hamburger!" Wanda commented, making them both smile.
~ That night ~
Wanda had fallen asleep and was having an awful nightmare. As she tossed and turned in the motel bed, the horrifying images of her twin brother being shot to death, were plaguing her in her sleep, replaying over and over in her head. The images of Pietro's lifeless body were still etched in her mind and consuming her from the inside out, as she desperately tried to fight it off. In her dream she was screaming at the top of her lungs, her mind not being able to bear the gut wrenching pain anymore.
Little did she know she was screaming for real, making Bucky wake up. From afar she heard someone calling out her name, and a hand shaking her on her upper arm." Wanda! Wanda! Wanda wake up!"
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reach that familiar voice, Wanda couldn't get out of the dream!
"You're having a nightmare, wake up!" was what she heard the voice say, but all she felt was sorrow and pain and all of a sudden Wanda felt rage… purely rage, the kind she had never felt before.
As she woke up with a start in a sitting position, Wanda desperately gasped for air and then she attacked the first person she saw. Blinded by agony and rage, and not knowing what she was doing, she ended up being in some kind of trance. At that, Wanda's eyes turned completely red, and with her powers she grabbed and held Bucky down on the bed with all her might.
"Wanda! It's me, stop it." Bucky said, as he looked up at her while lying on his back on the bed, his hand over his neck where he felt an invisible force choking him. It was her; Wanda was the one doing it.
She heard Bucky's pleas to stop with what she was doing, but continued choking him, because Wanda saw Ultron on the bed instead of Bucky.
"You murdered my twin brother!" She shouted, making the hairs on Bucky's neck stand up.
Her voice was filled with such agony and pain, it cut right through Bucky's heart and soul. So even though he felt himself slipping away because she cut off the oxygen to his lungs, Bucky's heart was bleeding for Wanda, all the emotions in him exploding in his chest, while tears pooled in his eyes.
"Wanda, don't. I, please…" he managed to say, while locking his blue eyes on her, his right hand still over his neck.
No matter how hard Bucky tried, Wanda's powers were too strong for him. He could never in a million years get out from her invisible powerful grip, so Bucky attempted something else. With his right hand, Bucky slowly reached out to her, his hand trembling heavily, because his brain was barely getting any oxygen. At that very moment, Bucky truly believed that he was going to die.
But as the warm palm of his hand collided with Wanda's face, connecting the two of them with that simple touch, she was able to get out from that horrible trance. With a shock, the red of her eyes vanished, and in its place he saw the familiar green color in them. At that, Wanda instantly broke off the invisible grip she had on Bucky, making him sit up and gasp loudly for air.
When she realized what she had done, a loud, heart wrenching sob escaped Wanda's lips. Finally, she broke down and let out all that she had been keeping locked up inside her heart for more than two years. Bucky instantly scooted over to her on the bed, and watched how her whole body shook violently. Her sobs echoed in the room, making his heart bleed. Without hesitation, Bucky then pulled Wanda towards him, and held her close.
She felt so lost, and rested her face on his warm chest. Bucky's eyes fluttered shut, as he soothed Wanda by stroking her hair." It's alright. You're fine now. It's OK." Bucky whispered, as she cried into his chest.
The last thing Wanda ever wanted was for someone to see her this way. Steve and Sam used to offer her to talk about Pietro's death, but she always declined, convincing them that she was dealing in her own way. Well at the moment, she clearly hadn't dealt with her twin's death at all. Bucky was the first one who has seen her in this vulnerable state. She didn't like it… not at all, but right now all Wanda needed was a shoulder to cry on, a friend who wouldn't mind that she was wetting his shirt with her never ending tears.
At one point, Wanda's face ended up in the crook of Bucky's neck. As his scent invaded her nostrils, her hand landed on his chest, twisting the fabric of his shirt with her fingers. He used the same after shave as Pietro.
She pulled away from him at that, and looked Bucky straight in his blue eyes." I didn't do enough! I should've been there for him that day! I should have protected him! He was my responsibility! He was my only brother!" Wanda yelled, as chilling sobs escaped her pale lips.
Bucky shook his head, and cupped her face with his right hand, his thumb stroking her cheek gently, attempting to comfort her." Hey, hey Wanda. No, you did all you could. You shouldn't feel guilty about it, because it isn't your fault!"
She disagreed with him and shook her head furiously." I should have protected Pietro! I was all he had!" Wanda replied, dismissing Bucky, her sobs causing him to feel more than he'd ever felt in two years.
As those words reached Bucky's ears, he couldn't bear seeing Wanda like that any longer, so he pulled her back into his chest and held her tightly. He realized at that particular moment that she was going to disagree with him no matter what he said.
When Wanda felt that he was pulling her back into his personal space, she couldn't help but go along with it. As she let her face rest on his warm chest, Wanda cried into his shirt, because she was so tired of everything and just wanted to be held by someone. Wanda needed the comfort, and just let it all out, while soaking Bucky's shirt with her endless tears.
** End of Flashback **
Prince T' Challa's voice brought Wanda back to the present.
"Miss Maximoff. Have you decided what you want? I am obligated to grant you that wish." He said, while looking at her.
Wanda's green eyes darted away from the Prince and landed on a spot far away, while the wheels in her head started to turn. She can ask him anything. He is obligated to do as she asks. What will she ask for? It took her only a few moments to decide what she wanted.
Without hesitation Wanda's green eyes darted towards the Prince, and as they locked on his, she said." Bucky. I want to see him. And I don't want to see him by invading Adigun or anyone else's head, but for real. Please, bring me to his booth; I want to see Bucky in real life."
Note: OMG! Will Prince T' Challa do it?
Hello, hello. I hope you like it.
Review! Review! ;)
Thanks for reading, for the follows, and faves.