Steve pauses outside the room where they've, for all intents and purposes, imprisoned Bucky. Who, according to T'Challa, still has yet to say a word.

I don't understand, Steve pleads, but he can't make himself say it out loud either, because he's afraid. Help me understand.

Steve turns away. He's used to knowing what's right, and now he feels lost. He wants to help Bucky, but he's terrified. What if he's lost his friend? If Bucky killed Natasha, even if it isn't his fault, will he be able to recover from that?

Sam slips beside him.

"I'm a mess," Steve says out loud.

"Nah, compared to a lot of people, you're still good," Sam assures him. They round the corner to see Tony pacing back and forth, barking into a phone.

"How the hell did you get to Wakanda? You don't have a visa. Hell, I'm pretty sure your aunt told me you don't even have a passport—"

"Tony," T'Challa says.

"What do you mean, you know where she keeps it? She lied to me?"

"Priorities," sighs Rhodey.

"I don't understand," remarks Wanda, clutching Vision's hand.

"What the hell's a passport?" asks Rocket.

"It's like a book that you need to get stamped to enter another country," Scott explains. "If you follow laws, that is."

"That's stupid. I go where I want," declares Rocket.

Scott regards the animal with appreciation. "Me too."

"Tony," interjects T'Challa again.

"No, I'm sure as hell not—" Tony splutters into the phone.

Gamora strides out and rips the phone from Tony's ear.

"What are you doing?" Tony howls.

"You wanted it?" Gamora asks, holding it out to T'Challa and keeping Tony in a headlock.

"I approve," Drax declares as Peter Quill chuckles.

Steve feels like his head's about to explode.

"I want to know who is in Wakanda," T'Challa says, glowering at Tony. "Now."

Tony groans and leans over. Gamora releases him, but still holds the phone out of his reach, "Have you read any New York papers? The Times, the Post? You get that stuff here?"

T'Challa crosses his arms. Steve almost smiles.

Tony sighs. "You remember the spider kid?"

"The one who tried to truss me up like I was some kind of animal?" yells Rocket.

"He's just a kid," Wanda snaps.

"With a grudge against me," retorts Rocket.

"Rocket, he does not have a grudge—" starts Peter Quill.

"Wait, wait, wait, hold up," Steve interrupts, his heart pounding. "The kid made it all the way to Wakanda?"

A garbled voice comes from the phone. "I crossed the border on foot."

"I think you need new border guards," Scott tells T'Challa.

"Where did he cross?" demands Vision, rising. "We can't leave him—"

"I don't know; I think that's a pretty good punishment my—"

"Tony, the amount of times you had to call people in your adult life to get you out of shit you shouldn't have gotten yourself into is embarrassing," Rhodey intervenes. "And he's just a teenager."

"We can take the Milano," suggests Peter Quill.

"If I go with you," says T'Challa, his eyes dark.

"Can I go and kill the kid?" asks Tony.

"To the first clause, yes, to the second clause, no," T'Challa returns.


When the Milano lands in the middle of a mountainous terrain and Tony sees Peter Parker sitting on a ragged rock, wearing shades and a big grin, he could kill the kid himself.

"Hey!" Peter calls, jogging off the rock. His eyes bug out when he sees Gamora. "Whoa! So it is true. The aliens are still here!"

A small smile crosses Gamora's face. Tony would have expected rage. Whatever. Like hell if he can figure this woman out. Or any women.

"If you spray me with any of your spider web shit, kid, I'll chew out your carotid while you're asleep," Rocket warns him.

"I am Groot," scolds the tree.

"Thanks for coming, your Majesty. Your Highness? What works?" Peter asks T'Challa.

"T'Challa is fine," answers the king. Humble. Too humble. But Tony likes the guy anyways. "We're going to have to have a discussion on how you managed to sneak into my borders, however." There's a darkness to T'Challa's tone.

Who else could sneak in? Tony wonders.

"Uh, yeah, sure, whatever you need," stammers Peter. He looks to Tony.

"Do I have to call your aunt and give her an excuse or do you have that covered?"

"It's covered. I also got this girl with like, super human strength, to protect her." Peter grins.

"Girl, huh?" asks Peter Quill, leaning against the side of his ship.

"She's older. Her boyfriend runs this bar that I was hiding in, because the police were chasing me—"

"What for?" demands Tony.

"They wanted my identity? I don't know." Peter shrugs. "Anyways, this woman—Jessica Jones—told me to hide, and she said she'd protect Aunt May while I'm here with you guys."

"Yes, that's all well and good," Tony says, throwing his arms into the air. "But why the—why are you here? We don't need you."

"Uh, yeah you do, and it has less to do with that space monster who wants to take over the world and more with the fact that the UN is planning on dropping by uninvited—or invited, but like forced invited, and threatening to nuke Wakanda unless you hand over Captain America and the Winter Soldier and Vision? I think Captain America's negotiable, though," Peter adds.

"What?" demands T'Challa. Tony's blood runs cold.

"How would you know this information?" asks Peter Quill. "Someone's got to be logical around here."

"Screw logic when my country might be getting nuked!" snarls T'Challa.

"That can't happen," Tony says, the words sticking to his throat. What have I started?

"Sharon Carter told me when she was in New York and told me to find you guys. They know about the space monster and something magic in Vision's brain too," Peter adds.

Oh no. Tony glances at all of them.

"Freaking government busybodies," complains Rocket.

"Let's get back," T'Challa said. "Peter Parker, you need to tell me everything you know."

Tony leans back against the wall when he enters his ship. He closes his eyes and sees his mother, his father.

Every time I try to make the world a safer place, it blows up in my face. Stark Industries. Ultron. Now.

What am I doing wrong?

He opens his eyes and half-expects to see defective hands, permanently stained palms. But they're clean, and they work, and they don't even hurt.

He just wants to save people, but he can't. He'll never be able to right all these wrongs. Never.

Pepper, I need you.

He tried to call her last night. She didn't answer.

I'm always too late. His parents, Pepper, Natasha.

Steve's voice lingers in his mind. Can't you even try to imagine that? Or do you have any empathy left?

Tony squeezes his eyes shut and, like a little boy, tries not to cry. Because this time his mother isn't around to comfort him, and he can't even imagine an invention to haul him out of this mess.

"I am Groot," says that stupid tree, and a branch wraps around Tony's shoulder.


"When are they coming?" Wanda demands.

"That I don't know, but like, soon?" Peter Parker shrugs. Panic pounds Wanda. She can't handle this.

She used to dream about having a perfect life, making the world a better place, a safer place. Now she would just settle for having a peaceful life for herself, where she doesn't hurt anyone and has people who love her. The Avengers. Vision.

"I know some people who may be able to like, hack into some important systems," Scott suggests.

"Because let's give them extra motivation, am I right?" Rhodey scoffs.

Scott shrugs. "What do we have to lose?"

"Steve, Tony, we should talk," T'Challa says. "And you." He beckons to the Guardians. Thor's with his father. None of the Wakandan medicines seem to be working on his Asgardian body.

Vision frowns. "I should be a part of this conversation."

Probably she should too. But Wanda's exhausted. "Go." She waves her hand and wanders over to a coffee pot. She pours herself a cup and takes a sip. Too hot. She winces.

"Hey," says Peter Parker, sidling up to her.

"Hey," Wanda says, taking another sip. The steam bathes her face.

"So," Peter says, looking at her and Sam, who leans against a window. "You're friends with that Winter Soldier guy, aren't you?"

"He's a friend of my friend. Close enough," Wanda says. The coffee tastes bitter, and strong. Good. She needs it.

"I guess," Sam says, but there's a sadness in his tone.

Natasha's dead.

What happened? Wanda wonders, for the umpteenth time.

"Like, I heard about the spy girl," Peter says.

"Natasha," Wanda cuts in. She had a name. Like Pietro had a name.

"Yeah. Natasha. But if she and Bucky were up to something with Thanos the space monster, wouldn't it make sense to ask him questions?"

"We tried," Sam says. "You think you're the first one to think of that? He won't answer any. I don't know if he recognizes me or not."

Wanda's lost her parents and her brother, but she wonders what it would be like to lose someone while they were still alive. Like Steve with Bucky, like Thor with his father. Are they still the person you loved, even if they hate you? If they can't see you?

Yes.

What makes a person a person? Wanda wonders.

She knows if Vision were to forget her, fight against her because he didn't know her, she wouldn't give up. She loves him.

"Maybe I'm just being a stupid kid," Peter says, raising his hands as if in defense. "And this idea might be totally stupid. But maybe there's more to the story."

"Of course there is," Sam snorts. "But we can't get it out of him."

"Maybe it'd help if you listened instead of accusing? Like this one time, my teacher accused me of cheating on a test when I was in third grade, and I didn't say anything because I felt so embarrassed and confused, and then when she sent me to the principal's office and they called my Aunt May, Aunt May got it out of me that I hadn't. They didn't believe me, but she did, and that was all I needed."

"What are you saying?" Wanda asks. She takes another sip of coffee.

"Maybe he feels like you're all thinking the worst. And maybe that's what happened and maybe it's not, but if you ask him and you don't, like, accuse him or whatever, he might be more forthcoming." Peter shrugs. "Just a thought."

Wanda glances to Sam, raising her eyebrows.

T'Challa marches back out to them, his mouth set in a grim line. Gamora follows, her arms crossed.

"They called, didn't they?" Rhodey guesses.

"They want Vision. And Bucky Barnes," T'Challa confirms. "We have twenty-four hours." And he swears then, dragging his hands over his scalp.

Refusing would mean signing the death warrant for everyone in his country. Potentially for people across the globe. Wanda's coffee burns her stomach.

"What do they want Vision for?" she asks, voice shaking.

"To trade him. Maybe. With Thanos."

"Thanos has contacted them?" demands Scott.

"Not yet. But they've heard rumors. Enough. And Xandar has contacted them," Gamora says.

"Freakin' Xandar. Buncha idiots we shouldn't've saved," gripes Rocket as he emerges.

"I'd have liked to see the secretary's face when aliens contacted them," laughs Scott. Wanda glares. His face falls. "Sorry."

"What can we do?" Sam asks.

T'Challa raises his hands, tilts his neck towards the ceiling as if looking for some divine sign.

"Talk to Thor," Gamora puts in. "That's where Steve and Tony went. And Vision."

And if he has no ideas? Wanda stares at the dark brown liquid swirling in her cup.

"You don't need to worry," Clint mutters to Wanda, clutching his bow. "They aren't taking Vision. I'm not losing any more friends."


The door creaks as it opens. Bucky's head throbs. It feels like something's been clawing and pounding the space behind his eyes. The despair curdling in his chest drowns him, but he can't hurt himself because of the restraints T'Challa had him placed in.

"Hey," Sam says. "Sorry, I'm not Steve."

Why are you here? Bucky wonders. But he's not sure he cares. Nothing matters. He's going to die and Thanos is going to win.

"All right, keep giving me the silent treatment. I bet you were a real fun kid to be around when you were pissed off." Sam drags a stool over and sits on it, staring at Bucky's face. Bucky shifts his eyes away.

"Did I just get a reaction?" Sam mocks. "But seriously, dude. I want to help you. We want to help you."

"No one can," Bucky ekes out.

"Holy shit, you said something?"

Bucky closes his eyes.

"Okay, look, I get if you don't want to talk about whatever happened up there. Or the past eighty years." Sam sighs. "But come on, man. Steve and I—T'Challa—we're just trying to help you and—"

"There's no point." He'd give everything if they could. His throat aches.

"Okay then." Sam stands up. Bucky cracks his eyes open. "How about you help us then? We know several vague things about some sort of space god trying to wipe out the universe with magic gems and one of them is in Vision's head. Even Thor's confused about his plans, though, and also Thor's a little distracted with his father. If you know anything, we need you." He sits back down. "Gamora said that the aliens who captured you work for Thanos. Can you tell me anything?"

"You aren't asking me about Natasha?"

Sam grimaces. "Not yet."

"She wasn't supposed to come with me. She got caught up in all of it by accident. And then she saved my skin."

"Caught up in what?" Sam asks, frowning.

You shouldn't have died. I should be dead.

"Look, I know you didn't kill her," Sam says. "Steve knows it, too."

"Yes, I did," Bucky whispers.

"No," Sam says. "You're lying. Remember that spider kid? The one who pinned us down at the airport? He even thinks something else is going on."

Bucky furrows his brow. "Why is he here?"

"That's a good question."

Anger flares. Dammit, why does everyone have to have so much blind faith in him? "Is it really so hard to believe?"

"Yeah," Sam snorts. "But if you're going to insist you killed her, how did that happen?"

"She wasn't supposed to come along. I made a bad decision. " Trusting a trickster.

"So you didn't actually pull the trigger."

"No."

"Never thought you did," Sam says. "Please, Bucky, tell me what you can. I'm not trying to exonerate you. I just want to keep the universe from getting destroyed. You don't want that on your conscience."

Sam's benevolent manipulation reminds Bucky of Natasha. "The story's stranger than you think." Loki. Thanos. Torture rooms and explosions. Sounds like a movie.

"I'm here for strange."


All these people.

Vision can't look any of them in the eye.

"I'll fly it into space again," Tony declares.

"Without a portal, that's not going to work," T'Challa says, crossing his arms.

"Why can't we just take on your government?" asks Peter Quill. "I can call some friends. They can probably make it here in time."

"After you screwed over Yondu, he'll probably side with the government," retorts Rocket.

"I am Groot," agrees the tree.

"We can fight them ourselves," growls Drax.

"No one can fight a nuclear weapon," Vision murmurs.

"They've contacted you?" Gamora asks T'Challa. She leans back against a window seat, a bored look settling on her features. Vision doubts she's anything close to bored, however.

"With the same demands Peter Parker warned us of," T'Challa confirms. The spider kid winces as if to say, sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

"Can Asgard open a portal?" Clint questions, arm around Laura. He peers at Thor and Sif.

"Possibly, but we don't know what harm such a weapon would do there. I can't allow my kingdom to potentially be destroyed." Thor cringes, and a haunted look passes over his face. "They can't all die because of me."

"I cannot allow this either," T'Challa states, pressing his fingers together.

"There's an obvious solution," Vision says. Why does he want to scream and cry at what it is? Why does he want his life, as if he was human? "I'll turn myself over."

"Like hell you will," Wanda snaps.

And now he's irritated, because she's giving him hope and he can't have that. "You didn't like me telling you what to do—"

"Fair point," Tony agrees.

"Not fair." Wanda glowers at Tony. "I won't let you do this, Vis. If I have to—" Red glows from her hands, burns in her eyes.

"I agree with Wanda," Bruce says. "You're the—you're supposed to be a protector of humanity."

"And if I can protect Wakanda by handing myself over—"

"You'll be buying time, nothing more," Steve interjects. "Thanos—"

"I'll destroy myself before I let Thanos get a hand on this gem," Vision says. "There's got to be a way to do that."

"No." Wanda leaps to her feet. "You can't do that."

"I have to." Why does the thought throb in his chest, squirm like something's trying to escape? He could scream and cry, but he has to swallow it. "I—"

"I don't trust that you'll be able to do that," Sif says quietly. "You could destroy yourself. You cannot destroy that stone."

Rhodey groans. "So it's hopeless?"

"I can buy time," Vision insists.

"Why are you so determined to end your life?" Wanda demands.

"I'm not determined to do that at all!" Vision shouts. Everyone gapes at him. "I just—"

"Everyone would still die," Gamora says. "You'd accomplish nothing."

"Why can't we reason with them?" asks Peter Parker.

"You're cute, kid," Tony tells him.

If only more humans could be that 'cute.' Vision closes his eyes. "I don't want to die. But I don't know what else to do." There are no good options.

There is no side of life here. It's instant death, or delayed death.

"Hold the presses," calls Sam as he barges into the room. Vision's eyes fly open. "So I was just talking to Bucky."

Clint scowls. Tony stiffens, and Steve's eyes light up. "He talked to you?"

"Yeah, he did. We're in a huge mess. Way huger than we thought." He jabs his finger at Vision. "But you can't turn yourself over. It'll only make everything worse."

"What did he tell you?" Thor demands.

"Take a seat. You especially," Sam says. "Your brother's involved."

Thor's eyes darken.

"In short, Peter," Sam says, turning to the kid. "Your idea is best. We need to try and buy time. We need you all—Gamora, Starlord, Rocket, Drax—to—"

"And Groot!" interrupts Rocket.

"And Groot," Sam amends. "To help us. We need to convince them Thanos won't listen, or leave earth alone."

"What did he say about Loki?" Sif questions.

"I'm getting there." Sam glares at Vision. "You aren't turning yourself over. If you do, everyone dies."

Sam's too emotional to make logical sense to Vision right now, but he craves to believe him.

"I agree," says Gamora. "Our only option is to try and negotiate."

"And if that fails?" T'Challa asks. "My people—"

"We fight. And we won't let that bomb go off."

Wishful thinking, child's play.

And Vision needs to believe it.


Sooooo... this chapter got exceedingly long, and so even though I said Steve and Bucky would get to talk and Natasha would arrive, that wound up not happening because I like to keep my chapters under a certain length. I'm really sorry-on the bright side, I'll post that chapter tomorrow. So two chapters this weekend! And the next one is all feels.