Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are all lovely. I feel like I'm getting in the groove again. This is the first entirely new chapter written post Guardians of the Galaxy.

It's now Friday, March 30, in the gamma timeline (in Wakanda, anyway). I feel like Thursday was long enough, so let's move forward.


Conversation 71: You Can Lie to Yourself, But Not Your Best Friend.

White Wolf: You could've told me you were in Wakanda. I found out from my almost stepdaughter.

Nomad: Sorry. We only got here a few hours ago. The kids are still asleep. I had to carry Flash to his room.

White Wolf: I feel like that's something Queens would volunteer for. Or are the kids still all dancing around each other?

Nomad: He was busy with MJ and the others were no help. Silk actually took pictures. We just threw them all together on one bed. They can figure out rooms later.

White Wolf: [Raised eyebrow Emoji] At least Wakanda has better contraceptives than rationed condoms.

Nomad: It's fine. Tony is convinced they are too hopeless to try anything just yet. Afia and Silk are with them. They can play chaperone.

White Wolf: Yeah, I remembered you at that age. I think I caught you giving head to Artie at least once.

Nomad: The kids are more hopeless than that. Another variant of me married Artie in our timeline. Well, as close as I could since Artie died three years before it was legal. I really hate cancer. I'm so tired of losing people.

White Wolf: If I come over to your suite, will your fiancé deck me? Do you need a hug. Also, I feel like we have a lot to talk about. I am very confused. The Princess's digital assistant refuses to answer my questions. I'm not going to try your fiancé's AI yet.

Nomad: You are nowhere near as confused as I am.

Nomad: In the last 24 hours, I found out that Tony's niece lives next door to an alternate version of myself that went back in time to fix history and failed miserably. It just got worse from there.

White Wolf: If my girlfriend's daughter didn't draw pictures of other timelines, I would think you were crazy.

Nomad: I wish she didn't. Without those drawings, May wouldn't have…

White Wolf: ?

Nomad: Do you remember your girlfriend's daughter drawing a picture of a shield agent falling off a cliff? Or something else like that?

White Wolf: Yes, but the hair keeps changing colors. Sometimes it's black, and sometimes the hair is red.

Nomad: May saw the version with red hair and decided…

Nomad: I can't talk about what happened. I don't even want to type it. Nor should I. She's gone. I lost another person, and I'm so tired of it.

White Wolf: Now I am definitely coming over, even if the fiancé brings out the big guns. I assume "she" is Agent May? Did she die during her latest mission?

Nomad: First, he wouldn't do that. You two got along well at Christmas last year. Second, Tony is in the lab already.

White Wolf: He couldn't even take a nap before going to the Princess's labs, could he? Especially when you're a mess right now. Because you didn't say yes tells me May is the one you lost.

Nomad: Ask Ana for details. I am not ready to talk about it. I can't.

White Wolf: I did that. You're already blaming yourself for what happened, aren't you? Even though you had no control over it whatsoever?

Nomad: If I hadn't broken a wall earlier this week, I would've been with her on this mission and could've taken her place.

White Wolf: Then I would be trying to keep your fiancé from scorching the earth. I'm not sure I would be very effective since I killed his parents. I would have to call Sam for backup.

Nomad: Tony also blames himself right now. Phil punched Tony last night, and I wasn't fast enough to stop him. He took another shot at me later with the robotic hand. I almost wish the bruise hadn't healed yet. It already looks like nothing happened.

White Wolf: Are you aware by this point that not everything is your fault? It's not your boyfriend's fault, either.

Nomad: This is.

White Wolf: It's not. You're both a couple of martyrs—no wonder you two are getting married. I am already wondering if my therapist is able to see you today. I doubt you brought yours with you. She worked with you before.

Nomad: Margarita is on her way here. Tony almost had a relapse yesterday. Also, we're pulling Leopold from the field as soon as we assemble the replacement team here in Wakanda because he was with May when it happened. We're waiting for Mockingbird to get here.

White Wolf: Are you going up to replace him?

Nomad: No. I am still on medical leave. Even I can't completely repair my hands in three days.

White Wolf: But I am sure you would try.

Nomad: I might be allowed to escort the kids to the other timeline if we decide to bring them over there with the ring pops.

White Wolf: If you're taking the [redacted] over there, wouldn't it make more sense to keep the kids here?

White Wolf: That's even assuming your kids are willing to go. Your kids are too much like you. They won't leave you here to fight alone especially the ones with superpowers.

Nomad: You can raise this point with Tony yourself.

White Wolf: I am on my way. I am bringing pastries and the good coffee.

Nomad: Thank you.

Xxxxx

White Wolf: When was the last time you talked to the punk?

Uncle Sam: Yesterday. I still haven't been able to get Director Rambeau to agree to contact Fury for me or to contact Captain Danvers directly. I'm going to try my Granny's biscuits later. Those things will get anybody to say yes.

Uncle Sam: After I get more sleep. Do you realize it's barely 4 AM in Louisiana right now?

White Wolf: Sorry. This is important. Was that conversation before or after Agent May died yesterday?

Uncle Sam: Shit!

Uncle Sam: Ana, why wasn't I told about that? That's something I should know about. Do I need to come back to the compound?

Avenger Ana: We're keeping that information Close Hold until Agent May's mother and Agent Johnson are notified about Agent May's death. Sir had to threaten to use a repulse on Mr. Mace if he issues the press release prematurely.

Uncle Sam: And when is that going to happen?

Avenger Ana: Agent Johnson will be notified later today once Agent Romanoff is in range. Agent May's mother will be told once the Thanos situation is resolved. A decision on what to tell the public is still being considered.

Uncle Sam: No decision will need to be made if we don't make it out of this.

White Wolf: Why deal with conflict when you may not have to?

Uncle Sam: Why deal with messy emotions if you don't have to. That's always Steve's preference. It's why it took him so long to work through his Tony bullshit. I'm still shocked they are actually getting married.

White wolf: Me too. I told Steve earlier I think it's their shared martyrdom complex that draws them together. They're both blaming themselves hard for what happened.

Uncle Sam: I will try again this morning to contact Captain Danvers and Nick Fury. Then I want on the next flight to wherever Steve is.

White Wolf: He is in Wakanda. They are at the palace to work on the time travel watch or whatever Stark is working on with the Princess.

Uncle Sam: That's convenient for you.

White Wolf: I think this is going to need both of us. Mainly to keep him from going off into space to avenge May. Stark will only be able to resist the puppy dog eyes for so long. I expect him to cave by Sunday.

Uncle Sam: We are Avengers. Avenging is what we do.

White Wolf: I am not an Avenger. I am a goat farmer in Wakanda.

Uncle Sam: You can be a farmer in upstate New York. Also, you have an Avenger phone line and an Avenger code name. I'm pretty sure that makes you an Avenger.

White Wolf: [Redacted] has to stay here. Even with the new Accords, it's not safe for her in the states. I have an Avenger phone because of her. Polly has one too.

Uncle Sam: Point.

White Wolf: Although, for some reason, the kid has been packing her bags for the last couple of days.

Uncle Sam: Stark told me they're moving the little kids to Malta for protection. He offered to send my sister and her kids there. She doesn't want to go because it will lead to another fight with her estranged husband.

White Wolf: I'll talk to Stark about it. There is another plan to send the kids to the other timeline with the [redacted], which is stupid. The kids and the [redacted] should be as far apart as possible.

Uncle Sam: Or have Steve talk to his boyfriend about it.

White Wolf: Actually, Polly would want to have that conversation.

Uncle Sam: Probably. Tell Steve I'll try to be there as soon as possible regardless of his boyfriend's orders. I'll text him later.

White Wolf: Will do.

To be continued…


Text message key:

White Wolf is Bucky.

Uncle Sam is, of course, Sam.

I've wanted to write Sam and Bucky for the last two years since Falcon and The Winter Soldier came out. Also, I felt like we needed a Bucky and Steve moment. Especially because Steve lost a vital person the day before, he needs his best friend.

Also, if it wasn't obvious, Peter and Cindy do not have the hormone attraction problem that they had in comic book 616 canon. Mostly because it was ridiculous and a little creepy.