The trip was long. Long enough that staying awake was difficult. But I didn't want to slip with them so vulnerable. Not with the suit a powerhouse. The Darkness was mine, but if I let my consciousness slip away, she might gain control of it. And I couldn't risk it. But there wasn't much to do beyond stare at the ceiling or stare at Bucky, who was still scowling at me like being bored on a ship was a regular day for him.

I guess he was used to it.

"Did you ever get around to watching Star Wars?" I asked him.

"No," he replied.

"I can explain it to you."

"Do you really want to?"

"Not much else to do, and we have time to kill. I'm trying not to fall asleep.She's so tired. Ugh, I hate you."

"Tell me about Star Wars."

"Vader is Luke's father.You asshole. You just spoiled it." His eyes flickered with amusement again.

"I already figured that out. Tell me anyway."

"How did you figure that out?"

"Vader means father. It didn't take me long."

"Ugh—now I don't know what else to tell you."

"Tell me about it anyway."

So I did. And he sat watching me like it was the most compelling story he'd ever heard. And thanks to Chaos's eidetic memory, I was really good at retelling stories now. I was sure he was bored out of his mind, but I appreciated that he was letting me ramble. He knew the danger of me falling asleep, and he loved me enough to let me carry on. Even though watching the movie would be a much better experience. Only we never got the chance to do that together. We never had a TV in Romania, and then we'd been separated. I didn't even get to ask what he'd done in the meantime. I'd learned about the Flagsmashers and that he'd been pardoned. But not much else. Me being slowly eaten alive was apparently more pressing.

Eventually, we reached our destination. Sam was the one who came in to tell us.

"What do you mean he figured out who Vader is?" he asked me, jumping into our conversation without bothering to greet us.

"I know, right?"

"Bullshit. You're lying."

"Vater means father in German," Bucky pointed out.

"Of course you know German, you pretentious fuck." I saw that flicker of amusement again. "I still think you're making it up."

"To be fair, it's pretty common knowledge at this point. He probably Googled it," I said. Sam nodded.

"I agree. You just want us to believe you're smart." Now Bucky sighed. "I came to tell you that we're here. Or at least approaching." Bucky just nodded but made no move to get up.

"Can you give us a minute?" Sam seemed to really like riling Bucky up. But under that, I could see he cared. He gave a grim nod.

"Take all the time you need."

"Thanks."

He left us alone, and Bucky looked down at his hands. We didn't want to say goodbye. And I knew he wouldn't. But we couldn't leave things off with the revelation that Vader was Luke's father and then call it a day.

"Picnic," he said.

"What?"

"That's what I have planned. For our date. I wanted to take you dancing, but I don't think either of us is ready for crowds. I thought we could start small. Have a picnic together. Maybe we can dance later. Just the two of us with no one else around." I nodded.

"I'd like that."

"I thought you would." He looked up at me. "I love you, Johanna. I know—I don't say it enough."

"You don't have to say it with words for me to know. You crossed the literal galaxy for me. As far as grand gestures go, that one really takes the cake." He smiled.

"I'm going to have a hell of a time topping it, huh?"

"With any luck, we'll have plenty of time for you to try."

"We've never had much luck, though, have we?"

"No." I paused as I watched him. The sorrow was thick and heavy. Weighing him down. He was afraid. "I think the universe owes us a bone, though."

"Maybe."

"I wish I could kiss you goodbye."

"We don't say goodbyes. But I wish you could too. When this is all over, though."

"You'll stick your tongue down my throat?" He smiled again.

"I was trying to be more romantic than that. But that's the gist of it, yeah." I laughed.

"I'm glad we met, Bucky."

"Are you?"

"Yes."

"I am too. You saved me, you know?"

"No, I didn't. I just loved you. Sometimes that's enough for people to save themselves." He nodded slowly.

"This isn't over," he decided.

"No, it isn't." He finally stood and reached out his hand.

"C'mon. Let's do this." I took it. The metal of his fingers clinked against the suit around mine. When I stood, I gripped him tighter.

"They're going to kill her,"Chaos told him."I'm not going to die. But she will."

"And I suppose you have something planned? Something to convince me to let you free?" She laughed.

"It's too late to turn back. It was too late the moment I set eyes on that Valkyrie. She knows I'm here, and she'll stop at nothing to catch me. I was never going to escape."

"So you're giving up?"

"One thing that the two of us have in common is that we never give up. I don't plan to, and I know you don't either.No circumstances," I reiterated. Bucky nodded once.