Second Sphere

If you want to kill him...

Tony manages to bring Steve to his knees off to the side of us.

"He's my friend." Steve pants.

"So was I." Tony kicks Steve off to the side. "Stay down final warning."

He looks over to me covering Bucky. I try and wrap my wings tighter around us but they won't respond like they normally would, something is definitely broken.

I look up at Tony, "If you want to kill him, kill me first Tony." I can hear the wheezing in my breath and how I talk. There is no great defiance in my voice, just acceptance. "I know it hurts, but neither of us had a choice. We live with the guilt of what we have been forced to do over the years. But don't take him away from me, you promised." I look up at him, my pleads turn into a coughing fit.

Steve finally manages to get back up, "I can do this all day."

Tony turns to him and charges up his hand cannon. But before he can fire from underneath me Bucky grabs his ankle. Tony kicks him and it sends us both flying back into the concrete. I can hear more crunching as more bones break, most likely my ribs this time.

Steve goes back to fighting with Tony as all we can do is lay there. Steve helps Bucky and myself up.

"That shield doesn't belong to you." Tony says. "You don't deserve it. My father made that shield!"

Steve tosses it down. And we all hobble out. Once we make it outside, I wheeze and cough blood coming up and I spit into the snow.

T'Challa speaks up from outside, "You know, we can help. Provide some safety. Your friend there needs medical attention."

I'm too tired to protest and we board his jet. At some point I pass out next to Bucky, my hand in his. Not wanting to let go.

When we get to Wakanda Steve and Bucky help me off the ship. A girl, who seems to be around Peters age greets us.

T'Challa and the girl greet each other, "Take these three to get medical attention and then we will talk."

Aside from the fact that Bucky is missing his arm I have the most extensive injuries. My wings took the worst of it, bones snapped and the damaged feathers prevent me from flying. Other injuries include broken ribs and the wound on my leg from the black panther suit reopening. The tech in Wakanda allowed us to heal much faster than normal but my wings will take longer to heal. And until they are fully healed I shouldn't retract them back into my body, or at least that is what Shuri told me. Aside from the fact that her and Peter are similar in age they remind me a lot of each other.

A few days after we got treated in Wakanda Bucky pulls us all into a room where a cryostasis chamber is.

"Bucky..." I trail off, biting my lip.

"You sure about this?" Steve asks.

"I can't trust my own mind." Bucky says. "So until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head I think going back under is the best thing." He looks at me, "For everybody."

Steve and I each give him a hug before he gets into the chamber and returns to a frozen state.

When Steve goes to leave the room he turns to me, "Are you coming?"

"I don't want to." My voice is barely above a whisper.

Steve walks back over to me wrapping an arm around my shoulders, "No one is taking him away from you. You will be right here beside him the entire time. But first we need to speak with T'Challa."

I nod and let him guide me out of the room. Steve and I looking out at the view from a large window across from the room where Bucky is in when T'Challa approaches.

"Thank you for this" Steve says. And I nod in agreement.

"Your friend and my father they were both victims. If I can help one of them find peace..." T'Challa trails off his tone is solemn.

"You know if they find out he's here they'll come for him, for both of them." Steve points out looking at me as he talks.

"Let them try." T'Challa doesn't seem phased and my thoughts echo his words. I won't let anyone take him again.