The Other Rogers

Chapter 35

Anya looked around the room, its sterile white walls didn't bring much warmth to the space. But with the endless wall of glass; and the beautiful sun that graced Wakanda every day; the room felt peaceful and homely, even though the room only had one occupant; one that couldn't enjoy the sight of what Wakanda had to offer.

James laid in the pod, his face supporting a beard that was several months in the making; and his hair was as long as it was back during his time as the Winter Soldier.

Everyday Anya would come down to the lab and say hello to him, updating him on everything, including the little family of goats that they had adopted as their own.

She smiled at the sight of her love, safe from the outside horrors, safe from his own nightmares.

She only had a little amount of time before Steve arrived to take her back to America for the birthday of Dum Dum Dugan.

He had survived to his one-hundred-and-third birthday and seeing that James wasn't available to go to the party, Steve thought it would be nice for everyone including Anya, for her to join the festivals.

She didn't want to leave Wakanda, she wanted to be there when James woke up and there was no way to know when that was.

Shuri had reassured her that the chances of James waking up before she got back was slim, but Anya knew that the teenager was just saying that to make her feel better.

Laying her forehead against the cold surface of the pod, she imagined James smiling back at her; telling her how much he loved her and to wish Dum Dum a happy birthday for him.

James had already organised a present for his old comrade; one that she was in charge of giving to him apparently.

She felt like she didn't belong at the party, she felt like she was a third wheel. She didn't know the Howling Commandos; she was just nothing but an extension of their leader, she hadn't done anything that would make her deserving of being in the same room as the prestigious group of heroes.

"Oh James, I wish you were here, you could help me right now." She whispered, her tears running down her cheek, her blue orbs turned purple.

Her watch beeped, indicating that Steve would be arriving soon. "I don't want to leave you here alone James, but Steve really wants me with him."

Just know that I love you James, she didn't know if it had reached his conscious, but she felt better having said it.

Sighing, she left the room and made her way back to her hut, changing into a simple outfit one that was better equipped for the cold and unforgiving weather conditions of New York; still not feeling as if she belonged.

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The room was packed, streamers and balloons swamped the designated area, and the colours were browns and green, with the unique upward arrows that was Dugan's special touch.

The dancefloor was a pool of bodies, as they grinded against one another. They were laughing and drinking celebrating the years that the birthday boy had endured, the battles he had survived.

Anya stood up on the balcony. She could hear them screaming with joy and could feel their feet disturbing the ground below her. Without looking, their smiles extended towards her, attempting to turn her face from what, from who, she was focused on.

Their bodies moved together as they celebrated, rhythmically breaking into shapes and colours that tickled her heart.

A man came and joined the woman; blonde hair styled, and his jacket bunched up as he walked. He attempted to pull away the watcher but was pushed away for his efforts. He sighed and joined the woman watching as people continued to celebrate, not noticing the absence of the two siblings.