War of Change // TFATWS

XIII

[The Whole World is Watching]

WAKANDA - SIX YEARS AGO

Bucky sat next to a fire as Ayo stood by.

Ayo said in English, "It is time."

"You sure about this?" Bucky asked uncertainly as he stared at the fire. As much as he wanted a life with Michaela, he knew he couldn't have that with her if there was a chance he could hurt her. And he had hurt her. The girl he'd sworn to protect since the day he and Steve found her. She didn't blame him for his actions, but he blamed himself. Punching her until she was near senseless. Shooting her multiple times. The guilt he carried far outweighed almost all he felt for her.

He was drawn back to the situation at hand when Ayo said, "I won't let you hurt anyone."

Ayo slowly walked around him as she said in Russian, "Longing." Bucky lowered his head, trying to fight the words. "Rusted." Ayo stepped closer. "Seventeen."

Bucky shook his head and said, "It's not gonna work."

Ayo continued. "Daybreak." Bucky breathed heavily and tears formed as memories of what he'd done as the Winter Soldier flashed in his mind. "Furnace." He saw Zemo closing the red book and saw himself punching the glass of his containment chamber and seeing Steve and Michaela for the first time in 70 years, not knowing why it had hurt him so much to hurt her. "Nine." He saw himself fighting four of the Avengers, three if one were to count that, at the time, Michaela wasn't an Avenger. A vision of him strapped down for brainwashing flashed across his memories. He saw himself in his goggles and mask, then saw himself crash Howard and Maria Stark's car on December 16, 1991. He saw himself choking Maria after killing Howard.

"Benign," Ayo said. He saw himself trying to pull away Iron Man's face mask. He saw the brainwashing again. He fought the words Ayo spoke. "Homecoming." He saw himself after beating Steve and Michaela near lifeless after they'd uttered the ten words that would alter his path for the better.

Bucky continued struggling against the words as Ayo said in Russian, "One. Freight Car."

Tears streamed down Bucky's face as he came to the realization that he was still himself. He started crying harder, which soon turned to sobs of joy and relief.

Ayo smiled lightly and said in English, "You are free." Bucky glanced up at her and she nodded as her smile widened. "You are free."

Bucky looked down and closed his eyes tightly as he sniffled, still sobbing.

Ayo let out a breath and smiled softly at him.

Bucky stared at the fire, a fist to his mouth, and smiled widely. He was free from hurting others. From hurting the woman he'd loved for as long as he could remember. After decades of torture and memory wipes, he was finally free.

RIGA, LATVIA - STREET - PRESENT DAY

"How could you free him?" Ayo asked.

"We need his help," Michaela answered in Xhosa, earning surprised looks. She said in English, "What? I decided to learn it after the Avengers' Civil War."

Ayo walked around Bucky and Michaela. "With time, will, and the resources, the Winter Soldier programming was removed from you like a rotten fur."

"And I'm grateful for that," Bucky replied. "I'm grateful for everything you and Shuri have done..." He glanced at Michaela, knowing that because of what Ayo and Shuri had done, that despite the nightmares, he was able to have a life with the woman he loved.