King of Hearts (A Steve Rogers x Reader Fic)

Chapter Nine

"So... the building collapsing on top of him... didn't kill him?" YN asked, eyes widening. "What is he made of? Vibranium?" YN tried to hold her smile, but the laugh that left Shuri's mouth and the silent shake of T'Challa's head made her snicker.

"Funny." Tony rolled his eyes, making YN cock her head.

"Not my fault you're sense of humor is just being an asshole and making people hate you." YN said, innocently observing her nails.

"Moving on." Natasha said, narrowing her eyes at YN in a way of silencing her. "There has been whispers that he will be meeting up with Baron Zemo-"

"Baron Zemo? I thought he was arrested after..." YN trailed off, moving her judgmental gaze back to Tony.

"Of course. Drawing judgements before you even know the full story." Tony snarked, poking the inside of his mouth with his tongue.

YN slumped back in her seat, biting back a smile. "I don't need the full story to know that you're a pompous asshole." Tony puffed his chest, leaning close to YN's face.

"Watch your tone, girl, I can have you arrested right now for being in contact with Steve and his sheep." YN rolled her eyes, blinking them up at Tony.

"With what evidence, Stark? I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't seen or spoken to Sam, Steve or Bucky," YN watched with sick satisfaction how Tony's flinched at the last name she spoke. "Not since you nearly killed them senselessly."

"Senselessly? He killed my parents, King." YN stood up, anger rattling her bones.

"You know what? Fuck this," she said, deciding to drop her façade. "I have been in contact with them, arrest me if you want, I don't give a shit anymore. But you know what else? I have been counseling Bucky for the last week, and every time he talks about the things HYDRA forced him to do, he has a panic attack that takes him nearly thirty minutes to calm down from. He was abused, Tony. Abused, tortured, violated... in ways you couldn't imagine. And yes, while losing family is hard, I know trust me, Bucky lost himself for over seventy years. He was tortured and used for seventy years." YN shook her head, stepping back from where she had angrily shoved Tony's chest. "So, don't blame Bucky for your parent's death. Blame HYDRA." Tony was pale, mouth popped open and his fists clenched tight.

Everyone in the room was silent, until T'Challa cleared his throat. "Let's take a break, we will meet back here shortly to try this meeting again." YN nodded, moving to leave the room. "YN, a moment?"

YN closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Everyone left the room, Rhodey with a hand on Tony's shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to listen to that." YN whispered, looking down in shame.

"YN, what you just did was very brave." YN looked up in shock, staring at T'Challa with a slack jaw. "You stood up for your friend, even though the consequences could be vast." YN shook her head.

"I can't stand when the blame is pushed onto someone solely because the one responsible in unreachable." T'Challa nodded, pulling YN by her hips so she stood between his spread legs. Grabbing her hands, he placed a kiss to both of her palms.

"I may be overstepping, but is that not what you're doing to Sam?" YN frowned, unsure what he meant. "Pushing the blame onto him for Riley's passing, because you don't know who the real assailant is."

"How-"

T'Challa's sigh cut her off, playing with the ends of her hair while he spoke. "You mumble in your sleep."

YN nodded, biting her lip. "I don't solely blame Sam. I don't really blame his at all, and I would never let it affect our friendship. I think the reason I feel anger toward him when I think of Riley, when I dream of Riley. Is because he was there for Riley's last few minutes of life." YN sighed, leaning her head down to rest of T'Challa's chest. "I had been away for six months before he died, and I didn't find out for three weeks after. I started to loathe Sam when I realized he had that time with Riley and I didn't, so I moved away to New York. The space made it easier, but I still have this... resentment in my heart every so often. And I'm too scared to talk to him about it."