A Little Calm in Wakanda

Leading up to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier

"Katrina Barnes." I answered. My mouth dropped open as I listened to the person on the other end. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." I hung up the phone and said with a look of astonishment on my face. "Both of you have been pardoned by the President of the United States. I will get more details in an official email later today." I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. They were no longer fugitives. We could live our lives.

Sam, Bucky and I were out celebrating their return and for both of them being free men. Bucky was up at the bar getting another round of drinks while Sam and I were sitting at the table we had snagged.

"Kat, I don't think I should carry the shield." Sam told me.

"If you weren't worthy, Steve wouldn't have..." I told him when I heard someone calling my name.

"Kat?" A male voice said, "Kat Hawke? Is that you?" I turned to where I heard the voice and my mouth went dry when I recognized who was saying my name. "It is you, it is you!" He said as he came to our table. "It's me, Sean Witt." I noticed Sam's eyes went wide as he recognized the name.

"Sean," I said. "Wow, what are the odds?" He grabbed me in a hug when I stood up. "Been a long time." I told him as he took Bucky's seat at the table as we sat back down. "Not long enough in my book." I said under my breath but plastered a smile on my face. He grabbed my hand and held it.

"Wow, I imagined how this would go if I ever ran into you and now I'm speechless." He told me. "So, how have you been?" He asked me as he still held my hand.

"Sean, please let my hand go." I politely asked him. He ignored me so I sent a little jolt through my hand into his.

"Oh wow...That was a shock." He said as he shook out his hand. "So, what have you been up to?"

"Nothing much," I answered. "Getting married, fighting gods, being queen of Wakanda. Same old, same old." I told him.

"That's cool. What brings you and your husband out tonight?" He gestured to Sam. Before I could correct him, Bucky came back with our drinks.

"Oh, that's not her husband." Bucky said as he put our drinks on the table. He lifted me clear out of my chair and set me in his lap as he took my chair. I grinned.

"This is my husband, James Barnes." I introduced them. "Honey, this is Sean Witt. We went out in high school. And, Sean, this is my brother, Sam Wilson." I said.

"Did you say James Barnes?" Sean asked me as his face turned to shock as he realized who Bucky was. I nodded.

"Yes. And yes he is who you think he is along with Sam." I smiled at his sudden discomfort. "What have you been up to, Sean?" I asked him. He was watching me sitting in Bucky's lap with a look of jealousy. He shook his head and answered.

"I got married to Jocelyn. You remember her, right?" He asked me. Sam looked at me with recognition in his eyes. I subtly nod at him.

"Well, that's a match made in heaven in my book." I said sarcastically. Sean doesn't hear me but Sam and Bucky do and Sam grinned. The house band started playing.

"A dance for old times sake?" Sean asked me as he tried to pull me off Bucky's lap but Bucky's arms held me like a seatbelt.

"I don't think so. Let go of my hand, Sean." I told him. He held firm. "Sean, you know who my husband is and I am a lot more dangerous than he is." I said in a quiet voice I sent a jolt of magic into him. He let go of my hand and said, "Nice to see you are still as bitchy as ever, Kat."

"I think you meant to say, witchy." I called after him. "I should've put him on the floor." I said, "whimpering, preferably." I said as I got into the empty chair. "Of all the bars, he chooses this one tonight of all nights." I said as I stared at my glass of wine.