Rise Above

24

Bucky and Žofia made their way back to Brooklyn, New York.

Žofia glanced at Bucky. "Are you ready?"

He shook his head. "Definitely not. But Sam was right. I gotta do this alone. Wait for me?"

She nodded. "Of course, James."

They walked up to Yori's front door and he knocked on the door.

Yori opened the door and asked, "Hey, what are you doing here? It's late, come in before someone call the cops." Bucky entered and Yori closed the door behind him. "What are you doing here? It's not Wednesday."

Bucky replied, "I, uh, I have to tell you something. About your son." He sat, pulled off his glove to reveal his Vibranium hand. Yori sat as well. "He was murdered."

"What?"

"By the Winter Soldier." His voice shook as he whispered, "And that was me."

"Why?"

Bucky inhaled before replying softly, "I didn't have a choice."

He left.

Žofia walked up to Bucky and without a word, wrapped her arms around him. Bucky, relishing in her hug, pulled her closer.

The next day, after dropping off a gift bag and card for Dr. Raynor, Bucky and Žofia, who had an arm linked around Bucky's left arm, walked the streets of Brooklyn.

They passed Izzy's and Bucky and Žofia looked in the window to see Yori sitting at the bar. Žofia caught Leah's eye and smiled.

Žofia glanced at Bucky and asked, "Would you like to go in?"

Bucky stared at Yori and slowly shook his head. He took Žofia's hand, squeezing it gently.

Žofia looked down at their entwined hands and a small smile formed on her face.

---

Sam made his way to Baltimore to make a visit.

He walked down a familiar street in Baltimore and up to a front door. He knocked on the metal screen door of Isaiah's home.

Eli opened the door and asked, "What do you want, Black Falcon?"

"Hey, you need to learn some manners," Sam told him.

"He ain't a Falcon anymore, but he's still black," Isaiah said, motioning for Sam to follow. Sam sat in the garden as Isaiah tended to his plants. "I saw what you did out there. And it seems, so did everyone else. I heard the GRC was standing down on those plans of theirs, so you must have done something right. I ain't gonna lie. You're special."

"Thank you."

"I mean, you ain't no Malcolm, Martin, Mandela, but..."

"No argument there." Sam chuckled with a nod. "But I know what I've gotta do."

"So, a Black Captain America, huh?"

"Damn right."

He chuckled lightly. "The fight you taking on ain't gonna be easy, Sam."

"Yeah, I might fall. Shit, I might die. But... We built this country. Bled for it. I'm not gonna let anybody tell me I can't fight for it. Not after what everybody before me went through. Including you."

Isaiah's voice shook as his expression softened. "Shit. I almost bought that."

"Man, do you ever lighten up?"

"Nope," Eli replied, standing on the back porch. "Mm-mmm."

Sam chuckled and gently hit Isaiah's shoulder. "Hey, why don't you clean up. There's, um... somethin' I wanna show you."

Isaiah glanced at Sam and made his way inside.

Eli leaned over the railing and asked, "So, uh, where we going?"

Sam shook his head, keeping his plan a surprise.

As soon as the two were ready, they made their way to the Smithsonian exhibit.

---

Isaiah and Eli remained quiet as they strolled through the exhibit.

Sam led them to another room where he'd had them place a statue of Isaiah and the history of what he'd done for the country. Isaiah and Eli looked around while Sam stood back and waited.

After a moment, Isaiah walked up to Sam who nodded and said, "Now they'll never forget what you did for this country." The two shook hands. "Never." Isaiah hugged Sam tightly and Sam smiled.

---

Bucky and Žofia made their way to Sam's. Bucky held a cake and the kids ran up to him and pretended to fight him. Bucky ducked with a smile. Žofia glanced at Bucky and smiled, pleased to see him in such a good mood.

"Oh! There they are!" a man said.

As Bucky and Žofia walked up, they asked, "Where is everybody?"

Sam hugged Bucky, then Žofia.

They enjoyed an afternoon of food, drink, and conversation. Žofia kept glancing at Bucky, pleased to see a wide smile on his face. He returned her smile with a soft expression.

Bucky and Žofia spoke with Sarah and the kids hung on Bucky's Vibranium arm, which he no longer had covered.

Sam, Bucky and Žofia stood on the dock, watching the sunset. After a moment, they walked back to the others. Sam placed an arm around Bucky's shoulders and Bucky took Žofia's hand.

Bucky turned to Žofia and asked, "We've come so far from when you and your father triggered me."

"A means to an end," she reasoned. "James, I..." She tilted her head a moment, then pressed a hesitant kiss to his lips and Bucky, after a moment, reciprocated. "I like you a lot, James."

He smiled. "I like you a lot, too."

The two kissed again.

Sam cleared his throat. "Still here. Come on. Let's join the others."

Bucky pulled away and took Žofia's hand as they followed Sam.