Remember Me // TFATWS

13

[The Whole World is Watching]

WAKANDA - SIX YEARS AGO

Madeleine sat next to a fire as Ayo stood by.

Ayo said in English, "It is time."

"You sure about this?" Madeleine asked uncertainly as she stared at the fire.

She 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." Madeleine lowered her head, trying to fight the words. "Rusted." Ayo stepped closer. "Seventeen."

Madeleine shook her head and said, "It's not gonna work."

Ayo continued. "Daybreak." Madeleine breathed heavily and tears formed as memories of what she'd done as the Winter Soldier flashed in his mind. "Furnace." She saw Zemo closing the red book and saw herself punching the glass of her containment chamber and seeing Steve, Evelyn, Rebecca and Bucky for the first time in 70 years. "Nine." She saw herself fighting three of the Avengers. A vision of her strapped down for brainwashing flashed across her memories. She saw herself in her goggles and mask, then saw herself crash Howard and Maria Stark's car on December 16, 1991. She saw herself choking Maria after killing Howard.

"Benign," Ayo said. Madeleine saw herself trying to pull away Iron Man's face mask. She saw the brainwashing again. She fought the words Ayo spoke. "Homecoming." She saw herself after beating Steve and Bucky near lifeless after they'd uttered the words that would alter her path for the better.

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

Tears streamed down Madeleine's face as she came to the realization that she was herself. She began crying harder, which soon turned to sobs of joy and relief.

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

Bucky, who'd overheard, walked up with equally teary eyes and pulled his wife up, hugging her tightly.

Bucky and Madeleine looked down and she closed her eyes tightly as she sniffled, still sobbing.

Ayo let out a breath and smiled softly at the couple.

Madeleine stared at the fire, a fist to her mouth, her head against her husband's shoulder, and smiled widely. She was free from hurting others. Free from the fear of hurting her husband and children. After decades of torture and memory wipes, she was finally free. She was finally able to live a life with her husband and children without the fear of turning into a killing machine.

Bucky turned to his wife and kissed her tenderly.

Madeleine closed her eyes and smiled with the kiss.

RIGA, LATVIA - STREET - PRESENT DAY

"How could you free him?" Ayo asked.

"We need his help," Madeleine answered in Xhosa.

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

"And we're grateful for that," Bucky replied. "We're grateful for everything you and Shuri have done..." He glanced at Madeleine, knowing that due to what Ayo and Shuri had done, that despite the nightmares and horrors she still remembered, he was able to have a happy life with her.