the princess and the frog, steve harrington & eddie munson

iv. the winter soldier

Chapter four

the winter soldier

Whatever it was he drank last night gave Steve Harrington more than one hell of a hangover. The last thing he remembered was fighting with Tiana in the parking lot. So you can imagine his surprise when his former best friend with the prosthetic was found sleeping on his couch.

"Morning, Steven." Tiana placed a cup in front of him, she was putting a purple spice into it.

"The hell is that?"

"Wakandan cinnamon." she continued to pour it into the cup, "cures headaches, relaxes your body and eases anxiety. We're late for school so this coffee is to go." Steve nodded and grabbed his keys. His eyes scanned the living room. "I have questions."

"I know." Tiana said. "White Wolf was a refugee as a child. We grew up together. But I need you to trust me, Harrington. That's what friends do, right?"

He took a sip from his mug and spit it out seconds later. "What the fuck did you put in this?"

"Shit." Tiana said, "That one is mine. It has a special spice from Wakanda." And just like that, Steve remembered something very vague from last night.

Wakanda has been following the lab.

Wakanda 1983

"Murray Bauman."

"This isn't possible." one of the guards said, "how did he get across the border?"

"It is unclear."

Suddenly T'Challa entered the room. "He's my guest. Welcome, Mr. Bauman. Wakanda welcomes you."

Hawkins 1984

None other than Nancy Wheeler intercepted Tiana when she got to school. It seemed out of character seeing as Nancy hated her since she set foot in Hawkins the same way Steve hated Billy Hargrove.

"Hey." she leaned against the locker beside hers.

"Look." Tiana said, "If this iz about, uh, Tina's Halloween pah-rty you were right. I owe you thee truth."

"I'm sorry... I've just been so secretive since last year that I... wait. What? Then you can help me."

Tiana looked confused. "You're not... angry?"

"No, because you're going to tell me everything." Nancy said, "I knew Wakanda was connected to the lab. You're living proof."

"Nancy. I'm not so sure this is a good idea but I'll tell you." and so, she launched into the story Steve Harrington heard in his drunken haze. The truth. Nancy hugged her tightly whispering a small thank you.

Nancy smiled at her, "Ugh. it's so relieving to have another girl that knows. Steve knows and... fucking Steve didn't pick me up this morning. Do you have the history notes?"

"Yes. color coded and everything." Tiana smiled back.

=

For the 100th time in thirty minutes, Billy Hargrove was cheating. He'd probably pushed Steve to the ground seven times and winked at Tiana twice as much. When Nancy showed up demanding to see Steve, James Buchanan Barnes took his place.

"You know the princess, right?" Billy said, "I heard she helped you when you lost your arm like a bitch. You and King Steve must be a pattern."

Bucky shoved Billy to the ground with his metal arm. "Might wanna take your own advice and plant your feet, Hargrove."

Billy shoved him right back. "You're gonna regret that, Barnes."

Tiana smiled to herself and suddenly remembered a few codewords.

Longing.

Rusted.

Seventeen.

Daybreak.

Just like that, Bucky snapped. His metal arm connected with Billy's nose. "My metal arm isn't tacky, Hargrove. It's badass."

Wakanda January 1984

Six months had passed of Tiana working tirelessly in her lab to rehabilitate a boy her age. Today, both of them were going to America. Bucky had been found with Will Byers but was sent to Wakanda for a series of surgeries to amputate his arm and heal his mind. His arm was fine but there were several signs of a damaged mental state. Shuri's lab was more comfortable than the one in Hawkins. It was bright and colorful. He wished Eleven could see it. He wished they grew up there instead. He also wished Eleven got to go to school like he did. While in Wakanda, Eleven was all he could think about.

"Your medications, White Wolf."

"I'm scared."

"I'll be there. Your friend Steve Harrington is a member of my host family." Tiana smirked, "Everyone in Hawkins knows you. You've been popular there. Like their king. You and Steve."

Bucky offered her a reassuring smile and grabbed her hand. "Thank you. Thank you for helping me remember." deep down, he was scared a certain someone would blame him for Eleven disappearing.

Hawkins 1984

Jonathan had insisted if he and Nancy were going to take down the lab, they needed to ask the one person everyone was afraid of for help.

"Buck."

"Been awhile, Byers." Bucky said.

"Yeah. I saw your arm healed up nicely."

"Honestly, I thought Hargrove was going to break it." Bucky laughed, "But really, John. what do you want?"

Jonathan looked to the floor, "The lab. Nancy and I want to expose it. Take it down."

Bucky looked around, "What do you want me to do?"

=

"He said yes?" Nancy asked at lunch.

"Don't get too excited, Nance. He wants you to involve the princess."

"Seriously?"

"As a heart attack, Wheeler. She knows things about the lab."

"But she's all over Steve." Nancy looked across the room. Steve was smiling and laughing with Tiana. He hadn't laughed like that with Nancy since last Christmas. Jonathan sighed, "But she's like El."

Nancy stopped dead in her tracks, stopping the entire lunch line. "She's a lab experiment?"

"Not exactly." Bucky came up behind her, Billy Hargrove hovering behind him with Tommy. Bucky snatched the apple from Nancy's tray. "Hey!"

"Tiana knows all about your little friend because she practically invented her."

"The hell are you talking about?"

Bucky rolled his eyes. "Ask the princess a few very specific questions about her home country. Tell her a very reliable source with a prosthetic arm told you all about it." Billy smirked at Bucky widely, "I might just do that."

"I wasn't fuckin' talking to you, Hargrove. She's not interested."

Billy held up his hands in defense, backing away with Tommy. "Okay, whatever. sorry, man. See you at practice."