AJ Watson: Codename - Shadow

Forever Welcome

It had been a few days since the Red Room was taken down. Yelena, AJ, Becca, and Natasha were staying in two safe houses provided to them by Rick Mason. They were located in a heavily forested area somewhere in Alaska. The super soldier with one arm sat on the edge of the bed in a pair of shorts. He had just gotten out of the shower and started to play with his dog tags as well as the necklace T'Challa gifted him that belonged to his grandfather Azzuri.

AJ was lucky for his super soldier healing because without it, his stab wound would still be really bad. Thanks to the serum it was mostly healed, but it would definitely scar over. The missing right arm however, that was a different story. He was going to need a new one and he knew where he needed to go to get one.

AJ sighed and brought the phone up to his ear as it was ringing. When the person on the other end picked up, he smiled softly.

"Hello?"

"Hey big brother." AJ said softly.

"AJ? Is that you?"

 "Yeah Stevie, it's me. Are you around Bucky right now?"

"Yeah, he's right next to me. Why?"

"Put the phone on speaker and I'll explain."

AJ heard some rustling and then he heard Bucky's voice.

"AJ, what's up?"

"I lost the arm."

"You what?"

"I lost the titanium arm Stark made for me."

"How did you manage to do that?"

"We took down the Red Room. The two missing HYDRA assassins were under his control. The one who was dressed like Becca's Taskmaster cut it clean off... She then stabbed me in the abdomen."

"Jesus Addi." Steve and Bucky said then Steve spoke up. "Are you alright now?"

"As good as a one armed man can be."

"How're Becs and Nat?" Bucky asked.

"They're good. They're in a safehouse down the road."

"And Lena?" Steve asked.

AJ looked up to see Yelena leaning against the doorframe in one of AJ's hoodies and a pair of his shorts. She had her hair in a messy bun and her face was holding a soft, small smile. The sight made him get butterflies in his stomach for some reason.

"She's good. We're working on securing a jet right now. Once we get it, we'll pick you both up and we'll head to where T'Challa told us to go. After that, we'll go raid a prison in the middle of the ocean for some people."

"I've been thinking Addi..." Bucky started then AJ heard him take a deep breath. "I think it'll be safer if I stay there. At least until I know that the Winter Soldier stuff is out of my head."

"I know, Buck. It's gonna be ok."

"We'll see you soon, Addi." Steve said.

"Sounds good, Cap." AJ said then disconnected the phone.

AJ looked up and saw Yelena slowly make her way over to him. She sits down on his lap with her legs on either side of him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled at the man.

"You okay, doll?" He asked wrapping his left arm around her waist.

"With you by my side I'll always be okay, моя любовь." (My love.)

She placed a kiss on AJ's lips with he happily returned. Yelena snaked one of her hands up and started playing with the hair on the back of AJ's head. AJ pulled her closer to him using his only arm.