ineffable memories / / bucky barnes

[chapter seven]

TIME STAMP: SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

Kai's hands were shaking so much from all the nerves that she wasn't sure if she even did the spell correctly. Moving back and forth as she tried to calm herself down, Kai waited for a sign.

"How may I help?" The monotonous voice asked per usual.

"It's Kai." It was all she could say.

"I'll put him on call."

That was the beauty of the magical universe – sometimes you didn't even need to ask for help because it was given anyway. It felt overwhelming to some, just like it did to Kai, but she needed it at that moment.

"Hello?"

"Steve."

"Kai? Your calls have become usual. Is everything okay?"

"I'm going to do it." Kai said, pushing the hair out of her face. "Join Valentina."

"What are you talking about? You spent years running from her." Once again, Steve was the voice of reason and Kai wasn't listening.

"I have an idea of how to do it. I saw him, Steve. I looked into his eyes, and I swear I could almost feel like he saw me too." Kai's voice sounded delusional, but the reality was that Bucky did feel something he couldn't quite explain.

"You can't do this; you swore you wouldn't."

"Steve, I think I can finally save him." Her voice was desperate, just like her heart.

"If you save him by getting killed, what's the point, Kai?"

"The point is-"

"Do you remember when me and him went to war?"

"Which time?" She grumbled, reminding those days.

"The time he got kidnapped, I found him on the enemy base," Steve said and then took a deep breath, just like Kai. "You remember what you said the first time your hand touched his face where it was covered in blood?"

"Steve..."

"You said you'd fix everything; you'd avenge whatever they did to him, and you wouldn't stop until you knew he was safe." Steve continued without giving his friend time to answer. "Everyone thought you were insane, him included. Yet, you didn't stop, you did quite the opposite of stopping, and that almost cost your life. Do you want to go through that again? What if everyone finds out who you are and tries to use you?"

"Didn't you break all the superhero rules by trying to save Bucky?" Kai wondered.

"I did-"

"I'm not a superhero, Steve, nor even close. I've been a witch for over 250 years, I've been abused, locked up, everything. I have nothing to regret in my life except for two things: I couldn't save my mother which led to me almost ruining everyone's world despite her being a terrible person, and I couldn't save him. My mother is long gone because of me, I'm not letting the same happen to James." Kai's breath went back to normal. "If I have to reveal myself to the entire world as a witch, I will. At least they don't burn us at stakes anymore, I think."

"I don't think they burn people at stakes anymore." Steve mumbled.

"That's reassuring." Kai almost smiled, being quiet after a while.

"Don't do anything stupid."

"Well, you're not gonna come back so..." Kai half-smiled.

"Do you think he understands why I left?" Steve asked quietly.

"He certainly does better than I do, but that's because he didn't think he was worth staying," Kai said calmly. "He was fine, you know? With Sam. A bit troubled sometimes considering Zemo and Sharon, but he was on the right path. Then Valentina showed up."

"Wait, Zemo? And Sharon? With Buck and Sam?"

"It's a long story and the spell doesn't work for that amount of time, Rogers."

"Take care of him, okay? It also includes staying alive. Bucky wouldn't get caught in a world without you for a long time." Kai could hear his smile, which saddened her.

"He doesn't remember, Steve."

"I'm sure you'll find a way to make him remember."

When the spell was broken, Kai lay on the ground with her eyes closed, remembering every moment she had with Bucky. With tears in her eyes and a soft smile, she dialed Valentina's number.

"I'm ready to make a deal."