Bucky's Anchor

Chapter 58 - Ayo's Judgement

The tension in the air shifted before I even saw her. It was the kind of tension that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, a palpable warning that something—or someone—dangerous was nearby. Bucky must have felt it too because he stopped walking suddenly, his body going rigid.

We had just gotten back to our temporary hideout after a long day of following Zemo's leads. Sam had gone off to deal with his own contacts, leaving Bucky and me to catch our breath. But something was wrong now. I could feel it.

And then I saw her. Ayo.

She stepped out from the shadows, her presence commanding even in the dim light of the street. Dressed in her Dora Milaje armor, she looked both regal and fierce. My stomach flipped in nervousness, but I could tell from Bucky's expression that this was about more than just a surprise visit.

"Ayo," Bucky said, his voice low, but respectful.

"I told you," she said, her voice calm but laced with anger, "we would come for Zemo."

I glanced at Bucky, trying to gauge his reaction. I knew he had a connection with Wakanda, a bond built during the time they helped him free himself from the Winter Soldier programming, but this was different. The way Ayo stood, the way her eyes were locked on him—it was clear this was personal.

"He's a means to an end," Bucky said, his voice tight. "We need him right now."

Ayo stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "You freed the man who killed our king. This cannot be forgiven."

I wanted to say something, to step in and explain that Bucky had no choice, but the weight of her words hung in the air like a blade. The tension between them was palpable, and for the first time, I wasn't sure how Bucky was going to get out of this.

---

"We didn't have a choice, Ayo," I said softly, stepping slightly in front of Bucky. I could feel him tense behind me, and I knew he wanted to handle this on his own, but I couldn't just stand by and watch this unfold without speaking up. "Zemo's the only one who can help us stop the Flag Smashers. You know what they're capable of."

Ayo's gaze flicked toward me, her expression unreadable. "You speak for him now?" she asked, her tone sharp.

I swallowed hard. "No, I'm just trying to explain—"

"She doesn't need to explain anything," Bucky cut in, stepping beside me, his tone firmer now. "You're right, Ayo. I owe Wakanda a debt. But this is bigger than that."

Her eyes never left Bucky's, and I could see the emotions swirling behind them. Anger, betrayal, but also something else—hurt. She crossed her arms over her chest, a gesture that was both protective and accusatory. "You owe Wakanda more than you can repay," she said. "We gave you peace. We gave you freedom. And you repay us by releasing the man who took everything from us?"

Bucky clenched his jaw, the weight of her words clearly hitting him hard. I could see the conflict in his eyes, the struggle between what he had to do and the guilt that came with it. My heart ached for him, knowing how much Wakanda meant to him—how much *they* meant to him. And now, it felt like all of that was hanging by a thread.

"I didn't want to do it," Bucky admitted, his voice quieter now. "But I have to stop the serum. And he's the only one who knows how."

Ayo took a step forward, her face inches from his. "Then you should have left it to us. Wakanda could have handled this without freeing that monster."

For a moment, the silence was deafening. Bucky stood there, his eyes locked on hers, his guilt and resolve warring within him. I wanted to reach out to him, to tell him that everything would be okay, but I knew this wasn't my fight. Not this time.

Finally, Bucky exhaled, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I'm sorry, Ayo," he said, his voice filled with a sincerity that cut through the tension. "I never wanted to betray Wakanda. I owe you everything."

Ayo's gaze softened for just a second, but her resolve didn't waver. "This is not over," she said, her voice steely. "You have eight hours. After that, we will come for Zemo."

I tensed at her words, but Bucky simply nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Without another word, Ayo turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving us standing there in the thick, oppressive silence she had left behind.

---

We stood there for what felt like forever, the weight of Ayo's words hanging over us like a dark cloud. I could feel Bucky's turmoil, the unspoken guilt radiating from him. I wanted to say something, to tell him that it wasn't his fault, but I knew nothing I could say would make that guilt go away.

Finally, Bucky broke the silence. "I thought... I thought I'd earned their trust."

"You did," I said, stepping closer and taking his hand. "This isn't about trust, Bucky. It's about... what Zemo did. It's about what he represents to them."

He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I never wanted to betray them. Wakanda gave me more than anyone else ever has."

I squeezed his hand, trying to ground him. "I know. And you didn't betray them. You're doing what you have to do, for everyone. They'll understand that."

Bucky looked down at me, his eyes tired and filled with a sadness that broke my heart. "I don't know if they ever will."

We stood in silence again, and I leaned into him, resting my head against his chest. His arms wrapped around me, and for a moment, we just stood there, holding onto each other like it was the only thing keeping us from falling apart.

As I rested against him, I felt the familiar flutter in my stomach, a small, quiet reminder of the secret I had been holding onto for so long. The baby. Our baby. I had been waiting for the right time to tell him, but every time I thought about it, something like this happened—something that reminded me of how much Bucky was already carrying.

But now, with everything that had happened with Ayo and Wakanda, I wasn't sure when the right time would be. How could I tell him that we were about to start a family when he was already struggling with his past and the weight of the present?

"I'm here for you," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He tightened his arms around me, his breath warm against the top of my head. "I know," he said softly. "And I don't deserve you."

I wanted to tell him that he did deserve me, that he deserved *everything*—but the words got stuck in my throat. For now, I would hold onto my secret a little longer. He didn't need more to carry, not yet.

But soon, I promised myself. Soon, I would tell him.