Echoes of Blue

Chapter Thirteen

The morning sun barely peeked over the horizon when Steve, Bucky, and Lia gathered at the quinjet, still groggy from last night's party. The compound was eerily quiet, with the rest of the Avengers undoubtedly nursing their hangovers, leaving no opportunity for any tearful goodbyes. It was just the three of them now, ready to face whatever awaited them in Wakanda.

Once they landed, Shuri and T'Challa were already waiting. T'Challa greeted them with his signature regal warmth, while Shuri flashed a brilliant smile. "Welcome," T'Challa said as they disembarked. Lia looked around in awe. "It's beautiful here," she murmured, and Shuri chuckled. "You're going to love our lab even more," Shuri said, leading the way.

They made small talk as they walked towards the lab. Steve took charge, explaining a little more about their mission and Lia's past, but Lia's anxiety bubbled beneath the surface. Once inside, the reality of what they were about to do hit harder. Shuri set up the equipment while T'Challa laid out the plan. "We've done this with Bucky before, so there's a chance it'll work for you too, Lia. It's designed to trigger repressed or erased memories." Lia nodded, visibly nervous. Shuri glanced at her brother before speaking again. "And, if you're open to it, Bucky could undergo the procedure as well. There's a chance he might have lost memories tied to your past together."

Lia's eyes widened, and she turned to Bucky. "You don't have to do this. I don't want you to go through more pain because of me." Bucky met her gaze, his jaw tightening. "I want to, Lia. If I have memories of you, I need them back. And I'm not going to let you do this alone." Steve placed a hand on Bucky's shoulder. "Are you sure about this, Buck?" Bucky gave a firm nod. "Yeah." Shuri adjusted the last of the equipment, and it was time. They laid back on the table-like chairs, and Shuri went over the procedure one more time, reminding them that the experience could be jarring but necessary to retrieve any hidden memories. Steve stood by, watching over them like a sentinel. The procedure began, and in an instant, the flashes of memories started.

Flash— Lia and Bucky, years ago, training side by side in the cold, sterile halls of Hydra. Their movements were in sync, seamless, like they had been doing this for years.

Flash— Lia in a cell, alone, her hands trembling as she whispered his name—"James"—before her mind was wiped clean.

Flash— Mission after mission together, Hydra's prized weapons. But when no one was looking, they stole glances, shared the briefest of touches. They weren't supposed to feel. They weren't allowed to love. But they did.

Flash— Bucky's escape. His face was the last thing Lia clung to as the guards came for her, when they heard the Winter Solider went off charts. She screamed his name until her voice was hoarse, but they erased it all. And then, she was alone again.

Flash— Lia's escape from Hydra, her powers flaring uncontrollably as she broke free. Killing every agent in sight and destroying the building.

The memories hit them like waves, overwhelming, almost too much to bear. Lia gasped as she came out of the trance, sitting upright, her breathing erratic. Bucky wasn't far behind, his chest heaving as panic overtook him. Steve rushed over, his voice steady but concerned. "What did you see? Are you both alright?" Lia couldn't find her voice. Her heart pounded in her chest as everything crashed over her—the love, the loss, the torture, the countless times they'd been wiped clean and brought back together only to forget each other again. Bucky looked at her, his blue eyes filled with the same haunting realization that had shattered her heart moments ago. Slowly, he turned to Steve, his voice breaking the suffocating silence.

"I was in love with her."