☆» All Queen Visaena Hightower wanted, was to protect her children. Being married off at a young age to a man three times her senior changed her. She was a sweet and kind girl in her youth, but every little experience forced her to toughen up. She...
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It had been a few days since Visaena last saw Bucky. Her mind constantly re-played the scene of him retreating into the woods. She knew she would see him again, but her worries never left. One of the first things Visaena did when she got home, was tell her children that Bucky was alive.
Visaena sat on the edge of the dragon-engraved sofa, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, trying to keep her voice steady as she faced her children. Her words were carefully chosen but still felt impossible to believe. She took a deep breath, meeting each of their gazes with a mixture of hope and hesitation.
"Your father," she began softly, her eyes flickering over to Luke, then back to Eliana and Jace. "...he's alive."
Silence blanketed the room. Luke's eyes widened, the disbelief clear as he processed her words. Eliana looked up at her mother from the spider in her hands. She had seen him in her dreams. She knew it was him. But it felt impossible to tell anyone.
Visaena continued, her voice thick with emotion. "I saw him—he saved Steve. Even after everything that's happened to him, a part of him still knows who he is. He may not remember us yet, but he hasn't completely lost himself."
Luke leaned in, his voice barely a whisper. "Does he know who we are? Will he come home?"
She looked at him, her heart aching at the longing in his eyes. "He doesn't remember everything right now," she admitted, "but he's still there, somewhere inside. And even though he's lost and still fighting through the past that haunts him...I believe he will come back."
"Then we'll be here, waiting for him. And we'll help him remember. Whatever it takes." Luke replied, standing up. Visaena's lips curved into a gentle smile, warmed by the strength she saw in them. He reminded her so much of Bucky, and she hoped he would finally get to meet his father.
"So, you've experienced this sort of thing before?" Visaena stood next to Rhaenys and Fury, in front of his gravestone, which bears the inscription "The path of the righteous man. Ezekiel 25:17"
"You get used to it," Steve replied.
"We've been data-mining HYDRA's files. Looks like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship. I'm headed to Europe tonight, wanted to ask if you'd come." Fury asked Steve.
"There's something I gotta do first," Steve said, nodding to Visaena. Fury glanced at the woman, who was stuck in thought, staring at the grave.
"How about you, Wilson? Could use a man with your abilities." Fury turned to Sam.
"I'm more of a soldier than a spy," Sam stated, nodding his head.
"Alright then. Anybody asks for me, tell them they can find me right here." Fury glances at his grave, before walking away, Rhaenys in tow.
