long after you're gone ➢ stucky

one;

Ever since the events at the Siberian Hydra facility took place, Steve Rogers had not been content with how he lived. Although he had reconciled with Tony and the rest of the Avengers after the altercation between the two sides, he still felt uneasy around his former team mates. Things were clearly not the same but no one brought anything up to avoid a second clash within the group.

The only thing that seemed to keep Steve at ease was the knowledge that Bucky Barnes, his best friend, was safely in Wakanda with T'Challa. Bucky has been the only thing that has been constant throughout his entire life, even when Steve woke up from his 70-year sleep back in 2011. Bucky has never failed him, no matter the circumstance; for which Steve is eternally grateful.

Living in the Avengers tower with his former close friends has been an uneasy experience for Steve, knowing that even though they had made amends, they would never truly be the same friends they were previously. Steve has had thoughts of leaving and finding his own place to live but every time he has tried to bring it up, he just couldn't do it. For some reason, he felt as if he owed it to Tony and the rest of the gang to stick with them, no matter what his inner conflicting thoughts were telling him.

--- (Steve's POV) ---

The pocket of my sweatpants buzzed and rung out with a familiar tone, one I know to call out when someone is trying to call me. I stuck my hand into my pocket and checked the screen of the phone, looking at the caller ID. T'Challa. I hurriedly answered the phone without a second thought as it could be an update on Bucky's condition. I've been waiting for several weeks for an update phone call.

"Captain," the familiar Wakandan accent sung through the phone. "We have some good news about James Barnes."

I straightened up a bit taller and took a seat at the nearby table in my bedroom. "Our doctors have found a cure for your friends' condition. He will be awoken in a few hours to administer the fluid. We thought you would like to know and come see him afterwards."

My heart almost leaped out of my chest. Considering Bucky had only been under cyrogenic sleep for just over a year, the doctors worked remarkably quickly; quicker than I thought they would be, anyway. "The cure's been found?" was the only thing I could make out into actual words, as my mind was buzzing wild with happiness.

"Yes Captain Rogers, my men have formulated and completed a working fluid that will restore Mr. Barnes to his regular state. The only side effect is he won't remember much from before he was brainwashed initially so I would recommend reminding him of old memories slowly to not overwhelm him."

I was speechless. It was like a dream come true to hear T'Challa tell him the news. "Thank you and especially your doctors so much. I appreciate all your hard work and I'm sure Bucky appreciates it more than we'll ever know."

"You're welcome Captain, now I would recommend after Mr. Barnes returns home with you that you oversee his recovery and report back to me if anything abnormal happens."

Returning home. That will be a problem considering I live with everyone who hates Bucky's guts right now. Now I have no choice but to find my own place. "That is fine with me, Your Highness. How long until Bucky can leave your facility once he's been cured?"

"Our estimate is 7 days but it may be up to 10 days."

Perfect, that gives me enough time to find a house away from the rest of the Avengers where I can help Bucky get back to his normal self and not have people on my back who think he's a blood thirsty murderer.

"Thank you T'Challa. I really am very thankful for all your work on this."

"See you in a few hours, Captain."

Now to tell everyone in Avengers tower I'm moving out... What fun.