Rising From the Ashes • COMPLETED ✓

1.) Intertwined Memories: Steve Rogers

STEVE ROGERS - CAPTAIN AMERICA

July 7th, 2017, Wakanda

I walk down the enormous halls of the Wakandan Palace. Warm rays of sunlight that shine through great glass panes paint the elaborate corridors in gold, illuminating the people and details in every room.

No painting, window, wallpaper, tile, or decoration is put there by accident. Everything is deliberate. Shuri told me that the angles of which the sun hits things are even measured, offering the most beautiful rooms and places in Wakanda you will ever see.

After finding myself lost many times, T'Challa was kind enough to give me a holographic map. Exploring the palace is something I can't help but do, and I either get distracted by something absolutely breathtaking or I lose my way back. Using the hologram, I follow the highlighted path to where he is. Along the way, I bump into many Wakandans.

    "Greetings, Captain Rogers," a unit of guards say as I pass them.

    I give each of them a friendly nod. "Greetings."

As I walk towards the room, their words echo in my mind. Captain. My mind brings me back to Syberia, when Tony told me I didn't deserve his father's shield.

Leaving the shield behind was easy. Leaving Tony behind wasn't. It's a bit hazy, but I still remember Howard Stark. He was an extremely intelligent man, though he was arguably more egotistical and less stoic than his son.

    Instinctively, my hand goes towards my right pocket, where the replica of the flip phone I gave Tony is. I'm only a call away, Stark.

    Once I reach the door, I take a deep breath before I knock.

    "Come in!" Shuri answers.

    I twist open the knob and lock eyes with the princess. "Shuri," I bow my head. She's smiling, her hands clapping in excitement.

    "Mr. Rogers, I think I have a breakthrough on James!" She gestures with her hands, patting a chair next to her. Her happiness is contagious.

After sitting down, I manage to break eye contact with her Highness and my eyes land on him. Bucky. My best friend for nearly seventy years. As I glance through the glass, I can see how peaceful he looks.

His eyelashes flutter as he sleeps in this state, and since the details of his face are apparent through the clear barrier, I go through them all. The long, brown hair that barely touches his broad shoulders, the many faint scars that dot his face, the familiar position and stubbornness of his jaw. Check, check, check: 1940's Bucky is in him. Though, as much as I hate to admit it; the HYDRA assassin is still in him too.

The words from the museum's exhibit on our friendship rings in my ears. "Best friends since childhood, Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers were inseparable on both schoolyard and battlefield." I hope that we are still inseparable. He's the reason why I'm here, after all, and not with Tony. Not that I'd have it any other way.

"What do you mean, 'breakthrough'?" I turn to her.

As Shuri pulls up a hologram of Bucky's brain, texts, bullet points, and small icons that are popping up everywhere zoom by. I don't understand any of it.

If only Tony were here to see this. She starts pointing out multiple things, talking about Buck's hippocampus and the nerves and whatnot. I nod as she speaks, a slight grin on my face when I notice how happy she is.

    "You've got passion, kid."

Shuri chuckles. "Who are you calling a kid, Mr. Rogers?" With a few swipes and clicks, she retracts the hologram. After clearing her throat, though, the laughter from her face is replaced with seriousness.

"What is it, Shuri?"

There's a bit of hesitation before she talks. "I've been running an algorithm that will be able to flush the influence of the trigger words out while retaining the core context and content of those original memories. Essentially, I will be able to reboot him," Shuri gestures to Bucky. I close my eyes, relief and joy flooding through me. "But..."

My eyes snap open. "But?"

"It's not that simple, Mr. Rogers."

I nod in understanding. This won't be easy. HYDRA's brainwashing was terrible. It changed people.

"Do you mind explaining?"

Shuri takes a deep breath as she looks at Bucky. "In order to flush out most or all of HYDRA's influence, we need to isolate the most traumatic memories in Mr. Barnes' brain." Her stare meets mine. "These memories are intertwined with the trigger words, the way James was treated during the time he served HYDRA, and the condition he was in." She breaks eye contact as she looks to the floor. "However, most of these memories include you."

I feel tears pricking the corner of my eyes. "I see," I reply, but I truly wish I didn't. I was in most of Bucky's bad memories? The ones where he was tortured and committed horrible crimes?

     Shuri pats my shoulder, even though she has to stand on the tips of her toes to do so. "Don't worry, my friend." She points to herself, "I'm way smarter than Tony Stark. I can help you and James. I swear on the strength of Wakanda."

    "I trust you, princess."

She gives me a reassuring smile.

    "Good. Now stop distracting me. I have a brain to figure out,"

    "Thank you again. I owe you everything." Her Highness nods in understanding before going back to the hologram of Bucky's mind.

    Stay strong, Buck. For me. For all of us.

A/N: To all of you Stucky fans out there who are reading this, you will NOT be disappointed. ;) Haha. Stay tuned!

***Don't forget to vote, comment, and share!

Do you support the pairing between Steve and Bucky? Or do you think the love they share for each other is brotherly and not more on the romantic side? Do you think that if it was a female, such as Peggy Carter, instead of Bucky Barnes, would the Captain America movies end with a romance between them? Food for thought!

Next chapter is in Peter Parker's point of view.