|| LONGING || EDITTING

|| Chapter Twenty - Three ||

Appearing at Siberia, Sophie felt uneasy as she was about to walk into the place that broke her brother and Arizona. She exhaled shakily but not from the cold, she walked in, unaware of T'Challa speaking to the man who caused all of this heartache. She looked around, entering a room which was thoroughly destroyed with six bodies having been shot in the head, "Oh my, God..." Her eyes landed on an oval black mist on the wall, Sophie slowly walking up to it before pressing her palm against it. It felt as if she was touching water but it was thicker than that, it was clearly old by how the onyx mist crackled into the wall and it felt as if it was apart of something alive as it moved with a heartbeat Sophie was unaware of, her head whipped to the side as she heard metal against metal, almost immediately she ran toward the noise and by the time she arrived at the scene, her eyes widened at the sight.

Tony had his helmet bashed off, a fearful glower across his expression as he looks up at Steve who was panting whilst leaning against his shield that had been struck down into Tony's suit's core. They both had blood spattered across their faces when Steve looked back at Tony then shut his eyes before slumping down, the shield remained upright as it was stuck. Their head's slightly turn to Sophie who glanced down at the third body, her brother. His metal arm looked like it was ripped off, blood covering his face but he was conscious which was a good sign. Steve struggled to get up, taking hold of the shield and Sophie's extended arm, he gripped the edge and pulled his shield free, Sophie looked at Tony with sympathy as he rolled onto his side painfully.

Steve reached out, and with the help of Sophie, pulled Bucky to his feet as they both held the one-armed soldier up whilst Tony looked on, "That shield doesn't belong to you!" Tony demanded, trying to get some form of justice from his defeat as Steve turned his back, "You don't deserve it," He spat and Steve kept walking with the help of Sophie keeping an eye out for both men, "My Father made that shield!" Steve stopped, he raised his chin before dropping the shield, walking away with Bucky's arm around his shoulder and Sophie helping to guide them, she looked back at Tony who was staring at the shield before continuing on with her journey to some warmth.

They exited and their eyes landed on T'Challa, "Jesus Christ..." Bucky whispered weakly, the Prince of Wakanda had sedated Zemo and handcuffed him in his jet. Sophie stood in front of Bucky and Steve, ready to fight him if he dared.

However, T'Challa held his hands up in a surrender, "I must apologize," The trio glanced at each other, "I thought you killed my father," His eyes falling to Bucky, "But I was wrong," Sophie nodded, "If you need a place to hide for a while, you are welcome to join me in returning to Wakanda,"

Sophie whipped around to Bucky and Steve who looked hesitant but they all eventually grew on the idea, "Phoenix," Bucky whispered, T'Challa furrowed his brows and Bucky cleared his throat, "I want to see Nixie,"

T'Challa's lips parted as he tried to form an idea, "I shall send someone to get her, as a request,"

Arizona was rubbing her arms as she tried to warm herself off when the lights went out and the faint light of the hallway emergency light was illuminating her room, the cold slowly fading and Arizona looked at her hand where a ball of fire appeared on her palm and she used it as a source of light as she stayed in the room in fear that something bad was going to happen. The door was suddenly opened and Arizona through her ball of fire at whoever it was, luckily for the both of them, the woman dodged the fire in a split second, "Well, look at that," Her African accent prominent in her words, "With hair, I would've been toast,"

Arizona's eyes were wide as she engulfed herself in flames, "Who are you?" Her voice timid but defensive at the same time, her eyes burning in flames at the sight of the beautiful woman before her.

"I'm Okoye, the General of the Dora Milaje in Wakanda," She formally introduced.

Arizona slightly shifted at the country mentioned, "Wakanda?"

Okoye looked over Arizona's flaming body, "Prince T'Challa requests you come to Wakanda," Arizona furrowed her brows, "That and Mr Barnes was the one to ask for your presence,"

Arizona immediately got rid of her flames before she stood up straight, "You were able to dodge my fireball..." She squinted her eyes with unease before giving her a child-like fearful look, "Now I'm scared you would beat my ass if I said no,"

"And you're right," Okoye retorted making Arizona raise her hands in surrender.

Standing beside Okoye who was sat down looking at the view, Arizona's eyes widened as the jet aimed toward trees, "I don't mean to alarm you but we're gonna crash!" Her words rushed and filled with panic, "I'm going to haunt you until even the Devil thinks I deserve the throne of hell!"

Suddenly, the trees were gone and there were skyscrapers, beautiful colours, and highly advanced technology in view, Okoye looked at Arizona, "Tell him I said hi,"

Arizona glared at her, "Stop amusing me with your snarky comments, I'm supposed to be mad at you," Okoye grinned and Arizona huffed.

"We are here,"

The jet stopped and Arizona's eyes widened realizing that she was about to face royalty in a different country and she didn't know the first thing about making sure she was presentable, "Do I bow at the Queen and T'Challa?"

Okoye gave her a look that read 'Are you insane?' before shaking her head, "No," She grabbed her spear, which had Arizona awe at it before she went to poke it. Okoye immediately slapped Arizona's hand away making her squeak then huff in annoyance until she grinned up at Okoye with pride.

"Did you know I kicked T'Challa's ass twice?"

Okoye looked at her, "I'm sure you did," Her voice condescending and filled with sarcasm but a slight hint of amusement. When they exited the jet, T'Challa, a woman, and a younger girl who looked roughly Arizona's age were stood waiting for them. Okoye's troops on either side of the walkway, "My Queen," Okoye greeted.

"Thank you, Okoye," Queen Ramona replied before looking down at Arizona who was too busy looking at the skyscrapers and admiring the technology, "And hello, Arizona,"

Her head whipped to the Queen and her widened eyes barely shrank to rest, "Hello,"

T'Challa had a small smile to see how timid Arizona seemed to be, before looking at Okoye, "She says she kicked your ass," Said woman having said whilst looking at T'Challa, him looking at Arizona who let out a breath of laughter before trying to conceal it with her hand.

"Not entirely," T'Challa's voice cracked in embarrassment, not thinking it to be helpful if he said that he managed to throw her off him because that would make him seem like he had beaten up a child.

The Princess laughed, "You got your ass served, huh brother?" T'Challa clicked his tongue whilst shaking his head before she looked at Arizona, "I'm Shuri, Mr Barnes hasn't stopped asking if you've arrived yet, so, follow me,"

Arizona giggled, following after Shuri, "Mr Barnes makes him sound old,"

Shuri shrugged, "Well, he is a one-hundred-year-old man,"

"Fair enough," Arizona replied.