Adamantine (A Post-Black Panther Bucky Barnes Love Story)

9

The battlefield goes silent as everyone processes what I just did.

"Michael," I pant into my earpiece, "you okay?"

It takes a second for him to reply.

"I'm okay," he murmurs. "Aurea...I've never seen you like that before."

"Yeah, well, that was on purpose," I mutter, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

"You're the Champion of Bast," Okoye gasps from behind me, and I hang up on Michael before turning around. "You're the one of the prophecy."

"Yeah? What's this prophecy of yours say?" I ask, crossing my arms. T'Challa's still staring in shock.

"You're the one true heir to the throne of Wakanda," the king finally says.

Now, that actually makes me laugh.

"No thanks," I reply. "It's a good offer, but just because metal likes me doesn't mean I did any of that for you. I was doing my job and eliminating a threat to the ambassador. That's it."

"You have no sense of duty! No honor!" T'Challa yells at me, getting in my face.

"You wanna say that again, King Kitty Cat?" I dare him, holding my own.

"I will-"

"What?" I laugh coldly. "What will you do? I can crumple your pretty little cat costume with a snap of my fingers. Metal is my domain, and honey, you're coated in it. So, tell me exactly what you're going to do to me."

His eyes go nearly black with rage. "This is my country. I am the king."

"Really? Because your prophecy says I am," I fire back. I lower my voice. "Back down, T'Challa. Before I make you."

There's no movement for several long moments. It's a battle of wills. Until it isn't, and he finally steps back.

"Michael," I say into my earpiece, "we have to talk."

"Funny. Bucky just said the same thing about the two of you," he replies, and I sigh. I'm not at all surprised.

"Okay," I reply. "See you soon."

•••••

The room is completely silent as Bucky stares at me.

"Well?" I finally ask. "Are you going to run away and never speak to me again or what?"

He walks closer to me, and when he reaches out to me, I sigh in content as his vibranium hand touches my skin.

"Are you okay?" he murmurs, gently brushing my hair out of my eyes.

"I'm fine," I reply, leaning into his touch.

"Aurea...I'm not going to run," he says softly. "Okay?"

"Okay," I whisper, and I don't know why I'm shaking so much. I've never cared about what anyone thought of me, so why now? Why do I care so much about Bucky's opinion of me? "But I wasn't wrong, Bucky."

He cups my cheek and uses his other arm to pull me against him.

"What are you talking about?" he asks quietly, and I look up at him with a sad smile.

"Something really bad is about to happen. That's why you know about what I can do," I tell him. My enhanced intuition is practically screaming at me to run, to get as far away from this country as possible. But I can't. I have a job to do.

He kisses my forehead, and it sends a jolt of electricity down my spine. I wasn't expecting that.

"It'll be okay," he softly reassures me. "You're an urban legend, and I'm a ghost story. We'll keep each other safe."