Love Me (Steve Rogers Fanfiction)

Chapter 34

AMERICA'S POV

"Stand down now!'

I slowly raise my hands as Rhodes lands in front of me, clad in the War Machine suit. I knew we were running on borrowed time. The man in the cat outfit complicated matters unnecessarily, costing us time. Without him, I would have made it.

"Congratulations. You're criminals." Police crowd us, kicking Bucky to the ground as they handcuff us all. I do notice that my bonds are thicker than the others, except Bucky's. My eyes meet Steve's amidst all of this chaos. I know that look. His expression speaks without words like we've always been able to do.

He wants me to run.

To run away. To leave them all behind and get somewhere safe. He's Captain America. He'll be okay. I'm the Night Wind, a fact that no one has forgotten. My future is a little uncertain.

Really, I could. I could escape, find Anna, and they'd never catch me. I did it for five years, but I'm sick of being a coward. No more running from my actions. I broke the law. Now, I face the consequences.

The Cat-man retracts his claws and takes the mask off, revealing a face I've only ever seen on television. Prince T'Challa of Wakanda. Nat mentioned his name before. I was supposed to meet him in Vienna. Or I suppose, he's now a king.

"Your highness," Steve says, inclining his head the slightest bit in respect.

The police shove us into a small backseat of a gray SUV. For a while, I just sit there, angry once again because everyone else got their handcuffs taken off. The drive seems to take forever, with all of us in silence until Sam pipes up from the back of the van.

"So... you like cats?" I almost laugh, but I keep my humor to myself.

"Sam," Steve rebukes quietly.

"What? Dude shows up dressed like a cat and you don't wanna know more?"

"You dress up as a bird all the time," I point out.

Steve ignores our banter and turns to T'Challa. "Your suit... it's vibranium?" Vibranium. The strongest metal in the world. I've seen the damage Steve's shield can do, and T'Challa has an entire suit of it.

I need a vibranium suit. Maybe I wouldn't get shot as much.

"The Black Panther has been the protector of Wakanda for generations. A mantle, passed from warrior to warrior." His dark eyes narrow as he speaks. "And now, because your friend murdered my father, I also wear the mantle of king. So, I ask you, as both warrior and king, how long do you think you can keep your friend safe from me?"

No one speaks for the rest of the ride.

They finally let us out in a government agency located in Berlin. I almost smack my head on the van's ceiling as I get out, but thankfully miss by a few inches. It still hasn't stopped throbbing. Glancing over across the room, my eyes lock with Bucky's. I don't know how to react, seeing him contained like he is. All I know is this time, he's innocent. He doesn't want to hurt anyone. He made that clear when he pushed me behind him while officers were firing. I think that's why he didn't resist in the end.

"What's gonna happen to him?" Steve asks as we approach Kate - wait, Sharon - and a stern man with gray hair.

"Same thing that ought to happen to you. Psychological evaluation and extradition."

I roll my eyes and hold up my hands. "Can someone get these off?"

"Yeah, we'll get the key soon. Hold tight." At least she looks sympathetic. "This is Everett Ross, Deputy Task Force Commander."

I raise a single eyebrow at him, the only indication that I have noticed his presence. I'm way past playing nice.

"What about a lawyer?" Oh, my sweet, naive husband and his old-fashioned ideals.

"Lawyer. That's funny." Then, to a passing agent, he adds, "See their weapons are placed in lockup. Oh, we'll write you a receipt."

"I better not look out the window and see anybody flying around in that," Sam says. Ross leads us away, and I glance back at Bucky one more time before following.

"You'll be provided with an office instead of a cell. Now, do me a favor, stay in it," Ross tells T'Challa, who only shrugs.

"I don't intend on going anywhere."

Natasha joins us as we walk across a skywalk. She treats us with a cool indifference and addresses Steve first. "For the record, this is what making things worse looks like."

"He's alive," Steve replies. She doesn't have anything to say to this, so she turns to me.

"You signed. I thought you were coming to Vienna."

"Me too." I meet her eyes with a stone-cold gaze. "Apparently Tony thought I'd like it more in my room."

Speaking of Tony, his voice rings out of the room we enter. He barely glances at us, too busy talking with someone on the phone. "No. Romania was not Accords-sanctioned. And, Colonel Rhodes is supervising cleanup."

"Try not to break anything while we fix this," Natasha says, striding away. It's like she's someone different already. I preoccupy myself with trying to wrestle out of my restraints, completely aware that it's not going to work. I look at them again, this time more closely. Did they seriously give me vibranium handcuffs?

"Consequences? You bet there'll be consequences. Obviously you can quote me on that 'cause I just said it. Anything else? Thank you, sir." Tony hangs up and approaches us.

"'Consequences'?" Steve asks him.

"Secretary Ross wants you all prosecuted. Had to give him something."

Steve smiles ruefully. "I'm not getting that shield back, am I?"

"Technically, it's the government's property. Wings, too."

"That's cold," Sam says.

"Warmer than jail!" Tony calls out from over his shoulder.

Steve rolls his eyes and turns to me, but his look of annoyance becomes one of concern. "Doll, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think so. Why?"

"You keep touching the back of your head," he says, brushing his fingers against the place I got hit. I try to hide my wince, but nothing gets past him. "You're hurt."

"I'll be fine, really. It's probably just a bruise." I reach my cuffed hands up to touch the spot, but I grimace again. "Probably."

Steve shakes his head. "Tony, do you have any medics around here?"

"I'm fine!" I insist, although I know I'm not. I just hate doctors, plain and simple.

"Yeah, if you need one. Why? Did the patriotic princess get shot again?"

"No, someone whacked me in the head," I retort, not in the mood for him at all.

"Well, we wouldn't want you to bruise, would we?" He motions to two of the agents mulling around. "Go with them, they'll get you taken care of."

I sigh, acknowledging my defeat. "You know, I hate you sometimes," I say to Steve.

"Love you too," he says, tapping my nose lightly with a smile. It's the most affection he's shown me since the night we were taken from our honeymoon.

The two agents don't speak at all as they lead me back through the skywalk and into another area of the building. It's very awkward and nerve-wracking. After a while, the two of them point to an empty hallway labeled as the medical ward.

"Um, thanks," I say, still feeling odd because they didn't talk to me. Then again, I'm officially a criminal. They don't need to be polite.

I turn the corner, something hits my head, and I black out before I see anything other than the wall.

Writing is such a good way to take your mind off of things.