The White Phoenix 9: An Avengers: Infinity War Fanfiction

Chapter 1: Wakanda

I loved it being in Wakanda. The magical sunsets, the sunrises, the greenness of it all... but nothing compared to being by Bucky's side, day by day. We worked, starting to tend sheep and goats as we recovered from our respective injuries following the breakup of the Avengers. We settled into our new lives with happiness and peace preceding us.

Flashback (four months earlier)...

Bucky came over to me. I was staring at the mesmerising flames of the fire in front of us. The fire spat and crackled, raising beelines of fire to the sky. Removing my left hand from its glove (as it was kind of cold), I stretched it out towards the fire and began to stretch old muscles, manipulating the fire softly over my fingers and hands. Bucky sat next to me and pulled me close to him, still manipulating the fire.

'I love you,' he said softly.

'I second that fact,' I replied. He chuckled, a deep, melodious sound that he had recently discovered and that I enjoyed hearing. I stopped manipulating the fire and I kissed him lightly, relishing the feeling of freedom. When we broke the kiss, I reached into a pack next to me and pulled out a small bundle wrapped in Wakandan cloth. Unwrapping it as he leaned over my shoulder, eager to see what it was, it revealed the little red book that had started all of our pains, all the way from HYDRA in Siberia itself to now. I looked at him. His eyes were somewhat wide and he looked at me.

'Where did you get that?'

'T'Challa gave it to me. He'd gotten the CIA to give it to him. He wanted me to determine what I wanted to do with it.'

'What do you want to do with it?'

'I could make the two of us go psycho again, but we all know where that leads. No... I've got a better idea.' Fully taking it out of its covering, I spoke again. 'This started all of our pains. Everything that we ever did, everything that we were trained for, everything that they ever did to us, was because of this. Because of the crap that HYDRA planted in our heads. We may never get HYDRA fully out of our heads, but here, I feel at peace, Buck. I feel completely at peace. Even if the world hates us when we go back into it, I want you to know that you and I... our love will always stay strong. Forever. For better or for worse.'

'We haven't said our wedding vows yet.'

'I know. But it still holds true, at least for the two of us. All I want to say is that you and I are here to stay with each other, forever. I want to cast this book into the fire. Severing all ties to our past. Our past should not and will not affect us.'

'Will you always remember them?'

'Yes. I will always dream about the many that I killed under HYDRA, as their pawn, as their slave. I will always hear their voices in my head. I will always feel it in my heart, their pain, their suffering.'

'It must be painful, hearing their voices in your head all the time.'

'It is. But it's like a wise friend once told me, that it is our duty to bear their pain without breaking.'

'Must be a very wise friend.'

'Indeed, he was.' Raising the book, I cast the wretched past back into the fire. I put my arm around Bucky, watching as the book burned away. The black star was the last to burn away and I gave a growl under my breath, but it managed to escape my throat. As the last of the book burned away, I turned to Bucky once more and we kissed, more passionately than ever.

(End of flashback)

Four months later... (after the flashback)

One night, Bucky and I were sleeping in the little Wakandan hut. I was resting on his chest, feeling his rhythmic heartbeat beneath my ear.

'Are you still awake?' I heard him ask.

'Yes,' I murmured. We shifted our positions so we could face each other. 'Are you okay, Buck?'

'Yes,' he said.

'Talk to me. What's wrong?' He lifted his eyes to meet mine. My fingers gently glanced his chest. Leaning forward, he kissed me. When we broke the kiss, I felt his hand move to the small pregnant bump on my stomach.

'I can't wait for the little one. But-'

'But what?' I pressed.

'I'm worried. I want to be a good dad. For the baby. And a good husband for you. I'm just-'

'You're worried that what with our past, and what affected us in the past, that we won't be good parents? You're worried that the past will affect our future?'

'Yes. You read my mind, didn't you?'

'No. Honest. But even if I did, we never really took an agreement saying I couldn't. But I'm willing to agree to one.'

'How did you know?'

'It's written all over your face. You forget how perceptive I can be.'

'I have forgotten. I would think you had slowed down a bit with the baby.'

'No. If anything, she keeps me going.'

'She?'

'Yes. I'm adamant that it's a girl. You thinking about names?'

'Yes. But what if it's a boy?'

'James?'

'Very original,' he said, cracking a smile.

'No, really. James Barnes Jr.?'

'That just doesn't seem right, though. What are you thinking?' I didn't answer, so he spoke again. 'Might just have to go with James Barnes then.'

'Agreed.' I gave a small laugh and touched his cheek affectionately. 'But what if I'm right?'

'Then your psychic powers would be way beyond the physical.'

'What should we name her?'

'What are you thinking?'

'I'm thinking Shannon would be a good name.'

'How about Shannon Amelia Barnes? Amelia was your mother's name, right?'

'Yes,' I replied softly. 'Yes, let's do that.' We kissed again and again, happy with our choice. Little did we know that things were about to get a lot more intense... and perhaps traumatic.