Another Red Winter story for all my winterwitch lovers!
Bucky found himself back in his room doing what he had been doing every night since the war, researching himself. Researching HYDRA, everything they had done, everything he had done. Papers of...
A week later Bucky and Wanda found themselves on a jet heading to Wakanda. T'Challa welcomed the idea to finished what they had started in helping Bucky recover. Shuri began to think of a game plan, excited to put her brain to good use. Sam would be dropping them off, then alone with Pepper and Scott they had a mission from Nick Fury to embark on. The sightings of HYDRA members began to rise and rumor has it that they are taking in new trainees. The three of them were to locate their headquarters, but not to infiltrate quite yet. Wanda was aware of the mission, Bucky was not. Pepper thought it best to keep Bucky out of the loop for now, though she wanted to keep Wanda out, Sam insisted one of them should know.
As they landed and exited the jet, Wanda looked around at the scenery. It was much different from the last time she saw it. The clean up they managed to do, it looked like a war never had happened here. T'Challa welcomed them with open arms.
"Take care of them." Sam shook T'Challa's hand, "I trust you."
"I shall, and Sam." Sam had been walking away, but T'Challa's words pulled him back, "You're doing great."
"Thanks." Sam nodded, getting back onto the jet and taking off.
T'Challa turned back to Bucky, "I can hope this time we can help you."
"You helped me last time." Bucky nodded, "I just...want something more permeate. More sure."
"I can do that." Shuri walked toward them, "Good to see you again soldier. I like the hair cut." She smiled at Bucky who smiled back.
"You too."
"Scarlet Witch." Shuri smiled, "Welcome back."
"Thank you." Wanda nodded.
"I have so much to tell you, so let's get going to the lab." Shuri lead the way as Bucky and T'Challa shared a look.
"She's been very exited." T'Challa lowered his voice and spoke to Bucky.
Bucky chuckled lightly under his breath, "Glad I could put her to work."
As they entered the large doors that lead to the lab, Wanda looked around at the familiarity. Images from before filtered into her mind. Vision on a table, Wanda waiting. The memories hurt, but Wanda pushed them away and began to listen for the future.
"From the studies I could find and the information Wanda emailed me about what she remembered I've put together a game plan." Shuri began to explain, "Having your brain waves monitored, all your medical stats on this screen." Bucky was listening, but he began to tense up as the reality sunk in, "Readings here." Bucky clenched his fists, Wanda felt his demeanor change, so she slow picked up her pace to walk beside him, slipping her hand into his. His eyes shifted over beside him, but Wanda didn't meet his gaze, she simply kept her eyes on everything Shuri explained, his muscles relaxed. Walking behind them, T'Challa watched this scene take place, a small smiled spread on his face. "We're going to do this without touching your memory." Shuri turned to face them, "It's going to hurt." She shrugged, "In order for me to get to the place in your mind where you subconsciously know these phrases, I'm going to have to dig deep." Shuri noticed the two were holding hands, her expression changed from it's bubbly smile. "It's a thirty day plan!"
"Ok." Bucky sighed, "When do we begin."
"Tomorrow." T'Challa voiced from behind them, "Settle in tonight."
Shuri nodded, "Wanda, are you ready?"
"I think so." She nodded.
"Don't write down the phrases. Just remember them. I'll even put headphones in tomorrow and ask everyone to leave the room when you say them. No one else will know." Shuri smiled again, "We can do this."
T'Challa showed them to their rooms, making a little adjustment in his head after watching their display of affection in the lab, and motioned to connecting rooms in front of them. "There is a bathroom that connects the two rooms. I hope that isn't a problem." The two of them shook their heads, "I shall see you tomorrow." Wanda and Bucky bowed lightly as T'Challa smiled and walked away.
Bucky turned to Wanda, "I'm nervous." She smiled, the more time they spent together, the easier it seemed to be more vulnerable with one another.
"I'm excited." She walked toward her door, "Goodnight."
Bucky smiled, watching her disappear behind the door before taking to his own room.
It was almost ten when Wanda looked up at the connecting bathroom door and heard a small tap on it, she twitched her hand and opened the door to reveal a very tired Bucky, he was wearing black slink pants with no shirt. Wanda had on a traditional Wakanda nightdress. It was white, long and flowy, almost see through, but Wanda wore a small slip underneath. When Bucky looked in at her he smiled softly, she looked like an angel in white. "I can't sleep."
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Wanda was sitting on the edge of her bed with a tablet in her hands, "Me either." She patted the spot beside her and he made his way over to her. "They rebuild so fast." On the tablet was articles that had passed around Wakanda about the clean up after the war.
"They have the technology." He took the table from her gently and scrolled through some photos of after the war. The damage was heartbreaking. "Will you visit him?" He looked over at her.
Wanda's face fell, she looked away toward the large window. Taking a deep breath she felt the heaviness of her heart, "I don't know."
"You should." Bucky placed his hand on top of hers, "You'll regret it if you don't." Wanda nodded, it was odd hearing Bucky speak of Vision. Of course he knew who he was, but as he mentioned it, she felt...dirty. As though part of her was cheating on Vision, but that couldn't be possible, he was dead. "I'm sorry."
"No," Wanda shook her head, "Don't be." She turned back to the soldier and leaned into him, letting her head rest on his shoulder. "Stay."
Bucky heard her, but part of him froze, "What?"
"Stay." She looked up at him, "In here." Their eyes read one another, Bucky pressed his lips together, "This place...I feel small here." She looked down, "I don't want to be alone."
"Ok." She looked back into his eyes, "I'll stay." He smiled gently and followed her into the bed. The large plush blankets engulfed them and Wanda wrapped her arms around the large pillow, facing the window and watching the stars outside. Bucky was laying a few inches away from her, staring outside as well. Wanda was right, it felt good not being alone. So good in fact that he fell asleep within minutes.
