✓ | parted [ ➁ ]

[ mid credits scene ]

Steve had been standing in the corner of the room for what felt like hours. It hadn't nearly been that long, but there was a lot on his mind, and watching his best friend make the decision to become frozen again wasn't something that really sat well with him. But it was Bucky's choice, and Steve understood why he'd made that decision.

Watching as someone finished taking some blood from Bucky for tests, Steve shoved his hands into his pockets and kicked off from the wall to walk over to him. The set up in the lab was impressive — certainly not something he expected the king of Wakanda to be hiding behind a mirage of trees, but there they were.

"You sure about this?" Steve asked Bucky, slowing down as he approached the gurney that his best friend currently sat on. His left arm was more or less a stump now, since it had been singed off during the fight with Tony. Just thinking about the whole thing stung, so Steve pushed that thought to the furthest part of his mind.

"I can't trust my own mind," Bucky said with a small shrug and a sad smile. "So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head, I think going back under is the best thing."

Steve didn't have a lot of options. He knew it was important for Bucky to recover from HYDRA's brainwashing so he didn't turn into a soldier ever again, just because a few words were repeated to him. Tony might have made it possible, but they couldn't go back to New York. Not yet. Not for a while.

Fortunately, T'Challa had been happy to offer his assistance, which Steve was grateful for.

Moments later, they had Bucky in a small cubicle. Glass slid over the front, covering the entire thing, and Steve watched as frost blurred out Bucky's unconscious form. He stood there a moment longer before looking away and walking to a nearby window. Steve had never been to Wakanda before, and he could understand why. They sure were hiding a lot away from the public.

He heard footsteps approaching from behind but didn't turn to look. He knew who it was. "Thank you for this," Steve said to T'Challa as he came to a stop beside him.

T'Challa was looking out the window as well. "Your friend and my father... they were both victims. If I can help one of them find peace..." He faltered, and Steve understood what he meant.

Still, he felt the need to reiterate how dangerous this was. "You know, if they find out he's here, they'll come for him." Steve pried his gaze away from the window to look at T'Challa.

The king of Wakanda continued to stare out the window at a large stony structure of a panther. He seemed to be smiling. "Let them try."