𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒~ 𝐵.𝐵𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑠

FORTY THREE

"You took your time." I say spotting Steve after he and Sam have a small moment. "Sorry I came as fast as I could." I shrug with a smile, "well better late than never I guess." I say making him chuckle, "come on let's get you guys out of here."

I get myself out of the straight jacket pretty easily I should be a magician. "Shit." I hiss the shock collar electrocuting me as I tried to freeze it, I eventually get it done and rub at the marks it had left of my sore neck as it shatters and falls to the ground. I then shatter the glass and slip my arms through the metal bars, finding the control panel, I freeze that too making the door malfunction and open.

"Hey let me help you out." I say pulling Wanda out of her straight jacket before placing my hands over the collar and getting it off. I hug her for a second feeling that she needed it, "I told you he'd come didn't I." She cracks a small smile and nods before she gives me another hug.

• • •

"Rosalie." Bucky breaths out in relief as I run to him, Steve had brought me to Wakanda where T'Challa had generously taken the two after helping them. "You're ok." He says wrapping an arm around me. "I told you we'd be ok." I say squeezing him tightly before pulling away to see all the wounds on his face. My thumb brushes over one on his cheek, "what happened to your arm?" I question noticing the absence of the metallic limb. "Stark." He murmurs shamefully, "Stark?" I echo in confusion, "he found out that I killed his parents." My eyes widen at the news, Bucky had killed Howard and Maria? "Well are you ok, he didn't hurt you anywhere else did he?" I question checking him over, his eyebrows furrow.

"You're not mad at me." I place my hands on either side of his face, "I don't know how many time you need to hear this but I will continue to repeat it until you understand. You are not the winter soldier, you are Sargent James Buchanan Barnes, and I don't care about the past I care about you and the future." I tell him looking him in the eyes as I speak, "I know that but I still did those things."

"Do you want me to be mad at you? Would it make you feel better?" I question making him shake his head. "Then let's not dwell on it ok? Let's just be happy that we're both ok and with each other." I suggest and he nods. "You are ok right?" He nods again, "how are you, I heard you were thrown in prison." I wince at the thought, "I'm ok, they put me in a straight jacket, cuffed my legs to the wall and ever so graciously gave me a shock collar that would electrocute me every time I used my powers." I try and shrug it off, seeing the concern grow on his face.

"Are you sure you're ok?" I nod, "you know what hurt more than all of that? Sam said I wasn't funny, I am funny right?" I ask my mouth dropping at the face he makes, "Bucky!" I gasp in mock offence, "I'm sorry doll but-" I shake my head, "the disrespect, you always laugh at my jokes." I try and fight my point making him smile, "because I love you." I shake my head again, "don't try and sweet talk me mister." I say before we just end up laughing.

"Hey Rosie? There's something I gotta tell you." He says after a moment.

• • •

"You sure about this?" Steve asks Bucky from beside me, turns out Bucky was going back into cryo just until they figured out how to fix whatever hydra had done to him. "I can't trust my own mind. So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head I think going back under is the best thing . . . for everybody." He says smiling sadly at the two of us.

I give Steve and Bucky their space allowing them to have a moment with each other. When Steve makes his way over to me to tell me to go and say my goodbye I try and keep myself together. I don't even say anything at first I just hold Bucky in my arms not knowing when I'd be able to do it again. "The second you're out, I'll be here." I tell him making him smile, "I don't doubt it doll."

"Just hold me a bit longer... please?"

• • •

"I love you." He tells me right before he's about to go in, "and I love you." I say reaching up to kiss him for what may be the last time in a very long time. He then hugs Steve, "don't worry the three of us can't be apart for long, we always find our way back to each other." I say a second after he hesitates both boys smile at me prompting us to have a group hug.

Steve and I hold hands as Bucky climbs into the small pod, we keep smiles on our faces until the ice covers him then I let my smile drop and I turn and cry in Steve's already open arms.

• • •

"Hi." I say smiling at the young girl who has entered the lab, "hello Miss Burns, I am Shuri, T'Challa's younger but smarter sister." I smile at her, "I wanted to ensure you that Sargent Barnes will be in good hands here in my lab." I nod, "I don't doubt it." I tell her truthfully. "I will work as quickly as possible." She says making me shake my head, "there's no pressure so don't feel like you need to rush." I say not wanting to add to her stress the poor girl just lost her father.

"How are you?" I ask her after a second, she looks completely confused, "I am fine." I nod, "I'm sorry about your father." Her eyes shine but she clenches her jaw and nods, "thank you." I don't know what to do, I want to change the subject but my mind has become scarily empty and so I do the only thing that I can think of. I wrap my arms around the young girl, she lets out a breath and holds me back very tightly. We don't say anything even once she eventually lets me go, but she smiles at me in a grateful way.

• • •

"Your highness." I say as I see T'Challa, "please T'Challa is fine." He says making me nod, "Thank you for this." I say making him shake his head, "miss burns-" now it's my turn to correct him, "you can call me Rosalie." I say hating when people called me miss Burns it was so formal and made me feel old. "Rosalie I apologise for not listening to you earlier." I shake my head, "no, it's understandable grief does funny things to people." He nods in agreement, "also I wanted to thank you, back when Bucky got controlled you saved my life, if you hadn't kicked him off of me I wouldn't be here right now."