Remember Me

Chapter 9

* 3 months later *

Almost three months have passed and there is no sign of Dreykov since he slipped through their hands.

"Still no irregularities discovered along the Wakandan border?" Steve asks Okoye when they discuss their daily reports.

"No Captain. No intruders have been spotted along the Wakanda border. It is as quiet as it has been the last few months. But we will continue to monitor the border. No person can escape our security." Okoye responds.

Steve nods. "Thank you Okoye."

Natasha walks in as Okoye leaves. They greet each other. "How's Bucky?" she asks Okoye. "Has he made any progress?" Okoye smiles and nods. "It's going slow, but progress has been made. The mind is a complex thing and cannot be convinced easily. Perhaps he would appreciate a visit."

Okoye leaves Natasha with a lot of questions and doubts. She would love to see him again, but she doesn't know if he wants to. Steve has visited him several times, but he never asked about her, so she isn't sure if it's a good idea.

"What are you thinking about?" Steve was just about to leave and bumped into her standing near the doorway.

"Bucky never asked about me?" She askes again, because she needs some kind of confirmation.

"No." Steve replies short. "But I was just heading out to see him. Want to join?"

-

Steve and Natasha walk towards the edge of the woods of Wakanda. Bucky stays there at his own request in a small clay house. It has a straw roof and some kind of curtains in the windows. The windows are just holes in the walls, but it gives him some kind of privacy. He build it with help of the people of Wakanda. As they get closer they see Bucky. He is working, hauling bales of hay and chopping wood.

"Hey buddy, how are you?" Steve shouts. Bucky looks up, smiling. "I'm fine." Bucky shouts back and gives Steve a hug. Natasha smiles at Bucky. "Good to hear." And gives Bucky a hug too.

"We are making progress. Ayo told me she wants to take a big step with me tonight. It could be the breakthrough we are hoping for." Says Bucky proudly.

"I am very confident that it will go well." Says Ayo, who also arrives. "Maybe you want to be there tonight Natasha? For support?"

"Oh, uh, sure. I'm happy to help" Natasha replies.

-

Later that evening, Natasha leaves for the hand-build cottage along the edge of the forest. The environment here is beautiful. In the distance she sees a campfire burning, Bucky and Ayo are already there and are sitting next to the fire on the ground.

"Natasha, please sit down." Ayo says softly.

Natasha sits down by the fire across from Bucky. He seems worried and Ayo stands up. "Are you sure about this, Ayo?" He asks.

"I won't let you hurt anyone."

Желание... Ржавый... Семнадцать...

"It's not gonna work..."

Рассвет... Печь... Девять... Добросердечный...

Bucky has a hard time resisting the words. His eyes begin to water and he bites down his hand.

Возвращение на Родину... Один... Товарный вагон...

Bucky remains seated. After the last word, Natasha waits anxiously for his response. Bucky lets his emotions go and looks up at Ayo.

"You are free." Ayo nods proudly.