THE FADING FALLEN ● Bucky Barnes X OC ● 18+ ● ENGLISH [COMPLETE]

Chapter 14

∼⋄∼⋄∼ ○❖○ ∽⋄∽⋄∽

There was a cantilivered scaffold on the high ceiling, made of metal - probably vibranium, like almost everything metallic in Wakanda. Attached to it were some smaller grappling arms and lasers.

On the left side, behind a thick glass facade, a large front of computers whose screens could not be seen from here.

On the opposite was a kind of spectator area. There were two rows of four chairs, also behind a high protective pane.

In the middle there was nothing but free space. Some symmetrical grooves stood out on the floor. A large round line ran through the entire room until just before the two protective walls at the sides.

"This is awesome... I've never seen anything like it!" Sam surveyed and marveled at everything like a kid going to the carnival for the first time.

Tony had moved away from the group and was roaming around. He was surely looking for new ideas and the innovations of Wakanda that he could use for his own projects.

Wanda and Vision were already standing in the middle of the room looking around as well, while Shuri had already disappeared behind the screens with her brother. Emilia followed the two as Shuri waved her over.

Bucky watched her go, his right hand on the semi-automatic SIG P229.

Less than an hour ago, despite a gut-wrenching pain, he agreed to her condition, believing it was the right thing to do.

Now he doubted his decision.

How was he supposed to know what was right and wrong when not so long ago he didn't even know what he was actually doing?

And for Christ's sake! What if he actually had to shoot?

After his surprise agreement, Steve had addressed him directly, shortly after Emilia left the hall with Shuri after all the hullabaloo.

"Buck, what was that all about? Do you still hate her so much that you want her dead so badly?"

If Steve only knew... He didn't hate her - quite the opposite.

Actually, he couldn't help but notice that he had downright enjoyed her presence and closeness a few months ago. Since the 40s he hadn't known this feeling of.... yes what was that actually for a feeling?

That brief moment in front of the goat enclosure brought that very feeling back to the surface. It lay buried deep under layers of self-doubt, fear, anger, guilt, confusion and so much more.

It wasn't until sometime over the weeks and months that he truly realized it was affection he felt for her.

Whether this feeling had something to do with what he couldn't explain based on her nature or the fact that she was a not entirely unattractive woman, he couldn't tell.

He was aware that the affection had to be responsible for a desire that came back to him as if out of nowhere after such a long time. Yet, he didn't know how to deal with it.

After decades of torture, he forgot what these intense feelings and emotions were trying to tell him. Bucky was simply unable to understand them.

Just as he didn't understand himself.

The memories of his former self were in total contradiction to who he was now. He felt lost, with no real identity.

Was he Sgt. James Barnes again, going to war with his comrades?

Or was he still the Winter Soldier, just waiting for the next assignment?

Perhaps he was just a man whose tormented soul wandered aimlessly between two past worlds.