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

Chapter 61

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Wakanda, one week later

"You know I'm happy to see you. But are you absolutely sure? This won't be a fun, easy-going Safari and cuddle time with your precious Galagos babies. It's going to be more like... a mind-expanding joyride with all your personalities. Not just the fancy one."

"I need to do this, Shuri.... and I really wanna do it."

Emilia left the hospital that very night and made her way to her apartment. There, she packed some few clothes and personal items and headed straight to the airport after checking flights.

Once there, she first of all got herself a new phone in a small store and quickly entered a few numbers into the speed dial. At that moment, she was more than grateful for her photographic mind, without which she would have been quite lost.

Among the important contacts was Shuri, who was a bit surprised to finally hear from her friend after such a long time. Nevertheless, the joy prevailed. She immediately agreed to help, just as Emilia did then without hesitation, to help her as well.

After a nearly 15-hour flight, Shuri met her in Johannesburg. As they neared Wakanda, at first it felt to Emilia like coming home. And yet not at all.

Because here she had found something - only to lose it again shortly right there.

Now that she and her friend were in the Quinjet on the way to the outlying Jabari tribe, she thought about Bucky.

Several times did she try to call him. She had a strange gut feeling and wanted to make sure that her message had actually gotten through to him.

With each additional attempt, as she was forwarded to his voicemail, her concerns and doubts about whether he even wanted to be contacted turned to anger and impatience.

Of course, she was more than aware that he might take a little longer to sort out what he wanted to do. Not being one to be taken in either, Emilia suspected that it had something to do with this Yuri. It must therefore be quite important to him.

Bucky briefly mentioned the name of one of the Winter Soldier's victims - Nakajima - during the long night at Delacroix. Putting one and one together, Emilia wished that he managed to close that chapter in his life so peacefully as possible in order to start a new one.

The more often she heard this monotonous voice, however, the greater the urge to personally slam this new chapter in his face. After all, he could at least have sent her a short message that it took a little longer.

In a sugary voice, she again began to fill the probably already full mailbox: "We both know, Sergeant... you are more attached to written words at your age. It's really a tested thing, though."

Taking a deep breath, the tone changed. Emilia became louder and Shuri could only look at her friend with an intimidated, almost fearful look.

"Only there are no hyper speed letter deaf here and I can't read minds like Wanda either. I am totally aware 21st century  technology remains a mistery to you", she paused, inhales again deeply. "But when you see my name pop up on your phone, YOU FUCKING ANSWER IT! If karma doesn't hit you, I will gladly! Just choke on your goddamn silence game, James Buchanan Barnes!"

Snorting, she hung up and put it back in her jacket. It wasn't until she looked to Shuri after a few seconds of silence that she realized how meekly her usually talkative friend was looking at her.

"What?" asked Emilia, still rather indignant.

"N-nothing." Shuri averted her eyes from her and stared across the African wilderness over the Quinjet's console. The sun was already setting, bathing the land in a warm sea of orange.