Command • T'Challa

Arrival

* YOU GUYS, I know I'm a terrible person for not updating but I've been crazy busy trying to finish a new book that is being published in about six weeks- it'll be my third real book, and so I haven't had time to update.  I know I'm a terrible person but I love you all and I'M SO SORRY!*

The quinjet touched down in Wakanda in the early morning. Bucky was still sleeping with his head on Grace's shoulder, and Steve still had his head back, his hands folded, just waking up when the quinjet landed.

"We have arrived." T'Challa announced, turning to the back, his voice low.

Grace stirred, then opened her eyes. She had been in the midst of some happy dream, a memory- was it that time that she had snuck out with James to that dance? It was also the time that her mother had worn a pink dress to church on a Sunday morning. It was lovely one- and her momma had tsk-tsked her father for spending the money to get it.

"I just thought that you deserved something nice made for you." he had said, smiling at her. Her father had just wanted to see her happy, that was all.

"What time is it? Morning?" Grace asked, groggy.

"Morning. We have a busy day ahead, you and the others." T'Challa.

"Oh, I guess we do," Grace said, sitting up straight. No more happy dreams, no more gettng lost in the memories- what exactly would they be doing in Wakanda, anyways? What about-

"Are the three of us going to jail?" she asked T'Challa, surprised by her own bluntness.

"You are here for asylum, Miss Alburn." he said. "Not to be imprisoned, but I cannot offer protection outside of my country. It is not prison, but I cannot call it freedom, either."

"Well, it's better than I'm used to." Grace said.

Bucky and Steve were waking up; Bucky groaning and turning his head to get his neck back in alignment.

"Better than what?" he asked. His voice was hoarse, and he still had dark circles under his eyes. Grace felt sorry for him, but that was it.  Surely, if you had loved somebody, you'd feel more emotion than just pity or empathy when you saw them again.

it wasn't like that for her. It had all been a wild unbecoming of herself, and here she was, now really in Wakanda after all, trying to sort out the pieces.

"Better than being imprisoned by HYDRA." she said.  Bucky nodded. He was becoming aware of his surroundings, and remembering what had happened the previous evening.

"Uh, your highness." he said, awkwardly, "It's probably not safe for me to be here."

"I know." T'Challa said. "But it is not safe for you to go anywhere else."

Poor Bucky, Grace thought. He felt like a monster after all that had happened, and with all of the distrust and fear that the Wakandans would probably feel towards Barnes wouldn't help him, but T'Challa was right- where else was he to go?

"Tony's probably gonna come after us." Steve said. "I know he will."

"Let him try." T'Challa said. "Let him try."