Charlie's POV:
Nat and I are in the living room browsing through articles. We haven't had a mission in quite some time. Sam and Steve are out doing who knows what. They're usually not paired together because they get into too much trouble. I hear an odd ring, and go into mine and Steve's room. This isn't my usual ring so I'm assuming it's not my phone, and then I spot Tony's phone. I bring it to my ear, "Tony!"
"Wait, who is this? Is this not Steve Rogers's phone?"
"Bruce? Is that you." Nat comes into the room.
"Where's Steve? Who is this?"
"Bruce it's Charlie. Why are you calling from Tony's phone? And where have you been?"
"It's a long story. Turn on the news. Tony was in that space ship. We need you guys. All the help we can get."
"Okay....okay." Nat grabs the phone from me.
"Bruce? Bruce?" The line was cut off before she can answer. "What's going on?"
"There's a spaceship. Tony's on it. I need...we need to get Sam and Steve, and find Wanda and Vision." I'm just stunned, Nat senses it, and grabs her phone contacting the men. We've got to get the rest and get to the compound.
___________________________________________________________________
We find Vision and Wanda's location despite Vision turning his tracking off. Nat can just about find anyone and I can feel Wanda. We take our place at Waverley Station. "Guys they're close. I feel Wanda. She distressed."
"Follow my lead. We don't know who we're messing with." Steve stands in the shadows, and I see them enter. I want to rush out to Wanda and Vision. But I know I have to follow and listen to Steve.
A train whistles past behind where Wanda is crouched down with a wounded Vision. The alien senses Steve in the darkness, turning her gaze away from the couple to look past the train. She throws her spear towards Steve which he's able to catch, walking out of the shadows. He makes himself known to our alien enemy and I see Wanda and Vision look at him. She smirks. "Charlie? Is the group here?" She calls in my mind.
"We're all here, Wands. You keep Vis safe; we'll take care of them."
Sam flies in behind carrying her through a coffee shop, he circles back and launches missiles at her accomplice. Steve throws the spear towards Natasha and she slides down fighting the male alien from a lower vantage point, and she's able to stab him in the gut, before swinging around and kicking him back. The spear launches out of her hand and back towards the female alien.
She comes to attack Nat and I run to grab the male's spear blocking her attack. Steve comes behind her, kicking at her waist and launching her away. She easily recovers and begins her attack on Nat. She's taken a personal liking to Nat, since she was the one to injure the male.
I throw my spear towards Steve. "Charlie, cast your empathy. Tire her out." He calls to me. I stand there, trying to weave my brain into to hers, attempting to exhaust her. Her beady eyes turn towards me, realizing what I'm doing and she begins running towards me. I don't stop. Sam flies over to her, kicking her and launching her towards the male.
Sam draws his pistols on them. I'm still using my empathy, but now to cause her to leave. Steve reaches in one of my holsters pulling out a knife. Placing his hand to launch it towards the injured male.
"Get up!" She screeches at him.
"We don't want to kill you, but we will." Nat calls down to her.
The female aliens' eyes turn toward Nat, pure hatred seeping out of her eyes. "You'll never get the chance again." Her gaze sets on me, before smirking. She hits a button on her wrist and a beam appears, lifting the two up, before the spear is sucked out of Steve's hand. He looks at it shocked. Us other three just stare up at the ship where the aliens went to. We're in way out of our league with this.
His eyes turn towards me, "You're getting better, princess." He caresses my face with his hand and kisses me on my temple, wrapping an arm around my waist. I'm just glad the man trusts me to do my job. I look over to Wanda and Vision.
"Is he okay?" I ask while also glancing over Wanda, she's scrapped up, but fine.
"I don't know. He needs help." She holds onto Vision's head, holding him close.
"I know a place." There's not much the Wakandans can't do. My visit and constant talks with Bucky have proven that.
The other three stalk towards us. "Can you stand?" Sam asks? Urgency in his voice. We need to get out of here. All of us but Vision are fugitives. He pulls Vision's arm helping him up. He stands with a grunt. I take my place beside Steve. Nat and I sandwich him.
"Thank you, Captain." He tells Steve while looking at each of us.
Steve nods, "Let's get you on the jet." He turns grabbing my left hand and we walk to the jet. Sam continues to help Vision walk.
"Now, I thought we had a deal." Nat lectures Wanda and Vision as we take off. She stares out the back as the door is closing. Her eyes shifting around, watching our surroundings. "Stay close, check in, don't take any chances." She finally turns to look at Wanda.
Wanda is sitting close to Vision. Her hand on his thigh, while his hand rests on top of hers. Steve looks between everybody while rubbing the small of my back with his fingers. "I'm sorry." Wanda responds. "We just wanted time." "We wanted to be together." Wanda looks at me, and I know exactly what she's meaning. Her and Vision wanted a normal life together. The past two years haven't been easy on any of us.
Nat heads to the front with Sam, taking a seat. "Where to, Cap?" Sam asks from the pilot chair.
Steve pauses, and looks to me. His hand comes to my cheek. "Home." He kisses my forehead, before planting a soft kiss to my lips. "Help him rest." He gestures to Vision, and walking to the front taking his seat.
I walk over to Vision, and focus on him. I never attempted this on a machine. But immediately I know Vis is different. He has a brain. I wiggle my fingers, rest, I think. I don't want him to sleep, just feel relaxed. I feel his brain relax. His fingers begin to go limp and Wanda places her hand over his.
"Thank you." She smiles up at me, still exhausted.
"Do you want me to relax you too?" I ask.
"No, I need to be alert for him." She gently looks at him, like he hung the moon. "Do you think they could help in Wakanda."
"If they can't. I don't know who could. We first need to see what's going on." She nods her head at me. I sense Steve's growing unease and go to sit closer to him. He gives me a weak smile, before we both sit silently looking out the window. Waiting for our arrival to the compound.
__________________________________________________________________
Steve's POV:
"Still no word from Vision." I can hear Secretary Ross's voice.
"Satellites lost him somewhere over Edinburgh." Rhodey responds. He's holding down the fort in Tony's absence.
"On a stolen Quinjet with five of the world's most wanted criminals." Heat rises up my spine. I hate that we're considered criminals in the eyes of the law.
"You know they're only criminals because you've chosen to call them that, right, sir?" It's good to know that Rhodey doesn't view us that way, despite everything that happened.
"My God, Rhodes. Your talent for horseshit rivals my own."
"If it weren't for those Accords, Vision would've been right here."
I glance down at Charlie. I see her popping her fingers and neck, getting fidgety with her growing anxiety. It's been two years since we were last here. I caress her cheek, "I've got you." I whisper, I get a smile from her.
"I remember your signature on those papers, Colonel." Ross's agitation is growing the longer this conversation goes on.
"That's right. And I'm pretty sure I paid for that."
"You have second thoughts?"
"Not anymore." Rhodey is stoic and solid. He's made up his mind that the world needs us. ALL of us. He glances over to the door as we decide to walk in. Ross's gaze finds us all as well.
"Mr. Secretary." I acknowledge. Nat and Charlie are on either side of me, while Sam is still assisting Vision to walk.
Ross looks between all of us. Realizing that all of us criminals are present. "You got some nerve. I'll give you that."
Nat's sharp tongue is quick to respond, "You could use some of that right now."
Ross's tongue clicks, continuing to glance between us all. You can see the distaste for all of us written on his face. We can't be controlled. "The world's on fire. And you think all is forgiven?"
His eyes linger on Charlie a bit too long. "I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking permission." Finally, I have his focus. "Earth just lost her best defender." I grab for Charlie's hand, gently squeezing, knowing how much Tony's absence is crippling her. "So, we're here to fight." I drop her hand and step closer to Ross's hologram. "And if you wanna stand in our way...we'll fight you too." We stare at one another for a moment.
He looks back at Rhodey, "Arrest them." He growls out.
"All over it." Rhodey nods before clearing out the holograms, and glancing at us. "That's a court-martial." He pauses. "It's great to see you, Cap." He smiles walking towards me with an outstretched hand for a shake.
Everyone's demeanor changes when we realize we're all on the same team. Nat and Charlie come up to Rhodey too. Charlie engulfs him in a hug and then Nat. They're both beaming at him, despite our current situation. They feel they're one step closer to getting their family back together.
Rhodey sighs, looking between us, "Wow. You guys...really look like crap." He smirks. We have all seen better days. "Must've been a rough couple of years."
__________________________________________________________________
Charlie's POV:
Sam smiles down at him. "Yeah, well, the hotels and apartments weren't exactly five star. And Cap and Charlie are loud." I start to look back at Sam about to retort his comment but before I do, I see a shadow moving, and I see him.
"Uh, I think you look great." Nat turns to where his voice is coming from with a shocked expression. Bruce awkwardly walks in. Quickly glancing between all of us before looking only at Nat. He lets out a stiff chuckle, "Yeah, I'm back."
I can feel happiness radiate off Steve as he wraps an arm around my waist and begins making shapes on my hips. Nat is almost frozen. "Hi Bruce." She's finally able to get out with a smile. She still loves him.
He nods at her. Loss of words from the brilliant doctor. He too, still loves her. And then I remember Nat and Sam's non-committed relationship. Unlike mine and Steve's, theirs is more of convivence and not wanting to be alone. They each smile at one another, before I hear Sam whisper, "This is awkward."
"Charlie? Did we miss something?" Wanda asks.
"Um, Nat and Sam got really close the last year. Out of not wanting to be alone, and being jealous that Steve and I always had sex."
"Oh...oh! yeah, definitely awkward."
__________________________________________________________________
"So, we gotta assume they're coming back, right?" Rhodey asks. All of us currently trying to think of a game plan.
"And they can clearly find us." Wanda states the obvious.
"We need all hands-on deck. Where's Clint?" Bruce looks at me.
"After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal. It was too tough on their families. They're on house arrest."
Bruce looks at me confused, "Who's Scott?"
"Ant-Man." Steve responds.
"There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man? Okay look, Thanos has the biggest army in the universe...and he is not gonna stop until he gets...Vision's stone." Bruce's attention goes between Wanda and Vision. He has been gone so long but he sees that they're connected.
"Then we have to protect it." Nat said straightens up.
"No, we have to destroy it." Vision is leaned up against a window, looking out, and holding his injury. Wanda's eyes go wide. Steve sadly glances over to him, taking my hand in his and pulling me closer. "I've been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head. About its nature. But also, it's composition. I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source..." He makes his way closer to Wanda. Her face already has a pained expression understanding what Vision is saying, "...something very similar to its own signature, perhaps...its molecular integrity could fail."
They only look at one another. Wanda is clearly not okay with this. She's still keeping what I said to her in the back of her mind. "Yeah, and you with it. We're not having this conversation."
"Eliminating the stone is the only way." Vision whispers.
I look up to Steve, "Wakanda." He looks down at me, nodding his head and understanding what I'm insinuating.
"It's the only way to be certain that Thanos can't get it."
"That's too high a price." Tears brim Wanda's eyes as she's taking in Vision's words.
"Only you have the power to pay it." Vision places his hands on the sides of Wanda's face. Wanda walks away, wanting the conversation to end.
Steve casts his eyes to the floor. "Thanos threatens half the universe. One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him." Vision speaks to the whole room now. Urging us to convince Wanda to destroy the stone and him.
"But it should." Steve's deep voice rumbles out. "We don't trade lives, Vision."
Vision walks closer to us. "Captain, seventy years ago, you laid down your life...to save how many millions of people? Tell me, why is this any different?"
Steve's lost on how to respond. "Because you might have a choice." Bruce interrupts. He too slowly walks closer. "Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. Jarvis, Ultron, Tony, me, the stone. All of them mixed together, all of them learning from one another."
"You're saying Vision isn't just the stone?" Wanda is getting more excited but doesn't want to get her hopes up.
"I'm saying that if we take out the stone...there's still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts."
"Can we do that?" Nat asks brows furrowed. Looking at everyone and landing on me. I nod my head.
"Not me, not here." Bruce answers.
"Well, you better find someone and somewhere fast." Rhodey responds to Bruce. "Ross isn't just going to let you have your old rooms back."
Steve looks back down at me, "Shuri could do it. She's Bruce and Tony wrapped into one."
"I know somewhere." He responds, his eyes never leave mine. He knows Wakanda also means Bucky. He still has mixed feelings about me and Bucky and our continued conversations, but he also wants to see his best friend.
Wanda and Vision look toward us. "Shuri in Wakanda."
"Wheels up in fifteen." Steve responds. Everyone begins packing up to leave. We have nothing to pack. Steve looks down at me.
"Are you ready for this Captain?"
"It'll be good to see Buck. Don't tell him why we're coming. I know you'll want to let him know we are. Let T'Challa ready him. He's created a new arm for him." I knew that Shuri had wanted to create a new fully vibranium arm for Bucky, but he didn't mention anything about one being ready. He's just been content with just his right arm.
__________________________________________________________________
Charlie's POV:
We load up the Quinjet and prepare our arrival in Wakanda. I can sense Steve's nervousness. "Everything will be okay, right?" He glances over to me smiling, he sighs before nodding. I place my hand on his. "I've got you." He goes to stand and pulls at my hand, taking me to the back. We don't go behind any doors, but we're away from the crowd.
"No matter what happens, I love you, Charlie. I haven't seen Buck in two years. Spoke with him yes, mostly through you. I'm glad you two have each other, and of course I have you two."
"I know, Steve. He's been in good hands. You won't even recognize him." He leans to me and gently kisses my lips, "I love you, Captain." I pull him by his neck closer to me to deepen the kiss.
"Is this what Sam meant when he mentioned you two were too loud?" Rhodey turns looking at us with a smile.
"I had a feeling you two would end up together," Bruce smiles back at us. He remembers our first awkward encounters.
"Oh no, this is nothing. All I heard for the past two years was Captain and princess being screamed in the night. It's obnoxious." Sam laughs.
"Can we please just quit talking about mine and Steve's...life?" I groan out.
"You two are obnoxiously sweet and loud though." Wanda smiles over at us.
"Shut up. Look at the man. He's a god." I laugh at her.
__________________________________________________________________
Bucky's POV:
I'm working around my miniature farm. Excited about the message I received from Charlie. Her and Steve are coming to visit. I need to hurry and finish what I need to finish, so I have more than enough time to devote to them.
Through my working I glance up the hill and see T'Challa and Okoye advancing down, along with two members of the Kingsguard. I have hopes that they are informing me that Charlie and Steve have arrived, but with so many, I'm assuming that's not the case. I toss over a sack of feed looking at them. One of the Kingsguard places down a box, opening it, before stepping back.
I walk up to the case. It's my vibranium arm Shuri had told me they were creating. This isn't a normal visit. I guess that's why it was sudden that they were coming. I stare at the arm, realizing what is about to happen. The right people need me, and even though I'm reluctant, I know Charlie and Steve would fight for me.
"Where's the fight?" I ask, my eyes never leaving the arm.
"On its way." T'Challa responds. He's calm, emotionless. He doesn't want to ask me to do this either.
"Is this why Charlie and Steve are coming?" I ask finally meeting his eyes.
"Yes, Captain Rogers is bringing his team. Tony and Peter are aboard a space craft. We have a universal threat approaching. They need the stone in Vision. Are you prepared?"
"For them? Yes."
T'Challa leads me to Shuri's lab, where she throws me a new suit. "You need a shower. You can't see your doll looking like that. And here's a suit I designed for you. I even have some surprises for your fellow colonizer." Shuri smiles at me, I have a Kingsguard member lead me to the shower.
When I dry off and start to suit up, I smile at my suit. It's comfortable, and practical. I sit and wait for Shuri to apply my arm. "This isn't exactly how I thought we would see Charlie again." She says trying not to meet my eyes. "How are you feeling?"
"I want to protect her, protect Steve, too. I feel it's my duty." I grimace watching her fingers snap the vibranium to my body. I stand moving it around. It feels good.
"I would say you're prepared, White Wolf. You're no longer broken."
__________________________________________________________________
Charlie's POV:
I can see Wakanda in the distance. Steve and I both walk towards the front to Sam. I can't help but release a smile, thinking about my time spent here.
"Drop to 2600, heading 0-3-0." Steve tells Sam, gaze looking at what appears to be undeveloped country. We both know the secrets Wakanda has kept from the world.
"I hope you're right about this. Or we're gonna land a lot faster than you want to." He responds, before lowering the jet.
"Trust us Sam." I whisper in his mind. He lets out a smirk. I glance back at Vision and Wanda; worry is set all over a face. "This has to work." She tells me.
We fly through the barrier keeping Wakanda safe and hiding its secrets. Sam glances around at the hidden cities behind the barrier. "Wow." He whispers. Steve wraps his arm around my waist, kissing my temple.
I look down and see T'Challa, Okoye, other members of the Dora Milaje, and even members of the Kingsguard approaching as Sam lowers the jet for landing. We make our way to the back, ready to exit. Again, Nat and I Sandwich Steve as we walk down the ramp to the Wakandans. I smile at T'Challa and Okoye.
"Should we bow?" Bruce whispers to Rhodey. I could be nice and answer through his mind, but we need some fun, so I allow Rhodey to play this the way he sees fit.
"Yeah, he's a king." He tells him.
We walk right up to T'Challa. "Seems like I'm always thanking you for something." Steve says approaching him, he extends his hand that T'Challa takes and gives him a strong shake, before turning towards me smiling and bowing his head.
I hear Bruce clear his throat and bowing. Oh no. "What are you doing?" Rhodey says dramatically.
T'Challa is clearly uncomfortable as he puts up his hands looking at Bruce, "Uh, we don't do that here."
"So how big of an assault should we expect?" T'Challa asks, he turns to walk, we all follow. Steve gently takes my hand in his rubbing his thumb on it.
"Uh, Sir, I think you should expect quite a big assault." Bruce pushes through us to get to T'Challa. He's the only one with first-hand experience with Thanos.
"How are we looking?" Nat asks, already strategizing.
"You will have my Kingsguard, the Border Tribe, the Dora Milaje, and..." he points in the distance.
A big smile crosses my face as I see him. He walks closer, first looking at Steve and then only me. Smiling, crinkles form at the corners of his eyes. He looks amazing. Clean new suit and a new arm. "And a semi-stable 100-year-old man." Steve smiles at Bucky before wrapping his arms around him.
When he releases his grasp, he continues to pat his arm. I can't take my eyes off of him. I would consider Bucky my best friend, and he's beautiful. "How you been, Buck?"
"Uh, not bad, for the end of the world." He's acting strong for Steve. His eyes finally find mine again, and still I haven't quit smiling. He walks over to me, caresses my cheek before picking me up in a hug, "Doll. I've missed you. You look sexy as hell."
"James, you apparently haven't looked in the mirror." He kisses my neck before placing me back on the ground. Steve grabs my hand and Bucky stands on the other side of me as we follow T'Challa.
"So, Charlie, two super soldiers huh? I think you're more protected than the King. Bucky seems so gentle with you."
"Oh hush, Wands. Nothing with me ever makes sense, does it?"
Bucky and Sam begin to walk away from us. I look towards Bucky confused. I just got him back, I can't have him leaving. "We're just going to scout on the roof, doll."
"Steve, can you give me a minute. I just need a moment with Bucky." He nods his head.
As if T'Challa understands. "We'll be in Shuri's lab."
Sam walks ahead to the roof, knowing Bucky and I need time alone. "I wish I wasn't seeing you again under these circumstances, James." I bring my fingers to his hairline, jaw, and neck; memorizing his face. He gives me a little chuckle.
"I know. But any moment with you is worth it." He places his hand around my neck bringing me closer before planting a sweet kiss on my lips. He begins to pull away until I pull him closer to me, returning my lips to his. My tongue traces his lips and he opens his mouth to allow me entrance. I've missed his touch. He finally pulls away before placing his lips on my forehead and extending its stay there. "There's not time for this. Stay safe. I'm going up top to scout with Sam. You should join Steve in the lab. Shuri is awaiting your arrival. I've heard she has a surprise for you."
I stand on my tiptoes placing another fleeting kiss to his lips, "I love you, James."
"Love you too, doll." As I turn to walk away, he slaps my ass a bit. I turn back to him smiling. "You better watch yourself, Buck."
"I couldn't help myself."
I finally leave him, making my way to the lab. I see Shuri speaking to everyone in the room. She has faith she can remove the stone. I walk over to stand beside Steve. He wraps an arm around my waist. "There are more than two trillion neurons here. One misalignment could cause a cascade of circuit failures. It will take time, brother."
"How long?" Steve asks.
"As long as you can give me." She catches my eye, nodding her head.
Okoye's Kimoyo Beads beeps. She pulls up a hologram from a bead. "Something's entered the atmosphere." Steve squeezes my hip.
"Hey Cap we got a situation here." We hear Sam's voice coming in through coms. Everyone glances at the window to see an explosion on the barrier.
"God, I love this place." I hear Bucky speaking to Sam.
"Yeah, don't start celebrating yet, guys. We got more incoming outside the dome." Rhodey's voice is already laced with agitation. Sure, enough more explosions blow up around the barrier, they're ships that land in the water. Surely this is Thanos's Black Order army.
We feel the vibrations emitting from the landing of the ships. Steve looks down at me before looking at T'Challa. So, the war begins. The room looks out past the barrier. I hear Vision start to get off the table, "It's too late. We need to destroy the stone now."
I look back at him, "Vision, get your ass back on the table."
"We will hold them off." T'Challa answers.
"Wanda, as soon as that stone's out of his head...you blow it to hell." Steve looks at Wanda. She's fearful of the outcome. Worried there's not enough time.
"I will." Her voice has more confidence than her eyes are showing.
"Evacuate the city. Engage all defenses. And get this man a shield." T'Challa points at Steve. "Shuri is busy, so looks like I will be showing you, her surprise." He speaks in my mind. Steve turns to look at T'Challa nodding. We follow him out of the room.