Work Text:
That's the picture that started it all ...
A Night to Remember
Washington D.C., 2029
“Alexei!!!”
“Almost done!”
Yelena rolled her eyes and slammed the edge of her hand against the bathroom door of the 5-star hotel in Washington. "You already said that 15 minutes ago!" she replied, annoyed, looking over her shoulder.
Standing in the hallway, John raised his hands with a decidedly calm air. "I can kick the door in," he said unfazed, stroking his uniform once more. "Piece of cake."
Yelena knew the elite soldier's relaxed demeanor was only an illusion. Ever since the team had learned of the exclusive invitations from the White House with the appointment, a strangely electric atmosphere had prevailed in the Watchtower. It wasn't their first time meeting the President, but tonight was a gala event, which meant that several select members of Congress and other high-ranking politicians would also be in attendance. That, in turn, meant all eyes in the world would be on the New Avengers. Sighing, she leaned her forehead against the wood-paneled door and closed her eyes briefly. "Dad... not even Ava took this long."
“What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?” Ava immediately asked, coming over from the adjoining room.
“Exactly what I said,” Yelena countered, frowning.
The two women looked at each other appraisingly.
And then they burst out giggling.
“Should I go and see what he’s up to?” Ava suggested, ready to walk through the wall.
“If you don’t come out in the next two minutes, we’ll leave without you!” Yelena warned her father through the closed door.
“You would not do that!” Alexei’s voice came muffled out.
Was it just Yelena's imagination, or was there actually a hint of uncertainty in Alexei's voice? "Of course we will!" She turned to the others. "It's no use. Let's get going." With a little more emphasis and a raised voice, she added, "At least we will arrive at the President's office on time."
It took less than five seconds before the bathroom door burst open. Alexei stepped out of the room and placed his hands on his hips. His chest puffed out, he raised his chin slightly. "So? How do I look?" Since the initial announcement that the team would henceforth be known as the "New Avengers," he had swapped his shaggy beard for an impressive mustache and no longer wore his hair so close-cropped.
Both John and Ava blinked in surprise, while Yelena felt like sinking into the ground in shame. "B-but... why...?" she sighed at the sight that greeted her.
"Why not?" Alexei countered, letting his gaze slide down. "It's brand new!" He stroked the brightly colored jumpsuit to confirm. "Soft as bottom of baby seal!"
Ava held her forehead. "Now he's starting that again."
"I can tell you why not. Because we explicitly said we wouldn't wear those suits!" Yelena whispered to him. "And unlike you, the others stuck to their agreement."
"Pah!" Alexei simply said. "Always this American uniformity. We need to make statement! We need good press."
John shook his head. "With that parrot outfit, you're guaranteed to make it into the press. But I doubt the press will be good." He thought for a moment. "Although, come to think of it, it would at least distract from the internet memes."
"Ah, they're not so bad anymore," said Ava. "Did you see this from last week?"
Bob, who had stayed in the background until now, looked up briefly from his book and laughed amusedly. "That 'I do what he does - only better' thing? That was good!"
Yelena's phone alerted her to a message. She quickly pulled it out and scanned the text. "Bucky's assistant is asking where we are. She's on her way. We have to go!"
Alexei sucked in a noisy breath. "'Bucky's assistant'... now he doesn't even ask about us personally."
"Politicians have assistants. And—surprise—he's already at the Gala," Ava replied, looking at the blonde woman. "What do we do with him now?"
"It would be bad if he were late," John laughed. "It doesn't really look good in the political world to miss such an important appointment."
With her index finger extended, Yelena pointed toward the bathroom while glaring sternly at her father. "You go change now!"
"But what else do I wear? I don't have Red Guardian uniform with me because it broke last time and I don't have replacement!" Alexei protested.
“Didn’t you pack any other things?” Yelena wanted to know.
With his shoulders hunched and his arms raised, he said, “No, why bother?”
The blonde shook her head. "Alexei! You can't face the President of the United States with that..." she waved her hand in the air, "...thing! You have absolutely no taste!"
“He knows us!”
"Yes, but this isn't a chat between old friends. This is an official event. What if we—"
"Guys!" John intervened. "Why don't we just leave him here with Bob?"
“Absolutely not!” Alexei protested emphatically.
John rubbed his forehead thoughtfully, searching for a solution. Then, somewhat more seriously, he said, "Write Buck a message. He has connections here in Washington and can handle this."
"I guess we have no choice," Yelena admitted defeat and typed a message to her teammate. "I can't believe it," she muttered. "You're so embarrassing, Dad." She was about to put the phone away when a reply popped up. "Oh!"
Walker asked, "What? Did Buck uninvite us?"
“Our problem will probably be solved soon,” she looked at the hotel room door, where there was a knock just moments later.
John cast a critical glance through the peephole and recognized Bucky's assistant. "That's Gloria. She's about to give us hell. If we linger any longer, we'll definitely be late." Without further ado, he opened the door and stepped aside. He was surprised when Gloria offered him a bag of clothes.
The petite lady handed John the bag. "Mr Barnes sends his regards."
Yelena read the next message that had just arrived. "Bucky says he took precautions because he expected something like this to happen. And now we're supposed to—I quote—just fucking stick to his plan, get in the limo, and drive to the White House."
Ava shooed everyone toward the door with appropriate hand gestures. "What are we waiting for?"
"Once you arrive at the White House, you'll have access to a changing room, Mr. Shostakov. And for you, Mr. Reynolds, there's a separate room where you can retreat with a selection of books and active noise-canceling headphones," Gloria explained with an unreadable expression.
It wasn't the first time Bucky had shown such care, but Yelena was still impressed by the way he cared about the well-being of others.
"You have to give Bucky credit for one thing—he can make plans," John nodded approvingly, echoing what the others were thinking. "The old man's got it."
“Don’t call him old,” Ava interjected.
“He’s 112!” John pointed out.
"Those are just numbers. He doesn't look a day older than..." she grimaced as she searched for a suitable answer, "...46? Anyway, you're just jealous."
"Even at... 46..." Walker countered, grinning, "Barnes is older than us. Except for Shostakov, perhaps. But if you equate his behavior with childhood, then the Sarge is indeed the oldest of us."
"Um," Gloria cleared her throat. "We have to go. You can't keep the president waiting." Despite her professionalism, you could see that she was clearly not amused by the whole thing. Herding a bag of fleas was probably a lot easier than getting this group to a specific place at a specific time.
With a threatening gesture, Yelena sized up her father: "I'm warning you, Dad. If you embarrass us..."
“Moye solnyshko,” Alexei replied with a broad grin and his arms outstretched to the side, “...when have I ever embarrassed you?!”
As she walked out, Yelena said, “Do you really want an answer to that?”
"Just in time," John breathed a sigh of relief as he entered the ballroom. With almost military precision, they had been greeted by an entourage and led to a suite so that Bob and Alexei could be taken care of. Now he looked around the large ballroom, which was filled with countless people of all stripes. The mood was good, but the conversation was subdued given where they were and who they were about to meet.
“At the last meeting I attended with the President, someone wanted to kill him.” Sam Wilson stepped to John’s side and greeted him with a handshake.
John returned the gesture. "Then let's hope for the best, that that won't be the case this time. Good to see you, Cap."
"Likewise." Sam looked around. "Where are the others?"
"Alexei is changing, Bob is... in the safe room, and the girls rushed to the champagne bar."
"Shostakov's changing?" Sam asked. "Is he wearing that ridiculous The New Avengerz jumpsuit again? Thought this was settled once and for all?"
Wordlessly, Walker shrugged. The two looked at each other, grinning. They'd had their differences in the past, but thanks to Bucky's intervention, a long-overdue discussion had taken place, and now everyone was on the same page. Sam as the leader of the Avengers, and, depending on the situation, John, Yelena, or Bucky as the team leader of the New Avengers, although Bucky, as the "senior" one, would always be their unofficial decision-maker.
"Luckily, Bucky worked out a plan in advance," John replied, indicating with his hand that Sam should follow him to the table reserved for them.
"That plan sounds like him. I expected nothing less," Sam's words were sincere.
Arriving at the table, they sat down. Walker gazed in awe at the decor and the fine crockery and cutlery. His gaze fell on the stylishly designed menu, which featured the evening's program, and studied it briefly. It wasn't long before a waiter approached them and asked what they wanted to drink. After they had both placed their orders, John leaned back slightly in his chair.
Sam picked up the conversation again. "Buck has always been a leader, even if he didn't want to admit it for a long time." In the corner of his eye, he spotted Alexei making his way to their table, naturally not missing an opportunity to remind everyone he met along his way who they were dealing with. "You can feel sorry for him. Alexei is a force to be reckoned with, and I'm always amazed at how well Bucky deals with him," Sam sighed theatrically as he watched the Russian—now wearing an original team uniform.
Walker followed his gaze. "Yeah, it‘s ... always kind of a challenge to keep the big guy at bay. Kudos to the Sarge," he agreed with the captain.
"Speaking of which—have you seen him yet? He's been keeping a low profile today."
"Hmm. He's got a lot on his plate."
"Ah, the life of a politician ... always so demanding. Uncounted gala dinners. Getting from one meeting to the next. Giving speeches. Shaking hands. Who would have thought, huh? That Buck would take this path..."
"I think his decision was really brave back then," Walker nodded. "But he's doing a pretty good job. He's one of the most popular politicians of all time." He raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Not that I know his poll numbers, I've only heard about them in passing."
“Yeah, sure,” Sam grinned.
It wasn't long before Ava and Yelena joined them.
“Have you seen Bucky?” asked Walker.
"Unfortunately not," Yelena shook her head. "We wanted to see him briefly, but he had some kind of negogiations to do behind the scenes by interpreting on the phone because of some diplomatic incident. He didn't have time to talk to us."
“You know what I’m wondering?”
Ava shook her head, denying the possibility. "But you'll probably tell us right away."
Walker held up the card. "Why are we here, anyway? I mean, there's nothing here that even remotely suggests what we've been invited to? And why we were asked in the invitation to wear uniforms?"
Yelena frowned. "Maybe Bucky just wanted to do something nice for us?"
Alexei stroked his mustache. "See and be seen, Walker. That's what it's all about."
The hall lights were dimmed slightly, and the spotlights were directed onto the stage, signaling to those present that the gala was about to begin. A staff member stepped up to the lectern, the soft background music was stopped, and silence immediately spread throughout the hall. All eyes were fixed on the stands.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming," the man greeted the guests. "We are all here for one reason only, and so I don't want to strain your patience too long. Please join me in welcoming the President of the United States of America..." He turned to the side and gestured toward the curtain. "Mr. James Buchanan Barnes." Television cameras whirred, photographers' flashbulbs illuminated the room.
Applause erupted as Bucky strode confidently toward the podium, waving in a sleek black tuxedo, a crisp white shirt and a black bow tie. He straightened slightly and ran a hand through his dark, slicked-back hair. Similar to Ross's mustache, his campaign managers had encouraged him to change his appearance. His hair was now several centimeters shorter, but still longer than when he fought with Sam against the Flag Smashers. However, he hadn't shown any willingness to compromise on shaving, and so he always wore a three-day beard.
With a gesture, he indicated the applause to end. "Thank you," he said sincerely, though all this attention still made him uncomfortable, even after almost a year as president. For him, it was a necessary evil, because he knew these appearances were important and that he had to show his face in public. "Good evening," he welcomed his guests. Meanwhile, his gaze wandered around the room and settled on the table slightly to the side in front of him, where his friends and family were sitting, and the sight of them made his heart race.
He gave them a quick smile before collecting himself. "I think it's no secret anymore that I'm not a fan of long, rambling speeches. So I'll keep it as brief as possible. I thank everyone who accepted my invitation. Tonight is dedicated to civil courage. A rather cumbersome word, I find. According to Google, it describes the courageous stand-up for the weaker or minorities, especially intervening against violence or injustice, regardless of personal consequences. It's about not looking away when someone needs help or is being wronged, but taking action and helping as much as possible without putting oneself in danger." There was a short pause to let the words sink in.
On the teleprompter in front of him, the cursor blinked at the beginning of the new line, which he briefly scanned and then paused. "I, um," he cleared his throat and stroked the dark stubble on his chin. What he was about to do had been planned long in advance, but its outcome was still uncertain. "I... apologize for briefly deviating from the planned program next."
These words made everyone on the team sit up. Sam gave the others a questioning look. "What's going on?" he whispered in alarm. "Did anyone see if he used a cell phone? If this turns into another mess like Ross thing...!" But his train of thought was interrupted by Bucky's voice.
"Yelena, Ava, John, Alexei. Will you please join me on stage? And you too, Sam."
Completely taken aback, the individual team members looked at each other, but no one made any attempt to get up.
"Guys, do I really have to come downstairs now?" Bucky joked, earning the audience's laughs. Then he turned to the other guests. "Maybe some applause will help?"
Walker looked around briefly and then shrugged. As a soldier, he obeyed the commander-in-chief's orders and stood up, beckoning the others to do the same. "You heard President Barnes."
Still perplexed, the team made their way to the stage, while the guests cheered them on with applause. Arriving at the stairs leading up to the stage, Gloria instructed them. "Please line up. This way."
“Is he going to expose us like Val did back then?” John asked uncertainly, looking at Ava.
"Why are you asking me?" she shrugged. "I'm just as ignorant as you are. But if he goes with something like that, I’m kicking his ass."
The irritation was written all over everyone’s faces.
With a serious expression and a husky voice, Bucky declared, "I would like to take this opportunity to recognize your service to society. For making a significant contribution to the security or national interest of the United States, world peace, and cultural or other significant public causes. That is, in fact, the definition of the award I now wish to bestow." He turned and pointed to the wall opposite him. "That goes for you too, Bob! I hope you enjoy the show in your very own VIP lounge. I'll see you later." His finger moved upward toward the ceiling. "And Steve... wherever you are right now... thank you!"
With Gloria at his side, holding five boxes, he continued speaking into the microphone. "It took some time, but now it's official, and I'm very pleased that, as President, I may award you the Presidential Medal of Freedom."
Afterwards, Bucky walked past each team member, placed the medal around their necks from behind, and shook their hands.
Walker was astonished by the turn of events. This medal was the highest civilian award one could receive in the United States, and the recognition it carried was correspondingly great. A quick glance at the faces of his comrades told him they seemed just as taken aback, but he remained professional nonetheless. "Thank you, sir," he said, moved, and saluted as Bucky stepped in front of him again. "It's an honor."
With the words “The honor is all mine,” he returned the soldier’s salute. „Thank you for your service.“
"Award!" Alexei slid closer to his daughter to whisper in her ear, "I love this guy!" When it was his turn, he sucked in his stomach and puffed out his broad chest. "So much better than Wheaties box. Except for little kiddie toy!"
“Well, I hope so,” Bucky nodded and held out his hand.
When it was Yelena's turn, her eyes filled with tears. "I wish Natasha were here," she murmured.
"She is," he replied with a sad smile, gently touching her cheek. "She lives in you. In your memories. She's always with you."
Sam insisted on giving his good friend a big hug, presidential title or not. "Buck, you're an idiot," he teased, laughing and patting him on the back.
"I know," he said with a wink, returning the gesture. "But I also know that you've all been denied recognition for far too long. And hey, I'm president now, so I'm going to see this through."
Ava was last in line and looked at Bucky, shaking her head. "For a moment, I thought you were making fun of us."
"I would never do that," he assured her, and their eyes met. For that brief moment, the world seemed to stand still. Clearing his throat, he shook himself and, blinking, stepped aside to allow the press to have their fair share.
Afterwards, the team posed for the photographers and the flashbulbs went crazy while the team was rewarded with standing ovations.
In the meantime, Bucky had taken his place at the lectern again and addressed the audience: "In times like these, with all the problems and injustices, the wars and violence, it is difficult to remain positive. There are days when the world around us seems to be in pieces and you feel helpless in the face of everything. I know it is difficult, but that is precisely when you have to stand up and face the challenges, sometimes even the past itself. And that is so damn difficult. Believe me, I have been through it all. That is why I think it is all the more important to set signs of solidarity, togetherness and compassion with awards like this. To put it in the words of the great American poets Albert Hammond and Diane Warren," he paused briefly and looked at the expectant faces at the tables. "Let them say we're crazy, I don't care about that. Put your hand in my hand. Don’t ever look back. Let the world around us just fall apart. We can make it if we’re heart to heart. And we can build this dream together. Standing strong forever. Nothing’s gonna stop us now."
With a mischievous smile on his lips, he winked at his family, nodded in conclusion, and watched as the team left the stage to thunderous applause.
The lights came back on, and gradually a murmur began at the tables as the guests began to chat quietly among themselves. Meanwhile, the program continued. Other guest speakers followed, and Bucky, in his role as president, honored various institutions and associations, officials, and military personnel. He shook hands and went from table to table, briefly chatting with those present. After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached his friends and, exhaling loudly, sank into his chair, loosened his bow tie slightly, and leaned back. "I need a beer."
Without further ado, Sam pushed a glass towards him that he had wisely ordered a short time before.
“You know me too well.” With large gulps, he drank almost the entire glass and placed it in front of him.
"Wow, that was a great job," said Sam, stroking his freshly awarded medal with his fingers. "I didn't see that coming. None of us did."
"Plan executed successfully," Bucky grinned. Then he became more serious. "I don't think you would have come if I had told you about it."
"Not really," Sam admitted. "Except for Alexei, I guess."
"You're probably right. Russians love being awarded and the publicty that comes with it."
With an awed expression, Sam thanked him again. "That was truly a noble gesture, Buck."
"You're welcome." He smiled at him. "Previous presidents had other things in mind. The award was long overdue."
The captain leaned over to his friend and whispered, "You didn't really quote 'Nothing's gonna stop us now' from Starship earlier?"
Bucky nodded to a high-ranking politician at the other table, held up his beer glass to toast him, and smiled charmingly as he quietly said, "Maybe?"
"You're so..." Sam was lost for words as he nudged Bucky in the side with a smile.
"What?" Bucky looked straight at him, his expression straight. Seeing Sam's shocked expression, he grinned as well. "It worked, didn't it?" Then he looked around. "I don't know how you feel about this, but I need to get rid of this costume. Let's get out of here."
"Just like that?" Raising his eyebrows, John expressed his concerns. "Shouldn't you stay until the end?"
"Nah," Bucky waved calmly. "At galas like this, I'm just a decorative accessory. They don't even notice I'm gone. And even if they did," he laughed. "I don't care." He stood up, but then found himself confronted by Gloria and stopped in mid-movement.
She looked at him sharply. Although she was a good head shorter than Bucky, her authority was unquestionable.
Sighing, he slumped his shoulders. "Does that mean I have to stay?" he asked.
“Of course, Mr. President.”
Four hours later, the room had finally emptied, and Bucky could finally bid farewell to the last guests. Sighing contentedly, he looked around. Of course, there were still plenty of staff present; after all, the President wasn't going to be left standing there like that. "Thank you for this lovely evening," he said to the staff, removing the goddamn bow tie and then unbuttoning his shirt a little. "I think we can all call it a day now. Get home safely, everyone."
Since the situation was now manageable, Bob had joined them and waved off Bucky as he stepped across to hand over the medal. "Th-that's not necessary..." he mumbled, embarrassed.
"Of course it is!" Bucky insisted. "Didn't you listen earlier? You more than deserve it." As he had done with the others, he placed the medal around Bob's neck.
“But I’m none of the things you listed.”
Bucky looked intently at the insecure young man. "Bob... you're everything I've listed. And so much more. I don't know a braver person than you." Satisfied, he patted him on the shoulder. "I hope you'll forgive me if I don't shake your hand. You know, bad flashbacks and all that."
Bob nodded, his face showing various emotions, and looked at the medal in awe.
The team clapped in appreciation. They then proceeded to pop the champagne corks to celebrate. Yelena and Ava briefly sat next to Bob to offer him emotional support. After everything he had been through at the hands of his abusive father, he still struggled to accept praise and recognition.
Gloria took on the task of taking a few pictures and then returned the phone to her boss.
Bucky took it and then said, "One more request: I would like to have a few minutes of privacy."
"Yes, sir." The assistant nodded knowingly and radioed back the security team, who were constantly near Bucky. "I'll wait outside," she confirmed, and then left as well.
Ava herself was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn't even notice someone approaching her from behind.
“May I?”
For a moment of shock, she just sat there frozen, feeling a touch on her shoulder. She turned her head up and saw Bucky gallantly offering her his hand to lead her to the dance floor. "But there’s no—" she interjected, because the soundstage had already been turned off.
Smiling gently, Bucky picked up his phone, played "You're Still the One" by Shania Twain, put it on speaker, and then put it in his shirt pocket. He offered his arm again. "May I have this dance?"
As she looked into his beautiful blue eyes, her heart skipped a beat. "I'd love to."
Together they walked to the empty dance floor. "I've been wanting to do this all evening," he whispered to her, taking her lovingly in his arms.
Ava inhaled his aroma with her eyes closed and laid the side of her head against his cheek. It was their first dance in a long time, and she enjoyed his closeness. With her right hand, she ran it over his chest, feeling the ever-present dog tags and the wedding ring that also hung on the chain. "I'm not dressed appropriately at all," she whispered back as they moved elegantly to the beat of the music, tightly embraced. The song they had also danced to at their wedding brought back beautiful memories of the celebration, and for a moment she lost herself in the images that appeared before her mind's eye.
“We can take our clothes off too,” Bucky whispered, gently kissing her behind the ear.
"James!" she exclaimed, giggling. Such public displays of affection were taboo, even though they had been a couple for many years. But now, with only their friends around, they could stop playing hide-and-seek. They had never made their relationship public, simply to avoid any potential attack and to be able to live their lives as carefree as possible. As best as they could when one partner was part of the New Avengers and the other was President of the United States, that is.
Seen in this light, it was an impossibility. But somehow they had managed to never attract the attention of the press. Thanks in part to their friends, who studiously refused to comment to journalists whenever the topic resurfaced.
The song had long since ended, but they were still moving around the room to the imaginary music.
Walker's voice echoed through the empty hall. "How long is this going to go on?"
Groaning, Bucky looked up at the ceiling and rollung his eyes. "That guy has no decency."
Ava giggled. "Me neither." Without warning, she took his face in both hands and gave her husband a passionate kiss.
John immediately commented: “Get a room!”
“That’s not a bad suggestion,” Bucky thought aloud.
“Thank you for this lovely evening,” she breathed.
A satisfied smile spread across his face as he gave her another kiss. "I'll do anything for my First Lady."
“We’d better go, or Walker will start a rebellion.”
“Mhm.” Hand in hand they walked back to the table.
Ava's gaze fell on the blue boxes containing the medals. A mixed feeling overcame her and she turned to her partner. "It's not fair that you didn't receive an award tonight."
"I can hardly award myself a medal. And besides," he winked at her with a mischievous grin, "I already received the most beautiful award there is years ago: You."
With moist eyes, Ava threw her arms around his neck at this declaration of love.
"Ahh... look at them, two lovebirds," Alexei enthused. "In love as first day they met."
Yelena sighed, moved. "How romantic. You see, Walker? That's how it's done. Now let's go. Those two can't stay away from each other."
“Like Melina and I. Have I told you once how we spent a night together and rehearsed Kama Sutra—"
"No, no, no! I don't want to hear that, Dad!" Yelena covered her father's mouth and shooed the others out of the hall. "Now, everyone, get out!"
Given his size and the fact that she was only half-heartedly working on it, Alexei had no trouble freeing himself from Yelena's hand. "Speaking of ... have you seen that book anywhere? I thought I—"
“I’m warning you, Alexei…” she whispered to him, narrowing her eyes and raising her index finger.
"What? It's... very... um... inspiring?"
"Get out now! And not another word!"
Bucky and Ava followed the others, keeping a little distance. He had his arm around her shoulders. "Kids," he shook his head amusedly. "What did we ever do wrong with them?"
"I don't know," Ava replied, just as amused. "But at least we tried." She stood with him in the driveway and watched as the group climbed into the waiting limousine. She breathed a sigh of relief as the vehicle began to move and then disappeared from sight. "Phew," she sighed heavenward, "mission accomplished."
Bucky turned to leave, but she stopped him. He turned questioningly to Ava, frowning.
“Can we stroll through the park for a bit?” The evening had been long, and after all the hustle and bustle, it felt good to stretch the legs and breathe in the cool, fresh air.
“As you wish.” He gallantly held out his arm for her to take.
They walked slowly and silently through the vast compound, enclosed by high metal fences. Moments like this were rare, so she enjoyed the time they could spend together all the more. As they passed a park bench, she sat down.
Bucky followed suit and put his arm around her shoulders. They still hadn't spoken a word, but it was a comfortable silence in which they appreciated each other's mere presence.
Ahead of them stretched the maze of streets of Washington, with countless car headlights lighting up in the distance. Every now and then, they could hear the honking of drivers' horns or the sirens of law enforcement vehicles. Despite her uniform, Ava began to shiver and shrugged slightly.
Bucky, of course, hadn't missed this, and so without hesitation he slipped out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, only to then move even closer to her while he wrapped his arms around her.
Ava took this gesture as an opportunity to pull his jacket tightly around her and snuggle close to his side. Breathing deeply, she laid her head against his neck. She felt him rest his cheek on the top of her head and sensed his heartbeat and the warmth emanating from him.
His deep voice broke their mutual silence. "God, how I've missed this."
“Freeze your ass off?” joked Ava.
"If anyone here is freezing their—mind you—beautiful ass off, it's you. And no, that's not what I meant. I've missed this. Us."
She loved this mutual, loving banter immensely. They had been through so much together over the past few years, and even though it had been very difficult at times, their unwavering love for each other had always kept them going. A shudder ran through her as she thought back to her time in Wakanda, to the agonizing procedures she had endured in the hope of finding a cure.
"We really should go back. Otherwise, something else beautiful about you might freeze off."
"No," she shook her head. "It's not because of the cold. I just..." she paused.
"What is it?"
“Wakanda came to mind, no idea why.”
"Oh." She didn't need any more explanation, because Bucky knew exactly what she was talking about. He still remembered the events there vividly, and the many lows followed by only a few highs. But as challenging as the hardships had been—the many sleepless nights, the countless failures, the almost unbearable pain Ava had to endure—they had definitely been worth it. The scientists and doctors in Wakanda, under the leadership of Princess Shuri and with the help of Bill Foster, had accomplished the impossible and largely healed Ava. If she took good care of herself, she could now live pain-free and even control the phasing.
“Maybe because you always held me in your arms there when I was feeling so bad.”
He studied her features uncertainly. "Are you not feeling well?" He usually recognized the signs she gave off when she was having physical problems. Over the years, he'd become good at looking for such clues. Had he missed something today?
"Don't worry, I'm fine. Very fine, in fact." She quickly dispelled the insecurity that was clearly visible in his face. She stretched slightly so she could get a better look at him and heard him breathe a sigh of relief.
“We should get out of here.”
“Yes, it’s starting to get really cold.”
"No, that's not what I meant. We should go away for a few days. Just the two of us. Anywhere. Just away from here." He gently stroked her upper arm with his fingertips.
The idea sounded tempting. "That sounds good."
“Do I hear a ‘but’?”
“But... can we just leave the others alone?”
“Don’t worry, Yelena does an excellent job at keeping the guys under control.”
The longer she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. "Still, it's not that simple. You're the president." And as such, you couldn't just pack your bags and hop on the next plane. The planning behind the scenes was enormous; after all, Bucky and her safety were also at stake. Which meant that security personnel were constantly present around them—as they were right now, albeit at a considerable distance from them.
"So what?" he shrugged. "Even the president needs a break sometimes. And after all, there's a vice president who covers for his vacation."
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
"Absolutely. As much as I enjoy the job, you will always have priority."
“Have I told you today that I love you?”
"Right now," he smiled, leaning down to kiss the tip of her nose. "I love you too, moya khrabraya devochka."
The End ... (for now?)
Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come, my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together, still going strong