Chapter Text
There were a few things Steve was grateful for. T'challa's hospitality, rescuing everyone without causing much damage, and the fact that Bucky was safe and somewhere Steve knew of. He didn't have to spend anymore time worrying about where his best friend was. Being in Wakanda was like being on vacation, without responsibilities, mostly because it'd been made clear that he'd just get in the way. T'challa had told him that his duty as long as he stayed was to keep his head down and out of trouble. Which meant not leaving or really being aware of current events. It was worrying and freeing. So instead he spent his days talking to Bucky, even though Bucky wasn't able to talk back. At least once a day Steve would sit on the bench in front of the tube that held Bucky and talk about everything from the weather to reminiscing on the old times to strange things about modern days. Some times that turned into rants and he'd only realize after much to his embarrassment that he'd gotten loud and angry when his voice reverberated off the walls in an eerie and lonely echo.
The rest of his time was spent trying to coax Wanda out of her shell. As soon as they'd gotten her out, she just curled in on herself and it weighed heavily on Steve's heart. He moved quietly and around her, warily, like everyone else did. Mostly because she was twitchy and any loud sound sent her into a quiet panic where her nails would dig into her skin and her eyes would go wide. It was like watching someone scream without making a sound and it haunted Steve. Sam said they just needed to give her time. Something they had plenty of. He had managed to coax her out of her room, out of her bed and to sit in the quiet library in nice stuffed chairs by the window with him, her cup of coffee cooling between them as she held her knees to her chest and looked out the window, large fluffy blanket wrapped around her. Steve took a sip from his own cup looking out the window trying to not smother her in his worry, knowing it wouldn't help. She'd talk when she wanted to, if she wanted to, and all he could do was just be there for her.
The doors opened and the sound of polished shoes echoed through the library.
"Ah, there you are. You have a guest," T'challa said. "Please keep track of this one as well, I'd rather not have to subdue him."
Steve looked up and saw Bruce looking rather disheveled and working rather intensely at cleaning his glasses.
"Thank you your highness," Steve said standing hurriedly with a bow.
"Wanda, it's Dr. Banner." Steve said softly to Wanda as T'challa turned, heading back to work.
Bruce settled in quietly at another chair near Wanda. "Hi," he said quietly as Steve went to get him a cup of tea from the small kitchenette.
"How are you Bruce?" Steve asked.
Bruce made a sound rather than answering that seemed to convey not great but to not question it. "I'm sorry for just dropping in but the governments decided to try and smoke me out and it wasn't a good situation. I didn't really want to cause anymore damage. It just wasn't safe anymore and when I found the accords, well I don't like being on a wanted list," Banner said "So I looked for you and, I'm sorry if I'm causing you or the people of Wakanda any more problems."
"I can't speak for the people of Wakanda but you are more than welcome. We've got a lot to talk about." Steve said handing him the cup of chamomile tea and sitting back down.
"Thanks," Bruce said. with a soft smile.
Wanda reached to the table and gingerly picked up her coffee. Steve filled in Bruce on everything he missed and the doctor listened quietly, sipping at his tea until it was done then just nodding. Wanda finished her coffee and shifted to pulling the blanket tighter around her and with her head in her hand watched the sun set.
"So Bucky is here and you didn't tell Tony or anyone that he killed Tony's parents?" Bruce asked when Steve's story had ended.
"Tony has a right to be pissed."
"I know. I shouldn't have kept it from him. I thought I was protecting him and to have him come to our aid only to watch what happened to his parents- I'm sure it caused something to snap in him. I reached out, I gave him an opening but really there's somethings I don't regret. I don't regret saving Bucky. I don't regret protecting him and refusing to sign the accords. But I do regret not talking to Tony. I think, maybe if we'd talked both clear headed and without the stubbornness we could have avoided everything. And Rhodey would be okay, no one would have been hurt or worse. I'm sorry Bruce, I've talked your ear off. I'm sure you're exhausted and would have rather gone to your room and taken a shower or rested first."
"Where is Bucky?" Bruce asked, waving off Steve's concerns.
"He's gone under until we can get rid of everything Hydra did to him." Steve said softly, voice tinged with sadness he shook his head and took a deep breath before turning to Wanda
"Do you want to go see Bucky?" She didn't respond but when they got up she got up too and followed them down to where Bucky was. Bruce's eyebrows furled as he studied the machine that held Bucky. He made little hmms and ahhs as he walked around studying it. Steve sat down on the bench he sat at daily and looked at Bucky, letting the cheerful mask slip. Wanda sat next to him, gently taking Steve's hand in her own. He looked up surprised and then seeing the concerned look in her eyes quickly rubbed at his misting eyes and laughed, wetly. "Hey don't worry about me, I'm fine." he said giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
Wanda frowned in response, jumping as Bruce clapped and spun around. "Steve I'll take care of this."
"What?" Steve asked looking up at Bruce in surprise and a bit of hope.
"Leave Bucky in my hands. Go get some sleep. You look bad. Eat something, take a warm shower and sleep." Bruce said adopting a no-arguments tone.
Steve stood up slowly, "You think you can help him?"
"I'm going to try. Now go, and I better not see you around here unless I send for you, got it?"
"But-"
"No buts Rogers," Bruce said waving Steve off. Wanda's hand slipped out of his and he headed off, dazed to his room.