W A K A N D A,  E A S T  A F R I C A

May 25th, 2016

We leave Scott and Clint with their respective families. Wanda has somehow communicated with Vision and has agreed to meet him in a remote rendezvous. Agent Romanoff will hide Sam until Steve can reunite with them because, as of now, he's on a quinjet with us on our way to Wakanda.

I'm nervous, I'm not gonna lie. I have no idea where or how secure Wakanda is. This isn't like Romania. Our safety will fall in the hands of others. Back in Bucharest, we had everything under control. We knew exactly the location of every security camera, every suspicious individual and every potential threat.

But I know that isn't the only reason I wanna go back to our European hideout. It was a bubble and we were happy in there, as happy as two scarred brainwashed ex-hitmen could be.

"I miss Romania... " I think out loud while reminiscing. I didn't mean to speak up, but since Bucky has heard me, I add. "I miss the plums. Do you think they have plums in Wakanda?"

He chuckles and holds my hand with his remaining one. "I don't know but I hope so."

"We're getting close, guys." Steve warns us.

This is it. Once we get to the African country it will be the end of life as we know it.

But when I look out the quinjet window, I only see green. There's no civilization, but a dense forest of tall trees.

"This part never gets old." T'Challa smiles and moves the controls so we fly straight into the trees. I brace myself, expecting the plane to crash. Instead, the wall of threes disappears and lastly reveals what it has always hide underneath.

Before my eyes, I find the most stunning view I've ever seen. Between plunging waterfalls, a city of high buildings emerges. The streets look crowded and fast cars run among the roads. It looks much more futuristic and advanced in contrast to the rural hamlets we've come across on our way here. I'm having a hard time understanding why they've remained secluded and isolated from the rest of the world.

"It's so beautiful." Once again, I think out loud.

We land in front of the entrance of the tallest building, the castle. There, a group of people is waiting for us. A teenage girl, the youngest of the group, steps forwards as we get out of the jet. I can't help but notice how nice the climate is. I was expecting it to be humid and hot, but it's actually perfect.

"Brother!" She yells excited while waving at T'Challa. She's got the same accent as T'Challa. "I think those goats followed you home."

She's pointing at us when she calls us 'goats' and I tilt my head to the side. Steve and Buck look at each other as if they were trying to check the girl's statement. She's not giving me a good first impression.

"This is my sister, the princess of Wakanda, Shuri." He emphasizes on the girl's title, as if he wanted to remind her of it. "She'll be the one to help you."

"Yeah, repairing broken white folk is one of my favorite hobbies." Alright, I like this girl.

"Please, don't mind her." T'Challa smirks in Shuri's direction. "She's always been like that." He starts walking, inviting the rest of us to follow him.

Inside the castle, the installations are even cooler than the exterior. I still have the image of the whole city engraved in my brain. It is one of the prettiest places I've ever seen. It's even making me forget about Romania.

"It's a pity we've come here just to be put asleep." I comment as we walk the castle halls. We stop in front of an elevator to wait for it. "This place is just... Stunning."

"Maybe you'll be lucky and you'll dream about it." Shuri smirks. The elevator silently arrives and we hop in. Bucky, next to me, can't seem to stand there without anyone talking.

"How long will we be frozen?"

"We can't know that until we've begun with the process." Shuri explains. "It could be a few weeks or a few years. We can't know beforehand."

Her older brother scoffs as the elevator stops again. "Well, there's one thing she doesn't know..."

"It's just this one."

The doors open to reveal a gigantic lab with inventions that don't even look from this century. T'Challa wasn't kidding when he said technology in Wakanda was advanced. Shuri starts walking ahead of us, feeling her most comfortable while roaming through the room. I can guess she spends most of her time here.

Steve, Bucky and I are speechless, almost intimidated. We follow the princess until we arrive to a part where a bunch of holographic screens surrounds two cryogenic chambers. The moment has come. They tell us to change into matching white clothes and inject us some kind of serum through a line. Then they start preparing everything and I didn't think I would get so nervous. It's ridiculous, because when we wake up — if we wake up — all this will feel like a dream. It will be like we'd just fallen asleep.

Steve approaches us, giving me a concerned look regarding my nervousness. "Are you sure about this?"

"I can't trust my own mind. So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head... I think going back under is the best thing." Bucky looks at me before adding. "For everybody." And I couldn't agree more with him.

The team of Wakandan scientists motions us to step into the chambers. I have to take a deep breath before even looking at the cryogenic compartment. Bucky doesn't look as nervous as me, he's very calm, in fact. "Are you ready?" He asks me.

"Yeah..." I nod. This is all for the best. "I just want to finally be myself again."

Bucky places his hand on the nape of my neck and pulls me closer to him. I wrap my arms around him, trying not to put much pressure near his amputated area, and I hold him close, not knowing when the next time will be.

A few seconds pass by before he whispers. "I love you." 

And I repeat.

"I love you."