Ava leans against the open window, nose turned to the sky, and breathes in deeply. The fresh smell of pine trees and sweet spring flowers carries on the wind.
She closes her eyes and basks in the late sun's rays, still pleasantly warm against her cheeks and bare forearms.
It's their last day here and Ava is not ready for it to be over.
The past week out here has been the refreshing break they both needed, away from the stress and bustle of the city with its overwhelming constant noise and getting swept up in the fast pace routine of urban life. Ava almost never wants to go back but she feels surprisingly protective of the city – it’s her home. Plus, she already misses Camila.
mental image time, why can i see like one time duing joeys speech, henry manged to move duing it, force joey into the studio with him, then tied up joey drew lift him onto his sholdier and starts to chant "SACRIFICE" over and over. going through the whole studio as the group grows in size as they all chant "sacrifice" as well
When the parade has gathered all the people in the studio, a fire can finally be built for Joey.
Narancia Ghirga Updated and holy cow he is stunning. The most beautiful I’ve ever drawn him! This was the final Updated card! All first orders are being sent to print now. If you still want to grab a deck for yourself preorders are running until June 13th! >ORDER HERE< Thank you all so much for your continued support and love, I cherish each and every one of you!
Summary: After the Chitauri invaded New York and nearly ended your life, you moved to Bucharest to get away from the superhero stuff. You simply wanted an uneventful, ordinary life. But when a stranger moves into the apartment next to yours, you begin to question those aspirations and choose to risk it all for love.
Warnings: does not follow cannon story line
Word Count: 2460
Teardrops on Lashes Masterlist
Previous: Part 16
“Oh my god!” you squealed. “Look at how big she’s gotten.”
Nicole’s smiled at you from the computer screen and lifted up her newborn. “I know, right? Jamie’s huge for three months.” She smiled and turned to cradle her daughter in her arms. “You’re a big baby, aren’t you? Aren’t you?” she cooed.
Jamie babbled in her mother’s arms, eliciting a smile from you.
“I still can’t believe you named her Jamie,” you said shaking your head.
“Well, why not?” Nicole asked. “All the other kids are named after great people in our lives so why shouldn’t I name her after James?”
A soft smile crossed your lips. “I have no idea.”
She’d really taken the whole Bucky situation well; so much better than you had expected. You thought that, once she found out the truth, she’d be a little wary of him and not want to see him again for a while, but the exact opposite happened.
She seemed to revere him now as some sort of god of strength which, if you were being honest, amused the hell out of you. She was so amazed that he had dealt with all that shit in his past and still managed to be a good, kind, and gentle person. She wanted to honor him so much that she even went as far as naming her baby after him.
You knew Bucky would get a kick out of that one when he finally woke up.
As if reading your thoughts, Nicole’s expression turned a little solemn. “Is he awake yet?” she asked as she bit her lip gently.
You shook your head. “No. It’s been five months now. The doctor’s think they’re close to finishing the cure, but they aren’t certain enough to wake him up yet.” You pursed your lips together as you fiddled with the hem of your shirt. “They said they wouldn’t bring him back until they were absolutely certain.”
“How are you holding up?” she asked, shifting Jamie in her arms so the baby would be more comfortable.
You shrugged and averted your gaze. “Same as always, I guess. Shuri’s keeping me busy. We’re working on some upgrades for the Black Panther suit. She wants to figure out how to get it to absorb kinetic energy and use it in its own attacks.”
“Ooh fancy!”
You nodded, your smile turning a little eager. “I know, right? I’m helping her with some of the technical parts of it. It’s surprisingly similar to coding so I’m actually useful to her.”
She snickered. “You were always useful, (y/n). And I’m glad you’re not moping around anymore. I was afraid I was going to have to fly out there and kick some sense into you myself.”
You felt your cheeks burn at the mention of your short depressed period. In the week or two following Bucky’s going under you were hardly motivated to get out of bed, much less leave the room. It’d hit you just a few hours after reading his letter and notes for the first time—the realization that he was actually gone, that is. It hit you like a freaking tidal wave. The Wakandans gave you your space, they were very understanding and you were grateful for that, but they always came in to check up on you at random. It was about halfway into week three that the princess came into visit you. She’d drawn you out of your room, had you get yourself cleaned up and situated, and then practically dragged you down to her lab to learn the ropes and help her out. If she hadn’t come to got you and get you busy, you probably wouldn’t be as awake and “alive” as you were now. “I wasn’t that bad,” you muttered.
“Oh yes you were,” she affirmed. “You were so bad I thought you had just watched a puppy getting kicked. But I’m glad you’re up and about now.” Her smile melted slightly off her face. “Are you still going to see him?” she asked, her voice sympathetic and gentle.
You nodded. “Everyday. I think the doctors are getting tired of seeing me outside his pod.”
Nicole chuckled. “I wouldn’t blame them. You sit there for hours doing nothing.”
“That’s not true!” you said in mock offense. “I read while I’m there and binge Netflix. I do stuff.”
“Boring stuff.” She frowned. “Bucky would tell you to get a life rather than wait around for him.”
You tilted your head. “I know, but I’d still do it anyways. I miss his company.”
“I know you do, (y/n), but he’s not gone forever. Just you wait. I’ll bet those doctors will have a cure for him by next week.”
You chuckled. “You said that last week.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Yeah, well I’ll get it right one of these times.”
“I’m sure you will,” you said with a soft smile.
Nicole opened her mouth to respond, but at that moment Jamie decided to get fussy.
The girl began to squirm and cry in her mother’s arms, punching her tiny little fists into the air as she wailed.
Nicole quickly turned her attention away from you towards her child. “Oh, hey. Shh... Is it nap time now?”
You smirked at the screen. “I think it is. She’s saying, ‘Mommy! Mommy! Put me to sleep so I’m not tired in the middle of the night and can stay up all night long, crying and screaming so that you and Daddy don’t sleep at all.”
She grumbled under her breath. “Yeah, no joke.” She shifted Jamie in her arms. “Well, I think that this is my queue to go.”
You nodded. “Alright. I probably should too. Wouldn’t want to be late for my date with my sleeping boyfriend.”
“You’re a creep.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” You smiled. “Tell Andrei and the kids I said hi and give them all big hugs for me.”
Nodding her head, she said, “I will. You take care now and visit soon, okay?”
“Okay. Talk to you later, Nic.” Your finger hovered over the “End Call” button.
“You too, (y/n).”
Your finger quickly tapped down on the button and the screen blacked out. You sat back in your chair and sighed.
You missed Nicole and her family, you really did, but your time here in Wakanda was far from being over. Bucky still wasn’t awake so you couldn’t leave, you wouldn’t leave. You’d promised him that you’d be there when he woke up and you weren’t about to break that promise.
You took a deep breath, closed your computer, and pushed yourself up. Standing, you began to collect some little things. You scooped up your laptop and a few books that were sitting on the desk and held them close to your chest. It was time for your daily stake out in front of Bucky’s cryo pod.
You carried your things out of the suite and down the halls that had become vividly familiar over the past few months. You’d walked this path dozens of times on your way to visit Bucky while he was asleep.
You didn’t do much during these visits. You’d read, do some coding for whatever project you and Shuri were working on, and talk aimlessly as if he was listening. Sometimes you’d carry out full conversations with him and acted as if he could hear you and was responding. The doctors and lab technicians never commented on your strange behaviors, something you were really grateful for. You already felt crazy as it was talking to nobody. But in some weird way, talking to him almost helped you keep your sanity. As you’d sit there, your back pressed against the glass and speaking to him, you felt he was there with you in more than just physical presence. And that was a comforting feeling.
You rounded one last corner in the palace, slowing to a stop in the waiting area just outside the medical bay. You smiled at the attendant at the medical bay’s front desk. “Hey, Kali,” you greeted as you walked towards the doors that would lead you towards Bucky’s wing.
She smiled back. “Morning, (y/n). You here to see Bucky again?”
“Always am,” you said shaking your head with a grin. “Mind buzzing me in?”
“Sure thing.” Kali turned to her desk and pressed a few buttons.
The doors in front of you hummed as the lock clicked back and swung open.
“Thanks!” you called as you shifted your things in your arms and walked into the bay.
The room was as familiar as ever with its white walls and sterile atmosphere. Nothing had changed in the twenty four hours since you had last been there, and its familiarity was somewhat comforting.
You strode further into the room and rounded various corners to where Bucky’s pod stood, but when you got there, there was something very wrong.
You stopped dead in your tracks, the color draining from your face when you saw his pod.
The door was slid down and the pod was vacant, missing a very important occupant.
You felt your breathing quicken as your eyes darted around the room anxiously. “Bucky! Where’s Bucky?” you asked frantically.
The attendant closest to you looked up, startled at your sudden outburst.
You turned your gaze to her. “The man in the pod, where did he go?” you asked, your voice trembling.
She pointed towards the exit. “He left. You just missed him. He said he had to find someone.”
So he was loose in the palace. You hastily thanked her before turning on your heel and darting out of the room. There were so many places he could be. You were racking your brain with places he would go, but you didn’t know just how well he knew the palace, if he did at all, and if he didn’t know it that well you knew how easy it was for him to get lost from prior experience.
And then you found him.
And the world stopped.
He was wandering the halls with no apparent destination in sight. He looked just as he did when he went under all those months ago. Granted, the bruises and cuts on his face had faded and healed, but he still wore the white clothes and the black cuff at the base of his arm. His hair had gotten a little bit longer as well. His eyes were darting across the hall, looking, searching, and seeking something. Seeking what? You didn’t know, but at that moment all that mattered was him being there, awake and well.
“Bucky!” you shouted the running as fast of your legs would take you.
He turned just in time to see you coming and brace himself for your incoming bear hug. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw you and he lifted his arm to hold you.
You threw yourself in to his embrace, letting the tears flow freely as the emotions and joy of having him back overwhelmed you.
He wrapped his arm around your torso, letting his hand gravitate towards the back of your head and his fingers tangle themselves in your hair as he pulled your head close. He was crying too, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs, and he buried his face in the top of your head pressing a kiss to your hair.
God how you missed him, his touch, his presence. These last few months had been the longest ones of your life and now that they were over, you couldn’t be happier. Being there in his touch, you felt it all melt away.
You gasped back a sob as you looked up at him and brought your hand up to his cheek. “You’re awake,” you cried out in between wet bouts of laughter.
He gazed down at your face. “I’m awake,” he confirmed.
“How long?” you asked
“About twenty hours,” he answered. “They told me they had a break through right after you left last night, and they knew it would work. And... I think it did, (y/n). I have my mind back.” The joy on his face was incomparable.
“You’re free?” you asked, your heart daring to hope.
He nodded. “They’ll never control me again, doll.”
At those words, every emotion that you had been bottling up over the past five months spilled out in a tsunami.
You buried your face in his chest as you squeezed him tighter. “Oh Bucky.”
He smiled and pressed his lips against your forehead. “I know, (y/n). I know...”
You couldn’t contain your joy and so you stood up on your tiptoes and pressed your lips against his in a kiss full of adoration and love.
He hummed against your lips as he kissed you back, only pulling away to gasp for air. He rested his forehead against yours and breathed a laugh. “God you have no idea how much I missed you, doll. I dreamed about you that whole time, replaying every moment I had with you over and over again. And when I woke up, I was so hoping to see you there next to me, but the doctors had told me that you literally had just left.” He shook his head gently with a regretful smile. “I wish you had been there, but I knew you were probably tired. God... Waiting for them to finish with me was horrible. I couldn’t stop thinking about you, and when they finished, I just had to come and find you. But I guess you found me instead.” He lifted his gaze up, looking at you with playful blue eyes. “I guess you have a real knack for that, huh?”
You chuckled. “I guess I do.” You hummed. “Oh, Buck, there’s so much you’ve missed. Come on, I’ll tell you all about it.”
He smiled and wrapped his arm around your waist. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
You smirked knowingly. “Oh just you wait. Nicole had her baby and I think you’ll like the name.”
The two of you began the walk down the hallway back towards your room side-by-side, his arm around your waist, your arm around his torso, a smile on his face and your head resting against his shoulder. As you moved, you couldn’t help the feeling in your heart; that warm fuzziness that came along only when you were with the one you loved. It was a feeling that was reserved for him and him only, and it was good.
In that moment, all was good.
He was there with you.
There was no danger.
You were happy.
And that was how it would stay.
Because you had your Bucky—your James—and all was right.
