When he got back at the end of the day, Bucky dropped himself onto the couch, head tilting back against the wall, eyes shut.
He always came back from therapy looking wrecked. Guess that kind of emotional digging wears you out. Mira had developed a habit now, a strange little ritual that was oddly sweet. Despite how awkward they were with each other at first, she loved sitting next to him in silence.
Wherever Bucky landed, she'd follow. Plop down next to him, reading her book or playing games right at his side. She would eventually lean back against him like he was the most natural backrest in the world.
At first, he'd go stiff as a corpse. You could practically see the panic in his muscles, his face blanched white, first time she did it I thought he was going to pass out. But after a few days, he started adjusting, color returned to him, tension left, even started letting his arm rest around her. It became something they shared, quietly. I didn't interrupt when I caught them like that. I had four years of her all to myself. He deserved his time.
Bucky opened his eyes, turning to me. Mira was beside him, nose buried in a book, the only sound in the room the flipping of pages.
"They'll be here tomorrow," he said.
"Who?" I asked.
"The Wakandans. They're the ones who deprogrammed me. I trust them. If anyone can figure out what's going on with Mira, it's them."
"Then I'm going," I said firmly.
He didn't even blink. Just grinned a little. "Didn't expect any less."
The next day, Bucky drove us to some nondescript glass building in New York, no logos, no names. Bucky had to talk our way past some military-looking types just to park. Mira held my hand as we walked toward the elevators, Bucky leading.
Halfway there, she stopped dead.
"I don't like this," she said, pulling her hand from mine and dropping into a tight crouch, arms around her knees.
I didn't blame her. The whole place screamed "government lab" and for me, that meant one thing: danger.
Bucky didn't hesitate. He crouched down to her level.
"If you don't want to go in, we won't," he said. "No one's going to force you. But we'll be with you the whole time, okay? I promise. These people, " he paused, choosing his words carefully, "they're friends. They want to help."
She stared at him, skeptical and sharp-eyed. Then, finally, she lifted her arms and made her little grabby hands.
He smiled and lifted her onto his side, just like she wanted.
As we continued walking, I glanced at him. "So... you want to tell me what this place is, exactly?"
"It used to be a SHIELD facility. Now SWORD runs it as a research outpost," he said. "I don't usually come here. Only doing it now because the Wakandans trust it."
The sterile white hallways made something cold crawl up my spine. They reminded me too much of the ones I'd once bled through, where screams echoed like background music. My body screamed to run, to fight. But I stayed at his side. When I looked up at Bucky, I saw it, he was feeling it too. But beneath the anxiety was something stronger. Determination.
Eventually, we reached a door flanked by two women in white lab coats, beautiful, tight braids ran down to their waists. One of them handed Bucky a small bead-like device before ushering us inside.
The room was mostly empty except for a glass and metal chamber in the center. Very subtle. Definitely not triggering.
A voice echoed from the bead in Bucky's hand. "Hello, Mr. Barnes."
"Hello, Shuri," Bucky replied. "Thanks for helping with this."
"Of course. I never turn down a chance to study something linked to an infinity stone. If what you told me is accurate, this could be... fascinating. My assistants will conduct the scans and collect what we need. I'll update you with the results."
Talking to a bead. I had just wrapped my head around cell phones. Kinda.
Bucky gently laid Mira on the examination table. My throat tightened.
"Bucky..." I warned, stepping forward on instinct.
"I know," he said softly, holding Mira's tiny hand in his. "But it's okay."
I hesitated in the doorway, frozen, bracing myself against the frame like it could hold me together. If I stepped in... the door might close, and I'd be back in that cage again.
He looked over his shoulder and gave a little nod. I shook my head no. I couldn't do it.
The table lit up beneath Mira, scanning her back with thin, glowing lines of light.
"What's it doing?" I asked.
"Just scanning," Bucky said.
The women worked silently. One turned to us. "We'll need a hair sample from each of you. No blood."
Bucky yanked a strand from his head and passed it over. I did the same. One of the women snipped a strand from Mira before she even noticed.
When it was done, Bucky scooped Mira back up. She curled into his shoulder like she belonged there. Her eyes found mine, still planted in the doorway. She didn't ask me to come closer. Didn't say anything.
Maybe... maybe Bucky really was enough.
A few minutes passed. Then the bead spoke again.
"This is very interesting. I would like you to bring the child to Wakanda. I can get much more data there."
"No," Bucky said quickly. "We're not doing that. Just tell us what you found. Is she a super soldier?"
"No," Shuri replied.
Bucky and I exchanged startled glances.
"What do you mean she isn't?" he asked. "She's strong and fast like us, she's our kid."
"She is yours," Shuri confirmed. "Genetically, without question."
"That was never a doubt!" I barked from the doorway.
"But the super soldier serum enhances the subject's body, it doesn't alter your DNA. That means whatever's happening with her isn't from you, Mr. Barnes. It seems to be from the tesseract."
I went cold.
"To understand that," she continued, "I would need access to the stone. Since that's no longer possible... we would have to examine the source. Her mother."
My blood boiled.
"Hell no! I'm not going to be some lab rat again."
"I won't force you," Shuri said gently. "But we can understand your daughter better if we first understand your powers. The tesseract affected everyone differently. Most died."
"I know," My voice cracking. "I was there."
I turned and stormed out, punching the wall hard enough to leave a hole. I didn't stop walking until I found a glass walkway, a bridge overlooking the city. I dropped to the ground, staring out at the sky, the people below, the freedom I kept trying to believe in.
A few minutes later, Bucky's shadow fell over me. Mira wriggled out of his arms and climbed into my lap.
"You okay, Mom?" she asked.
"Yeah, Mom's fine," I lied. A kid shouldn't have to worry about their mom.
I kissed the top of her head and inhaled her scent, clean, warm, and safe. Like home.
Bucky sat beside me. He didn't speak, just watched the sky with me. His flesh hand nudged mine, bare, no glove. I let him take it.
His hand was rough, warm, grounded. My thumb brushed over his palm. Our fingers laced slowly, firmly, as if the act itself had weight. I felt Mira's rise and fall against my chest, sound asleep.
This kid really could sleep anywhere.
"We should go," Bucky whispered.
I nodded. He helped me up, and I cradled Mira against me. We didn't let go of each other's hands until we reached the car. Even then, when his fingers finally slipped away, he let them trail against my palm, like he wasn't ready to let go.
It made something deep in me tremble.
This heart of mine hadn't felt like this in years. Maybe ever.