Wakanda was like something out of Basil's imagination. Technology blending seamlessly with the culture and the nature surrounding it. The city was colourful and bright, Basil's eyes wide like a young child's as T'Challa led them through the streets. People who recognised them stopped to stare as they passed by. Some saluting their king, others just watching as their king led three newcomers through the city. Bucky and Steve were less obvious than Basil with their wonderment, looking around with faces of admiration rather than wide eyes gogglement. 

The others might be doing the same through the windows of the palace where they left them. Breaking their friends out of The Raft prison where Ross had locked them was a peace of cake for Basil. All Steve and Bucky had to do was knock out the cameras and keep a jet ready for the get away as Basil phased through the cells. Clint and Scott had both chosen to return to America and their families. They would have to make a deal with the government about their punishment but Natasha had stepped in again, this time with Shield backing her and a really good lawyer. (Some guy called Murdock from New York who seemed just as savage in the courtroom as he was outside it. Basil had only met him briefly but he seemed like a good man to have as a friend. He was really considering talking to him about how Shield treated him and Steve in the past and if they could get a law suit against them. It was really tempting). Only Wanda and Sam decided to stay with them. Sam because he would much rather stay with his friends than risk his sister back in the US, and Wanda because she had lost whatever home she'd had in America choosing their side. It was tough but T'Challa's promise of sanctuary was a godsend. 

Bucky's hand was warm in his as they wandered the streets. The sun slowly turning gold as gloom began to settle. It was then that T'Challa and Steve steered them back towards the palace. All of them full of good food and warm in a relaxed way that had been uncommon for all of them recently. Still that relaxation faded as the sun ebbed and anxiety crept up as they drew closer to the end. Basil hung back, allowing Steve and T'Challa to lead the way. The two men were discussing something about the American society that seemed rather heated. Usually Basil would chime in whit his own input but he appreciated the space they were giving him. Bucky walked at his side, right hand still intertwined with his and only a stump left from where doctors had removed the metal arm. The loss was rather glaring but he seemed to be relieved that the arm welded to him by hydra was gone. It returned a lightness to him despite how the space gave Basil memories of snowy mountains and trains. 

"It's nice here", he commented as they strolled slowly through the golden lit streets. "I never knew that Wakanda was hiding this, but I guess that was the point of hiding". He hummed as he glanced round the street they were on. Two young children were staring at them from a window and he waved. They ducked back with shy smiles and Basil chuckled. Bucky watching him with fund blue eyes. His hand callused but strong and warm. 

"I'm sure I will enjoy it here", Bucky murmured. "Seems as a good place as any. Better than the last". 

Basil's smile fell. "Romania was rather a mess", he tried to joke but it fell flat. 

"What are you going to do?" Bucky's question was soft and gentle. The shorter man leaned closer as they walked, the rhythm now making their shoulder brush. The palace was visible down the street. Their time running out. 

"I don't know". It was a sigh. "I can't exactly go back to my old job, nor take another job at a hospital. Maybe I'll travel with Henry. He can still write his books, since he writes under a pen name anyway. Maybe we'll take a truck and drive around. My skills will always be useful somewhere. Phillip has Queenie. She'll be fine there". 

"Travelling sounds good", Bucky remarked. Basil shot him a small smile and squeezed his hand. 

"When everything is over, I'll take you somewhere", he promised. "Anywhere you wish Sarge. We have so much to do". 

Bucky's smile was sad and loving and warm. It made Basil's chest ache with grief. "I still have to take you to Brooklyn, to cony island. Though, it will all look very different to what I remember. I still want to go and see if anything is left". 

Basil stopped walking to turn and face the paler man fully. The sun gleamed gold on his skin and orange on Basil's their different skin tones contrasted via their joined hands. Both men seeing beauty in the other. "Alright. When this is over, take me to Brooklyn Sarge. Promise? I took you to London to visit Phillip. It's only fair". 

Bucky huffed with a quirk of his lips. "I am glad I could finally meet your brother". 

"So am I. We both waited far too long". Basil sighed. His eyes flicked over Bucky's face, lingering on the way his long brown hair hung over his stubbled jaw and how his eyes were so bright in this twilight sunlight. He took one step closer, feet almost touching as the space between them closed. Bucky's hand caught between both of Basil's as the curly haired man inhaled deeply. 

"Sarge. Bucky", the names were a whisper. "I love you. You don't have to say it back. You don't have to return my feelings at all. If I ever make you uncomfortable then tell me. I just wanted you to know that I never stopped loving you". The words were spoken slow and quietly, only for them and no one else. When he had finished, Basil let out a soft sigh and leaned forwards to gently rest his forehead on Bucky's shoulder. "I am simply grateful you are alive". 

Bucky inhaled at the last sentence and something in his shoulders sagged at the overwhelming acceptance. His hands were stained with so much violence and blood yet Basil cradled them in his with a tenderness that hurt. Some part of him was thankful that whatever serum had been given to them in that lab so many decades ago had given Basil the ability to go intangible. His hands, full of so much blood and the hydra mess in his head, he didn't have to worry about that with him. The Winter Soldier could never kill Basil. It was a relief, a weight off his shoulders. Here with him, Bucky felt more like himself than he had been in decades. 

Basil's head was a comforting and warm weight on his shoulder. Bucky gently pulled his hand up to press the other man's hands to his waist. Basil got the message and with a contented sigh he let go to wrap his arms around him in a tight embrace. "Parrish", Bucky smiled as he pressed his now free hand into the fragile nape of his neck. Basil hummed and lifted his head so that Bucky could see those deep green eyes. A smile caught his lips. "You have to self preservation". 

"Aww Sarge", Basil's grin was lazy, soft. "Did I ever have that?"

Bucky's reply was a chuckle. "No. Otherwise you would be doing the sane thing and running". 

"When did you ever consider me sane?" 

"Good point", he conceded. "I can't believe I love you". 

Basil's eyes widened. "You still Love me?" It was a small uncertain broken whisper. 

"I don't trust myself. Not now. We have nothing, but when have we ever had anything?" Bucky shrugged. They had fallen in love in the middle of a war. Futures, pasts, violence had always been things that had never mattered to them. Their whole relationship had been built on present moments and snatched chances. It was something that made them powerful and weak. It had always been a tangled and passionate and tragic romance. That was okay. They were both men of tragedy. 

Basil laughed as tears welled in his eyes. "Aww Sarge. Don't get my hopes up". 

Bucky pressed a hand to Basil's cheek and wiped the wetness away with his thumb. "I want to kiss you Jahi". At the sound of his first name, Basil sunk into the hold. He nodded and leaned up just as Bucky leant down. 

The kiss was tearful, soft and memorising. He felt Basil fist his hands in his tshirt and his long hair brush the other's cheeks. Basil sighed into the kiss, shivering slightly as he leaned close enough to lean on him. It was wonderful, a greeting, a goodbye, a reassurance. When they pulled apart for breath their foreheads pressed together, eyes still closed, breaths mingling as the two of them too the chance to bask in the warmth of the other. "I have missed you", Basil breathed as he pulled back and opened his eyes. He smiled as he raised a hand to brush Bucky's hair back behind his ear. Bucky smiled. 

----------------------

The lab was a white thing of spotless walls and glass. Holoscreens hovered amongst glass ones and monitors. Desks lined a outer circle where scientists and doctors clothed in the same shade as the walls moved round. Basil, T'Challa and Steve stood out as the only people dressed in colour. Bucky had changed into the white vest and cotton trousers that they had provided. Metal stump of a shoulder visible as the doctors examined his vitals again. Basil was particularly enamoured with the large screen showing Bucky's entire skeleton and organs. He had already waylaid a couple of the scientists with questions about the technology they were using. Anything to ignore what was going to happen.

"You sure about this?" Steve asked. Basil tore his eyes away from the screens. Bucky was seated on a medical bed, iv trailing from his remaining arm. 

He sighed. "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. For everybody". He gave Steve a sad smile. 

"Would you like me to wait for you?" Basil asked gently. "I am sure T'Challa can find a job for this  Ninety year old doctor". 

Bucky took a breath. "No. Don't wait for me. Go with Henry, travel. Do something that will make you happy. When I am ready, I will come to you". 

Basil nodded. He leaned forwards and pressed a kiss to Bucky's forehead. "Love you Sarge. Don't make me wait another seventy years okay? I might go stir crazy". 

"You went stir crazy last time", Steve voiced teasingly. "Or do I have to tell him about the time you let the hulk chase you through a flying helicarrier?" 

"Says the man who jumped out of the thirteenth floor of a building with no parachute", Basil shot back. 

Bucky let out a burst of laughter and rolled his eyes. "Leaving you two alone was obviously a big mistake. You're both terrible". 

"He started it", Basil pointed at Steve. The blonde put on an innocent look.

"I'm not even going to mention the time you got into a knife fight against a god". 

"Okay Mr 'lets jump out of planes without parachutes' come on then". 

Bucky reached out and pressed his hand to Basil's chest. "Alright. No fighting. I'm about to get frozen. I don't want you two to make a mess beforehand". 

"He started it", Steve jerked his thumb at Basil with a smirk. Basil, being the mature one with a medical degree and the only one with modern qualifications out of the three of them, stuck his tongue out right back. Bucky sighed with fond annoyance just a doctor came by to let them know that they were ready. 

Basil and Steve fell silent as they watched the man get strapped into the metal case. It was soft straps and the surface he was lying on was padded but it didn't relieve the sadness in Basil's throat. Bucky gave him a reassuring glance as the glass doors closed, then he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. It took less than a minute for frost to cover the glass. Basil sighed deeply and stepped away, Steve following. 

T'Challa found them in a side corridor staring out of the window to the jungles beyond, all lit with the setting sun. "Thank you for this", Steve spoke as the king stopped at his side. Basil was quiet. 

"Your friend and my father, they were both victims", T'Challa stated gently. "If I can help one of them find peace".. He trailed off. 

"You know, if they find out he's here they'll come for him", Steve warned. 

"Let them try", T'Challa smiled. 

"Actually", Basil spoke up, some of his usual cheer back in his tone. "That sounds like a good show". 

unedited