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wakandan forest, 2017

Levi Alvarez pressed his lips together as he hiked along with James along the Wakanda Mountain tops, Levi knew that Ayo was still following them so he didn't worry about looking behind him to make sure she was. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Levi kept his voice low so only James could hear him. "Yes, I'm sure Levi." Even though Levi couldn't see him clearly he knew that James rolled his eyes. "Well, why do we have to do this at night?" Levi questioned adjusting his Wakandan clothes, James was in matching attire and Levi thought he looked nice, especially with his hair long like that.

"I want to, it gives me the knowledge that if something goes wrong and the words still work then everyone is in their huts. I still don't even know why you came along honestly, you would've been better protected back at the hut. That way if something bad happened you wouldn't be here to see it." Levi didn't know whether to feel hurt or sad at James' confession but he knew where it was coming from. "James, honey." Levi reached out to touch James' shoulder and he brought them to a stop. "Is everything alright?" Ayo asked raising her spear slightly. "Everything is fine, James is just being an idiot." Levi huffed and kissed James on the cheek before he motions for everyone to keep walking again.

"He is always an idiot," Ayo mutters but she doesn't try to hide it. Levi smirked before his face got more serious. "I'm glad I'm here, and the lack of faith you have in Shuri is disturbing. She got rid of the words, this whole thing was recommended by Shuri and you made it a have too. No one is making you do this." James huffed and ran his right arm through his hair. "I'm making myself because this says I'm finally fucking free Levi. I can't in good conscious marry you until I know I'm good in the head." James pointed to his head harshly.

Before Levi could reply Ayo interrupted the couple. "We're here, you two sit and I'll get the fire going." With that Levi and James were alone again while Ayo lit the fire and the torches surrounding the area. James took a seat and Levi sighed before sitting beside him. "Whether you want me here or not, I will be here. For you." Levi squeezed James' leg in what was supposed to be a comforting gesture but James flinched slightly making Levi pull back. "I know, I just don't want to be the one who hurts you." James looked at Levi, Levi could see tears in James' eyes.

Levi wiped them away quickly before kissing James on the lips. "You won't hurt me." Before James could say anything else on the matter Levi kissed him again to keep him from saying anything else. James shakily nodded and put his head on Levi's shoulder. "Can you do something for me though?" Levi nodded and kissed his forehead as he looked at James. "When Ayo says the words, can you sit away from me? I just want you to have as much distance as I can just in case." Levi opened his mouth to argue but nodded his head when he saw Ayo walking toward them.

"It is time," Ayo said standing by that was at the end of the log they were sitting on. "Are you sure about this?" James's voice shook as he looked at Ayo and Levi scared, "I won't let you hurt anyone." Ayo glanced at Levi who let out a deep breath and scooted closer to Ayo, it hurt his heart to scoot away from James but this was what he wanted.

"Желание," Ayo said which meant longing in Russian, Levi gasped as he looked at James who was trembling but he didn't look like anything was happening. "Ржавый." Ayo continued walking closer to James. "Семнадцать." Levi closed his eyes tightly, he wasn't going to get his hopes up but this was a good sign. "It's not gonna work," James says not looking at Levi, he kept staring into the fire. "Рассвет." Ayo glanced at Levi, she nodded at him so he took that as permission to start to scoot closer to James, he was still far away to be able to run in case something happened but he felt like James could use a tiny bit of comfort right now so this was the best thing that Levi could do. "Печь." Levi saw the moment when James started to go into his head, Levi itched out the temptation to reach out and grab his hand.

"Девять." Ayo paused before saying the other one. "Добросердечный." Levi could see tears start to gather in James' eyes which made Levi tear up as well, he glanced over his shoulder to Ayo with a pleading look. She held out a hand before saying another one. "Возвращение на родину." Levi put a hand over his mouth to stifle his tears as he resisted defining Ayo. "Один."

"Товарный вагон." Levi watched as a tear dripped onto the ground, Ayo let out a sigh of relief before nodding to Levi and that was enough permission. He got up and walked towards James before sitting down beside him, he had a second to prepare himself before James fell into his arms and he started to cry in relief. "You are free." Ayo's declaration seemed to make James cry harder into Levi's chest. "Sh, you're okay. I'm here." Levi said shakily brushing his hand over James' long hair.

James sniffed loudly before sitting up from his position in Levi's chest, he put his hand over his mouth before letting out a wet laugh. "Call me Bucky, please?" James asked looking at Levi pleadingly, Levi leaned close before pressing his lisp to James' mouth which was wet from tears. "I love you Bucky, and I'm proud of you." Unlike the other times, James didn't flinch, he let out a wet chuckle. "That sounds weird coming from your mouth." James declared laying his head on Levi's shoulder. "It does, I told you the truth though. I'm very proud of you." James chuckled before grabbing Levi's hand, his eyes caught the ring that was on Levi's hand. He ran his finger over it feeling the coldness that it gave off. "You know what this means right?" Levi tilted his head looking at James confused.

"This means we can get married." Levi chuckled before kissing James' nose. "I can't wait to be Levi Barnes." Levi glanced down at their clasped hands with a smile on his face, he never envisioned this would be his life but he's glad he gets to spend it with Bucky.