https://youtu.be/wfLOt5P6nSk

(It's not about the DCEU as the source, it's about the song)

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded

Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed

Everybody knows the war is over

Everybody knows the good guys lost

Everybody knows the fight was fixed

The poor stay poor, the rich get rich

That's how it goes

Everybody knows

"Please step back."

You were standing at T'Challa's side with Steve Rogers next to you, watching Shuri as she began to prepare Bucky for removal from his cryotherapy chamber. The energy in the lab was palpable, filled with anxiety and worry, but also filled with preparation for who Bucky would be once the doors opened. There were guards at every point, in case this went badly and he tried to fight, but Steve was convinced that it wouldn't be a problem. He willingly moved closer to his friend as the lock released, despite your hand on his arm to hold him back.

"He's my friend," he whispered to you, though it came out as if more for himself than anyone else.

"Captain, use caution," T'Challa added, taking a step forward in kind. "We will know very quickly where his temperament lies, and which mind he possesses. We are prepared for any outcome that presents itself, but we will treat him with care should he not be healed as we have hoped."

All Steve could do was to nod along to the king's words, almost mindlessly as he watched the cold steam evaporate to give him the first good view of his friend that he had seen in far too long. He looked like Bucky; he looked peaceful and content there, as if he had merely taken a long nap. It was reassuring to see, but Steve wouldn't be fully comforted until his best friend's eyes opened. When they did, he wasn't disappointed in the sight, and he could finally take a breath that he had been holding since the first time he left Bucky behind in Wakanda.

"Captain," Shuri nodded, "you can talk to him if you would like."

"H-hey, Buck."

"Steve," he answered back in a raspy, dry voice. He coughed away both the discomfort and his nerves, giving the greeting a better try. "Steve. Wow, that was one helluva nap, huh?"

"You can say that again," Steve agreed.

"That was one helluva nap," Bucky repeated, a smile curling at the edges of his mouth.

"Yep, he's cured," Steve sighed, reaching out to give him a supportive hold as he stepped out of the chamber. "Alright, take it slow."

"I'm...good..." he answered, but Bucky's attentions were no longer on Steve, rather now drawn to you; he looked at you with a million questions flashing through his mind, and worn in his expression so readily that he didn't need to speak a single one.

"Hello, Sergeant Barnes," you greeted with a step forward and a hand extended, "I'm (Y/N). T'Challa and Shuri have asked that I stay with you during your recovery until you feel ready to leave Wakanda. We have a small home ready for you just outside of the city, where you won't be disturbed and can focus more clearly."

Bucky was quick to step away from Steve and towards you, readily taking your hand with a firm grip, "(Y/N), please, call me Bucky. The pleasure's all mine, but I thought I was past the age for needing a babysitter."

"If you prefer, you can think of me as your zookeeper?"

"Hmm, I think that might actually be better. It's like you know me already," he chuckled, leaning in close to Steve so that he could whisper out of your earshot. "I like her. Who is she?"

"That's the King's cousin, Buck. If you know what's good for ya, you'd better start behaving yourself."

Bucky sucked in a deep breath and took his friend's words into consideration, though he dismissed them just as quickly with a wave of his hand and a slap on Steve's shoulder. There was something familiar about you, and something that was drawing him in, but he had yet to place just what that was. It intrigued him, and he was eager to focus on that question beyond any of the others that needed to be answered about who he was now. Those could wait.

"Sure, pal, if you say so. But I don't see why I should start now."

Everybody knows that the boat is leaking

Everybody knows that the captain lied

Everybody got this broken feeling

Like their father or their dog just died

Everybody talking to their pockets

Everybody wants a box of chocolates

And a long-stem rose

Everybody knows

Every morning it was the same; you would wake first, at least an hour before Bucky usually would, just so that you could prepare yourself for any mood that he would be wearing once his eyes opened. Some days were almost idyllic; he would wake with a smile on his face at the sight of you, and he would remember. Others weren't so kind, and you would find yourself facing a scared and confused assassin, ready to take you down so that he could run. You had worn your share of bruises from day to day, but you never wavered in your responsibility to him, even when he begged you to. He would beg the king to release you from the hell he was putting you through, but T'Challa wouldn't have it. You were the only choice that made sense, and he was certain of your ability to help Bucky find his way back.

"Was this one from me?" Bucky asked hesitantly, taking your arm and pushing up your sleeve so that he could see the change in color that was suspiciously close to the exact size of his hand. You didn't dare fight the strength in his grip and allowed him to inspect it further. "It was, wasn't it?"

"I'm fine."

"That's not what I asked you."

"Bucky, let's not do this, okay?" you said, pulling from his grip. "It wasn't your fault. I didn't move fast enough, and it's on me. Now come on, we have work to do." When your words had no apparent effect and he stood still with the same look of concern in his expression, you changed your tone and took his hand. "Seriously, I'm fine. After all this time, you should trust me."

"I do. I just don't believe you."

"That's rude, Barnes."

"Really? Cool," he scoffed with a welcome laugh to cut the tension, "maybe I am getting better after all. Steve said that I was the worst smart ass he'd ever met. I think I sound like a guy that I'd hang out with, so fine by me."

You took a step back and looked at him with a skeptical eye, taking in the sound of his joviality that had been gone for far too long. His smile was always magnetic and drew you in, the brightness of it challenging the sun for your attentions. Bucky really was quite the man beneath the damage that had been done to him over the years, and you were thankful to be chosen to be the one to find him again. "Are you sure?" you smiled in return. "Rogers seems to be worse than anything you could ever do. That guy's attitude is legendary."

"I'll take it as a challenge then."

"No!" you snapped immediately. "Oh, no you won't! I have more than enough attitude with you as it is, mister. I'm dealing with all of your personalities here, and I'm not taking on another one. I think that maybe I'll tell T'Challa that Cap can't visit for a while...just to be sure that he's not a bad influence."

"Wow, (Y/N), you're hilarious if you believe that he's the one who's the bad influence here. I think it's time for me to show you where he got it from."

Everybody knows that you love me baby

Everybody knows that you really do

Everybody knows that you've been faithful

Oh, give or take a night or two

Everybody knows you've been discreet

But there were so many people you just had to meet

Without your clothes

Everybody knows

"Where's the fight?"

You watched as T'Challa and Okoye approached from the distance, the duo walking slowly with measured steps as if they could bring nothing other than bad news. Knowing them as well as you did, it was easy to see it in their posture; the determination and the regret, and maybe even a hint of fear that neither of them would dare admit to. Bucky had no such insight, but when T'Challa opened the box that held a new and powerful Vibranium arm for him to wear, it was clear that this wasn't only a gift, but a weapon being offered in return for service to the country that had healed his mind.

"On the way," T'Challa answered quietly, his eyes nearly boring a hole into Bucky's skull as if he would be able to see the thoughts swirling in his brain. There were no guarantees that Shuri's therapy had worked to its full potential. There were no guarantees as to what the full potential even was. All that your King could do was have hope that it had done enough, and that the newly reformed soldier would stand at his side to defend his people. When you finally approached, he took a step back and nodded in greeting, saying nothing because he knew that you would have plenty to say on your own.

"What's this?" you asked pointedly, looking back and forth between the two men. "T'Challa, you can't be serious? He's not ready."

"We have no more time to wait."

"And you feel qualified to make this decision for him? Did you even ask Bucky how he felt, or are you ordering him to feel ready to serve your own needs?"

"(Y/N)," T'Challa began carefully, "you have no idea of what's coming. Our world is at risk...the universeis at risk, and I cannot stand by and do nothing when I have the means to fight back. The White Wolf has rested long enough-"

"Says you."

"Yes! I say!" he snapped, his tone growing quickly angry. "That is my right as King of Wakanda! If you cannot support and follow that, then you are free to leave."

At the change in conversation and the increased energy flowing between you, Bucky decided to step in, positioning himself to block T'Challa from your view so that you could see only him. "(Y/N), it's okay," he urged quietly, "I can do this. I'm ready, and I want to. I want to fight for Wakanda because they've given me my life back."

"So you repay them by risking its loss so quickly?"

"Hmm," he smirked, "do you have so little faith in me? You have no idea of what I'm capable of. You've only seen me at my best goat herding, which I admit isn't all that impressive. But Doll, I know how to fight. That's the one thing that I've never doubted, even when I didn't know so much as my own name. Please, don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"You can't stop me."

"No, I can't. I've figured that out already," Bucky chuckled. "But if I'm out there worrying about you worrying about me, then I won't be at my best. I need you to promise me that you'll trust me. You've taken such good care of me over these past months, so now I need you to trust me to take care of myself."

It almost made you angry, how calm and collected he was about being dragged into a fight that wasn't really his, and how readily your cousins had volunteered him for it. They had no idea how deeply you felt about this, and how deeply you had come to feel for Bucky. Maybe if they had, this group wouldn't be standing here right now, and they would have never thought to ask. But then again, that may not have mattered, given that Bucky was known to have been the world's greatest assassin and fighter for decades. He was the obvious choice.

Finally relenting and giving in to their reasoning, you dropped your posture and stepped closer to Bucky, taking his hands in yours in the first sign of affection that you had shared, much less in front of anyone. "Buck," you sighed heavily, "I do trust you. So I believe you when you say that you'll take care of yourself, and that you'll come back to me."

"There's no question."

"Wait just a minute," T'Challa interrupted, his hand up to stop the conversation, "is there something going on between-"

But you wouldn't allow him to finish, instead answering the question with an obvious demonstration, pulling Bucky into you for your first kiss. You made it completely obvious how you felt, leaving no room for confusion for your cousin to doubt it; it was so clear to him now how the two of you felt about each other that all he could do was turn and walk away, shaking his head at the revelation and definitely not wanting to see any more.

"How is it that everybody knows what's going on in my own country before I do?"