"You can't heal everything, (Y/N)," Steve eventually spoke again, "not all wounds heal. I'm sure that Tony would agree if he knew you were offering this."

"Dammit, Steve, why can't you just say what you want to say? What's holding you back? Tell Sam to mind his own business and grow a pair, already."

"Wow, I've forgotten how blunt you can be. But, okay, fine," he finally relented quietly, "will you help Buck, (Y/N)? It would mean...it would mean everything to me if you would try."

"Yes, Steve, I'll try. Thank you for deciding that you can trust me."

"Okay...great," he sighed, and the relief in his voice didn't escape you at all; you had been right and he wanted to ask, but now that the words were out and you had agreed, he had no idea why he thought it would be so difficult. "I'll make arrangements to bring you here-"

"But I have one condition."

"Okay?"

"When I'm done, and when I've healed his mind, you all come home."

"(Y/N), it's not that simple-"

"But it can be," you argued. "You're all just making it too difficult. You're all letting your pride and hurt feelings get in the way. It's time to grow up and fix this. Agree, Steve, or I stay here, and your best friend gets frostbite."

~~~

Tony stood quietly and uncharacteristically still, his back pressed up against the door of your room while he watched you pack your belongings for your trip to Wakanda. He had no idea where exactly you were going, as the location of Steve's team would remain a secret for now, but he knew who you were going to see. You couldn't lie to him, but you also couldn't betray Steve, so the delicate balance was made and you would fly there with Maria's help so that he couldn't track your whereabouts; so long as she promised to do better than when they tried to hide you in Minnesota and its ultimate failure.

"When will you be back?" he asked meekly, his breaths quickening with each packed item.

"I'm not sure. As soon as I'm done, I suppose. I don't see a reason to hang around, really."

"Okay, sure," he barely smiled, "right. Fly safe then." He pushed away from the door and turned to leave, moving quickly so that he could avoid your inevitable anger and the look in your eyes that would no doubt leave him crushed and at your mercy from there on out. If he were a smart man like he thought he was, he would have known that he had been at your mercy for years now.

"That's it, Stark? Fly safe?" you spat. "That's all you've got?"

He stopped with a deep breath, slamming the door loudly and turning around to face you, with his jaw set and a darkness in his eyes that you had never seen from him before; certainly never with you as its cause. "What do you want me to say?! You're going to help them when you know how I feel about it! You're helping him, (Y/N)."

"No," you argued, stepping closer, "that's not what's really bothering you, don't you dare lie to me. We've talked about this already, and you said that you would work through it and that you understood why I was going. Anthony Edward Stark, you tell me what's going on right now."

"If I let out what really rolling around up here," he tapped the side of his head angrily, "then you'd run away screaming and I'd never see you again!" Tony paused and took another breath, trying and failing to calm himself. "Listen, I can't have a life that doesn't have you, ever...like...dammit, this isn't how I'm supposed to feel, okay? I'm so much older than you that I'm the perfect target for To Catch a Predator. I can't believe they aren't already knocking on my door as we speak."

"So?"

"So?!" he choked out. "So? So isn't that...creepy?"

"I'm an adult, Tony. I can decide for myself how creepy you are," you shrugged. "Wait...that came out wrong."

"No, I think that came out right. It means you agree."

"Oh my god! Would you just stop putting words in my mouth! I can think for myself, you know!" Charging forward so quickly that he took a step back in surprise, he found himself pressed against the door and unable to argue when you held yourself against him in a clear demonstration that you meant what you were saying, and that he wasn't allowed to push back. "Say it."

"Say...what?" he gasped in a restrained whisper, his eyes wide.

"What you want me to know."

"That you're scary when you're angry."

"Tony..."

"I love you."

Even though you knew that those words were a chance to be spoken, they still sent a shock wave through you, now that they had found their sound. You had thought about what it would be for Tony to say them to you, and what you would do if you heard them, and all of those previous ideas had suddenly left your mind, leaving you nothing other than your own surprise that he really did it. You didn't want him to see that from you, however, seeing in his eyes the fear that he was feeling by letting them out, and having no idea as to how you would react. "Was that really so difficult?" you finally offered, relieved at the slight relaxation in him.

"Yes," he laughed, but the humor wasn't in its sound, "I'm terrified right now. You really are scary, I wasn't joking."

"Okay, sorry. I tend to get a little energetic, I admit." You released your hold on his arms and took a step back, but he returned your energy now, reaching out for you and taking your arms in his, spinning you around so that you were now the one backed against the door with his body pressed to yours. You wondered what magic he had about him that left you mute to object and your body stilled beneath his power over you.

"Can I?"

You had barely nodded before his lips were on yours, hesitantly at first, still believing that he was doing something wrong. Tony wasn't new at this by any means, but you could feel how nervous he was and you couldn't help but have sympathy for the guy. Deciding that your take-charge attitude might be of use right now, you wrapped your arms around him and pulled him in closer, taking control of the kiss and letting him follow your lead until he found himself unable to catch his breath.

"Thanks," he gasped, pulling back slowly and resting his forehead to yours, "I'm usually better at this, I promise."

"So I've heard."

He jolted up and stood straight, looking at you with his mouth agape at the insinuation. "You've heard? From who?"

"Sorry, sweetie, girl code. I can't divulge my sources." Dipping down to slide under his arm and out of his hold, you returned to your packing with a smile and new appreciation for his eyes on you as you worked. Everything had shifted between you in the matter of minutes, and you found yourself feeling a little heartbroken that you were just about to leave him. "Don't worry, Tony, we'll have plenty of chances for you to prove it when I get back."

~~~

Upon your arrival to Wakanda, you wasted no time in making your way to T'Challa's palace; it was a massive building, opulent in its design and décor, yet it was clear that their technological advancement had far surpassed anything that you had found from Tony or SHIELD in the years you had spent with them. Steve was waiting for you at the main entrance when you approached, watching carefully as the driver led you to him, readily opening his arms for you when you passed through the door.

"(Y/N)," he murmured into your hair with his hug, "you're okay. I'm so sorry that I couldn't do this when I saw you in Leipzig, but I've really missed you. I'm so relieved."

"Thanks, Steve, I've missed you too," you answered honestly, "and I'm sorry that you had to think that I was dead for so long. Nick and Maria were just trying to keep me safe."

"I know, I probably would have done the same."

"Okay, so where is he?" you asked, pulling from his embrace and taking a step back. You reached down and took your suitcase in hand, but he stepped forward and took it away. "Hey, I've got it."

"So do I," he smirked, "so accept the chivalry. You're helping my friend, and it's the least I can do."

"I'm going to try. Let's not get our hopes up, Steve. I don't know if this is going to work."

"It will," he replied with certainty, "and I'll owe you for it. You might want to start putting your list of demands together."

"You sound so certain that I haven't already."

"Then I look forward to reading it," he nodded curtly, extending his arm so that you could slide your hand into it. "Shall we?"

With that, the two of you began to make your way to your assigned quarters, not saying anything more. Now that you were actually here and you could both hear and see how much Steve was believing in your ability to help his friend, you were feeling the pressure more than before. For the first time, you started to question if this was the right thing to do. You looked up at him a few times as you walked at his side, but he thankfully didn't look back; you feared that if he looked into your eyes he would see it, and you would set his own anxiety into motion in response. The more you allowed your mind to race, the more you began to fall into the cycle of self-doubt, and it felt like a dangerous path to be taking right now.

"Steve, I think we should go straight to the lab," you offered, though it was more of a warning. "I want to get started right away."

"Why?" he stopped, turning to you; the worry you feared seeing was now in his eyes. "What's wrong, (Y/N)?"

"Nothing," you lied, "I just want to get this done so that we can bring everyone home. And Tony..." you faded away, but he didn't miss the flush building in your cheeks before you turned to avoid his attention.

"Finally," he slowly smiled when the full understanding came to him, "he finally told you."

"Seriously?! Who all knows about it?"

"Everyone knows, sweetheart. We talk about it all the time."

"Oh, that makes me feel better, thanks."

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that!" he backpedaled. "But I'm glad that he finally said something. He's been beating himself up forever about it. I kept telling him that if anyone should be called a creepy old man around there it was me. No matter who I would end up liking would be inappropriate, because I'm a hundred damn years old." He wrapped his arm around your shoulders for a quick little hug and released you again, sliding his hand down until it found yours to continue to lead the walk. "Alright, let's head for the lab then, it's your call."

Steve brought you to a long, sterile appearing hallway with bright lights that stung your eyes and a floor that reflected your movements as you made your way to the double doors at the end of it. For such an expansive structure, it felt almost empty, as you had only seen one other person since you had left the entrance several minutes ago. When you reached the entry to the lab, Steve put his hand to the door and took a long breath, it's nervous quality not escaping your attention; he pushed the barrier open and allowed you to go first.

"Are they taking him out?" you asked softly, seeing Bucky's cryo chamber immediately in front of you.

"Yes, but they were waiting for you to get here."

He released your hand so that you could approach Bucky, watching your every move. You stood silently in front of the chamber, studying the man inside who you had seen only once before, and in the midst of battle amongst your own team. You knew nothing about him other than the few shreds of information that Steve was able to give you to read on your way here, and you had no idea how deep the damage went within his mind. Whatever Hydra had done, it wasn't likely to be hastily done, and you began to fear what it was that you were going to find. He looked like he was merely sleeping within the frosty air around him, his features soft and welcoming; you raised your hand to the glass, but as you connected to it and felt the chill in your skin, something screamed in your mind and jarred you, thrusting you back with a toppling force under its strength.

"Hey, are you okay?" Steve asked, hurrying to your side and taking your arm to steady you.

"Yeah...I'm okay..." you panted, shaking your head from the intrusion. "It's just...I think this is going to be harder than I thought."