Chapter Text
Elara's POV
My eyes jump open as the jet shakes, we're close to landing, "Pietro careful please." I say walking towards the control board helping him.
I alert Steve and help Pietro stand, putting his arms around my shoulders. We exit the jet to see a group of Wakandan soldiers waiting with two stretchers. I sigh in relief
getting Pietro in one.
We reach a lab, with lots of programming in the background.
"Captain, Agent Vance. I'm Shuri. If you place your friends on the beds I can start their process."
I nod getting Pietro in one, and helping Steve with an unconscious James. Steve and I wait outside the lab, making his plan to get the rest of the team out.
Not long after T'Challa joins us and turns to me, "Agent Vance, we've set up a hut for you. It will be close to Barnes', anything you need will be provided for the first week, afterwards you can shop at the market which will be 20 minutes away. And anything else, please feel free to ask me or Shuri."
He then turns to Steve, "Captain, the jet has been checked and restocked. I understand you'll be heading out, Ross is keeping your friends at the raft." He concludes giving us a nod before walking into the lab.
Then a blue flash is out the door, "Look Lara, they fixed it." Pietro says pulling his leg up to show us. "So are we leaving now, to get Wanda?"
I take a deep breath, then turn to Steve. He looks at me with a look of betrayal, then sighs looking at Pietro. "Are you sure Pietro? You just healed your leg."
"I'll be fiiine. Look." He explains shaking his leg with his speed.
I roll my eyes patting Steve's back, "If he's fine, I guess you guys should head out." I internally sigh, as convincing Pietro to rest requires much more energy than what I have left.
They start moving forward, 10 seconds after Pietro speeds back to me, "Wait. Why are you not going with us?"
"I'll be staying here for a while, new job."
Pietro gives me an exaggerated sad face, "But they'll close the borders.. and I can't see you."
"We'll talk something out with T'Challa. Now go get your sister, yeah?" I say, as Pietro gives me a determined nod. He holds me tightly, then waves speeding away.
T'Challa walks out of the lab, "Come along, I'll show you where you are staying." I nod following him.
I walk out to see all the greenery and the buildings. I look up and see the quinjet flying away, my heart feeling heavy.
We reach two huts, that have a connecting doorway and a huge lake upfront. I get in, it has a small kitchen area, a bed, a cabinet and two small couches facing each other with a coffee table in the middle. "Only the basic necessities are here, you can head to the market for anything more. Barnes should be here soon." T'Challa explains, giving me a nod before heading out.
I take in a deep breath. I open the cabinets to find clothes, I cheer picking it up and wearing it. Then I start on cleaning my suit and pack it away with the weapons and hide it under the bed.
I head to the kitchen getting a glass of water, as I drink it I compare the tranquil silence to the loud, yet peaceful chaos of the compound.
I snap out of my thoughts when I hear footsteps approaching. I place the glass on the counter and head out. I look at the night sky, then at James and the soldier who is supporting him.
I go up to them, "I'll take it from here." I say with a small smile, and she nudges him my way. I put his arm on my shoulder, and we walk to his hut in a very clear awkward silence.
I place him on his bed, "Thank you. Steve told me you'd be staying, I'm sorry if that wasn't what you wanted."
I blink slowly, "No it's fine, I wanted to. It's time to see a new peace myself anyway. I'm sorry about the arm, Tony tends to uhh.... react." I say fidgeting with the ring.
He glances at my ring, then looks to the floor, "I deserved it." He quietly utters.
Not wanting to make anything worse, I quickly put on a smile. "Anyways. We've both had a long day. Get some sleep. I'm right next door if you need anything. So um, goodnight!" I say quickly using the door that connects to my hut.
I get all the lights off and lay on my bed looking at the ceiling. Thinking how it all went away within the span of a day. I finally let them free, tears run down my face. I don't try to stop, it just continues quietly. My breath holds, when I hear soft thrashing from the other side.
I wake up as gentle rays of the sun hit my face. I start to get ready and head out, I find a rock near the river. I get close to see James already on it. I contemplate for a second then walk to it. I sit near him, "Hey there. Did you get any sleep?"
He gives me a reluctant chuckle,"Not really."
"Well, I hope it's enough. Cause I have had immense trouble in believing the genuineness of Steve's back in my days. So it's high time I get a new perspective." I say, propping my chin on my hand as I wait for him.
He gives me a much more free laugh and shakes his head, "Never trust Steve's, I'll tell you what really happened. In 37 we planned to go dancing. So I showed Steve how to with my sister Becca's help, his following through was miserable. So when it was his turn Becca was actually quaking in her boots because she thought he was gonna break her foot somehow. So I stepped in, and boy was she right, for someone so tiny he gave my feet a hell of a bruising." He recounts those memories much at ease now than before.
"I have so much of what he's done now. With yours and my knowledge combined we could get a best seller." I wave my hands in the air titling, "Captain America: The man behind the shield." I laugh at my own idea, I turn to see James looking at me hundred percent agreeing with my humor.
After exchanging more of Steve's 'adventures'. I realize we both haven't had any food in a long while. I get up, "I am starved, and T'Challa says our fridge is stocked for the week. Wanna join?"
He nods standing up, and we walk towards my hut. I go straight to the fridge, getting the ingredients for an amazing soup I haven't had in an unreasonably long time. We set up the stove and pots. I cut up the ingredients as he mans the stove.
I start to slowly add the ingredients as he waits by, leaning on the counter. I've added almost everything except, "James, can u pass the kale?" I continue stirring, I turn back to see he has only begun his journey from the counter. Man, am I not seeing the super soldier speed. I finally add the kale, then let it rest and we set the table.
I place the pot on the coffee table, noting that I should get a dining table when I go out next week. I open the pot, "And this one is in my top three, Zuppa Toscana."
He laughs loudly, "What?" I ask him, placing my hands on my hips.
"I just can't believe you have a top three soups," he says going on an exceptionally high tone for the second -last word.
I scoff, "Ok. Then oh great Mr. Barnes, what do you keep top three of?" I ask sitting down and getting my long deserved soup.
"Literally anything that isn't soup." He answers, using the bowl to hide his very obvious smirk.
I roll my eyes, eating with mock agressiveness.
A/N What are your top three soups?
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