Bucky didn't know what the hell he'd do after leaving Delacroix. He knew it was time to do his own thing, really continue his own life without throwing himself back into the fight. He had time to actually be and, for once, be okay with it since it was typically because he thought he was better off.

Getting to meet Sam's family changed him. Being accepted by the neighborhood elevated him. He felt seen and heard. Not like a monster. Human. And for the first time in a long time, it was almost like everything would be okay.

The nightmares remained but on some nights they weren't as bad. Didn't rattle him to the core like usual. However, after one particularly bad night accompanied by a vivid dream of everything going wrong, Bucky tried to rack his brain on the methods he was taught. Not by Raynor, but in Wakanda.

He couldn't help but think the breathing exercises or counting to a specific number or reciting a Xhosa proverb over and over again were silly. Silly as in it's funny they thought it would work for him. But maybe they "didn't work" because...he's not where he's supposed to be. Physically. This lonely, dark, shitty apartment with barely any furniture close to his old base was a terrible idea. He knew that from the jump.

So, like the impulsive man he can be, he made a call in the middle of the night.

The next morning, you have your normal morning routine when suddenly you are summoned to the palace. This wasn't really abnormal since you've been appointed as one of the multifaceted gurus of sorts. A divine healer and guide, if you will. But you haven't been personally summoned to the palace since...

"Sister, you have a visitor," Shuri came up to you with a cheeky grin on her face. She didn't miss the slung bag you usually carry across your shoulders, surely holding all your materials.

"A visitor?" You ask while following her.

"An American," she said rather coyly. Intentionally keeping it vague. But there's only two Americans you've formally met.

"Does he have wings?" You ask to play along. She turns to you and shakes her head. Once she turns back around and steps out the way, you freeze.