Time Changes People

- - - - -

"Bucky, stop."

Ana laughed behind her hand, shaking her head at the man who wouldn't sit still. She had a razor in one hand and a damp cloth in the other. The task was simple, shave the growing beard on Bucky's face. The retired soldier wouldn't quit craning his neck from side to side to see what Ana was trying to do in the mirror behind her. If it was up to her, Ana would leave the facial hair since he only looked more handsome with some stubble along his cheeks. But later that day important visitors were going to arrive in Wakanda. Steve, Natasha and Sam were all on a Quinjet heading for the Kingdom to visit them both. Bucky was the one who threw the idea up in the air in the first place, though it seemed he had a change of mind.

"Have you done this before?" Bucky asked her with wide, uncertain eyes.

Ana scoffed lightly and straightened up, planting the back of her wrists on her hips. "Yes, I have. Clint got into an accident on an assignment once and broke both arms. Nat was undercover and I had to look after him. I trimmed his hair and beard since he couldn't do it himself." She shared.

Bucky wrapped his hand around her wrist that carried the razor. "Alright, fine. Just, don't cut me." He reluctantly let her hand go and sat still as she shaved the left side of his jaw. He winced, "Ouch."

Ana grimaced at the tiny cut, and quickly pressed the towel over it. "I said I've done it before. I never said I was good at it." She said in defence when Bucky threw her a pointed look.

Bucky rolled his eyes. "Remind me to never get my hair cut by you. Who knows how much you'll take off."

Ana eyed his long hair, lighting up with an idea. "Now that you mentioned it..."

Bucky caught her hand before it could reach his hair, and smirked when she snickered. "Easy, tiger." He chuckled.

Ana placed the razor in the sink and grabbed a fresh towel, turning her back to Bucky and running it under the tap water. She could feel his hand rest on her hip and she suppressed a grin. She noticed how he liked to be in contact with her, a lot more recently since they've spent time together. Whether it was a simple hand on her back or their hands intertwining. Ana was very pleased with this side of him. "I noticed you've been a hit with the kids. They like to call you White Wolf." Ana said, spinning to face him.

Bucky raised his head and let Ana wipe off the shaving cream from his cheeks. "Whenever I'm out at the farm, the kids do come by and keep me company. They ask me all sorts of questions, but I don't give them a straight answer. I don't want them to know what I've done. Who I was." He responded.

Ana sent him a sympathetic smile and nudged his chin with her index finger fondly. "It's a good thing you never have to be the person ever again."

Bucky let a smile slip, "One of them asked me if I knew Captain America."

"And what did you say?" Ana asked.

"I said I knew the man behind the shield. That I grew up with him when he had asthma and about every other medical condition known to man." He chuckled.

Ana sat on his knee, and looped her arms around his neck. Bucky snaked his arm around her waist so she wouldn't lose balance, and looked up at her. "A lot of the children idolise Cap, and their own protector and King — the Black Panther. They like their superheroes." Ana added.

"So do I." Bucky winked, hugging her closer.

Ana smiled against his lips, "That earns a kiss, Barnes."

"That's what I was going for."

- - -

"It's is weird that I feel like throwing up?"

Ana wrung her hands as she paced in front of Bucky who stood perfectly still. They were at a landing zone for aircrafts that was located near the laboratory, waiting for their friends to arrive. T'Challa, Okoye and Shuri were off to the side, talking among themselves.

"Yes, it's weird." Bucky told Ana, reaching out to stop her from doing another lap of pacing.

Ana stood beside him, and sighed. "I mean, I'm so nervous and excited at the same time."

"I can see that." Bucky smiled.

Ana puffed the air out from her cheeks, and placed a hand on her forehead. "What if they all have matching tattoos? Being under for that long will give a person some edge. If they do, I'm gonna be so mad."

Bucky raised an eyebrow. "You'd get inked just because they did? I never thought of you as the type."

Ana snorted. "If Cap did, I will. I'd follow that man into anything."

"So would I." Bucky mumbled.

Ana faced him, and sent him a smile. She knew how nervous he felt with the incoming event of reuniting with his oldest friend now that he had a clear head. "How are you feeling about today, Buck?"

Bucky shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just like you, except without the throwing up part."

"Are you sure? You look pale." Ana ran her hand along his jaw, and he reached up and took her hand in his.

"I'm okay. Really." Bucky assured.

"Check it out. They're here." Shuri alerted as she looked up from her Kimoyo Beads.

Sure enough, the Quinjet appeared as the shield above the city parted an access point for them to fly through. Shuri had opened up the point, and closed it right after they entered the dome. Ana's stomach was doing somersaults and she put a hand over her chest. She had been looking forward to this moment ever since they parted in the first place. She wasn't sure what kind of shape they would be in since they were busy on an assignment that took well over a week to complete. Once the Quinjet landed on the landing pad, she listened as the engines powered down and the ramp opened.

Ana's grin faltered at the sight of her old friends as they emerged from the jet. What stood out the most was the absent star on Steve's Captain America suit. It looked as if it had been torn off, tearing parts of the material surrounding it away as well. The chain mail, scale-like design underneath the top layer of his suit could be spotted from a few holes here and there. The red and white stripes were dark, dirty, like he had given up on that part of himself. It lowered Ana's spirit just a tad more than she would have liked to admit. One thing was clear, Steve Rogers wasn't Captain America anymore — at least that's what he thought of himself. He was a man without a country. Without a flag. A man who still fought for those who couldn't protect themselves. A man who still wandered, looking for purpose. A Nomad.

Sam looked the same apart from the facial hair. Ana remembered how he kept it simple before the Accords. Now it spread across his cheeks, giving him a more mature look. She realised how relieved she felt when she could see how neat and clean his Falcon suit was. The reds and whites stood out, showing Ana that he didn't want his identity to fade away, unlike Steve. He looked more muscular and his posture represented the soldier in him. He stood up straight, with a half-hearted smile across his features.

Natasha stood out with her short, platinum blonde hair. She had found herself a new uniform too. Instead of her signature red and black, there were dark green accents and along with a new addition of weapons. A collapsible bo-staff was strapped to her back in a X formation. There was a slight bruise on her chin, and Ana assumed she got it during their assignment. Her face was impassive, showing absolutely no emotion. Not even a quirk of her lips or a slight raising of the brows. That worried Ana.

Time resumed and Sam walked down the ramp of the jet first, eyes lighting up at the sight of a friend. His stroll turned into a jog and he beamed at the brunette as she mirrored his actions and started to advance closer. Ana opened her arms and was scooped up into a hug. Sam held her to him, and laughed softly. "Oh, this is awesome! Man, I've missed you, Ana. It's so good to see you again."

Ana wrapped her arms over his shoulders and gave him an affectionate squeeze. "It's good to see you too, Sam. It's been a while." She replied, pulling back to give him a once over. She held his face in her hands and they shared a grin, before she pecked his check and embraced him again. She could feel the emotions start to get heavy, the relief and tranquillity she felt from knowing they were safe, and tried her best to push them away and keep the smile on her face.

Sam stepped back and allowed Natasha to step in. He could tell the blonde wanted nothing more than to squash the younger woman since all she talked about the entire flight over was Ana. Ana was also anxious to embrace the Widow, and didn't waste any time. Natasha braced herself as Ana dove into her arms, and pressed her head against the Warrior's. Natasha cradled Ana's head with one hand as the other clutched onto her waist. "You were supposed to hug me first. What's this? You're picking favourites?" She murmured, loud enough for only Ana to hear.

"I'm sorry." Ana laughed quietly, closing her eyes and embracing the moment. "God, I missed you so much, Nat."

They pulled back and Natasha framed Ana's face with her hands. "It was hard, I know. But we're here now. Together. And that's what matters." She stated.

Steve placed a hand on Ana's shoulder, and smiled softly, almost coyly. The pair don't say a word and wrap their arms around each other, holding tight. Ana felt the way her eyes began to sting from unshed tears, and she knew it wasn't a good idea to cry in front of them. Not because they would tease her, but because they would see that all the time they spent apart took a toll on her. She wanted to look strong. She had to.

Ana pulled back in Steve's arms, and rested her hands on his shoulders. She gave him a tight lipped smile, breathing in deeply to hopefully simmer down. Steve's eyes started to glisten, and Ana shook her head, sniffling.

"Dammit, Steve..." Ana exhaled heavily, voice cracking in the middle of her sentence. She hugged him again as he let out a quiet chuckle.

"Can't help it, it's been too long. Way too long." Steve pulled back to kiss her head. "I'm glad we're all here."

Ana looked over her shoulder at Bucky, and smiled. "Plus one more."

Bucky slowly walked up to Steve and Ana, nodding at Sam and Natasha in greeted. Ana could tell he felt uncomfortable, but he powered through it. Sam nudged Bucky's shoulder, "Hey, man. You good?" He asked.

"Yeah, I am." Bucky replied, nodding back at him.

Ana stepped way from Steve and stood with Natasha as the Brooklyn boys caught each other's gazes. Steve didn't say anything and reached for his best friend, embracing him. Bucky laughed softly, clapping his back. Ana and Nat wrap an arm around each other's waists as Sam laid an arm around Ana's shoulder.

"You're alright, Buck. You're back." Steve muttered.

"Don't start crying on me, Rogers." Bucky smirked. "Otherwise the beard won't fool anybody into thinking you're a tough guy."

Ana watched, smiling. Her heart felt full.

"Geez, these guys can't get enough of each other." Natasha told Ana and Sam, making them laugh.

"Hey now, this is a special moment." Sam argued. "Let the grandpas hug it out all they want."

Steve pulled back finally and patted Bucky's shoulder, "Wish we made it here earlier, but we've had our hands full for weeks."

Ana spoke up. "Fury told me about your secret assignments. How's that going?"

Steve looked back at her and paused, "It's... going. We've had to keep our eyes and ears peeled for anything even remotely close to our objectives. We've mostly dealt with arms dealers trying to sell Chitauri tech on the black market. We've laid lower than low, covered our tracks, watched our backs... it's been tough."

Ana nodded along.

"I'll bet. Come on, let's get you guys a drink."

- - -

"Hey, Ana, can I talk you for a sec?"

Ana looked up from pouring an array of drinks into different glasses to Steve as he entered the kitchen, holding an empty tray that had been filled with food. He placed it on the counter next to her and leaned against it, crossing his arms. While Ana placed the cups on the tray, she nodded up at her friend, giving him a smile.

"Of course, Steve. What's on your mind?" She questioned.

Steve scratched his beard, and let out a heavy sigh. "I'm just gonna come right out and say it, how is he?"

"Strong." Ana put it simply. "Bucky is doing his best to get through each day ever since he got out of cryostasis. He's opening up to me about his struggles. He talks it out whenever he finds it difficult to sleep after a nightmare. He focuses on the good, rather than the bad — even if all that goes on in his head is a dark trip down memory lane. I do my best to make sure he's got someone to turn to. I look after him. I make sure he gets rest. I make sure he knows that I'm there for him every step of the way. He shouldn't have to suffer for what those bastards did to him. He shouldn't have to look in the mirror and hate what he sees. Bucky Barnes shouldn't have to feel like he was supposed to die after he fell from the train." Ana finished off, shaking her head as she averted Steve's gaze. She pressed the back of her hand to her forehead, and shut her eyes for a brief second, before facing him again.

Steve could tell, clear as day, how strongly Ana cared for Bucky. He could see it in the way her eyes became red from the tears that threatened to pour out. He could see it in the way she would clutch her hands together enough to turn her knuckles white. He could hear it in her voice. There was an underlying tremble in her tone that surprised him. And moved him. He was grateful for Ana's strive to protect and help his best friend. He thanked his lucky stars that Ana — a woman he had grown to trust and believe in — had stuck by Bucky's side.

Steve placed a hand on her upper arm, and looked at her with warm eyes. "Ana, thank you. Truly. I'm thankful that Bucky has someone like you to help him through this. I can't imagine what he's been through, and it's comforting knowing that you are always by his side. I know you two share the same experience, and it must be hard confronting the past and trying to move forward, but I believe you can do it. Both of you. After all, you've got each other." He told her.

Ana smiled to herself. "I know it isn't exactly easy to find a person you'd want to share everything with in life. Especially when it's constantly changing and nothing ever seems to stay the same, but I know what I have now that I have it, and I know I don't want to ever let it go. I can't. It's too important to me. Bucky's too important to me." She admitted to Steve and herself.

"Then it's a good thing you've got super strength and a knack for fighting for what you believe in." Steve grinned. "Because the way I see it, nothing can take what you both have away."

"I hope you're right."

- - -

Ana watched as the people she cared about so much laughed and talked together. She was sitting on an armrest of the chair Bucky reclined in, one arm looped around his shoulders as her other hand carried a half empty soda can. They had all settled in a living room of sorts, sitting together and sharing past memories with the group. Sam did the majority of the comedic backstories of their missions, explaining to Bucky and Ana how Steve decided to stop shaving to save time in the morning. Natasha also mentioned how she and Sam had to get with the 1940's slang Steve would say during their time together.

"Nobody says stir anymore!" Sam laughed at Natasha's latest comment, throwing an arm in Steve's direction.

"It's slang for prison." Bucky told him. Steve gave him a grand 'thank you' look, and nodded at him for his support. Bucky shook his head, laughing softly at him.

"Then why not just say prison?" Ana asked, glancing down at him.

"Yeah, why do you have to use all those old-timey words?" Sam added.

Steve huffed. "It's not that old-timey."

Natasha smirked. "It's pretty old-timey." She agreed with the youngsters. Ana and Sam gave each other grins.

Steve shook his head, leaning forward to put down his empty glass on the table between them. "Alright, enough about that. Ana, Bucky said you've gone to space." He said, looking to her.

Sam crossed his arms over his chest. "Care to elaborate?"

Ana shrugged. "I did go to space. Made some friends, some enemies, joined a few clubs, and even saved the universe. Twice." She scoffed lightly, "I'm on a freakin' roll."

"Can you even breathe in space?" Natasha asked.

Ana nodded. "Sure. But enough about me. I really want to know what you guys have been up to."

"Well, we've kept going. Doing what we can to help others even if we weren't permitted. We've crossed the world, stopping events before they become a crisis. We've constantly been moving from place to place. Country to country. It's not safe for us anywhere, and that took a toll on all of us. Some are not too keen on admitting it either." Steve gave a pointed glance to Natasha, who ignored it and sipped on her iced tea. "It's not a good way to live, but it's a good way to not get caught."

Sam supported his elbows on his knees, and threw them all a grin. "I for one miss socialising with people other than these two. Three, including Wanda. I've got stories to share and a need to hear anything that has nothing to do with Cap and Widow." Nat and Steve sent him a look of offence. "And I know you've got some things to share, Ana. Two years is a long time and Fury's told us you haven't exactly been good at the whole retirement thing."

Ana grinned. "What can I say? Trouble finds me. I'm like a goddamn magnet."

"Speaking of magnets, when are you getting a new arm?" Natasha asked Bucky, who seemed thrown by the question.

Ana saw how Bucky looked off, and decided to answer for him. She rubbed his back, silently letting him know she was there to help him with it. "He's been taking it slow ever since he got back and there's no need for a prosthetic yet." Ana said.

"I don't want an arm if it means I gotta use it like I used the last one." Bucky added.

Ana peered down at him and said softly, "Which won't happen again. Not ever."

The room went silent and Ana glanced at her watch, "Why don't you guys go ahead and get some rest? The ride here must've been tiring. You all look like you need some shut-eye." She told them all.

Sam stood up, downing the last of his beverage. "I'm down with finally getting some sleep. Point me in the direction of my bed and I will gladly pass out on it." He said, tucking his hands in his pant pockets.

Ana stood up but not before pressing a kiss to Bucky's cheek. He smiled to himself as she walked to Sam and Natasha. "Come on you two." She nodded at Steve, "Steve, make sure Bucky doesn't fall asleep on the couch." She chuckled, noticing Bucky's yawn. Steve smiled at her, and nudged Bucky to get him to stay awake.

"Copy that."

- - -

"Talk to me, Ana."

Ana finished unfolding a duvet over the mattress Natasha was about to sleep on and sent the blonde a questioning glance. The Widow had changed into a pair of leggings and a loose tee to sleep in. She placed her folded suit and equipment in a duffle bag that she dropped at the foot of the bed. Ana tucked in the ends of the blanket into the sides of the bed while Natasha climbed onto the bed, sitting down crosslegged.

"About what? What do you wanna hear?" Ana asked, joining Natasha and sitting up against the headboard.