PRESCRIPT:
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Avengers: Infinity War provide important background information for the first 10 chapters of this fic.
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"Steve?"
His name, spoken like a question. The voice, shaky. Dust, blowing away in the breeze. Keening voices echoed in the distance, calling the names of loved ones who would never answer. Perversely, a nursery chant danced across his mind.
"Ashes, ashes, we all fall down..."
...
He woke in a cold sweat, dazed and breathing hard. He hurt. He ached, yes, all over, but the pain that had awakened him was sharp. He tried to sit up, only to feel his adrenaline surge at the sensation of being restrained and smothered; he heard something rip as he flexed, and he blinked stupidly in the dark. It took him a minute for his eyes to adjust. It took him a minute to remember where he was.
Wakanda.
The physical pain of tumbling out of bed, tangled in his bedsheets, was immediately overwhelmed by grief that hit him harder than any enemy ever could.
Shit.
He swallowed hard, trying to work moisture into his mouth; his tongue felt like sandpaper. His stomach made a low, grumbling noise of protestation. He was thirsty. He was starving. A metabolism four times faster than the average man's meant that he nearly always was, but this was different.
God, how long have I been out?
He lurched unsteadily to his feet, noticing as the tattered remains of his bedding fell away that he was still dressed, still covered in sweat, and dirt, and blood. It wasn't until he attempted a deep breath that the smell hit him; he stank like death. He felt his stomach heave, but it was empty, so all he could do was gag.
"Steve."
The sound of his name startled him; the voice was garbled, but familiar.
"Steve. Cap, you awake?"
He scrabbled for his earpiece; it had fallen out of his ear and was dangling down the front of his vest.
"Yeah," he tried, but his voice was raspy. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Yeah, Rhodes. Go ahead."
"I made the inquiries you requested. It's not good, Cap."
Dread crept in and settled somewhere in his chest.
"Tell me."