That wasn't you, she says, and you make your own choices now, and he hears the echo in his mind as though he's right back there on the plane.

"I don't know if I'm worth all this, Steve."

"What you did all those years... it wasn't you. You didn't have a choice."

"I know. But I did it."

Her breath is warm against his skin, her hands cradling his face. He makes himself stay still for a second, just breathing, then places his right hand against her shoulder and pushes her very gently away, while he eases back.

"All he had to do was say the goddamn words," he tells her now, as he'd told Steve - and Wilson - then. "Shuri thinks she's gotten the roots of it out, but..."

Carefully, deliberately, he eases back further.

"I don't know why you're here. But stay. Stay in Wakanda. You should be safe here. I think they'll let you, if I ask. Or your friend will."