[oom] i wake to sleep and take my waking slow

[nerves_of_ice]

The first few days after Bucky goes under are spent in data analysis and quality assurance. There's a lot of information in the human mind, after all. Much of it is messy and complicated and stored in structures that are interconnected in unexpected ways. And when it comes to a project like this, something that's never truly been done before with a biological mind versus synthetic structures and artificial intelligence, something that has the highest of stakes, there's no second chance and thus no room for error.

Shuri spends her time focused on the mission during the first few days, leaving the majority of the data integrity checks to her technical team. She reviews their work at the start and end of each day when she comes to check on her sleeping patient, making corrections to methods and systems and processes where needed. She makes sure that there are two untouched backups of the original digital representation stored safely at all times in case they have to start over. Finally, they're able to confirm that everything is prepared, that the digital representation is not only complete but stable, and that the real work is ready to begin.

Once the mission's done, she turns the weapon prototype and its blueprints over to a few of her most highly-trusted developers for analysis and immerses herself in Bucky's mind. She'd already drafted the initial algorithm, of course, and has spent nearly three months refining it against the initial scans, every additional scan she's done since, the data from the notebooks Bucky'd kept and the memories he'd written down. She doesn't think it'll take too long to finish it.

It takes weeks.

She ruins multiple copies of the digital representation in the first two weeks while testing the algorithm against it - first in simulation and then in practice. It's the practical part that turns out to be problematic. During the first few tests, her code destroys HYDRA's trigger programming as intended, but then also devours the memories attached to it and proceeds to spread like a virus through everything it can reach. The next series of tests fails to fully eliminate the triggers, and post-implementation simulation reveals that the damaged programming, if not fully removed, will destabilize the mind entirely over time, leaving the subject lost to madness or dementia or both. Shuri refuses to allow any of it. Even the possibility is too much. Nothing must be left to chance. Nothing of harm must be allowed to remain.

Meanwhile, silent in the cryo chamber, Bucky sleeps on.

They're into the third week before the first test is passed. All work comes to a halt in the lab as they stare at the displays. No one dares breathe until the test is repeated. When the second series of results flashes up on screen, showing success across every aspect, the lab explodes in cheers. Instead of becoming easier, Shuri's work becomes even more painstaking and demanding, as she sets out to ensure the smallest nuances are fully refined. She creates additional copies and runs the algorithm against them under high-strain conditions. She practices transitioning the new digital copy from server to server to server, trying to eliminate any and all possibility of data loss during transfer.

At the end of the third week, she sends for T'Challa.

____________________

The first thing he's aware of is the cold. This kind of cold he knows all too well. It chills all the way to the bone, pinning him in place with frigid air around him and a cold surface under him. He's too cold even to shiver. Bucky can't move or speak, or do anything at all other than lie still and quiet, listening to the soft hissing sound that's the only thing he can hear.

He drifts in and out of awareness for a while as the light around him gets brighter and the temperature starts to rise. It's not until there's a loud 'click' and the hum of the cryo chamber opening that he finally opens his eyes.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

The shoes are good, thin golden straps of leather, graceful heels, perfect for showing off her bright pedicure, the same cherry red as the dress itself. "Not very practical," Sharon admits, "but it's a special occasion."

She lifts her head to smile at Bucky again and doesn't let his hand go as she steps to his side and grins back at Shuri. "Not bad, right?"

"I have seen worse," Shuri says, and pointedly arches her eyebrows at her brother, who sighs.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky looks at T'Challa and gives him a raised eyebrow. Is this what you mentioned before?

T'Challa nods, and tries to shift the topic, saying, "As I was saying, it was our honor and our pleasure to assist."

"Still," Bucky says. "There aren't words to say how much it means."

His hand tightens a little more on Sharon's, and he glances down at her, smiling a little.

[from_the_outside]

"Sandals," Shuri stage-whispers to Sharon, whose shoulders shake with held laughter as she meets Bucky's glance. She can't stop smiling, and she doesn't want to try: today was a good day. They won. It's time to celebrate.

She laces her fingers securely in his. "No, there aren't."

The words don't exist, but T'Challa and Shuri understand anyway. Nakia, Okoye, Ayo – they all get it.

Even now, T'Challa shakes his head. "None are necessary," he says, lifting his hand to halt any argument, and Shuri grins brightly. "Besides," she says, "there is still so much to do! I have several designs for prosthetic arms for you to consider... but not tonight," she amends, at a glance from her brother.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Whatever you want, whenever you want," he promises Shuri. He doesn't think there's likely to be anything she could ask of him, ever, that he'd say no to. Especially now.

Steve walks up to join them, smiling. "Sharon, you look nice," he says, and trades a remembering sort of look with Bucky.

[from_the_outside]

"Thanks," she tells him, and spares a moment to be grateful that she doesn't have to compete with Aunt Peggy's memory every day. It's too much pressure for anyone.

Her hand is warm in Bucky's as she says, "And thanks for getting this one all cleaned up."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Least I could do," Steve says. "Although I guess I should have brought him some fancier clothes."

Nakia, Okoye, and Ayo join the loose grouping in time to hear this, and all three of them turn to look thoughtfully at Bucky, who eyes them back a little warily - especially Nakia.

[from_the_outside]

"I don't even think you have fancier clothes," she says to Bucky. But it doesn't matter. She's by far the most dressed-up of all of them, and she had a very specific reason for it.

Okoye and Ayo give him a critical onceover. Somehow they always manage to look perfectly polished; it must be some secret Dora technique or other. "He will do," Okoye says, finally, before giving him an amused look as Ayo laughs.

Nakia comes to stand next to T'Challa, and the expression on her face as she looks at Bucky is nothing but warmth and pleasure. "Are you all going to stand around talking all night?" she teases. "Come, this man must be hungry. He has not eaten for almost a month."

[nerves_of_ice]

He shrugs, just a little, and the corner of his mouth turns up in a wry smile. "Haven't needed anything but a uniform to be dressed up since 1943," he points out, and Steve grins at him. "I know the feeling."

They both look at Nakia at the same time when she gently scolds them, and Steve pats Bucky on the back.

"She's got a point."

"And we have much to choose from," Shuri says, beaming, and leads the way to the table with its large selection of dishes.

[from_the_outside]

"We're a little short on that particular uniform," Sharon admits, although there's definitely a slightly far away look in her eyes for a moment.

(If it seems like she's remembering a few specific photos from 1943, it's because she is.)

"But the good news is, you don't need to dress up for anything."

What he does need is some food, and she's a little embarrassed at the fact that she has to wrestle with herself a bit before letting go of his hand so they can both fill plates. Neither of them are going anywhere, she doesn't have to be touching him at every second to remind herself of that fact.

Still, she sticks close to his side, and when he finds a seat, she pulls up the next one over.

[nerves_of_ice]

Steve settles easily on Bucky's left with his own plate, as everyone else finds their own seats in the comfortable, casual grouping. He can't seem to stop smiling. Neither can Bucky, for that matter - from small, disbelieving smiles to the occasional bright, brilliant grin.

"So," he asks, "aside from the mission, what'd I miss?"

[from_the_outside]

Shuri shakes her head. "I was busy," she says. Sharon avoids Nakia's glance and digs into her food instead; like everything else she's eaten here, it's excellent.

"I've been working the Chitauri tech end of Gray's supply chain," Steve says. "Apparently he folded so fast Ross didn't even get a chance to threaten him with anything."

Sharon isn't surprised: the man was only in it for the money. If he can turn evidence and get a clean slate, he will.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Good," Bucky says. "Although disappointing for Ross, I bet." His voice is bone-dry.

"I have news from M'Baku," T'Challa puts in, and Okoye does an excellent job of keeping her expression blank. "He was very pleased to share that he has wrapped up those who thought they could conduct such operations on Jabari lands. I gather no one will dare try anything of the sort again."

[from_the_outside]

"I'm sure he was pleased," Sharon murmurs to Nakia, who stifles a laugh. "Sounds like somebody had some fun."

She can believe M'Baku is more than enough of a deterrent to keep the bad guys at bay. "We have also successfully removed the rogue elements from the mines," Okoye says. Her tone is calm, but there's definitely something smug underlying it. "And apprehended the distributor Ms. Carter and Captain Rogers met with."

Sharon wasn't part of that operation, but she'd seen some of it go down. Her main takeaway is that she never, ever wants to be on the Dora's shit list.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Good news all around then," Bucky says, and Steve puts a hand on his shoulder and squeezes briefly.

"Better believe it."

[from_the_outside]

It is. It was. She focuses on her food and makes a sound of agreement.

There was a lot to do and they not only did it, but did it well, thanks to the skills of the Dora and T'Challa's generosity... and Fury's intel.

(What they don't have, now that Kwan is dead, is a lead on this Power Broker in Madripoor. Fury's working on it, she knows, but she doesn't like it.)

"Also, Ndela got stuck climbing a tree," she tells him. "So I helped her get back down again."

That Ndela. Always getting into trouble. She's a doll after Sharon's own heart.

[nerves_of_ice]

"You know, I would ask why she was climbing it in the first place, but I'm sure she had a good reason," he drawls. "Like to pick stars or something."

"Oh!" Shuri exclaims. "I like that idea." Okoye gives her a slightly wary look, T'Challa a curious one.

"Why? Do you want to pick stars?"

[from_the_outside]

"Who wouldn't?" says Shuri, reasonably, and Sharon laughs.

"Sort of," she tells Bucky. "She wanted to climb high enough to see the ocean, apparently."

There are carafes of wine at the table; she pours herself a glass, her left hand going to his leg beneath the table. Not for anything funny, just...

She missed him. And she almost can't believe he's right here, solid and warm and real. So she lets her hand rest on his leg for a little while, just to make sure of it.

"Did she?" Nakia wants to know, and Sharon shrugs.

"I don't know. She got stuck halfway up."

[nerves_of_ice]

Steve chuckles. "Brave kid."

"She really is," Bucky agrees. He shifts just a little, pressing his leg against Sharon's hand in lieu of squeezing her fingers, then settles again. "She's basically fearless."

"She takes after her grandmother in that way," Okoye agrees.

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, Chichima didn't get stuck halfway up," Sharon explains, curving her hand over Bucky's leg beneath the table. "Ndela did. I'm pretty sure Chichima just tossed her up there."

Her smile is fond. She enjoys all the kids, but she finds Chichima especially fun. "She is fearless, though. And imaginative."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Wait, Chichima didn't go up after her?" he asks, startled. "I figured you had to rescue them both."

[from_the_outside]

"It was higher than she was supposed to go," Sharon explains. "And into the thin whippy branches at the top. She might be fearless, but she's a smart girl – she knows what's safe and what isn't."

[nerves_of_ice]

"A very smart girl," Nakia agrees. Bucky nods, and eyes Sharon.

"So instead you climbed into the 'thin whippy branches'?"

[from_the_outside]

"Better me than her," she points out, a grin threatening at the corner of her mouth.

"But I didn't have to climb all the way. I could shake Ndela up once I got high enough."

[nerves_of_ice]

Beside him, Steve sighs, and Bucky shoots him an amused look.

"Don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same."

"I would not," Ayo observes. "I would have used the end of my spear to stir the branches."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon points to Ayo and takes a sip of her wine. "A spear," she says. "If I had a spear, I could have done that."

"Couldn't you have tossed a rock or something to loosen it?" Nakia asks, and Sharon looks at her, aghast.

"Throw a rock at Ndela? Nakia, please. She has feelings."