[oom] a diplomatic visit

[nerves_of_ice]

In all the things he's done up to now, he's never been asked to be a diplomat. Bucky's still not sure this is a good idea, but if nothing else at least it gets him out of Ross's path. And besides, being a diplomat to the Jabari's as T'Challa's White Wolf is a little different from being one anywhere else on earth, he's certain.

M'Baku greets him with a wide smile and widespread arms, inviting him to take in the grandeur of the Jabari's traditional homeland from the clifftop view before leading him inside. Bucky can already see some of the others measuring him for threat or competition or both. It's clear M'Baku knows it as well, and is amused by it - amused enough to let things play out as game or challenge or both.

It's going to be an interesting visit, he's sure.

Forty-eight hours later, he's sure of something else: he likes these people.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn't want to admit it, but he's glad to hear it. Steve would get by okay without Wilson at his side - for one thing, he'd still have Natasha with him - but there's no question that having a friend with him is a good thing, especially one who's as close as Wilson's turning out to be. For that matter, he wouldn't be surprised to hear that Wilson feels the same way.

He shoves the ever-present guilt back and down - he should be there, he should be there - and just nods.

"Triple bypass, huh? Any chance he's planning to retire?"

[from_the_outside]

"When hell freezes over, maybe."

Of all the politicians she dislikes – and there are plenty – Secretary Ross tops the list. He's stubborn to the last inch, though – he'll drop in the harness before he retires to focus on his health. "Agent Ross is still in the Citadel while they negotiate."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Ah, well." He leads the way along the winding stone-lined path up the mountain with apparent ease. "Too much to hope for, I guess."

Bucky glances at her. "How's that going for you?"

[from_the_outside]

"Awkward," she says, honestly. She keeps her eyes on the path and pushes onward. "If his goal is to make me feel guilty about tossing all my work with him out a window, it's working."

She's felt uncomfortable and prickly and unhappy and guilty for the last two days straight and it is, frankly, exhausting. "We argue a lot. I'm going to owe T'Challa something very strong to drink once it's all over."

[nerves_of_ice]

He swallows back the urge to apologize. It won't help, and he's pretty sure she doesn't want to hear it.

"He must have been pretty pissed," he says, instead, and stops by a wooden door set into the side of the mountain. "This way. It's a shortcut."

[from_the_outside]

"Pissed," she agrees, heading through the door when he opens it, "and upset. I don't know which is worse, that he's mad or that he's disappointed."

Actually, she does know. The disappointment cuts to the bone. "But he's stopped trying to arrest me, so I'm calling it a win."

[nerves_of_ice]

"There's that, at least." He walks with her through the stone-and-timber corridor, past several doors, finally stopping at one. Bucky tests to make sure it's unlocked, then pushes it open, glances around the room to be sure, and steps back for her to enter first.

"M'Baku calls it the 'diplomatic suite,'" he tells her, dryly. "He wasn't sure who the last diplomat was, though."

[from_the_outside]

"If there have been any, I'd be shocked," she says, amused, and looks around. There's her tote, put neatly on a side table in one of the bedrooms she can see from here. The rooms are spacious and airy and there's a beautiful view from the main sitting room, where a warm, friendly fire already crackles.

"I like it."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It might have been Shuri and Queen Ramonda," he muses. "And I think Nakia was with them, back when everything with Killmonger went down. Although that wasn't exactly a diplomatic visit, was it? Anyway, it's a big suite, lots of rooms."

He tilts his head over to the side, at one of the smaller rooms. "That's mine."

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, yeah?"

She glances at the door he points out, then marches into the larger room her bag is in and retrieves it, only to come back out and drop it just inside the door against the wall in the one he'd indicated. "Now it's our room."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky sighs.

"Sharon. It wasn't -- I just wanted you to have the choice. Especially here."

[from_the_outside]

She lifts her eyebrows at him.

"Do you want me to sleep in a different room?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's not what I said."

[from_the_outside]

"Okay, well – "

She spreads her hands and lifts her eyebrows at him. "Then I'll stay in this one, with you, unless you mind. Look: choice made."

[nerves_of_ice]

He fights the urge to rub his temple, and just looks steadily at her. "Would you rather I move into the other room with you, instead? It's larger."

[from_the_outside]

"If you like," she says, magnanimously, and comes to wrap her arms loosely around his waist.

"You really think I want to stay in a room twenty feet away from you for appearance's sake? I missed you. Besides," she adds, amused. "It's a little late in the game to get squirrely about sleeping over, don't you think?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He puts his arm around her in turn and shakes his head at her. "You know I'd understand. If you did."

"But I missed you, too."

[from_the_outside]

"M'Baku's seen us together lots of times," she points out.

"And I don't care if he knows, unless you think it could hurt somehow. But if it'll make you feel better, why not leave your stuff in the other room and mess up the bed a little so it's not so obvious?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I don't know if it could or not, that's the point," he says. "I like M'Baku. I like these people. But let's not forget that they're really traditional about a lot of things, to the point that Shuri's work was anathema to them for years - enough so that M'Baku challenged T'Challa for the kingship."

[from_the_outside]

One corner of her mouth rucks down, wry.

"If you really think they'll care that we're sleeping together out of wedlock," she says, "then I won't push it. But I don't know if a traditional standpoint on technology necessarily infers one on relationships."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Or what their traditions are about that kind of thing, anyway." He shrugs. "I don't think it'll be a problem, but I didn't want to make the decision for you."

[from_the_outside]

"I don't think so, either, but if you're going to worry about it, I'm going to worry about it," she tells him.

"So: are you going to worry about it?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He looks down at her, studying her face for several seconds. Then: "No," he says, and leans down to kiss her.

[from_the_outside]

She makes a pleased sound and kisses him back, fingers tightening in the back of his shirt before it breaks.

"Attaboy," she says, smiling. "Relatedly, I think you'll be happy to hear I patched things up with your pal Zinda."

[nerves_of_ice]

There's no missing it. Bucky looks absolutely, completely startled by that - and then, as it sinks in, utterly delighted.

"You went back?"