[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

[from_the_outside]

"What she made me," Sharon reports. "There's no way in hell I could keep up with her. You know me: I get tipsy on a glass of wine."

And, because it's both true and she thinks he'd like to hear it, she adds: "I liked her. She's sweet."

[nerves_of_ice]

His expression both warms and softens at the same time. "I'm glad. I thought you might."

[from_the_outside]

"I guess you're getting to know me pretty well," she says.

She sounds pleased about it, lifting a hand to tuck a wayward lock of hair back behind his ear.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Don't worry," he drawls. "You're still mysterious enough to keep me on my toes."

[from_the_outside]

"Hm."

She considers him, squinting one eye, then shrugs.

"It's fine. I don't want to be a mystery to you, anyway."

[nerves_of_ice]

He lets go of her waist so that he can reach up and tug at a lock of her hair, then turns to cross to the other side of the room. Bucky pours a glass of water from a pitcher, and brings it back to her.

"How long before you're expected back at the Citadel?"

[from_the_outside]

She gives him a curious glance at the gesture, but takes the water, sipping before she answers.

"A couple of days, at least," she says. "I haven't decided if I want to be back before Ross leaves, and T'Challa's not forcing it."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods, and doesn't ask when Ross will be leaving.

"Well, there's plenty to do around here, turns out," he says, instead. "No idea what the feast will be like tonight, though."

[from_the_outside]

"Seems like it."

She reaches with her free hand to palm his cheek for a moment, then draws away so she can go sit in front of the crackling fire, over by the viewing window. "What have you been up to so far?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Besides learning to fish?" He strolls over to look out the window, then goes to pick up her back and carry it back to the other room before going back for his knapsack.

"Climbing a lot of mountains. Comparing their goats to the ones I look after. Dodging invitations to fight."

[from_the_outside]

"Sounds like you've kept pretty busy."

She curls up in the chair she'd chosen and watches him go back and forth across the apartment. "I hope they haven't been too insistent on the fighting thing."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not too much. A few of the warriors don't get why I'm not jumping at the idea, but most are taking their cues from M'Baku."

He finishes dropping his things and comes back to settle in another chair.

[from_the_outside]

"Good."

She drains her water – she's thirsty after her hike and from the dry mountain air – and sets the glass down on the floor by the leg of her chair before she looks back at him. "Remember what I said after the first time M'Baku came down to see you," she tells him.

"Nobody's going to make you fight if you don't want to."

There's a fierce, stubborn edge to her mouth, even as a corner ticks up towards a half smile. "They can go through me if they don't like it."

[nerves_of_ice]

His answering smile is warm. “I believe you.”

[from_the_outside]

"Good," she says again, and grins at him.

"How long do we have until the feast, do you know?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“A few hours. Enough time to explore, or take a nap, or whatever you want.”

[from_the_outside]

"Honestly, a nap sounds good. And a shower."

With any luck they won't have to dress up for this too much, but she still wants to be clean. She props her cheek on her hand and studies him. "Will you stick around or go back out?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I thought I’d stay,” he murmurs. “Unless you’d rather I not.”

[from_the_outside]

"Never," she says, smiling over at him.

She gets up and comes across the room to his chair, then leans down to press a kiss into his hair. "Do you want to come rest with me?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles up at her and gets to his feet. “I’d like that,” he says, simply. “And we’re probably going to need it. From what I’ve heard of the planning, it’s going to be a long night.”

[from_the_outside]

She's tired – the last few days have been exhausting – and it's obvious when she falls deeply asleep nearly as soon as she's curled up next to him on the bed, tucked into the curve of his body with his arm slung over her waist and her back pressed against his chest and stomach.

She'd sleep right through the feast if he let her, but a few murmured words and a careful hand tucking her hair back out of her face – a few kisses pressed to her shoulder – and she allows him to wake her up with a minimum of grumbling.

The shower helps. So does getting dressed again in clean, comfortable clothing; so does the prospect of food when her stomach grumbles loudly.

"Okay," she says, and looks around for him. "Ready to go?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn't sleep, although she does, boneless and exhausted beside him. Instead he counts her breaths, and keeps silent watch, and tries not to think too much about anything at all.

By the time she's ready to go, he's leaning against the wall by the door, dressed in closer-fitted dark brown pants and a deep green shirt rather than the clothes she's gotten used to seeing him wear.

"Whenever you are," he tells her.

[from_the_outside]

She wolf-whistles at him, grinning. "Look at you, all cleaned up."

For her part, she's perfectly respectable in a wrap dress she'd bought at the market, patterned in green and cream and gold. A slim gold bracelet gleams at her wrist, and her hair is drying in loose waves over her shoulders. She walks to him and holds out her hand in invitation.

"Better get going, then, seeing as this shindig is for us."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Uh-huh." He takes her hand in his and raises it to his lips, placing a light kiss on her fingers. His gaze takes in the gold of the bracelet she's wearing - one he recognizes from seeing Shuri work on it in the lab, and a small smile curves his mouth.

"Come on, baby. Let's go play at being diplomats."

[from_the_outside]

"You'd think they could get some diplomats that don't specialize in creating international incidents," she says, but she's smiling as they head out of the suite.

A polite guide leads them along the stone and timber corridor and back out into the cool valley air, making Sharon grateful that she'd brought the cream and gold cloak Bucky had bought her first week in Wakanda. She slings it over her shoulders and follows, looking with interest at the torches now lit along the path, the lights that follow the buildings as they curve around the valley's upper walls.

Finally they reach their destination: a cavernous stone hall filled with large wooden tables and a crush of people. The guide brings them to M'Baku, seated in pride of place, and Sharon curtseys again before addressing him.

"Quite a shindig," she comments as she's shown to her seat. There's a group of musicians set up in one corner, but they're difficult to hear over the raucous conversation – which seems to be made up mostly of increasingly difficult to believe boasts – and loud laughter.

It's great.