[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]

She grins as she shakes his hand – then yelps as he boosts her up onto his shoulder to another round of cheers and applause. "Okay," she laughs, and pats his other shoulder. "Thanks?"

But he doesn't put her down until he deposits her back on the dais the head table sits on before bowing to M'Baku.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Well fought,” M’Baku praises them. “Ms. Carter, you have more fighting skills than I knew!”

“You’re not the first one to discover that,” Bucky drawls.

[from_the_outside]

"You have not been very forthcoming about your past life, I think," M'Baku tells her as she comes back to her seat and gratefully drains her glass of water.

"You're right," she says, and he laughs when he realizes she has no intention of clarifying further.

"The next time will not go so easily for you," D'Jarra calls, and she grins and lifts her water glass to him in a toast.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky just smiles at her and lifts his glass to her in a silent toast as the feast resumes.

[from_the_outside]

She winks back at him, before being happily distracted by an enormous platter of small pastries, served with some kind of bitter tea.

Back at his table, D'Jarra is enduring some good natured ribbing, but nobody goes too hard on him: one match hardly makes or breaks a reputation.

And Bucky gets to keep his a mystery for another day, so she considers it a win all around.

[nerves_of_ice]

He relaxes slightly when he really that no one else among the warriors seems inclined to make an issue of it. From the way several are eyeing Sharon, she’s earned their initial respect.

Good.

He listens quietly as M’Baku teases her, trying to draw out more of her history, and watches the room, and thinks that T’Challa will not be displeased to hear how things are going, later.

[from_the_outside]

"Clearly you did not show to full advantage while injured the last time I saw you fight," M'Baku is saying, as Sharon wonders if it would be impolite to see how many of the tiny pastries she could physically fit in her mouth in one go. They are very good.

"Where did you train before? That final move, the leap to his back, where did you learn it?"

"On the playground at Mary Munford Elementary School," she tells him, and takes a long drink of her tea as he puzzles over that answer, then glances at Bucky, nudging his knee under the table with hers.

"This food is great, huh?" It's a different question than the one she wants to ask, but he can probably read it in her face: you good?

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles at her response, very slightly, and smiles at her question.

“Yes. It is.” It’s an answer to both the spoken and unspoken inquiries.

“Perhaps if you eat more of it you will grow to a size more like mine,” M’Baku returns, amused.

[from_the_outside]

She smiles back, satisfied, and arches her eyebrows at M'Baku.

"If I eat more of it, I'll get so round D'Jarra won't have to spar with me; he could just kick me around like a beach ball."

[nerves_of_ice]

“And then you would bounce so he could never catch you!” He roars with laughter, while Bucky just shakes his head.

[from_the_outside]

It takes more willpower than she'd like to admit not to hum the Gummi Bears theme song, but the withering prospect of having to explain a children's cartoon based on candy to not only M'Baku but Bucky as well helps.

"If only," she says, amused. "I can think of a few times that would have come in handy."

The food at last seems to be petering out, which is good news for her stomach. The hot bitter tea is replaced by cool, refreshing mint tea and the raucous good humor of earlier is settling into something a little calmer as the guests all settle into a haze of full stomachs and good company.

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn't relax completely - he can't, and he knows himself well enough not to spend time dwelling on it - but he's able to mimic it fairly well, enough so that his low-level situational awareness doesn't disturb anyone. It's no great hardship, as the evening passes on into more storytelling, quieter conversations, and general contentment.

Eventually, M'Baku says, "I will retire, so that others may as well if they choose. But I will see you both in the morning, yes? There is yet much more of our Jabari lands for you to discover."

Bucky nods, and glances at Sharon.

[from_the_outside]

She nods back at Bucky, and then to M'Baku as well. Even with the nap, she's ready to call it a night.

"Sounds great," she says. "And thank you for this; it's been a great evening."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I agree," Bucky murmurs, and M'Baku claps him on the shoulder. "You should have let us do this when you first arrived, then you could have been at two feasts," he teases. "But never mind. There is time for many more."

A cheerful grin on his face, M'Baku gets to his feet and calls a farewell to his people, along with encouragement for them to continue celebrating for as long as they wish. Bucky glances at Sharon.

"Want to stick around or get out of here?"

[from_the_outside]

"You know," she says, watching M'Baku leave, "I don't know if I could handle more than one of these in a month."

She looks back at him with a smile quirking her mouth. "I'm wiped. Let's go."

[nerves_of_ice]

He rises to his feet and waits for Sharon to do the same before escorting her from the hall, keeping subtle track of who pays attention as they depart.

Their guide has vanished for the evening, which says something about trust and familiarity, he figures. It doesn't matter; they don't need one. Bucky leads the way back along the path that they'd taken to reach the hall in the first place to their suite.

[from_the_outside]

One thing about the bracelet – it's handy as hell, but does make it awkward to change back into regular clothes. She's still wearing the white catsuit and carrying her other things; once inside their suite, she lays the dress and cloak over the back of a chair, puts the sandals on the floor nearby.

"Well, they sure know how to throw a party," she says. "I feel like one of those snakes that just ate a gazelle and has to lie around digesting for the next six months."

She collapses onto a couch by the fire – someone had thoughtfully come and built one for them – and looks at him. "What did you think of it all?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Makes me glad I ducked out of most of the celebration before," he drawls, coming to sit beside her on the couch. "Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable, but it's been a while since I've done anything like that - especially at this scale."

A long, long while, for that matter.

[from_the_outside]

"I bet." She shifts, settling her back against the arm of the couch and slinging her legs over his lap as she leans back, making herself comfortable. The boots of her suit dematerialize, and she wiggles her bared toes to stretch her feet, looking at him fondly.

"You did good, Barnes. M'Baku was happy and that'll make T'Challa happy, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

He makes a noncommittal noise and curves his hand around one foot, pressing his thumb into the arch and massaging firmly.

"I owe you for taking that challenge."

[from_the_outside]

Even with the nap earlier and sitting for the last few hours, her feet are still tired and sore from the long hike up, and it feels inexpressibly good to have him knead firmly at the muscles and tendons there. She makes a pleased sound and sinks a little further back into the pillow she's resting against, shaking her head.

"I told you: if anyone wants to get to you, they have to go through me first."

She shrugs. "Besides, he was tired and I was fresh and I'd gotten to watch him but he had no idea what I might do. It was the best possible combination of factors."

If D'Jarra wants another round, it might be a different story... but she'll cross that bridge if she gets to it. "And maybe now they'll think twice before trying to get you to fight."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I should have mentioned the honor thing before. I caught a lot of side chatter about that. Maybe it'll help."

He smiles, a little, and works her foot over thoroughly before switching to the other one. "And I think you startled the hell out of pretty much everyone, which is a definite plus."

[from_the_outside]

"That's the Sharon Carter special," she says, amused, and closes her eyes to enjoy the massage.

"M'Baku doesn't seem to be pushing you as much, at least. I think he's starting to get it, even though he's still curious."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Or else he's biding his time. But he has seen me fight, so there's that."

Bucky shrugs, and presses his thumb more firmly just below her heel. "Anyway. It's okay. And they're nice people, the ones I've met. It's been a good visit so far."

[from_the_outside]

"That's a good point," she says, and makes a satisfied sound as he digs his thumb into an especially tender knot.

"They are, aren't they? I like them. Also, that feels amazing. You're the best."