[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]

It's almost possible to hear the sighs of relief when the third child is lifted out of the swing and goes to join the others. Akua pokes his head back over the cliffside, and from this angle Bucky can see the startled and then somewhat admiring expression on his face as he spots whatever Sharon is doing below.

[from_the_outside]

"Lower down a long, wide piece of fabric," she tells Akua, and waits until someone's cloak is passed down to her, then binds the kid close to her chest in a makeshift sling, leaving only its head peeking out.

She can feel the baby goat's heart beating frantically beneath her hand as she presses it to her chest, but it doesn't struggle too much as she wraps it against herself. She knots the sling firmly and checks that the kid can't move before she wraps one arm around it and tugs on her harness rope with the other.

"Coming up," she tells Akua, who tells the team. "Slowly."

She waits for his sign before she starts the climb, bolstered by the steady tension of the rope as the team helps lift her up.

[nerves_of_ice]

Everything in him screams to hurry, to get her to safety as fast as they can, but he's smart enough to know that doing so will only put her at risk. Slowly, carefully, they draw the rope back, bringing Sharon with it --

--Sharon and a tiny goat, it turns out. Bucky laughs aloud as the little creature bleats on seeing the familiar children and the rest of the herd scattered across the mountain at a distance, while Akua helps Sharon over the edge. He gets to his feet as everyone moves back to safety and one of the warriors starts checking over the children, and crosses over to join her.

"New pet?"

[from_the_outside]

"What, you think you're the only one who gets goats?"

She's trembling almost as much as the tiny kid is, from stress and exhaustion and the bitter mountain cold, but she can't stop grinning as she looks at the small group of children. The goat bleats again and she winces, eyes it.

"You are probably the reason they went over to begin with," she scolds, as it looks at her with liquid eyes. "What makes you think I'm putting you down so you can do it again?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He chuckles and puts his hand on her shoulder. "You did good," he murmurs. "Come on. Let's get back. Your new friend can come along."

Indeed, Akua and the others have hoisted the injured child up on someone's back and are forming up to go carefully back the way they came.

[from_the_outside]

She lists into the hand on her shoulder like a flower turning toward the sun, unable to stop herself, but it's all she allows, aside from the smile and the warmth in her eyes that's just for him. "Back sounds great," she tells him. Her knees are watery with adrenaline, but she's not hurt; she can make the hike back without trouble.

The boy who'd been holding onto the baby goat is looking anxiously around; when he sees the kid still wrapped securely against Sharon's chest, he visibly relaxes, enough to smile slightly when she waves at him.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky grins a little at that, and leads her across the scree slope to join the rest of the group. It's easier going down the mountain than up, and faster as well, although they're careful to watch themselves with the uncertain footing.

They're almost two-thirds of the way down when they're met by a second group of rescuers, with blankets and high-energy snacks and water and a doctor, M'Baku at their head. Akua goes instantly to meet him.

[from_the_outside]

The smallest child, perhaps too young to really recognize the danger they'd been in, chatters all the way back down the mountain, but the older two stay quiet until they round a corner and calls come from the second group. They burst into tears and all three are quickly hustled into blankets and plied with water and snacks, coddled and scolded in equal measure as they're checked over for signs of injury, shock, or exposure.

Sharon gratefully accepts the offer of a young man she'd seen earlier with the herds in the valley to take the kid; she unwraps it and hands it over, then runs her hand fondly over its soft ears.

"Be good," she tells it, and smiles as it bleats at her while the goatherd carries it away, talking rapidly to it in the native language.

[nerves_of_ice]

M'Baku keeps flicking them glances, Bucky notices, as he listens to Akua's debrief. Once the warrior reaches the end, M'Baku strides over to join him and Sharon.

"You have done us a great service today," he tells Sharon. "I thank you on behalf of myself and my people."

[from_the_outside]

"Happy to help," she tells him, accepting a bottle of water and draining half of it at once. She doesn't resist a blanket when it's wrapped around her shoulders, either; just tugs it close, missing the warmth of the little goat.

"The kids did great. One of them looked like she sprained her ankle; what's the doctor say?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"She did," Bucky confirms, having kept an ear on that conversation while M'Baku was talking with Akua. "Happened in the slide down. Should heal up okay, they think."

M'Baku nods. "Good. That is another kind of relief."

[from_the_outside]

"Good."

She sighs it, relieved, and M'Baku nods again. "Agreed," he rumbles. "And once she is properly bandaged, we should all get off the mountainside."

"Yes, please," Sharon tells him. It's been a hell of a day so far, and all she wants is a warm bath, a cold glass of wine, and to curl up next to Bucky for a while by the fire.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Doesn't look like that'll be long," Bucky observes, and indeed almost as he says it the doctor straightens, brushing her hands together. Two of the children are already with their parents, who have come along with the search party, and the injured child is claimed by hers as soon as the doctor steps back.

"Home," M'Baku commands, and the swell of people begins to move. He stays beside Sharon and Bucky, Akua falling in on the other side of him.

"You did not have to help, you know." Bucky gives him a flat look, and M'Baku laughs. "I know, White Wolf, I know! But it had to be said."

[from_the_outside]

She makes a face and M'Baku laughs again. "It'd be pretty low of us if we didn't," she points out.

"Not to mention ungracious. Besides, you grow your warriors too big up here! It would have taken too long to find a safe way to get one onto that ledge."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That is twice that your being small and nimble has been of key importance," M'Baku rumbles, and Bucky stifles a coughing sound behind his hand.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon licks a finger and draws an imaginary tally in the air, then winks at both men.

"That's two for me," she says. "But it would have been impossible to get them up off the ledge without the strength of your warriors.

She nudges Bucky with an elbow as they walk. "And this guy."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky shakes his head but keeps his mouth shut; this isn’t something that it’ll help to argue. Meanwhile, M’Baku nods.

“Believe me, I will remember.” His smile is sudden and broad. “And this does not make me any less determined to convince you to remain!”

[from_the_outside]

"Oh, no," she laughs. "I am not cut out for long-term diplomacy."

(It feels nice to be wanted, though.

It feels even better to have done something good.)

It's a relief to finally get back to the main city. Sharon crouches to speak briefly with the children, smiling when they thank her and nodding to their parents before they head to their various homes. "This makes me miss the kids back at the lake," she comments to Bucky, once she's stood up again.

"But at least they're unlikely to be stuck on a mountainside."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Oh, I don’t know. I bet Chichima could figure out a way.”

He watches as M’Baku glances at them from where he’s speaking with the warriors as the rescuers begin to disperse.

“Want to get out of here for a bit before anything else comes up?”

[from_the_outside]

"God, yes."

She follows his glance and tips her head towards the door. "Let's beat it while we still can. I really want a bath and to get out of this suit."

[nerves_of_ice]

“You got it.” He leads the way to the side door into the complex and opens it for her.

[from_the_outside]

It doesn't take long for them to get back to the suite, and once they do, she waits for him to close the door and then goes directly to press her face into his shoulder and wrap her arms around his middle, finally letting herself tremble with reaction and stress, safe from curious eyes.

She still wants that bath, but it can wait. She wants this more.

[nerves_of_ice]

He puts his arm around her in turn and holds tight. “I’ve got you,” he murmurs. “I’ve got you.”

[from_the_outside]

"You always do."

It's a little muffled, said as it is into his shoulder, but she turns her face with a sigh, eyes closing. "Let's not do that again for a while."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Fine by me.” He kisses her temple. “If I ever have to watch you disappear over the edge of a cliff again…”