[oom] the wilderness gave it to me and the wilderness will not let it go

[nerves_of_ice]

He chooses both the day and the time with care, drifting up by the practice yards of the Dora to speak first with Ayo and then with Okoye in the same morning. In the afternoon he visits Shuri at the lab, later than usual, and delays after fitting and testing the latest prototype to discuss the upcoming surgery. It's no hardship to consider - compared to everything that's come before, it's nothing. Bucky's pretty sure that Shuri knows he feels that way, but it doesn't stop her from wanting to be sure in her planning and his preparations, and he's unwilling to protest the care that she wants to take.

The carefully calculated timing means that he's just finishing up when T'Challa arrives. The other man looks exhausted around the eyes, he notices. Bucky dips his head in a respectful nod and starts to withdraw, only for T'Challa to wave him to a standstill as he asks Shuri about upgraded surveillance devices for the borderlands. He'd expected him to do exactly that, but it's good to have been right, and being able to listen to their conversation gives him the opening he needs. Shuri goes down the hall to fetch something, leaving the two of them alone together, and Bucky meets the other man's eyes.

"Things aren't getting any better, are they." It's not a question. Not really. T'Challa shakes his head. "No. They are not," he agrees. "And there are not enough of us to guard all approaches. I am hoping these--" He goes to Shuri's workbench and stares down at the range of equipment there. "--will make the difference. Or at least buy time."

Bucky nods. "You told me before that you wouldn't ask for my aid unless Wakanda or the world was in dire danger," he reminds him. "That doesn't mean I can't offer."

T'Challa goes very, very still before turning to look at him. "White Wolf."

"This isn't like before," he says, quietly. He has to convince him. He has to. "It's not the same. This is about protection. Send me. Let me help."

He holds himself steady while T'Challa searches his face, and sees in the other man's eyes the moment when Wakanda's king makes his decision.

* * * * * * *

Half an hour later, Bucky leaves the train and heads into the Citadel instead of back to the hut by the lake.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

Her afternoon at the market with Nakia was quieter than usual.

Her friend is preoccupied, that's clear, and even though she tries to rally herself the shadows in her dark eyes never really go away. The animals are hurting, and Wakanda is hurting, and T'Challa's rule is still a new and fragile thing. Nakia doesn't say it, but Sharon thinks she can see the fear of another insurrection behind her eyes.

She doesn't really believe that will happen, Sharon knows. T'Challa is popular and having come back from the dead once already has given him near-mythical status in parts of the country.

But she understands the worry. So when Nakia drops her back off at her room, she makes a cup of coffee and goes to stand by the window, looking out over the hills and plains of this beautiful place, wondering what to do about it.

[nerves_of_ice]

He finds Okoye and Ayo in the planning room, and explains what T'Challa wants him to do. After a quarter-hour of fierce discussion, Ayo and he leave together. While she goes to assemble a squad from the Dora Milaje, he goes to Sharon's apartment and knocks on the door.

Given what she'd said before, he suspects there's no way she won't want to help, but he's not going to make that choice for her.

[from_the_outside]

She blinks from her thoughts and sets her mug down, then goes to the door, smiling slightly when she sees who it is.

"Hey," she says, and holds the door open. "Come on in. What's up?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Hi." He moves past her at her invitation and waits for her to close the door. "I talked to T'Challa. He agreed."

The corner of his mouth quirks up in a wry smile. "Officially, he's sending the White Wolf to deal with the trouble at the border. The word should spread pretty quick."

[from_the_outside]

"Sounds like a good move on T'Challa's part."

She folds her arms and considers him. "So what's the plan?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Part of that depends on you." Evidently that wry smile isn't going anywhere.

"I'm pretty sure I know the answer already, but I have to ask. Are you in?"

[from_the_outside]

She smiles, very slightly. "Like you said: you know the answer already. Think there's any chance I'd sit this out?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"No, but I wasn't going to decide for you." Bucky reaches up and brushes a lock of hair back from her face.

"Get hold of Shuri. See if she's got any updates to your suit. I've got a basic kit for communication; Ayo's pulling together a squad for second-line. We'll be first-line. Briefing in half an hour in the Dora's planning center."

[from_the_outside]

"Of course you wouldn't."

He always gives her space to make her own decisions. She tips her head lightly into his touch. "Anything else I should get from Shuri?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"She probably has some ideas." He'd be surprised if she didn't.

"We'll be looking to bring as many of them in alive as possible."

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

He's settled into mission mode already, she thinks. It makes her smile quirk. "Just like the good old days, huh?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Well, in the 'good old days' I'd have been more likely to just kill them," he points out, dry as dust. "So maybe a little different. We're trying to send a different message here."

[from_the_outside]

She rolls her eyes, but only a little. "You know that's not what I meant," she points out.

"But it sounds like I better go talk to Shuri."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles, just a little.

"I told her you'd probably be coming her way. So you won't have to explain too much, at least."

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

She reaches out to tug on his shirt. "I can tell you're in mission mode. Why don't you go do whatever else you need to do and I'll head over to the lab?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He runs his fingers into her hair, cradling her neck, and draws her close for a kiss before he nods and steps back.

"Half an hour. See you then."

[from_the_outside]

"Save me a seat," she tells him, smiling crookedly, and waves. "See you then."

She waits until he's gone before finishing her coffee, then heads out herself, quick firm strides taking her to the platform and on the way to the lab.

[nerves_of_ice]

He beats Ayo to the briefing room, but only by a minute or two. Okoye is already there waiting. He listens as they review the list of those among the Dora Milaje who Ayo's recommending for the squad. Most of them, to Bucky's distinct lack of surprise, are among those who were so effective in the field before when they went after the weapons smugglers.

By the time everyone arrives, he and Ayo are studying a large map of Wakanda projected in the middle of the room, and marking spots where the poachers are known to have struck.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon arrives, wearing the same clothes as she was when he'd stopped by her room, with the addition of a slim gold bracelet on one wrist. She takes a spot between two Dora and folds her arms, studying the map floating in the middle of the room before turning her attention to Bucky, Okoye, and Ayo.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky and Okoye trade a look, and he tips his head forward in the slightest nod, ceding the opening to her.

"Thank you all for coming so quickly," Okoye says, as the room goes silent. "King T'Challa has assigned the White Wolf to deal with the poaching problem at Wakanda's borders, once and for all. The Dora Milaje will assist, as will Ms. Carter."

She glances at Sharon.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon nods back at Okoye.

"Whatever you need, General," she says.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Good." Okoye turns back to the others. "Ayo?"

"The Dora will not be in the front of the attack," she says, baldly, and stamps the butt of her spear on the floor to quell the murmur that results. "We are the Dora Milaje! We are not the tooth in the dark. The White Wolf will explain why."

Bucky is standing still, outwardly relaxed, and ready when Ayo directs attention to him. "It's not your battle skills on the front line that are needed," he says, calm and steady. "It's your ability to defend in case anyone gets past us, and to take charge of the prisoners. Because there will be prisoners."

The faint smile is more of a hard, sharp showing of teeth.

"So that when they leave, if his highness allows it, they will tell such stories of the warriors of Wakanda and its defenses that children for generations will fear to challenge you."

[from_the_outside]

That gets another murmur, but a more approving one. The Dora are disciplined; they aren't just in this for the fighting.

And they're as much of a security force as Wakanda has. Sharon glances back to Bucky and Okoye, waiting for the rest of the plan.

[nerves_of_ice]

Ayo taps a control at the edge of the map, and the spots indicating the poachers' attacks begin to brighten and dim in slow sequence.

"Based on the pattern," Bucky says, "I think we can predict two or three likely locations for the next strike. I want to split the team into six. Three groups for backup to prevent any who get past the first line from getting away, whether deeper into Wakanda or fleeing back past the border. Three small strike teams to move in, aided by Princess Shuri's latest surveillance technology, and take down the poachers."

He glances around at all of them. "I'll lead one strike team. Ayo will lead another. Sharon will lead the third." His glance meets hers.

[from_the_outside]

There's a faint flicker of her eyebrows, but she meets his glance steadily and nods.

He's good at this, unsurprisingly. It's the kind of thing she used to do with Ross, with Fury: coordinate and brief the teams and strategize.

The fact that he's found the same kind of trust and camaraderie with T'Challa and Okoye and Ayo makes something proud and happy tighten in her chest.

He's come a long way from being the solitary knife in the dark or the ace up HYDRA's sleeve.