[Leipzig AU] a means to a necessary end

[nerves_of_ice]

It's a long flight from Berlin to Novosibirsk and the secret location far beyond it, even in a Quinjet. They spend the time planning and coordinating. Bucky describes the structure and security of the facility itself as best he remembers. Tony calls up plans and blueprints from god knows where and throws them into the middle of the plane for all to see. They're not the same as what Bucky remembers, they figure out fairly quickly, but they're better than nothing.

Tony also takes over the back of the plane and snaps at anyone who comes close, doing something that involves shifting screens and models of buildings and wave patterns and a human skull, and the eventually the low humming grind of a machine. Soon after, he stalks back up to the front of the plane and shoves a set of custom-fabricated earplugs at Bucky, who stares at them and then at Tony.

"Noise-cancelling all the way to total sound blackout. Tap the end of the earpiece to deafen yourself," Tony informs him. "Last thing we need's for you to be his puppet." Bucky starts to stammer a thanks, but Tony growls something under his breath and stalks back to the back of the plane again to work on something else. Steve catches Bucky's eye and shakes his head, and Bucky decides to leave well enough alone.

Sam advises everyone to rest in shifts; Bucky knows he's not wrong, but neither he nor Steve can do it, and after a while Sam stops trying to convince them. Natasha sits with him for a while, her eyes dark with concern. They don't say much, but there's no need to.

A Snowcat is parked outside the door of the facility when they land. Bucky's jaw sets in hard lines at the sight of it, and he trades a look with Steve.

They're already here.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

Steve leads the way, followed by Sam and Bucky, and Riley and Sharon make up the end of the party as they enter the conference room.

T'Challa, dressed sharply in a tailored suit, is in close conversation with his personal guard. He turns as they enter and nods as the guard from the door crosses her arms over her chest, bows, and turns to leave.

Once the door closes, he looks them over. "Well," he says, in that pleasant voice of his. "Tell me, Captain Rogers. What was so urgent that you required counsel with me?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Your Highness," Steve returns. Bucky does his best to stand perfectly still beside him and Sam and look like someone who isn't an enormous problem by his very existence. He's dismally aware it's a poor effort at best, but he tries anyway.

"We need your help. I have reason to believe that - that someone highly positioned in the United States government wants to use Bucky, Sergeant Barnes, as a weapon against his will."

Mercifully, Steve doesn't mention the Accords, and Bucky breathes a small inward sigh of relief.

[from_the_outside]

"This is very distressing," T'Challa says, calm as he clasps his hands together at the small of his back. "But in what way does it affect Wakanda? Why come to me? We are a small country. We hold no sway over the governments of others."

Sharon narrows her eyes, very slightly. He seems... unsurprised. But there's no way he could have known before they arrived.

[nerves_of_ice]

Sam makes a slight choking sound at that, which draws an irate glare from T'Challa's personal guard. "Okay, sorry," he says, "but come on, man. Your highness," he amends fast, and then subsides as Steve gives him a look.

"What Sam was trying to say," Steve starts, "is that Wakanda may be small, but you're well regarded. Still, I'm not asking you to try to change anyone's mind. I'm asking for sanctuary for my friend until we can get everything sorted out."

The guard's the one who looks at him first, while T'Challa keeps his polite attention on Steve. Bucky meets her gaze without evasion, his own calm, although inwardly he's feeling anything but.

[from_the_outside]

T'Challa considers Steve for a long, silent moment. "You say we are well-regarded, in the outside world," he says, still calmly. "This is flattery. I assume you are referring more to the fact that we have no extradition treaties, with the United States or anyone else. But why should I risk our cordial relationship with your country to shelter this man?"

He looks from Steve to Bucky. "And why would I grant sanctuary to someone who does not ask for himself?"

Despite his arguments, Sharon's not sure he's actually balking at the request. It almost seems more like he's checking boxes off a list.

[nerves_of_ice]

"You shouldn't," Bucky says bluntly, abruptly so weary of it all that he thinks it might be easier just to lie down and stop moving.

He's felt that way before, over the years, and refused to give anyone the satisfaction. But now, at the thought of what this is doing to Steve and Sharon, among others--

He swallows hard and forces himself to keep talking past the bile and bitter self-loathing that rises up to choke him. "I'm nothing good for you or Wakanda. I'm more trouble than I'm worth. But I'm tired of being used to destroy people. Steve deserves better. They all do."

[from_the_outside]

"Bucky, no – " Steve starts, before T'Challa's guard glares him into silence. Her own head is screaming at her to open her mouth, to defend him, to point out that Bucky is one of the reasons they found T'Chaka's killer, but T'Challa lifts a hand to stop anyone else from speaking and steps closer to Bucky, studying him.

"And what will you do," he asks, "if I take your advice? Will you subject to being used again, as you once were? Will you flee? Or will you hope that your friends here can find some other way to protect you, one as yet unclear to you?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn't move as T'Challa draws closer, doesn't flinch from the question or what it means. He meets the Wakandan king's gaze without evasion.

"I'll do what's needed to keep them safe," he says, quiet but clear. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Sam Wilson stiffen, and realizes that impossibly, somehow, he's understood the deeper meaning beneath his words. "And I won't kill any more innocents."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon's heart shudders to a halt in her chest at Bucky's quiet but oh so clear words. Her mind rebels, unwilling to understand, because if she doesn't think it, then he couldn't possibly have meant it.

T'Challa's dark eyes soften in sympathy. "That will not be necessary, Sergeant Barnes," he says, and there is a wealth of understanding in his quiet words.

"Wakanda will not stand by and watch as those who found her king's murderer suffer. Ask. And I will give you the sanctuary you seek."

[nerves_of_ice]

He has to say it, he realizes; for whatever reason, T'Challa needs to hear him say it. He draws a ragged breath.

"Please." It's raw and rough and edged with desperation. He can't look at the others; can't make himself look anywhere but at Wakanda's king, who's already promised to give the answer they need, the hope of which brought them here in the first place.

"Please. Help me not have to hurt them again, or anyone else. Grant me sanctuary in Wakanda so I don't have to. Please."

[marvel_npc]

"My king," murmurs Okoye, but T'Challa lifts his hand to stop her, his gaze fixed on this haunted, wounded man before him.

How he had hated this face, only a few short days ago. How he'd wished for this man to die. Every thought of him had been obsessive poison flooding his veins, driving his every thought and movement.

Until it became clear he had been wrong. And that he, driven mad by grief, had been willing to kill an innocent man.

He doesn't look at Steve Rogers, his shoulders painfully tight, or Agent Carter, who is so pale it looks as though she might falter any second. Both seem fixed in place like paused figures on a television screen.

He looks only at Barnes, this man who has committed so much violence and who wishes to commit no more. He is like a wolf – dangerous, yes, but who wishes only to be left alone instead of being hunted and misunderstood. "Ndothini na ke ukumnikela ekufeni lo mntu?" he asks Okoye, and she subsides as he faces Barnes once more, his shoulders straight, his hands clasped behind him.

"Then I formally grant you sanctuary in our lands," he says. "From this moment, you are under my protection, Sergeant Barnes."

[nerves_of_ice]

He can't speak, he finds, as the twin surges of disbelief and relief blast through him at once in conflicting waves. Bucky manages a jerky nod for T'Challa, unaware of everything written clear in his eyes, and turns to look at Steve, Sam beside him, then Sharon, with Agent Riley behind her doing his best to blend wide-eyed into the wall.

"Your highness," Steve says, voice tight with emotion. "Thank you. I can't thank you enough."

[marvel_npc]

Okoye gives him an exasperated, speaking look that he chooses to ignore. He knows her thoughts already; that the Council may have their own thoughts on this matter; that they still have the coronation ceremony to perform before he is truly Wakanda's king.

But he cannot stand by in this matter and let this man suffer. If nothing else, he can give Barnes and his friends a little time to make some other plan.

He shakes his head at Captain Rogers' heartfelt gratitude. "No thanks is necessary, Captain," he says. "You were right. I could not, after all, stand by and see injustice done. General?"

Okoye comes to stand beside him, casting a cool, unimpressed gaze over their guests as he turns back to Barnes. "General Okoye is the head of our security force. She will ensure your safety for our remaining time here."

[nerves_of_ice]

He's not entirely sure what to make of that, especially after catching the look she gives T'Challa, but gives her a polite nod. "Ma'am," he greets her.

[marvel_npc]

Okoye sniffs and slides a look at T'Challa. "Usisidenge," she mutters, and T'Challa's mouth twitches.

"We will send for any of your things, as well," he tells Barnes. "I expect to remain for some time yet, to ensure Zemo's punishment, but no one will disturb you while you stay with us. This I swear."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Um." He gives Steve a swift, helpless look before turning back to his new ... hosts? "I, um. Don't have much. A couple of changes of clothes, maybe, and a backpack... um."

This time the look goes from Steve to Sharon and back to T'Challa. "Steve could hold on to that, maybe, if you'd rather. It, um. Has the manual I stole back from Zemo. At the end of it all."

"What?" Steve asks, surprised. Bucky winces. "I thought maybe it'd - it's the only record of how, and I thought..."

[from_the_outside]

"Better that you keep it."

She's pleased with how level her voice is, but it's probably just due to the fact that she feels numb all over.

This is a good thing. A very good thing. She holds onto that, gripping the thought with bloodless fingers. "Ross could still get his hands on it from any of us. And you might need it, if Tony can work with you."

[nerves_of_ice]

"About that," Sam interjects. He swings around to look at Sharon and Riley as Bucky blinks in surprise.

"Think the Deputy Commander might be willing to imply Bucky's in a secure location that he's aware of and approves of, when the Secretary comes looking for him? Might spare some confrontations. If you and your people don't mind, that is," he finishes, turning back to T'Challa. "You're the one running the show. Just trying to think of ways to help."

[from_the_outside]

"We are not intimidated by Secretary Ross," T'Challa says, easily. "But it would be better to spare the Deputy Commander any awkwardness, if possible."

Sharon glances at him, then back at Sam. "Yes," she says. "I know he'd be willing. We'll just have to make sure it's true."

[nerves_of_ice]

Okoye bristles. "If you are implying that there is any flaw in our security, I will be pleased to demonstrate otherwise."

"I think what Agent Carter meant is that she and Agent Riley need to brief Deputy Commander Ross," Bucky murmurs. "Since he was in the middle of things with Zemo when the Secretary showed up and may not know what's going on yet."

[from_the_outside]

T'Challa turns to her, eminently polite.

"Agent Carter," he says, warmly. "Will you and Agent Riley kindly convey the change of events to Deputy Commander Ross? And please inform him that if he has any questions, he is most welcome to come and speak with me."

Sharon swallows, then nods. "Of course," she says, before her glance flickers to Bucky and back again to T'Challa. "Thank you, your Highness."

[nerves_of_ice]

He reminds himself forcefully that this isn't the last time he's going to see her, and manages to keep himself from moving or reacting other than to meet her glance in the instant she flicks a look his way, wanting her to be reassured, even though he can't express it.

Okoye finishes fiddling with the bracelet she's wearing and lowers her arm to her side. "Mya will escort you," she says to Steve and Sam, as the door opens and another of the guardswomen comes in. "To retrieve Sergeant Barnes' things."

Steve looks torn, his glance shifting to Bucky. "I thought maybe I could..."

"I'll get them," Sam says. "Cap here can help bring y'all up to speed on the mission, before you get a round in with Zemo. Might help."

[from_the_outside]

Everyone around them is moving. Sharon takes the opportunity to turn so only Bucky can see her face. I'll be back she mouths, and meets his glance one last time before turning to Riley. "Let's go."

Riley keeps pace at her side as they walk through the corridors. Eventually, she slants a glance his way.

"I'm sorry for putting you in an awkward position before," she says, quietly, but he shakes his head.

"Nothing happened," he says. "So there's nothing for me to report. Right?"

She smiles, very slightly. "Right."

[marvel_npc]

Ross had thought his headache couldn't get any worse after the frustrating half-hour or so that he'd just spent questioning that asshole, Helmut Zemo, but apparently he'd been wrong.

"Who did you say is here?" He stares at the junior agent. "Where is he?"

"Meeting with Tony Stark, sir," the agent reports. "In the north conference room."

"Just Tony Stark?" He can feel his headache getting worse by the second now. "Where are the rest of them?"

"Yes sir," the agent replies. "Agents Riley and Carter escorted Captain Rogers, Mr. Wilson, and Sergeant Barnes back to the Center residences."

This is a clusterfuck of epic proportions, but it's not an utter disaster yet. He hopes. "Get security on the line and remind them that they're supposed to let me know directly when 'distinguished guests' arrive, and I don't care if it's the President himself. I want the names of whoever's on door duty today."

Ross turns away, already stabbing at Carter's number on his mobile.

[from_the_outside]

They're a few corridors away when Sharon's phone buzzes in her pocket. She reaches for it quickly – it could be Bucky, he could already be in trouble – and sighs as she sees the number.

Activating the call, she puts the phone to her ear. "Hi, sir. Agent Riley and I are en route to you now."