[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

[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."

[marvel_npc]

"Then don't waste time talking to me," he snaps. "Get here now, Carter. I want you both in my office in the next minute or I'll know the reason why."

Ross disconnects the call and goes searching in his desk for aspirin.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon exchanges a glance with Riley as she slides her phone back into her pocket, and they redouble their pace.

Only a minute or two later, they enter Ross's office for the second time that day. Riley closes the door as Sharon comes to stand in front of the desk, her expression wry. "You heard about our surprise visitor, I take it?"

[marvel_npc]

"Eventually," he grits out. "Sitrep, Carter. You too, Riley. How bad is it?"

[from_the_outside]

"Bad."

She speaks while Riley comes to stand by her side, straight-backed and serious. "It almost seems like the Secretary isn't here for Zemo at all. He's completely focused on Sergeant Barnes."

Sharon watches Ross, unaware of the bleak shadows in her eyes beneath her iron mask of professionalism. "It's only a matter of time before he interviews Zemo. And we have to assume Zemo will make use of his most valuable leverage and offer the Secretary the activation codes to the Winter Soldier in exchange for leniency."

[marvel_npc]

"Fuck," he hisses, then pins Riley with a sharp look. "Anything to add?"

[from_the_outside]

"Yes, sir," Riley responds, instantly. "Captain Rogers and Sergeant Barnes decided on a contingency plan. They, uh..."

He glances at Sharon, who picks up the thread of his thought. "They went to King T'Challa," she says, smoothly. "And formally requested political sanctuary for Sergeant Barnes in Wakanda."

She pauses for a heartbeat. "King T'Challa granted their request."

[marvel_npc]

Ross stares at them. He can't possibly have heard that correctly.

"Are you seriously telling me," he breathes, "that the Winter Soldier has been given political asylum against the United States government, by the Wakandans?"

[from_the_outside]

Sharon breathes, very carefully.

"Yes, sir," she says. "That's what I'm telling you."

[marvel_npc]

"Did they say why?"

He was wrong. This is a disaster.

"Does the Secretary know?"