[Virginia AU] we rose up from the falling waters

[nerves_of_ice]

A little over a week goes by, and as it does Bucky falls into a pattern, slow but sure. He wakes with Sharon in the mornings, shares coffee and something that suffices for breakfast, then works a little on searches and checking contacts and sources from other time zones and locations. Mid-morning finds him at the Task Force offices with Riley and his team. Early afternoon finds him meeting with Ross, if there's any reason to; mid-afternoon he checks in with Steve, with Tony, or with Natasha before he goes back to tracing rumors and hints.

Today's different, though. Today is Sharon's first day back at work after her suspension, and Bucky's determined not to do a single damn thing that might possibly make it difficult for her.

Comments

[marvel_npc]

If that's your price, the man had said, white to the lips, I'll pay it.

Ross is thinking furiously; he keeps his gaze on Barnes. "I'm not in the habit of extorting favors from desperate men," T'Challa informs him. "But there is no doubt we are all in this together, now."

He does look at Ross, now. "If we can capture Klaue, that will help. He was our mission. And... it's a matter of great personal importance to me, as well."

[nerves_of_ice]

"You're not," Bucky assures him. The corner of his mouth quirks in a wry expression. "Believe me when I tell you I know what that's like. It's not this."

He catches the exasperated look Ross gives him, but the deputy commander doesn't argue. Instead, Ross turns back to T'Challa. "We're on it," he promises. "My team's still on the ground there, sweeping the area. We won't give up. And--"

Bucky takes the conversational ball as smoothly as if they'd planned it. "Tony - Iron Man - he's already in Busan," he reports. "Scanning and searching. Natasha Romanoff's working remote surveillance. Cap's overseeing from back in New York, but he can be wherever's needed in a few hours at most. They're - we're coordinating with the Task Force, too. Klaue's not going to get away, your highness. Not this time."

[marvel_npc]

T'Challa exhales, his shoulders dropping almost a full inch. "Thank you," he says, simply, and looks between the men, then focuses on the Deputy Commander. "When he is apprehended, he must come to Wakanda. I simply cannot negotiate other terms, Ross. His crimes against my country and its people are too great."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky looks at Ross. "No one's got a better claim," he murmurs.

"Don't you think I know that?" Ross snaps back at him. He blows out a breath and addresses T'Challa. "I have to be there. As a representative, to oversee the transfer, confirm the local authority, that kind of thing. I'll have C-- someone on my team get started on the paperwork. That's the best I can offer."

[marvel_npc]

T'Challa considers him for a long moment, then nods, though it's not quite agreement. "General Okoye is the local authority," he says, indicating their pilot. "You may communicate with her, when the time comes."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky's never felt less like laughing than he has in the last hour or so, but he has to swallow the urge to laugh anyway at the look on Ross's face as he stares at the general -- who's looking both disdainful and pretty smug at the same time.

He shakes his head and glances at T'Challa. "He's more flexible than he sounds," he offers. Maybe it'll help. "I'm living proof of that."

[marvel_npc]

A tint hint of a smile touches the tired corner of T'Challa's mouth. "We will see," he says, and studies them both. "I will answer any other questions you have, if they are possible for me to answer. If not, I release you both for the remainder of our journey."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not right now," Ross says. "Although I'll probably think of a lot soon enough so let's put a pin in that, okay?"

Bucky just shakes his head. "Later."

[marvel_npc]

T'Challa nods to them both, and makes his way back across the flyer to Nakia. She gives him a sad, warm glance with a rucked-up partial smile, and he puts his arm around her, unable not to.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs. "We will do what we can for your friend."

She leans against him without hesitation and exhales, then glances up at him. "Thank you," she whispers back, and says no more. Nothing more is necessary.

[nerves_of_ice]

Once T'Challa leads Nakia away for a bit, Bucky reclaims one of the seats at Sharon's side. He keeps count of her breaths, only moving when Ross nags him into eating something - after which he does the same for the other man.

Time passes. They wait. There's nothing else they can do.

[marvel_npc]

They fly swiftly, but it still takes hours. T'Challa spends the flight spelling Okoye or sitting quietly with Nakia, listening as she tells him stories of her friend, her voice soft and fond.

He leaves Sergeant Barnes and Ross to themselves for the most part; they have had a number of shocks already today, and there are still more to come. Both stay near the unconscious woman, weary but vigilant. He hopes that, somehow, some part of her is aware of her defenders, who both seem to care for her so much.

Still, when they near the barrier of the shield, he shifts, considering, before coming to the men. "We are about to enter Wakanda," he murmurs. "I understand if you wish to stay here, but if you are able to spare a moment, you will see a thing few outsiders have seen in generations."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky glances at Ross, then at Nakia, who comes over to join them. "I will stay with her," she promises, and only then does Bucky get to his feet. Behind him, Ross does the same, and they follow T'Challa up to the front of the flyer.

It's beautiful countryside, Bucky thinks. He notes mountains and cliffs, green fields and high plains, with herds of animals scattered here and there. Everything looks to be thriving, as far as he can tell, from the vibrant, rich color of the vegetation, which only becomes clearer as they approach.

[marvel_npc]

He never tires of this, and he cannot imagine he ever will. The illusion is beautiful, what Wakanda perhaps must once have looked like... but what is behind it, he knows is more spectacular still.

As Okoye arcs the flyer directly into the trees, he hears Ross gasp – then the illusion dissolves around them and the spires of Birnin Zana rise into the air, graceful and gleaming, the elegant curves of the Citadel just beyond, Wakanda spread out, glowing and golden, beneath the morning sun. "Welcome to Wakanda," he tells his guests, and turns from the view to observe their reactions, not without a little smug anticipation.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky stares, stares, drinking in the sight before him. He can’t tear his gaze away from it, even when he sways forward as if he’s going to move to the seat beside Okoye just to get closer and hears the general hiss.

“It’s incredible,” he breathes.

[marvel_npc]

"Yes," T'Challa agrees, with feeling. "It is."

Okoye curves their flight towards the looming bulk of Mount Bashenga, and T'Challa tears himself away from the view to return to Nakia, who hands him several bundles of cloth; hooded cloaks. One of each of these he holds out to Ross and to Sergeant Barnes. "Wear these," he tells them. "Pull the hoods up. We have arranged for our arrival to be a quiet one, but we cannot risk any of you being seen just yet."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives it a dubious look, but makes no protest. He’s careful to hide his arm in its folds as well to make sure there’s no sign of his face in the shadow of the hood. That done, he moves to stand by Sharon. Ross goes to the other side of the table.

[marvel_npc]

Nakia unfolds a light sheet and brings it to where Sharon lies on the sand table as T'Challa slides out a floating gurney and places it nearby. "Help me move her onto this," T'Challa asks Sergeant Barnes, as Nakia waits nearby.

She holds up the sheet. "We will need to hide her from view, also."

[nerves_of_ice]

Ross makes a faint noise of protest at that. Bucky can’t blame him. He pushes away memories of shrouded infantry troops and gathers Sharon carefully into his arms, then places her on the gurney that T’Challa braces for him.

[marvel_npc]

"I'm sorry," Nakia murmurs, to all of them, her friend included. She gently unfolds the sheet over Sharon's prone body, laying it lightly over her face and hair as Okoye sets the flyer smoothly down.

T'Challa looks at the rest of them. "The General and I will ensure it is safe to move," he tells Sergeant Barnes and Ross. "Wait here until I call for you."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Okay,” he says, and Ross nods. Bucky can feel his focus narrowing the way it does when he’s got a target in his sights, and makes himself hold still. There should be no danger here. Should be.

[marvel_npc]

There is no one on the landing pad but two Dora, both of whom go at Okoye's order without question, once the ramp has lowered and she and T'Challa had walked out into the brilliant Wakandan sunshine. T'Challa reappears at the bottom and gestures them forward, and Nakia activates her Kimoyo beads, sending the gurney smoothly toward the open air.

They do not linger long on the summit of Mount Bashenga; in the next moment, they cluster into an elevator that will take them down to the lab. Nakia twitches the sheet back from Sharon's face and breathes a faint sigh of relief to see her friend still living. Pale and cool, but alive.

"Shuri will meet us in the lab," she tells the Sergeant and Ross. "And then we will see what can be done."

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn’t allow himself to look around much, not knowing who else might be observing them or how much time they have before someone else arrives. Bucky stays beside the gurney, ready for anything.

“Thank you,” he says as they descend. It’s worth saying again, especially now that they’re starting to get an idea of the stakes. “A lot of people would have just left her. It’s a hell of a thing to put yourself on the line like this. I won’t forget it.”

[marvel_npc]

For a long moment, as the elevator descends, T'Challa is silent. Finally:

"I could not let her die," he says. "Knowing we could save her." He looks up, meeting Nakia's eyes. "Not when she was injured protecting one of our own."

The elevator doors open and light from the lab hall spills in as Nakia hurries them along. Quick footsteps sound, and in the next moment Shuri has come around the corner. She casts a curious glance at Barnes and Ross, but wastes no time, only falls into step with them. "I have prepared the surgical area," she tells T'Challa. "Follow me."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky keeps the cloak snugged around him until they’re inside the lab, just in case, but there’s no one else there. Ross is the first to push his hood back as he asks, urgent and a little wary, “Are you a doctor?”

When T’Challa doesn’t protest the removal, Bucky strips his off as well.

[marvel_npc]

"Are you?" Shuri snipes at Ross, as she swings the gurney around in front of the medical scanner, its hexagonal cells vibrating around the central display. A motion catches her eye, and she stares at Sergeant Barnes exposed metal arm, for the moment forgetting her patient.

"I know you!" she says. "Aren't you a terrorist?"

Ross rubs at his forehead, and T'Challa frowns, then looks at the Sergeant.