[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.

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[nerves_of_ice]

"Welcome to my home," Nakia says, proudly. "I am so looking forward to showing you around, once you have rested."

She has every right to be proud, as far as Bucky's concerned. He'd gotten a good look as they flew in, as had Ross, but that doesn't stop him from moving to stand beside Sharon so he can drink in the view.

[from_the_outside]

She lets herself lean against him as she watches the countryside flash by, and almost wishes she believed in something bigger than herself so she could thank it.

But she has her loyal, stubborn boss and her sweet friend, and she has Bucky. She thinks of how desperate she'd been in Siberia, and can only imagine how he must have felt yesterday, what he would have been willing to do.

So she puts her head against his shoulder and keeps her eyes open to watch Wakanda flow past the train, and hopes he never has to feel that way again.

[marvel_npc]

* * * * *

He'd tracked Klaue well outside Busan, which wasn't a surprise. The surprise was that he'd tracked them to a... "FRIDAY, you sure about this?"

A pause, and then a voice comes coolly through the speakers. "I'm not sure I like your implications."

"Yeah," says Tony. "It's just that this is a junk yard."

"Your powers of observation are truly prodigious," FRIDAY says, dry. "What tipped you off? Was it the junk?"

"Just scan for Klaue," Tony orders, and watches as his HUD flickers. A humanoid shape appears, and Tony grins, bright and sharp. "Got him."

"Actually..." Data filters in through the HUD. "That isn't Klaue, boss."

"Then where's..." But his question is answered in the next second, as FRIDAY details a slumped body in front of the man. "Three dead," she whispers into his ear. "Be careful, boss."

"I'm always careful," Tony informs her, and streaks through the air. His landing makes the ground shudder, and he slowly stands, palm out, repulsor whining into life as he blocks the man from reaching Klaue's body. "Hey," he says, his voice mechanical through the mask's speakers. "Drop it."

[marvel_npc]

'People like us', Klaue had said. The man had been a damn fool, and ain't nothing about him that'd been at all like Erik 'Killmonger' Stevens, N'Jadaka, son of N'Jobu. Not that it matters now, though; he's just cooling meat, him and his crew, and the plane that's gonna lead to the next link in the chain's right there, and--

He turns around when the ground shakes. "Huh," he observes. "Wasn't expecting one of you to come along." He looks down at the gun in his hand, then back up at moneybags Iron Man. "You scared of a little thing like this?"

[marvel_npc]

"No," Tony admits. "But I hear it's the socially acceptable thing to do. Also, pretty sure you're a criminal."

FRIDAY highlights something in his field of vision; a tribal mask, tucked back inside a nondescript white van. "So why'd you shoot your buddy Klaue? I know he could be annoying, but that seems a little excessive."

[marvel_npc]

"Yeah? Why d'you say that?" he challenges. "'Cause I'm a Black man with a gun in hand, that it?"

He doesn't lower the gun, although he doesn't raise it either. He gives Stark polite disbelief.

"Man, that clown weren't no one's buddy. Figured you of all people should know that."

[marvel_npc]

"Because you match the description of the fourth member of a team where the other three are lying dead," Tony tells him. "Or was that not you who helped break Klaue out of Task Force containment in Busan?"

[marvel_npc]

"You gonna believe me if I say no?" He's pretty sure Stark won't, and the question is how long he can keep this dance up before they get down to it.

"So what happens now?" He's come too close to fail, but it all depends on him getting into Wakanda, preferably with Klaue's body and the recovered vibranium to make his case clean.

Although maybe if he can get Stark to steal it, that'd open a few other options too. Hmm.

[marvel_npc]

"I've got to be honest, I wasn't here for you," Tony tells him. "But if you were there, then you were part of a team that broke out a criminal and injured a member of the Task Force to boot. None of which looks great for you."

He cuts out his speakers and addresses FRIDAY. "Hey, get that General on the line, will you? I don't know what to do with this joker."

[marvel_npc]

He kicks Klaue's corpse in the side, causing it to roll forward and back a bit, and gives Stark a sharp look. "What I did was justice, man. But you don't know shit about that, do you?"

[marvel_npc]

"I'd ask how you figure that, but I don't really care," Tony tells him, as the connection chimes through. He kills the speakers again and lets FRIDAY scan the scene as the face of the Wakandan General appears in his HUD. "You have found Klaue?" she demands.

"Yeah," Tony says. "Sort of. I found Klaue's body, and the guy who shot him."

He sends the scan to her and waits as she studies it: Klaue's prone form, the mouthy guy with the gun. "He is unknown to me," she says, reluctant.

"Give me a sec," Tony tells her, and turns his speakers back on. "So, what's your stake in all this, huh?" he asks the man. "Who even are you?"

[marvel_npc]

"I'm a brother tryin' to do what's right," he challenges him. There're odd breaks and delays in the guy's questions, and he'd bet that he's talking to someone behind that mask of his. More of his Avenger cronies, he'd bet.

"This guy was a thief and a liar lookin' to do a deal with the CIA. I'm down here in the muck and the mess looking to get what he took back to the people he took it from, you feelin' me?"

[marvel_npc]

"Let me get this straight," Tony says, after a second. "You want to return the vibranium he stole to Wakanda?"

A few lines filter into view on his HUD. "Mr. Stevens?"

[marvel_npc]

Maybe he can get Stark to bring him in as a hero or something. Not that guys like this, especially this guy, usually give a shit about what Black and brown bodies end up paying the price for their power.

"Damn straight I do. So how about you leave me alone and let me do it?"

[marvel_npc]

That mask isn't the only thing in the van; FRIDAY has also picked up several semi-automatic weapons and an RPG, and Tony's voice is hard as he replies: "Yeah, that's not gonna happen."

He turns off his speaker and addresses Okoye, who has been listening in and viewing the data he's sending. "General, what's the call here?"

A muscle jumps in her jaw. "Bring him to our border," she tells him. "Klaue as well. And any of the evidence left behind in the van."

"You got it," Tony tells her, and casts around for anything he can use. There's a small plane nearby, obviously what Stevens was planning to use for his getaway. "But it's your lucky day, Stevens," he tells the guy. "Because the Wakandans definitely want to meet you. And just to make sure there's no funny business, I'll fly escort."

And he'll slave the plane to FRIDAY. It's not his first rodeo.

[marvel_npc]

Now that does surprise him, and he lets it show. "Man, you in touch with Wakanda?"

[marvel_npc]

"I hope so, or it's going to get awkward when we show up there," Tony informs him, as a whistling sound overhead announces the arrival of a few of his empty suit drones. One begins loading Klaue into the plane; another tears open the white van and starts hauling out guns.

"By the way, if the forensics show one of those guns is the one that injured the Task Force agent and if it turns out you fired it, things aren't going to go well for you."

[marvel_npc]

Looks like he's going to Wakanda with an Avenger escort. Not what he'd planned, but hey, he can work with it. Getting there's what counts. Erik makes his handgun disappear into the holster at the small of his back and rolls his eyes at Stark before he walks around the side of the plane, headed toward the pilot's seat.

[marvel_npc]

"We're on our way," Tony tells the General. "Send the coordinates."

She nods and ends the call, and he decides to wait until they're in the air to call Steve. In the meantime, one of the empty suits links FRIDAY to the barebones flight computer, giving him control. Another clanks into the plane to ensure Stevens can't access the small cargo area.

When he's as sure as he can be that Stevens can't control the plane and can't cause any other damage, Tony sends the plane soaring up into air, following after in the next second. "Check in with Cap," he tells FRIDAY. "And send a message to Barnes and Ross."

"On it, boss," FRIDAY confirms. "Have a nice flight."

[marvel_npc]

He wiggles the yoke back and forth a few times, just to check, but it's pretty clear that Stark's busy showing off his tech dick... which ain't as big as he thinks it is, but whatever.

Might as well let him do the work while he considers how to play this particular angle. Erik leans back in the pilot's chair and puts his hands behind his head, stretching out to relax as much as he can. It's a long flight to Wakanda.

[from_the_outside]

* * * * *

It's a relief to get into the rooms Nakia has set aside for them in the Citadel. Generous and welcoming as her friend has been, it's clear there's some strain beneath her smile, and Sharon wonders just how much trouble there might be if word of them gets out.

But the rooms – a large suite with rooms for all of them, a kitchenette, and a large living space – are warm and welcoming, hung with richly dyed cloth and with windows that look out over the Wakandan plains.

Two of the rooms share a large ensuite bathroom. Sharon glances at Nakia, but gets only an innocent glance in return. "I'll have some food sent up," Nakia tells them. "Do you need anything else?"

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky shakes his head. So does Ross, who adds, “You’ve been more than gracious. We appreciate everything you and King T’Challa have done for us. Really.”

[from_the_outside]

"I did this for me, too," she tells them, and comes to hug Sharon once more. "Rest well," she murmurs in her friend's ear, as Sharon embraces her back. After a moment, Nakia steps back and smiles at them all. "I will leave you, for now," she says, by way of farewell, and lifts her hand before she heads through the door and back to the hall of the Citadel.

Sharon looks around the living area and opts for a seat on one of the couches. What she really wants is sleep, but they haven't heard back from Tony yet, and she's not willing to close her eyes until they do. "Pretty nice digs," she observes, glancing around the room.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Everything here’s pretty nice,” Ross agrees. “Now give, Barnes. Any updates?”

“Not yet. I can call Natasha, but Tony hasn’t contacted me yet,” he reminds them.

[from_the_outside]

"He must soon," Sharon points out, curling into the couch corner. "I can't imagine anyone could be much faster at getting from point A to point B than Tony."