[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

[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."

[nerves_of_ice]

“He’s probably going to call Steve first,” Bucky says, and tips his head toward Sharon. “Since he doesn’t have the latest update either.”

[from_the_outside]

Ross sighs and reaches for his own phone, checking whatever messages he might have. "Nothing here yet, either," he grumbles, and paces to the window to look out over Wakanda, then back again to shoot a sharp glance at Sharon. "Carter, shouldn't you be resting?"

"I'm sitting down," she points out. "There's zero chance you're getting rid of me before we hear from Tony."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Hopefully Klaue doesn’t have any more of those weapons up his sleeve,” he mutters. “Literally, even. RPGs I’m not so worried about.”

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah, what the hell was that weapon?"

Sharon glances from one of them to the other. "Did you ever find out?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Yeah,” Ross says. “Mining tool. Modified. I thought it was bullshit until, well.”

“Have to wonder how he managed to get vibranium out of here in the first place,” Bucky murmurs. “Someone had to be helping him.”

[from_the_outside]

"I imagine the General will have her own investigation to find his associates," Ross says, dry, and goes to the kitchenette to pour a glass of water, which he brings over to Sharon.

She takes it with a small, crooked smile, and drinks. "Tell me the rest," she asks them. "While we wait."

[nerves_of_ice]

“How much did you catch before you went down?” Ross wants to know. Bucky has to keep himself from reaching for her hand.

[from_the_outside]

"Almost nothing," she says, after a second where her hand tightens on the glass. "I was in the surveillance room, with Nakia. I saw you arguing with T'Challa, and then..."

She flicks a fast, hunted glance at Bucky. "Everything went to hell."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I don’t know what they used to blow the wall,” Bucky says, quietly. “C4 or similar maybe. Or they could have hit it with the rocket launcher they used later, but I doubt it would have done that kind of damage. It was a pretty controlled collapse.”

Bitterness leaches into his tone for a moment before he forces it back. “By the time I pulled myself out of the debris two of the team were carrying Klaue out through the wall, and the third was covering them.”

[from_the_outside]

"The next thing I saw was Nakia right in front of the gunman," Sharon tells them. "So I tackled her." She grimaces. "Not fast enough, though."

She shakes off the grim thoughts and looks up at Bucky. "How did they manage to get away from you and T'Challa?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“RPG,” he says, succinctly. “Anti-tank. Concussive blast. By the time we picked ourselves up from the explosion they were barreling down the alley.”

He trades a look with Ross, then looks at Sharon. “Okoye came running out after T’Challa. I followed him back inside instead of going after Klaue, because I figured whatever kept him from it had to be serious.”

[from_the_outside]

"That'd do it," she murmurs.

It had to be serious. There's no smile touching her lips now. "I guess that's when T'Challa decided to bring me back here, huh?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Pretty much.” He trades another look with Ross, who’s looking as grim as Bucky feels.

“He’s a good man.”

[from_the_outside]

"He seems that way," she murmurs.

And now she owes him... everything. But better T'Challa than someone who'll hold it over her head. "How did we get here so fast, anyway?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"They had an aircraft waiting in a field just outside the city," Bucky explains. Despite himself, there's a flicker of delighted awe at the memory. "It had an illusion shield, better than the helicarrier's. Makes a Quinjet look antiquated."

[from_the_outside]

She can't help smiling at the flash of delight in his eyes. He loves science fiction, she knows, and it must feel to him like being inside one of the old pulp novels, being here. "Don't tell Nick," she says, amused. "He'll take it personally."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I probably couldn't tell him anyway," Bucky points out. "T'Challa hasn't said yet, but I can't imagine he's going to want the truth about Wakanda to get out, given how much--"

He cuts himself off there as sharply as with a knife as Ross gives him a look of disbelief. "Nice try there, Barnes, but you know that's not going to work, right?"

[from_the_outside]

Sharon gives them both a quick, sharp glance. "What?"

She's not sure why Bucky cut himself off, or what Ross is saying. "Given how much what?"

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky's jaw sets in hard lines.

"Given that bringing us the three of us here apparently counts as treason," he says, softly. "It'll help when we bring Klaue in. Which is why it needs to happen fast."

He looks at his phone again, willing Tony to send an update soon.

[from_the_outside]

She goes cold all over in a way that has nothing to do with her freshly-healed nervous system. "Treason?" she asks, but Ross jumps like a snake has bit him, and his hand goes to his pocket like lightning as his phone buzzes with a message.