[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

[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.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky's attention turns instantly to Ross, but as it does his own phone vibrates and he looks at it instead, turning it so Sharon can see.

got him
only he's dead - not my fault
bringing body and sidekick to some general at the Wakandan border
how's Sharon?

[from_the_outside]

"Sidekick?"

Sharon looks at them both, then gives Bucky a faint smile. "At least you have some good news for him on that last part."

Well, depending. She doesn't think Tony would want her gone anymore, but she had given him a pretty tough time.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Good question." Ross is typing something on his phone. Bucky does the same.

sidekick?
out of surgery. doing good.

[from_the_outside]

A second later, Bucky's phone buzzes again.

matches your description of the guy in the tribal mask
found mask & guns in the van

Sharon's mouth twitches, slightly. "I guess I can't really talk to anyone yet," she points out. "They'll all think I need to be recovery for at least a few weeks."

[nerves_of_ice]

"We'll see," Bucky murmurs, staring at Tony's message. "No video calls, that's for sure."

The guy in the tribal mask. The guy who shot Sharon. His left hand flexes and the plates on his arm shift and settle in automatic response.

be sure to let the general know that