he who hesitates is toast

After leaving Shuri with her strict orders to 'go rest' ringing in his ears, he'd headed reluctantly back to his apartment, not tired or sleepy in the slightest. He'd almost chosen to retrace the path from the other night down to the lake instead, but decided to wait for morning to avoid the chance that anyone might wonder what he was doing wandering around alone at night.

Having taken a quick shower, he's sitting up in bed and reading when the tablet on the side table chimes. It's not Sharon or Steve, he sees, but a code he doesn't recognize. Bucky sets the book aside and reaches to activate the call, then startles as an image forms in the air above the screen rather than a video appearing on it.

"T'Cha-- er, your Highness?"