[Leipzig AU] good for trouble

[from_the_outside]

Busan glitters like a disco ball in the night, and no one gives them a second glance as they stroll through the fish market, Sharon in her white dress on Ross's arm, the rest of the team behind them. "Sophia," she says, warmly, and exchanges air kisses with the woman, her pink visor and plastic apron both bright. She knows to expect them, and after she pats Sharon fondly on the cheek, she nods them through.

They spread out through the casino, the team's voices low in her ear. She stays by Ross, playing the part of arm candy, applauding when he wins and consoling him when he loses.

There's no sign of Klaue yet, and the metal briefcase full of diamonds stays locked to the wrist of one of the other agents. "I'm going to get a drink," Sharon murmurs to Ross, and makes her way through the crowd to the bar. 

The martinis here are fine, but not as good as Nat's.

Comments

[marvel_npc]

She squeezes back, then takes up a position beside the sand table. "He will probably welcome talking to you," she observes. "I think Okoye makes him nervous."

[marvel_npc]

He chuckles, very lightly, then gives her a look full of compassion.

"I did not know you were friends," he murmurs, and has to restrain himself from reaching for her again. "I am sorry."

[marvel_npc]

"Good friends," she tells him, softly. "I have known her for years. We met when she was still an agent of SHIELD, and even worked together sometimes, out in the world. They called her Agent Thirteen, then."

[marvel_npc]

Thirteen. An unlucky number in the Western world. He supposes that speaks to her efficacy. T'Challa nods and glances back at the sleeping woman.

"We will do all we can," he promises Nakia, as he had promised the Sergeant, before he looks back up at her. "You will have your friend again soon, Nakia."

[marvel_npc]

She smiles at him, warm and sure, then tips her head toward the others.

"Go," Nakia tells him. "Rescue the Deputy Commander. Before Okoye stabs him. I will stay with Sharon."

[marvel_npc]

Her smile cannot fail to lighten even the darkest of his moods. He chuckles lightly and holds up his hands, then goes to where Ross and Okoye are standing in a tense detente.

"Deputy Commander," he says. "Come with me. There is much for us to discuss."

[marvel_npc]

He follows the other man across the aircraft to a space away from the others. "So when I asked how much more you were hiding," he starts.

"What the hell, your Highness?"

[marvel_npc]

Across the flyer, Okoye growls.

T'Challa ignores her for the moment and lifts his wrist, the Kimoyo beads there lying dormant. "More than you could ever have guessed," he says, solemn. "And it must remain hidden, Ross."

He doesn't allow the man to sputter a reply, only taps his beads and brings the hologram to life. "Let me tell you the story of Wakanda."

[marvel_npc]

He jumps slightly as the image forms in the air, but makes himself stay silent and watch until T'Challa finishes speaking.

Ross stares at him for several long moments. "So --"

Klaue wasn't lying, he almost says, and then hastily changes tacks as he realizes just how badly that's likely to go over.

"--all this," he says instead, waving his hand at the aircraft around them. "And more. How the-- how have you hidden this all this time?"

[marvel_npc]

"By being very careful with our secrets and protecting our border."

He vanishes the hologram with a wave of his hand. "By deploying our War Dogs out into the world to listen for any news of Wakanda or vibranium."

T'Challa nods at Nakia, including her in that group. "By never allowing outsiders into our country," he adds, and looks slightly rueful. "A tradition which I will now have broken three separate times."

[marvel_npc]

He turns to look at Carter, then slowly turns in a circle, studying the aircraft with new eyes.

"Is this-- is this thing made out of vibranium?" Ross ends by staring at T'Challa again, stunned. "All of it?"

[marvel_npc]

T'Challa looks very patient, and nods.

[marvel_npc]

He reaches out to brace himself against the wall as the shock staggers him, then snatches his hand back again as if he'd touched a hot surface.

"Okay. Okay." Ross takes a deep breath. "So that weapon Klaue had. What was it?"

[marvel_npc]

"It was never meant to be a weapon," T'Challa says, grim.

"In its natural state, vibranium is not stable enough to be moved. My sister Shuri developed a way to use sonic waves to render it briefly inert. The cannon is a bastardized version of a mining tool that works the same way."

[marvel_npc]

"A mining tool." Ross scrubs his hands across his face. "I'm dreaming. I must be dreaming. A mining tool, and it did that?"

[marvel_npc]

"I do not need to tell you that Ulysses Klaue is a dangerous man," T'Challa says, grim.

"I must return to the hunt for him as soon as possible, after we have delivered Agent Carter to my sister."

[marvel_npc]

"He escaped from Task Force custody," Ross says, just as grim. "You won't be hunting him alone."

[marvel_npc]

T'Challa nods. "Under different circumstances," he says, dry, "I would say it is a pleasure working with you again, Deputy Commander."

He stands and nods. "We have some hours yet. Get some rest, if you can. I will alert you if anything changes with Agent Carter."

[nerves_of_ice]

* * * * * * *

It's been hours since he arrived at the lab to find Shuri still there and already preparing a room. He hadn't even had to ask before she briskly ordered him to help. Most of what he's able to do is move equipment or clean and disinfect things with the light-emitting wand she gives him to work with, but it's something, and every little bit helps keep him occupied enough not to think.

The problem is that now they've done all they can do, and the others still haven't arrived. Shuri is bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, checking things on her tablet, and Bucky has taken to pacing back and forth in front of the lab windows.

"How much longer, do you think?" he asks. "You're still monitoring, right?"

[marvel_npc]

"Yes," she promises, as she has made certain to promise throughout this interminable wait. He is remarkably restrained when it comes to vocalizing his worry, but she sees the tension in his body and hears the tightness in his voice and she makes her own more brisk and confident in response.

"I am still monitoring, and I have seen no change. Which is good, I remind you."

Certainly far better than any negative change. "I think they will probably arrive soon. At the flyer's top speed, the trip should take fewer than five hours."

[nerves_of_ice]

Which could mean anything, since they don't know how long the flyer had been in the air before T'Challa called, but there's no point in mentioning it. She knows it as well as he does. They'll get here when they get here, and not before.

"No change," he repeats, trying to let himself be reassured by that. "Okay. Okay. Thanks."

[marvel_npc]

She's not sure if it would help or hurt to tell him about how the Kimoyo bead T'Challa used is stabilizing Sharon's wound and her vitals, and ultimately elects not to bring it up.

"Try not to worry," she says, soothing. "Why don't you make a pot of coffee? I am sure the others would appreciate some when they arrive."

[nerves_of_ice]

He gives her a rueful look at that, but goes to the coffee maker. After all, she's not wrong.

[marvel_npc]

With him busy, she can return to her own fretting, checking and double-checking and triple-checking their set up as well as Sharon's data... which abruptly cuts off, nearly giving her a heart attack before her Kimoyo beads chime.

"I think they are coming!" she calls to Sergeant Barnes, and hurries to the entryway, impatient.

[nerves_of_ice]

He's at her side in a few long strides, watching impatiently as the indicator on the elevator to the flight platform moves first up, then down toward their level.