[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.

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[nerves_of_ice]

He dons a mask, then looks dubiously at his left hand before carefully pulling a glove over it. The glove doesn’t tear, and he puts on the other and stands ready with the bowl Shuri gives him.

“I understand,” he says, quietly, and repeats: “I trust you.”

[marvel_npc]

She works quickly and efficiently. The Kimoyo bead offers little resistance as she removes it. As she anticipated, a flurry of alarms blink through the display as she lifts it from Sharon and drops it into the bowl the Sergeant holds. She ignores them, focusing only on the waveforms of the woman's vital signs.

Once they stabilize, she nods to the Sergeant. "Now I will remove the bullet," she murmurs, and carefully works her way into the wound. "Have courage. This is the worst part and it will soon be over."

Whether she's speaking to the Sergeant, to the unconscious woman, or to herself, she isn't quite certain.

[nerves_of_ice]

“You’re doing great,” Bucky says, keeping his voice low and his words quiet so as not to distract. “Everything’s going well.”

It’s meant for both of them, whether or not Shuri knows it, whether or not Sharon can hear him.

[marvel_npc]

The bullet is more difficult to extract, being lodged in the woman's spine, and Shuri instructs the Sergeant to put down the bowl for a moment and help her by holding the wound open and stable.

Shuri makes a face as she eases the bullet out, her eyes grim. "Guns," she mutters, and drops the thing into the bowl with an expression of disgust. The table beeps at her, notifying her of the cascading effects that are attempting to happen and which she refuses to allow. She focuses intently on the rendering of Sharon's spine in light above the woman herself and works quickly to repair torn tissue and nerves. She repairs the damaged vertebra with a putty which will allow the bone to regenerate, then finishes by running a blue light over the wound, which slowly seals itself without any need for stitches.

She is sweating by the time she's finished, her own back aching, but pleased as she looks at the display. It ticks steadily back up towards normal, and she beams at the Sergeant. "Success."

[nerves_of_ice]

His answering smile is blinding. Bucky lets himself find Sharon's hand with his own again and holds it gently as he meets Shuri's eyes.

"Thank you," he whispers. "For saving her."

[marvel_npc]

She smiles back, pleased and satisfied.

"You are welcome," she says, and goes to the cabinet to pull out a light robe of soft fabric, which she brings to him. "Dress her in this while I clear these things away. And then she will need rest, and so will you."

[nerves_of_ice]

He accepts the robe and does as told, cradling Sharon in his arms with gentle care as he dresses her, then laying her back on the table in as comfortable a position as possible.

“Can I stay with her?” he pleads. “So that she won’t wake alone? She’s going to be confused.”

[marvel_npc]

"I will be nearby," Shuri protests, but it's pro forma before she gives in.

"Stay if you like. It will be some time before she wakes, though. At least get a chair."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods, and then draws a slow breath.

"Do you want me to call Ross?" Bucky's proud to hear that his voice is steady and calm, both. "He's probably waiting to hear. Sharon should have his number in her phone."

[marvel_npc]

She smiles at him, warm and fond. Even in this stressful moment, he is trying to do the right thing.

"I will take care of it," she says, and goes to the pile of Sharon's discarded clothing to find her phone, then unlocks it with the unconscious woman's fingerprint. A quick search reveals Ross's number, which she copies to her Kimoyo beads. "And I will call Nakia and T'Challa also."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay," he murmurs. "I'll be here if you need anything. Or if they do. Anything. Anything at all."

Bucky retrieves a chair and sets it up by the table so that he can watch over Sharon, then leans back in it to wait.