[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

[nerves_of_ice]

Necessary. He hears what T'Challa doesn't say as clearly as what he does, and all the blood drains from his face as he stares at him.

"Is she awake?" he whispers. "Can I see her?"

[marvel_npc]

"She is not awake," T'Challa says. Gently, so very gently. The man looks drained dry.

He flicks a glance toward where Sharon Carter lies on the sand table and struggles with himself – it could not possibly help the Sergeant to see her this way, but is that his choice?

"But I will show her to you, if you wish."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Please."

He says it instantly, without even the slightest flicker of hesitation.

[marvel_npc]

T'Challa sighs, but nods. "Give me a moment," he murmurs, and vanishes the hologram from over his wrist before her lowers the privacy bubble.

The others look up at him, and he glances to Okoye, tipping his head to the side. She understands instantly and gestures to Ross and Nakia. "Come," she murmurs. "Come."

She pulls them aside and towards the front of the flyer as T'Challa comes to stand by Agent Carter's side. She looks perfectly peaceful, her skin pale as porcelain, her hair spread around her as if she were floating in water.

A moment later and he has activated the privacy bubble around himself and the table both, then renews the hologram, turning it so the Sergeant can see her. "As I said," T'Challa murmurs. "She is stable. We are monitoring her closely, as is Shuri, in her lab."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods, his gaze fixed on Sharon's sleeping face. "Hold on, baby," he tells her, each word ragged and rough with emotion, watching for any sign that she can hear him, any sign at all.

"Just hold on. Keep breathing. Shuri can work miracles, I promise. She did for me. I'm here waiting for you. Hold on, please."

[marvel_npc]

His heart aches for this man, for them both. Though the Sergeant has refrained from asking him to make an exception for this woman, T'Challa knows it had been his secret wish. Even knowing it would have been impossible, he is sorry, deeply sorry, that this is the way she has come to Wakanda.

The sleeping Sharon Carter gives no sign of hearing the familiar voice, but T'Challa has to clear his throat, which is feeling strangely tight.

"Everything we can do for her will be done," he promises. "I will bring her to you safely, and Shuri will help her. Your Sharon saved Nakia's life. I owe her a great debt."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That's who she is," Bucky tells him. He glances away from Sharon to T'Challa, just for an instant. "Nakia's a friend of hers, but she would have done it anyway. It's why she joined SHIELD all those years ago. To-- to protect. No matter how --"

He swallows back the tears that are fighting to drown him in a sea of fear and grief.

"Thank you for taking care of her, your Highness. I'll be waiting in the lab when you get here."

[marvel_npc]

"We will fly as fast as possible," T'Challa assures him. "General Okoye will assist me."

He realizes now that he has utterly neglected to mention their other American guest. "And Deputy Commander Ross insisted on accompanying us. I am certain he will wish to come to the lab as well."

[nerves_of_ice]

His eyes narrow. "Did he."

Bucky takes a second to get a firm grip on himself, then nods. "I'm sure you're right."

[marvel_npc]

T'Challa sighs, very slightly.

"I understand your frustration," he says, "but this was not Ross's fault."

[nerves_of_ice]

Maybe not, but he desperately wants it to be, wants to have a target to blame. The instant he realizes it, he makes himself get an even tighter hold of his emotions, and nods to T'Challa.

"I understand."

[marvel_npc]

T'Challa's expression softens. "Have faith," he says, quietly. "I will bring her to you."

After a beat of silence, he adds: "I believe Shuri has some things she could use your assistance with in the lab, as she prepares."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'll go there now." His gaze shifts back to Sharon, and rests there. "See you soon, baby," he murmurs.

[marvel_npc]

T'Challa allows him a last long look at her, then nods to him. "Soon," he says, and lifts his free hand in farewell before ending the call, feeling wrung out and exhausted.

It's a moment longer before he drops the privacy bubble, a moment of quiet, just between him and the sleeping Sharon Carter. If he says anything to her, it stays between the two of them.

[marvel_npc]

She has been waiting for the bubble to drop, and comes over to his side as soon as it does.

"How did it go?" she asks, softly, reaching out to put a comforting hand on T'Challa's arm.

[marvel_npc]

He reaches to cover her hand with his own and gives her a grave glance. "Let us hope that she is strong," is all he says in reply, and sighs before he squeezes her hands and finds some small, crooked, rueful shade of a smile.

"Stay with her. I must speak with Ross."

[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?"