[oom] So I do what I do and I do it my own way

[from_the_outside]

Her bruises from the fight with the Twelve Brothers hadn't been bad enough for her to ask for them to be healed, so her jaw and cheek and chest and arms are still dusted with purple and blue, now edging toward strange mustard yellow colors.

But it feels good. It feels right, the way hitting the tree had, the way hitting the center of that target had, the way sparring with the Jabari had. It all makes her feel more like herself.

And Agent Thirteen? She doesn't hang around waiting for someone to give her something to do.

She's kept from seeking out the Dora or their training grounds, but now, she makes her way to the wide plain where Ayo and Okoye are putting their soldiers through their paces. Evening is beginning to fall, and Sharon's timed her visit correctly – she hopes. If she's right, the session will be done in a few minutes, and Ayo will start making her way back towards the Citadel. 

She's hopeful the other woman will allow some company. She's not sure how else to ask what she needs to ask. But until then, she waits, watching patiently, as the Dora finish their practice.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

“All you can do is offer,” he murmurs. “But I know the feeling.”

He reaches to take her hand again. “Will she let you?”

[from_the_outside]

"She talked to me," Sharon tells him, her fingers curling around his. "That's a start."

She's just a kid, and a kid pretty different from the one Sharon had been. She shouldn't have to be under this kind of strain. "Jury's still out on whether she'll let me come break her friend's abusive stepfather's nose, though."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Sounds like she’d benefit by agreeing.” His jaw is set tight at the thought. “She afraid of retaliation?”

[from_the_outside]

"I don't think that's it," she murmurs. "She's more worried about something else happening soon. Maybe after she gets through it."

Sharon shakes her head. Her jaw is as tight as his. "She's just a kid."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’m glad she has you,” he says, softly.

[from_the_outside]

"We'll see how useful I can be," Sharon says, a little morose, but she smiles faintly at his clear belief in her. "This is the first time I've tried to be emotional support for a teenager."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky smiles. “Might be a wild ride, but I’ve got faith in you.”

[from_the_outside]

“You always do,” she murmurs, smiling.

How and why, she’s never sure, but she’ll hold onto it with both hands. She tips her head toward the front of the hut. “Come on. I need a drink of water. And maybe a swim.”

[nerves_of_ice]

“I think we can manage that.” He opens the door - carefully - with his latest prototype hand and holds it for her.

[from_the_outside]

She heads in and takes down two cups from the little shelf, then fills them with water. "How was your day?" she asks, turning to hand one to him. "Do anything besides stacking wood?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Nothing much,” he says. “Ran a couple of prototype tests and made notes to tell Shuri about when she’s back. I’m supposed to meet Ayemi tomorrow, too - and another elder, I hear. Not sure who.”

He takes a sip of water and smiles a little, unaware of how unconsciously sweet it is. “Pretty quiet, all told.”

[from_the_outside]

"Sounds like a pretty good day," she says, sipping at her own water and savoring that sweet smile that lightens his eyes.

This quiet life, this rest cure, it's all so good for him. Slowly, he's been coming back to himself, relaxing, rejoining the world. "Give Ayemi my regards tomorrow."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I will,” he promises. “Chichima, too.”

He frowns for a second, considering. “Think Halloween would be something the kids would like?”

[from_the_outside]

"Are there kids who exist who don't like Halloween?" she counters, laughing. "Do you think they've heard of it here?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“No idea. Wakanda’s been pretty isolated but that doesn’t mean they’ve been ignorant of stuff in other places.”

Bucky grins. “Either way, we can probably come up with something to mark the occasion, if you think they’d like it.”

[from_the_outside]

"I think we need only the barest of excuses to let kids dress up in costume and come get candy," she laughs. "We might be the only house around for trick-or-treating."

The idea both amuses and delights her, in equal measure, obvious by her bright eyes and the way she can't stop smiling.

[nerves_of_ice]

She looks happy, pure and simple. Bucky reaches out and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “Then we’ll make it happen.”

[from_the_outside]

She tips her head into his touch, her eyes warm. "I don't know what trick-or-treating was like in the thirties," she says.

"But one day, we'll be back home. And we'll get to see all the kids dressed up and walking around."

She can almost picture it: Halloween. In Brooklyn, probably. That's where he wants to be, she knows.

[nerves_of_ice]

“That’d be one heck of a sight,” Bucky admits, openly amused.

[from_the_outside]

"It would," she agrees, amused, and finishes her water before reaching for his hand and lacing their fingers together. "I always liked handing out the candy. So yeah, I think we could do something like that here, even if it isn't for Halloween, exactly."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Whatever you want,” Bucky promises, and leans in to give her a quick kiss.

[from_the_outside]

She kisses him back, then smiles at him, crooked and sweet. "I want to go for an evening swim," she tells him. "Join me?"

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky smiles back. “Okay.”

[from_the_outside]

"Okay," she says, and though her tone is bland, her eyes are sparkling. She steps back and lets go of his hand, then turns to move towards her tote bag and the swimsuit inside it, stripping off her shirt as she goes.

If she glances a crooked smile at him back over her shoulder as he does, maybe he doesn't see.

Or maybe she's fine with delaying their swim for a little while.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky laughs, low and soft, and flips the latch on the door to locked.

They’ll make it down to the lake … eventually.