[oom] something in my mind freezes up from time to time

[from_the_outside]

She hardly has any time to protest when Nakia appears like a vengeful storm sweeping into Shuri's lab and hauls Sharon away like a child who has snuck out of bed.

"Nakia –!"

"I will return her once she is ready," Nakia tells Shuri, who looks like she's barely holding back laughter, and then drags Sharon down the short corridor to the train platform, tapping out an order on her Kimoyo beads as she does.

"Do I get to know what's going on?" Sharon complains, and Nakia gives her a flat look.

"Stretch your arms up as high as you can," she commands, and when Sharon hesitates snaps: "Well?"

Annoyed, Sharon does as requested, but can only get her left arm about halfway up before wincing and letting it drop again. "As I thought," Nakia says, patronizing, and ushers her onto the train.

What follows is a series of tests and scans Sharon submits to with poor grace. "I'm fine!" she protests. "It's been six weeks!" But the Wakandan doctors either don't believe her or are too scared of Nakia to ignore her orders, and Sharon finds herself on the business end of a needle or two and several strangely warm lights that do something uncomfortable to the ribs she'd broken and then re-broken.

"Why does it hurt more now?" she complains, and Nakia smiles peaceably. "Because you did not take care of them before and now they must heal properly. You will be fine tomorrow or the day after."

And whatever arguments Sharon makes, she refuses to hear.

---

Nakia keeps her resting for the remainder of the day, feigning deafness when Sharon asks about going either to the lab or to see Bucky, and the evening and night pass without incident. She does manage to see him the next day, but it's brief: Nakia had swept in shortly after sun-up with coffee and breakfast and informed Sharon she would be taking her to meet several of the different tribes. And that it would likely take all day.

So Sharon contents herself with waving to Bucky from a distance as she and Nakia pass by: the children must have been freed from their lessons because they're clamoring around him. She meets a slew of people whose names she tries her best to remember and returns to the Citadel that evening with a few colorful braided and beaded bracelets around her wrist and several yards of beautiful cloth one of the village women had pressed on her. She doesn't know what to do with it; Nakia takes it with a secretive smile and promises to find a purpose.

But the next morning, she's up and out before Nakia can show up with plans again: the doctors had said she would be fine today, and she has somewhere she needs to be. After she's made use of the coffee maker she'd wheedled out of the kitchen staff, showered, and changed, she's heading down the halls of the Citadel to the station.

Shuri had said first thing. They may already be there.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"Now I know why you were so annoyed with any other tech," Sharon admits. She smiles at T'Challa's teasing, but her attention is on Bucky as he looks around and catches on a particular booth.

She glances from the equipment to him and back again. "Those look kind of promising," she says, encouragingly. "Want to take a look?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He's clearly and visibly hesitant, but after looking around at the rest of them, Bucky nods and starts slowly toward the booth.

There's an older man sitting in a comfortable canvas chair in the back, his skin leathery with age but his hands deft on the lens he's cleaning. He doesn't even glance up at their approach.

"Look all you like," he says, evidently to a stubborn bit of dirt caught in an edge. "My work speaks for itself."

[from_the_outside]

She puts her hand lightly on the small of his back, as he's done so many times for her, more for support than for direction, but drops it as they get close to the booth. "Your work is beautiful," she tells the man, looking at the photos for a long moment before glancing down at the equipment beneath each.

Cameras are far from her area of expertise; she waits to see if there's one in particular Bucky's looking at, then glances back at the photographer. "We're interested in some equipment, actually," she says. "Can you tell us a little about what you have?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I know," the photographer grumbles in response to her compliment, but it's the question that finally gets his attention. He looks up at Sharon with more interest than before.

"Equipment, is it? Why not just use your phone camera?"

Very quietly, from where he's standing a step behind Sharon, Bucky says,

"Because a phone lacks depth."

[from_the_outside]

"Not for me," Sharon says, smiling, and tips her head back at Bucky. "For him."

The man glances past her to Bucky. "But efficient," he says, clearly testing this potential customer. "And easy. Point and click. Isn't that what all you young people prefer these days? Access over artistry?"

He nods to Bucky's left shoulder. "Hard to switch lenses with only one hand."

Sharon bristles – nobody is asking his opinion on what can or can't be done with only one hand – but the man is still eying Bucky speculatively. "What have you used before?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Easy's overrated." Low still, but certain. "Just as well I feel that way, considering," he adds, shrugging his left shoulder.

Bucky's very quiet for a moment, then concludes,

"I had a Nikon D4S. Before. I liked the light range it could handle. I don't... didn't... use... mirrorless."

Satisfaction flashes in the photographer's eyes, and he sets his lens aside and gets to his feet.

"Give me your hand," he orders, and Bucky holds out his hand, palm up.

[from_the_outside]

"Mirrorless technology has improved a great deal in the last few years," the man says, going to one of the cameras laid out and picking it up, then unscrewing the lens and replacing it with another. "Full-frame sensors, up to thirty frames per second – and without the mirrors, the camera is much lighter."

Apparently satisfied with the lens he'd chosen, he sets the camera down on Bucky's palm. "This is a good choice for a travel camera," he says. "But nearly as good in a studio. Light, sturdy, weatherproof, interchangeable lenses."

He gestures at Bucky. "See how it feels."

[nerves_of_ice]

It's a test as well as an offer, he's sure. Carefully, he closes his fingers around the camera.

(Everything's a test - no. No. That was then, not now. Not here.)

It's light enough without being fragile. He braces it against his body and shifts his grip, then hefts it in his hand, getting the feel of it. Thumb control is right-sided, and additional adjustments are on top right, within easy fingertip reach. It's clear the left side on this model is used primarily for stabilization and card storage - which will make it feasible to operate.

Slowly, he smiles, and it's warm like the sun's dawning.

"Yes," he says, simply.

[from_the_outside]

That smile is worth everything from the last few days. She wishes she had any idea how to use any of these cameras to try and capture it, but without the knowledge or the equipment, all she can do is look at him and try to commit it to memory.

She's not sure any picture could do it justice, anyway. Can any photo make her chest feel like a room slowly filling with sunlight?

The photographer, clearly delighted at finding a kindred spirit, smiles as well. "I have a few lenses that work with that model," he says. "If you're interested, I can throw in a few SD cards as well."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Definitely interested," he agrees. "Figure I've got some work to do before I can manage a telephoto lens again, but macro and wide-angle and a standard zoom--"

"I can do you one better," the photographer tells them, and pulls a box out from under the table, where it'd been half-hidden by a drape. Carefully he lifts out the lens contained within. "New tech from the Wakanda Design Group. Takes anything from far-range true telephoto to macro with better quality than I've ever seen before, and the size is nearly flat." He flashes them a broad grin. "You'll still have to do the wide-angle separately though."

Bucky looks at the logo for Shuri's lab on the box, and huffs out a breath of laughter. "Figures if anyone'd come up with it, it'd be them."

He shakes his head, still amused, and reaches for the hidden clip where he keeps his card. "Whatever you're asking, I'll pay it. Thank you."

Bucky glances to the side, then, and adds, holding Sharon's gaze --

"And thank you. For insisting."

[from_the_outside]

She meets his eyes and shakes her head, smiling. "I'm glad you found something great," she says, simply, and watches as the photographer hands Bucky's card back to him and starts packing up the camera and its bag, the WDG lens, another lens that she assumes must be the wide-angle, and a series of SD cards. "And I'm looking forward to seeing your photos."

Especially since these won't all have to be of old museum exhibits.

In the meantime, she'll hold onto the memory of that smile and the warmth of his back under her hand when she briefly presses her hand to it. "I feel like you're going to have a lot of fun playing around with it."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Maybe," he agrees, and tries not to let his thoughts linger over the feel of her hand against his back. "I guess we'll see."

The photographer hands over everything in a canvas bag with a shoulder strap, and Bucky swings it to his shoulder without difficulty as he thanks him again.

"You're welcome -- your Highness!" His eyes widen as T'Challa walks up, Nakia at his side. T'Challa crosses his arms over his chest, and the photographer does the same, still a little wide-eyed with surprise, but pleased as T'Challa says,

"Thank you for your advice, and your skill. We appreciate it as well."

[from_the_outside]

She manages to resist the urge to laugh, either at the photographer's surprise or at T'Challa's flair for the dramatic.

(When she catches Nakia's eye and her friend rolls hers, she knows Nakia is facing the same challenge.)

"You honor me. It was my pleasure," the photographer is saying, and, given his annoyance with the world and people in general only moments ago, Sharon thinks he's being sincere. Nakia is looking over his photos with a practiced eye, and she'll be surprised if one or more don't find their way to the walls of the Citadel before nightfall.

Sharon takes a few steps back to keep from crowding the booth, and looks up at Bucky. "I'd say this was a successful trip," she says, pleased: with him, with the seller, with T'Challa and Nakia, with herself, with the day thus far.

She got what she came for, anyway.

[nerves_of_ice]

"I think so too," he murmurs, a small smile on his face as he looks down at her.

[from_the_outside]

She has the sensation again of a thrill melting from the top of her head down under the combination of his gaze and that tiny smile, and can't stop herself; she takes the half-step forward she needs to come close, let her fingers catch his, and look up into his face with warm eyes.

"I'm really happy for you," she says, softly. "You deserve it."

They're still surrounded by people. She's mostly forgotten them.

[nerves_of_ice]

He shakes his head in denial, but squeezes her fingers all the same - and then lets go and steps back as Nakia turns from the booth and secures Sharon's other arm with a bright smile.

"Now that you have finished your shopping," she says, "are you ready to come with me for that picnic? The waterfall is truly spectacular, you will love it."

Bucky, meanwhile, moves to join T'Challa, who has finally finished talking with the photographer.

[from_the_outside]

She laughs as much in surprise as in delight and reaches across herself to put her hand over Nakia's. "I'm all yours," she promises.

"Good," Nakia declares. "We'll go back to the Citadel first to collect what we need. And the trip from the Citadel is nearly as beautiful as the falls themselves; the train goes deep into the River Tribe province."

She begins walking Sharon off as she speaks, leaving enough time only for Sharon to wave a slightly bewildered good-bye to Bucky and T'Challa – who looks nearly as bemused as she feels.

"See you later," she tells them – tells Bucky, and offers a last smile before she and Nakia vanish into the swirling crowd.

[nerves_of_ice]

"She is very annoyed with you," T'Challa says, as they watch Nakia and Sharon leave. "I do not believe it is your fault, but..."

"I know," Bucky sighs.

"Give it time. At least you do not have anyone comparing you to a gazelle."

[from_the_outside]

They've only made it about twenty yards away when Sharon's eye catches on a booth and she tugs at Nakia's hand. "Give me one second, okay?"

She peels off to go to the booth and a short conversation ensues before she hands over a few bills and receives a small bag containing a palm-sized package in return.

"Okay," she tells Nakia, whose expression is a mix of exasperated affection and resignation. "Let's go."

Nakia chats lightly as they head to the nearest train platform, telling her about the waterfall and its importance to the River Tribe. "There is a series of pools at the bottom that are perfect for swimming," she promises.

"I can't wait," Sharon tells her, as they board the train back to the Citadel. "Show me everything."

[nerves_of_ice]

"A gazelle, huh?" He doesn't laugh, but it's a near thing. "That sounds like a story."

"Oh, it is," T'Challa agrees, ruefully. "Between my sister and Okoye I had no peace. Someday, I--"

He's interrupted by a soft chime from his wrist. As he raises his hand and taps one of the beads on his bracelet, a figure appears as if she'd been summoned by the sound of her name. Okoye gives T'Challa a frustrated look. "Your highness, if you are quite finished playing in the market, perhaps I could trouble you to show up to your meeting with M'Baku? Ideally before we kick off a new war when the Dora who are his honor guard finally lose patience with his poking and poke back with their spears?"

Bucky swallows another laugh at the resigned expression on T'Challa's face. He promises Okoye that he is on his way, then dismisses the call and looks at Bucky.

"Do you want to come along?"

"I'm not much of a politician," he says, slowly.

"Neither is M'Baku. So it might be entertaining. But only if you want."

"--all right," Bucky decides, and turns to walk beside him. Neither of them mention that it's the first time he's accepted an invitation like this since arriving in Wakanda.

[from_the_outside]

"Was T'Challa really playing hooky?" Sharon asks, as the train pulls out of the platform and speeds its way towards the Citadel, and Nakia laughs.

"Really," she confirms. "These negotiations with the Jabari are complicated. And M'Baku is a proud and stubborn man."

"There are a lot of those around," Sharon says, and grins as Nakia rolls her eyes.

There are several stops to make at the Citadel itself: Sharon's room, to drop off her purchases, Nakia's suites so her friend can change into something a little more walking- and swimming-friendly, and finally the kitchens, where Nakia wheedles a backpack basket of food and several bottles out of the smiling staff.

It's almost an hour after they've arrived back at the Citadel when they step onto a train heading deep into the River Tribe lands, but the whole afternoon stretches out before them.

"This reminds me of that time in Cartagena," Sharon says, looking out the window as the train speeds through dappled jungle shadows. Nakia laughs.

"With fewer drug runners, I hope."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's still hard to believe all of that happened in a week," Bucky muses, as they reach the Citadel and head for the throne room. "And that I slept through it all. Although I guess I've done that before, with other things."

"If you drink much more of my sister's coffee, that will not be an issue," T'Challa informs him, and this time Bucky does laugh, low and quick, before going silent as he drops back to let T'Challa enter first.

"My king," Okoye greets him, the slight sharpening to her glance the only sign of her surprise as she spots Bucky. "M'Baku, leader of the Jabari, is here to meet with you."

"And has been waiting for far too long!" M'Baku booms, before catching sight of Bucky. "What is this? Were you too busy playing with your new dog to remember your duty?"

Bucky doesn't give any sign that he has even heard him as he takes a moment to set the newly-purchased camera down on a table out of the way before taking up position to the side. T'Challa raises his eyebrows at M'Baku.

"If you cannot tell the difference between a dog and a wolf, M'Baku, then that explains a great many things."

[from_the_outside]

The train takes them only about three-quarters of the way there, and leaves them on a platform built over the wide waters of a calm river. Nakia leads the way down to a floating pier and exchanges greetings with a River Tribe member who escorts them onto a small, flat-bottomed boat. A console in the bow lights up in response to a command from Nakia's Kimoyo beads and the boatsman waves cheerfully as an unseen propeller starts up and pushes them smoothly away from shore.

"What do you think?" asks Nakia, once they've left all signs of other people behind, and Sharon takes a deep breath of mellow, river-scented air, and smiles.

"It's perfect."

"It's where I grew up," Nakia explains. "In this river valley, this flood plain. I have made this trip so many times – I am happy now to make it with you."

Sharon nods and leans on the railing, watching the shore float by, until Nakia digs into the basket and comes out again with a bottle of wine. "Time to celebrate your arrival, I think," she says, and Sharon shakes her head with a laugh.

"You throw the best parties."

[nerves_of_ice]

M'Baku's deep belly laugh rolls over the room like thunder. He shakes his finger at T'Challa, then at Bucky, and comes over to stand in front of him. "Well, Wolf, what do you have to say for yourself? Will you try to rip out my throat if I insult your king?"

Bucky stares him in the eye. He has to look up to do so, but it doesn't concern him.

"I didn't come here to fight. But if you start one, I'll finish it."

M'Baku stares back at him, then looks at T'Challa in disbelief before turning back to Bucky. "Like this?" he asks, tapping Bucky on the left shoulder. Bucky doesn't react; he knows M'Baku is looking for exactly that. "Like this, you think you can win against me?"

T'Challa stirs, but Bucky gets there first. "Whether I won or lost wouldn't matter."

M'Baku throws his head back and laughs again. "A Wolf indeed! T'Challa, if this kind of warrior is what you want Wakanda to let in, we might have something to talk about." He turns away and goes to sit in the chair that's been set out for him, entertained and ready to discuss. T'Challa and Bucky exchange a long look, then T'Challa takes his seat on the throne and leans forward to address M'Baku.

Bucky watches them for a moment, then notices that Okoye is watching him. He catches her eye, and is startled to see faint approval in her glance.

[from_the_outside]

She waits until they're both halfway down their first cups of wine – it's light and tastes faintly of gooseberries – before broaching the thing that's been on her mind since the market. "You know, Bucky's going to start thinking you don't like him, if you keep being so cool with him," she says, casually, and Nakia rolls her eyes.

"I like him," she protests. "We all do."

"Then?" presses Sharon.

Her friend shakes her head, mouth pressing. "I like him, for himself. Not for you."

"Nakia, I told you –"

"I know, I know." Nakia lifts a hand to dismiss her protests. "And you are so stubborn! You will not listen to me, you will not even listen to him."

"I listen," Sharon says, so petulantly that Nakia laughs and leans forward to cup her cheek.

"To your own heart, maybe. But perhaps it's time to listen to someone else, for a change." Brightly. "Someone with perspective. And a working brain."