[oom] I'm right here beside you

[from_the_outside]

 Sleep is a joke.

It's not just the intel that she stays up sifting through, blue light straining her eyes; it's not just the coffee she drinks, trying to keep her brain sharp and her thoughts on track. 

It's time.

Minutes that slip away, that she can't get back. Hours that tick ponderously past. She lies alone in her bed and can't close her eyes because if she does, if she sleeps, it's another night gone, another night closer to the day Bucky goes back under and –

So she stays up and works. 

It means that when she waits for him in the morning to come find her before they meet with T'Challa and the others, her skin is pale and translucent and she has that sick feeling of an all-nighter, fatigue poisons running rampant through her bloodstream – but she has a list of observations from her analysis, and two mugs of coffee kept warm on the credenza: one pale with milk and sugar, the other black and as strong as her little coffee maker could handle.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"Where did you find the tampering?" Bucky asks. "That might tell us a lot about what their goals are."

He hesitates, but only for a moment, with a quick glance to T'Challa before he continues. "For example. If I were trying to cause maximum destruction but make it look like an accident, I'd target things that affect structural integrity. Your train lines. Beams and girders that support key pieces of equipment. The larger the better."

[from_the_outside]

Okoye's expression tells Sharon that Bucky's example is hitting a little closer to home than is strictly comfortable.

"On one of the train platforms," she admits. "But it was difficult to find. Without...whatever was planted there to begin with, any markings might easily be passed off as normal wear and tear."

Translation: there are likely other spots they didn't find.

And perhaps the enemy agents hadn't managed to clear out those spots yet. "We will keep searching," Okoye continues. "Our loyal workers are on the watch now as well."

[nerves_of_ice]

T'Challa's jaw sets tight. "I will ask Shuri to see if she can come up with some kind of scan. For explosives, perhaps." He looks at Bucky for a moment, then shakes his head. "It cannot be you. The White Wolf appearing in the mine would cause instant wariness among those we seek to catch."

His glance moves to Sharon. "You, however, have not yet had a tour of the mines, yet, I believe? Would doing so interfere with a future cover?"

[from_the_outside]

She taps a finger on her keyboard, thinking. "Maybe," she says, finally. "It depends on who the false miners might be communicating and coordinating with. If they see me in the mines and then someone matching my description, but with a different name shows up trying to make a deal..."

Her voice trails off and her gaze turns slightly disconnected as a thought strikes. "On the other hand, it might be the perfect opportunity to introduce a cover."

If she doesn't tour around as Sharon Carter, but instead as a buyer or seller, someone who might be tempted to play both ends against the middle...

She shakes the thought away and glances first at Bucky, then looks back to T'Challa. "But we'd have to wait until we were sure what kind of play we need to make. That might be as soon as today or it might take more time."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It says something that they are still there at all, rather than having fled," Nakia points out. "Either they do not yet know what happened at the stronghold, or there is someone else that they are in contact with."

She shakes her head. "My contacts have been making discreet inquiries, but that will likely take another day or two at the least, if they are not to reveal themselves."

[from_the_outside]

She crushes her disappointment as soon as it flickers into existence, only nods and taps her laptop screen into life.

"There might be another deadline," she says, as she pulls up the map she'd made, the coordinates picked out in yellow with their respective dates below. "The Jackal kept records. At first, I thought they were coded, but apparently that was a bridge too far for him, security-wise. When I tried them out as dates and coordinates, this is what I got."

[nerves_of_ice]

The room goes silent as everyone looks at Sharon's map. Bucky waits a couple of minutes, to give those who haven't seen it before time to take it in, before he says,

"We might learn something from examining what's left at previous sites. But Sharon also spotted a new opportunity... coming up in five days."

Nakia glances at Sharon, very quickly, then back to the map. "Depending on how easy it would be to blend in, we could try something like we did in Busan--"

"Busan did not end well," Okoye points out. "Although that was not your fault."

[from_the_outside]

"I wouldn't suggest getting involved yet," Sharon says. "I was thinking we might be able to stake the location out. I don't know the area very well yet, but this seems to be more wil –"

She'd meant to say wilderness and to point out that it might be intended to be a handoff more than anything else, but she's cut off when her pocket first begins to vibrate, then to ring.

Silence falls over the room a second time as she pulls out her phone, moving slowly, as if in a dream, or as though she thinks her phone might explode if she handles it too roughly.

It's an unknown number. She glances at Nakia, who understands: aside from herself, only Natasha has this number.

Her next glance is for T'Challa. He nods, and she thumbs the button, brings the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

The voice that answers is as familiar as her own. "Agent 13." He sounds pleased with himself. "Last I heard, you were on the run in Europe."

She can't sit still; gets up and paces to the window, pressing the phone to her ear so hard it hurts, her free arm tight across her own stomach. "Last I heard," she says, after a long, long moment where her gaze flicks to Bucky and stays there, "you were dead."

"It turns out," Fury says, easily, "being dead isn't exactly all it's cracked up to be."

[nerves_of_ice]

He uncoils swiftly from his seat with lethal promise in every line of him. Bucky gestures from Okoye to T'Challa and Nakia, then moves around the end of the table and to the window. He darkens it so that no one can see in, after which he takes Sharon by her free arm and pulls her off to the side, as Okoye attempts to get T'Challa to move similarly. "My king, please--" she murmurs, low and intent.

T'Challa's gaze has narrowed sharply at this. He lets himself be drawn, beckoning Nakia to take a position so that he is between her and the window, and watches Sharon intently.

[from_the_outside]

Bucky's between her and the window and she puts a hand on his chest – whether in warning or silent request for him to wait or just for a little gravity, she's not sure – and looks up at him, mouthing: Fury.

"So, what?" she asks, her voice steady and even, a little dry. "You decided you wanted to catch up a little? You could have called at a better time. I'm a little busy right now."

"I know," he says, in that exasperatingly certain way he has, and her gaze flicks to the window, but – "No, no, Agent 13, I'm not in Wakanda." Before she has a chance to do more than pale, her fingers gripping the phone more tightly, he goes on, all good-natured, casual conversation: "But I am curious about the fact that you are."

"How did you find out?" she manages, after a momentary struggle, and he just laughs.

"Now, are you sure that's the question you want to ask?"

[nerves_of_ice]

Fury, Sharon mouths, and for a dizzying instant he's not sure if that's better or worse. He stays where he is, standing still with her hand on his chest, and turns his head to T'Challa.

Nick Fury, he mouths in turn. Former Director of SHIELD. Sharon's old boss.

For whatever reason, that causes recognition to flash in T'Challa's eyes, although the tension doesn't leave him. Bucky looks down at Sharon. Speaker? he asks, silently.

[from_the_outside]

She nods and brings the phone down from her ear, hitting the speaker icon and turning the volume up.

"So what question should I be asking?"

There's silence on the other end of the line, and then Fury's chuckle. "Well, why don't you tell me who else I'm talking to, and I'll tell you?"

"You're talking to me, Fury," she says, lying easily. "I needed my hands free so I put you on speaker. And why are you talking to me, by the way?"

He doesn't buy it for a second, she knows, but for reasons she's sure he'll keep to himself, he doesn't push back against it. "Let's just say a little bird of mine in Madripoor mentioned something about some Wakandans asking around about plans for stolen vibranium."

Sharon glances at Nakia, who looks furious. "So why would they call you?"

"Because," Fury says, "I've been hearing about plans for stolen vibranium. So, Agent 13..."

He lets the pause sit for an uncomfortably long time. "Have I earned an introduction yet?"

[nerves_of_ice]

T'Challa steps forward. "Agent 13 is assisting me with certain matters," he says, clear and precise, his voice raised enough to carry easily over the phone. "Including this one. Given the sensitive nature of this situation, you understand, I am certain, why she did not wish to announce my presence to you at first."

Invisible tension is vibrating throughout Bucky's body as T'Challa's glance flicks to him. He meets his eyes and silently mouths two words: Your call.

[from_the_outside]

"Well, now," Fury drawls. "You sure have been making some interesting friends, Agent 13."

Her hand is shaking, she realizes, except it isn't. Bucky is. He's vibrating beneath her palm, every line of his body drawn in tension, and there's not a damn thing she can do about it right now except meet his eyes and hope to whatever deity out there might be listening that Fury doesn't know about him. "I do what I can," she says, easily. "What have you heard?"

"I hear a lot," Fury tells them. "I don't know if you've heard, but some spider-kid in New York just took out a major Chitauri tech dealer. And now that Klaue's out of the picture, and with the work our mutual friends have been doing, there's suddenly a big opening for somebody who wants to get in on the high-tech munitions game."

She's hooked despite herself, glancing at her laptop. "Do you have a name?"

"Not yet," he says. "But I will. And I'm willing to help."

She scoffs before she can stop herself. "What, out of the goodness of your heart?"

He laughs. "Good to talk to you, too," he tells her, clearly amused. "But no. Let's call it a favor for a favor. I scratch your back, you scratch mine."

[nerves_of_ice]

His hand locks around her wrist to get her attention. Find out what first. Stall if you can.

He lets go and looks across the room at the other three. Raising his hand in the air, he seesaws it back and forth, indicating possibility and uncertainty both.

T'Challa frowns, and walks across the room to stand by them, Okoye and Nakia following after.

"A favor from her, or from me?"

[from_the_outside]

That grip isn't painful, but it's definitely harder than usual, and she nods, tips the phone a little towards T'Challa as he comes near. "Well," says Fury, "While I wouldn't say 'no' to a favor from the King of Wakanda, I figured I'd deal with Thirteen. I worked with her a long time; she's a known element. You, your Highness, are not."

"Then you know I'm not going to make any kind of deal without getting some decent information first," she says, a little sharply. "Cut the 'mysterious kingpin' crap, Fury. What are we dealing with here?"

He chuckles over the line, sounding more like an indulgent uncle than an old boss. "I don't have much on the suppliers," he says, "but I can tell you there's an auction being set up for a new batch of next-gen weapon plans. If I were you, I'd send somebody."

"Just the plans?" Sharon asks, intrigued despite herself. "Not the actual weapons?"

She can just about hear the smirk in Fury's voice. "Word on the street is there was a little trouble on the supply end. Some dust-up last week that slowed down the operation. Auction's two weeks from today, for the plans and prototype only."

[nerves_of_ice]

Slowed down, Fury says, not stopped, and he's certain the choice of words is no accident. Another question is whether or not he knows exactly who was involved in that fight and that one must show on his face, because T'Challa's the one who asks it. "A 'dust-up,'" he says, neutrally.

Bucky continues to stay still, barely breathing. Okoye and Nakia are doing the same, listening as carefully as they can as T'Challa continues,

"What would be required, to insert someone into this auction?"

[from_the_outside]

"I'm surprised you hadn't heard," Fury says, not sounding surprised at all. "It was right near your borders. Of course, whoever mopped that operation up hit it fast and hard; nobody was left to say who'd done it."

Sharon gives Bucky a wry look; that's Fury, all right. "As for the auction, I'd recommend not showing up as yourselves," he continues. "Seeing as the folks likely to show aren't exactly trying to get vibranium in any legal kind of way."

She draws an exasperated breath through her nose and looks at T'Challa. "These things are silent auctions," she says. "Invite only, usually. We busted up a few in my old SHIELD days. One agent poses as the buyer, one as muscle, and then the rest of the team as support, either inside or outside the event."

"Best to provide a cover before that happens, though," Fury says, as conversationally as though he's discussing the weather. "If you happened to make contact with someone on the supply side, you might just be able to finagle one of those invites."

He's right. And what's more, a few pieces are beginning to line up in her head in a way that leads right to the auction two weeks from now.

[nerves_of_ice]

He's going to have to argue this point with Sharon and T'Challa, both. For all M'Baku's power and fighting skill, he's not at all sure he could maintain the kind of cover that might be needed for an op like the auction, and T'Challa would be made very, very quickly. Sharon's going to need help that can't be identified as Wakandan in any way, if she's going to get involved in this.

Which Fury must know.

As the thought strikes him, he stares hard at the phone. Sharon and T'Challa are looking at each other and can't see his lips move, so -- "What help?" he breathes, barely, barely audible as a puff of air, trying to prompt someone to ask the question.

[from_the_outside]

She nods and finally lifts her hand from his chest to lightly squeeze his upper arm before she drops her hand. "Even I can't pull this kind of op off alone," she points out. "Do you have some bodies you can offer up, or is this an advice-only kind of deal?"

Her mind's whirring; T'Challa can keep his promise and be nearby for back-up, especially for the first half of this plan, and she could –

But she already promised. She won't go in alone. And that's non-negotiable. "I've got a few people who owe me some favors," Fury says. "Let me pull on a few threads and get back to you."

Which is not only not a good answer, it's also a reminder of what he wants – and might ask for – from her, all of which makes her grimace again even as she's glancing at Bucky and T'Challa.

[nerves_of_ice]

"What price?" Again, it's a bare breath. A muscle in his jaw twitches, hard.

He's still trying to figure out how Fury got the number, but that can be followed up on after if need be. They don't need to ask it; don't need to reveal their own operational capabilities.

[from_the_outside]

She gives him another tiny nod of acknowledgment. "You extort those favors, too?" she asks, airily, and Fury laughs.

"I cultivate my relationships," he corrects. "And I'd be lying if I didn't say I'd appreciate your help on one or two of my own concerns. You're a useful asset, Thirteen. I'm running a little low on those these days. Especially ones I can trust."

He's manipulating her, she knows, but even as she shakes her head, it's on the tip of her tongue to say it: yes, sir.

She'd told Bucky before: she trusts Fury. As much as she ever trusts anyone, anyway. "We'll have to talk it over," she says, and glances at Bucky.

Let Fury think she means T'Challa. She's learned her lesson: if they're in this together, then they'll decide, together.

[nerves_of_ice]

You're a useful asset.

His jaw sets so hard, so sudden, that he can hear the soft click of his teeth clenching together. Other than that, he remains silent. Rage is in his eyes for that one moment before they go absolutely blank and empty.

(ready to comply)

Every bit of the previous tension is back, although he doesn't move.

T'Challa's gaze narrows sharply, but he also doesn't speak. He trades a look with Nakia, and arches a brow at her as he tips his head at the phone.

Nakia shakes her head - not now - but touches Sharon's arm. Contact how?, she mouths.

[from_the_outside]

She swears silently in her head at Fury and his choice of words as Bucky's eyes flash and then empty like a cup of water he'd turned upside down.

It takes Nakia's gentle touch to bring her back to herself, and she blinks, then nods. "How do we get in touch with you?" she asks. "I'm guessing this isn't your real number."

"You'd guess right," he says. "But as a show of good faith, I'll give you that number. Can't promise I'll answer right away, though. I hate talking on the phone."

She makes a note of the number and glances at the others in a silent question. "Fine. So when should we expect to hear back from you?"

"Twenty-four hours," he says. "I'll have some options for you then."

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn't move, but his glance flicks to T'Challa - who, looking at him in turn, nods to Sharon.