[oom] let's go dancin' in the light

[from_the_outside]

She's late to the lab, having cited an errand she needed to run once they made their way up to the Citadel from the hut by the lake, and her footsteps ring out quick and firm as she makes her way down the walkway from the train platform. Shuri's voice is clear as she makes her way into the lab, and Sharon can't help but smile at the note of gleeful triumph in the princess's voice.

"Good," Shuri's saying, as Sharon walks into the side room where Shuri has been conducting her design fittings and reviews. The princess stands in front of Bucky, who wears a white sleeveless shirt that clearly shows the new vibranium shoulder joint Shuri had constructed... and a new left arm, gleaming beneath the lab lights.

"The dimensions are perfect. How does it feel?"

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"I don't think they care. As long as I feed them," he says, dryly.

[from_the_outside]

"That is their main priority."

As they draw near the hut, she lets go of his hand. "I'll go change into my suit."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles at that. "I'll wait here."

If he accompanies her into the hut, neither of them are likely to leave it for some time.

[from_the_outside]

"Probably a good call," she teases, and disappears inside.

It's only a few minutes later that she comes back out in her white bikini, her hat and t-shirt folded neatly inside. She holds the two wool throws in her arms as she comes back over to him. "Your turn."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I won't be long," he says, before ducking into the hut, and true to his word he's back in mere moments in the shorts that he generally wears for swimming in the lake.

[from_the_outside]

She tips her head toward the lake, smiling.

"Come on, good-looking," she tells him. "Let's see if you'll sink or swim."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Could be both,” he says, mildly, as he walks with her to the shore. “I do know how to swim underwater, you know.”

[from_the_outside]

"As long as you can surface again," she says, amused.

Once near the shore, she spreads the blankets out to warm in the sun, then turns back to him. "You should probably go in first, just in case anything goes wrong."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Anything covers a lot of territory.”

But there’s no reason not to get it over with, he knows. Bucky walks down to the edge of the water, wades in, then makes a long flat dive forward, disappearing under the water with only a few ripples.

[from_the_outside]

She walks to the edge of the water, hands on her hips, and watches as long as she can see him – which isn't all that long, the lake is dark.

(He can hold his breath much longer than she can. It'll be a while before she has to really worry, right?)

[nerves_of_ice]

He dives deep, straining for the bottom of the lake, trying to see if there’s any sluggishness in the arm’s response, any sign of trouble.

Far underwater, having found what he needed to know, he executes a swift turn and makes for the surface at speed - as much as he can.

[from_the_outside]

She relaxes a little when she sees the water ripple, and more when he finally clears the surface.

"Any problems?" she calls out.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Nothing insurmountable,” he calls back, and begins to swim back to shore with a freestyle stroke.

As he does, it’s easy to see that the left arm is not responding as it should without a great deal of extra force.

[from_the_outside]

She frowns as she wades out to meet him, waiting once she gets waist deep.

"That doesn't look like it's working right."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's not," he reports, very dryly, as he reaches her. Bucky holds the arm out to the side, slowly and methodically rotating it from the shoulder, then the elbow, then the wrist and fingers.

"I think that whatever the mechanics are using to keep joints running smoothly either isn't sealed against or reacts with water. It feels like trying to wade through mud."

He's not upset about it, though; merely reporting a fact.

[from_the_outside]

"Good thing you tested it, then."

The plates do seem to be moving sluggishly as he twists his elbow and wrist. "Should we go back to the lab?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Let’s see what happens when it dries out.” A small smile curves his mouth. “You haven’t gotten to swim yet.”

[from_the_outside]

"I can always swim later," she protests, but mildly.

"Are you going to stay in or go dry off?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Do you have a preference?" He reaches out with his right hand to brush her hair back over her shoulder.

[from_the_outside]

“Yes,” she says, smiling at him as he tucks her hair back. “My preference is for you to not drown because your arm stops working.”

She comes close enough to put her hands lightly on his sides. “Go on, baby. I’ll just take a quick dip.”

[nerves_of_ice]

Fond amusement sparkles in his glance. “Take your time. Enjoy yourself.”

He leans down to give her a quick kiss. “I’ll be drying out in the sun over there.”

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

She pats his side fondly and steps away to wade a little deeper before diving forward and disappearing under the water in a series of ripples.

[nerves_of_ice]

He watches for a moment or two before making his way back to the shore. Bucky retrieves the sun-warmed throws and spreads them out on the grass, then sits down on one and shades his eyes with his hand to look for Sharon in the water.

[from_the_outside]

She surfaces after a moment and strikes out into a long, graceful front crawl that eats up the distance between her and the opposite shore – though she stays far away from the other end of the lake, crocodiles or no.

Swimming back towards the center, she turns to float on her back, watching the clouds roll across the sky through lowered eyelashes as she drifts idly in the water.

[nerves_of_ice]

Watching, he can feel his heart squeeze tight with emotion that he doesn't have words to express. Bucky shifts to lie down, facing the lake, chin resting on the back of his wrist, and absorbs the peace, the sunlight, and the sight of her.