The Elder
After the first intense weeks, Dr. Uviwe decided he wanted to slow down Bucky's therapy sessions. He cut back to two days a week, then one, believing that the time in between was beneficial.
"You cannot begin to feel like a — well, I do not like to use the word normal — but you cannot begin to feel like a normal person, if you do not engage in normal activities," he told Bucky. "Go out and live a life. Find a job to do or a craft to learn."
The same applied to Bucky's supporters, of course. T'Challa was the only one who sighed in disappointment, because working with Bucky and the Avengers was a relief from the press of his official duties as king.
The others needed to find something productive to do in their new off time. The team members threw themselves into learning about the language and culture of Wakanda. Bucky took cooking lessons with Cebisa, trading recipes he remembered from his childhood. Steve joined them sometimes, his perfect memory adding to the recipe file. Sharon trained with the Dora Milaje and, in return, offered techniques she had learned from SHIELD and the CIA. Sam used his wings to scout the jungle, helping Wakanda's forest rangers count and track wildlife.
Steve used his strength to help out in many ways, but his favorite project was a surprise offer to paint a mural at a local school. Steve had a great time planning the project with the children's input, sketching the forest scene on the wall and then helping the children fill in the drawing.
Of course, all the Avengers were available to help T'Challa with any special project.
He called the four Avengers together one morning. "We have a big feast day coming up," he said. "And I need help to prepare the site."
"We're always ready to help," Steve said. "But wouldn't your own people be better. They know what's required."
"They will be helping," T'Challa assured him. "But I want to do much of this myself, with the help of my friends. This is an important ceremony to honor an elder I greatly respect. The labor we perform is our gift to the one we honor."
"Whatever we can do to help," Steve assured him. The others smiled and nodded.
The festival area was a wide, crescent-shaped beach at a bend in the river. During the rainy season, debris had washed up on the beach and weeds had taken root. T'Challa's friends helped clean up the area. Sharon pulled stubborn weeds and picked up trash. T'Challa moved rocks and carried brush away. Bucky dragged a rake one-handed to neaten the sand, then helped tote firewood. Steve and Sam dug pits for barbecues and lined them with rocks, then filled the pits with Bucky's firewood.
They spent most of two days cleaning up the beach until it met the king's approval.
When the feast day finally came, all the Avengers donned their finest Wakandan garments, ones that had been personally selected by Cebisa.
Sharon seemed to glow in a bright red dress with silver panels on the sides and silver swirls embroidered on the bodice. Steve wore a blue shirt and pants, with an over robe of red embroidered with silver stars. Sam wore black, with a red robe embroidered with gold falcons. Bucky wore silvery gray with a blue robe embroidered with white snowflakes.
"Somebody thinks they're funny," Bucky commented when he saw the design, but he didn't really mind. He and the Winter Soldier had come to an understanding.
Sam studied him critically. "I don't think they're commenting on you being the Winter Soldier," he said. "I think they're saying you're a flake."
Bucky swatted at him. Sam dodged. Cebisa instantly called the horseplay to a halt. "Do not mess up your good clothes," she said sternly.
"Yes, ma'am," the men answered sheepishly.
Steve felt a little guilty that his team might outshine the king, but he needn't have worried. T'Challa was resplendent in gold and dark orange with black panthers embroidered on his robe. He was delighted by the team's clothing.
"Princely outfits," he declared. "You honor me and our distinguished guest."
Several members of the king's household joined the Avengers for the short drive to the beach. Among them were Dr. Uviwe and his family, and Cebisa and her husband.
The king's group was first at the beach. Tables had been set up and colorful blankets and rugs carpeted the sand, but people were lacking. A few men and women tended spits of roasting meat, but they were the only ones visible.
Before any of the Avengers could ask, they heard the sound of drums, then shaken bells and rattles, and happy chanting. A crowd of people came around the bend, bringing a wave of color and sound. Many were carrying platters of food. The rest were singing and playing instruments. In the lead were four sturdy men carrying a garland draped litter. But no one was on it.
As the procession moved closer, Steve realized the respected elder they were honoring must be Uviwe, but before he could turn and congratulate the doctor, T'Challa and Sam grabbed Steve from each side and hoisted him into the air. The bearers lowered the litter, came underneath the perplexed Super Soldier, then lifted the litter to their shoulders, scooping Steve out of his friends' hands.
Steve scrabbled for his balance.
"Eyes front, soldier!" Bucky called humorously.
Steve got himself straightened out, crossed his legs underneath him and faced the direction of travel. The song the crowd was singing changed. With the drums and bells and rattles, it took Steve a moment before he realized they were singing — in Wakandan — "Happy birthday to you!"
His friends doubled over in laughter and Steve began to laugh, too.
"Happy 99th birthday, elder!" T'Challa called, as the marchers circled the king's group.
"Happy 99th birthday!" everyone shouted in English or Wakandan.
"Elder? Really?" Steve asked, as the procession came to a halt..
"You are the second oldest person I know," T'Challa replied, elbowing the grinning Barnes. "You planned Bucky's birthday party, but I planned yours."
Most of the people sat on the ground around the seat of honor, while a few went to the serving tables. Steve was settled on a low padded stool at the king's right hand. The stool actually set him a few inches higher than the king, a representation of the esteem accorded his age.
Steve again looked embarrassed, but T'Challa assured him that this was a traditional celebration for elders who reached age 90.
"Since you were not here at your 90th birthday, we will celebrate your 99th," T'Challa said.
"I may have lost count, but I don't think today is the Fourth of July," Steve said dryly. "Why did you hold my surprise party early?"
"So it would be a SURPRISE," Bucky, Sam and Sharon said all together.
"You gave me the best birthday party ever," Bucky added. "I wanted to repay the favor. But this planning was all T'Challa."
"I think you all wanted to embarrass me," Steve said. He hated being in the limelight like this.
"You should not be embarrassed," Cebisa said. "You have done great things in your years on this earth.
There was a murmur of agreement from everyone within earshot.
Themba said, "Look around you, captain. Everyone here knows you, has worked with you, and we think you deserve this honor for such a milestone birthday."
Steve looked around and realized he did recognize at least one person in each family group gathered around. He saw tutors, doctors, scientists, palace staff members and the proprietor of his favorite pastry cart in the local marketplace. The children who helped paint the school mural waved eagerly when they caught his eye and he waved back.
The festivities began with food. It was served in many courses with entertainment in between: dancers, musicians, a children's chorus and several individual singers. One surprise entertainer flew overhead doing complicated aerial maneuvers with red and blue streams of smoke trailing from his wings. Steve had been so focused on the performers, he hadn't even noticed Sam sneaking away. The guest of honor stood to give his pal a hug when Sam landed, bowed to applause and returned to his seat.
Bucky and Sharon told the audience (not too embarrassing) stories about Steve.
Parents brought their babies up to be blessed by the elder.
"It's tradition," T'Challa said, when Steve hesitated.
The schoolchildren and the kids from the King's Class ran up on their own, unafraid of the big white man with the gentle smile. Steve put a hand on each head and wished the children good fortune.
One 90-year-old widow flirted with Steve in a joking manner, saying he was the best looking 99-year-old she'd ever seen. Sharon hugged Steve possessively.
"He's a cradle robber," she told the widow, to everyone's amusement.
The activities went until dark, when Bucky handed Steve a package of sparklers and a "punk for a punk."
"Jerk," Steve responded in a teary voice. He remembered the gift of sparklers at his previous birthday, when Bucky had been in cryo.
Steve lit sparklers for all the kids, and the evening ended with a bright display of aerial fireworks.
"Happy birthday, elder," the Avengers said.
"You're all jerks," Steve answered with a smile.
A/N: I was writing a different story, but I couldn't let Steve's 99th birthday or the Fourth of July holiday pass unnoticed. The sparklers is a reference to Chapter 7, Fireworks.
