A/N* Short chapter this week because it's been crazy busy with end of the year stuff and my birthday on Tuesday! But we are officially moving into Infinity War! I might try to get another chapter out before next weekend.
The marble made a clicking sound as Aubrey's combat boots landed on the hard surface. Her wings fluttered once before skittering back into her bloodstream. Dora Milaje guarding the door watched her calmly, still as statues. She'd landed on an empty marble landing pad, duffle slung over her shoulder. The smell of rain permeated the air, it was the rainy season according to Shuri, she had told Aubrey that for the next month the sun would be hidden behind storm clouds. Striding towards the door, she stopped in front of the guards
"Hello, Shuri should be expecting me" she clicked in Xhosa. The guard on the right nodded once before opening something on her Kimoyo Beads. The door slid open as the other Dora spoke
"She is in her lab, head on down."
Aubrey wandered her way through the palace, hoping that she was headed in the right direction. Several minutes later her Kimoyo beads trilled and Shuri appeared.
"The Dora said you'd gotten here but you've gotten lost again."
"Shuri, how could you think I was lost?! I'm just...erm sightseeing." Aubrey finished lamely.
A drawn-out sigh was her only reply for several minutes before, "take a left and enter the first door on the right, go down the stairs and it will take you to the back door of my lab."
Aubrey nodded once as Shuri disappeared and she followed the directions, heading to the murky Vibranium depths.
Shoving aside wires and connectors, she pushed up onto the counter, watching Shuri fiddle with a wrist cuff that would eventually be able to generate a forcefield similar to the one that native Wakandans created with their capes. After a brief hello, the Wakandan Princess had gotten back to work, steadily explaining to Aubrey what she was doing.
"I've been thinking Aubrey-"
"That's a dangerous thing-" Aubrey snarked, grinning. "-but go on"
"My brother had me make a new arm for Sergeant Barnes in case we ever need his and your help. I know Tony Stark figured out nanotechnology, but I'm wondering if I can improve it and those-" she nodded to the nano rings that could morph into a bow. Tony had given them to her before Siberia. "- In other words, I want to upgrade your combat suit and everything. A total reboot with some color and of course it would be bulletproof...oh and a symbol! In fact, I've already started sketching some ideas, want to see?"
"Um..yeah-" surprised, she pushed off the counter and followed Shuri to an alcove with holograms on the walls. They flickered through hundreds of images and blueprints before collectively stopping on one drawing. A golden and silver metallic feather with jagged edges slicing the wind. "- Okay Shuri, wow me" a grin lit her lips as Shuri rolled her eyes.
"Starting with the symbol, I have this feather, this one-" she swiped with a finger and a new picture replaced the feather. This time it was an outline of a person with wings, it changed again to a hand with talons flashing. "-and that one. There were some others but T'Challa said they weren't as good as these. What do you think?"
"I...I don't want people to look at my symbol and be afraid...I like the feather one the best. What other ideas do you have?" Intrigue nipped at her mind as Shuri nodded, scrolling through several designs for a suit.
Bucky grinned as Steve tried to throw the horseshoe at the pole that was at a ridiculous distance away. But of course, the horseshoe flung around in the air, slicing through it before catching on the pole and spinning around it.
"Show off" Bucky muttered, preparing to throw his own.
"I'd like to see you try" Steve grinned as something in his pocket buzzed. He pulled out a flip phone and frowned at it.
"Who is it?"
"Tony" he sounded shocked but just as he was about to press the green answer button, the phone went silent.