Thanks everyone for making it to chapter 10! Please read and review if you can
PS, I updated Chapter 9, there might be some slight inconsistency errors there like Natalia Romanova is now Natalie Rushman. Also, disclaimer, I have no idea about Portuguese law. Thanks!
Wanda sits in her room, finishing notes on Portuguese law.
"Shuri?" Bucky knocks loudly on the door, because stepping inside before Wanda can say otherwise.
"Excuse me." She leverages a cold look at the surprised soldier. "This is my room, Shuri's the next floor down, directly below mine."
"Oh," Bucky immediately shoves his hands in his pocket like a scolded schoolboy. "Sorry, I'm still new here."
"Right, well I've got to get back to work. Hope you find Shuri."
"Okay," Bucky opens the door but something pulls him back before he could leave. "Oh and the more correct translation would be 'Under-age minors are protected by the law.' not 'Children have laws."
"You can see from all the way over there?" Wanda asks incredulously as she spins around on her desk chair.
"Yep, dodgy soldier serum has some benefits...and Google Translate is terrible." Bucky shrugs.
A smile flickers on Wanda's face before she can help it. Twisting round the silver rings on her fingers, Wanda asks,
"Could you, maybe, help me translate the rest of the legislation?"
He nods,
"Sure, I'm a little rusty on my Portuguese but I'm happy to help."
She conjures another chair, a dark navy blue that contrasts with her fiery red one and Bucky takes a seat.
They work for an hour and a half, Bucky reading out translated sections and Wanda copying them down for reference. He's got an old sense of humour that reminds her of Pietro, her brother which makes Wanda tear up slightly, from laughter and sadness.
"And this section here is worded so that it sounds as if they have many rights, but they don't really."[ML1]
"Sounds like a politician's writing." She frowns.
"Yep, the universal want for money and power right here." Bucky taps the page with a sigh.
Wanda glances over at the man with a big heart, noticing the tiny trace of scars along his neck.
Bucky watches her gaze travel downwards and says,
"Bullet wounds."
She nods distractedly, lost in her memory of Pietro's death. Subconsciously, Wanda's hands violently shake and are engulfed in a red light, and her pained eyes glow red faintly.
"Pietro, come back!" She whispers in the Sokovian dialect. Wanda begins levitating as her emotions rise and toil, leaving her several feet high above Bucky.
Instinctively, Bucky grabs Wanda's hands and calls her name,
"Wanda, it's okay, take a deep breath for me."
He inhales and squeezes her hands softly. Slowly, the light fades and Wanda gasps as her magic releases its hold on her, sending her plummeting to the floor.
Bucky dives to catch her just in time.
"Wh-what happened?" Wanda presses her fingers to her temples, massaging them slightly to dim the raging head-ache.
"I'm not sure, it look like a memory was triggered maybe? You were looking at me strangely, then started floating." He stares worriedly at Wanda.
"Oh, right. Sorry."
"No, don't apologise. It happens to everyone." Bucky flashes a reassuring smile that she returns softly.
"Thanks." Wanda returns to her seat and fiddles with her rings.
"Just letting you know, I'm always up to talk. I mean, I'm basically unemployed right now and haven't really got much else to do, like I don't think anyone's looking to hire a 106-year old man so I'm always done to chat about anything if you need it."
Wanda chuckles at Bucky's self-detrimental joke.
"You reminded me of my brother, that's all."
"What, we're both devastatingly handsome?"
She smiles a little sadly, shaking her head.
"He got shot, too. Died instantly."
"I'm sorry." Bucky says quietly, bowing his head in respect to the fallen.
"Me too."
A silent moment passes between them…until it's all interrupted by a scream.
They run out to door to the corridor just in time for a Peter shaped blur to swing furiously past them and into his room.
"And don't come back!" Shuri yells from the other end before slamming her bedroom door shut.
Sighing, Wanda turns to Bucky, who shakes his head at the two emotional teens.
"I'm going to check on Shuri, if you don't mind. Boy troubles aren't fun." She says.
"That's a good idea actually, I can make her favourite, a huge stack of waffles. When you're done, tell her to meet me on the balcony." He nods.
"Perfect. And, sorry for being so rude about you entering earlier." Wanda blushes, embarrassed at the memory of her previous actions.
"It's okay, really." Bucky flashes another charming smile and walks away to the kitchen.
Spinning around in the opposite direction, she hurries over to Shuri's room.
"Shuri?" Wanda knocks on the door before stepping in.
Catching sight of the princess curled in her bed, she rushes over to the girl with a concerned look.
"Shh, it's okay." Wanda hugs Shuri close as she sobs against the older girl.
"He's so stupid." She cries, burying her head in her hands.
Worriedly, Wanda pats Shuri's shoulder and comforts her until she feels better.
Shuri takes a deep breath in, drying her tears.
"Sorry,"
"It's okay, it happens to everyone." She says soothingly. "Wanna talk about what happened?"
"Basically, I was talking to my friend in Japan, Hiro."
"Oh, the other child genius? The one who builds robots?"
Shuri cracks a smile,
"Yeah, that's him. Anyway, we did a workshop and worked on a project together and he'd just called to chat when Peter walked in."
"And?"
"I don't know, maybe he thought something was going on, but he started being really rude in front of Hiro."
"That doesn't sound like Peter."
"I know, and I'm not sure why he did that."
"Well, whatever his reason, it's not excuse for his actions. Maybe he was jealous." Wanda squeezes Shuri's hands reassuringly.
Her mouth drops open in surprise.
"No, it can't be that."
"Why?"
"Peter…he likes someone else."
"Oh." Wanda glances down at Shuri sympathetically.
"I mean, I'm not angry or anything. She's actually really nice. I just...I don't act like that when I see him talking to her. So why should he do that to me?" Her voice fills with anguish and confusion.
The famous Scarlett Witch watches sadly as Shuri's heart is broken by her fellow oblivious Avenger.
"If it's any comfort, I'm sure Peter come to his senses and realise how much he cares about you and see how you feel for him. And, I heard that another guy is also vying for your attention. He's waiting downstairs for you with some waffles."
A small smile appears on Shuri's face.
"Bucky's so sweet."
Wanda throws her head back and laughs,
"Yeah, you could say that. Sounds like he's got diabetes just waiting for him with the amount of food he's made."
The princess grins at her the mention of Bucky's thoughtful gesture,
"You know, he once accidently let a herd of sheep loose? It wreaked a couple of houses and the villagers wanted to sue him but after hearing that it was because he fell asleep after reading in the sun. But he felt so bad after that he went and helped repair the buildings himself and gave his hut to another family."
"Wait, no really?"
Wanda smothers her laugh with her hand, imagining a sleeping Bucky lying with stray sheep surrounding him.
"Yep, my brother was so impressed that he allowed Bucky to stay in the Palace instead."
"So, is he like a prince? I heard he's got diplomatic immunity in Wakanda or something."
Shuri's laugh is a soft bell tolling on a Sunday morning.
"No, but close. Basically, he's at the status of the Wakandan Royal Family."
"Wow, that sounds important."
"Yep, it definitely is. Now, wanna grab some waffles with me?"
"I've got some work to catch up on, international law isn't my strong suit. But I'll be down later, okay?"
"Sure, see you soon."
The two close friends walk out of Shuri's room, one heading downstairs and the other back to her overloaded desk.
Peter throws his hands up in frustration. Why did he have to storm out of Shuri's room like that? Peter couldn't explain it, the overwhelming urge he had when he heard Shuri talking to the older boy. What's his name? Oh right, Hiro, the boy genius from Sam Fransokyo. Already in uni, a much-loved hero, what more did he have that Peter didn't? And by the sounds of Shuri laughing so much, he's really funny too. No fair! Peter knew that what he did was unacceptable, he'd just barged in and started being rude on-screen, and one part of him was so ashamed but the other was still brimming with white-hot anger. At what? Peter didn't even know. Nothing like this ever happened with his other friends, why did he just feel it around Shuri? It's her brother, Peter reasons with himself, You're just being overprotective so T'Challa won't be angry. But that didn't really make sense either, T'Challa would've met Hiro already because ugh, Peter rolls his eyes in distaste, Shuri 'worked' on a project with him. Peter shoves his head under his covers, forcing away the mental image of Hiro and Shuri together in the same lab, laughing, smiling, joking together just like he did with her.
What should he do? If Peter went to see Shuri now, everything would probably just end in a shouting match again. That was the thing, him and her, they were the two most stubborn people in the world when they wanted to be.
And even though Peter had literally swung himself out of Shuri's room minutes ago, he misses her. All the confusion and shame spins a web inside Peter's stomach, and he listens out for the sound of Shuri's soft crying on the guest floor below. Wanda and her were talking, Peter doesn't know what about, the witch's magic blocks that much. Where was Shuri now? Listening closely again, he hears the faint sound of an engine roaring. Must be the groceries being delivered, Peter decides as he collapses onto his bed.
"Who's the cup of chamomile tea for?" Wanda asks as she enters the kitchen.
Bucky looks up from reading Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
"You."
"Oh, how did you know I drank that type?"
"Well, no one else drinks tea that's not strongly caffeinated." Bucky shrugs. "Plus, I remembered from when you first made it."
Wanda smiles and takes a seat opposite him.
"What book are you reading?" She lifts the cup to her lips and blows gently on the surface.
He displays the cover for her to read.
"Huh, is it good?"
"I think so. It's semi-relatable, actually."
"You're a middle-aged woman named Eleanor?"
Bucky chuckles and replies,
"No, but she does have PTSD and is lonely so it's not too far from the truth."
Wanda nods in understanding and takes a sip of her tea, not pressing the topic any further.
"Have you seen Shuri? She never came down."
Her forehead frowns as she says,
"No, I told her that you were waiting for her downstairs and went back to my room."
Bucky's expression mirrors her confusion.
Wanda slowly lowers her cup of tea down to the table with a loud 'plonk'.
"Where is Shuri?"
He can only shake his head, mystified.
Exchanging a worried glance, they dash out of the room and begin searching for her.
They check the movie theater, spare offices, gym, even the reception desk and all the way up to the helicopter pad.
"It's not like her to do this." Bucky admits, concern lacing his chiseled facial features.
"Maybe Shuri's in the lab, she might find it comforting to be in a more familiar area."
They head down to the labs, knocking quietly on the door to not loudly disturb the working scientist.
"Have you seen Shuri?" Wanda asks, once he opens the door.
"No, why? What's happened to her?" Bruce's voice fills with alarm, not wanting anything bad to have happened to his lab partner.
"We can't find her."
Dr Banners strips off his gloves and adjusts his glasses.
"Could she be with Peter? They're usually together for school and other things."
"It's Friday afternoon, school's finished." Bucky supplies.
"Oh," Bruce scratches his head. "T'Challa might know."
"Okay, let's go."
With the doctor in tow, the trio march off to the King's office.
But before they even reach the room, T'Challa steps out, followed quickly by Okoye.
"Hello," He greets the group with a nod.
"Have you seen Shuri?" Bucky asks.
"No, I've had meetings all day, Okoye too. I thought she was with Peter?"
"Not this time."
T'Challa's eyebrows furrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Shuri and Peter had a bit of a…disagreement." Wanda says.
The king sighs and shakes his head.
"Shuri usually likes to deal with things on her own, maybe she needs some time."
"I talked to her, and then told her that Bucky was waiting downstairs for her with waffles. But he said she never came down."
"Let's recheck the kitchen, I'm dying for some food anyway." Bruce chips in.
They all walk to the kitchen, finding Captain America and his partner standing at the table, with Aunt May at the coffee machine.
"Oh hey guys, look what arrived." He gestures to the overflowing table, brimming with vegetables, fruit, canned goods and other food types for the active Avengers to eat.
"And look!" Natasha waltzes over, several large 3L cartons of orange juice in her hands. "Orange juice!"
The group stares at the spy, utterly bewildered.
Steve gives a disgruntled cough.
"Yes, there's orange juice too." He mutters.
"That's right." Nat nods her head sagely, basking in her glory. "Orange juice that has been manually added to the grocery list, not automatically scanned by Stark's AI. Right, Pepper?"
"Hmm?" Stark Industries' CEO steps into the room, her genius husband in tow. "Oh yes, I told Jarvis to add it to the list."
Nat flicks a smug look towards Steve.
"Guys," Wanda interrupts. "Has anyone seen Shuri?"
"I heard her," Nat says. "Screaming at Peter, obviously."
"But after?"
The redhead shakes her locks in a negative.
"Steve? What about you?" Bucky asks.
"Not a peep, after the commotion of course." He swipes a carton off Nat and opens it, pouring a hefty amount into his cup.
"What about Shuri?" Aunt May asks.
"The better question is what's up with Peter and Shuri. They're always together in each others' rooms..." Tony winks saucily, and T'Challa frowns at the statement.
"She and Peter argued, as I'm sure most of us heard, but now no one can find her."
"Well, everyone here says they haven't seen her." Pepper says.
"Then that leaves one person." Wanda murmurs in grave tone and Nat's eyebrow curves up upon hearing it.
They pile off to the one last remaining Avenger whom no one has questioned yet.
Tony takes a deep breath and opens the door.
"Mr Stark," Peter stammers, "And, uh, hi everyone else. What's going on?"
"Peter, do you know where Shuri is?" Aunt May asks seriously.
"No, not since we last… you know."
"What 'you know'?" T'Challa practically lunges into Peter's room. "What did you do with Shuri?"
"Argued." He says quickly. "We just argued."
"She was quite upset," Wanda mentions with a slight raise of her eyebrow.
Peter shuffles on his feet, guilt churning in his stomach.
"I know." He says miserably. "I was going to-"
"Guys." A serious voice sounds from in the corridor. "I know where Shuri is."
Everyone turns to find Natasha standing outside her room, a tablet in her hand, screen tuned to the security camera feed from outside the facility.
"She's been kidnapped."
"What?"
Peter scrambles out of his room and snatches the tablet off Nat.
"Shuri," He gasps, eyes glued to the video of Shuri being pulled into the back of a van and speeding away.
"Okoye," T'Challa murmurs to his general and begins listing orders and alerts that need to be sent out.
Tony's face blanches as he thinks about how much trouble he'll be in from the king and quickly sets to work attempting to locate the truck that took Shuri.
Wanda covers her face and Bucky wraps a supportive arm around her, guiding the girl back to her room. Bruce is shocked, making his way back down to the lab, trying to calm his racing mind with science. Steve and Nat examine the rest of the footage in Nat's room, watching for any sign of where the truck could've taken her.
Standing alone in the corridor, all Peter can think about is,
Shuri's been taken.
And it's all my fault.