Fredricks ran Shay through the questions he'd prepared, encouraging her to elaborate on crucial points and correcting her for better clarity on others. Her posture was too stiff, her face too tight.
"Softer, more vulnerable, they need to believe you aren't holding anything back."
Shay's eyes flicked over to Bucky in the corner of the room and back to the attorney.
"That, whatever that was- forget that, it doesn't exist, ok? Ms. Wilder, I need you to stay focused on me and the judges. Now the prosecution is going to pull on any loose threads they can find in your story, question your credibility, we need to be ready for that." Fredricks returned to his desk and pulled a blue folder from the stack. "Your file is a little… thin. I need to know if there's anything between the lines that could jeopardize your testimony."
Shay looked at Steve and Bucky again, fidgeting against the gold on her wrists as she spoke to the sharp-eyed man in front of her. "Can I talk to you, privately?"
"Certainly. Gentlemen, if you could wait outside?" Fredricks smirked at the two broad chested men and gestured for them to leave in a pretention of graciousness.
Steve was reluctant enough but Bucky was making his displeasure clear, glaring at Fredricks and flexing his forearms like he was imagining smacking the smugness off of the lawyer's face.
"Gentlemen? We haven't got all day."
Bucky took a step forward and Steve gripped his arm, preparing to hold him back.
"Come on Buck, let's not…"
"James, please."
Bucky shook Steve off and stalked out without a backward glance. The doors closed and with them the sound of Fredricks footsteps. Bucky turned to pace and was confronted by Steve's crossed arms and disapproving look.
"What exactly is your problem, Buck?"
"I don't have a problem."
"Right, that's why you've been staring daggers at the attorney hired to defend you." Steve raised an eyebrow.
"I don't trust him."
"You don't have to trust him, just let him do his job."
Bucky continued to stare at the door with clenched fists and Steve sighed heavily.
"You're not making it easier for her. For Shay." Steve sighed again, running both hands through his hair. "It's been difficult enough without you acting up."
Something in Steve's tone, bone-tired and heavy, pulled Bucky from his vigil.
"What, are you keeping things from me too?"
"That's what's making you angry? Shay having a private conversation?"
"Secrets are dangerous, Steve, it's my life on the line here, I think I have a right-"
His next words were interrupted by a blow to his right shoulder that sent him back a step.
Steve scowled at him, "I know you weren't going to suggest that Shay is risking your case for some trivial secret."
Bucky considered throwing a punch back at Steve but instead, shook his head slowly, "Somethings bothering her lately and greasy-Freddy in there keeps going on and on about how they are going to grill her…"
Steve released him and they turned to face the doors together.
"If you've got a question, ask her."
"And if she doesn't want to talk?" Bucky asked grimly.
"Then you get to decide whether or not you can trust her." Steve said with finality.
The door cracked open and Fredricks stuck his head out. "Ms. Wilder is requesting to complete her preparatory questioning in private, you may go."
Okoye walked up as he finished speaking and he let her pass as though it had been pre-arranged.
"Why-" the door shut in Bucky's furious face.
The door opened again nearly two hours later, Fredricks smirked and passed with a little wave, but Bucky's attention was focused on the spot just inside the doors where Okoye was lifting the shackles gently from Shay's wrists.
"Thank you, Okoye." Shay was rubbing at her wrists and light leaked from her hands unintentionally.
Okoye answered her with a hand on Shay's forearm and a look of compassion and understanding so palpable that Bucky felt the hum of the returning glow.
"The Dora's training room will be empty for the rest of the day." Okoye added with a half smile.
Shay nodded her understanding and started out the doors, seeming surprised to find Bucky still there. "Daniel said he'd told you not to wait?"
"Daniel?"
"Fredricks, your lawyer?"
Bucky grunted and stomped over to the elevator, punching the button with more force than necessary. Shay followed, hugging herself and watching Bucky's stiff movements from a safe distance. She debated waiting for the next carriage, but Bucky held the door open and she squeezed past him.
The silence as they descended three floors was so thick, Shay felt claustrophobia crawling up out of her chest like an alien sent to smother her. She clutched at the chain around her neck, trying to ground herself by pressing her thumb against with the hard serrated edge of the large canine tooth that hung next to the kimoyo bead.
The doors opened on the ground floor and Bucky started to step out when Shay hit a button marked with a symbol Bucky didn't recognize.
"Where are we going?" Surprise stole the thunder from Bucky's anger.
Shay nearly smirked but it faltered, "I am going to blow off some steam, you can go anywhere you like."
Bucky stepped back in and the doors closed.
This descent lasted twice as long as the previous though it was only the second button below the ground level exit. A long hallway, its walls covered with Kente's in the colours of each tribe, a shallow nook in the wall above each displayed a unique weapon, a name and a set of neck rings.
Bucky stayed a half step behind Shay as she walked down the hall taking in the artwork of honouring the legacy of warriors long gone. As she neared the center of the hall, one of the long tapestries fluttered and vanished to reveal a door. A light blinked, Shay's kimoyo bead flashed once, a gentle beep and the door slid open.
A forest of tall thick trees obscured the left wall, draped in vines and casting dappled shade on the uneven ground. The far wall rose for what must have been three or four stories. Water fell from shelves set in the far wall at different heights and interspersed with hand and footholds to climb into the misty light that emanated from the ceiling. A deep pool ran the length of the climbing wall. The right side of the room featured a wall of practice weapons, armor and equipment.
The center of the room was a domineered by circles. The outermost ring was the running track, suspended over the second ring of gently flowing water that circulated around the sunken fight arena in the middle like a moat.
Shay was startled from her inspection by soft footfalls in the hall. A young woman hurried forward with two small bundles.
"Ms. Mercy, General Okoye asked me to provide you with suitable attire." Her glance flicked from Shay to Bucky nervously. "I have some things for the White Wolf also."
Shay accepted the bundles with a smile, "thank you."
"Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Yes, and please call me Sharice."
The young woman returned her smile shyly. "My name is Ino, Miss- Sharice, how can I assist?"
"Are there change rooms?"
"Change… showers? There are showers and toilets through there." Ino pointed to a pair of openings in the weapons wall. "Is that what you mean?"
"That will work, and towels?"
"There are fresh towels in the shower room."
"Thank you, Ino."
Ino offered a short bow and turned to leave, pausing at the door, "Okoye said… I should show you how to lock the door." Her eyes flicked back to Bucky and she hesitated before pulling a kimoyo bead from her bracelet. "Set your bead here." she demonstrated slipping her bead into a small alcove beside the door. "And the door will not open for anyone except the general, Okoye has given you second rank clearance. When you are finished, press this button and someone will come to clean up. Thank you for allowing me to assist you Miss- Sharice."
Quicker than she'd come, Ino had removed her bead and melted down the hall out of sight.
"You staying?" Shay asked, gesturing at the still open doorway.
Bucky grunted and walked away to inspect the weapons. Shay pulled the chain from around her neck and set the bead in the wall. A soft beep and the door solidified into the wall.