Happy 4th of July everyone! Hello my sunshines! Thank you all for waiting so patiently for the next chapter. This one was fun and somewhat a challenge to write. So I take it that you all know who's making an appearance this chapter. That's right! Bucky "Winter Soldier" Barnes himself. Finding his voice is a bit of a challenge for me so if he seems a little OC I apologize. I'm mainly basing some of his personality whenever he talks with Shuri on how I perceived he was back in his prime. The smooth talking, good looking Bucky Barnes from the First Avenger with taking in account of his personality shifts as of his latest appearances, which seem down to earth and mellow . I knew that I'd want to incorporate the post credit scene somehow into this story and what better way than to have a little jealous Everett. I decided to lightly insinuate Bucky's interest in Shuri at the expense of Everett. ;) But this is a Shuri/Everett endgame so no worries out there readers. Well that's all I have to say, so without further ado, enjoy!
Disclaimer: All Rights to Disney, Marvel, Stan Lee, etc who are responsible for the characters of the MCU and comics. I do not own these characters.
Hearing that name leave T'Challa's mouth Shuri's demeanor changes and she nods curtly toward her brother.
"I'll go to him right away."
T'Challa then turns to leave exclaiming that the Royal Falcon is departing in five minutes leaving Agent Ross and the princess alone.
Curious at the sudden tension between the siblings Everett interjects
"Who's White Wolf?"
She gathers a few pieces of debris from the ground that she can salvage for later a puts it on a nearby table and says
"No one of your concern Colonizer. At least not yet."
Everett was about to protest when Shuri walks up to him inches from his face.
"Do you trust me?"
He visibly gulps at her presence so close to him. The intense gaze trapping him, unable to look anywhere else. His voice doesn't waver or show any signs of doubt he replies quietly
"Always."
Shuri smiles small. She notices a small piece of shard in his hair and gently removes it before speaking once more
"Good. You'll be filled in eventually but for now, you'll forget you heard the name White Wolf, understand." Her voice clear and soft yet professional.
She turns to leave but Everett reaches out and grabs her arm gently holding her back
"If it's dangerous you know I want in."
Her eyebrows narrow
"Oh, so you think this princess can't handle herself."
Peeved at her resistance, he rolled his eyes
"The opposite. I know you can. Seen it right in front of my eyes. I just have gotten accustomed to fighting alongside a warrior princess."
"Smooth save Colonizer." she removes his hand from her arm and places her hand on his cheek.
"Just remember Everett, the real danger is me" she winks as she removes her hand to walk away.
Leaving him blushing as he watches her leave.
As she boards, the aircraft Shuri is unsure what is waiting for her. Others at the thought of approaching this situation would be perturbed. However, many were not Shuri. Whenever she felt anxious she remembered an old saying her ugogo told her when she was a little girl. She'd say "It's not work that kills, but worry." she smiled to herself thinking of how her grandmother's words seemed to come back to her at the right moments.
Soon she brought to reality by the slow and smooth landing of the aircraft on the outskirts of Wakanda. She steps out and walks through the sun-kissed savanna grass towards the edge of a stilled river located by a small grass hut. She spots a handful of familiar children whispering and giggling leaving the home. Noticing the princess they run to embrace her. Shuri smiles as they surround her. She asks them
"Are you playing around with that man again?"
"No" they responded with a sing-songy tone
"You're teasing him again? Don't wake him. He must rest." she says in a soft tone, amused at their antics
"No. I'm not."
"No, I'm not" another child pipes in
"Thabo, you're doing that. He's doing that. He's lying." says the second child, attempting to tattle on the other.
"No. He's resting." the first one adamant he's telling the truth.
Shuri gives a small smile at the children. In the corner of her eye, she sees a figure exit the hut and motions to the children to run along.
"Go. Go!"
Following her gaze, they excitedly shout his name
" White Wolf!" as they venture off to play leaving the adults to talk.
He walks up next to Shuri who peers out at the water. She then turns to look at and addresses him
"Good morning Sergeant Barnes."
He responds "Bucky."
"How are you feeling?
"Good."
A short pause as they look at one another when Bucky continues
"Thank you."
Smiling, Shuri then quickly pats his arm before moving past him heading towards the Royal Falcon.
"Come. There's much for you to learn."
Bucky takes a last look at the river before following close behind the princess. As they get settled into the aircraft Shuri asks him a few follow-up questions to ensure that he's back to normal.
"So… Bucky everything feels okay? No lingering effects that come to mind."
"No Princess Shuri."
She smiles small again. All her worry unnecessary for a relapse to happen with Bucky seemed to no longer be in question. But it's better to be cautious than sorry. She pats his hand before leaning back into her seat as they wait to return to her lab. Thirty minutes pass and they arrive at their destination. They walk through the facility, a slight tense silence between the two. Shuri speaks up as they reach the doors to her lab.
"So I'm going to run a few more tests and if everything checks out, which it should then I'll arrange for some time in my schedule to help you get reintroduced to the world properly."
She enters the lab and stops to sign a document from a passing scientist and then turns her attention back to Bucky
"Because you Sergeant Barnes are waaay outdated and here in Wakanda we stay ahead so that we're never behind," she says playfully.
Around the corner from where the two stood, Everett Ross was standing listening to the conversation. His eyes are wide with shock as to see before him, the Winter Soldier. He stays quiet as he continues to listen to what's being said.
"Look Princess Shuri…"
"Shuri is just fine."
"Okay, then Miss Shuri." he flashes her a signature Bucky Barnes smirk that was known to make the girls knees weak back in his prime.
"Sorry if I seem distant or cold. I'm adjusting still. For the first time in a long time, I feel like Bucky. Not Sergeant Barnes or Winter Soldier but just Bucky. And it's thanks to you and your team, I'm whole again. I'm me again. Something I had thought I'd never get back. Thank you."
Without warning, he hugs her tight. Shocked at first but she recovers and gives him a small hug back and pulls from the embrace.
"Your welcome. Now, come. We have work to do."
She walks down a few steps with him following. He says
"Are you really the all work and no play type? Business before pleasure? Because I'll have you know, I've found a common ground for both. Knocking two birds with one stone."
She pauses as she shook her head in disbelief and said
" Someone is definitely feeling himself again. Did those lines really work back then? Like I said you're outdated and need to be revamped."
Never one to back away from a challenge he says
"I'm technically a hundred years old. I can show you some forgotten and rare techniques."
She laughs and continues to walk
"Tempting but I'll stick towards futuristic methods rather than archaic."
Everett is still hiding hearing this all and inside he can't help feeling the pit of his stomach dropping and hot flashes of rage filter in and out. He stands tall and steps out to reveal himself to the two. Interrupting another remark made by Bucky.
"Well, Winter Soldier. Long time no sees."
Shuri and Bucky stop and look in Everett's direction. He holds himself in a cold, defensive manner with his arms crossed over the other.
Shuri speaks up
"Everett. I didn't think you'd still be down here."
He doesn't turn to look in Shuri's direction but keeps his gaze locked on Bucky.
"I was waiting for you. To make sure everything went smoothly. Low and behold I didn't know that you had an international criminal in your care the entire time." he bit out.
Bucky moves to speak this time.
"Look, Everett was it?"
Agent Ross cuts him off quickly
"It's Junior Deputy Task Force Commander Ross to you." his voice hardens
Shuri steps in and grabs Agent Ross by his arm and roughly pulled him to the other side of the lab. As she does she sees her brother enter and calls out
"Oh good. Bucky you can talk with my brother for the moment while I have a word with Agent Ross." her tone deadly sweet and chilly.
Everett visibly shivers at the coldness her voice had. He's unable to read her expression but replaying the last two minutes he knows he may be wrong. But he's a stubborn man. He's gonna stand his ground. He doesn't want to admit that the thought of the Winter Soldier holding his princess, or making her laugh unsettled him. That even being so close to smell her sweet perfume drove him mad or the fact he openly flirts and seemingly getting a response made him feel threatened,that he was losing a race without knowledge of competition.
Once a decent distance away so that their conversation couldn't be overheard Shuri calmly hisses
"What. the. Hell. Was. That?!"
"You're really questioning me right now? I should be asking you what the hell?! How long has Wakanda housed an international murder?!" he raises his voice.
"What happened to trusting me? Didn't I tell you you'll understand it all eventually? Because I specifically remember those words leaving my mouth but someone jumped the gun before all pieces to puzzle had been put together." she says seething.
Everett runs his hand through his hair in frustration while rocking from side to side
"The issue isn't trusting."
"Oh well. Then what exactly is it because this isn't the Everett Ross I've come to known. Who's hostile and being a complete jackass."
As he continues to express his reasons for his behavior it soon all begins to click for the genius. It almost insults her intellect to not catch the first signs. This was his poor attempt to marking his territory. Then covering his tracks by some bullshit reasons why he's upset with her when it's all coming from his insecurities. Some would perceive this as flattering for a man to go to the extreme to prove his interest or stake his claim but his behavior is something Shuri would not condone nor reward. She then closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before pulling a chair close to the pair.
She holds her hand up and cuts him off
"Sit."
"What? No…"
"I said sit! I don't want to make you but I will if you do not comply. Now sit your ass down Agent Ross!" she said venomously.
Surprised by her sudden commanding tone he does what she says. She moves so that she's bent over. Hands tightly pressed on his legs and her sharp gaze boring into his eyes. He tries not to show that her touch is driving him mad but seeing the fiery mischievous tint in her eyes, he knows she knows exactly what she's doing and doesn't care.
"Now listen. What you did over there was uncalled for. You can try to justify it all you want but understand I know why you are acting like this."
He avoids her gaze at her last sentence but she keeps speaking whether she noticed his falter or not.
"Wakandan women do not let men do the battles for them. We fight alongside or even take the lead. We can hold our own. We can tolerate certain things and but one of them is not games. If there's something you bothering you, say it." And if there's something you want Everett K. Ross..."
The way she said his full name felt like pins pricking his skin.
"...I suggest you do something about it." she says darkly
To punish him a little further she moves her lips to brush his ear as she whispers
"The passive-aggressive route is so unbecoming of you."
She stands up and straightens any wrinkles in her attire before saying these parting words to Everett
"It's been a long day. I suggest you think over what I've said. And please apologize to Mr. Barnes."
She leaves without hearing a reply and walks past her brother and Bucky explaining her reasoning to leave for the day.
Watching her leave Everett rubs his temple in annoyance at himself. He takes a deep breath and attempts to rise from his seat. He stumbles because he's remembering the way her lips grazed his ear and his entire body feels like it's on fire still. He knows he's wrong and he knows it's time to take action instead of dancing around it any longer. But this is something he can't do by himself.
He walks over to where Bucky and T'Challa stand apologizes to Bucky.
"Umm, ahem. Sorry to interrupt but I need to apologize to you, Sergeant Barnes. My antics earlier were uncalled for and inappropriate. I know now you were innocent during our first run in but I let my emotions overtake and I hope you can accept my apology."
Bucky looks him over once before giving a small smile
"Bucky. Just call me Bucky. It's what people who know me call me."
He then outstretched his hand to shake Everett's. Both men shake having established peace.
T'Challa then speaks
"So Everett do you know what's gotten into my sister?"
He sighs and replies
"I do and it's all my fault. I need help making things right."
The King walks to pat Everett on the shoulder and tells him
"Well, the bad news is once Princess Shuri is upset she's upset for a while. Good news is that you have a chance to profess your interest publicly at the celebration I'm throwing at the palace in celebration of the battle won."
Bucky chimes in
"Wait? A battle? What did I miss?"
T'Challa chuckles lightly before responding
"I'll make sure to fill you in on the details."
Everett is trying to comprehend everything and one thing that is bothering him he asks the king himself
"So you don't mind that I'm interested in your sister? Or the fact that I'm over ten years her senior or an outsider?"
"Shuri is a grown woman. She makes her own decisions and she has her own discretions about people. Who she decides to romance is her business. I can only hope they are worthy of her."
"I'm just a former pilot and CIA agent. You think I'm worthy of a genius warrior princess?"
T'Challa smiles
"Worthy has nothing to do with a person's titles or backgrounds but their character. You've shown trustworthy character countless times and I approve if Shuri decided to start a relationship with you."
Everett keeps his head low and smiles
"Thank you T'Challa."
"Don't let Shuri know i said this but I know she's just as crazy about you, even if she won't admit it. I caught here daydreaming about you," he tells him winking
Everett blushes at the information.
The three men talk some more before Bucky says
"So what's the game plan for our man Everett? The party is coming up and he needs wingmen. And I'll have you two know, that was my specialty back in the day." he flashes a grin.
T'Challa shakes his head amused Giving a fake stern look he tells Bucky
"Watch it. That's still my sister you're talking about."
The super soldier raises his hands in defeat
"No harm done your highness just stating how dedicated I am to the cause of love."
T'Challa directs the two out of the lab and tells Bucky.
"Maybe you spent too much time in that ice."
Everett walks along the two men as they spoke getting lost in his thoughts thinking how is he going to court Princess Shuri. Under his breath he says with a small smile
"Time to sweep a princess off her feet."
Looks like Everett is going up against an angry Shuri. I wonder how that will pan out not that he's pulled his head out his ass. Can he convince her he's sorry and sweep her of her feet? The next two chapters will be centered around the celebration that T'Challa mentioned and we'll be seeing everyone from the movie. Especially the fan favorite tribe leader M'Baku and possibly another outsider of Wakanda making a cameo. Anyway I will see my sunshines soon, thank you all for the faves, follows, reviews, and bookmarks. It truly means the world and I never expected to get such a following of my first story. So from the bottom of my heart, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Until next time!