Bucky awoke to a woman sitting nonchalantly on his balcony railing. He heard her before he saw her, just a slight rustling, almost as though the wind were whistling through tree branches. It reminded him of home, of being a child. Long days spent playing in the park often ended at his parents' house. Steve used to sleepover a lot when they were kids. They pushed the mattress together on the floor and built epic forts. In their castle made of sheets, they would take turns telling scary stories, or regaling each other with secondhand heroics they had picked up from the older men. They were going to enlist together one day; that was the plan. Together, they would get out of Brooklyn. They would see the world.

The rustling continued, gradually pulling him out of sleep. He sat still for a moment, contemplating whether this was an assault, or perhaps just an animal. Before he could decide, his visitor spoke.

"Good morning, Mr. Barnes." He opened his eyes to see Shuri perched in front of him. She was watching him through wide coffee colored eyes, almost as though he were prey. It unnerved him just a bit, but he wasn't about to let her know it.

"Is this how you wake everyone up?" He stretched his legs out and stood up.

"I did try your front door," She shrugged one shoulder. "Was your bed not satisfactory?"

Bucky hadn't slept in a proper bed since 1945. Comfort wasn't of much importance to him anymore.

"I got caught up with the view," he walked over to her, hoping he didn't look as tired as he felt.

"It truly is magnificent," she agreed without looking backwards. She was still taking in his appearance.

He knew he looked a mess; you couldn't sleep in your clothes outside and not appear disheveled. Shuri, by contrast, looked polished despite the earliness of the hour. Clad all in black again, her mass of hair was pulled snug into a braid coiled on top of her head. He supposed that princesses had a certain obligation to maintain appearances, but she seemed to go above and beyond.

"Did you need me for something?" he asked her. This didn't seem like a social visit.

"I was hoping you would join me outside in the courtyard," her eyes did not budge from his face. "Although, you may need a moment to compose yourself."

"What's on the agenda today?" his days seemed to be preplanned, at least for now. He didn't mind. He liked the idea of having a schedule, some semblance of order.

"I thought perhaps you might like a complete set of limbs," she smiled a bit. "It may be useful in training."

"I hear you're going to kick my ass," sitting on the balcony, she didn't look like much of a challenge. She was muscular, certainly, but much less so than her brother. Thanks to Black Widow though, he knew better than to judge a person on size. She had to have some sort of secret strength, whether mental or physical. He wondered what it was.

She clicked her tongue in an unconcerned way. "I have trained with your friends in the past. "They all fared well."

"Who fared the worst?" he was certain it wasn't Steve.

"The one who shrinks. He has the least experience in combat. He improves daily though." There was no malice in her tone. She spoke as calmly as if they were discussing the weather.

"You train with them all?"

"The only way to become the best is to learn from the best. We all learn from each other," she lowered her feet down to the floor of his balcony. "I look forward to learning from you, Mr. Barnes." She came very close to his face, still assessing. Seemingly satisfied with whatever she saw, she spoke again, "But first, I think, some breakfast is in order."

She gestured behind him to where members of her personal guard were entering the room. Bucky had been so distracted by her that he failed to notice them.

"I shall see you presently. My guard will escort you should you need them." Shuri smiled one last time at him. Instead of exiting through the door, she went back out to the balcony. Like a cat, she leaped upwards and out of sight. Bucky was tempted to run after her to see if she was crawling up the walls like the panthers she so admired. He decided it was better to save face.

"Hey Bucky, how was breakfast?" Sam asked him an hour later. He was smiling widely.

"It was nice." Nice was an understatement. Having gorgeous women stand around offering you delicious food was a pleasure he could have scarcely imagined.

"Right? Unbelievable, this place." The two of them were making their way down the halls, towards the labs.

"Almost too good to be true," Bucky said.

Sam glanced at him. "I felt that way too. After all the shit back home…" he exhaled heavily. "And then that underwater prison? I didn't know if I'd ever be comfortable again."

"I know the feeling," Bucky was losing himself in nightmares again.

"Listen man, I can't pretend I know what you went through at all. Hell, I can't even pretend like we know each other that well. But I know Steve, and he's got nothing bad to say about you. And even though you can be an ass sometimes, I want you to know I've got your back. You're going to get through this."

Bucky looked over at him. "You really think so?"

"I've seen miracles happen in all kinds of places. Wakanda seems more likely to have them than most. We worked really hard, when you were out. Figured if you could go back in that freezer, we should have something for you when you thawed out."

"Therapy though. You think it's that simple?"

"Nah. But Shuri only scratched the surface of her plan. That woman's brilliant. She's got this whole way to get HYDRA out of your head. You'll still have the memories…" Sam gave him a sympathetic look. "But you won't be making any more bad ones."

Bucky swallowed thickly. "She's that smart?"

"Her and T'Challa, man." Sam chuckled, "It's next level. These people here, they're all about disciplining the mind and body. Just look around. Seems like it's working to me."

Bucky had to admit that he had a point. Wakanda was rich beyond his wildest dreams.

"I wouldn't mind getting HYDRA out of my head. And another arm would be nice."

"See man? Baby steps." Sam patted him on the back. He pointed up the hall to where Steve was leaning against the wall.

"Buck. Sam." Steve greeted them both. He was dressed down, out of his Captain America suit and in jeans and a t-shirt. Even in casual wear, he looked like the poster boy for America. Sam didn't hesitate to tell him so. Steve just smiled and shook his head.

"Are you ready?" he asked Bucky.

"I didn't know it was going to be this big of a deal," Bucky nodded towards the door of the lab.

"Well, it's not every day you get to see a guy pick out a brand new, bionic arm," Sam laughed. "People want to see what you pick."

"What, did you bet on it?" Bucky meant for it to be a joke, but Steve looked hurriedly away.

"Damn straight we bet," Sam was unashamed. "Scott's got money on it too. I don't think he's back yet to see."

"We'll use the honor system," Steve assured him.

"Great. Wouldn't want to make betting on an amputee feel shady," Bucky rolled his eyes and strolled towards the door.

"We're outlaws now, remember?" Steve joked behind him.

The bald woman that was most often seen flanking T'Challa was manning the door. She allowed Bucky to pass but held up a hand to stop the other two. "I'm sorry, Mr. Wilson, Captain. Mr. Barnes is the only one to be allowed inside."

"It's all right, Zawadi," if Steve was surprised, he didn't show it. "We'll be out here when you are done."

Bucky nodded at his friends and continued onward. He was expecting to walk in a lab much like the one he woke up in. Instead, he emerged outside in a courtyard. It was framed on all sides by the Wakandan mountains. The foliage had been cut back, allowing the sun to peer through. It fell in warm patches like a spotlight, illuminating the smooth tan floor below. T'Challa was standing in the middle of the circular clearing, dressed down in athletic wear.

"Mr. Barnes, Shuri tells me you got off to a slow start," T'Challa smiled at him.

"Does she always climb around like that?" Bucky asked him. "She dropped down on the balcony."

"Shuri enjoys keeping in practice. When we were children, we explored together in a similar fashion. There is no one more adept at navigating the walls of this palace."

Bucky processed this. "You've both been training since childhood?"

"All of Wakanda trains, but it is the privilege of the royal family to become protector of these lands. I won the title as a teenager. Shuri will one day win it from me." T'Challa didn't seem too worried about the possibility. "We are not here to discuss my country's customs. We are here to replace your arm." He gestured to a table behind him. Several silver arms were laid out across it. Bucky had to guess they were all made of vibranium.

"You are going to give me one?" Bucky couldn't imagine how much they cost.

"Yes, but only one. So take some time and choose wisely." T'Challa nodded at the table.

Bucky stepped forward and took in his choices. Each arm was labeled with its features. One was armed to the teeth with missiles; Bucky quickly passed it up. It smacked far too much of Tony Stark for comfort. Another emitted EMPs and could be controlled remotely, presumably for covert operations. This one too, Bucky declined. He would not subject himself to the possibility of being controlled by anyone else ever again, even if safeguards were in place. The last arm looked almost exactly like his former one. The red star was gone, but otherwise, it seemed to employ the same features.

"Ah, I thought you might like that one," T'Challa nodded.

"What's it do?" Bucky reached for it, tracing the smooth metal with his remaining hand.

"That must be experienced to be believed," T'Challa smiled. "Would you like to try it?"

Bucky barely had time to agree when the doors he had come through opened again, ushering in Wakandan scientists. He was directed to sit on a table and remove his shirt while they worked on him. He noticed that the scientists were a mix of both men and women. T'Challa's guards were all female. Bucky had lived many years past his generation, but had missed some key points. He understood that women had made some leaps and bounds in the past few decades. This world was very different than the one he grew up in. He preferred it in some ways, but felt very ignorant in others. He really needed to read those history books.

The doors slid open again, interrupting his musings. Shuri strolled through, giving him a perfunctory nod as a greeting. She walked directly towards her brother.

"Klaue has been spotted," she informed him.

T'Challa's mood shifted instantly. "Where?"

"Ziwadi will explain," the two of them were already walking towards the door.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Barnes, but duty calls." T'Challa paused in front of him. "I leave you in good hands."

"I'm good," Bucky nodded.

As quickly as Shuri arrived, T'Challa departed.

"What was that about?" Bucky asked Shuri. She turned her eyes on him.

"An old threat," she said simply. Her tone made it clear that she would explain no more. "I see that your friend Steve has won the bet," she observed, glancing at his newly secured arm.

"Why'd Steve think I'd pick this one?" Bucky moved it experimentally. It felt comfortable, almost like his real arm.

"I assume because he though you would enjoy this feature," Shuri walked towards him and touched the arm. Bucky could feel it.

The sensation sent his heart pounding. He hadn't been able to feel anything since the fall. HYDRA's scientists didn't' think that it was necessary, or perhaps hadn't been able to create the sensations.

"How?"

"It is a long explanation involving nerve endings and brain waves. I'm sure our scientists would be more able to convey the science to you."

Bucky flexed his hand, marveling as he felt the pressure in his fingers. His old arm never seemed like a part of him. He didn't even feel it as Stark blew it off. This though, this was different. If it wasn't for the color and texture, he could fool himself into thinking it was a part of him.

"This is incredible," Bucky hadn't even realized that he was speaking his thoughts out loud until he saw Shuri's smile.

"I had hoped you would pick that one," she danced her fingers back up his arm. It tickled.

"Why?" that his choice should affect her at all seemed odd.

"It tells me much about what you value in life."

"Which is?"

"I have done much research on you, Mr. Barnes. You must understand, when your name first emerged, it was in connection to the death of my father. And though the truth was eventually revealed, your past is checkered." She looked him dead in his eyes. "I did not know the nature of the man my brother agreed to safeguard when the Captain brought you here. He had great faith in you." She tapped his arm again. "I see now that it is well-founded."

"You can tell that by my choice of arm?" Bucky was incredulous.

"Life is choices, Mr. Barnes. You have not had the luxury for decades; you should understand its importance. You chose not the arm that offered power, nor stealth, but the ability to feel." Her smile widened.

"Doesn't seem like that big of a deal." Bucky was embarrassed by her assessment of him.

"Perhaps not to you. To me though, a man who forgoes power when it looms in front of him is a man worth training." She stepped back from him. "Shall we take your arm for a test run?"

Bucky was desperate to get out of this conversation. He felt very naked under her watchful eyes. He was dangerously close to reaching Steve levels of embarrassment.

"How do you want to test it?" he asked.

"I want to fight you," she responded simply.

"Now?"

"Do you have other plans?" she smiled again, backing away from the table and into the concrete clearing.

Bucky was taken aback. Still, he wasn't willing to back down from the challenge. Besides, they were alone. Even if she did manage to beat him, Steve and Sam would not see it.

"What are the rules?" he stood up.

"Knock me down," she was already dropping into a defensive position. Bucky recognized it as one that her brother assumed during battle.

"I don't want to hurt you," he reluctantly put his fists up.

Shuri smiled. "You won't," she assured him. Without further preamble, she leaped towards him.

Bucky shifted back quickly into a defensive posture, throwing up his new arm to deflect a well-aimed kick for his face. The impact of the blow sent a tremor through him. It wasn't as painful as it would have been if he had blocked it with his flesh and bones arm, but it stung nonetheless. It exhilarated him.

He swung out and connected, knocking Shuri back. It would have knocked a grown man to the ground, but she caught herself, bouncing backwards off of her palms and springing forward. She had barely landed when she was kicking again.

They went back and forth for a quarter of an hour, each without landing a significant blow. Bucky got close a few times, even knocked her back, but she always managed to recover. Shuri wrapped around Bucky, swinging her legs around his neck and driving him down to one knee. He managed to secure his arms around her, preparing to toss her over his head.

"страстное желание," it took Bucky a moment to register what he had just heard. He grabbed Shuri around the arms and threw her, his heart pounding in his chest.

"ржавые" the word was unmistakable this time.

"Stop it," Bucky shook his head. He could feel his mind go fuzzy already.

"Семнадцать," Shuri lunged for him again. The Russian words sounded odd coming from her lips, as though some disembodied voice was behind it.

"Shuri, stop it!" he was more forceful now. He accompanied his warning with a swing that could have leveled her. She evaded it once more.

"рассвет," She kept her voice level. Her eyes were trained on his, calm and assessing. "печь," She continued.

"Shuri, stop." The panic was beginning to set in now. His mind was racing as he tried to keep his bearings. He took a deep, rattling breath.

"девять," this word came accompanied with a kick. He barely managed to block it.

"Stop it!" this time he did connect, landing a solid blow to the stomach that knocked the wind out of her.

"доброкачественный," the words didn't stop coming. He felt like he was going to fall to his knees.

"Stop..." his limbs were beginning to go limp now, like they were too heavy to hold.

"Возвращение домой" Shuri stood up, but didn't move towards him. She stood over him, watching. "один" this word came out slowly, almost reluctantly.

There was one word left. He knew what would happen then. He would lose control. He stumbled, looking up at his tormentor, and made a decision.

Reaching out with his new bionic arm, he grabbed her hard around the throat. Her eyes opened wide. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Bucky turned his face away from hers and squeezed until she went limp in his grip. He lowered her body to the ground with his last ounce of strength, then passed out headlong on the concrete beneath him.

A/N: The Russians words are very roughly translated from the following English words: Longing, Rusted, Seventeen, Daybreak, Furnace, Nine, Benign, Homecoming, and One. I speak absolutely no Russian, whatsoever, so for all I know, the words could be severely mistranslated.

Thank you to all of those of you who have reviewed! Please let me know what you think, if you haven't already. I love constructive criticism.