Steve approached Shuri slowly, allowing Okoye the time she needed to break the news.
Once Okoye explained what had happened and consoled the Princess as best she could, she stepped away to deal with her own grief.
Steve stepped up to Shuri with his head down. "I'm so sorry," he said quietly, hardly able to look her in the eye, except he needed to for this. "He was a very good and honorable man."
"Thank you, Captain." She glanced around at the others returning from the battle. "Where's serg … I mean, Bucky?"
Shuri looked at Steve. He was shaking his head and again he couldn't look at her. "Wait, no!"
"He called my name … I turned to look at him and he just …" The pain etched in his face as the words caught in his throat.
"Oh, Steve." Slim arms wrapped around his shoulders and she held him as tight as she could, trying to console him.
After a moment, he returned it. Both trying to comfort the other as tears streamed down their faces.
They had both lost brothers … and friends.
*** THE END ***