I hope all of you are doing well!
There's a lot ahead of us in this chapter, but I also wanted to take the time to share an all-new painting by MuggyLee (MuggyLee on Twitter) that he created to go along with a prior chapter.
Please check out this chapter on Archive of Our Own to see the gorgeous art and links to the artist's social media pages!
Simply search for: "KLeCrone Ao3 Winter of the White Wolf"
Enjoy! And back to the story…
Winter of the White Wolf
Chapter 75 - The Five Tenets
Summary:
While Okoye tours select sights with Barnes, Sam, and Yama, elsewhere, Shuri, Ayo, and Nomble check-in with updates from those at the Design Center…
It was good to be back at the Design Center again.
To familiar halls and faces, impeccably polished stone floors, and the bright, hand painted murals that decorated every surface that wasn't already festooned with spiraling metal architecture or panels of vibranium glass. Every inch of the pristine corridors had long-since been scrubbed clean of any evidence of the violent encounter from only days ago, but even still, Ayo's eyes searched for a scrap of evidence of what had happened. Some way to tell the passing of time, and to make sense of how frail it felt in the moment.
How strangely narrow the corridors seemed. How oddly loud and crowded. Ayo's calculating mind sought a reason to explain her shifting perceptions, but in the end, she could only think it was because two days in the bush and high mountains had a way of making the world outside the Design Center seem larger. Open. Less inhibited.
She bid her mind to refocus on the present even as it wandered, distracted to think what her General was up to elsewhere with Barnes, Sam, and Yama, and why Okoye insisted on being so unnecessarily secretive. Ayo chose to believe that Okoye would not throw them into the lion's den simply to evaluate the merit of their reactions. If something had gone wrong, they would certainly know.
Not that it was likely to.
That being as it was, their absence combined with the sleek black and white halls of the Design Center had a way of reminding Ayo that while Barnes's mind remained stable for the time being as long as they kept him from REM sleep, the crux of his issues remained unresolved.
It was a solemn fact that Ayo found increasingly hard to ignore, even though there was precious little she could offer in the way of help. In a roundabout way, it reminded her of the press of the Decimation. Of matters so immensely complex and needle-sharp that only certain minds, certain skills, could generate the critical steps necessary to lead them towards a viable solution through so much resounding confusion and sorrow.
She had watched, hoped, prayed, as Wakanda and the world's brightest minds stretched themselves thin for years to unlock what Thanos had done, and moreover: a way to undo the widespread curse he'd brought down upon them. Ayo could never know if her absent Princess or any of the world's other missing minds might've been able to deduce something Wakanda's remaining teams of scientists could not, but though they tried with everything they had, their efforts hadn't borne fruit. There was a limit to what technology was capable of, what men could dream, and what Gods would grant.
They were dark times, complicated by many things, not the least of which was that many in the outside world sought someone to blame for those gone missing. Unfortunately, King T'Challa's choice to reveal themselves and their resources to the world combined with Wakanda's participation in the battle versus the Mad Titan had put their country in the crosshairs of many who quickly sought to squabble so they might claim the country's resources for their own by any means necessary.
Even after the press of the Decimation was at last lifted, many of those brooding worries did not fade. Wakandan Outreach Centers were frequently raided without cause, and if anything, Ayo feared these targeted incursions would grow only increasingly perilous in time, as greedy outsiders became desperate for what was being kept out of their reach.
She did not fault King T'Challa for his eagerness to reconnect with the world around them, to share their bounty with those they could, but the timing of Thanos and the wake of what happened thereafter… None of them could have predicted it, of course, but Ayo did wonder how things might've been different if he had not revealed Wakanda so soon before those shattering events.
Ayo frowned, pushing those distant concerns aside as she kept pace behind Shuri. The quiet rhythm of their firm footsteps grounded her in the present, reminding her that though Wakanda's technology and resources wouldn't be funneled to help for one foreign man, that his plight was far-from ignored. If anything, his repeated questions about the present strife in Symkaria and its enigmatic past had drawn further support. Even Okoye had wondered aloud about if he might have answers they did not. Pockets of information that even White Wolf did not – could not – recall.
In her heart, Ayo wanted to believe there was still hope for Barnes and a way to keep his mind from unraveling further, but with only days left and the thrum of the busy Design Center humming around her, she could feel the quiet urgency building in her chest. Of not knowing. Of hoping for the best, while also preparing for the worst.
She did not want to yet inquire on Shuri's interpretation of "the worst," for it was clear she feared it too.
While King T'Challa attended to matters elsewhere, the Princess remained face-down in the messages projected from the Kimoyo Bead in her palm. Busy fingers thrummed across the many correspondences regarding Barnes's case and others under her care both here and abroad. She was so immersed in her work, in fact, that Ayo had to take a step to the side to motion a group of oncoming scientists to the edge of the corridor, lest the Princess accidentally walk directly into them.
Nomble raised an eyebrow at their silent exchange, but said nothing as she kept a steady pace beside Ayo. Curious faces glanced in their direction as they wove their way to M'yra's recovery suite, but no one saw fit to distract their royal charge from the illuminated ruminations floating over her fingertips. Any questions they had would have to wait.
Nailah stood posted outside, a formality to ensure M'yra's needs were met, no matter the hour, and to discourage any curious passersby from disturbing their patient without cause. More than one news outlet had seen fit to attempt to stick their nose in matters to find out more about the high-speed chase that had made its way through the Golden City, but as of yet, they'd been able to keep the vultures at bay, due in no small part to M'yra's desire to stay clear of needless gossip, and the prevalent culture of the Design Center itself. The many bright minds here were eager to get back to work and to put that ordeal behind them. They did not want news crews combing their sacred halls, either.
Not that Ayo would have casually permitted such a thing.
In this, thankfully, M'yra's parents were in agreement, for they respected M'yra's wishes that she should focus on the recovery ahead of her.
Speaking of which…
Shuri acknowledged Nailah with a demure two-fisted salute, adding quietly, "Are they still away at lunch?"
"Yes, my Princess."
The nearest corner of Shuri's lip quirked in a devious smile as Nailah opened the door to M'yra's recovery suite and motioned Shuri, Ayo, and Nomble to step inside. Ayo was quick to admit to herself that part of her was relieved that M'yra's parents were not waiting for them inside, but… now that Ayo thought of it, it might've been precisely why Shuri thought it prudent to make this their first stop.
The Princess was not above using the Center's surveillance to their fullest in order to dodge in and out of obligations. It was a frustrating habit Ayo'd tried many times to break, but she would take this present boon for what it was.
As the door shut behind them, Nomble took up guard just inside while Ayo stood patiently beside Shuri, waiting for her to finish catching-up on reviewing M'yra's latest charts. Apparently, Shuri'd gotten enough sleep up on the mountain to suitably multitask, "Do not find reason to wander off in the name of duty while I speak with our patient. The very next stop we make will be to see to your leg. I still cannot believe you downplayed it as a non-issue before returning to the field."
"As you are well aware, we had other priorities."
When Shuri saw fit to raise an eyebrow in her direction, Ayo added, "My leg was and is serviceable. The injury dealt to me was not in any way as dire as you are making it out to be." she offered the Princess a casual shrug, "It has seen far worse."
Shuri rolled her eyes and found time to glance up from her work just long enough to shoot Ayo what was probably supposed to be a look of reprieve, but it bounced harmlessly off her like a pebble striking vibranium plate.
"So stubborn," Shuri complained aloud before slipping her communication bead back into her strand, "You and he really do share that in common, you know. To a degree that some might consider it an advanced artform."
Ayo didn't have to ask who Shui was comparing her to as the Princess casually knocked on the door to the inner sanctum of M'yra's suite.
"Come in."
Shuri did her best to be mindful of her expression. That she needed to be cognizant that she should quiet the growing urgency gnawing at her periphery at the latest updates from the scientists reviewing Barnes's case so she could be fully present for M'yra seated in bed before her. Yet she hadn't been expecting the high-ranking Dora that had once supervised the Propulsion Laboratory's guard to look so… for lack of a better word: alert.
Some time over the last two days, M'yra had apparently traded her grey surgical gown for a cool green one that made her look as if she was nestled within the comfort of a set of massive fronds. Her shoulders stood at attention with all the focus of a guarding Dora, and from the neck up, you wouldn't have been able to tell anything was amiss from her expression, were it not for the gentle coating of stubbled black hair shadowing her normally clean-shaven head.
On either side of her bed, M'yra was surrounded by a veritable sea of potted plants and tokens of affection, but her bright eyes were clear. She promptly made a fist of her good hand and pressed it across her chest in a salute that Shuri and Ayo returned in earnest, but Shuri didn't miss that placed atop the vibrant green, yellow, and black woven throw resting across her lap, was a single orange exercise weight and a reading tablet. Apparently, she had no intention of sitting idle. "Princess Shuri. Chief Ayo. It is good to see you both. I had not expected you again so soon."
Shuri drew forth what she hoped was a pleasant smile, but she could feel the guilt bubbling up inside of her at the sight of M'yra's absent arm, which hung out from beneath the hem of her sleeve. The color of the flesh looked good and the swelling had gone down since Shuri's last seen it in person, but she remained keenly aware that had she chosen differently, had she been more careful in her well-meaning tinkering with James's mind, the warrior seated before her might have been spared from such a debilitating injury.
With decided purpose, Shuri crossed the small room to stand at M'yra's bedside. Privately, she'd once thought it strange that rather than the comfort of music, M'yra preferred nature recordings taken from near her home within the River Tribe's borders, but today, Shuri found the scattered bird calls oddly soothing. Perhaps the brief time she'd spent on the mountain had seeped into her young blood, "And I had not expected you to ask such a clever boon of my brother, but he did seek Barnes's favor at your request."
M'yra's composed expression wavered only slightly, but her bright eyes drifted to Ayo, as if gauging if she was perhaps in trouble for her stated request of their King. More specifically: How M'yra had used her audience with T'Challa in order to circumvent Shuri's own wise discouragement about worrying herself about what prosthetics might suit her in the future. It was not as if Shuri had cast aside the consideration entirely, it was simply that she wanted to approach things systematically, weigh them earnestly, and to not risk rushing things unnecessarily.
Before M'yra could come to her own defense, Shuri quickly added, "Barnes has agreed to speak with you once he returns to the Design Center, if that is still what you wish. It is likely to be a few days until he returns here, but we can schedule it appropriately alongside the time of the surgery on your spine. In it, your surgeons and I aim to re-establish the fine motor systems that were impacted by the trauma to your lumbar vertebrae. You will need to remain lying down after that surgery for at least twenty-four hours while the nerves and surrounding tissues solidify. And when I say 'lying down,' that very much implies no exercise beyond what your physical therapists and team of specialists permit. No hand-weights or rubber bands."
"Yes, my Princess."
Shuri made a face at the hand weight in question, "Who gave you this? It was not on any equipment list I saw."
M'yra's eyes flitted to Ayo and back, "I… may have ordered it myself when my therapist declined to provide me one."
"You may have?"
"The delivery drones are much better at managing doors than you might think."
Shuri sighed audibly and looked to Ayo for support, but she only shrugged, though she did look a touch impressed.
Even injury would not dull a Dora's fighting spirit.
Shuri turned her attention back to M'yra, "I've been following up on reports concerning your care, and everything I've been seeing is very encouraging. Your healing is going well, but such secondhand accounts are not the same as hearing your perspective. How are you feeling?"
"As well as can be suspected," M'yra admitted honestly, "I still cannot move my legs, which is distressing, but there are now flickers of sensation running through them. I'm not used to being kept in one spot for so long, but the staff has been pleasant, and patient with my many questions. My visitors have done a good job of keeping me well-fed and helping me pass the time between check-ins." She regarded her idle legs before returning her attention to Shuri, "Do you still think it likely I will be able to walk after the next surgery?"
"I do," Shuri assured her, "but it will be necessary to limit your physical activity awhile after."
"For how long?"
Shuri had to give her credit: she was insistent. Many would have taken the forced time off as a reprieve of sorts, a chance to get caught up on shows or reading, but those who took up the calling of the Dora Milaje were a different breed. It was abundantly clear M'yra was unwilling to separate herself from such matters as of yet. She continued to treat what had happened to her as merely a temporary setback, and not an end to her service to Wakanda.
The Princess did not know what future lay ahead of her, but she would not be the one to prematurely squelch M'yra's hopes and aspirations. Okoye was a traditionalist, yes, but her likely decision to force her retirement from service was not a foregone conclusion. "You will need to limit your physical activity after surgery for as long as the medical staff deems it appropriate. Your physical therapists will work with you to ascertain the bounds you should work within, and it would be wise to follow their instruction. It is important you are forthright with them and do not mask your discomforts as some are prone to do," Shuri sent a glance over one shoulder to Ayo, who she was certain caught her drift, but expertly chose to ignore her observation in favor of that strict pose she was so good at.
Shuri inclined her fingers towards M'yra's right shoulder, "Your physical therapists will also do what they can to maintain your muscle tone in your right arm and shoulder. It is not my intent that they should atrophy, but their shape will be different from what they were before. It is to be expected. How has the surgical site been faring over the last days? Has the pain been well-managed?"
M'yra lifted her right shoulder and swiveled the portion of her arm under it, "What remains is not sharply pained. If I were to describe it, I would say it is more of a dull ache. An awareness that it is not whole." She moved her left hand across her body and gently ran her fingers around the exposed stump. "There are still phantom pains and sensations, but they are not as bad as they once were, nor as constant." She lifted her chin innocently in Shuri's direction, "...If I were to pursue a mounted prosthetic, are there methods that take advantage of such residual sensations?"
Shuri let out a heavy sigh that edged into a smile, "You are nothing if not consistent."
"I am told it is one of my many virtues, though my mother calls it by another name. In another language."
"Our mothers may share that tongue in common, then," Shuri remarked as she pulled out her medical Kimoyo Bead and began to extract live readings from above M'yra's partially amputated arm.
The room fell to an unremarkable silence accented only by recorded birdsong and the bubbling of a calm brook. But though M'yra stayed respectfully still as she tracked the holographic readouts hovering above Shuri's palm, she was not through with her questions, "...I take it things went well?"
The sudden pivot of topic caught Shuri off-guard. She was certain It must have shown on her face, because M'yra was quick to add, "-Assuming it is not improper to ask. I meant no disrespect."
"It is alright," Shuri reassured her, "As you might expect, many of his medical manners are private, and while I cannot speak to them, our visit was indeed fruitful."
M'yra bit the edge of her lip, obviously edging towards a follow-up question, and Shuri thought it best to coax it from her, "...There was something else, though?"
"I only found myself wondering if you thought I would be speaking with 'Barnes' later in the week, or if it would be your 'White Wolf,' but… I am guessing by your expressions that much is still left in the hands of the Gods."
Shuri swallowed, doing what she could to keep her countenance neutral, but she caught Ayo glance in her direction as the Princess spoke, "A great deal still remains yet unknown, but it was not the Gods that brought this curse upon him. His recovery firmly relies on our sciences and technologies to aid him."
M'yra's attention flickered briefly to the reading tablet lying atop her blanket as she inquired, "...But is that who he thought we were allied with? HYDRA?"
"Who told you that?"
"No one, my Princess." M'yra lifted her hand in her own defense, "I've had nothing but time on my hands– hand – so I sought out information on my own when none was readily available to me. I wished to better understand what happened here, but what I could find online or in our public archives was… inconsistent at best."
Ayo spoke up, her voice direct, coupled with a hint of warning, "M'yra, these matters are not of your concern."
The amputee on the bed drew her lips together as if she was choosing her next words carefully, but she did not keep them to herself, "I may not be in the inner circle of those who were closest to your White Wolf, but I have felt the reverberation of recent events more than most. The pursuit of knowledge offers a sense of purpose to keep my mind occupied with matters beyond my own recovery, of which I am obviously unable to accelerate."
M'yra's attention turned specifically to Ayo, and her tone shifted, growing evermore respectful but not at all meek, "I have pursued only public commentary from various international sources. I have not, and would not, allow my curiosities to cloud my judgment in accessing our own intel on HYDRA or any private medical records. I do not know if it is intentional or not, but my access to such tight libraries has not been revoked in the wake of my injury, and I wish to know if this was merely an oversight or a sympathetic delay. I respect that Teela has taken over my position among the Propulsion Laboratory's leadership, and while I obviously do not debate such a shift in responsibilities, it has not been made clear if my rank has been stripped from me, or if I am to gracefully accept another option."
She took a steadying breath before adding, "At first, I thought it best not to ask, because I feared the answer. But now, I find myself compelled to know where things now stand. If I remain a member of the Dora Milaje, regardless of my injury. If I am, I remain willing and able to help Wakanda, even if it is in ways I had not planned for. It does not make my skills any less valuable."
Shuri did her best to read Ayo's expression, but Wakanda's Chief of Security kept her voice even, "You did not speak with our General when she visited? To seek clarity with her?"
"I did not," M'yra confirmed. "But she did not ask for my spear. I was not sure if it was a message or a temporary kindness, but I am not yet ready to accept a premature retirement."
Shuri could empathize with M'yra's inquiry and the honesty laid bare before them. The limbo of not knowing was a difficult one, but though Ayo was her superior officer and held rank under Okoye, the decision was ultimately not hers to make. It was likely to be made by the Iya Dora, the Council of the Dora Milaje, of which Ayo was only a single member.
"I think you know it is too early for me to make promises of continued service when those decisions are to be made by the Council when you are well, especially since they go against established standards of physical aptitudes that our role as a Dora requires." Ayo's words were clear, direct, and fair, but… Shuri was also aware that they did not carry with them the implication that M'yra's rank had been stripped from her without her knowledge. "But what is it you hope to accomplish in the short term?"
M'yra lifted her chin, "To make myself useful. To aid my country and my Sword Sisters when your eyes have other pressing matters to attend to. I am no expert in the applied sciences that so many here excel in, but I have traveled widely, and pursued a great number of notable security and intelligence roles prior to my posting in the Design Center, and when accompanying our scientists and engineers abroad. With your permission, I might be able to search out dark corners others have not sought to look. As you are Wakanda's Chief of Security, it seemed apt for me to ask you directly. Regardless or not if my rank was preserved, I would not seek to act without your knowledge and consent."
M'yra straightened her shoulders as she turned her attention back to Shuri, "As this is an exceptionally sensitive matter, I thought it best to be direct in my request. If the answer is no, I will not speak of it again, and I will not bring it up to either the General or King T'Challa."
Before Ayo could respond, Shuri crossed her arms, doing her best to read between the lines, "And what finding is it that intrigued you enough to make a private case for assisting us?"
M'yra's voice grew more serious, "I had not realized the extent of the complicated, often violent past of the man we once sheltered here. I do not pretend to be able to separate fact from speculation, but as I pursued public records, I found it strange how much of what is known remains shrouded in mystery, even after his government's pardon. I suspect you know more than I, and to be clear: I am not trying to earn secrets that are not mine to hold, but I am unsure if you are aware to the degree that many seek to collect this knowledge, likely to use it against him and those around him."
"The potential for gossip, blackmail, and subterfuge has not escaped our notice," Shuri admitted, but there was something in M'yra's expression that told her there was more to it than that.
The woman seated in bed inclined her head, "There are many networks of people who share distasteful practices of trying to capture information, images, and whereabouts of people of interest. While using our secure channels, I recently came across one such image. I thought to share it with you due to the timing and sensitive nature of where it was taken, and because Sam Wilson seems like a good man who should be aware that in some circles, his name has become unwittingly attached to the troubling situation in Symkaria."
Before Shuri could ask for clarification, M'yra reached across her lap and lifted her tablet, switching it to a 3D view so Shuri and Ayo could easily see from where they stood on either side of her bed. M'yra used her thumb to flick to a downloaded tab that brought up a screen showing a forum-based discussion board with hovering blocks of translated text beside which someone, likely M'yra, had taken additional notes in Wakandan script. Spaced between the discussion points on the page were various forum avatars and flavorful emojis of varying taste, but one embedded image stood out from the others. At a glance, it looked to be a simple snapshot of two men standing out on a balcony talking.
But Shuri immediately recognized them as none other than Sam Wilson and James "Bucky" Barnes. They were wearing matching downturned expressions on their faces, and the same clothing she remembered them wearing when they'd first arrived in Wakanda just days earlier.
It was like looking into a time capsule.
Shuri didn't recognize the location, but the timestamp on the forum post showed today's date, Tuesday, August 13rd, 2024. "I cannot be certain," Shuri began, "But judging by what they are wearing in that photo, it's possible it was taken as recently as four days ago, on Friday, August 9th, perhaps even hours before they traveled to Wakanda."
"The location is said to be Aniana, Symkaria," M'yra noted as Ayo frowned and stepped closer to regard it. "Some of the interest in the image is simple curiosity. Gossip about the potential motivations behind why 'Captain America' would be visiting the city, and what his relationship is with the man beside him. If one or both of them are representatives of the U.S. government too. While I would not say there are strong rumors of this, it is potentially worth noting that some believe they might've had a role to play in the recent events to destabilize Symkaria. As recently as this morning, there was a sighting that a super-powered individual may be behind the hits. Obviously, I am of course not implying Barnes is responsible for such things, but…"
Ayo didn't need to speak a word aloud for Shuri to draw out the meaning of her downturned expression: Things had just grown more complicated, "How widely circulated is this photo and ones like it?"
"From what I can tell, not very," M'yra admitted. "So far, only a small pocket of those with shared special interests have taken any notice of it, but I suspect the photographer is hoping to sell the rights to publish it and drum up further conversation. As you well know, few can be troubled to be concerned with truths when casual slander is more profitable."
"We could ask one of our local Hatut Zeraze to contact the photographer and offer to buy it," Shuri considered out loud.
"That is likely to perpetuate more interest rather than less," Ayo reasoned, shifting her weight to what Shuri was quick to identify as her good leg. "And we should let the General know."
"And my brother," Shuri sighed in agreement as she regarded the image, doing her best to evaluate its importance in the grand scheme of things. Was it merely a distraction? A reminder of the time before? It had a way of nudging her mind to recall that awful video taken in Madripoor with Zemo, 'Smiling Tiger' and one playing at being the Winter Soldier.
Her jaw tightened at the memory. She'd seen the footage looped enough times that she could recount every crack of bone without even trying to, but now… now she wondered if it was merely coincidence that she'd discovered it while James, Sam, and Nomble were enroute back to Wakanda.
She hadn't thought about it initially – and who could blame her for seeing red at the time? – but what if it hadn't been happenstance?
They still didn't know who had put that tracker on James's arm, how long it'd been there, or who it was transmitting to. What if the people on the other end had something to do with the quietly leaked footage from Madripoor? The transmitter would have been active then. They might've known, might've suspected where he was headed to next.
But why would they have been interested in his whereabouts? And if the leaked video was their doing, where would they have gotten it to begin with? And what would they have hoped to accomplish by leaking it on a thread so fine, Shuri'd been able to squelch it herself?
Was that their intent? What game were they playing at?
Shuri frowned. She would have to discuss these troubling possibilities with Ayo later.
Ayo might've caught something in the Princess's expression, but she didn't pry. Instead, she gestured back to the suspended snapshot, "The photographer that captured them was nearly at their height. Does that seem unusual to you?"
Her Guard's observation drew out Shuri's own curiosity as she regarded the snapshot anew, "May I…?"
M'yra nodded and lifted the tablet so it was closer to Shuri, who thumbed one of the beads along her wrist, "Griot, cross-compare this photograph to the available reconnaissance maps we have of Aniana, and determine the approximate location of the balcony where the two men are standing."
After a brief pause, the AI's alert male voice responded from Shuri's communications bead, "Running calculations now."
Moments later, audio chimed and Shuri used her fingers to toss an augmented holographic map display into the air in front of them. The blue-tinted projection spanned about a dozen city blocks, clustered around a largely residential area nestled with adjoining buildings and narrow alleyways. At the center of it all was a blinking orange indicator of a location four stories up off the ground. "Okay, now using that as a basis, calculate the possible positions where you think the photographer was standing in order to capture this image."
"Standby."
That's when things got interesting.
"That… is curious positioning for a member of the paparazzi," M'yra remarked.
She was right. A blinking corridor of light indicated the most likely placement of the unknown photographer's camera, but even at the lowest point, it was three stories up, offset to the side of the nearest building.
"Griot, Can you fine-tune the origin further? What is your confidence rating? "
"Due to the presence of artifacts caused by supplementary digital zoom and image compression, the exact location from which the image was captured is unknown, but the confidence rating of this area is 97%, barring the use of drone technology, which would extend the visual corridor further, but is unlikely based on the lens distortion."
"Is there metadata for the photograph?"
"Negative. It has all been removed."
Shuri frowned and rotated the display before drawing her fingers apart to zoom in on first the balcony Sam and James were sighted on, and then along the proposed visual corridor their unseen photographer used across the way. It could be nothing. But it could be something too. "I will let our eyes on the ground know. "
M'yra nodded in an affirmative as Shuri thought to add, "This is helpful information, thank you." Her eyes darted to Ayo, bidding her to make her stance clear regarding M'yra's proposed participation in their continued investigation. Specifically: If M'yra should be permitted to continue her sleuthing in a more official capacity.
The question lingered between them as Ayo visibly deliberated their options, "You understand the immensely delicate nature of these international concerns."
"I do."
"And you would freely choose to assist, even while on bedrest?"
"I would, my Chief. To continue to serve Wakanda would offer me solemn purpose while my body recovers."
Ayo pursed her lips together in thought, but it didn't take long for her to respond, "Then I will grant your request. But I would ask you to be discreet about your activities."
M'yra's expression brightened, "Of course."
"I thank you as well," Ayo added in a more personable tone, "for offering to leverage your skills and interests towards causes and individuals beyond your conscripted responsibilities."
In response, M'yra's lips parted into a gentle smile, "It is my pleasure to be of service. And besides: Perhaps one day you can inform Teela that my interest in the depths of the web and true crime podcasts served as a boon to Wakanda."
Shuri snorted lightly but she didn't see fit to argue the merit of M'yra's claim.
They could use all the help they could get.
In the wake of these discussions, Shuri continued to see to M'yra's care while Ayo shared what they knew of the situation brewing in Symkaria. True to her word, M'yra's bright mind worked to piece together what blind spots they might have overlooked just as easily as she politely avoided asking more of Barnes's involvement.
Her enthusiasm for international affairs was nothing new, and an asset among their ranks. In another life, Ayo could easily have seen M'yra excel as an operative within the Hatut Zeraze, but who knew what future lay ahead of her now? Whatever it may be, Ayo would support her as best she could.
But Sam must have left quite an impression on her if she found herself compelled to go digging around in ways that might've verged on reprimand. Even so, she pleaded her case with surgical skill, and Ayo truly believed in her heart that M'yra's intentions were clear as they were direct. She wished to help in whatever ways she could, and separately, she very much intended to ask Barnes about that prosthetic of his, no-doubt because she sought the possibility of a similar prosthetic on her amputated arm in time, regardless of Shuri's present misgivings about the idea.
But once Shuri had completed her evaluations and a summons from her communications bead drew her attention, the Princess politely excused herself, granting Ayo the courtesy of only one firm warning that her Chief of Security's very next stop was to be Shuri's Lab, and nowhere else.
"Do not hesitate to let the staff or I know if there are any changes," the Princess spoke to M'yra before repeating for Ayo's benefit, "And I will see you in my lab soon."
"Yes, my Princess," M'yra and Ayo responded in perfect-tuned unison.
Once the door latched behind Shuri, Ayo realized she hadn't specifically asked to stay behind with M'yra a while longer, but Shuri must've sensed her request through their Ibhondi Yomgcini* all the same. In the wake of her departure, Ayo could feel a fraction of the tension she'd been carrying float away. M'yra apparently felt a flavor of it too as she relaxed into her colorful pillows, "I'm relieved you both are well. I had prayed for no more blood to be spilt due to misunderstandings."
A gentle smile crossed over Ayo's face as she collapsed her spear and took a seat by M'yra's bedside. While it was proper for her to remain standing while Shuri was present, now it felt like she wanted to be on the same level as M'yra physically. To make it clear through posture that they spoke now without the heavy concerns of rank between them. "The times were not without trials, but we are better for it now," she admitted, "and even before we parted ways, he asked about you."
Ayo settled her hands over her lap thoughtfully, "Is there anything I might be able to offer you to help your recovery? It seems you have a respectable number of new plants already."
M'yra snorted lightly and panned her gaze across the room. To the sea of cards, candies, and tokens of affection in their bright wrappers and bows. But the colors, the greens and golds, the oranges and scattered autumn hues – they had a way of reminding Ayo of home too. Of the rivers she used to play in, and the breathtaking views outside her open window. When life was simpler. Seemed simpler, at least.
The woman sitting in bed drew her lips together in thought, "There is… one thing. My mother has offered it, certainly, but I… the act did not seem appropriate out of context, when I did not know if I was still deemed worthy of being a Dora."
"You are certainly worthy of being a Dora Milaje," Ayo insisted. "Of that, there is no question. There is no greater honor than to bear injuries or die in the service of Wakanda."
M'yra snorted lightly, bemused, "This is not what I had in mind when they said 'to give life or limb,' but it is what it is."
A gentle smile made its way over Ayo's face. She'd seen adversity quickly sour so many beyond recognition, and she remained heartened to see that M'yra's humor had not been dulled by what had befallen her. Perhaps it was even closer to the surface after what she'd been through, "What act is it that I should help you with?"
"My head, I…" M'yra's expression faltered as she lifted her hand and trailed her fingertips along the stubble growing over her scalp, "I'm sure I could manage something resembling a shave, but it would hardly be clean. I normally do such fine maneuvering with…" her voice faded as she glanced over to her absent arm with the quiet weight of loss.
"Of course I will do this for you," Ayo insisted without a drop of hesitation. She was keenly aware of just how personal of a request this was, and how difficult it must have been to bear such vulnerabilities openly. No-doubt Teela or M'yra's mother would have been happy to assist, but it wasn't the act of a simple shave that M'yra sought, but reassurance of what it meant to her. That she was still yet worthy of being of service to Wakanda and the Dora Milaje. And for that, she sought out someone whose rank exceeded her own, "Do you have a razor here, or should I fetch one?"
"There's one in the bathroom," M'yra replied, watching as Ayo stood up and promptly gathered a basin of warm water, towels, and the various supplies she needed for the task.
The two of them didn't make idle conversation when Ayo returned and set what she needed on M'yra's bedside. While she did, the injured woman pulled herself closer to the edge of the bed using her one good arm. There was a time to ask if someone needed help, and a time to let someone help themselves to a task they were fully-capable of conquering, and Ayo was certain this was the latter. M'yra did not want her pity, and Ayo did not pity her. She respected her tenacity, her vivacity, more than she could know. That she had every reason to be bitter for what had happened to her, but she chose her own path.
When she was in position, M'yra lowered her head so Ayo could place a towel around her neck. Once it was knotted, she closed her eyes so Ayo could focus on her work. The two of them said nothing as Ayo dipped her fingers into the basin of warm water and ran them gingerly over M'yra's scalp, wetting it before she worked the aromatic lather over the stubble of her head.
Then, using broad, careful strokes, she shaved M'yra's scalp with all the reverence and ceremony of intention that the shared act implied. It had a way of reminding Ayo of her second Orí ceremony, and many more she'd attended over the years. Watching elder Iya Doras sit and tattoo a symbol of their design onto a given graduate, marking their ascension from eager-eyed Kanwatas into full-fledged Dora Milaje. To many, the act was viewed as an ultimate form of trust, because they were marks that they would walk with for the rest of their lives, regardless of if the tattoos were worn on their faces, as M'yra's were, or elsewhere on their bodies, as Ayo's were.
Though M'yra's eyes remained closed, her calm expression reminded Ayo of those Ceremony Days. Of the purpose she's found in this chosen sisterhood of theirs, and how important it was to take time to simply be present, as they were now. Moments that stretched far beyond rank and assigned responsibilities. When one's true purpose seemed clear, like a pebble resting under the still water of a pond.
The call of the suite's recorded birdsong was comforting and sweet, and it had a way of wrapping itself around Ayo and reminding her of many things at once. "I once suffered a grievous injury of my own," she found herself speaking aloud, "I say it not to compare suffering, for there is little purpose to such things, but I was… stubborn."
"You, my Chief?" Ayo caught the gentle tease in M'yra's voice.
A smile slipped over her lips, "Even me," Ayo readily agreed, smiling as she reflected years into the past. "Privately, I struggled to walk, and the many falls my pride cost me only prolonged my recovery. If I were to offer you any advice, it would be to remind you that the Five Tenets of the Dora Milaje – Tradition, Honor, Strength, Courage, and Compassion – do not implore us to take on our burdens alone. Doing so is not a sign of weakness. And while the last few days have seen many trials, they have also served as a reminder to me of our shared fortitude. That we walk with the ancestors in front of us, our Sword Sisters beside us, and our beloved King at our back. So do not hesitate to let me know when you need another shave," Ayo stated firmly, "or simply to talk to one who will listen. I am honored to be of service to you in whatever ways I can."
Although her eyes continued to remain closed as Ayo worked her blade, there was a pause before M'yra replied, her voice heavier with emotion than it had been moments earlier, "Thank you."
"Of course." Once Ayo finished with the blade, she jostled it in the water and set it aside. But before she sought to cleanse M'yra's scalp, Ayo silently reached over to her bedside table and lifted the cylinder of M'yra's spear and placed it in the other warrior's hand.
At the unexpected contact, M'yra's eyes blinked open, and she regarded the weapon with confusion as Ayo remarked, "And when the time is right, I will help you train with your left hand. I am out of practice, but there was someone that once remarked that the only reason I could best him was because I had two arms freely at my disposal."
"Oh?"
Ayo nodded resolutely, "So I tied one behind my back, and bested him with the other. Multiple times."
A smile returned to M'yra's face as she gripped the cylinder of her spear in her hand while Ayo ran a cleansing hot towel over her scalp, "I would very much like to learn your techniques."
"And you shall have them. Every last one."
[Chapter 9 Art #1, by MuggyLee]
[ID: A painting by MuggyLee showing Ayo and Bucky in dynamic action poses in the Wakandan forest. Ayo is standing on the left and looks to be alarmed. She is using her left hand to shield her head, and is holding her spear defensively in her right hand as she steps back away from Bucky, who is not himself. He has all the Soldier's intense focus, and is lunging forward to thrust his fingers into her throat to prevent Ayo from speaking code words against him. Bucky has no prosthetic left arm. He is wearing blue pants, thick brown boots, a tan t-shirt, and a russet, blue, and tan shawl over his absent shoulder. He has a strand of Kimoyo Beads around his right wrist, and has a beard and chin length hair, that flails wildly behind him in the heat of the moment. The light of a fire is visible in the foreground, kicking up sparks, embers, and smoke in this tense life-or-death altercation. End ID]
[Chapter 9 Art #2, by MuggyLee]
[ID: A cropped close-up of a painting by MuggyLee Ayo and Bucky in dynamic action poses in the Wakandan forest. Ayo is standing on the left and looks to be alarmed. She is using her left hand to shield her head, and is holding her spear defensively in her right hand as she steps back away from Bucky, who is not himself. He has all the Soldier's intense focus, and is lunging forward to thrust his fingers into her throat to prevent Ayo from speaking code words against him. Bucky has no prosthetic left arm. He is wearing blue pants, thick brown boots, a tan t-shirt, and a russet, blue, and tan shawl over his absent shoulder. He has a strand of Kimoyo Beads around his right wrist, and has a beard and chin length hair that flails wildly behind him in the heat of the moment. The light of a fire is visible in the foreground, kicking up sparks, embers, and smoke in this tense life-or-death altercation. End ID]
Long ago, back when I originally wrote Chapter 9: "Empty Echoes", I remember looking forward to starting to unveil that those two years in Wakanda between 2016 and 2018? They hadn't been easy. In fact, some portions were especially challenging, particularly where Ayo and Bucky were concerned, and I wanted to imagine that those trials they endured had a way of solidifying their bonds.
The scene we've seen in flashbacks where a time-delayed failsafe code word activated and prompted the 'Soldier' to activate out of the blue and nearly kill Ayo really stuck with me, and I am humbled that MuggyLee (MuggyLee on Twitter) was willing to lend his incredible artistic prowess to help bring this poignant scene to life in all its subtle nuances. Truly, it's amazing to write a scene, and to later see it brought to life with all the tension and brooding peril I originally envisioned, and then some.
The details, expressions, everything just top-to-bottom leaves me breathless. I especially like the fact that you can tell that's not "Bucky" there, and that he's going for her throat in order to stop her from speaking any further code words against him.
Please check out this chapter on Archive of Our Own to see the gorgeous art and links to the artist's social media pages! His color palettes are a feast for the eyes!
Once again: A *huge* thank you to him for offering to lend his skill to capture such a key story beat between these two. His artistry continues to astound me!
Author's Remarks:
* Ibhondi Yomgcini - Wakandan Translation: Bodyguard's Bond
I hope all of you have had a wonderful last few weeks! I worked non-stop for about eight weeks without a day off and with overtime nearly every day, but I feel like I'm finally out the other side of the trials at work at last! I saw Wakanda Forever with friends and really enjoyed it, and am relieved that the bulk of what I've been writing here in my story still feels like it nestles nicely into the cracks of canon. I can't wait to explore it further with you!
The next chapter should also be coming sooner rather than later, as I realized things were starting to get a bit long and dense, so I wanted to break things up a bit. :)
- Shuri, Ayo, and M'yra - It was great to have the opportunity to loop back around to M'yra. I love the idea of her being genuinely interested in trying to help, even while she's on bedrest. As someone that went through multiple periods of bedrest due to an injury of my own that resulted in many, many surgeries, I really liked the idea of her striving to find new purpose in the short-term, even as she hopes for the best in the long-term. Likewise, the idea of having someone scouring the fridges of the web from afar will likely be very helpful going forward…
- M'yra's Shave - This is another moment that I hope comes across as sincerely as I intended it to be. It can often be difficult to ask for help, and I think that Ayo's recent experiences in the story have made her more willing to share vulnerable parts of herself with others. I also appreciate the idea of Ayo impressing upon M'yra that she views her as still very much being worthy of being a Dora, even though her body isn't as it once was.
As always, thank you again and again for helping keep me inspired as I waded through my latest barrage of overtime. Way back, I'd originally hoped to complete this story ahead of Wakanda Forever, and I wasn't sure how seeing the film would hit me, but it's just made me ever-more passionate about seeing this journey through, because it feels like so much here sits nicely within the cracks of MCU canon, and I hope it's a fun journey in its own right. :)
Thank you again for reading along, and for leaving me such nourishing comments and kudos along the way to help keep me inspired!