I hope this month is treating you well so far!
This chapter also includes a beautiful, all-new illustration by Kaite_xyxy ("kaite_xyxy" on Twitter) that she 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"
Winter of the White Wolf
Chapter 76 - Propositions and Plums
Summary:
Back at the Wakandan Design Center, Shuri is met with a possible course of action regarding Barnes's treatment, while elsewhere, Okoye takes Sam and Barnes around to various regional sights with Yama in tow…
True to her word, Ayo did intend to head directly from M'yra's recovery suite to Shuri's Lab, but her departure suffered an unexpected delay on account of M'yra's mother returning from her noontime meal at the Design Group's cafeteria. Ever respectful of protocol, Ayo'd patiently weathered her many, many questions with practiced grace. Though she would not have admitted it to anyone, she was privately envious that Shuri'd managed to make a remarkably clean getaway that smoothly avoided being barraged with probing inquiries about the man who'd maimed M'yra's daughter.
Whether it was because of her fresh shave or renewed purpose, M'yra was having no part of it. From where she sat up alert in her recovery bed, the tattooed warrior firmly but respectfully informed her mother that it was time to cast aside such frustrations.
"What's done is done," she stated with the utmost conviction, "I have thought long and hard these last days, and regardless of what the future holds for me, I have renewed my oaths and chosen compassion, not because it is easy, but because it is right. There is too much I still want to do, and I will not hold myself back with ire towards someone who I believe acted only out of fear and confusion, and now feels regret for the outcome of his actions."
"He only claims to regret them because he was caught," her mother emphasized, crossing her arms.
"That is not for you to decide," M'yra observed. "I would ask you to respect my choice, and not take burdens on your heart when it offers no solace or healing."
M'yra's mother pouted her lips together, "You still intend to speak with him then? The monster that ravaged the Design Center, and left you like this?"
"His name is 'Barnes,'" M'yra spoke with decided purpose, "And he has agreed to meet with me to discuss his prosthetic arm when next he visits the Design Center."
Her mother made a sour face and looked to Ayo for support, "And you are in support of this? After what he did?"
"This is not a mandate from the Dora Milaje or the Royal family," Ayo reminded her, "M'yra's choice is her own. When the time comes, such a visit would of course be supervised and managed in whatever way her comfort requires. We will support her however we can. I will support her however I can, but I do not fear more violence, if that is what you are asking. His mind is stable."
She found it was not a lie to not specify that such stability may not last beyond the week, but it was not her place to divulge such unnecessary specifics or cast doubt where it need not belong.
But before any of them could say another word, Ayo felt a quiet ping from the communications bead on her wrist. She did her best to be mindful of her expression as she glanced down and saw it was not from Shuri or Okoye, but Nomble.
Though no message was displayed, M'yra must've caught its quiet urgency, and she saw fit to do Ayo the courtesy of excusing her from further circular conversations, "Thank you for making time for us, my Chief. I will let you know if and when I have any updates on the matters we discussed." With that, she lifted her chin and offered Ayo a one-fisted salute that Ayo returned in-kind.
M'yra's mother chose to say nothing at their exchange, but she made a deep grumble in her throat that simultaneously expressed her displeasure with the situation alongside what Ayo hoped was her begrudging willingness to go along with her daughter's request.
Ayo suspected there were due to be many more words the two would exchange when she was no longer present to moderate.
Without further delay, Ayo respectfully dipped her head to M'yra's brooding mother and stepped outside of the recovery suite into the adjoining hall, closing the door softly behind her. Nailah remained posted outside, and Ayo acknowledged her before she opened Nomble's latest message:
[Kimoyo Bead Text Messages Between Ayo and Nomble]:
Nomble - Chief Ayo, I do not wish to disturb you, but I feel compelled to let you know that your presence in the Lab would be encouraged at your soonest convenience.
Nomble - Recently floated proposals have not been to Princess Shuri's liking, and I do not think you will favor them either.
Nomble - You should hear them firsthand if you are available.
Ayo frowned. It was unusual for Nomble to address her by name in this way, and to put emphasis into conversations that were normally not theirs to critique.
It spoke to an underlying urgency surrounding her summons.
Ayo - Thank you for alerting me.
Ayo - I'm on my way.
Ayo's feet moved at a steady clip as she made her way through the pristine halls and lifts that weaved their way to the final set of doors leading into Shuri's underground Lab. She arrived just in time to hear Princess's firm voice from the far end of the room, "—I understand that what you are proposing presents itself as a viable option in your eyes, but I have no intention of leading Barnes here under such blatant misconceptions. I will not lie to him."
As expected, Nomble stood posted just inside the doorway of their closed session and offered Ayo a brief salute of acknowledgement as her senior officer entered the room. Ayo wasted no time in identifying the troubling undercurrent present in Shuri's tone, and how remarkably strict it had grown in her absence.
Seeking to be present but to not draw attention away from the brewing conversation, Ayo stopped and took inventory of the room so she could get a read on where matters now stood, and why the gathered scientists had collectively broken from their work to speak with Shuri.
Inside the expansive, glass-lined lab stood many of the same scientists, engineers, doctors, and analysts that Shuri'd spoken with Ayo about recruiting to their cause, but seeing the group of them gathered in front of graphs and charts of vitals that had once been kept under the strictest confidence was momentarily stifling. The attentive faces surrounding Shuri were not busy at work, or hovering over consoles and experiments and comparing notes with one another, but rather, the group of perhaps fifteen individuals were all gathered near the center of the room in what appeared to be a call for conversation that had turned unexpectedly heavy.
Had the scientists discovered something troubling concerning Barnes's mind?
While the bulk of their expressions were clinically neutral, Ayo didn't miss some dipped to a frown, and she found herself searching out the nearby displays for clues to the underlying cause. The readouts spoke to a breadth of ongoing experiments, algorithms, and simulations, but she didn't miss the live feed of what she believed were Barnes's latest vitals, listed simply as "Patient JB-1917."
At a glance to Ayo's admittedly not medically-trained eyes, the data appeared to be calm and unremarkable, though she found it curious that the world position of his locator was not currently visible. Perhaps Shuri did not want them to be distracted by the specifics of Okoye's planned activities?
Whatever the Princess's underlying reasoning, Ayo immediately recognized the older gentleman presently facing Shuri as the lead biomedical engineer from the Propulsion Laboratory. The very same one who Barnes had injured during his ill-informed attempted escape. He was sturdy and no-nonsense, and while Shuri'd initially questioned if it was appropriate to consider involving him in this particular case, Ayo'd felt his propensity for seeing the bigger picture combined with his clinical detachment to the patient be a boon to their cause.
Not only that, but Ayo had seen him work for years separate from Shuri's guiding shadow, during the Decimation when he and others worked tirelessly in pursuit of a viable solution to the living curse they'd found themselves in. For whatever he lacked in charisma, he made up for in pure tenacity of purpose.
…Though, it wouldn't hurt for him to cultivate a touch more bedside manner outside of his simulations.
The lead engineer shrugged, as if he were merely casually debating another scientist, and not the Princess of Wakanda and head of its Design Group, "I am not offering you this possibility in order to debate the philosophy of the human condition or the morality of ethics and how it might be applied to our given case. That is neither my realm of expertise nor my primary concern when put against the goals you set for our team in pursuit of viable solutions. But I will point out that the man you call 'Barnes' suffers an incomplete memory, so in my own professional viewpoint, his —" the engineer made air quotes with his fingers, "— 'opinion' only matters so much as you let it. Especially if there are viable procedures that may unlock more activity, and lead to a potentially more optimal outcome."
"By reactivating select code words," Shuri hotly countered, "without his knowledge or consent." The directness of her statement made Ayo's breath hitch in her throat. That was what this was about?
They wouldn't just…
…Would they?
"Even you agreed their potential usefulness was not beyond the realm of possibility," he reasoned. "It was why you informed us about their present status in the first place."
Shuri took a deep and grounding breath and worked to temper her tone, "I am deeply appreciative for your team's efforts, and I respect that your simulations have given credence to the possibility that reactivating and utilizing select code words may delay the degradation of his memories, but I would not ask him to give up what he has, and who he is in order to live in a prolonged obedient state. Even when he was conscripted into service under HYDRA, his mind was regularly wiped to maintain activated cycles. What you are proposing is wholly new in that regard, and carries with it evermore complex, troubling possibilities." She gestured to a nearby holographic readout, "While I would agree that your data has shown that it potentially stalls the structural degradation surrounding the crux of our larger concerns, I would note that we do not know that even in the best possible outcome, who he would be at the end of it."
"What you are saying is true," the neurologist across from Shuri interjected. "It is not an ideal solution, and not one we propose lightly, but it would buy us more time. Not only that, but our data has shown with high degree of confidence that such a focused state has shown strong tendencies towards increasingly eased access to his collective memories rather than restricting them further. So it is likely he would have access to far more than the 'Barnes' you presently interact with, and potentially even 'James.'"
Shuri wasted no time in swiftly responding, "While being limited to having his mind tethered into a prolonged obedient state perpetuated by recurrent electrical stimulus." Her words might've been merely parroting what Ayo assumed was a recently-broached potential plan of action, but her clear distaste for them was readily evident in her voice.
The Princess adjusted her jaw and glanced to her side as Ayo stepped further into the room, taking up position a step beside her. With protective purpose and steadfast resolve, Ayo settled the shoe of her spear on the ground, not with a clamor to silence discussion, but as a clear indicator that she intended to participate in the conversation when appropriate.
Shuri's eyes flicked to Ayo, and the pain in them was clear as day. Of anyone, the two of them understood why this proposal could not be taken lightly, and why Shuri's usually measured voice had grown hard at the problematic, but not meritless proposal laid at her feet.
The Princess's voice was softer when it came again, "It is one thing to read about such a state of being, but I can assure you it is quite another to witness it firsthand. To look at someone, and see free-will pulled from them wholesale, leaving remarkably little in its wake. To know they will do whatever it is you ask of them, irregardless of their own desires. It is a dangerous, dehumanizing thing, and not a life I would wish on anyone, especially in a prolonged state, even if the end goal is with sincere, noble intent."
The neurologist inclined her head acquiescing to Shuri's words, and Ayo could see empathy laid bare across her features, "With only days remaining, the option is not ideal, but as of yet, it is the best method we have discovered that we feel confident will cease the degradation of his mind. The hope is such measures would be only temporary, and while it is not a proposal we share lightly, it is a viable option I feel compelled for you to genuinely consider. We will of course continue to work towards other solutions, but we are running out of time, and so the perfect solution, one without drawbacks or that 'Barnes' may find appealing may be beyond our grasp."
The lead engineer beside her nodded once and added, "It is even possible that while in a suggestive state, he might be able to recall details that could offer valuable insight on a more permanent solution. One that would ultimately help us put his mind in a more favorable place than it is now."
As if anticipating Shuri's budding criticism, he lifted one hand palm up and pleaded his case, "We do not make these suggestions lightly. We are only offering what possibilities we can that carry with them a means to temporarily stop his mind from degrading further while we work towards a long-term solution. The new paired data transmitters he was equipped with after your…" his eyes briefly glanced at Ayo, "'Sunrise Exercise' have provided evermore valuable findings, and we will continue to utilize every tool at our disposal to work towards a viable solution for our patient."
Ayo didn't miss the terminology he'd used: Not "her" patient, but "our" patient. A show of a united cause.
The princess sighed, closing her eyes as she pressed her fingers to her forehead, "I'm sorry if my tone was harsh. You must understand that I am deeply appreciative for all of your time and efforts. I am open to hear your many options, but ones that intentionally suppresses Barnes's personality–"
"-But our patient is not explicitly 'Barnes,'" the lead engineer interrupted her, drawing Ayo's critical gaze for his impropriety. "That is the fundamental difference in our perspectives. We will continue to search out other possibilities that are hopefully more to your taste, but in the meantime, it is important that the viable option we have presented here should not be so quickly dismissed. It would simply give us more time to generate a more comprehensive solution."
His voice sought reason as he addressed Shuri, "It is only natural to fear the unknown. To fear what we perceive as the 'loss' of an individual, but if left unchecked, that may quickly become the least of our problems. Our simulations have repeatedly demonstrated that in a few more days time, the intricate systems of his mind will begin to become irrevocably corrupted. Though we do not know the order of impact with any certainty, if left unchecked, it will eventually impact his working memory. Short and long-term memories. Explicit memory. Implicit memory. Centers controlling his use of senses, language, motor controls, and more. Once corrupted, there does not appear to be any way to recover for what he has lost, and depending on the order and severity the disconnections begin to take place, what we have proposed is far more sympathetic procedure. And with only days remaining…" he trailed off
"With only days remaining where the stability of his mind is guaranteed," Ayo cut cleanly in, drawing forth what commanding presence she could manage in the moment, "It would be wise to view prematurely casting aside 'Barnes' without his consent, with all the finality as we would speak of ending someone's life. It is not apt to view his personhood as merely a loosely assembled collection of memories. For him, and those that know him, it could very well be the end. Even by the methods you are suggesting, we can guarantee him no future outside of cold subservience."
Ayo bid her mind not to wander too far into what the worst outcomes from either possibility might entail. She'd seen those that had suffered from dementia and Alzheimer's firsthand. How their minds progressively withered and strained to cling to cohesion while the connections themselves faded. That was the closest thing Ayo had to compare this too. And while such an outcome was hardly favorable, she had more than enough experience with the code words to worry that what some of the medical staff clearly viewed as a comparative kindness was anything but.
Under Shuri's instruction and with James's clear consent, Ayo had only ever used the code words in short order, leveraging them as a tool for recovery and understanding. Never, ever had the possibility been floated for him to remain in such a dehumanizing state at-length.
Even assuming it could even be done and wouldn't incite further harm, what did they think would be done with him? Was she to be his handler again, to simply command him to sit and wait for days, weeks, even months on-end while they poked and prodded his mind like a science experiment once more? They could not understand that depending on how it was handled, he might be barely more responsive than a rudimentary AI? That who he was, in his core, might be suppressed or snuffed out by their intent?
She knew they were not HYDRA. In her heart, that it was clearly not one in the same, but without his knowledge and consent of the procedures they wished to submit him to, it did not seem right. It went beyond simply a broken promise to force him into such a subservient role again.
To choose between becoming a prisoner of one's own mind, and being stripped of personhood to return to being at the mercy of the will of others… it was not a good choice, but Ayo felt certain Barnes would not desire the latter. Not because he didn't trust her, but because he knew that in the wrong hands, it meant he could become a weapon again for someone else.
He did not want to return to that life. She would not let him.
The scientists surrounding them did not know the promises she'd made to James and those she'd made to Barnes. They did not grasp that he felt responsible for his actions, and feared the time might come again when he would be compelled to harm others he didn't recognize. Couldn't recognize. That there might eventually be nothing left of who he once was beside raw instinct.
And she'd promised him up on the mountain that she would not let him hurt anyone. By whatever means necessary.
And she meant it.
Shuri said nothing, but Ayo could see the appreciation of united intent written in her eyes as she stepped forward, taking control of the room again, "Ayo is correct. While there is value in a more detached, clinical approach, in our particular case, it would be improper to suppress or potentially discard 'Barnes' without his consent simply to buy us the perceived convenience of more time. When the time comes for such serious decisions to be made, I plan to come to him with whatever our best options are and to allow him to decide for himself, even if that decision is to do nothing and risk further regression."
The man facing Shuri furrowed his brow, "And if there are arguably more optimal decisions that he does not agree to?"
"Then we shall face that bridge when we come to it. But in the meantime, I would see what other options we can formulate. While it is not ideal and would hinder further live data collection, he is well aware of the possibility of cryo as another means to delay the degradation of his mind, but what you are proposing is a step beyond even what we did here when we attempted to unlock the secrets of the code words that once controlled him. As it currently stands, I will not willingly sacrifice Barnes for the unknown."
"Even if it might mean the possibility of making him whole? Or bringing back 'James?'" the neurologist softly inquired. Her demure voice was optimistic, as if she was hoping this was ultimately their unspoken goal.
Her simple question reverberated through the room, and as the assembled scientists glanced between one another, Ayo didn't miss the flinch in Shuri's expression. The Princess drew her lips together and briefly paused to collect her thoughts, turning to Ayo like she was the only one in the room with her.
They hung in each other's gaze, doing what they could to draw strength from one another's presence as they drank in the neurologist's passing question that carried with it a great deal more gravitas than she could ever know.
They hadn't had this talk. Not explicitly, at least. They'd stopped speaking of things in simple terms like 'bringing James back' or dismissing Barnes as merely an inconvenience. Now, Shuri'd had time to get to know him too. Not to the same depth as Ayo, Nomble, Yama, or Sam had, but she'd seen Barnes, and come to know him as more than just a fragment of someone they once knew.
Ayo felt unequivocally seen as the Princess nodded and turned her attention back to the neurologist. When she finally spoke, her words were firm but empathetic, "It is not as simple as that. The pursuit of reestablishing a set of specific memories and blocking off others in pursuit of reestablishing 'James' is not our ultimate goal. Who you are calling 'Barnes' is not merely a shadow of another man."
The lead biomechanical engineer shrugged lightly, "He might not be, to you, but I would caution you letting such an addled shadow continue to make decisions on his care. He is no-doubt focused on preserving what and who he understands himself to be, even if it might later come at great cost to himself or others about him." He crossed his arms as he added seriously, "To put it another way: Once we have reached the point where his mind will begin to slip, he will not be safe to be around, as the resulting cascading changes will be fundamentally unpredictable. He may become violent, and will need to remain confined, possibly even restrained for his own safety and that of those around him. While the option I am floating is hardly ideal, it would be a kindness comparatively. And I will remind you, there is likely more we could learn sooner rather than later if he were brought to the Design Center for testing ahead of the approaching deadline."
Shuri sighed in frustration, "I am well aware. I will do what I can to encourage him to come in for further testing, but I will not force him. Not yet."
"And if he refuses to come at all? Or tries to run as he once did?" a data analyst inquired from a few feet away.
Ayo lifted her chin, "Then we will deal with that too when the time comes. Not before."
Sam was guessin' Okoye wasn't usually the one offerin' up guided tours of Wakanda, but he was pretty sure she was enjoying it in her own way.
Or maybe it was just the fact she took more'n a little pleasure keeping he and Barnes on their toes?
He was certain there was underlying intention brewin' in the locations she'd carefully selected, and the order she carted 'em around, because there hadn't been a straight shot between 'em. Thankfully for his addled nerves, none of them contained encounters as wildly unexpected as their impromptu rhino meet'n'greet, and while the surrounding circumstances could'a been better, he was finding he was genuinely enjoying getting more of an on-the-ground view of Wakanda and its people. Their roaming pace was unhurried and oddly comfortable, especially since he'd found he could let some of his guard down now that things were more settled between him and Barnes, and since he put faith in Yama and Okoye to remain on-alert for any outliers.
Maybe all this would work out in the end? He could only hope.
As Sam stood amongst the crowds in what Okoye'd called 'Lil' Rivertown,' he couldn't help thinking about the docks and the local folks back home. The smells were different here, sure, but the undercurrent was similar enough. Jovial. Lotta smiles and chatter as goods and foods changed hands without a lick of tension between 'em.
From what Sam could tell, the busy area they were standing in was somewhere along the southwestern side of Birnin Zana where the outlying rivers beyond the city came to nestle themselves cozy within the city proper. High above, a levitating monorail ran laps across the skyline, tied neatly into an efficient public transportation system that made liberal use of a free automated bus system.
Also levitating.
The waterside marketplace was far more densely populated than the last town they'd visited along the Alkama Fields bordering Niganda, and Sam was beginning to think that part of Okoye's latest play was to see how Barnes acclimated to increasing numbers of people he didn't know, and how he'd react to being coaxed to interact with them.
That, and Okoye was visibly amused watching the repeated occurrence of locals asking Sam something in Wakandan, only to have them blink in confusion as Barnes stepped in and translated for him.
While Barnes lacked the easygoing Brooklyn charm that Buck was able to leverage in spades, watching Barnes interact with the locals wasn't nearly as painful as Sam might've initially expected. He was direct, yes, but along the way in D.C. or in some HYDRA behavioral workshop, he'd apparently picked up some amount of low-key social graces too. He might'a been a mite awkward and eager to keep interactions as brief as possible, but he wasn't abrasive. And when people asked him about himself, where he was from or how long he'd been studying Wakandan, he did his best to answer, though Sam had to step in and play wingman a time or two before the well-meaning questions could get out of sorts.
All the while, Yama kept watch from a few feet away, enjoying the easy comedy of their unscripted interactions while she remained drawn to a silent guard at Okoye's command. She might not've interjected herself into the conversations, but Sam knew she was ready to step-in at a moment's notice if she was needed, and he appreciated knowing she was keepin' a watch on things too.
Oddly, the social interactions had a way of reminding Sam of how Buck'd slipped into offering translations to ease their interactions with the locals back in Symkaria and elsewhere. The only difference was, Sam'd stood out like a cicada on a wedding cake up there, and here it was flipped, in a manner of speaking. The thing was, if Barnes was consciously aware he was the only palm-colored individual within shouting distance, he hadn't said anything about it. But maybe he didn't even mind? No one was given' him gruff, at least, though it prolly didn't hurt that two armed Dora were standing watch from nearby as Barnes handed off two skewers of colorful grilled vegetables and savory meat hunks to Sam, thus completing the first task Okoye'd set out for them: to see if they could manage a transaction without their assistance.
Sam was about to take a first bite before he thought to ask, "You paid for this, right?"
Barnes rolled his eyes with more dramatic flair than Sam thought the question altogether necessitated, "Of course I paid."
"I didn't think you stole them," Sam was quick to clarify, "I just didn't see you take out your wallet." The words'd slipped out before he'd had a chance to parse the potential implications of his casual observation.
Barnes made a face at that. It wasn't exactly a frown, but it wasn't pleasant either, "I paid with my beads. The ones Shuri said she charged up. I wouldn't…" he grumbled something and started again, "Look, I told you I used to pay with cards I got off agents in D.C. I got a hang of how that works. The basics, at least, but not only is it customary to pay by Kimoyos here, but I… I'm not sure how I feel about using any of the cards in my pocket just yet. If I don't need to, then I won't. And if I need to, I'd rather you go over it with me ahead of time so I understand what the difference is between the ones with account numbers. How they're set up. They're not free money like the others. I need to be responsible for those too, right?"
Sam hadn't necessarily pieced all'a that complicated mess together, but Barnes wasn't necessarily wrong. As he stood there like an idiot processing Barnes's latest observation, he managed, "Yeah, I… guess I hadn't thought of it that way. I don't know a lot about your finances, but we can figure it out if we need to."
"Fair enough," Barnes supplied as he bit into a grilled pepper and took inventory of the lively marketplace surrounding 'em.
Far as Sam could tell, the man beside him wasn't on-edge, but he was guessin' by that distant expression of his that he was either ruminating over the secrets in his pockets, trying to piece together if he recalled where they were standing, or maybe both. As far as Sam knew, he still had that enigmatic vibranium nanite star in one pocket, and his wallet and cell phone in the other. Even though Barnes had come to a tentative place of acceptance that the latter two objects belonged to him in some way, he was fussingly particular about them, like there were a set of rules about 'em he was still sorting through.
He could look at the contents of the wallet, but he didn't feel comfortable usin' the cards with his name, or someone else's name, depending on how you looked at it. He was comfortable using his cell phone, flippin' through certain photos and such, but so far as Sam'd seen or been able to deduce from the Dora, he hadn't been inclined to dig into the text messages or voicemails. Same went for the beads around his wrist. There was a time Sam'd been worried about Barnes inadvertently stumbling over stuff about Steve or whatever tense messages Ayo'd left him after the Decimation, 'cause he knew they were due to be a hard listen, not unlike the ones he'd heard from Nomble about the funerals Buck'd missed, but Barnes hadn't shown any outright interest in turning over any'a those stones. At least not yet. When Yama'd inquired about the subject in that casual way of hers, Barnes had just said the messages weren't for him, and it felt wrong to pry without understanding the context.
Then, he'd politely changed the subject, asking to see more of those picturesque food photos of hers.
So yeah. The once Winter Soldier had a fair bit more going on under the hood than maybe Sam gave him credit for.
That, and the skewers he'd picked out were damn well-seasoned, though he could'a done without the part where Okoye stood by smirking as they worked their way through the hand-scrawled chalk menu on their own. It had a way of reminding him when his mother used to force him to order for himself at McDonald's rather than relying on her to handle the social graces.
On the plus side, Barnes didn't seem to mind, though Sam was guessing even he'd have preferred if Okoye or Yama took the reins of their interactions with the locals instead. But knowing Okoye: This was no-doubt one of her little homebrewed tests too.
But now that he was standing down by the waterfront with much-needed calories finally leaching into his system, Sam found it fascinating to simply take in the view at once. Depending on where he looked, some areas seemed undeniably Wakandan in design, while other pockets were… not rustic, that wasn't the word he was searching for, but simpler by intention. Thatched roofs and beehive houses set up against spiraling vibranium structures that coulda' been art installations out of context. The whole area had a way of respecting tradition and innovation all in the same breath. There were hoverbikes, sure, but there were also loads of regular bikes parked haphazardly against buildings too. The thin canoes crowding the water's edge were humble, efficient transport meant for only a few occupants, and even they were bursting with life as makeshift mobile markets.
"Admiring our fleet of fine dugouts and mekoro?" Okoye quipped from a few steps behind him.
Sam snorted, "Since Wakanda's landlocked, I'll admit I hadn't given much thought to what you had out on the water before now," he admitted.
Okoye tilted her head as she leaned on her spear, amused, "Would it surprise you to know we have a navy?"
That got his attention, "You do?"
The General offered him only a casual shrug, "It is humble as it is discreet."
Sam snorted, "Of course it is. Still can't believe y'all had entire cities hiding in plain sight for all this time. I'm guessin' that same tech works wonders on whatever else you have out on the water too?"
Okoye only smiled, non-committal as ever.
The narrow dugout canoes docked along the shore and parked out over the water were ladened with goods: vegetables, fruit, and even baskets and other handcrafts. Nearby, market stalls with potted plants and dry goods were situated further out from the water on vibrant blankets and raised wooden tables and handcrafted shelves. Atop them rested bowls overflowing with aromatic herbs and spices, some of which Sam could identify, but many more he couldn't. They teemed with resplendent colors, and the smiling individuals maintaining them eagerly scooped and portioned out the powders into small bags while they made conversation with nearby customers and passerbys.
Everywhere he looked, Sam's eyes fell upon more and more wonders and wares. Hand-painted pottery, beaded necklaces, tapestries, blankets, fans, and garments of all shapes and sizes. As Barnes eyed a bushel of what looked to be some sort of elongated African plums, Sam browsed a stall that housed an array of polished slabs of colorful gemstones and ornate jewelry.
But it wasn't just a market. It was a social hot-spot, credit in no small part to the vendors selling various hand-foods and drinks, and the whole of it smelled heavenly.
It wasn't as 'fishy' of an aroma as it was along the coast back home, and there were less deep-fryers out and about for sure. But while he could draw comparisons to Delacroix easily enough, what his mind kept coming back to was Mamma and Ch'toa's little cafe they'd sat down and eaten at just a few days ago. Those two could undoubtedly work miracles with the raw ingredients scattered about them.
Sam smiled to himself at the thought, daring to address Yama even though she was technically on duty. It wasn't a crime to talk in her direction, after all, "Hard to believe that visit to the cafe you showed us was just three days ago. Nice of 'em to send us mobile delivery out on the mountain, but maybe we can swing by again one of these days."
Credit to keepin' the professionalism of her post, Yama didn't say a word, but he caught the whiff of melancholy that fell over her features clear as anything.
How differently those early days might'a gone if it hadn't been for her willingness to try to see the best first in Buck, then in Barnes, even when it would have been altogether easier to have done the bare minimum her duty required. They didn't make a gift basket or Hallmark card nearly meaningful enough to express the waves of appreciation Sam felt surrounding her drive to go above and beyond, but he was certain Yama caught it.
That was just how she was. Sharp, alert, and every-bit as direct and optimistic as they came. World could use more people like her.
"The cafe that sent the orange marmalade?" Barnes inquired from just to his right. The cyborg's interest was clearly piqued.
"The very same. Their shop's located on the other side of Birnin Zana, I think." Sam did his best to try and answer the question for what it was, and push aside the reminder of how that little cafe had been one of his early glimpses into the life Buck'd once built for himself here. How he couldn't see the family he'd found right in front of him. The same one Barnes now apparently accepted clear-as-day in his own lopsided way.
It simply was.
It was backwards as all Hell, a little little painful around the edges, but also beautiful in its own right. Maybe he could see about asking Ayo if she wanted to swing by that cafe with them one of these days. It seemed only right. Sam found himself hoping it might offer her a spot of comfort and camaraderie after all those lonesome visits during the Decimation that Mamma and Ch'toa'd told him about. Knowing what he did now, it only seemed all-the-more important to block it into their schedule. He didn't pretend to know Ayo half as well as he wished he did, but the last few days had certainly rounded her out as a person, and the respect he had for her had only grown tenfold in that time. Prolly more.
They might've come from different walks of life and wells of experiences, but there wasn't a moment he spared to question if she was doin' everything she could to help, even after how things'd gone down between she and Buck.
Yama's attention briefly pivoted away as her eyes tracked Okoye working her way around their perimeter at a casual pace. Seein' her out mingling amid the crowds was interesting in its own right, and Sam found he didn't have direct comparison to the sensibilities it evoked in his gut. The people around her treated the presence of the Doras with respect that wasn't cultivated through fear or intimidation. They weren't on-edge, like you might'a seen around armed police, even though their battle-honed spears were both out in the open and facin' the bright noonday sky above. No, there was something different about how they fit into the bigger picture here. A wordless grace that they belonged, and their attendance brought comfort rather than discontent.
Sam didn't miss the little girl that ran up to Okoye, askin' something of the General while her mama or auntie pulled at her hand, clearly embarrassed for disturbing the regaliaed royal guard. But Okoye didn't shoo her off or ignore her, and a warm smile lit up the General's tattooed face as the two exchanged pleasantries.
Sam wasn't able to follow their words, but apparently Barnes's super-hearing, penchant for eaves-dropping, or both came in handy now and then, "The little girl wanted to thank her for helping bring her mother back from the Decimation. She says she's a hero, and she wants to find out how she can train to be a Dora Milaje like her one day too. When she's older."
A smile found its way over Sam's face as he watched them, and how the humanity in the moment warmed Okoye's expression, and the pride that shone bright in her eyes. "Real-life superheroes." he turned his attention to Barnes, "Almost funny, thinkin' how that's something you and I have in common. Those five years, I mean. While half the people here were out livin' 'em, you and I were just… gone. Dusted."
Barnes raised an eyebrow in his direction before glancing back to where Okoye offered the little girl a two-fisted Wakandan salute that the bright-eyed youth enthusiastically returned with a pearly grin. He chewed his lip before he ran a tentative question by Sam, "...So you don't… remember anything from it then?"
Sam shook his head, "Nope. Nothin'." He leaned his head back, "Some folks claim they saw all manner of things, of course. I can't speak for them, but it just felt like blinkin' yourself to sleep and then back again, only to find out five years and change had apparently passed without you knowing. Was the damnedest thing. Watching the time of day suddenly shift in the blink of an eye."
"Sorta like deep cryo then? No dreams?"
He hadn't ever thought to compare the two, "No dreams," he confirmed as he looked out over the sea of people. "At the end of the day, I'm not sure how any of that hocus pocus-brand stuff works in a logistical sense, though. Not sure I want to know."
"Lotta people would weaponize it if they could," Barnes remarked with a certainty of someone who'd come face-to-face with more than his fair share of those people.
He wasn't wrong, though.
Sam took a breath and another bite from his meat skewer as he watched Okoye step aside and say something to Yama. All the while, he could tell Barnes was drifting back into himself, doin' that staring thing that was apparently not wholly Buck's own invention.
The other man wasn't distressed, but Sam could tell by the way he hunched his shoulders that he was doin' his best to make himself look smaller as he continued to scan the crowds. Though he was dressed in Shuri's latest Wakandan fashion threads, he had a habit of keeping that vibranium arm of his in his nearest pant pocket like he hoped it might blend into the folds of his shirt if he tried hard enough.
Another nervous habit he shared with Buck.
"Look, I don't think you need to be so on-edge here–" Sam began.
"I'm not on edge."
Sam rolled his eyes dramatically, "Well if you were, I just think it's important to point out you're not the only person with a fancy prosthetic out here, you know."
Barnes narrowed his eyes, but looked across the waterway to the amputee dragging his boat out of the water that Sam was referencing. Barnes might not have admitted it out loud, but the observation had a way of easing up his posture. "It's not just that. I'm used to being able to blend in more," he confided.
Sam didn't need to dig for what Barnes meant by that last bit. To be fair: this wasn't exactly a diverse tourist hub like the Aeronautics Museum had been, and – like it or not – Barnes did stand out from the sea of melanated faces surrounding them. Sam just wasn't entirely sure the other guy had even brought it up in passing until now. Part of him'd wondered if he even noticed.
In Wakanda, Sam could slip in between the seams in some manner of speaking, but Barnes was clearly processing what that meant for him, and it was somethin' seein' him putting the pieces together in real time. "This is why you said there weren't people working for… that looked like you back when I was working under them."
Barnes didn't need to finish that last bit of his HYDRA-based Mad Libs rhetorical, because Sam already knew what he was getting at, "Yeah. Seemed obvious enough to me at the time. I couldn't know for sure, of course, but I had my standing assumptions based on the type of folks in their 'cause' that I went up against over the years."
The stubbled man in front of him made a grunt of acknowledgement and adjusted his jaw before smoothly changing the subject, "There's a few people looking our way."
"I'm sure it's nothing."
"…Could be another test."
"You think Okoye called ahead just to try and mess with you?"
"Wouldn't necessarily put it past her." Sam watched as Barnes idly twirled the latest skewer of meat he'd finished off. Man could really put down calories when left to his own devices. The fidget wasn't more than a nervous tick, but it had a way of swiftly reminding Sam of both the Soldier's penchant for knife-flips, and Bucky's own habit of twirling whatever-it-was he had on hand, be it a fork or innocent paint scraper. It wasn't threatening, not directly at least, but it had all the pent-up energy of a pacing great cat.
Barnes slowed his twirling and lowered his voice, "Just off to your left. Maybe thirty degrees ahead. Two of 'em are scoping us out."
Sam started to turn his head before Barnes thought to hiss, "Don't look and make it obvious."
"I was gonna be subtle."
"That wasn't subtle."
Sam, who was fully capable of being subtle – thank-you-very-much – shifted his weight and casually glanced over the sea of people. He didn't see anything concerning, but there were dozens upon dozens of people clustered around the perimeter, so that wasn't saying much. "I don't see 'em," he whispered back to Barnes.
"They froze the moment you turned. You really never got training on this stuff, did you?"
He ignored the bubbling critique present in Barnes's tone, "How far out are they?"
"Twenty yards or so. They're ducking in and out of the crowds now. They know they've been spotted."
Sam wasn't riled up, but he also knew Barnes was hardly the type to pull his tail just to get under his skin. Because it couldn't hurt to get a second opinion, he found himself glancing to Yama nearby, but she appeared remarkably unconcerned as she stood beside her spear, watching a group of children play in the shallow water a few skips in front of 'em.
Barnes leaned to his right and resituated himself as if he was taking in the view. Man had a way of almost making it look casual. Show off. "On your eight now. Ten yards. Keep your eyes forward. I've got them in my sights." Under different circumstances, Barnes's warning might've made Sam anxious, but there was something in the way the other man loosened his grip on that meat skewer of his and adjusted his stubbled jaw that made Sam feel as if the time for casual alarm had passed.
…Was this Barnes's way of fucking with him?
"Sir?" a young boy's voice inquired in accented English from just behind Sam.
As he turned, he saw two kids that couldn't have been more than thirteen between the two of them. Might've even reminded him a bit of A.J. and Cass during those missin' years of the Decimation. The boys' heads came up just above his waist, and they regarded him with a pair of quizzical expressions as he tentatively replied, "Yes?"
The younger of the two elbowed the elder, "I told you."
Sam cocked his head while Barnes slowly pivoted in place, curious. Something about the other man's looming presence prompted the shorter of the two to take a cautionary step back, but Barnes didn't advance. In fact, he leaned back, as if content to give them a little more breathing room.
Okoye'd caught sight of the interaction too, and while she turned and faced the latest round of noontime entertainment, she stayed planted right where she was, with Yama lookin' on from a few casual steps beside her.
The older of the two boys didn't miss the Dora's calculating gaze and froze momentarily before glancing between Barnes and Sam, as if they'd forgotten where they'd left off.
"Told you what?" Sam prompted, curiously.
"My brother said you looked like that flying Captain from overseas. I said he was seein' things."
Sam grinned, all teeth. He put his hands on his knees and leaned down conspiratorially, "Hafta admit, your brother's got a good eye. I'm not used to being spotted in a crowd so far from home."
The youngest boy's eyes brightened, but his brother wasn't as easily convinced. With youthful stubbornness, he crossed his arms and tutted, "Then where's the shield?"
"Back in our room. I think."
"You think?" The boy twisted his face suspiciously.
Sam lifted a hand apologetically, "I don't exactly carry it with me all the time."
"And the wings?"
"Same deal. Not particularly useful when I'm out 'n about havin' lunch."
"If I had wings, I'd never take 'em off," the kid countered.
Sam had to smirk at that, but he caught the eldest boy's attention shift as he looked up at Barnes. His eyes traced their way up the vibranium arm he'd slipped into his pocket, and for a second, Sam worried what questions might be comin' for 'em next, and if any of 'em might have to do with the Winter Soldier. Instead, the kid simply remarked, "Cool arm," and turned his back to Sam, who was still clearly under investigation.
"Thanks?" Barnes managed before nonchalantly adding, "He's telling the truth, though. Even has the matching socks to prove it."
Sam shot the man an accusatory look but Barnes only shrugged in return. Begrudgingly, Sam lifted the hem of one pant-leg to reveal a grey sock emblazoned with the familiar red, white, and blue patterns of his shield. He'd had to pay market-price for 'em, sure, but they were the first pair he'd picked-up that had his shield on 'em, matching notches and all.
"Aw man!" The youngest boy trilled appreciatively, "My friends aren't gonna believe this! Can I get a photo with you?"
But before Sam could indulge in his request, Okoye saw her moment and swiftly stepped in, "No photos. Our guest is here on business."
The General's decree went uncontested, "Oh. Ohhhh! Okay." The boy lowered his voice conspiratorially, "I can keep a secret."
"That would be best," Okoye agreed, but Sam didn't miss the smile on her face as the two boys offered Sam a quick salute before running off to join their friends waiting in a loose huddle nearby.
Sam snorted lightly as Okoye took up position beside him and remarked, "I did not think we had a celebrity in our midst."
"Careful. It's liable to go to his head," Barnes warned.
Yama only smirked and tilted the tip of her staff towards the room-sized metal and glass structure positioned a ways off over the water. The roof of it was spread open to the sky, and the outstretched leaves of the fabric-lined panels curved outward, like an upside-down mandala flower. A small lighted bridge led from the shore to the open structure before curving up into the city beyond. "General?" Yama inquired politely, all-business.
While Okoye considered her request, Sam – who was very much not ashamed about his respectable sock choice – made sure his pant-leg was properly flatted before he asked, "What is it?"
"It is a superior version to your 'Starbucks,'" Okoye tutted confidently. "An Ethiopian Coffee Rondavel."
"Well, you don't have to ask me twice. What'd'ya say, Barnes?"
"Besides the fact that Shuri would probably be horrified that you're still wearing those socks?"
"Is that the sweet sound of jealousy I hear?"
"Obviously not."
"I'm sure I could scrounge you up a pair if you ask nicely. Maybe sign you up for the fan club."
"Some cheaper garments even include his likeless," Okoye offered, ever-helpful.
Sam raised an eyebrow, "Whose side are you on here, anyway?"
Barnes only groaned and rolled his eyes as he started heading towards the lighted bridge leading to the rondavel, "At least some of us have taste," he remarked over his shoulder to Yama at a volume Sam was sure he was intended to overhear.
No one saw fit to argue as Barnes led the way towards the floating structure in the center of the water, but seeing Yama step into form beside him had a way of sending Sam's thoughts straight back to when they'd headed off together towards that little cafe on the other side of town.
It was a good memory. A wholesome one, just like this one was shaping up to be.
A few steps ahead, he could hear Barnes already asking, "So you can't talk or eat on the job, but what if someone happened to order an extra coffee for you…? I memorized the recipe Nomble used for the drink she made for you up on the mountain. The one with extra cinnamon."
She didn't say anything, but Sam didn't miss her appreciative, if conspiratorial grin.
He gave it five minutes or less until Okoye finally threw in the towel and let Yama enjoy a quick coffee and conversation right alongside the rest of 'em.
[Chapter 17 Art #1, by Kaite_xyxy]
[ID: A horizontal painting by Kaite_xyxy showing Yama, Bucky, and Sam seated in a Wakandan cafe while a woman brings another heaping of food to them. Yama sits on the left side of the table, smiling and holding a drink in her right hand, while Sam and Bucky sit across from her. Sam and Bucky are both holding pieces of food in their right hands, and are also smiling and engaged in conversation over heaping plates of delicious regional food. Yama is wearing Dora Milaje regalia while Sam is wearing a red shirt, tan jacket, and blue jeans. Bucky is wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans, and has a blue, black, and gold shawl that hangs across his shoulders and over his left shoulder, which is absent his prosthetic arm. Bucky has Kimoyo Beads around his right wrist. Their table has heapings of various regional foods and dipping sauces. On the right side of the illustration, a woman wearing a red dress and beautiful jewelry carries a bowl of food to the table where they are sitting. In the distance, the bright city of Birnin Zana can be seen outside. End ID]
[Chapter 17 Art #2, by Kaite_xyxy]
[ID: A cropped square close-up of a painting by Kaite_xyxy showing Yama's arm and Bucky, and Sam seated in a Wakandan cafe. Yama sits on the left side of the table, holding a drink in her right hand, while Sam and Bucky sit across from her. Sam and Bucky are both holding pieces of food in their right hands, and are also smiling and engaged in conversation over heaping plates of delicious regional food. Yama is wearing Dora Milaje regalia while Sam is wearing a red shirt, tan jacket, and blue jeans. Bucky is wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans, and has a blue, black, and gold shawl that hangs across his shoulders and over his left shoulder, which is absent his prosthetic arm. Bucky has Kimoyo Beads around his right wrist. Their table has heapings of various regional foods and dipping sauces. In the distance, the bright city of Birnin Zana can be seen outside. End ID]
Back when I originally wrote Chapter 17: "Home," I remember loving having the opportunity to explore what Wakandan food might be like (long before there was an actual, official Wakanda Cookbook) and to have a moment of downtime with Sam, Bucky, and Yama, and to start to get to know Yama a little better.
I had a lot of fun writing it, and I'm over the moon that Kaite_xyxy ("kaite_xyxy" on Twitter) was interested in illustrating this cozy scene and all its delicious splendor! It's incredible to see it brought to life in such loving detail, and how the bonds of friendship shine through, even in difficult times. Being able to reflect back on it now feels even more gratifying in context./p
I truly can't thank Kaite_xyxy enough for capturing this scene (and all those amazing foods! The details!)
Please check out this chapter on Archive of Our Own to see the gorgeous art and links to the artist's social media pages to see more of her beautiful and emotive art. Her style is so wonderfully lush and alive!
Once again: A huge* thank you to her for lending her artistic talents to capture this key scene that really helped set the stage for a lot of threads in this story, and for infusing such care into every square inch of this illustration. There is such soul in it.
[Janeshia and Nomble Art Photo]
[ID: A vertical Instagram photo of actress Janeshia Adams-Ginyard smiling and holding up a signed print portraiture of Nomble, illustrated by KLeCrone. End ID]
A few months ago I got in contact with Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, the actress that plays Nomble, and offered to send her a print of the piece of the fan art illustration I did of her character. She shared some photos of it on her Instagram, and was so incredibly kind and complimentary about the piece! :)
Then out of the blue, she decided to send me a little something in return!
[Photo of KLeCrone in Dora Milaje Tank Top]
[ID: A photo showing KLeCrone smiling and wearing a black tank top with white print featuring three Dora Milaje faces and 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'. End ID]
[Photo Showing Back of Dora Milaje Tank Top]
[ID: A photo showing the back of a black tank top laying on tan carpet showing a Dora Milaje logo underneath which 'Long Live the King' is written in Wakandan runes with "Marvel Studios" below it. End ID]
It was such a wholesome and kind gesture, and I'm so glad she liked the art! I don't really sell my fan art because of potential copyright and IP concerns, but being able to share it with one of the actresses herself was really special, and such a lovely, unexpected fandom interaction I wanted to share with all of you! :)
Author's Remarks:
I'm still recovering from too much overtime coupled with a particularly nasty virus over here, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Into the weeds we go!
- Medical Proposals to Buy the 'Patient's' Mind More Time - This conversation in Shuri's Lab definitely wasn't an easy one to broach, but I think it's telling that Shuri and Ayo really are trying to do right by Barnes, and that they ultimately hope for a more compassionate option that respects his personhood. That said, there's some underlying logic to how some of the scientists are viewing their situation, since they don't want to see anyone be subjected to permanent mental degradation either. It's a tricky situation, to be sure!
- Sightseeing in Wakanda - I'm sure Okoye, Yama, Barnes, and Sam have made a number of stops along the way, but it was fun to catch-up with them here, and have a bit of a tonal contrast to what is happening in the Design Center. Likewise, if you saw Wakanda Forever, this location might be familiar! Hannah E. Bleachler, the Production Designer for the film, shared some behind-the-scenes images of it on Twitter too!
If you're a new reader and are looking to binge the story in some satisfying, bite-sized chunks, I recommend the following act-breaks:
Act 1: Chapters - 1 – 8
Act 2: Chapters - 9 – 18
Act 3: Chapters - 19 – 28
Act 4: Chapters - 29 – 31
Act 5: Chapters - 32 – 43
Act 6: Chapters - 44 – 50
Act 7: Chapters - 51 – 55
Act 8: Chapters - 56 – 63
Act 9: Chapters - 64 – 68
Act 10: Chapters - 69 – 74
Act 11: Chapters - 75+
This story continues to be a profound labor of love, and my deepest thanks to my incredible readers and the many fantastic artists that have contributed their time and passion to this project. If you're curious to see all of the visual art and learn more about the contributing artists, check out the Winter of the White Wolf - Art Collection on Ao3!
I hope this holiday season is treating you well so far, and thank you again for all of your incredible support. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts along the way, and appreciate every kudo and comment so much!
We're coming up on another act-break of sorts soon too, and I can't wait for you to see what's around the next corner…