Wakanda PSL

[coldhand]

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[coldhand]

[When Bucky woke up in Wakanda, she didn't expect to stay there. T'Challa and his family, his people, had already done her more of a favor than she had any right to ask by keeping her in cryo-stasis when she was a fugitive and by healing her broken mind. She would never be who she was before she fell from the train, there were scars that she couldn't shake, but she was all her again.

She couldn't ask for more than that.

But then they let her stay.

They didn't even ask her to do much. To carry her own weight. There's plenty to go around, and as a people they don't seem inclined to shame her or single her out; most of them don't pay too much attention to her at all. Which is how she likes it. She tries not to get too under foot, and she tries to make herself useful, whether that means helping Shuri around her lab or working with the hunters or the farmers, going wherever they appreciate another strong arm.

It's nice. Been a long time since she felt welcome anywhere.]

[willnotwatch]

[T'Challa appears to have a day off from his kingly duties, because he's just wandering around the village nearby the palace, not looking like he's doing anything in particular. he greets everyone he meets with a smile as usual, and he doesn't seem like he's accompanied too closely by a Dora guard. it's a social visit.]

[coldhand]

Your Majesty.

[when she catches him out. she's helping with some chores, but T'Challa getting away from his responsibilities is reason enough for a break]

[willnotwatch]

Sergeant Barnes. I hope I'm not interrupting.

[coldhand]

[oh no, he did it too]

Just Bucky. And nothing that won't wait.

[willnotwatch]

Just T'Challa then.

[coldhand]

Off the job? If I have permission, then...

At least until one of your bodyguards comes looking for you.

[willnotwatch]

That's a start.

Would you do me the honour of joining me for lunch?

[coldhand]

[the honor is hers, and she knows it. and she smiles]

I could always eat.

[willnotwatch]

[he retrieves a picnic basket from a guard and gestures her over to some cozy grass]

That's what we like to hear in Wakanda.

[coldhand]

Generous again. Once someone gets on your good side, you spoil them.

[It's an incredible thing to experience.]

What are we eating?

[willnotwatch]

[pulling out all sorts of American style goodies? some stuff that was popular in the 40s, and some stuff that's hanging around more recently.]

I figured you might be feeling homesick.

[coldhand]

You really are spoiling me, aren't you.

[not that it's not nice to see things that are more familiar than central African cuisine, but it's not as though Bucky was going to complain.

but after her surprise passes, she smiles]

You didn't have to do all this.

[willnotwatch]

[holding up a twinkie]

Oh, I know. I actually wanted to try one of these.

[coldhand]

Believe me, they're not worth it.

[wincing]

They're like bad strawberry shortcake without the strawberries.

[she will take one, though. don't think she won't eat it]

[willnotwatch]

...

I... understand each individual word you just said to me, but not the composite whole.

[coldhand]

Never had strawberry shortcake?

[willnotwatch]

Never had the chance.

[coldhand]

I won't say it'll change your life, but they're more worth trying than junk food.

[she says that, but you better believe she's eating this gross, gross, twinkie and enjoying it]

[willnotwatch]

... Are you ... enjoying that?

[coldhand]

Look, I'm allowed to have bad taste. We all had bad taste a hundred years ago.

[willnotwatch]

[opening his up and biting off a bit. chewing.

. . .

handing the rest of the twinkie to Bucky.]

[coldhand]

[takes it. as a mercy]

I warned you.

[willnotwatch]

[has this bemused expression that just screams "is America ok?"]

[coldhand]

[it's not. and it really wasn't during the depression]

You're judging me.