The Engineer (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Chapter 5- Bucky's recovery plan is long and complicated

A couple of hours later

"Nico,"

I looked up to find that my black and white walkie-talkie was buzzing. I picked it up and answered, "Yes?"

"Nico, you need to come down to my lab, we have to discuss something,"

"Shuri, it's 2 am and I'm trying to work,"

"Which means you're still awake and so am I. Come on,"

"Ugh, fine,"

I set down my tools and headed out into the hall, walking a bit and squinting in the dark until I found a door with Shuri's name on it. I carefully grasped the doorknob and turned, pushing open the door and squinting at the light of her lab.

"Hello, Nico," she said without looking up from her computer. "Come in,"

I took a couple of steps inside, peering across the room at what she was typing.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"I need to discuss Bucky's recovery plan with you," she replied. "Come here,"

I approached her computer, looking over the small text of her writing.

"I'll send this to you directly so we don't have to go over everything, but I thought I might show you a few things," Shuri explained, stepping to the side so I could read the document.

"Most of the healing will occur internally, so behavior reports are strictly required every day," I read aloud. "Mr. Mullins will be in charge of supplying these, along with keeping an eye on Mr. Barnes,"

"I wish I could fix him up in one sitting, but that's not how mental wounds work," Shuri sighed. "There's only so much technology can do. His mind needs time to rest and heal on its own. And besides, this man has gone through far more trauma than any of my other patients,"

"Understandable. Wasn't he brainwashed by HYDRA?" I asked.

"Yes. He was also genetically mutated into a super-soldier," Shuri said. "That's enough to give anyone stress,"

"You think?"

I went over a couple more lines. It was mostly about what she wanted me to record, but one line caught my attention-

"We're going to share a room?" I asked.

"Well, yes," Shuri replied. "Bucky will probably feel less stressed, being in a room with someone, and besides, you need to be there to track his sleep cycle and his nightmares,"

I nodded in understanding.

Internally, I was starting to get just a tad nervous.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not stereotypical. I don't lose my mind at the sight of every man in the universe, but that doesn't mean that I don't lose my mind over some men.

I mean, if I didn't, I wouldn't exactly be gay.

The point is, what if he's hot?! He's a genetically engineered super-soldier, he's GOT to be muscular!

Wait, wouldn't that be a good thing, because I get to spend time with this man?

No, wait, I'll just make a fool of myself. Never mind.

But I also-

Alright, I'm getting boy crazy. I'm sure I'll be fine, even if he is a hot super-soldier. I'll stop now.

I scrolled through a couple more lines of the document. Something about monitoring his heartbeat, his flashbacks, his nightmares, something about safety protocols and knowing when he's getting triggered...

It all kinda went one eye and out the other. It's 2 am, I should be making giant weapons or something.

"How long does this go on for?" I asked Shuri, tilting my head a little bit.

"Not very long. 50 pages or so," she replied simply.

"Those words do not belong in a sentence together," I grumbled, turning to face her. She smirked smugly.

"I'll look over it tomorrow," I stated, turning and starting for the door. "When does Bucky arrive?"

"Tomorrow,"

I froze and spun around. "Wait, what?!"

"You should probably get some sleep, Nico," Shuri advised, still smirking.

"I can't sleep at night," I complained. "My brain doesn't work that way,"

"Then force it to work that way," Shuri suggested. "Or take one of my sleeping draughts,"

"I guess I'll be doing that," I sighed, letting her hand me a small vial of thick purple liquid. The smirk on her face would not waver at all as I snatched it from in between her fingers and slipped it into my pocket, marching for the door again.

"Oh, and before I forget,"

I turned around once again, now a bit irritated.

"You'll need these," Shuri handed me two wristbands.

"What are they?" I asked, tapping the small screen at the top of one.

"They're heart rate monitoring wristbands. You wear the one with the screen, Bucky wears the one without. They'll alert you when his heart rate spikes for a long period of time," she explained proudly.

"So now we get matching friendship bracelets?" I asked, examining them. "Wow, Shuri, you really went all out,"

Shuri kicked me in the shin, grinning. "Yes, I did,"

"Any other last-minute requests I need to hear about?" I asked.

"Nope," she answered. "Go to bed,"

"You sure?" I demanded, starting for the door.

"Yup,"

"You sure?!"

"YES!"

"Are you sure you're sure?!"

"Go to bed, Nico!"

"Okay, okay!"

I grinned as I stepped back into the dark hallway, tip-toeing back to my room and slipping inside. I set down the wristbands and changed into sleep clothes(an old t-shirt and shorts) and sat in bed. I then uncorked the vial and drowned the purple liquid, briefly recognizing the taste before my head got so heavy I barely had enough time to set down the vial without smashing it before falling into a deep sleep.