The Engineer (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Chapter 6- Welp

The next day

I had to wake up at 9 am to get ready for Bucky's arrival.

I had to get up, shower, clothe myself, comb my hair and stretch for the day at NINE ANTE MERIDIEM.

That's what a.m. stands for, in case you were wondering. It means "before midday" in Latin because we Americans don't want to make it "b.n." and "a.n.", which would be "before noon" and "after noon". That would be a lot easier to teach the kids.

But anyway.

Around 12 pm(a.n., for those speaking my language), Shuri and I headed out to meet Bucky, who had just been transported to Wakanda.

"He was just submerged in ice to preserve his body as he rested," Shuri informed me, "So he may be a bit vulnerable,"

I nodded, feeling quite nervous as we approached the ship that had landed across from us. My stomach was flipping and churning as the tail opened up in a painfully slow manner and a man wobbled out.

I nearly gasped at the sight of him.

Bucky Barnes(or, who I assumed to be Bucky Barnes) was a tall man who looked around 6 feet tall. He had shoulder-length, combed brown hair and sparkly blue eyes. He wore a very simple outfit- a white t-shirt and sweatpants. One of his arms was a muscular one made of human flesh, and where the other would've been, there was a stub.

But nevermind that, this man was hot.

He seemed nervous as he approached me and Shuri, and I tried my best to keep cool in the presence of this new, attractive super-soldier.

Ugh, if there was a time where I wished I wasn't gay, it was that moment.

Well, there have been other times. Like when I got bullied in high school. But more on that later.

"Hello, Mr. Barnes," Shuri greeted, turning as he approached us, beginning to walk in between us as we showed him to the giant, skyscraper-sized palace(I still couldn't get over that).

Bucky nodded to her in greeting, probably as speechless as I was when I had first gotten there.

"I am Shuri, and this is Nico,"

It took me a second to realize that Shuri was introducing him to me. I quickly pulled myself together and said, "Yeah, that's me. Hello, Mr. Barnes,"

I internally facepalmed. "Yeah, that's me?" What are you, 12?! This is not a role call where the teacher takes attendance, you idiot! Get yourself together!

Bucky gave me the same sort of greeting. I tried my absolute hardest to not run my hand through my hair to make sure it wasn't messed up and held the door for Shuri and Bucky as we entered through the main entrance.

"Nico will be your advisor and assistant," Shuri told Bucky. "Should you need anything, you'll bring your problems to him,"

We started down for the labs. Bucky looked to be in awe, staring at the craziness of the advanced technology. I couldn't blame him, I'd been the exact same way.

"Nico will now show you to the room you'll be sharing," Shuri said, subtly suggesting that I should probably show Bucky to the room we were sharing.

I nodded and gestured for Bucky to follow me. "Right this way,"

He walked silently behind me until we reached the room. It was sized just slightly bigger than a college dorm, with two twin-sized beds somewhat close to each other and one bathroom near the twin closets, one for each of us.

"Here we are. We tried to balance everything out so you still have your own space," I said as though I was a tour guide. "Your bed is the one across from mine, and we've supplied you with basic necessities,"

"Will I have to stay in here?"

I nearly jumped at the sound of Bucky's voice. He nearly whispered the words, and his voice was slightly hoarse.

"No, of course not," I informed him, a bit concerned as to why he'd think we'd lock him up in his room. "No, you'll be able to roam around,"

Bucky nodded silently and almost looked as though he might protest.

"Uh... that's it for what I have to say, I guess," I said, plopping down on my mattress. "You can have a look around, if you want. Your closet is over there, next to mine, and the door next to that is the bathroom, which includes a toilet, shower, and sink,"

I watched as Bucky took a quick look around, investigating his empty closet and taking a peek inside the bathroom before sitting back on his bed.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"It's not a problem," I replied kindly. "We really just want your recovery process to be as comfortable as possible,"

Bucky nodded.

"I don't suppose you know a bit about me?" he asked.

"I know a few things. I have friends who have met you before,"

Bucky snorted. "Really?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah," I replied. "Do you know Ava? Ava Rogers-Wilder, maybe?"

Bucky's gaze snapped up to meet mine. "Yeah, I've met her," he responded, almost nostalgically. "She's a friend of yours?"

"Well, yes, we met once," I replied, scratching the back of my neck. "How about Bryce?"

"It's... familiar," Bucky admitted. "What's their full name?"

"Bryce Russell-Potts," I said. "You might know her as Bryce Russell-Stark,"

Bucky laughed quietly. "I know a Stark, for sure. I take it Bryce is his son?"

"Daughter," I corrected.

"I forgot, Bryce is a gender-neutral name," he acknowledged.

"It's fine, she gets it all the time," I commented, reliving past memories. "How do you know Ava?"

"Well, she's kinda my best friend's daughter," Bucky said with a smirk. He was quiet for a bit, as though remembering something. His smirk grew into a smile, and he laughed to himself.

"She could be related to Steve, biologically," he chuckled. "She definitely has the spirit,"

I laughed softly as well. "I've only been able to text her and such, but from what I can tell, she kinda does,"

Bucky's face lit up a bit. "You can call her?"

"Yes, but I don't know if she'll pick up. She's... she's on the run, disappeared from the face of the planet. I'm afraid that if I call her and she picks up, people will be able to track the cellular signal,"

Bucky's face fell, just a little. "I see,"

"I'm sorry,"

"No, no, you're fine, really. I just..."

He trailed off.

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay," I told him softly.

He nodded just as my walkie-talkie buzzed.

"Nico, bring Bucky to the lab. I just need to get an analysis," Shuri's voice emitted from the speaker.

I picked it up and answered, "On my way,"

I glanced at Bucky. "Are you ready?"

Bucky nodded, getting to his feet. I showed him out of the door and down the hall to Shuri's lab, getting ready to begin his recovery process.