Second Sphere

It's done

I'm awoken by a knock at the door. It's routine now. Every morning Shuri will stop by. It's been about two weeks since Bucky has gone into cryostasis. Steve left once we were all safe here in Wakanda, off to free the others and then fight the good fight. Every so often I'll get a call or a text updating me on how he and everyone else is and asking about me and Bucky.

Most of the days are spent with Shuri in her lab. I may not be a genius scientist but letting her study my mental abilities have proven to be a huge help and the work that would have taken months has taken only a few days. T'Challa hasn't really come to talk at all to either Shuri or myself. Which is understandable, he is arranging a coronation and taking care of political affairs. And while Shuri hides it well I can tell she is heavily mourning the loss of her father and she doesn't have anyone to share that grief with, at least not anyone who knew him.

Aside from Bucky I have become her favorite project. Burying herself in work seems to be her method of coping and if that's what I'm useful for then so be it. One afternoon was spent by having her empty myself of all the weapons and gear I had been carrying since Hydra had started to utilize that. Most of it was now outdated and Shuri was determined that everything needed to be upgraded. Even my swords and knives were now made of vibranium. And since my wings have begun to heal enough to look normal even if I can't fly yet she has taken to testing on those. For the more dangerous tests we have plucked feathers which grow back seemingly overnight.

I also spend time near Bucky each day but Shuri makes sure I get out beyond the few rooms I roam between and into the main city. Each day I'm given less and less time to be around Bucky. Shuri gets tutors to teach me about how things have changed since 1945 as well as ones to teach me Wakandan so as we go out and about I am not reliant on her to translate. Her exact words were, "You live here now, things will begin to feel more normal once you understand more."

Soon I am able to achieve brief periods of flight. Nowhere near where I was but Shuri assures me that will come with time. We are sitting in her lab when she looks up at me, "I have something for you today."

"Oh? Is it another gear upgrade? I'll be armed for war at this rate." I comment looking up from the book I was reading.

"I think you will like this a bit more than an upgrade. I've finished it. We can clear your soldier's mind of Hydra." She smiles.

I nearly drop my book, "Do you mean it?"

"Yes. Shall we proceed? We can have him awake by tomorrow." Shuri already starts, knowing my answer will be yes. Tomorrow can't come fast enough.

I pause as a thought hits me, "Will he be different from who I knew?" I ask her.

Shuri looks up at me, "He will be true to himself, it is just now no one will be able to brainwash him."

I nod but I'm still worried. Tomorrow will tell. The night passes slowly and I don't sleep much instead I sit on the balcony for most of the night and let the cool night air calm my nerves. It gets chilly enough that I wrap my wings around myself and fall asleep like that.

I wake up as I feel a blanket covering me. Blinking away the sleep I look up and see Bucky.