Certainty (A Bucky Barnes Fanfic)

━◦○◦5.7: No More Fear◦○◦━

episode 5 - Truth

Shamara sat on a cushioned table, her hands flexed on her thighs. Bucky, Shuri, and the Wakandan doctor spoke in Wakandan around her. Sunlight poured through the windows, shining on all the fancy equipment. It looked . . . homelike and beautiful, even though it was just an examination room.

They had arrived at the Wakandan representative buildings around two. The drive hadn't been great, and the flight not much better. Shamara hadn't been able to stop shivering. Bucky tried to turn down the air conditioning, but that made her pain spike, so she just huddled in her seat. Hugging herself. It was also awful because of the thick, intense silence. Bucky spoke with the Wakandan pilot a little bit, but only in Wakandan. Between her growing pain and the mentions of their feelings . . . it was overwhelming.

She breathed out heavily, looking at her wrist again. Her sigh made the various people in the room look up, and Shuri stepped closer.

It was clear that Shuri and Bucky were close friends. As soon as they entered the building, the Wakandan teenaged princess tackled Bucky in a tight hug. Despite the Zemo situation. But I have to wonder how she feels about that . . .

"Miss Arousi," Shuri offered a bright smile. "We are going start with bandaging your wounds. Normally, I would infuse something to heal them faster, but we don't know what is going on, so such steps may be unhelpful."

"Okay," Shamara breathed out shakily.

"Are they all bleeding or just some of them?" The Wakandan doctor stepped forward. "I am Fezeka, by the way."

"Thank you. Yes, all my old scars are bleeding."

"Don't worry about the bandages coming off. It's vibranium tech," Shuri stepped closer. "Bucky, could you step outside -."

"It's okay. I'm wearing an undershirt," Shamara took off her tee-shirt.

"None on your legs?" Shuri pulled on gloves.

She hovered her hand over Shamara's wrist and back tattoos. Bucky shifted against the wall, his eyebrows pinched together.

"Some. But we can take care of them in a moment," Shamara fought the urge to look at Bucky.

"You sure?" Shuri pulled up a scan on her bracelet. "Hmm, most of them are on your abdomen."

Fezeka stepped behind Shamara, cleaning off her back tattoo, "Do you know why they are bleeding now, Highness?"

Shuri checked her scan. "Tell me what the injections were like, in detail. Where were they applied?"

Shamara couldn't keep herself from stiffening. She licked her lips, looking at Bucky. He offered a slight smile and walked over, sitting beside her when Shuri nodded.

"They were more like IVs than shots. Right into my tattoo, which is likely why it has been the worst," Shamara slipped her free hand into Bucky's. "Initially, it made me feel sluggish because of the drug. Then the serum would kick in and light my veins. After a few moments, it would spasm strength through my muscles. But I wouldn't feel strong for another day."

"I see."

Silence hovered over the room for a long moment. Shamara tried not to wince as Fezeka applied the bandage to her back. It wasn't painful but cold.

"Obviously, I have only seen the serum makeup in one other person, and I'll need to run some tests back in Wakanda to be sure. However, I think your blood has taken the lingering serum," Shuri gestured for Shamara to hold out her arm, taking a blood-drawing needle.