Certainty (A Bucky Barnes Fanfic)

━◦○◦6.6: Shamara Spars the Dora◦○◦━

episode 6 - One World, One People

The days passed slowly in Wakanda, partially because Shamara dozed so often and couldn't move much. Bucky promised to stick with her until Shuri finished her tests, so when she was awake, he read to her or talked or just played with her hair for hours. They made wedding plans, casually texting Sam about it and getting a borderline murderous phone call response. ("I haven't heard from y'all in two days, and this is what you drop on me! Bucky! Oh, Shamara, I'm glad you're livin'.")

Shamara lay very still on Shuri's scanner/table/stretcher in the princess's lab. Murals covered the walls, Wakandan symbols moving with sheens of vibranium. The beat of mining played an increasingly familiar soundtrack in the heart of the mountain. The strange floating device warmed under Shamara's weight. She fought the urge to fidget, unsure where she should look as Shuri messed with the holographic computers. Bucky leaned against the wall nearby, watching silently.

"Your nervous system has calmed down," Shuri said at last, messing with her buns. "And I don't see any lingering serum particles."

"Do you think you will see anything? I mean, could some effects be hidden?" Shamara struggled to not give in to her anxiety.

"Of course, but the only things I have noticed are temporary," Shuri ran various scans, and the device grew hot.

They fell silent again, and Shamara heard faint music coming from Shuri's headphones.

"What I see are potential risks," Shuri waved the computers away. "It is more likely that you will develop certain kinds of cancers as you age. Your fatigue may be a repetitive issue for a couple weeks at a time. There are still some suspicious differences around your scars and tattoo. Come back in six months, then after that, yearly. That way, we can evaluate this more deeply."

Shamara released a breath, "So, what about the fatigue? What should I do?"

"Quality sleep schedules will help control it. So stay awake in the day, and create strong sleep habits. If necessary, set times in the morning or evening where you can nap for about thirty minutes. Obviously, once you start having kids, that will become much harder, so you better do your part, Bucky Barnes."

Bucky laughed, straightening, "Yes, highness."

Shamara fought the urge to facepalm herself at the seventeen-year-old princess of Wakanda giving her fiancé parenting advice. She glanced at Bucky, who winked.

"Also, pacing yourself with work or exercise," Shuri continued, offering Shamara a hand. "For now, I'd say focus on sleeping when you are tired. You will get back to the US with jetlag, so just rest while here."

"I have been doing a pretty good job of that," Shamara took Shuri's hand and sat up. "Though, I do want to see the city before I go."

"Don't worry. Ayo has a day off this week and wants to hang out with you."

"And mock me," Bucky lifted an eyebrow, helping Shamara to her feet.

"You said it, not me," Shuri held up her hands. "All right, scat. Need a flight in the morning, Bucky?"

He hesitated and looked at Shamara, "Yes. But I don't want to keep -."

"And that's a yes," Shuri pulled up her kimoyo bead screen. "Listen, Bucky. You are scared of being impertinent, but if you were, we wouldn't help. As it stands, you are my friend, and you never assume our support, which means you care."

"I do but -."

"Bast! Shamara, take your sad man away and talk some sense into him."

Shamara laughed as they stepped away, Bucky shaking his head. They walked back through the lab towards the guest area they were staying in.