White | B. BARNES

Chapter 37

📍 Wakanda | January 2018

Today was the day Bucky was going to be unfrozen. It was early in the morning.

"Are you alright?" T'Challa asked Sapphire.

"Who me?" She said, looking behind her.

"Yes."

"I'm fine. Superfine, why?" She asked.

"You look like you're about to hyperventilate," Okoye mentioned.

Sapphire breathed deeply, "I'm feeling so many emotions right now. I don't know whether to cry or jump."

T'Challa chuckled, "Well, in a few minutes he's going to come out."

"Did you tell Steve?" She asked him. "'Cause he would want to know that his best friend is kinda coming back."

"I'm leaving that to you," he said, handing Sapphire a phone.

Sapphire nervously tapped on the screen and waited for Steve to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Steve, this is Saf," she greeted.

"Hey, I haven't heard from you for a long time," he said.

"Well, yeah. I was busy being useful here. Anyways, I have news for you."

"What is it?" Steve asked.

"Bucky will be unfrozen today. Then, he'll have another test to see if he won't get triggered by those words again," Sapphire explained, looking behind as they prepared Bucky.

"Hello, Steve?" She checked if he was there since it was so silent.

"I'm sorry. Yes, I'm here. I'm just shocked and I don't know what to feel first," Steve stuttered.

"I get it. I'm feeling the same thing," Sapphire replied.

"He's ready," Shuri said to her.

"Steve, I have to go. I hope you guys can see each other again," Sapphire said.

"Tell him I said 'Welcome back," Steve joked.

"Will do," Sapphire laughed as she ended the call.

Stepping a few feet away in front of the cyro, Sapphire waited for it to open.

Shuri turned to her, "He won't really be awake when we get him out. We'll have someone help him transfer to the medicine hut."

Sapphire nodded, "Thank you so much... for everything."

"I just want to officiate a wedding," Shuri replied.

Sapphire chuckled because Shuri has been bugging her to let herself officiate their wedding.

Then, she started to press different controls as the mist leave the glass.

They all stepped away as Sapphire came forward until she could touch, Bucky's hand.

It was surreal. After 2 years of waiting, she can finally hold him again.

She lifted his hand and pressed it against her cheek.

"Doll," Bucky spoke quietly his throat hoarse and still hazy.

"I'm right here, Buck," she said before letting the others carry him out the cyro and to the table, checking his vitals.

Once he was done being checked, he was moved to the medicine hut, where clothes were prepared for him.

Bucky was still passed out as she wiped his body clean and changed him into an orange toga, tying a blue cloth over his left shoulder.

His hair was a lot longer so she decided to tie half of it in a bun.

"I love you," Sapphire whispered before pressing a kiss against his forehead.

As much as she didn't want to go, she knew that he'll be out for a little bit more. She was able to wait for 2 years, what is a few more hours. 

She gathered his previous clothes and put them away as she left the hut, leaving him to rest. She made her way to the hurt she's staying on and get her teaching materials before going to the children who wait for her to teach them.

A few hours passed by, Bucky woke up hearing voices.

There were three children with their faces painted on looming directly over something, staring with curiosity.

Bucky opened his eyes, startling the children who quickly flee the hut.

The kids race out of the hut and over to Shuri, "Are you playing around with that man again?"

"No. No!" The children said.

"You're teasing him again?" She asked them as Bucky exited the hut to the sight of a beautiful Wakandan lakeside. He took it all in with a deep breath.

Outside the hut are Wakanda shaman and Shuri, embracing the three giggling children two Dora Milaje observed Shuri from a close distance.

"Emhlophe Ingcuka, (Xhosa: white wolf)" the Wakandan children said.

Bucky settled next to Shuri, taking in her view of the lake.

"Good morning, Sergeant Barnes," she greeted.

"Bucky," he corrected her.

"How are you feeling?" She asked.

"Good. Thank you," Bucky replied to her before Shuri smiled.

"Come. Much more for you to learn," she said as Bucky followed Shuri towards the other huts.

After their tour, Shuri walked over to the place where Sapphire was teaching the children outdoors.

"Ukuba uphindaphinda isi 3 ukuya ku 4, ufumana ntoni? (Xhosa: If you multiply 3 to 4, what do you get?)" Sapphire asked her class.

Children started to raise their hands, answering her.

Bucky couldn't believe his eyes as he saw his dollface teaching children. She hadn't changed much. She was still wearing dark clothes, and her hair was maintained to be of the same length.

He missed her. 

"She's been teaching the kids since you were frozen. She sometimes trains with the warriors," Shuri let Bucky know as they both watched her from a distance, with her being oblivious.

"What else did she do?" Bucky turned to Shuri.

"She helps here and there, joins us in our traditions, and visits you in the lab," she replied. "We call her Snow around here."

Bucky chuckled at the name.

Sapphire then lifted her head and saw Bucky standing a few feet away from her.

She gave the children their activity before excusing herself, running to the blue-eyed man.

"I'll give you space," Shuri said, saying hello to the children.

Sapphire ran to Bucky and hugging him tightly.

"Hey, Doll," Bucky wrapped his arm around her waist, burying his face to the crook of her neck and inhaling her sweet scent. 

"You came back," she closed her eyes, relishing his warmth in her arms.

"I always do," he replied, pulling away.

Bucky caressed her face with the back of his fingers, "You still look beautiful."

"And, so do you," She cupped jaw, feeling a little scratch from his beard. 

"Even without the metal arm?" He rose an eyebrow at her, leaning in.

"Even without it," she smiled softly and answered before attaching their lips.

It was all she's been waiting for this whole 2 years, to hold him and feel him without a thin glass and layer of ice blocking their touch.

The children behind started giggling and gushing over them as they watched them from a distance.

Sapphire pulled away, chuckling and whispering, "Welcome back, James."