Fire and Ice

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The rest of the short drive back to the citadel was filled with Shuri telling them about what happened — their previously unknown cousin challenging T'Challa and briefly taking the throne after almost killing T'Challa, and then the help they received from M'Baku of the Jabari tribe, the civil war (battle?) they eventually won.

But the entire time, Kate stared off to the side, away from Bucky. No one else said a word. Shuri just kept going, acting like she wasn't bothered, but surely she felt that tension. Ayo had a tight grip on the steering wheel.

Ayo stopped the car behind the citadel, and, instead of Bucky heading straight back into Cryo like he expected, he was dragged to a meal with T'Challa and Queen Ramonda. Not wanting to be rude — and also starving — he went. He hadn't met Queen Ramonda yet besides, but it seemed Kate had.

Now they're sitting here eating a properly cooked meal; it's similar to something he and Kate ate but it's obviously not cooked the same way. Bucky doesn't ask what it is or comment on anything, just keeping his mouth shut. Kate still won't look at him.

He thought she was mad at him before, but he realizes she wasn't. Now, she's mad. And he can't exactly apologize for it. Maybe he should've worded things better, been a bit... less blunt or something. Gradually introduced the idea. But he knows that he's right. That he's being safe, that it's necessary.

He doesn't really want to put that responsibly on her, but if he's not under Cryo he has to trust somebody to do something. To do what needs to be done if something goes wrong. And if he attacked Kate? Again? The last time she burned him, it was on his metal arm. He couldn't feel it, and it could be repaired. But she still needs to use her fire. Before he could hurt her — again. The bruises are gone but he can still see the ghosts of them.

"You seem deep in thought, Sergeant Barnes," T'Challa says, sitting to Bucky's left. Shuri placed herself in between Bucky and Kate, but he's sure Kate can hear T'Challa's comment from across the table. She isn't talking.

Bucky glances at T'Challa. "Got a lot to think about."

"Not for long," Shuri says. She looks at Kate. "So, what did the two of you get up to on your vacation?"

Kate shrugs, staring mostly at her food. "Not much." She's definitely mad — but she seems sad, too.

Bucky shifts a bit in his seat. "Well, Kate made a whistle out of a blade of grass."

T'Challa pauses. "I'm sorry?"

"You just put a blade of grass between your thumbs and blow on it," Kate tiredly explains. "Playground stuff. I was bored."

"You got pretty good at it," Bucky says. Kate merely shrugs.

Shuri chuckles. "Well, you two certainly seem to have bonded."

"Shuri," Queen Ramonda chides, though she doesn't exactly know what happened.

"What? You could cut the tension in here with a sword. It's making me uncomfortable," Shuri replies. She's right. Bucky doesn't know what to do; he can't exactly apologize, but he wants it gone. She was right when she said she was a familiar face. Especially after spending a few days with just her, she's like... It's like she's a tether of some sort. Maybe to Steve, to the outside world. Not that the outside world itself is so great, but the good parts of it. The familiar parts. It doesn't quite make sense to him yet.

Kate glances over at her. "Move seats, then." T'Challa laughs at her bluntness, and Bucky can't help but chuckle himself. Queen Ramonda and then Kate crack a smile, and the tension dissipates enough that no one mentions it again for the rest of the meal.