Saving Bucky (Bucky Barnes x Reader)

Chapter 91 - Almost

"I do not agree," Okoye says, her tone sharp, the frown on her lips sharper. 

"So then what would you have me do? Keep him here? Have him remain strapped to a table?" scoffs Shuri, gesturing to James who lay unconscious on the metal slab. "When he is as dangerous as a goat fly?"

"You cannot know that," Okoye seethes. "He is a weapon."

"He is no longer armed," Shuri scowls, slamming down the detached limb on her work table. "Quite literally."

You huff quietly in irritation, closing your eyes as you lean your head back trying to tune out their bickering. Once Shuri had managed to remove the arm and stabilize James, it had taken nearly a half hour to clean his shoulder and get the preliminary dressings in place, and nearly a half hour after that to convince Okoye to get the Dora Milaje, who had arrived just in time to see the fallout of the fight, to stand down.

But Okoye herself remains heated.

"You believe this to be a joking matter, Princess?" Okoye says, her tone rapidly growing in hostility. "He was restrained. Anesthetized. Pinned down by the Captain and your King and just look at what he still managed to do!" she spits.

The room falls silent, save for the hiss of broken electronics, and crunching of broken glass vials beneath feet as weight shifts awkwardly. You share a glance with Steve. Okoye isn't without reason. The room is in shambles after the struggle during the surgery.

"He should be...taken to somewhere more secure," she seethes. "Along with some of our guard."

Your blood runs cold at the suggestion. You know what she's not saying. The implication is clear.

"No," you snap. 

All heads turn to you.  You throw out a hand and grab the side of James' table, pulling yourself by way of the rolling chair and putting your body between him and Okoye, who stands several feet away. "Absolutely not," not say firmly. "He isn't a prisoner," you snarl before glaring at Steve pleadingly. "No cells, Steve."

Steve looks at a loss for words when Shuri interrupts.

"Brother, please," she says, glancing at T'Challa who has remained silent while watching the disagreement unfold. "This is ridiculous. We argue over hypotheticals. Let the man rest. You know what he has been through. Allow him to return to the suites with his friends to recover."

All eyes turn to T'Challa, whose black tactical suit has receded, leaving him in his normal regal robes. He regards both Okoye and Shuri before turning his gaze to the detached metal arm laying several paces away on Shuri's work table.

"Until his mind has been fully healed, he remains a threat, sister," T'Challa says gently. Okoye wears a smug grin as Shuri opens her mouth to protest. But T'Challa holds up a hand and silences her as he continues. "But without the arm, he is rendered far less dangerous. He may return to the suites until you are ready to proceed."

Shuri cheers under her breath as Okoye's gaze darkens. But she simply straightens and bows to her King before leading the warriors from the operating room. 

"She is so uptight," Shuri sighs once Okoye is gone. "Can you imagine having to live with her? Oh wait, I do," Shuri grumbles.

"She is a warrior first, Shuri. And your friend second. She is merely doing her duty," T'Challa scolds as Shuri works quickly, detaching James from the various IV's and tightening the bandages on his neatly-dressed and wrapped shoulder.

Shuri rolls her eyes as she pulls an amputation compression sock over James' shoulder joint, covering the layers of bandages neatly. Once in place, she steps back and places her hands on her hips, admiring her work.