It started out as two free weeks in a Lake Tahoe cabin. All Bucky Barnes had to do was fix up a few things for the owner, an employee at the Avengers compound who inherited it from his parents. The owner even threw in free groceries for the durati...
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The following morning the family reported to the medical centre after breakfast to get their genetic samples taken. Bucky, even though he was already tested when he was being treated, allowed the Wakandan medical staff to take blood, saliva, skin and a hair sample so that the children could see that he was cooperating. Julia allowed the same samples to be taken. Rebecca wouldn't consent to the blood sample, hiding behind Bucky's leg but she liked the idea of spitting into a cup and didn't mind when they pulled a single hair from her head that included the root. To obtain a skin sample Julia suggested they push Rebecca's cuticles down and trim them. It helped that Shuri promised to paint her nails after. When it came time for Billy to give a sample he wouldn't spit but the doctor suggested that a fresh lemon be put near his nose to activate his salivary gland and obtain a saliva sample that way. Julia was then able to obtain a cheek swab from inside his mouth. She also agreed to pull a single hair from his head and was successful in acquiring one that still had the root attached.
From there Shuri accompanied them to an indoor playground where the two children were encouraged to climb and jump as part of regular play. Shuri made it clear to both Bucky and Julia that if they ever felt the children were climbing too high or jumping from an unsafe distance to feel free to shut the session down. It never came to that as both children showed they were fully aware of their own abilities most of the time. There was a moment when Rebecca did climb too high and looked anxiously at her parents for a moment. Just as Bucky stood up to rescue her, Shuri put her hand on his arm to restrain him and told him to watch. Billy climbed up to her and put his hand on hers, smiling encouragingly as she slowly shifted herself away from the edge of the highest part of the climbing structure. Slowly, with him holding on, she put one leg down, then another retreating to a lower level until she felt more secure. Then he smiled broadly at his older sister.
"Good job, Becky," he said.
It was a sweet moment between siblings and in her report, given to Bucky and Julia upon their return home, Shuri referred to it as the first emergence of the protective nature of the Barnes super soldier genetic strain in his male offspring. The desire to keep someone from harm was strong and had always been part of Bucky's original nature. Suppressed during his years as the Winter Soldier, once he was freed from that programming it became evident in many of his subsequent actions. That it showed up so early in his son was seen as proof that the serum had made that which was good in a person even better. It wouldn't be the first time Billy displayed this protective ability and even Rebecca showed it on one instance while they were there.
Several days after their first session at the indoor playground the family went to see the Border tribe. Accompanied by Shuri, Okoye, and Ayo the family were permitted to pet the young rhinoceroses. Both children were thrilled at the experience when suddenly one of the young animals shrieked in pain. Before anyone could react Rebecca kneeled down and pulled a large sharp thorn out of the space between the toes on the animal's foot. Then she wrapped her arms around the young creature's lower neck and shoulder, crooning softly to it until its cries subsided. The handler was amazed at her lack of fear. The animal accepted her comforting gestures and actually bonded with her, following her around, which made leaving difficult but not impossible.
