Red, White & Blue | Bucky x Reader

Chapter Five

It starts like every other day, waking up in Bucky's arms and falling back asleep after our morning routine. However, when I wake up the second time, Bucky is no longer beside me, and the sun is high in the sky.

"Shit..." I mumble as I roll from the bedroll, fumbling to pull on my training gear before hastily exiting the hut. I spot Bucky a few yards ahead, tossing sacks of grain into a wagon.

He smiles when he sees me. "Morning, Doll. Heading up to train?"

"Yeah," I reply, quickly planting a kiss on his lips. "Okoye won't be happy if I'm late."

I turn toward the palace, but freeze as I see the three figures coming over the hill, one of them being King T'Challa. Like his sister, T'Challa has mahogany skin and deep brown eyes, and his curly black hair is cropped short. Flanking him on either side is Okoye and a Kingsguard soldier carrying a sleek, black weapon's case.

"Bucky?" I call, glancing over my shoulder to get his attention.

He looks up, and seeing the group approaching us, comes to stand next to me.

"Good morning, King T'Challa, General Okoye," I greet as our visitors reach us. "What brings you all the way out here?"

Without a word, T'Challa gestures to the Kingsguard, who steps forward to lay the weapon's case on the wagon. He opens it, revealing a shiny, black, metal arm with gold bands slashing through it. I glance at the arm before turning to Bucky, his eyes meeting mine. We both know what this means.

Bucky looks back at our guests, resignation in his voice as he asks the question. "Where's the fight?"

"On its way," T'Challa replies. "Captain Rogers will be here within the hour."

"Ah, perfect timing!" Shuri announces as we enter the lab, coming over to take the weapon's case from the Kingsguard soldier before leading us further inside. "Sergeant Barnes, if you wouldn't mind hopping up on the gurney there."

Bucky takes a seat, and Shuri places the case on a nearby table before poking and prodding at Bucky's mechanical left shoulder socket, where the new arm will connect.

"Everything looks good to go here," Shuri informs us, turning to pick up the arm and offering it to Bucky. "Would you like to do the honours?"

Hesitantly, Bucky takes the arm from her and holds the shoulder joint up to his own, pressing them firmly together. The arm whirs as it connects with the new socket, and Bucky rotates the joint in a full circle, locking it into place.

"How does it feel?" I ask him.

"Familiar... but also completely different..." Bucky replies, twisting and turning the arm to view it at every angle. "It's lighter... Both literally and figuratively..."

I give him a curt nod of understanding. "A new arm for a new legacy."

"Everything seems to be working properly," Shuri says, looking up from the nearby monitor. "The arm is made of vibranium, so it's lighter than the one you had, but it's a lot more durable. Now, let's get you both suited up."

Shuri leads us through the hallways and into the armory. In all my years as a soldier, a SHIELD agent, and an Avenger, I've never seen so many weapons in one place. Racks line the walls of both sides of the room, each filled with weapons and armor of various kinds, and along the far wall, floor to ceiling windows give us a view of the dark cavern beyond.

Shuri heads to the left side of the room, pulling open the rack at the very end to reveal two suits of tactical gear, various knives, and the rifle Bucky had when we first arrived in Wakanda.

"I thought you might want your weapons back eventually," Shuri explains with a smile. "But the suits are my gift to you."

We thank her as she walks toward the exit, giving us privacy to prepare. I grab one of the tactical suits, pulling it over my workout clothes. The black trousers and shirt fit me perfectly, and the black tactical vest hugs me in all the right places. Knowing Shuri, she probably laced it with vibranium to add an extra layer of protection.

Bucky's suit is similar by design, consisting of brown trousers and a blue jacket. It reminds me of the suit he wore during the war, apart from the missing left sleeve, which was removed to avoid constricting his new arm.

As I finish tying my combat boots, I look up to see Bucky staring at me.

"Everything okay, Sergeant?" I ask.

"Yeah, just reliving a flashback from the war," Bucky responds, a smile growing across his face. "You always did suit tactical gear."

I smile, heat rising in my cheeks. "You're such a flirt, James Barnes."

Bucky slowly pulls me in, hugging me close as he rests his chin on my head, his tone becoming serious. "We stick together like aways, watch each other's backs."

I lean my head back to look up at him. "Yes, sir."

Bucky chuckles lightly, kissing me gently. "You ready?"

"Yeah," I reply with a breath. "Let's go meet our boy."