Fire and Ice

•61•

After lunch, Shuri checked in with Bucky, checking his shoulder and his pain levels. He felt fine — a little pain, but nothing he couldn't handle. Every so often, a sharp pain would hit him and then quickly go away. Shuri said that would stop soon, hopefully.

"Rest for today," she said. "Tomorrow you're going out with Kate."

He stopped, waiting for his heart to beat again. "What?"

"For the flowers? For your memory?"

"Oh. Oh, okay."

"I thought that memory would be even better than planting them." She smiled a knowing smile, then left, and Bucky finally agreed he did need rest after the heart attack he just had.

Why did she phrase it like that? And why was his heart stopping almost a product of excitement? He could never ask Kate out on a date. Even if he did remember how, it's totally out of the question. She wouldn't say yes, anyway. Why would she? He's no Ryan. Even T'Challa would better for her than him. He's more of a hero. Bucky could never be that.

So why does he still have hope?

~_~_~_~_~

Kate didn't see much more of Bucky until the next morning, when Shuri brings him into the lab after breakfast. Ayo is not far behind. Kate looks between them all, brows furrowed. "What is going on?"

"I'm going to check Sergeant Barnes' arm, and then you two are going out. Flower shopping," Shuri replies. Kate frowns at her phrasing, trying to ignore the increased beating of her heart.

"And here I thought we were becoming friends," Bucky comments.

"It was a momentary lapse in judgment."

"Ouch."

Kate can barely muster a chuckle, as much as she'd like to laugh. Why did she have to say it like that? And why did she not warn her? She isn't ready to... go out with Bucky. Her hair is a mess, she's isn't even sure if she put deodorant on this morning. She always forgets something. Going out with Bucky is not a good idea right now. Or, she realizes, probably not a good idea at all. "When you say going out, do you mean, like... in public?" she says.

Shuri looks up at her. "Where else?"

"Is that safe?"

"That's why Ayo is going with you." She walks to another part of the lab and grabs two cloths — one red and one blue. She throws them at Kate and Bucky. "And you're wearing these."

Kate unfolds the blue one, then unsurely wraps it over her head, covering her hair. The cloth is long, going down to her waist. Bucky copies her with the red one. Aye comes over to help secure them correctly.

"What if somebody recognizes us?" Kate asks. "And even if they don't, we're... clearly not supposed to be here."

"T'Challa approved," Shuri replies. "He said, if anyone would like to complain, he would handle it. He wants you to go out and have fun."

"It's going to be a blast," Ayo says, her tone implying otherwise.

Shuri checks on Bucky's arm, taking the cloth off the end. The scar is already healing, thanks to Shuri's sand table. It won't fully go away, but it will get better.