Adamantine (A Post-Black Panther Bucky Barnes Love Story)

2

I skim the rows of weaponry, my eyes scanning every item. I consider the blades. A good dagger would be useful, though I already have plenty. I have a bow, as well as a sword. Countless guns make up my arsenal.

"I want something unique," I explain to Brooks, one of the top weapons developers in the entire government. He owes me a favor for foiling a plot on his life a few years back. Some Middle Eastern terrorist group militants wanted to kidnap him, take him to Iraq, force him to make weaponry, then kill him off. I didn't let that happen.

"I have something you might be interested in," Brooks tells me, very sure of himself. He gestures for me to follow him as he walks purposefully toward the back of the room. "About ten years ago, we briefly got ahold of a man who got ahold of some smuggled vibranium from Wakanda. We didn't realize he was serious about Wakanda's elevated technological status." He shakes his head. "Anyway, we confiscated the metal, and I was told to make a weapon out of it." He continues walking, until he stops in front of a vault. A scanner goes over his eye, and the door opens. I follow him inside, and I stop in my tracks when I see a beautiful black staff propped onto a stand.

"It's incredible," I murmur, looking the weapon illuminated by electric blue light. I step closer.

"I made a staff," Brooks says quietly. "It's electrified. There are two buttons on the side. If you press in the top one, electric charges strong enough to kill come through the top. If you press it again, they come out both ends. Press it a third time to deactivate the electricity. The bottom one, if you press it in, a vibranium blade comes out. Press it again for the blade to retract."

"How do I transport it?" I ask, looking over the weapon.

He grins at me and holds up a finger.

"Watch," he says, satisfied. With a twist of his hand, a sleek click is heard and the staff collapses to a third of its size. "Collapsible." He flicks it firmly, and the staff returns to full size. He outstretches his arm, offering me the weapon.

I take it from him, and it fits perfectly in my hand. Ridges in the metal allow for a comfortable hold.

"It's perfect," I say immediately. I love staffs, and this one is the best I've ever seen.

"It's yours," Brooks says, and my eyes shoot to his.

"You're sure?" I double-check, glancing briefly down at the weapon.

"Positive," he nods. "You're the best person to wield it."

I nod, agreeing as my eyes once again fall on the object in my hand. I test it out, and as I press the buttons, I find they require a decent amount of effort. Not enough to take more than a half second or so, but enough that I can't accidentally activate the weapon when I don't want to.

I twist the center piece to the side, and the entire thing collapses. I flick it once, and the staff extends.

"Perfect," I murmur to myself, unable to hide a smile. I look to Brooks. "Thank you."

He shakes his head. "My pleasure. Here, let me walk you out." We begin heading back for the entrance, this time walking side by side. "Where's your next assignment?"

"Wakanda. They're sending me with Ambassador Griffin," I explain in an even, level tone.

"Of course they are," he replies, as if my answer was obvious. I raise my eyebrows at his tone. "He's the best we've got, so it only makes sense that they'd send you to protect him again. You two are practically a team at this point."