Better Love || A Bucky Barnes Fanfiction

- Infrasound -

She knew something had changed as soon as they walked into the room.

That morning had been no different than all the other mornings they had had in Wakanda. Elena trained with Okoye, the small family had breakfast together, then Bucky went to work on the farmlands while Elena and Corrie made the their way into the main village where Elena helped with teaching the children. Nothing out of the norm had occurred while they were there; discussions were had, new topics touched on, graded tests handed back to the students who either sighed out of relief or disappointment at their marks. It was like any other day.

But then, when the pair had made their way back home, they had been told that Bucky was in Shuri's lab. Elena couldn't help but panic slightly when she heard the news: usually Bucky only ever went to Shuri's lab if he had an appointment with her, and Elena knew that he didn't. If he was in her lab it meant that something bad had happened. As Elena rushed to the palace, Corrie stumbling alongside her mother, Elena could only think the worst: He's relapsed. He's been triggered. I've lost him again.

That wasn't the case though. When the pair entered the lab they didn't find Bucky in cryosleep or passed out on a bed. Instead, he was sitting up on one, his gaze directed at Shuri. The teenager was smoothing her hands over something as though making some final checks before she took a step back to admire her work. It was then that Corrie let out a gasp, letting the other two know that they had just entered. The look that passed over Bucky's face was one that Elena would never forget.

"Baba!" The child cooed, pointing at her father with wide blue eyes. "Your arm! Touch?"

"Sure," Bucky replied with a small smile, and Corrie let go of her mother's hand and raced over to her father who was able to pick her up with one hand, sitting her on his lap as she murmured appreciatively over his new limb. The arm glinted in the light as Bucky turned it, Corrie's small fingers running over the golden grooves all the way down to his fingers that gently clasped hers. 

"Cold," she giggled, looking from Bucky to Shuri. "Aunty Shuri make it?"

"She sure did," Bucky said, and Shuri bent down in front of the girl, a warm smile on her young face. 

"It's made out of vibranium, Corrie. Why don't you come with me next door, I'll show you how it was made while your mama helps baba get ready," she said, casting a quick glance between the two adults who nodded, Elena giving her a grateful smile. She was glad Shuri knew how to read a room. There was a lot the couple needed to discuss, a bit of information Elena needed to be filled in on. Oblivious to what was passing unsaid between the adults, Corrie reached out for her godmother excitedly.

"Ooo, yes!"

With a light laugh Shuri picked up Corrie and set her down on the floor. Together the pair walked past Elena and out of the lab, leaving the couple alone. Neither person moved for a moment, Bucky looking over at Elena who was staring back at him with a sad smile on her face. She walked over to him, head tilted as she stared at his new limb. It was odd, seeing black vibranium instead of silver steel or just nothing. She had grown so accustomed to being held by him with one arm, but now she was standing in between his legs and both arms were wrapped around her waist. Bucky pressed his forehead against her chest, letting out a deep sigh that seemed to hold a thousand years of pent up sadness. She kissed the top of his head and stood there until he was able to sit unassisted before she looked at his arm.

"It always catches up, doesn't it?" Elena murmured, letting the tips of her fingers brush against his new arm and making Bucky shiver. She wanted to smile at his reaction, wanted to be grateful for the limb that Shuri had crafted so beautifully, but she had seen the look on Bucky's face when she and Corrie had walked into the room. This wasn't a gift meant to usher in his brand new life in Wakanda, a sign that he was progressing and would be able so seamlessly slip back into the outside world if he chose to. This was a call to battle, his conscription into yet another war. He saw her eyes drop sadly at the thought and let out a deep sigh, looking down at his arm.