Avengers: Zero to Infinity

Chapter 5

Steve had already informed T'Challa about their arrival, so the king of Wakanda was given time to prepare. The soldier had advised the king to bring Bucky, Nakia, Okoye, and Shuri with him during battle, so they should be there. Strange used his portal to teleport them to the entrance of Wakanda's castle, and unsurprisingly, T'Challa and the others were already standing there waiting for them.

"King T'Challa." Steve greeted him. "It's a pleasure to meet you here."

"It is a pleasure for me, too." T'Challa replied. "So you're saying that there's an invasion that's going to happen in a few days from now?"

"Yes. Their leader is the mad titan, Thanos. We came here to ask for your help. We have heard that he's rather strong."

"Well, you've come to the right place. Wakanda is able to provide you technology and help as you wish. And as the Black Panther, I am able to help you along with a few of my people. The people you suggested I must bring."

"Thanos the mad titan, eh?" Shuri spoke, looking as though she was boasting. "If I ever meet him, then I'll kick his a**!"

"Shuri..." T'Challa voiced. "No cursing in front of guests."

"Sorry~." The princess chuckled, then she mumbled something like "A** isn't even a bad word. It's a part of the body."

T'Challa lightly chuckled at his sister's disobedience, delicately shaking his head as he stared at the ground. And when he looked up, Bruce Banner was awkwardly looking at him.

"Should we bow?" Bruce whispered to Rhodey.

"Mmm... I don't know." Rhodey shrugged. "Maybe."

After fixing his jacket and his collar, Bruce knelt down on one knee, not daring to look at anyone in the eye. Okoye and Nakia couldn't stop themselves from chuckling, though they only snorted as they covered their lips with their palm.

T'Challa had no words. He knew that this was something kings in other countries do, but Wakanda never adapted that system.

"Uhh..." T'Challa stiffly shook his hand in front of Bruce. "We don't do that here."

As soon as Bruce heard those words from T'Challa, he got up from the ground while wiping the dust off of his pants. The scientist didn't know what to say, either.

"Anyways..." T'Challa looked at Steve in his eyes. "Barnes has been doing good."

And in accuracy, Bucky walked into the scene while having a metallic arm attached to the shoulder whose part had been severed. He was wearing a gracious smile, delighted that he finally got to see Steve once again. Knowing that it was a time for the reunion of two friends, T'Challa moved out of the way, allowing Steve to see Bucky.

Steve smiled as he approached his childhood friend and embraced him. "How you've been, Buck?"

Bucky and Steve both released each other from their heartfelt embrace as the former spoke to him, also sharing the amorous smile on his face. "Not bad, for the end of the world."

But Bucky's smile faded like the firmanent clouds when he caught the sight of Tony Stark, who was staring at him with an expression cold as ice. Steve was wondering what made Bucky frown, so he began following his gaze. And when he did, he finally noticed what it was that made him feel so crestfallen. He looked back at Bucky, and then placed his arm on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Buck." Steve said gently. "He's just in shock. I'm sure he'll forgive you soon."

But instead of putting the smile on his face again, Bucky only stared at the ground. Steve wanted to pick a fight with Tony, as he gritted his teeth in frustration. But he knew that wasn't going to solve anything, and that it would only make things worse. So instead of taking it out on Tony, he simply patted Bucky on his back, hoping that it could comfort him at least a little bit.