Not Quite a Soldat

9

Chanel slipped her hand in Bucky's as T'Challa led them to the lab in the palace. He knew they were good guys but scientists still put Bucky on some sort of edge. The tapping pattern of her fingers on his hand was a calming lullaby. Bucky didn't even think she was aware that she was doing it.

"Chanel, Bucky, this is Shuri. Head of Wakanda's Science and Technology Department."

"And our idiot king's sister," she said the minute T'Challa turned the corner and left the lab.

Chanel laughed as she shook her hand. It was clear that Shuri was probably too young to be in charge of Wakanda's science but that made Chanel like her more. She had to be wicked smart in order to pull that off.

"Mr. Barnes, I assure you we will do everything to make your experience comfortable. May we examine your metal arm?"

Bucky nodded. He removed his hand from Chanel's and hopped onto the examining table. Shuri pulled over her rolling chair for Chanel to sit and watch them work. They detached Bucky's arm and he looked like a weight was lifted off of him. He answered their questions as best as he could and went in for the initial MRI scans.

"It's complicated, HYDRA was not very neat in what they did but I suppose that was the point," Shuri started. "But don't worry Mr. Barnes. It wasn't good enough to stop us. However we have to warn you that there will be side effects."

"Side effects?"

"We can't get rid of the Winter Soldier, just combine him with Bucky. Undoing your programming will undo the blackout feature. It's not a guarantee but there is a high potential that the Winter Soldier memories will slowly seep into your own."

"I'll remember every fucked up thing I've ever done."

"At no fault of your own. But we understand if you no longer want to do this."

"No, doc. I'm here for this."

"One more thing. It would only be for a few weeks, no more than four truly but we would need to put you under. The procedure works best if you are in cryo."

Bucky tensed up. Chanel knew that this would be the make or break factor for him. He nodded solemnly and let them lead him towards the chamber. Despite it being much sleeker than HYDRA's chamber, Bucky's breath still quickened as he saw the fog of ice roll out.

"Hey, hey, Bucky look at me."

He turned to face Chanel. All the other scientists gave him the space he needed but he wasn't calming down. Bucky was taking constant shallow breaths in but not really breathing out. He looked at the chamber behind him, shaking his head.

"I need you to order me to do it," he said, looking Chanel in the eye.

"What? Bucky, no."

"I can't do it. I— I can't go back in that thing unless I'm told to do it."

"I don't even know the Russian..."

"That's a lie. I know you've seen and heard them enough... please."

The last word came out as a pained whisper. Chanel broke when she looked at the pleading in his eyes. It was for him. Chanel watched the panicking stop as the emotion slowly faded with each word.

"Freight car."

"Ready to comply."

"Please get into the chamber, Soldat."