Untangling a Memory

Cool skin

Natasha left the gym and quickly went to Steve's room to clean up, before heading back to Shuri's office. She still was living out of his room, not comfortable returning to her own suite since it was triggering flickers of trauma, nightmares, and regret. While Natasha was hoping to recover from the recent turbulent events, she was still very much a work in progress. Thankfully, Steve had been happy to have her continue to stay with him. He even brought down more clean clothes from her room for her. The rest of her personal items she'd taken with her during her brief stint on the run.

Hopping in Steve's shower, Natasha let the hot steam consume her. She didn't want to take very long washing up, but it was difficult as her knuckles stung with the scorching water soaking right through her bandages. She made a mental agreement with herself that she would ask Shuri to rewrap them when she went downstairs.

Beyond her issues with her open, painful wounds, Natasha struggled to keep focus as she showered and got ready. Even though Steve had talked it over with her, a little voice in the back of her head still nagged, a nervous hum that constantly was on repeat- that this was all her fault. Her only way to combat it was to quietly remind herself of Steve's reassurances, trying to keep her anxiety in check.

Wash hair. You didn't do anything wrong.

Scrub body. Try to believe him.

Towel off. He's doing it for the right reasons.

Moisturize face. Trust him.

Get dressed. He cares about you.

Natasha cozily wrapped herself up in a t-shirt and sweatpants she'd stolen from Bucky and headed back down to Shuri's office. She mumbled the mantras under her breath as she took each step, trying to keep herself calm. The closer she got, the more anxious she became and the more she thought about turning around. But her legs acted on their own accord, even as her heart raced.

After her dramatic entrance and exit from Shuri's office earlier, Natasha approached this time more tentatively. Stopping just inside the threshold, she knocked lightly on the wall, waiting for permission to move further.

"Nat! Stop sulking around the door and come in." Shuri waved her forward.

"I'm really sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have..." Natasha spoke in low tones as she sauntered toward the scene of her morning hysterics.

"Don't worry about it! It's already forgotten." Shuri gave Natasha a wide, reassuring grin. "Do you want to try again? You don't have to, of course. You can sit out here and keep me company, instead. I'm working on a way to utilize vibrainium in ultrafast nano-plasmons to tame the nanoscale. Fun right?"

Natasha looked at Shuri as if she'd spoken in a language she'd recreated on the spot. In fact, Natasha couldn't be sure she hadn't. But after an extended silence filled only by Natasha's puzzled expression, she finally spoke.

"I think, I'd like to see him. I mean, if that's ok."

"Of course. You can help me with the nano-plasmons later," Shuri said with a wink. Natasha could tell she was deliberately trying to lighten the mood and Natasha appreciated it.

Shuri led the way over to the makeshift medical suite, one that was becoming more and more permanent through its repeated use. As she did earlier, Shuri waved her wrist next to the door and the automatic sensor triggered the door to slide open. While last time Shuri had simply strode into the room and went straight about checking the monitors, this time she stayed close to Natasha. She sensed Natasha's hesitation and provided unspoken support.

Natasha took small steps until she was next to Bucky's side, mirroring her actions from hours earlier. She had the same inclination to run from the room. It was unnerving for her and she couldn't put her finger on what made her stomach drop upon seeing him this way. Finally, Shuri broke Natasha's from unsettled trance.