6552/Lil' Sister comes a-knockin'.

Lil' Sister comes a-knockin'.
Date of Scene:	14 June 2021
Location:	Bucky's Tenement Hidey Hole in Manhattan
Synopsis:	Shuri got her way, is anyone surprised?
Cast of Characters:	James Barnes, Shuri

---

James Barnes has posed:
    It's been a rough day... hell, it's been a rough few months. But it's really been a rough day. That's why Bucky is currently hold up in a little rundown apartment that he pays cash to rent. It's under the name Elijah Baxter. There's nothing in the place but a mattress on the floor and a few changes of clothes. It's a roach infested, run down, gross building. Certainly no place for a Princess!

Shuri has posed:
    Shuri was able to see the news story, and that gave her a look at a familiar face. From there, it's been a matter of tracking him down. It might be hard for some people, but she's had a good look at his tech, and she's also one of the smartest people on the planet. The rest is mostly checking sensor readings for energy particle decay and trace things down. She's made her way to the apartment, and she knocks at his door. "Don't run." She says through the door. "It would be really inconvenient."

James Barnes has posed:
    ...and Bucky was about to do just that. Seriously, he was up and heading for the window and the fire escape almost before Shuri knocked. Had he been in top form, he might have made it. As it is, he has one leg out the window when he hears that familiar voice.
    "Damnit," he mutters as he pulls that leg back and walks over to open the door.
    The little sassy princess standing in front of him is one of the few people that can cause James Buchanan Barnes to look 'sheepish' these days, but sheepish he looks as he runs a hand back through that mess of hair he has. "Shuri." Just that, but so much in that name. He's *pissed* that she's here when she shouldn't be, but he's also glad to see her and maybe a little ashamed that he hasn't contacted her in months.
    ...he's also sans shirt and appears to have been injured recently? Shot? Then operated on? But the wound looks healed to a degree, likely what would amount to a day or so old for the super soldier, so ... three or so weeks for a normal person.

Shuri has posed:
    She frowns a little, as she sees the wounds on Bucky. "You know, you are tough, but you are not bulletproof, Sergeant Barnes." Shuri looks at him, and sighs the sigh of the long-suffering. "Go on, back up. I can't walk through you." She's not so much asking to come in as just telling him to get out of the way so she can.

James Barnes has posed:
    She really shouldn't be here! Does he tell her that? No. Why? Because it wouldn't do a damned bit of good and he damned well knows it. Some days he fleetingly regrets the moment he saved her from that kidnap attempt - no, not really. He adores the girl, he does. But she shouldn't be here!
    Bucky's sigh is more long-suffering! He's lived longer after all. He steps aside. "Shuri..." he begins. ...but then nothing. Yeah, she's not going anywhere.

Shuri has posed:
    "Yes, you've already said that." The princess sounds more irritated than that. "I swear, you are worse than my brother at this stubbornness. She takes out one of the kimoyo beads she has, and holds it out, using it as a sensor to get readings of his injury. "Thankfully it looks like you'll be healing it soon enough. So. Obviously I have questions. Why don't you start answering them? It will save us all time."

James Barnes has posed:
    It's a good thing Steve isn't here to see this, Bucky would never, ever hear the end of it. "Then... I guess I have answers," he mumbles. He finally moves from the door and lets the inevitable happen. There's not really place to sit in this hell hole, but the mattress on the floor and it's a little bloody, so he stands against a wall, arms crossed over his chest as if he's trying to hide his injuries, so... maybe she won't be so... pissy. ...and bossy... like make she'll forget about them.

Shuri has posed:
    Shuri looks around. Nowhere to sit, and unlike Bucky, she seems to decide that leaning against the wall here is a little too disgusting for her choice. So, she almost matches his pose, crossing her arms over her chest. "Go on. You know all the things I'm going to ask you. Why are you in such a disgusting place? Why aren't you getting proper medical treatment? Why are you on the news? And why are you making me ask this? You're too smart for all this."

James Barnes has posed:
    "Because it's cheap and accepts cash, no paper trail."
    "Because the only safe proper medical treatment is in Delaware and I wasn't ready to drive back yet."
    "Because I wanted an egg roll." There's probably a lot more to that one.
    "Uh, there's no possible way I could ever *make* you do anything..."
    He ticks off the answers one right after the other in order and with as little volunteered information as possible.
    "Look Shuri," he beings as he spreads is arms a little in that 'what are you gonna do, sometimes shit happens' fashion. "I'm fine, swear it. It was just *bad* day and I need to regroup before going..." He falls short of finishing that, because home really isn't where he goes at the end of the day these days.

Shuri has posed:
    She didn't miss it. "Before going where? This place is horrible. And why are you getting medical treatment in Delaware?" Pause. "And I'll have to try egg rolls." Not exactly Wakandan cuisine. The princess looks back at him, lifting an eyebrow. "If you're going to make it hard to get information, I am going to make you regret it." It's not a threat. Not really. More the little sister reminding she can make the big brother's life hell.

James Barnes has posed:
    SIIIIIIGHHHHHHH. Bucky pushes off the wall and wanders to the disgusting little kitchenette area. He pulls a hand towel off the 'fridge handle and wets it with the rust tinged water that runs from the kitchen tap. "Let me get cleaned up and we'll go somewhere else and talk, okay?" There's a lot to be told, but he starts the conversation while he's getting ready with, "I guess you're hearing all the crap about SHIELD being terrorists?"

Shuri has posed:
    "All right." She agrees. "It's certainly better than being here. And I've heard some of it. I don't have any real information to judge either way." Shuri looks over at the rusty water dubiously. "Bring your things with you. You're not coming back here."

James Barnes has posed:
    He uses the towel, the one wet with that dubious rusty water to clean the dried blood off his bare chest and from around that recent, but healing, wound. Bucky is pretty quick about getting it mostly off, maybe there's still a little bit there. Or is that rust?
    Doesn't matter. There's one closet in the room and that's where he heads next to pull out a black t-shirt and an old army surplus jacket.
    "It's HYDRA, Shuri, they're behind all of it." But that's all he has to say while they're still here other than, "I don't have anything here I need to take."
    A beat and, "Wong's is probably closed until further notice, that's where you need to try egg rolls."

Shuri has posed:
    "Well, that's fairly horrible." She looks over to Bucky. "So, what can I do to help?" She'll wait for him to take the lead, and move to follow him. Only because she doesn't know the neighborhood.

James Barnes has posed:
    "Uhhhh... stay out of it?" Bucky suggests uselessly. He's sliding the jacket on as he's walking through the door. The pockets are a little heavy. He's packing more than just a sidearm on his calf and a knife in at his lower back tonight for some reason.
    "So, we traveling your way or mine?" he asks. With his way being that old Ural side-car rig of his. Somehow, he's not sure the princess will to ride in his side-car.

Shuri has posed:
    "That sounds well...stupid." Yeah, Shuri can be blunt at times. "If you have someone who you know isn't involved with HYDRA who's willing to help, then you should be accepting the help." She looks at the side-car. "Oh, hell no." She takes out her smartphone. "I'll get us an Uber."

James Barnes has posed:
    "No..." Bucky FIRMS. He CAN get firm with her sometimes. "No uber." It's too 'public' after what went on tonight. "C'mon, we'll walk. There's a little bar not too far from here that has a decent burger and a corner table that's private enough if we play the jukebox." Or... he gestures to the Ural again.

Shuri has posed:
    She looks at the Ural. "That looks like it's going to fall apart." She sighs. "Fine. Fine. This is /only/ because I like you." And with that, she moves over to get in.

James Barnes has posed:
    "It won't," is all Bucky says in reply, but he's confident in the fact. He keeps the old girl in tip-top for sure. In the end, it's actually a nice ride. The weather's warm, the sun is just setting and... the bugs are minimum. Of course a motorcycle with a side-car doesn't leave much room for conversation so it's not until they get to their destination, the Wakandan Embassy, and he's pulled into a spot nearby, that he speaks.
    "Shuri, I'm probably breaking a million rules just by talking to you about *any* of this." Uh-oh, is he REALLY trying to just drop her off at 'home'? "I *promise* you that I'll check in every day, but... this is too dangerous." Oh no he didn't!

Shuri has posed:
    She looks over at him, and her face is Not Impressed. "You did. Not. Try. To. Ditch. Me." Uh-oh. Princess is tiny but fierce. "Keep going to whatever place you want to talk. And if you want to do that in the Embassy, that's fine. I /might/ even let you leave." A little reminder of her position. "Or, you can do the smart thing, and Let. Me. Help."

James Barnes has posed:
    Damnit... "...just a second," Bucky says. The words come out along with a sighed breath. He pulls a little flip phone from his pocket and dials a number. "Steve, gonna be a little late getting back from the city, ran into a little problem." No, he's not talking about the news story... because when he says 'little problem', he's looking right at the little Princess.

Shuri has posed:
    For her part, Shuri shows not one /iota/ of apology or regret. He made her get splattered by bugs. There will be a reckoning. Mind you, one hand that's been in her pocket the entire time is completely synching onto the phone call, both numbers, the far location...yay kimoyo beads.

James Barnes has posed:
    Once he places the phone call, Bucky puts his phone back in his pocket and pulls out of the parking spot. More bugs! Lots more, because they drive for at least an hour. They end up out of Manhattan and into Westchester County. ...then a little further, to a tiny little park that's absolutely deserted by this hour. He pulls into a spot and climbs off the bike.
    He looks tired, so damned tired.
    "A'ight, I'll talk, but I seriously don't think you should get involved. Look, Shur... I don't think you *can*. This is levels of shit you shouldn't be touching."
    He gestures to a quaint little picnic table with an umbrella. "C'mon, let's sit."

Shuri has posed:
    "James." Shuri says, as she gets off the bike. "You have no idea of the resources I have at my disposal." The /world/ doesn't. That's sort of the point. "But for the sake of argument, let's say it's a lot. I'm also one of the smartest people on the planet." And the scarier part is she doesn't even seem like she's boasting. Just that she's stating a fact.
    "Besides. You are clearly run thin. You need help. Even if you don't want to admit it."

James Barnes has posed:
    Bucky waits until they're seated at the table before he starts with, "Shuri, the *Secretary of Defense* is a HYDRA plant." That in of itself is a good indication of how 'a lot' this mess is. "I'm a wanted fugitive..." AGAIN. But, "...and so is everyone involved in SHIELD. HYDRA has taken over the Triskelion, we're all in hiding in Delaware."
    ...and now the hardest part for him to talk about. "...and they have Peggy trapped in some weird computer world, the Framework. It's inside this giant sphere under Manhattan. That's where I was today before I went for egg rolls, guarding the sphere and the ones trapped in it."

Shuri has posed:
    AH. Okay, this is what she needed. "All right. So. First, we need to get to Delaware. Then, I need to talk to whoever is running this...resistance. Also, if they are trapped in this sphere and you were able to get to it? You should get /me/ to it. I may very well be able to do something about it."
    She looks at him with her Very Serious Face. "You need allies. And you need resources. Luckily for you, I am both."

James Barnes has posed:
    If life were only that simple. It should be that simple. The longer Bucky sits, the more tired and worn he looks. The adrenaline of the day is fading quickly now.
    "Shur, none of that, none of it, is my decision to make," he points out gently. How does he make her understand without setting her off like an armed nuke. "I don't have much pull with SHIELD, especially not with Peggy..." Gone, out of commission, stuck in some weird ass computer thing that his 1920's self can't BEGIN to understand? "I'm pretty sure the only reason I'm there is because it was the best alternative they could find to prison," he all but whispers. The Winter Soldier and James Buchanan Barnes may be two different entities entirely, but they occupy the same space... and the former would have certainly been locked up for life or executed if that wasn't the case.
    "...it's better than..." the way it was before, the alternative. "But I'm still more of an asset, a..." he searches for a word other than prisoner but fails for a moment. Finally he comes up with, "I'm their charge, Shuri. They've take on responsibility for me. They're not going to like me dragging an outsider into this."

Shuri has posed:
    "Well, then they can get over it. They have a problem and they need a solution. They're not in a position to turn down help." Shuri says, defensively. "One way or the other, you're not going back to that...I won't even dignify it calling it a flat. I'll pay for you to have something better."

James Barnes has posed:
    Bucky ... laughs. It's a genuine from the gut and heart laugh. He doesn't do that often, he should though. "Shuri, they're not making me live there. It's just a place I keep so I have somewhere to lay low when I need to. I was going back to Delaware tonight."
    He studies the spunky little Princess for a moment or three and lets out a sigh. "Okay, listen kiddo... this sphere thing that has Peggy and the others trapped in that computer world is in Manhattan, it's under the city. I was leaving my guard post there when I made the mistake of stopping for egg rolls." Leaving because they forced him to take a break that is. "I have to go back to Delaware tonight, report back in, if I don't there's going to be a huge stink and I don't like stink. But I *promise* you, my next shift at the sphere, I'll take you with me and they can tell you that you can't come in..." If they dare.

Shuri has posed:
    They are welcome to try. Good luck with that. "Then we have a plan. I will get some things together to deal with the situation." She nods seriously.

James Barnes has posed:
    Well, that conversation didn't really need to happen an hour outside of Manhattan did it? Maybe it was Bucky's way of getting a little 'brotherly' jab in at Shuri. Make her ride in that side-car with the BUGS flitting about and such. "A'ight, let's head back. We can stop for egg rolls on the way home. I mean really stop for egg rolls, not the kind of egg roll stop that ends in blood and pictures on the news."
    ...just a beat before he adds, "Your brother doesn't get to know about any of this, okay? I *really* don't want to deal with him trying to kick my ass over what I'm sure he'll see as me endangering you."

Shuri has posed:
    Oh, there will be a reckoning for the bugs. Make no mistake. She looks back to Bucky, and smiles wryly. "I'm sure that as long as things are going smoothly..." Read that as, Shuri getting her way... "...that I don't need to let him know about any of this."

James Barnes has posed:
    His sigh is one of fond exasperation. WHY didn't he let them kidnap her again? Oh, that's right, Bucky is a masochist that's fond of self punishment for his many many many past sins?
    Nah, really though, he loves the little 'brat'.
    "Yeah, yeah, let's get you back before they think you've actually been kidnapped." On the return trip, he'll do his best to avoid bugs, but... well... it's an effort made in vain.

Shuri has posed:
    Shuri is much less than happy by the time she's dropped off at the Wakandan embassy. She'll definitely be planning for some...options the next time she sees him. Now it's just for the waiting.