Wakanda

Spring 2016

When Nadine had come across Iris sitting with Barnes, she had certainly not expected the admittedly difficult but no less necessary exchange that had followed to be the key to calming her restless thoughts. Not anticipating as she had that any conversation between her and the woman in love with her daughter's father would be difficult at the very least.

And yet, when Nadine finally left Iris alone with Barnes, she'd realized belatedly that that was precisely what had happened. That in talking to Iris, in telling her honestly—entrusting her with it, it almost felt like—what she'd had with Barnes almost twenty years before, she'd found a degree of...calm.

A calm that followed her back to the rooms their team had been given and the room she shared with Steve.

And even as the first real morning rays had broken the horizon, Nadine had drifted off almost as soon as she'd slipped back into bed next to Steve.

Joining him and the rest of their team in sleep.

It was a testament to just how demanding the last several days had been on all of them. Even the youngest members of their team were long accustomed to rising early, but between the exhaustion they'd all been staving off, the varying states of healing some of them had been in and the mundane but no less real effects of coping with time changes saw each and every one of them sleeping later than might normally be typical.

But eventually they all began to rise, Natasha perhaps unsurprisingly being the first to emerge followed closely by Nina and Wanda—both of whom failed to entirely hide their sniggers when a decidedly drowsy and dishevelled Sam emerged from Natasha's room not long after.

Natasha who held little compunction against inviting herself into Nadine and Steve's room when the pair of them failed to appear even after a still recovering and somewhat sullen Pietro had managed to stumble out of bed not long after Sam similarly in search of coffee.

"There's a message from the princess," the redhead announced without preamble, picking up Steve's trousers and tossing them at the newly woken couple. Nadine had nearly grinned despite her annoyance as she'd peeked from beneath her closed lids at Steve's frustrated groan, quietly enjoying the faint flush creeping up the back of his neck and across his cheeks beneath the hand scrubbing over his face. Nadine's shirt followed. "She'd like to see you two and Nina in the conference room just above her lab. Apparently she's sending someone to collect the three of you in, oh," she paused thoughtfully, likely making a show of checking the time Nadine suspected without bothering to look—pure theatrics and nothing more, Nadine knew, given that she very much doubted Natasha had headed for their door without knowing precisely how long before their escort was going to arrive, "a half-hour or so."

"I would ask if you've heard of knocking..." Nadine muttered dryly against Steve's side, leaving the observation hanging. Natasha chuckled.

Steve reflexively caught his shirt just short of it landing on his face, Nadine flinching slightly as the hem still managed to catch her cheek.

Nose wrinkling in aggravation, Nadine lifted her head enough to fix her sister with a disgruntled glare. "Careful, lisichka," she grumbled, dropping her head back to the hollow of Steve's shoulder, "I can't imagine Sam would be happy if I invite myself into your room unannounced." A low, barely audible chuckle vibrated beneath her cheek even as Natasha hummed dismissively before she sailed back out of the room, clearly unconcerned.

"You wouldn't really do it, would you?" Nadine lifted her head from Steve's shoulder with a sleepy smirk. But she didn't answer further, merely leaning up to place a lingering kiss on his grinning lips before reluctantly pulling herself out of bed.

Truthfully, she hadn't decided yet.

Both options had merits.

With a chuckle, Steve followed.

A rather pleasant if regrettably brief shower later, during which they had taken full advantage of Steve's ability to lift her with Enhanced ease during a quick but still undeniably satisfying few moments of distraction, they emerged from their room with moments to spare, each taking the first sips of their coffees beneath the watchful—and decidedly smug on Natasha's and, to Steve's embarrassment, even Sam and Wanda's part and faintly unsettled but still pleased on Nina's—eyes of their teammates as the member of the Dora Milaje Shuri had evidently sent to serve as their escort appeared.

With her entrance, the light-hearted mood in the room faded perceptibly into one of nervous anticipation.

Exchanging a loaded look with her sister, Nadine stood, gently urging a suddenly pale Nina toward the door even as Steve's hand grazed across the small of her back to similarly gesture her onward.

The Dora Milaje efficiently led the three of them through the facility's maze of corridors, her pace brisk but still carefully measured enough that they could easily keep up. It was only thanks to her wandering earlier that morning and her training that Nadine found herself vaguely recognizing where they were and where they were going, absently mapping out their route in the back of her mind even as another corner considered the best way to get back or even get out.

Old habits die hard, after all.

But still, even mentally conditioned though she was, there were a few moments where even she nearly lost her bearings in the unfamiliar halls.

Still, by the time their escort stopped before a set of doors similar to the ones that had led them into the network of rooms and corridors that made up Shuri and the Design Group's labs the heart of the facility, Nadine was fairly certain she had a workable understanding of the facility's layout and where they were within it.

If she wasn't mistaken, the room they entered as the Dora Milaje stepped aside and gestured them silently through the door was several stories above Shuri's Lab where they had met the princess the day before, near the top of the spiralling structure they had used to descend to the ground floor of the Lab. Sure enough, the far side of the meeting room they found themselves in opened to a balcony which in turn was connected to the structure by a similar walkway to the one they'd crossed the day before.

"Oh good!" The three of them had no sooner entered the room when Shuri's cheerful voice had piped up as she flitted in from the balcony. "You're right on time." Nadine couldn't help but exchange a silent glance with Steve, barely managing to keep her incredulous grin better concealed than he did; his lip quirked tellingly.

"Did you manage to get Mr Stark's program?" Nina asked eagerly. Shuri nodded as she crossed the room.

"Yeah, no problem," she waved off. And promptly passed the three of them without stopping instead of joining them as Nadine—and evidently Steve and Nina as well given the way Nina's eyes widened faintly with surprise and Steve's brow furrowed, perplexed—had expected.

She only paused at the door to shoot the three of them an impatient look. "Well c'mon, then. You might have all day, but I've got all sorts of things to do," she chided with a gesture for them to follow. Exchanging another look, Nadine and Steve fell in behind Shuri and Nina, the two teens quickly falling into an easy chatter about Stark's B.A.R.F. program and its current capabilities.

It soon became clear to Nadine just where they were going. Sure enough, the room that Shuri led them to was quite familiar indeed.

As were its occupants.

"Good, you're all here," Shuri chirped with a smile at her brother and Okoye even as she went straight for the console attached to Barnes' cryopod. Only for her brows to pinch in a mild frown as she looked around the room, clearly noting the one face Nadine had realized was absent almost as soon as she crossed the threshold.

She didn't see Iris.

"Where's Barnes' girlfriend," Shuri asked curiously in the midst of everyone settling into the room, echoing Nadine's silent query.

"Resting," T'Challa replied, sympathy plain in his mild expression. "She wanted to stay for the update, but she could barely keep her eyes open when Okoye and I arrived. I promised to update her once she rises." Nadine couldn't help the flicker of approval at the Wakandan King's explanation.

Though she was sure the younger woman would've preferred to be present the update they were about to get, Nadine was admittedly relieved that Iris—clearly exhausted as she had been even before Nadine had left her alone in the very lab they stood in now hours before—had finally retired to the rooms undoubtedly set aside for her.

Much as she knew Barnes would appreciate the gesture, Nadine rather suspected he very much wouldn't want the woman he loved making herself ill, either.

"We can get started, then?" Shuri was asking, turning back to the panel next to Barnes. Though she was no longer looking to him, T'Challa nevertheless nodded before answering.

"You have made progress, I hope," T'Challa prompted, silently gesturing the rest of them further into the room. It was smaller than the lab where Barnes had been put under and certainly smaller than Shuri's main lab, but it was mercifully large enough that they all still had room to breathe.

Not that Nadine didn't still feel the first tendrils of instinctive unease seeping in to prick at the edge of her thoughts from the nevertheless confined space.

Though, that unease was quickly forgotten as she looked to Nina, the movement of her wrapping her arms around her torso catching Nadine's eye.

Nina, who'd been talking animatedly with Shuri right up until the moment the door slid smoothly open, had paled and fallen silent, suddenly looking painfully young as she curled minutely into herself, her lower lip caught fretfully between her teeth.

As she stared at her father where he slept within his cryopod.

Nadine's heart clenched.

Edging closer to her daughter, sparing her a small, reassuring smile at the nearly plaintive look Nina turned on her as she lightly brushed her hand up Nina's arm and across her back into a loose embrace.

It helped a little, some of the tension seeping from Nina's frame at her mother's comforting touch.

At her brother's question Shuri's bright expression faded minutely in favour of a—slightly—sharper, more serious one. It was a subtle shift that made it perfectly clear that, despite her youth, the girl was frighteningly intelligent and deeply invested in her work—her calling, even, from what Nadine had seen of her. It was like a switch flipping between the bubbly teen and the passionate, determined scientist.

One who refused to accept failure as anything but a temporary setback.

Yet another parallel to Stark, Nadine couldn't help but muse.

Though hopefully without the periodic penchant for manic and even self-destructive tendencies...

"Yes," Shuri confirmed confidently. She spared Nina a mischievous glance, the teenager in her peeking out for a brief moment. "I've been able to look over the program of Tony Stark's that Nina recommended—it's very good, even if it needs a few improvements," she added with a good-natured smirk. "Once I'm done with it, it will work perfectly. It will certainly save me a lot of time." Next to Nadine, Nina's nose wrinkled in faint indignation, but there was no hiding the pleased wash of pink that had coloured her cheeks at the recognition.

"I've already taken a more comprehensive scan of Sergeant Barnes' brain," Shuri continued as she resumed her briefing, sliding open and waking the console next to Barnes before, with an elegant and efficient series of gestures, pulling up the scans in question. "With it, I was able to create a one-on-one digital representation that we will use to run simulations of the improved Stark program until it's ready to be used on Sergeant Barnes directly. I have already begun running a preliminary algorithm of mine to isolate the areas affected by the programming detailed in that horrible book." Her briefing concluded, she looked mildly around the room, waiting patiently for them all to process everything she'd outlined without a trace of self-doubt or need for approval or validation.

Nadine privately had to admit her self-assurance in her work was quite admirable.

"But it is going to work," Steve asked soberly, very much in his 'captain' mode. Nadine couldn't help but brush her hand against his in silent support; knowing him as she did, she knew how apprehensive he was, instinctively falling back on his 'captain' front much as she did her impassive Red Room masks. Her expression softening slightly in understanding even as she sobered, Shuri nodded.

"It will. But it is going to take time," she cautioned them with a serious look of her own. Next to Nadine Nina's shoulders slumped even as she fought to conceal her dismay, her face nevertheless falling even as Steve's features grew guarded beneath his attentive frown on Nadine's other side. Really, both their reactions summed up how Nadine herself was feeling beneath her own careful composure rather perfectly.

The disappointment the news garnered was tangible.

"How much time," Nadine asked warily before anyone else was able to collect themselves enough to ask. "Months? A year? Two? More?"

Shuri laughed.

They were all taken aback. So much so that Nina physically started, eyes going wide with surprise. Nadine blinked, equally startled even if she was better at masking it while Steve's frown deepened.

Nadine nearly scowled at the poorly hidden amusement in Okoye's eyes as she glanced fondly to her princess. T'Challa merely looked faintly exasperated, his own glance to his sister indulgent if somewhat disapproving.

"Oh, heck no," Shuri giggled. "A couple of weeks to a month. Maybe two most if things around here get busy." Next to Nadine, Nina straightened, her eyes brightening as hope bloomed on her face, and the relieved look she darted between Nadine, Shuri and Steve suddenly made Nadine's chest feel tight it was so potent.

Potent enough the air around her shimmered for a brief moment.

Nina let out a faint sound of surprise, her cheeks pinking faintly when she noticed. A faint pinch of concentration passed over her face and at once the barely perceptible distortion faded.

"Sorry," she murmured reflexively.

Only to blink self-consciously at the suddenly intrigued and thoughtful way Shuri was considering her. Nadine couldn't help but frown, her protective instincts waking at the intent way Shuri was looking at her daughter.

"What is it that you do, exactly," the Wakandan princess demanded curiously with an absent gesture toward Nina, "I wanted to ask you about that yesterday already. You are Enhanced, yeah? What is it?" Nina swallowed thickly, looking apprehensively to Nadine at the barrage of questions. Though instinctively private and thus still perhaps overcautious as she was of questions in general as a result, Nadine couldn't detect anything but well-meant curiosity and a desire for knowledge on Shuri's part.

Shuri wasn't Strucker or Secretary Ross, Nadine had to remind herself.

If anything, the Wakandan princess seemed far more interested in working with them—especially Nina—than having them work for her.

And after the last little while, that certainly felt like a crucial distinction. Feeling her expression soften at Nina's startled glance to her, she gave a subtle shrug.

It was Nina's call.

Though Nadine suspected she already knew what her daughter was going to do as she looked appraisingly back to Shuri.

She recognized the gleam beginning to grow in Nina's eyes.

It was rather similar to the one shining out of Shuri's face, actually, curiosity blazing in dark and pale eyes alike.

"I imagine you have questions," Nadine asked dryly before she could help herself.

"Oh, many," Shuri quipped back impishly.

Smirking proudly, Nina held up her hand and the distortion formed again in a shimmering, hazy concentration above her palm. "We're calling it an Inhibiting Field." Fascinated, Shuri all but shoved past her brother to Nina's side, her sharp eyes considering as her prodigious brain already set to work analyzing what she was seeing.

"It looks vaguely psionic, perhaps psycho-kinetic," she murmured thoughtfully, reaching out to hover her fingertips just short of the misty distortion. "Inhibiting...pretty self-explanatory, really, but—" she glanced questioningly to Nina, "can you inhibit physical movement only?"

"Kinetic energy, electric currents, other Enhanced abilities; psionic, telepathic—I can neutralize both the Twin's powers. I'm still working out what exactly I can and can't influence," she admitted sheepishly. Shuri's lips pursed faintly in thought.

"Have you analyzed the—no of course you haven't," she answered herself, sparing Nina a sympathetic, almost pitying glance, "you wouldn't have had access to the proper technology." And before Nina could even open her mouth to object indignantly, Shuri had a hold of her wrist and was tugging her over to the one of the room's consoles, impatiently waving a curiously frowning Okoye out of her path.

Despite herself, Nadine couldn't help but grin at the startled and vaguely helpless look Nina shot them all, reminded as she was of the way Shuri had done the same thing to her the day before.

"It was analysed," Nina managed to pipe up as Shuri dropped her wrist to turn to the console. "And what do you mean I haven't," she blurted out. "I had Mr Stark's tech at the Compound and at MIT. It was even analysed by some of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top people!" Nadine immediately stiffened, looking sharply to Nina.

"What do you mean, S.H.I.E.L.D.?" she broke in rather more sharply than she intended. Everyone stiffened at Nadine's tone. Even Shuri paused, looking between the two blonde women with mild concern. Nina paled, shooting Nadine an apologetic look and rushed to explain.

"Aunt Nat gave some energy output readings we took to Director Fury to have some S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists take a look. It wasn't connected in any way to me!" she reassured Nadine hurriedly as Nadine's features threatened to go blank as panic and alarm suddenly flared in her chest. "Nat said he brought it to them as a case study in something Mr Stark was working on." Though it calmed the rising panic, the development still left Nadine feeling uneasy.

Nina said it herself; her powers were capable of neutralizing everything from kinetic energy to other Enhancements.

If the scientists in question were able to artificially duplicate Nina's powers?

"That might explain those collars," Steve said softly, looking to Nadine with troubled eyes the instant Shuri had started drilling Nina with questions about her powers and their specific origins and make-up. Grimly, Nadine nodded her agreement. Perhaps. She didn't think Fury would let anyone at the newly reformed—if still mostly underground—S.H.I.E.L.D. misuse the data about Nina's powers, but at the same time?

He wasn't in charge anymore no matter the loyalty and influence he still commanded.

Secretary Ross and the Accords committee were.

Too bad they hadn't thought to bring one of the damned things along to examine further...

"Fascinating as Miss Ryker's powers are, perhaps this can wait," T'Challa chided gently with a pointed look to his sister. Shuri huffed petulantly, shooting him an unapologetic look but nevertheless putting the console back to sleep and stepping back from Nina with a commiserating look. "We are here to discuss Sergeant Barnes' treatment, after all." Stepping back around Okoye, Shuri confidently waved off her brother's observation.

"There's not much more to discuss, really. I pretty much covered everything. It's all under control." No matter that Shuri had effectively just repeated what she'd said before getting side-tracked by Nina's powers, hearing the confirmation still had Nadine letting out a soft exhale of relief. A feeling Steve shared given the loosening of the tension in his frame. "Like I said, it'll just take time. Mostly to adjust the parameters of Stark's program to suit our purposes and find the correct calibrations so we can make the proper modifications in Sergeant Barnes' mind without damaging his memories or who he is in the process," she continued almost absently, glancing around the room.

Only to pause as her gaze fell on Nina, her dark eyes growing sharply considering.

"You said yesterday that you helped write it," Shuri said thoughtfully after a moment, the observation somehow sounding almost like a demand. Nina nearly started at the abrupt address.

"I—I, yeah, I suppose I did," Nina shrugged, eying Shuri almost nervously as the calculating light in her eyes grew eager, "he did most of it. I just helped Mr Stark with some of the base coding and came up some of the sequencing for the interface algorithms...well, and I suppose I solved one of his frequency modulation problems, come to think of it. And I think he ultimately used one of the ideas we came up with for streamlining processing requirements too?" Shuri was nearly beaming, her eager expression turning almost smug as Nina's frown deepened, seemingly only just realizing that she'd in fact done more than she'd originally thought.

"That sounds like a little more than just helping," Steve observed with a fond smile. Nina's cheeks pinked even as she shook her head, waving it off.

"Not really. It was his idea and he still did most of the work," she countered weakly.

"But it means you know the program well, right?" Nina blinked, looking almost indignant at Shuri's impatient prompting. Nadine was sorely pressed to hide her grin. Shuri was certainly sharp. It very much wasn't a question.

And Nadine suddenly had a sneaking suspicion she knew what the Wakandan princess had in mind.

A flutter of apprehension woke in her chest, needling at the swell of pride that was currently and inconveniently threatening to close Nadine's throat.

"Yeah?" Shuri practically preened at the implied question in Nina's answer—why—looking smugly from Nina to her brother.

"There it is, then," she stated conclusively, lightly smacking her brother's chest with the back of her hand. "I told you she could help. It will go much faster if she stays."

"Wait, stays?"

"What do you mean, stays?"

Both Nina and Nadine's questions blurred together. T'Challa sighed, shooting his sister an admonishing glance. But even as he was opening his mouth to—presumably—explain, Shuri beat him to it.

"You should go to our university. The first Colonizer," Shuri said mischievously with a wide, enthusiastic grin. "Then you can help me fix Stark's program and we can study your Enhancement properly while you're here." Nina's eyes widened in shock as she looked between the Wakandan princess, Nadine and T'Challa. Nadine eyed the two siblings carefully—it was clear that this was something they'd discussed already, she realized with a jolt.

Her gut twisted nervously, but she fought to push it aside.

"I—I, what? I...I don't know, I—" Nina stammered, her thoughts visibly racing as she tried to process the offer.

"Oh c'mon," Shuri burst out with an impish glance to her brother, who suddenly looked like he was struggling not to roll his eyes at her antics. "You did practically demand to help yesterday. And it's Wakanda U. It's much better than MIT. You'll love it there," she said decisively.

"You would be welcome," T'Challa broke in kindly then, much more reserved than his sister, an indulgent smile on his face. "Regardless of whether or not you choose to attend our University. Should you wish to stay in Wakanda, be it to work with Shuri, attend our school, or even if you simply wish to remain with your father, you would have my full support to stay. Do not feel pressured by my sister; she does tend to presume she will get her way," he teased, affectionately patting Shuri's cheek. Shuri scoffed, batting his hand away.

Nina paled. "I don't want to be any trouble," she hurried to object, but T'Challa kindly waved it off.

"It would be no trouble. We'd be happy to have you. And, as Shuri perhaps hasn't made as clear as she should have," he added with a fondly admonishing glance to Shuri, who had the grace to look abashed, "she is confident you would provide a valuable contribution both to her work with your father and to our University."

"You...I really could? I could go to school here? I could..." And Nadine's chest tightened at the longing she could see her daughter trying to suppress; she knew Nina knew as well as she did that her options were limited and that, skilled though she, Nadine and Natasha might be, there was no guarantee despite their optimism that they could get Nina into another school even with a new cover.

To be offered a chance like this?

T'Challa smiled kindly, bowing his head slightly in confirmation. "It will undoubtedly take some adjustment, but our University values keen minds above all else. You will fit in well enough, I should think." Nina's eyes were wide and gleaming as she fought a smile.

"Mom?" Nina asked turning to Nadine, anticipation already beginning to sparkle in her eyes. And despite the way her heart was suddenly pressing up against her throat at the very idea of Nina staying behind in Wakanada, Nadine gave her a reassuring smile.

Because as anxious as the idea made her, the pride swelling in her chest and the joyful warmth seeing Nina so excited brought out overwhelmed her dread and her doubts.

Only to frown with concern as Nina's growing excitement suddenly began to dim as she looked between Nadine and Steve.

"But...what about you guys?" she asked softly, a thread of panic seeping into her voice. "Mom? Steve? What about the Twins and Aunt Nat and—" And Nadine swallowed back a remorseful, hitching breath.

"Oh, solnyshko," she murmured, reaching out to brush her fingertips across her daughter's pale cheek. Nina swallowed thickly, easily hearing what Nadine hadn't put into words. "I don't know about the Twins, but me and Steve? Natasha? Sam? Our place isn't here," she said gently.

"You would be welcome to stay as well, Mm. Ryker," T'Challa broke in carefully. "Just as I have already extended the invitation to Iris so she can stay with Sergeant Barnes and intend to for the Maximoffs for however long they wish even after Pietro is recovered to our doctors' satisfaction, all of you are welcome to stay," he offered, sparing an understanding look to Steve and Nadine. But as Nadine met Steve's eye, she knew he was thinking the same thing she was.

They'd already discussed it, after all.

The fight wasn't over, yet.

Slowly, not that it was truly necessary, Nadine nodded her agreement to Steve's silent question.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Steve said sedately but no less appreciatively as he turned to T'Challa. "But as generous as your offer is? As Nadine said, our place isn't here. We still have work to do." T'Challa nodded once more, more deeply this time in acknowledgement and respect of their decision. And Nadine couldn't help but get the distinct impression that he knew exactly what Steve meant.

Then he turned back to Nina.

"You do not have to decide now, Miss Ryker," he said kindly at the nervous uncertainty shadowing her features. Nina inhaled a shaking breath, looking back to Nadine again, her blue-grey eyes wide and gleaming.

And Nadine knew she'd already made her decision. Even if she didn't know it yet.

"It's your call, solnyshko," she said softly.

It was all she needed.

And with a small, hitching gasp as she broke into a bright smile, Nina all but launched herself at her mother in a flash of streaming blonde hair, her arms winding around Nadine's waist and clinging tight.

A small, hiccupping sound had Nadine drawing back slightly so she could peer down at her daughter's face. Nina eyes were bright where they'd fixed, unfocused on Barnes' cryopod.

"And—and it means I'll be here when he's ready to wake up," she said softly, her voice trembling faintly with emotion. Nadine smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair back from her daughter's face.

"I think he'd like that," Steve murmured from next to Nadine. Nina looked to Steve with a bright, relieved smile before looking hopefully up to Nadine.

"I want to stay," she said softly.

Nadine couldn't help but return her daughter's watery grin, taking her daughter's shining face in her hands and placing a loving kiss on her forehead.

"Of course, solnyshko."

And despite the lingering apprehension trembling in her chest, she was curiously calm and even...content with the idea.

Her daughter was happy.

And she would be safe.

Nina would be okay.

She looked to Steve over her daughter's pale hair, her own breath catching at how pleased, how happy he looked watching the two of them.

And at the love shining in his eyes as his hand brushed gently across the small of her back. Her heart thrummed, delight and the comforting wave of warmth that came from him and him alone soothing the last of her doubts and fears.

Yes. Nina would be okay, and so would Nadine.

Despite everything that had happened and what was undoubtedly still coming, she would be okay.

She had the rest of her family to watch her back just as she intended to watch theirs.

They would all be okay.

A/N: Because I like to give credit where credit is due: Parts of Shuri's assessment of Bucky and his treatment is adapted from the Infinity Wars prelude comic.

Well, there we have it.

I still honestly can't believe I'm saying it, but here we are. The last full chapter of The Ghost. 

All that's left is the Epilogue.

It still hasn't entirely hit me, yet.

I hope you all loved the chapter! I'm just dying to hear what you all think, so don't forget to vote and comment! They really do mean the world to me and definitely make putting up with this temperamental monster worth it! ;P

Thanks for reading!

See you all at the Epilogue!