[THIRD PERSON POV]

"Ms. Penton you don't have to be in here yet, you do know he isn't supposed to gain consciousness for quite a long while. I can send someone to come and get you when-"

Shuri's words seemed to disintegrate in the surrounding air around them, all of Davina's focus was on the limp body she loved so much spread out across a medical table a few mere steps away. The arm she had accepted and grown to love was missing from his body. Instead, a darker metal was formed in its place, slivers of gold noticeable on certain parts.

Her eyes were glazed over as they inspected every square inch of his body, taking in the sight of him out of the cryo freeze, where he had been asleep for the past year.

She watched his chest slowly rise and fall, it was the key to her comfort, knowing he was safe, just asleep from the affects of the cryo freeze. 

Davina hadn't been there when he was taken out, she had wanted to, practically begged like a mad-woman, but T'Challa had refused. He had told her that she wouldn't want to see him like that, and instead took her to the lab and hour later, once the major side affects had worn off.

Davina didn't care what he looked like, she needed to see him, she needed to hold him, she needed to be in his arms, she needed more than anything else in the world to hold him and never let go.

"Ms. Penton? Are you listening?" Shuri's urgent voice ripped away her lost imagination and forced her focus back to the scientist.

"Sorry Shuri, i'm just a little distracted." Davina whispered shakily, brushing her fingers tips gently across his pink cheek, the stubble from his beard slightly tickling her fingers.

She had come to see him in the cryo freeze a number of times through out the year, of course it was just the endless event of staring at his lifeless-looking body in a chamber. This felt the same, his skin was freezing cold to the touch, almost burning her finger tips as they dragged lightly across his cheekbones.

Shuri smiled warmly at the broken girl next to her. She had witnessed Davina saunter into the lab in the dead of night, at least twice a week and plop herself down next to the cryo freeze chamber with a book. She would read aloud to him, as if he could hear.

The Wakandan princess had never informed the other girl that he couldn't hear, he couldn't sense anything. It seemed that those small moments she spent reading to him brought her so much happiness, Shuri didn't want to take that away from her, she couldn't take that away from her.

"He won't awake for another few hours Davina.. Why don't you go get some food and I shall personally come and get you as soon as he starts to stir." Shuri pressed gently.

The girl looked broken, Shuri had tried to mend her mind the best she could, but it wasn't as easy as mending a broken arm. The brain was a delicate thing, not one being the same as another. It was something that troubled Shuri, though she had tried her best to reassure the girl's mind.

Davina instantly shook her head in response to Shuri's suggestion, wisps of dark hair escaping the messy bun on her head and tumbling down her exhausted-looking face. "I need to stay here, j-just in case-"

"Davina, he isn't going to wake up soon. Go sleep, go eat, go do something. He wouldn't want you wasting your day standing here staring at him, trust me." Shuri placed a hand on Davina's back and gently ushered her towards the door.

"But Shuri-"

"Davina.."

Davina finally whipped around to face the girl properly, a concerned look in her eye. "Promise me you'll come get me, a-as soon as anything happens? Even the slightest thing..."

Shuri laughed softly before sticking out her pinky finger. "Pinky swear." She giggled as the other girl smiled wickedly and they locked pinky fingers, winking at each other in amusement at their childish actions.

Shuri cast the broken girl one last reassuring glance before the brunette disappeared out the lab door and sauntered through the empty halls.

☆☆☆

Davina's bright orbs danced over the shelves, housing hundreds of books Wanda had sent her over the past year. She had them organised to precise perfection, all 309 of them. Though she had organised them in a way only she would understand, the girl liked it that way.

Before the pair had travelled to Wakanda, Davina had found a sheet of paper in Bucky's room. 29 book titles were written on it, 29 books Bucky was wanting to read at some point in his life. 

Davina's eyes scanned over those 29 books at the top left of the shelves. Her eyes focused on the few titles she had enjoyed reading to him the most, The Handmaids Tale and The Broken Shore.

She couldn't help but smile slightly at the next shelf her eyes found. The books she and Bucky had read together back at the compound, always a competition to see who could finish first. She remembered them reading Bag Of Bones and Sharp Objects. The girl never seemed to get tired of re-reading the books they had once read together. Doing so seemed to be her safe haven, the place she could venture to when all hope seemed lost.

The final books her eyes found was a title she knew to be Bucky's favourite book The Hobbit. It was the only book taking up space on her shelves that she hadn't read. Every time she opened the book, tears seemed to cloud her vision and her eyes couldn't capture more than two lines.

Taking a deep, heart shuddering breath, the girl reached up on her top shelf and grabbed the book, holding it close in her arms.

She moved to the corner of her generously large room and sat down on the floor boards, her back pressed up against the door.

Without thinking more than she needed to, she opened the book and allowed the pages to devour her into its bewitched world of wonder.

|

"The world is not in your books and maps, it's out there." Davina read aloud in a hushed whisper. Her eyes scanning the bottom of the page to see how far she'd come. 120. Not even half way.

Clutching Bucky's book close to her chest with astronomical strength, she stood up and walked out of the room towards the lab. Her feet had memorised the path to her destination, so her mind needn't guide her.

Her scuffed converse made slight padding noises as she made her way through the empty halls. Soon after she arrived, Davina had come to the realisation that not many people took up residence in the grand castle T'Challa called home. To be honest, she rarely saw the king himself in here either, mainly Shuri and a few guards here and there.

The large double doors leading to the lab came into view as the girl turned the last corner to reach her destination. Before her shaking hand could reach out to clasp around the door handle, the steel doors were flung open, almost smacking her in the head.

Shuri came bustling out, avoiding knocking the other girl off her feet like the door had almost done moments before. "D-Davina, he's-"

Shuri was cut off as Davina rushed past her into the empty lab.. Well, almost empty. She stepped into the room just in time to see Bucky rising to his feet from the table, his eyes locking with hers.

The pair stood on opposite ends of the room, speechless, before Davina dropped the book to the floor and sprinted towards him, flinging her legs around his waist and wrapping her arms around his neck.

He wasted no time snaking his own arms around her waist and holding her up. Davina's face was buried in the crook of his neck, and his in her soft curls.

She slowly lowered herself onto the floor and opened her mouth to speak, but didn't get the chance as his lips crashed down onto hers, aching for her touch. He snaked his arms around her waist once more as she wrapped hers around his neck.

"I missed you, so much.." She choked out once they had broken the kiss. 

He pressed his forehead against hers and cupped her face with his hands. She melted into his touch, relief coursing through her veins in result to finally living the day she had been awaiting for a painful amount of time.

"I'm here.." He whispered, tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear with one hand, wiping away her stray tears with the other.

She opened her mouth but no words came out, so she instead brought her lips to his once again. He nibbled on her bottom lip as the kiss deepened

"I'm still here." Shuri's voice cut in.

The pair broke away to witness Shuri walking towards them with Davina's- Well, Bucky's book in her hands.

The girl smiled warmly and placed the book into Davina's hands. Bucky squinted slightly at it, his brows furrowing before relaxing as the realisation finally hit him.

"Is that my book?" He chuckled.

Davina laughed guiltily while nodding.

The pair turned their attention back on Shuri, who looked ready to speak. "How are you feeling Mr. Barnes?" He asked.

"I feel fine- I feel great actually... Thank you. How can I repay-"

"Think of it as a friends favour Mr. Barnes. No payment will be necessary." She smiled her signature, wide smile. "My brother, T'Challa is not here, though if you would like to stay for a few more days before returning, that could be organised?" 

Bucky glanced down at Davina whilst snaking his flesh arm around her waist, holding her body close to his. She leant into his touch slightly, allowing his warmth to consume her completely. She sighed softly in comfort, awaiting his response.

"No thank you Shuri.. I cannot thank you enough for everything you've done to help me, but.. I think it's time we returned home."

Word Count : 1690