open post

[wingmate]

leave a prompt, a picture, a scene, whatever you want. gimme what you got.

for smutty things, head on over here.

Comments

[wingmate]

[ T'Challa's sudden appearance is really something Sam should get used to and fast. It's embarrassing to keep startling when he shows up at his elbow when Sam's been living with spies for so long.

(Nat in particular loves trying to sneak up on him. She still manages to do so, 8 times out of 10, and even the two times, Sam's sure it's just her feeling sorry for him.) ]

Uh, yeah - I mean - [ He rubs at the back of his neck. ] They're great. Just couldn't sleep, is all.

[foreclaws]

[ He's never close enough or soft enough to trigger real shock. Some impulses the body cannot control. ]

Come for a walk with me.

[ People will stare, but that is inevitable, and it is always wise to know the quality of a man's character. He has done his reading, naturally. Paper is not flesh.]

[wingmate]

[ He shifts, hesitates a moment, then decides to throw caution to the wind, falling into step with him. It's not like it would be a chore or anything to walk around with their host, even if he pretty much owns the whole kingdom.

There's a couple beats of silence before he finally says: ]

Thanks for taking us in, by the way. I don't know if I ever actually mentioned that, what with the whole -- [ he gestures, for once not able to come up with some smart aleck remark ] -- mess that went down.

[foreclaws]

[ It's not a chore, and it is not as though one disobeys a king. Wilson, much like Rogers, would be a difficult man to move if he chose not to. ]

It was the right thing.

[ Calm, like a dead end. It is one. He almost killed the wrong man; patience is the hunter's tool, while the swift hand is the king's. ]

You know you are not confined here?

[ Guards will accompany them if they choose to leave — it can't get out that they're here — but they are free to the sights outside the facility. ]

[wingmate]

[ The right thing. Sounds a lot like something his dad would say. Or Steve. He could do worse than walk with a guy who reminds him of two men he holds in high regard.

He hums. ]

Guess so, yeah. I mean, objectively I know that. Still kind of hard to process after getting locked up by your own government though. I think I just - [ he pauses, trying to put his thoughts into words, as jumbled as they are ] - I want to give you guys as little trouble as possible.

[foreclaws]

[ Little trouble would mean they be anywhere but Wakanda: the United Nations may balk at the idea of invading its most technologically advanced member, but there are other enhanced individuals out there who would not hesitate. T'Challa considers this, then dismisses it. What comes, comes. ]

You will not be conspicuous if you change the way you dress.

[wingmate]

[ The corners of his lips twitch upward just the tiniest bit at the suggestion. He glances down at himself, then tilts his head to T'Challa, conceding the point. ]

Might help a little. But not a lot if I keep hanging around Steve as often as I do.

[ Which, given that the man's practically his best friend at this point, is kind of non-negotiable. Then again, Sam doesn't mind trouble. He just doesn't want to make trouble for their hosts. ]

[foreclaws]

[ He mirrors the amusement, reservedly. ]

Have you given thought to what you will do here?

[wingmate]

[ He shrugs, though the way he straightens up gives away how he really feels. ]

First on the agenda's finding some way to at least let my family know I'm still alive. They --

[ He takes a moment to rub at the back of his neck. ]

I already gave them a scare, back when the whole thing in DC went down. I don't want them to worry more than they'd have to even if I know it won't be the easiest thing to do.

[ Or the safest. He doesn't want to put them in harm's way, so if there's no way to contact them that outside forces won't be able to trace, then he'd rather not take the risk. ]

[foreclaws]

[ Straightens like a man under a weight; there've been many, through the years. T'Challa nods. ]

Captain Rogers has requested burner phones. That is your best option.

[ A beat. ]

We do have Skype.

[wingmate]

[ Okay, so that startles a laugh from him. Nat had mentioned T'Challa's wry sense of humor when they'd been able to meet briefly in Wakanda before she'd had to run off somewhere again. It's nice to be able to catch a glimpse of that side of him, if only a little. ]

Skype's pretty awesome. [ Or at least, convenient. ] Might have to go that route, if one of your IT guys would be willing to help me keep things on the down low.

[foreclaws]

We can design the system to resemble Stark's, if familiarity will help.

[ Truthfully the technology here far eclipses anything the man or his father envisioned: but T'Challa isn't interested in showing off. ]

[wingmate]

You don't need to go that far. Just someone to keep people from tracing the call would do.

[ He shrugs a little, sticking his hands in his pockets as they continue on.

There aren't a lot of people around, but the few who are glance at them surreptitiously as they pass. Sam does his best to pretend he doesn't notice. ]

What about you, though? How's being back home after [ he gestures vaguely ] everything?

[foreclaws]

[ That, of course, is child's play. All their transmissions are filtered and encrypted already — outside technology has been thoroughly examined. It's so curious, no one seems to go anywhere without their phone. ]

Wakanda mourns my father. It will be different here without him.

[wingmate]

[ It's not just Wakanda who'll miss T'Chaka, Sam knows, but he keeps that thought to himself. ]

I'm sorry I wasn't able to meet him. He sounded like a really great guy. [ That's the understatement of the century, he's sure.

He hesitates a moment, unsure if it's really a good idea to speak up, but - ] It's hard, losing your dad, or anyone you love, really.

[ He knows that particular grief on an intimate level. ]

[foreclaws]

[ Sam knows, because grief comes in all shades but grows from the same tree. ]

I appreciate your concern, Mr. Wilson.

[ The man is a counsellor, and T'Challa doesn't expect to be able to fool him with what he's no doubt used to from many others. But a king has walls that are difficult to scale and impossible to break through. It must be so. ]

He had a long life, with no regrets. It is all one can ask for.

[wingmate]

Just call me Sam. Even after all this time, being called "Mr. Wilson" makes me think I'm about to get into trouble.

[ He nods, quiet and contemplative. He can see the grief that T'Challa still wears, knows it'll take time for it to become easier to bear, but he's not here as a counselor.

Maybe though, he can be a friend. ]

I'm sure he'd be proud if he could see you now.

[foreclaws]

Perhaps he would, Sam.

[ Like it is a test. T'Challa nods after a moment, then his eyes twinkle. ]

I do not suppose you will adhere to "Your Majesty"?

[wingmate]

[ That, of course, earns T'Challa a Look though it's clear that Sam's fighting back a grin. ]

Are you trying to rope me into something that'll earn me another lecture from Steve? I think the only reason why I didn't get one in the police car was because we'd just been taken into custody.

[foreclaws]

I would never attempt to lure you into such a trap.

[ Complete innocence here 8) ]

[wingmate]

[ That gets him an unbelieving snort, but he does have to admit that His Majesty's got a damned good looking smile. (He'll just never admit it out loud.) ]

Oh, you say that now. Next thing you know, Steve's knocking on my door, after I call you something like King Kitty.

[ A pause. ]

Don't tell Steve I said that.

[foreclaws]

[ Without missing a beat, ]

Top Cat.

[ Look, if you're going with the cat puns, go big or go home. ]

[wingmate]

[ He was trying to be nice, okay. ]

Tell the truth, how long were you waiting for someone to walk into that? Or did it take you a while to perfect that particular clap back?

[foreclaws]

[ They have the internet here, okay. ]

As you must realise, you walked into it quite willingly.

[ They're at the end of the corridor now, and T'Challa keeps heading for the small balcony, looking over the approach to the building. ]

[wingmate]

So maybe I did. Gotta keep things interesting somehow.

[ He blinks as a thought occurs to him. ]

God, I should keep Clint away from you. I'd never hear the end of all the cat and bird dad jokes he'll end up making.

[ Not that he wouldn't enjoy those, mind, but if Steve catches on to it, too, he'll be insufferable about the whole thing. ]