mr barnes
The thing that sets it off is, as always, a puzzle.
She just can’t stop herself, Shuri knows. It’s always been a problem. Something to do with her brian. Always buzzing, asking, churning. Shuri knows she’s been incredibly lucky to have been born in an environment that nurtured that inquisitive nature. That had the means and the love to allow it to grow. Still, it’s never really felt like a blessing when she was up till two at night as a preteen, with a pounding head, but mind turning and churning and begging for more, more more..
All her doctorates and masters in engineering are pretty much just the result of that brain catching on to some puzzle piece, some sliver of knowledge and refusing to quit until the entire picture was complete. When modern science failed her, and a puzzle piece remained missing, despite her restless nights of research, that is when Shuri’s inventions happened. Her addendums and publications in scientific papers—all in fake names, of course.
So, of course it’s a puzzle that does it.
The funny thing is, she doesn’t see it at first. The real puzzle. The one that is eating her alive now. Yet at first she overlooks it, dismisses it; is blind to it. Like most people are, apparently. It’s not that strange, really, that she misses it. Psycholog isn’t her main interest, and the puzzle is hidden in plain sight in such an inconspicuous and unassuming way; right next to at least two more puzzles so much more up her alley. It would be fair to say it’s a miracle she notices at all. She doesn’t, really; not without someone to catch her attention to it. And even that takes another, more unsung genius whose interest do bother psychology: her brother.
She’s already working on her puzzle; on the epicenter of it, and doesn’t even know it. She is complaining about him, and doesn't even see. Because, as long as you don’t look too closely, he is boring. “Courteous, sure, but boring!.” Shuri sighs. “I’d have expected a little more from a living legend. Like, I don’t know? Personality. A sense of humor. Any general input beyond basic curteries and that polite smile when I crack a joke.”
And T’Challa gives that forlorn smile as he puts down his coffee on the low table, looks out the grand open vestibules, and contemplates. “Considering everything it’s a miracle...” and then T’Challa, genius in his own right he may be, does the most foolish: he clicks his tongue at himself and looks away. “At any rate, I wanted to talk about the best way to start sharing Wakanda’s breakthroughs in medical science with our direct neighbours...”
“Did you just change the subject at me?” Shuri blinks. T’Challa hasn’t tried anything so endearing and stupid since she was eight. “You just changed the subject at me!”
The king actually winces. T’Challa is off his game today. “Now why would I do that? You’re on the trigger word project too, you’ll get the files anyway. I just need your attention on the diplomatic mess that is our emerging country’s identity, harboring a group of fugitives from the law, and how to play this without mayhem and chaos.
Shuri glowers at him for a moment, and then lets him; change the subject. Like that would do any good now. Her attention is piqued, and her mind attuned. She will look now.
When Shuri does get the Winter Soldier files, they are gruesome and incredibly voluminous. In a spurt of genius that is her brother, none of the information has been pruned. T’Challa know by now that it’s impossible to keep things from her anyway, to hide information from her. Perhaps he hopes to dazzle her with the completeness of the records; every trivia that Wakandan intelligence combined with the might of the Black Widow and Tony Stark has been noted. And Hydra, as disgusting an organization that it is, had been diligent with its research reports.
There is, admittedly, a lot less from the Russians, and nearly nothing from before, but that’s hardly a surprise. most records would have been lost in the change of power in the Eastern blocks. So, at first she doesn’t really see it at all. No puzzle pieces, no missing pieces either.
If she had been anyone else, Shuri would have let go of it then. If her brother hadn’t slipped up, perhaps she would never have thought to look. But she’s here, so she cannot put it down, takes into account the mysterious fact that her brother would prefer her to stay out of this mystery, while he knows she can solve anything; everything.
And then one day, as she watches Steve Rogers and Tony Stark interact; as she jumps in to soothe Wanda, who is still not completely at ease. She realises: James Barnes is the normal one. Steve and Tony and Wanda and even that odd bowsman have their own personal quirks, but they are all understandable and logical and manageable. They all shoulder their own burdens. Shuri even has to admit, as foreign as they are to her, she likes these people.
James Barnes however does not have any oddities; he fits in perfectly, even her own people hardly taking notice of him. Which is a feat, with how little contact with white people they have had in the past. He blends; with one arm or with a metal one; with nearly white skin and too much wild hair, even when he cleans himself up and walks around looking for all the world like he ninteenfourtees youngman he apparently is. It’s her first clue.
He adapts to her too; she can tell now. When he’s with her he’s reasonable; realistic. But not so much that it sticks out. Just enough. And then, it hits her: it’s too easy. Everything about Bucky Barnes is too easy. Too functional. He’s fucked up, she knows. But the real puzzle is not that there is trauma, or even that he hides it. The real puzzle is how he does it so well.
Shuri needs to know. She’d have offered him a safe haven without her own need of course; Shuri is a good person, and one with the means to help. But the mystery is alluring, and she wants it; needs it. Mr Barnes notices, and is quick to exploit. Quick to latch on to her and her needs. It’s her second clue.
She gets her third clue when the latest brain scans come back. In a moment of weakness, she shares her findings with Tony Stark. It’s okay, she tells herself. They are on the same side now. The constant bickering between Steve and Tony has pretty much sealed the deal. And Tony is the only person she knows well enough, with enough mental capacity to understand. “How in Basts’ name is this possible?”
Tony does a little sideways swerve on his chair. “The human brain, right? I am seriously considering switching to organics. Metal just doesn’t do this.”
“Human brains don’t usually do this either, Stark.” Shuri reprimands. “Or is that news to you? Explains those stories they used to tell about you. I do hope you are aware that you are not-so-immune to alcohol poisoning? That’s quite a bit of brain damage you must have chalked up by now. Or have you been bathed in a barrel of serum as a child?”
Tony barks a laugh. “Not as far as I know. Though I suppose it’s entirely possible my dad fooled around with my DNA; I wouldn’t put it past him. And let’s be fair, I am kind of too brilliant to be naturally made.”
He’s just messing with her, Shuri knows. James Buchanam Barnes is one of a kind. Not even Steve Rogers, the supposed perfect soldier, would heal his brain his fast. Probably. Shuri tisks at the screen. “Ho, please. Like you can hold a candle to me. And I know I was all natural.”
Tony’s chair starts moving again; just little turns left-right as he holds his shoulders stationary so he can incline his head. “I defer wholeheartedly to the beautiful young lady on this. But only because that’s apparently the gentlemanly thing to do, and if we start another intellectual war in the scientific papers Pepper has warned me she’ll be outing all my aliases.”
Shuri laughs. “That article in ‘The Scientist’ was you, right? About the fluency of time-space in the perception of intelligent computing? What a load of crap!”
“And yet no one managed to call me out on it.” Tony grins, wickedly. Challenging.
With a wave of the hand, Shuri relents. “I got a basic piece down but between Wakanda stepping out of the shadows, our joint project with the prosthetic and this brainwork between Wanda and me I don’t think I’ll get around to finishing soon.”
Tony pauses in his little chair twists. “The arm was mostly you, and I know I won’t be much real help with the triggers. But, I’d love to help out with the political side. Well, offer my help. Or, mostly Pepper’s lawyer squad. So, not really my help. But, trust me, they are a scary bunch of experts. Also brilliant, if mostly in their ruthlessness.” he pauses, looks away. “Oh, look. They are like me. Only hard-working and pretty poor by comparison; you will probably only be able to tell the difference because they show up to all the meetings.”
“That’s sweet of you to offer.“ Shuri considers. She knows a mega-company like Stark Industries, and let’s not forget Stark’s own weight on the counsels is not something to sniff at. The kind of lobby that can turn the whole government of the USA to their favor. With the political climate changing as it is, Wakanda needs her allies more than ever. “I’ll tell my brother. I’m sure we can help each other.” She smiles again. “You know, I didn’t think I’d ever say that to an egotistical white-boy capitalist, but you’re okay, Stark.”
“Erg. it’s a work in progress.” Tony waves his hand. “But making your acquaintance has been its own reward. I suppose in a way, I should thank Barnes for that too, as he has been instrumental in making that possible.”
Tony frowns, adding “and that’s just not the turn of phrase I wanted.”
It’s her fourth clue.