Gold Rings ⚜️ Bucky Barnes X Reader

6: Therapy

--- April 30th 2017 ---

The children fled from his hut once again.

What is these kid's deal with me? Bucky thought to himself, though he couldn't feel any ill will towards them: they were just curious, like all children.

However, one thing was different about this morning. As he left, he could hear a soft girl's voice speak to the children.

"Are you playing around with that man again?"

"Noooo!" One kid squealed.

Bucky would've smiled, but he was too focused on his new surroundings: the morning sun reflected off the nearby pond that turned into a river as it headed downhill. Around him were the other clay hits of the village. In front of him stood Shuri with a beaming smile.

"Good Morning, Sargeant Barnes." She stated.

"... Bucky." He corrected.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good... Thank you."

Shuri smiled, a soft laugh tickling her tone. "Come. There is much more for you to learn!"

Bucky followed Shuri as they headed towards the path to the city for "physical therapy". For what it's worth, it wasn't a complete lie: he was getting therapy, and manipulating neural pathways is definitely physical.

Once they arrived at the palace, Shuri guided Bucky to the third floor where there were a series of offices. One of them had been converted into a smaller version of Shuri's lab and was fully equipped with any piece of technology she thought may be necessary for Bucky's treatment. As Shuri began setting up machines beyond Bucky's understanding, he desperately tried to make small talk.

"So, you said you guys tested this on a simulation?"

Shuri simply nodded.

"So how do you know it'll work?"

"Because it worked in the simulation."

"But a simulation isn't a person. Are you sure about this?"

"Positive."

"Then how does it work?"

"It's two-part. First is the actual reworking of your brain with recovery breaks between. It will take a few sessions to remove the connections your brain has made to compensate for issues caused by your arm."

"What issues? I haven't experienced any issues."

"Your arm is also older than most African countries. The New arm is much more sensitive. Take your shoulder muscle--" Shuri explained, pointing at the skin right next to the metal piece that his old arm attached to. "The muscle in your shoulder spasms occasionally because it has literally been severed in half. To compensate, that muscle overworks itself to make up for the missing part, which could cause the new arm design to randomly spasm as well."

"Okay, that makes sense," Bucky resigned, deciding fully understanding what she was saying wasn't worth the effort. "But what's part two?"

"Talk therapy."

"Oh, you got to be kidding--"

"It works! Talk therapy will actually help your brain develop healthy habits and strengthen the new neural connections. Your brain needs to be right before we attach this new arm, and talk therapy can help with that."

Bucky rolled his eyes.

"Look, do you want two arms or not?" Shuri nearly growled, crossing her arms and trying to look as big as possible.

Bucky looked at the metallic stump he had been hiding under several scarves as to not worry anyone in the villages. With a sigh, he responded with a single nod.

"Good. Your therapist will be in after your first round of brain therapy. Here comes the team now!"

In the room walked several people in lab coats who at least looked like they knew what they were doing. They immediately walked to the machines in the room, reading the complicated monitor readings like they were children's books. Shuri guided the team.

A nurse was already preparing an anesthetic to help Bucky sleep through the procedure. Most people would be concerned, but after being cryofrozen several times for extended periods, anesthesia seemed like nothing in comparison.

Shuri guided Bucky to the repurposed cryo-chamber and gestured for him to lean back in the chamber.

"All of this is going to be relatively painless. Just stay calm, and you'll wake up in just a moment..."

---

Bucky's eyelashes fluttered as bright white light bleached through his eyelids. He felt a gentle touch on his arm and turned to see none other than...

"Okoye?"

"How are you?"

"Uh... Well, I don't feel pain, so that's a plus."

"Good. Can you move your arm?"

Bucky gently twisted his wrist.

"Legs?"

Bucky tapped his feet.

"Looks like everything is functioning. Can you stand?"

Bucky got up from the chamber.

"Success!" Shuri beamed.

"Now what?" Bucky groaned, looking around the room for his "therapist".

"It's time for our first session!"

Bucky looked over at the stone cold face of Okoye.

"... Oh you got to be kidding me."

"I have psychologist training as leader of the Dora Milaje. And I'm specifically trained to help with PTSD and therapy for combat veterans."

"No."

"No?"

"No. I didnt even want to do this talk therapy shit in the first place, and do you really expect me to spill to Okoye?"

Shuri shot him a look. "Then say goodbye to your arm."

"Then goodbye arm!" Bucky spouted. "I'd rather go through life a cripple than with a shrink!"

Okoye closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then stepped forward.

"Bucky, would you say that Song Bird seems better than you last saw her?"

"What?"

"You heard me."

"What does she have to do with this?"

"Just answer my question."

Bucky thought for a moment, his mind flashing back to the first photo he saw of her. She was covered in mud and holding a baby goat, and her smile...

"... Yes. Yes, she did seem better."

"Well, she only got better because she had talk sessions with me."

Bucky rolled his eyes. Shuri shot Okoye a worrying glance.

"Okoye--"

"It's okay, Shuri," Okoye smiled, raising her hand to cut the young girl off. "If it worked for her, someone in a very similar position to you, then why would you fight something that so obviously helps you?"

Bucky paused. It was a lot to consider. His eyes met Okoye's soft yet strong stare. After a few moments, Bucky cracked.

"Okay, fiiine! Let's just get this over with."

Okoye and Shuri shared a worried glance before Okoye led Bucky to another room.