Bucky is nervous at first, since going into the tank will be much like being frozen again, as he is put into a coma to help the progress. But Steve convinces him that he is safe: "I promise you, everything will be alright! I'll make sure to check up on you every day, and when you wake up, I'll be right beside you!“ Bucky gives him a long look, but finally smiles and asks: "Okay. Are you gonna hold my hand till I pass out, too?“ Steve laughs and responds: "Hey, sure, if it makes you feel better!?“ They both laugh, but the day it's done, he does hold Bucky's hand until he is unconscious. He also stays by his side while Stark and Shuri, with the help of Dr. Banner and Dr. Cho, hook his body up to the last electrodes that help monitor and stimulate the different vitals and body parts.
Stark smirks at the young princess and jokes: "I'm still surprised your brother doesn't see an issue with you helping us take care of this hunky soldier's body!“ Banner and Cho roll their eyes in union, but Shuri just gives Stark a long look and states: "It is not me who helps you, you are the one assisting me, Stark! Remember it is mostly my technology that has helped him in the first place, that we now use to stabilize him!“ Tony still huffs through his nose, but then Shuri adds: "And besides, you seem to be mistaken by what kind of anatomy I'm used to! Judging from your height, I would have thought you to be the one most likely to be intimidated by his big...“
"Shuri!“, king T'Challa shouts, while Bruce and Steve turn away embarrassed, and Helen Cho just chuckles. "You need to be more respectful to our guests!“, the young ruler demands, as he steps up next to his sister, to add a little quieter: "Besides, you are embarrassing me!“ "Who said I was talking about you?“, she gives back, still grinning right at Tony, who looks at her with an open mouth, a little uneased by the girl's implication. "Hold on, what?“, T'Challa asks now in a less elevated, confused voice, but Cap buds in, saying: "Okay guys, I'll show myself out. Please contact me if anything should arise, alright?“ "Uh, sure Cap, see you later.“, Banner confirms. Rogers gives the king a nod: "Your highness.“, and leaves as T'Challa nods back, still staring at his sister for answers.
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Weeks go by, and Bucky's arm is growing wonderfully, reacting well to the treatment with micro injections and little electroshocks to stimulate muscle and tissue growth. Steve, as promised, checks in on his friend in the tank every day and asks for updates. Shuri is the one to always elaborate the most, as she is excited over her break through in 'cryogenatosis', as she calls it. She once explains: "Basically, the tank can function as an artificial womb for any body that needs growing! We were even able to put his mind in a place of stimulation, unlike a coma! Instead, he is dreaming actively, and we can even monitor and read into some of the themes he might be dreaming of!“
"So you can read his mind?“, Steve asks concerned, but she shakes her head: "No, at least not yet. But I used a similar technique when I helped him retrieve and sort out his memories! The data I collected could be deciphered by him, as his mind would be stimulated in a pattern we had recorded prior, so he would access the thoughts he was able to retrieve earlier.“ He just looks at her confused, but she explains: "Basically, I would get his mind to see a certain scene, like a virtual reality. If we could advance in that field, even sharing memories like files, or saving them forever, could be possible!“
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