[Leipzig AU] a means to a necessary end

[nerves_of_ice]

It's a long flight from Berlin to Novosibirsk and the secret location far beyond it, even in a Quinjet. They spend the time planning and coordinating. Bucky describes the structure and security of the facility itself as best he remembers. Tony calls up plans and blueprints from god knows where and throws them into the middle of the plane for all to see. They're not the same as what Bucky remembers, they figure out fairly quickly, but they're better than nothing.

Tony also takes over the back of the plane and snaps at anyone who comes close, doing something that involves shifting screens and models of buildings and wave patterns and a human skull, and the eventually the low humming grind of a machine. Soon after, he stalks back up to the front of the plane and shoves a set of custom-fabricated earplugs at Bucky, who stares at them and then at Tony.

"Noise-cancelling all the way to total sound blackout. Tap the end of the earpiece to deafen yourself," Tony informs him. "Last thing we need's for you to be his puppet." Bucky starts to stammer a thanks, but Tony growls something under his breath and stalks back to the back of the plane again to work on something else. Steve catches Bucky's eye and shakes his head, and Bucky decides to leave well enough alone.

Sam advises everyone to rest in shifts; Bucky knows he's not wrong, but neither he nor Steve can do it, and after a while Sam stops trying to convince them. Natasha sits with him for a while, her eyes dark with concern. They don't say much, but there's no need to.

A Snowcat is parked outside the door of the facility when they land. Bucky's jaw sets in hard lines at the sight of it, and he trades a look with Steve.

They're already here.

Comments

[marvel_npc]

"Hey."

Sam lifts a hand, pacifying. "We're gonna take good care of her, man. I'm sure she'll be fine. I'll heat something up for her to drink, help warm her up. Pretty sure we've got some chemical heating packs in the jet, too. She just needs some rest."

He shakes his head. "She says Zemo didn't tell her what the drugs were or where he got them. We'll just have to try and get it out of him."

[marvel_npc]

"We will," Nat agrees. "I'll ask him myself."

Her mind is racing behind the thin veneer of calm that she's managing to hold now. She hasn't been in touch with Melina in years, since - since before, but she remembers her talking about certain of her experiments.

She's not even certain where she is now, but that may have to change. Will have to change, almost certainly, unless she can get the answers from Zemo.

Well. It's just additional motivation.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Be careful." It's low and tight, and the caution's meant for both Sam and Natasha. "He's more ruthless than we thought before, and that was bad enough. I'd offer to help, but..."

Bucky touches the outside of his ear. "... let's just say it's a good thing Tony made these. And that they worked."

[marvel_npc]

"Okay."

None of it's okay, not really, but he's got to hold out hope that it will be. "Then I'll go get her settled in and warmed up. If I notice anything weird, I'll let y'all know."

[nerves_of_ice]

"We'll come with you." He needs to see Sharon now, and also needs to see that Zemo's fully secure in a way he can't break free from.

[marvel_npc]

Sam nods and tips his head towards the jet. "C'mon, then."

Sharon's where he left her, sitting on the edge of the makeshift exam bed. Her expression is blank in a way he thinks means she's lost in thought and not something more concerning, but he's still a little relieved when she blinks and focuses on them.

It takes a little more effort than he'd like, but he's reasonably sure it's the concussion and the lingering effects of the cryo instead of anything else. "Okay," he says, clapping his hands. "Visiting hours are officially open. I'm, uh..."

He glances at Bucky, then at Sharon. "Gonna go find a blanket."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'll check on Steve and Tony," Natasha murmurs, and brushes a light hand over Sharon's shoulder. "I'll come back," she promises. "We'll catch up."

Bucky waits only until the other two have stepped away, clearing room for him, before he crouches down in front of Sharon. "Hi," he murmurs, searching her face.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon nods and gives Nat a small, tight smile, then looks back at Bucky as the others move away and he crouches before her. "Hey."

She reaches to tuck some hair out of his face, her fingers cold against his temple and ear, then pauses as she sees the plug. She tips her head to study it more closely. "Smart."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Tony made it," he murmurs, holding still under her touch. "Good thing, too."

Gently, he takes her free hand in his and rubs his thumb over the backs of her fingers, trying to coax warmth back into them.

"How are you doing?"

[from_the_outside]

"Okay." She curls her fingers lightly around his. "Cold. My head hurts. But could be worse."

He'd wanted her able to move on her own, after all. No sense in damaging her unduly.

Her lips press together. "He got the drop on me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Steve and I saw your apartment. You put up a hell of a fight."

He squeezes her hand. "Sam said he drugged you?"

[from_the_outside]

"Not enough of one," she says, bitter.

Her jaw works for a second before she nods. "I don't know what it was. But it worked fast."

[nerves_of_ice]

"We'll find out," he assures her. There's a darkness in his eyes. "I have some idea what it might have been."

[from_the_outside]

She nods. "He asked me a lot of questions," she says. "What the Task Force knew. Why we set the trap. How well I knew Steve."

The breath she takes in is a little shaky, but her eyes are steady as she watches him. "I told him everything. It didn't even occur to me not to."

[nerves_of_ice]

He shifts to sit on the bed beside her, and curves his free hand to her cheek for a moment.

"If it's what I'm guessing it was... that's what it's designed to make you do."

He says it very, very gently.

"Believe me, I know how that feels."

[from_the_outside]

His hand is gentle, but she still flinches when he reaches to touch her cheek, near the spot where Zemo had slapped her to confirm the drug was working.

It's only a second before she shoves it down ruthlessly and purposefully leans her head into his touch. "I know," she says, quiet, and doesn't know what else to say.

She'd lived it for a few hours. That had been his life. For years. For decades.

The whole thing makes her sick to her stomach.

[nerves_of_ice]

He freezes when she flinches from him, but before he can react further she’s leaning into his touch. He brushes his thumb over her cheekbone in a featherlight caress and lowers his hand once more.

“He’s never going to get his hands on you again,” he swears, low and fervent.

[from_the_outside]

"He's never getting his hands on anyone ever again," she says, vicious. It's worth the ache spiking in her head when she can't quite keep her voice low.

She breathes out, forcing it to stay even, and lowers her head to his shoulder, fuming and aching and hating the fog that's still muddying her thoughts.

"There isn't a pit deep enough for him."

[nerves_of_ice]

"You're right." He puts his arm around her and draws her in, holding her close.

[from_the_outside]

She gives herself a moment, just breathing, before she returns to what she wants to know.

"Are you guys okay? What happened?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I think so." He glances in the direction where Steve had gone to follow Tony, toward the other side of the plane. He can't see them from here, but maybe that's just as well.

"It was pretty hard on Tony. Zemo had a videotape. From the mission."

He runs his hand lightly up and down her arm. "Steve and I had told him yesterday. Before. I never got a chance to tell you about it."

[from_the_outside]

"Good," she says, snake-fast. "If I'd known, I would have told him. I wish I could have seen the look on his face when he realized his plan didn't work."

She lifts her head to look at him, studying his drawn face. "Are you okay?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Don't worry about me." He makes it firm, willing her to be persuaded.

"He's damn quick to adapt," Bucky adds, after a moment. "His backup plan was to activate me."

[from_the_outside]

It's much too late for her to take what he says first at face value, especially when he goes on. She takes a sharp, shuddering breath and reaches toward his ear, not touching the plug still there.

"But these – they worked? You said Tony made them?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"They worked," he reassures her. "He did. On the plane on the way here. I couldn't hear a thing."