[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

[from_the_outside]

She's so exhausted in mind and body that she falls asleep quickly, but the nightmares don't let her stay that way for long. She gasps herself awake in stuttered intervals through the night, finds herself pushing out a hand to keep the cryo chamber from swinging closed or jerking awake after fleeing, panicked, from some hideous, reaching thing in the dark.

She dreams about Zemo, smiling in her apartment, and wakes up as abruptly as if she'd fallen out of bed onto the floor.

Each time, she sees and feels Bucky there; each time she reminds herself it's over. And she sleeps.

She just doesn't sleep well.

[nerves_of_ice]

The faint, false light of just before dawn filters through the edges of the window around the blind. Bucky listens hard, trying to hear if Steve's awake and moving around yet or not.

He's not certain, but based on the other day it won't be long if he's not already. Carefully, he eases himself out from beside Sharon, hoping she can sleep a little longer, and dresses without turning on the light.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon shifts into the warm spot he's left behind and frowns in her sleep, then blinks groggy eyes open.

"Baby?" she asks, tired. "Is it time to get up?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not just yet," he murmurs. "Sleep a little longer if you can. I'm going to make coffee and check on Steve."

[from_the_outside]

She makes a soft, sleepy sound and pulls his pillow into her arms, curling around it as she closes her eyes again.

"Don't let me sleep too long," she mumbles. "I still need to get clothes."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'll check on the laundry, too," he promises. Bucky tucks the sheet and comforter more securely around her, then moves quietly out into the suite's shared space.

If Steve's awake, he hasn't come out of his room yet. Bucky goes to the kitchenette and starts setting up the coffee maker.

[marvel_npc]

He'd stayed in the penthouse until the small hours of the morning, talking things over with Tony. It had been exhausting, but good, and he thinks they've made some progress. He'd been feeling good about things when he left and came back to the room he and Bucky had taken, and it was a pleasant surprise to see Bucky's note in the little kitchenette before he'd turned in.

But a professional lifetime of early rising means his internal clock goes off even though he's only snatched a few hours of sleep. He lies in the soft hotel bed a few moments longer, until he hears someone moving around in the main part of the suite, then pushes the covers back.

When he wanders in, wearing sleep pants and a t-shirt, his hair mussed and eyes tired, he's smiling, crooked and warm. "You guys sleep okay?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not too bad," Bucky decides. "Given everything. You?"

He switches it on, sets out three mugs, and checks the minifridge just in case - then huffs an amused breath. "This place doesn't miss a trick." Bucky takes out the pint of milk in its sealed container and sets it out as well.

[marvel_npc]

"Not bad."

Steve takes a seat in one of the armchairs by the coffee table and watches as Bucky moves around the kitchenette, his mouth quirking. "Yeah, Tony usually makes sure anywhere he stays is up to his standards."

[nerves_of_ice]

"He's quite a guy," Bucky decides. The coffee's going to take another minute or two, so he goes to the suite's door and opens it to find that Sharon's laundry was finished overnight.

He brings it in and ducks back into the bedroom to lay it over a chair, then goes back to rejoin Steve.

"He doing okay?"

[marvel_npc]

"About as well as you could expect. I stayed up to talk with him for a long while last night."

He gives the laundry a curious glance, then looks back at Bucky. "Lots to figure out over the next little while. But we're good, I think."

[nerves_of_ice]

"She didn't have a change of clothes," he explains. The coffee maker emits a soft chime, and Bucky pours a cup for Steve, adding milk, then one for himself.

"Good. I'm glad. First the Accords, then Zemo..." He trails off there, shaking his head, and takes a long swallow of coffee. "Seems like the two of you have been pretty good friends for a while."

[marvel_npc]

"Took a while," Steve admits, accepting the coffee. "There were some growing pains. But we learned to respect each other. After that, it was easier to like each other."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives him a quick grin over the edge of his own mug. "Well, you're a pretty likable guy, Rogers."

[marvel_npc]

Steve chuckles.

"You're pretty biased, pal."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky raises his eyebrows at him.

"So?"

[marvel_npc]

Steve chuckles again and shakes his head, then sips at his coffee.

"Tony can be pretty likable, too," he points out. "Though I know he can be kind of an acquired taste. Underneath all that bluster and swagger is a good man."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I don't exactly know what to think of him," Bucky admits. "He surprised the hell out of me yesterday."

[marvel_npc]

"I'm sorry he went for you like that," Steve says, rueful.

"It was a real shock, seeing it on the screen. I'm just glad he came to his senses."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky shakes his head. "I don't blame him. I don't."

[marvel_npc]

Steve sighs and sets his coffee in his lap. "I know he's determined to make sure nothing like it ever happens again," he says.

"And I have to tell you, if there's anyone out there who could figure out a way to deprogram what's been programmed, it's Tony. But I think he might need a little time to come to terms with everything that's happened."

[nerves_of_ice]

He stares at his best friend.

"Wait, you mean he was serious? He actually thinks he could do that?"

[marvel_npc]

Steve looks at him, surprised, over his coffee cup.

"Of course he was serious."

[nerves_of_ice]

"No, I mean, I know he meant what he said, I just - I didn't think he could--"

He stops there, visibly struggling with that for long moments.

"... I think unless he brings it up again I better just pretend he never said it."

[marvel_npc]

Steve watches him, his heart aching to see how his best friend struggles just with the thought that it might be possible.

"I can ask him not to talk to you about it until he's sure," he offers. "He's got a tendency to think out loud."