[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

[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."

[nerves_of_ice]

He shakes his head in denial.

“It’s not that. It’s okay, Steve.”

[marvel_npc]

He's not sure it is, or how it could be, but he doesn't want to argue with Bucky. Not after everything they've been through in the last few days and for so many years before.

"What is it, then?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“He doesn’t have to try.” Each word is soft, but clear.

“I destroyed his life. He doesn’t have to - the pressure it’d put him under, and knowing — I can’t. If he brings it up again, that’s different. Don’t ask him. Don’t push him.”

[marvel_npc]

"I won't push," Steve promises. "Or ask. But, Buck, it's his idea. You don't really know Tony yet, so you don't have a frame of reference for what it means when he gets an idea. He's unstoppable."

Which isn't always a good thing, but in this case...?

Steve shakes his head. "We'll leave the ball in his court. But I think you might be surprised by what he does with it."

[nerves_of_ice]

He gives Steve an uncertain look, but nods. Steve’s right: he doesn’t know Tony Stark, not beyond what he’d learned about him through studying him the way he’d studied the other Avengers, wanting to be sure Steve had a good team at his side.

“Okay,” is all he says.

[marvel_npc]

"Okay," Steve agrees, and sips at his coffee, wondering if he should bring up everything he's been thinking about, his vague plans now that Bucky's found.

It might be unfair. He's not even sure what he's going to do.

But he finds he can't wait, anyway. "You know," he says, "after we wrap everything up here... there's plenty of space back at the compound. Or we could find a place in Brooklyn. You could come back with me, and we could work on getting your name cleared back in the States where we'll have access to all the resources we'd need. Get you back on your feet."

[nerves_of_ice]

He’s in the middle of a sip of coffee when Steve makes his suggestion, and for a long moment Bucky just freezes, mug still at his lips, a tangle of thoughts crashing together in screaming incoherence in his mind.

Slowly, he sets the mug down. Only then does he meet his best friend’s steady, hopeful gaze.

“You know they’re not going to let me go,” he murmurs. “Not after everything.”