[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]

Steve can't help but smile back, even as his chest aches.

"Baby steps," he says. "Is there a way I can help?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"You already are." Bucky squeezes his arm, trying to reassure. "Don't worry, Steve."

[marvel_npc]

Steve gives him a disbelieving glance.

"Come on," he says, as lightly as possible. "Worrying about you is my prerogative. I've got a lot of years of it to make up for."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I get that, but let's not make it your full time job, okay?" he tosses back, matching Steve's tone with a teasing one of his own. "You've got other stuff to worry about. Don't think I'm not going to keep an eye on you when it comes to that, too, Rogers."

[marvel_npc]

"Fine by me," Steve says, reaching for his coffee once more.

"Especially if it means you'll stick around."

[nerves_of_ice]

Which brings them back to where they started this conversation. Bucky gives him a wry look and goes to get himself a refill.

"We'll see," he says, unable to promise anything more, and unwilling to lie to Steve. "One thing at a time."

[marvel_npc]

"One step at a time."

He gets up to refill his own mug, glancing at the clock on the kitchenette microwave as he does. "If we're going to be at the Center by nine, we might want to get Sharon up soon, meet up with the others."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sounds like a plan. I--"

He breaks off there as a knock sounds at the suite door. Bucky trades a glance with Steve and goes to open it, as he's closer. He cracks the door enough to catch sight of who's on the other side, then pulls it all the way open and stands to the side as Natasha breezes in, carrying a garment bag.

"Nice to see you're awake," she greets them both. "Good morning. Where's Sharon?"

[marvel_npc]

"Uh..."

Steve gives Bucky a helpless glance. He doesn't have any idea if it would be a breach of confidence to tell Nat that Sharon slept in the other room here last night, or who she was with. Everyone now knows, of course, but that doesn't mean he's comfortable giving out details she or Bucky might prefer to keep private.

[nerves_of_ice]

"She's asleep in the other room," he says, easily, catching Steve's uncertain look. Bucky omits any mention of where he himself slept, although he's pretty sure Natasha has already drawn her own conclusions both previously and from Steve's reaction. In any case, aside from the clothes Sharon wore to sleep, his own things are neatly stowed out of sight in the closet and elsewhere.

"Good morning, Natasha."

[marvel_npc]

"Coffee?" asks Steve, quickly.

"Freshly made."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes. Thank you," she tells them, with a bright smile. "Pour two cups, if you please. We'll join you soon."

She raises her eyebrows at him, and Bucky silently concedes any potential argument right then and there. He tips his head sideways toward the bedroom door, and Natasha gives him an approving nod and goes to tap at it.

"Sharon?" she calls. "It's Nat. Time to get up. I brought a change of clothes." With that as warning, she opens the door and slips inside, firmly shutting it behind her.

[from_the_outside]

The Sharon-shaped lump beneath the sheets stirs. "Nat?"

Her voice is groggy as she rubs sleep out of her eyes and blinks at the other woman, now in the room. "Clothes?"

[marvel_npc]

"Clothes," she says. "Watch your eyes." Nat finds the lamp by a reading chair and turns it on, flooding the room with low, warm light.

"I thought you might want a change."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon sits up, wincing as the light turns on, and spares a moment to be grateful she'd taken Bucky up on his offer of a sleep shirt and shorts. "You didn't have to do that," she says, her voice rusty.

"I could have gone home to get a change before we have to meet Ross."

[marvel_npc]

"Mm-hm," she agrees. "You could have. You're welcome."

She lays the garment bag over the end of the bed. "Shoes and emergency makeup are in a bag in the bottom."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon gives her a rueful look. "Thanks."

She slips out of bed and pads around, barefoot, to zip open the garment bag, fingering the clothes inside. None of them are what Nat prefers for herself; all of them are more Sharon's style.

She huffs a small, wry laugh. "You've still got my number, don't you."

[marvel_npc]

"What are friends for?" she teases. "Now, the boys are out there with coffee, when you're ready. Want me to wait for you here, or out there?"

[from_the_outside]

"Out there's fine," she says, smiling a little.

Of anyone, she knows Nat would pretend not to see her bruises, if that's what she preferred, but she'd rather not have to navigate it anyway. "Go get some coffee. I'll be just a minute."

[marvel_npc]

"Okay." She answers Sharon's smile with a warm one of her own. "Take your time."

Nat slips back out of the room and wanders over to the kitchen, where James has pulled down a fourth mug from the shelves and is pouring it for her. He glances a silent question at her - or maybe it's several questions in one look. That's always possible.

"She'll be out in a few," she says, and tips her head toward the milk. He adds some and hands it to her. "Thanks."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon pulls the clothes out of the garment bag and lays them out on the bed, shaking her head with a crooked smile.

It's not just makeup Nat thought to put in the toiletry bag at the bottom: it's face wash and moisturizer that doesn't dry her out like the hotel brand gels do. She pads into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, then dresses in the dark jeans and button-down shirt Nat had found for her.

Last, she brushes out her hair and applies the makeup, carefully blending it over the bruise on her cheekbone until it's almost invisible.

With that last touch, she slips on the ankle boots from the bottom of the bag and folds Bucky's shirt and shorts to set them aside before moving to the door and heading into the main room. "Morning," she greets everyone, before catching Nat's eye and making a small gesture down at herself.

"You've got good taste."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I know," Natasha agrees, smugly, and somehow Bucky manages to stifle a laugh. He can see similar resigned amusement on Steve's face.

He pours Sharon a cup of coffee and fixes it with sugar and milk, then catches her eye and sets it down for her to claim.

[from_the_outside]

She shoots him a grateful glance, then comes to pick up the coffee before claiming one end of the couch in the little sitting area.

"Any noise from the others?" she asks, glancing from Nat to Steve.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not yet," Steve says, and reaches for his phone to check it. "I'll text Sam and tell him we're all here. We'll probably have to wake Tony up."

Natasha makes a small humming sound. "That's a good idea," she agrees, in a deliberately light tone that draws a sharp, almost wary look from Bucky on the instant. "Since there are likely to be a few things to discuss before we head over to the Center."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon glances from Nat to Bucky and back again, then sips at her coffee.

"Can we discuss them over breakfast?" she asks. "Is anyone else starving?"