[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]

"I don't think so. We talked a little about me maybe coming back to New York, but nothing was settled... at least I didn't think it was," he admits. "But I don't think Steve would have sprung it on me like that. On us like that."

[from_the_outside]

She nods, and has to glance down at the table before she can meet his eyes again.

It would be good for him. No, it would be better for him. Of course it would. To be with Steve, to be back in the States, to work with Tony. She knows all that.

But it still, selfisly, breaks her heart to think of him leaving. "Tony seems to be all about spontaneous decisions," she says, trying to make it light.

[nerves_of_ice]

"He's something, that's for sure." Bucky sounds a little sour, and a little bemused.

"It feels like there's a lot of undercurrents. And I don't understand them all."

[from_the_outside]

"Mm."

In some ways, the Avengers remind her of a high-school clique: the ones that seemed almost to have their own language, seemingly impenetrable from the outside. "A lot of of people want a lot of different things right now, and plenty of them aren't exactly accustomed to hearing the word 'no.'"

[nerves_of_ice]

He makes a quiet, noncommittal sound.

"What do you want?"

[from_the_outside]

"I want to keep my job."

His knee is warm against hers as she watches him. Her voice is barely a murmur, for his ears only. "And I want to keep you, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

"You have me," he whispers, the faintest hint of desperation underlying his words. "I'm yours. For as long as you want me."

[from_the_outside]

The strain in his voice tangles for the echoing one in her chest, and she reaches beneath the table to tangle her fingers with his, a little harder than she'd meant.

"I can't ask you to stay just for me," she says, anguish clawing at the inside of her chest. They can't talk about this, here and now, but she can't stop herself. "If Tony can do it – if he can – you have to try."

[nerves_of_ice]

"If I do - if I go, if I -- I'll come back," he swears. "It'll be like before, when I was scouting targets. If I go, I'll come back, Sharon, I will. I don't w--"

He chokes, swallows it back, his breathing a little ragged, and works on making sure the near miss doesn't show.

[from_the_outside]

Beneath the table, her fingers tighten so hard in his that her knuckles go white.

"I know," she whispers. "You have me, too. I won't let go."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods, holding on to her hand in his, lacing his fingers with hers.

"Is Ross-- Is he." A slow, careful breath. "The investigation. Are you--"

He doesn't know how to say it, how to ask.

[from_the_outside]

"Ongoing," she murmurs, and looks wry. "Ross promised he'll fast track it, but for now..."

She glances tellingly at Riley. "I've got a chaperone everywhere I go in the building."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods, slow and deliberate. "Okay."

Bucky glances at her. "I'm sorry. I don't know how to make this easier. Any of it."

[from_the_outside]

"Same."

She runs her thumb over his knuckles, gentle. "We'll just have to muddle through somehow."

[nerves_of_ice]

He nods, and draws another careful breath.

"Riley seems to be getting along well with the others," he says, in a more normal tone. "You were right about the angle."

[from_the_outside]

"He's one of our more personable agents," she admits.

"This is a lot of good exposure for him. Ross hadn't known him that well before."

[nerves_of_ice]

"He's very enthusiastic," Bucky observes.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon huffs a small laugh and nods. "He definitely is that."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I wonder if--"

That's as far as he gets before a commotion further down the hall draws his attention. "I suggest that you have a good long think about it before you test me again," a deep voice suggests. "Now where are they?"

Tony whirls toward the door, dismay written plain on his features. "Damn it all to hell, I thought I'd talked him out of it."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon lets go of Bucky's hand like it was a snake that bit her, though not without an apologetic glance as she stands up and faces the door.

It can't be.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gets to his feet and moves to the side, by the wall and out of the immediate line of sight from the door, carefully distancing himself from everyone and assuming a neutral expression as the speaker approaches. As soon as the man walks in, he's deeply grateful that he has.

Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, the Secretary of State, glares around the room. His gaze settles first on Steve and hardens. "Captain Rogers. What exactly are you doing here?"

"He's visiting," Tony breaks in before Steve can answer. "Like you are. Why are you here, by the way? I thought I told you we had it covered."

"And I decided I'd rather see for myself," Ross informs him. As he looks around, his glance falls on Bucky and abruptly narrows.

[from_the_outside]

She doesn't like the impatient entitlement in his voice, and she likes the way he looks at Bucky even less.

"If you're looking for Deputy Commander Ross, sir," she says, hoping to distract him, "he's currently mid-interrogation. Agent Riley here and I would be happy to show you to his office in the meantime."

[marvel_npc]

"Zemo, I assume," he says, giving her a flat look.

"Since I can't think of another reason he wouldn't be interrogating a known terrorist currently in the joint custody of the Task Force and the Avengers. At least I assume that's why this man is in this room and not in a cell where he belongs."

[marvel_npc]

"Now hold on a second – " starts Steve, who is clearly seeing red, only to stop as Tony's warning hand lands on his shoulder.

"Uh, actually, not in custody," Tony says, blithely. "Also, turns out, not a terrorist. Honestly, it's like you didn't listen to any of the messages I told FRIDAY to send you so we wouldn't have to have this conversation, the one we're currently having right here, right now."

[nerves_of_ice]

He spares an instant's thought to hope Riley keeps his mouth shut and keeps himself out of the line of fire, much like Sam's doing - at least for the moment. Bucky himself does his best to not react at all.

He knows how this works, all too well. He tries to remember every bit of information he'd gleaned about Ross previously, deeply certain he's about to need it, as the man tells Tony,

"I heard them. I was surprised to hear them. I'll give you a chance to reconsider. The Winter Soldier's responsible for over a double-handful of assassinations--"

Bucky manages to hold back a disgusted snort. Many more, as much as he hates it. Looks like their intelligence isn't as good as it could be.

"-- and various other crimes that I don't have time to list. Are you trying to tell me that this man isn't the Winter Soldier? Because I don't have time for games, either."