[Virginia AU] we rose up from the falling waters

[nerves_of_ice]

A little over a week goes by, and as it does Bucky falls into a pattern, slow but sure. He wakes with Sharon in the mornings, shares coffee and something that suffices for breakfast, then works a little on searches and checking contacts and sources from other time zones and locations. Mid-morning finds him at the Task Force offices with Riley and his team. Early afternoon finds him meeting with Ross, if there's any reason to; mid-afternoon he checks in with Steve, with Tony, or with Natasha before he goes back to tracing rumors and hints.

Today's different, though. Today is Sharon's first day back at work after her suspension, and Bucky's determined not to do a single damn thing that might possibly make it difficult for her.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"Remind me to get Ross some antacids," she teases, then looks thoughtful. "Your contact said Klaue was in Asia, right? I might have an option for a meeting space."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Maybe aspirin, too." Bucky tilts his head as her expression shifts, and nods. "Yeah. When last contacted, anyway."

He comes back to join her at the table, reaching for his phone and the tablet he's using to write. "Let's see what we can figure out."

[from_the_outside]

By the time she's back in Ross's office the next morning, she has a price and a plan and team all laid out for his inspection.

(It's been ages since she's been to Busan. She wonders if Nakia remembers it.)

"Sir," she says, as she sits down and hands over a hard copy of her report. She grins. "Ever been to Korea?"

[marvel_npc]

"Not lately, but I have a feeling that's about to change." He scans the report, which is neatly organized and well summarized and still comprehensive, just the kind of thing he'd expect from her.

God, it's good to have her back on duty.

"Give me the high points, Carter, what do I need to know?"

[from_the_outside]

"Klaue wants to make a sale," she says, bluntly. "And he's courting government personnel to do it. From the intel we've received, he's in possession of a significant amount of vibranium, enough that it's turning heads. We won't be able to get him to come in and deal with the Task Force, but the States...?"

She meets his eyes. "Everyone knows Secretary Ross is always looking for unique ways to shore up US defenses."

[marvel_npc]

Ross grimaces. "Too damn true. But if we can use that reputation of his to help us out here, do it," he orders. "Who're you thinking of for a team?"

[from_the_outside]

"Me, and you," she tells him. "You've got the clout to make Klaue think this deal is coming through the highest ranks, but you're still a CIA agent, theoretically taking orders from the higher ups. He'd love to embarrass someone with your record and standing by forcing you to make a deal with him."

She reaches to flip through the report, landing on the team she's identified. "I've recommended a team of field agents and analysts here."

Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth as she continues. "I also recommend including Sergeant Barnes. There's no doubt the Avengers have a vested interest in the sale of black market vibranium, and he's the only one whose identity as an Avenger isn't public yet."

[marvel_npc]

He looks up from reading over the names of the proposed team at that. Ross can feel the headache starting as he grits his teeth. "Carter," he warns.

[from_the_outside]

She doesn’t say I said what I said, but it’s a near thing.

“It’s a perfect first opportunity for a joint operation,” she says, instead. “Obviously he couldn’t be visible at the meet, or Klaue will know something’s up, but his skill set and intel would be useful on this op.”

[marvel_npc]

He steeples his fingers and leans back in his chair as he looks at her, then shoves himself out of his chair instead and starts to pace back and forth behind his desk.

"I don't want to ask it," he says, short and gruff. "So tell me why I don't have to. In detail."

[from_the_outside]

She gives him the flat look that deserves. "I hope you're not suggesting that this recommendation is in any way due to my personal relationship with Sergeant Barnes," she says, annoyed.

"Aside from the work he's already done on this, he's familiar with deals for controlled materials and his instincts in the field are impeccable. And we don't know who or what Klaue might bring for backup; better to have an ace up our sleeve in case he tries to surprise us and take the cash and the vibranium."

[marvel_npc]

It's absurd to be reassured by her annoyance, more so by her crisp assessment of the situation. He is anyway.

"Give me a break, we're navigating new skies here," he grumbles. "Okay. We'll bring him. If there's a good way to camouflage that arm of his."

[from_the_outside]

He doesn't say the words you win, Carter, but she hears them in his voice anyway, and her lips twitch toward a smile in response. "There is," she promises him, and stands.

"I'll send the message through our contacts and arrange the meet."

[marvel_npc]

"Good work," he says, gruff. "Klaue's been a thorn in everyone's side for too long."

[from_the_outside]

"Not for much longer," she promises him. "We set this up right, we get the vibranium and Klaue."

She has a vague idea of how that could happen, and it involves Bucky waiting for an unsuspecting Klaue outside the casino... but she'll work out the details later. "I'll send you the confirmation when it comes," she tells him, and gives her boss a critical glance up and down.

"Maybe go get your good suit dry-cleaned."

With that, she heads out, thinking of how she'll explain the op to Bucky and the team, her mind more than halfway in Busan already.

[nerves_of_ice]

He'd half-expected Ross to try to pull the plug on his involvement, but if so looks like Sharon countered it pretty effectively. He decides not to ask, and while they're waiting for Klaue's response to the feelers they'd put out there, Bucky calls Steve for what's become their usual early-morning touch-base. His best friend catches him up on the things that are going on back in New York and about a couple of rumors they're keeping an eye on, after which Bucky fills him in on the mission ... and that he'll be going along.

Steve has a lot of questions, but Bucky thinks once they talk it through that he's comfortable enough with the plan to be willing not to insist on anyone else joining in. It shouldn't need anyone, all things considered - simple surveillance, a staged deal, and a probable apprehension or more surveillance afterward. He could handle that himself, if needed; he's done so before.

Lunchtime comes and passes, and he's settling in with yet another cup of coffee for final review of intel in the early afternoon before he heads out to check a few contacts and do some planning that doesn't involve sitting at a desk.

[marvel_npc]

He hadn't waited once Steve told him what the Task Force was planning. "Surveillance?" Tony scoffed. "Look, Cap, whatever top of the line market stuff they're working with, it can't compete with our tech."

"They're using Stark Tech, Tony," Steve pointed out, but Tony waved him off. "Yeah, commercial Stark Tech. Better than most other organizations, but not better than what we've got."

Steve had shrugged at him. "What do you want to do, send them a care package?"

"I'll do one better," Tony had promised, which is how he's now found himself strolling off the landing pad on the roof of the Task Force Berlin headquarters, suitcase in hand as his suit retracts and as he ignores the questions from the security officers who'd been sent to greet him. "I'm here to prep a member of my team for a joint mission," he tells them, without breaking stride. "Just tell me where I can find Barnes and I'll be out of your hair."

He sips at the coffee he'd stopped to get and makes his way inside as one of the men mutters something into an earpiece and then offers to show him the way.

Finding the office, where Barnes is working on...who knows what, he leans on the doorframe and knocks with the knuckles of the hand holding his coffee. "Hey, got a minute?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sure." He pushes both tablet and computer away, giving Tony a skeptical once-over. "Do I even want to know how long you've been in Europe?"

Bucky nods to a chair. "If that works for you. Or I can see about finding one of the million conference rooms they've got scattered all over the place."

[marvel_npc]

"About..." Tony checks his watch. "Forty-five minutes. Here's fine; this won't take long."

He pushes the chair back but doesn't sit, just comes close enough to set the suitcase on the table and open it. Inside, tucked into foam, is a series of surveillance and communication equipment. "I'm just here to make sure you're properly outfitted for this mission."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky looks over the equipment - clearly top-of-the-line - and looks back at Tony. "Please tell me you didn't fly over here just to bring me presents."

[marvel_npc]

"Will you feel better if I tell you I also like the coffee over here?"

He presses lightly down on the foam and something gives with a click; lifting the section away, he reveals another compartment containing body armor. "What, you think I'd let you go out and represent the Avengers without being properly outfitted?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's good coffee," he agrees. "As long as you don't get it from the kitchen in this building. Just so you know."

Bucky gets up so he can get a better look down into the case, intrigued despite himself. "I hadn't thought about it, to be honest. I was planning on raiding one of my caches."

[marvel_npc]

Tony makes a face at that and sets his coffee aside. "Yeah," he says. "That's not really how we roll."

He lifts out the armor, which passes for a jacket and slim-fitting trousers. "Doesn't sound like you'll be seeing much action for this outing, but better to be prepared. Those should fit, but let me know if they need any adjustments after you've tried them out."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Definitely better. Klaue’s a threat, in terms of resources he can command if not himself personally.”

He accepts it and lets out a silent whistle as he notes how light it is, and how flexible. “I will. Thanks.” Something about the design catches his eye, and he studies it for a moment.

[marvel_npc]

Tony glances at him, then down at the equipment and back up again. "What?"