[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

[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?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He shakes his head. “Nothing, it just seemed almost familiar for a second. Which can’t be, so never mind.”

Bucky looks up at him with a wry flicker of a grin. “Guess I’ve just seen a lot of body armor over the years.”

[marvel_npc]

"I guess so."

But this isn't the black tactical armor of the Winter Soldier; it's based more on the photos Tony's seen of Barnes's days with the Howling Commandos.

It's not like he's about to bring that up, though. He goes back to the first section, the one containing the equipment, and starts pointing items out. "You can use these with the Task Force network," he tells Bucky. "They'll integrate just fine. They're just... better."

[nerves_of_ice]

He pays close attention, memorizing everything Tony’s showing him. “Of course they are.”

The flicker of humor that flashes through his eyes is the kind of thing that Steve’s very familiar with. “Should I make sure to mention that? Strategically?”

[marvel_npc]

"It couldn't hurt," Tony tells him, and sets the equipment back in the case, then snaps it closed and pushes it over to Bucky.

"By the way, I'm planning to take a little vacation time over in Fukuoka for the next few days. You know, sandy beaches, spiritual enrichment, all that jazz."

His expression is perfectly bland. "But it's just a stone's throw over the Korea Strait to Busan. You know, just in case Klaue gets any ideas."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Good to know.” Bucky studies his face for a second. Did Steve put him up to this, or is it a lack of trust, or does he just want to help?

He’s not entirely certain. “I’ll keep it in mind. And keep you posted.”

[marvel_npc]

"Do that."

Tony jerks a thumb over his shoulder. "I better go say hi to this Ross while I'm here. Wouldn't want to be accused of lacking manners."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'll walk you over," Bucky says. He shuts off his computer and stashes the foldable tablet in his back pocket.

"Since that's probably the kind of thing a liaison does."

[marvel_npc]

"Oh, probably."

He waits for Barnes to fall in next to him, sipping at his coffee once more. "May as well be official about it. I love being official. It makes getting my way so much easier."

[nerves_of_ice]

He huffs out a soft, amused breath and tips his head in the direction of the shortest route to Ross's office.

"So that's how it works."

[marvel_npc]

"Sometimes," Tony tells him, and follows as Barnes leads him through the building. "But I've got a good feeling about it working today."

[nerves_of_ice]

He sticks around until Tony takes off, then texts Sharon that he'll see her back at the flat and heads out himself, case in tow. He might as well use the time to familiarize himself with everything, starting with the surveillance tools.