[WWII AU] a long-awaited mission

[nerves_of_ice]

He'd wondered what was up when Steve had asked him to join the strategy meeting with him and Colonel Phillips that morning, just after breakfast. His best friend had tried to keep it casual, given that the guys were around, but Bucky can still read him as easy as any book.

It had taken less than three minutes for him to realize, and a solid five hours for them to plan the details of the mission. They'd worked through lunch, and by the time he leaves officers' country, Bucky's nearly vibrating with excitement.

Zola. After all this time, they've finally got a lead on the son-of-a-bitch. And it's a good one. First Zola, then Schmidt, and then--

He doesn't let himself think about that yet. He can't. Bucky reminds himself to stay focused as he moves quickly along the hallways, heading for the weapons room.

They'll all be getting the official orders at the afternoon's training session, but he can't sit still. Not now. Might as well check over his gear and make sure everything's as tuned up as it can possibly be.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

“We can’t let him slither away again,” he agrees. They’d gone over this for an hour before, so the question was fruitless to start… but he had to ask.

“Not this time.”

[marvel_npc]

"We won't."

His tone is final. Steve glances over his shoulder and allows himself to smile, slight. "We'll get him, Buck. And then he'll pay for everything he's done. We'll get the location of the cube out of him. Once we have that..."

The war will be over. Effectively, if not actually. "Zola's the missing piece. And he's within our reach."

[nerves_of_ice]

“First Zola, then Schmidt.” Don’t worry about the future, Sharon had said, all those weeks ago. I can promise you, Steve has one.

His faint answering flicker of a smile is a little rueful, but real. It means a lot to know that Steve’ll be okay, no matter what. “It’s been a long time coming.”

[marvel_npc]

"Too right, pal."

Bucky's flicker of a smile draws his attention, though. Now that he's looking, his best friend seems a little withdrawn. "You good?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’m okay.” Bucky makes himself meet his best friend’s searching glance. “I just … I really want us to get him, Steve.”

[marvel_npc]

Bucky has more reason than any of them to hate Zola, to want him caught, but as Steve studies his best friend, he wonders if maybe he's not asking too much of him. What will happen, if Bucky's forced to suddenly confront the man who'd tortured him, experimented on him?

"I know," he says, quiet. "Buck, you know – Jim could take this one, with me and Gabe."

He knows Bucky won't take the offer, but... well, he feels he has to hold it out, anyway.

[nerves_of_ice]

The wild impulse to say yes grips him. But if he did, would he be sentencing Jim to death in his place?

Bucky shakes his head. “You’re stuck with me, Rogers,” he says, as firm as he can make it.

[marvel_npc]

Steve can't help grinning at that, though he makes a mental note that Bucky still seems preoccupied. "Same as always," he says, and glances around at the other guys.

"Let's get this show on the road, huh?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“You got that right, Cap!” Dugan calls. Leaving the spotlight to Steve, Bucky goes to lean against the nearby wall, arms crossed over his chest as he listens.

[marvel_npc]

"Alright, listen up."

The Howling Commandos cluster around the table, peering at the map, their excitement filling the air in the room. He supposes Bucky's staying off to the side because they've been over this already, but feels a faint pang regardless. If this works, how many more times will they gather like this together?

Steve runs his finger along the serpentine line of the river. "Zola's train will be traveling along this ravine. It's cube tech, moving faster than anything we've got. So the timing for our approach has to be exact."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’ll say,” Falsworth observes. “Otherwise we’re going to be flattened on the tracks.”

“Just like the dame in the old movies,” Jim tosses back, as everyone laughs.

“Put a lid on it, guys,” Bucky puts in. “Cap, go on, we’re listening.”

[marvel_npc]

Steve waits for the ruckus to die down, slight amusement softening the corners of his own mouth. "Stark will drop us in as close as he can," he continues, "but we'll have to hike it from there. To here."

He taps the mountainside once more. "Stark's team will go in ahead of time, set up a cable. Bucky, Gabe, and I will take that down, across the valley – "

His finger cuts a line across to the tracks. " – and land on the moving train."

[nerves_of_ice]

Dernier lets out a low whistle. "Daring."

"Question." Falsworth waits until they all look at him, but keeps his attention steady on Steve. "How will we know it's the right train? And that Zola's on it."

"We've got a line on their dispatcher," Bucky tells them. "Means we'll have to hump a radio set up to the deployment position, but we can tap the signal."

[marvel_npc]

"Once confirmed, we'll make the approach," Steve agrees. "Falsworth, you'll coordinate the drop."

He allows a small smile. "So it'll be up to you to keep us from getting squashed."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Just the three of you?" Jim wants to know. "Why not all of us?"

"It's probably not going to be a long cargo train," Bucky drawls, trying to keep it light. "And it'll be racing to beat the devil. Not much time for everyone to get on board."

[marvel_npc]

"Our intel suggests the train is moving cargo and munitions, not soldiers," Steve adds. "Zola's intending to sneak by. Once we get aboard, Bucky and I will be able to handle any resistance."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Damn straight," Bucky chimes in, firmly repressing any other reaction but confidence. "Although we should probably figure on that 'resistance' being armed with some of those cube-fueled weapons, just in case."

[marvel_npc]

"Agreed."

Steve's expression turns serious, as he recalls the times they've gone up against those before. And none of those were in enclosed spaces, where his men – where Bucky – wouldn't be able to get away.

He'll just have to be the shield. And isn't that his purpose anyway? "And we don't know what other tricks Zola might have up his sleeve. He's not expecting us, but he'll be prepared, anyway."

[nerves_of_ice]

"He's a sneaky little bastard." That comes out a little more grim than he'd meant, but from the reactions among the rest of the guys, no one's got a problem with that. Dugan slaps him on the shoulder. "We'll get him, Sarge. And the Colonel'll make him sing like a bird when we do."

[marvel_npc]

He slides a glance at Bucky, but the time to check in with his best friend is when they're alone, not with the guys around. "Yes, he will," Steve says, injecting confidence into his voice.

"And when he does, we'll finally be able to take the fight right to Schmidt."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Maybe his head'll explode when he hears. You think?" Dernier muses. "That 'red skull' business, it cannot be healthy, n'est-ce pas?"

Laughter rings out among them, providing relief from the rising excitement and stress.

[marvel_npc]

Steve lets them get it out of their systems, then looks around, meeting each pair of eyes for a moment. "Questions?"

There's a lot to do, and not much time to do it in. He can feel the thrum of anticipation already.

[nerves_of_ice]

They cover a few other nuances on equipment and plans, but there aren't any more real questions. The squad's itching to get going, and Bucky can't blame them.

It feels like time's racing, flowing like sand slipping through his fingers. He's pretty sure he's not the only one who feels that way, either, from looking around - it's just that his reason's a little different.

"All clear, Cap," he says, for them all. "On your order. We'll be ready."

[marvel_npc]

"Okay."

He straightens and nods to each of them. "You all have your orders. Keep me updated on any issues. We've got one shot at this, so let's get it right the first time."

[nerves_of_ice]

The squad breaks into smaller groups, excited and raring to go. As Gabe heads off with Jim to check over his precious radio kit and Dugan and Falsworth leave with Jacques to examine possibilities for setting up the training room to let them practice train-landing, Bucky moves back to join Steve.

"They're a hell of a team. We'll come through for you, Cap," he tells him. "Don't worry."