[Ohio AU] the heart of winter

[nerves_of_ice]

Coulson had been called away on something for Fury before they'd gotten more than halfway to wherever his locker is and the set of trading cards stored within it. Without anything else to do, Bucky makes his way back to the quarters he's been given. It's either that or explore the rest of the helicarrier on his own, and that seems like something that can wait safely enough.

He swings by the mess on the way back. As he'd suspected, it's not placed too far distant from what serves as a commissary on this boat. He requisitions a couple of notebooks, a couple of pencils and pens and takes it all with him.

Might as well start with a report on the other Soldiers, he decides. That's likely to be more important in the immediate future than anything else.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sorry. I'll remember next time."

"You won't have to. I'll make you a whole kit," Tony informs him.

[from_the_outside]

He probably will, at that. She shakes her head and presses on. "What if we aren't anywhere near the button for the silo opening?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Unlikely. The chambers are all set around the bottom of the silo." Bucky draws with a finger on the nearest wall so everyone can see.

"Hallway entrance, control chamber over here to the side, cryo chambers here, here, here--" He marks off several places, then taps the center.

"--chair and crown apparatus here, and silo controls set in the wall here."

[from_the_outside]

It's still possible, especially if she and Coulson get caught against the opposite wall and Bucky has to chose between hitting the button and protecting them.

She doesn't bring it up. If he hasn't already considered it, then they'll make that call in the moment. "Fine."

Sharon looks over at Tony, pacing off to the side. "Remember you'll be bringing in Agents Romanoff and Barton, Stark. You can't just burn in like a missile."

[nerves_of_ice]

Stark growls. "Bet I can. That'll give them time to come down the other ways without being targets."

Natasha sighs and mimes throwing something at him. "Behave, Tony."

[from_the_outside]

"If the Soldiers break loose, we'll need all hands on deck fast," she reminds Stark. "But you have a point. Nat, you split off and make your own approach. You can clear us a secondary exit in case we get penned in, and collect whatever intel you can on the way. Barton will go with Stark."

[nerves_of_ice]

"If it goes wrong and it's anything like last time, they're distractible through violence. I'll draw them off for as long as I can."

He says it matter-of-factly. It's the best option; he's the one most likely to be able to hold them off long enough to have any real chance of survival.

[from_the_outside]

"That's plan Z," Sharon tells him, as Barton gives him an arched-eyebrows look and goes back to sorting through his arrows, sliding them one by one into the quiver. "If we have to distract them, let's try doing it with something else."

[nerves_of_ice]

He gives a half-shrug. "Best case is not to have to. But if it comes to it, that's an option."

Reluctance spirals through him, as it'll reveal some of his own weaknesses, but if it helps keep the others alive and unhurt it's necessary.

"Concussive force can distract. Electroshock'll hurt, a lot. Cattle prods, tasers, the equivalent."

[from_the_outside]

Nat is very carefully showing no expression through this litany, but she notices Clint removing a few of the arrows from his quiver and replacing them with new ones.

"Concussive force I can do," Tony says. "Electroshock too, if a few other things are in place."

"Good," Sharon says. "And, Tony, you may be on the hook for getting Bucky out." With that arm, he's too heavy for any of the rest of them to carry.

[nerves_of_ice]

He starts to tell them to leave him behind if they need to and swallows it before the words can make it past his lips. They won't; Sharon won't, anyway.

"I climb fast," is all he says, and slides the last pistol into place between his shoulders.

[from_the_outside]

She exchanges a glance with Nat, then gets up and opens a mirror in one of the lockers, touching up Irma's perfect red lipstick and wiping away a smudge of eyeliner beneath one eye. "Okay," she says, closing the locker door and wishing she were able to arm herself better.

She reaches for the warm coat she'll be wearing and nods to Coulson to get himself ready, too, as Nat goes to set the Quinjet down. "Everybody know what they're doing? Time to go."

[nerves_of_ice]

He moves like the ghost he's been rumored to be, coalescing on Coulson's left as the other man's silent shadow. For a critical instant or two, Bucky's gaze is locked on the outside, searching for any sign of trouble.

Nothing appears. It's a good start, even though he's dismally aware that doesn't mean there isn't all hell waiting below.

[from_the_outside]

The Snowcats they've rigged are waiting by the ramp Nat drops for them. Coulson gets onto one, with Sharon climbing on next to him, while the other waits for Bucky. As soon as the ramp lowers, a gust of chill, sterile air comes rushing in, bringing the blood to Sharon's cheeks.

Coulson gives a small shiver and revs the engine, then drives them down the ramp and into the brilliant morning sun, glowing over endless fields of snow.

[nerves_of_ice]

He drives out after them, then moves up beside their vehicle and tips his head to signal his passage. The engine roars as he swings around them and pulls ahead to take point on the approach.

It's good strategy for multiple reasons. He's the one who knows the way; he's the one who's likely to be recognized and acknowledged as someone with a reason to approach if anyone's watching; and if something goes wrong he's better situated to take a hit if it comes to it.

They'd landed a reasonable distance away to keep anyone from observing the Quinjet directly. The others shouldn't have any trouble following their trail.

As they draw near, Bucky tenses, watching the horizon intently. He doesn't see any signs of trouble, but that doesn't stop him from being on alert.

[from_the_outside]

Even knowing where it is, she almost doesn't see the facility entrance until they're practically on top of it. It's a single door, set into thick concrete, a few gleaming camera lenses tucked around it.

She dismounts the vehicle and waits politely for Coulson, then follows him and Bucky to the door itself. Coulson stands in front of the camera, patient, his voice as mild as ever. "Anyone gonna let us in, or am I gonna have to have this guy knock a little harder?"

[nerves_of_ice]

They can't hear the furious whispered conversation deep inside the facility, but Bucky can imagine it. He paces up beside Coulson and stares at the camera.

A speaker crackles. "Кто вы? Почему вы здесь?"

He doesn't know if Coulson knows Russian, or how much Sharon knows. Bucky holds himself ready to mutter a translation if needed and waits to see.

[from_the_outside]

Rather than answer, Coulson turns to look at her, annoyed. "I thought you said you arranged this with Karpov."

"I did," Sharon answers, smoothly. "He assured me he'd made the appropriate calls."

"Then I'll take it up with him when we're back," Coulson says, sharp. "It seems they aren't interested in anymore of our money... well, we have the Soldier. I don't see how anything they could offer might be better."

He turns to the door and starts speaking in clear, crips Russian, informing the suspicious voice behind it that Vasiliy Karpov had promised him a much warmer welcome after his purchase of the Zimniy Soldat.

[nerves_of_ice]

Silence reigns for a few more seconds before the dull thunk of a metal bolt drawing back sounds.

Bucky reaches out with his left hand and shoves the door open. An empty hallway lies ahead of them.

[from_the_outside]

Coulson waits, expecting Bucky to go in first and make sure the way is clear, with Sharon next. She gives a cool flick of a glance around the hallway, which feels almost as cold and sterile as the snow fields outside, then nods back to Coulson, who strides inside.

The door swings shut behind them and latches with a sound like a gate falling. There's no backing out now.

[nerves_of_ice]

“It’s this way.” There’s no emotion in his voice, but something about his tone expresses his clear deference to Command.

Bucky pads down the walkway, moving with deadly grace that’s reminiscent of a wolf on the prowl, and keeps watch for any signs of danger.

“Do you wish me to explain what you are seeing as we go, or simply to reach the center as fast as possible?”

As with his tone, everything about his manner indicates both the deadly skill of the Winter Soldier and utter, complete submission to Command at the same time. There's no indication at all, not even the slightest, that it's anything but the absolute truth.

[from_the_outside]

"We've already wasted time getting here," Coulson tell him. "And it looks as though we'll be wasting more, since Karpov clearly never followed through on his word. Let's get to the center and we'll see just how much explanation we need. That is, if I don't just decide to pull the plug on the whole operation."

[nerves_of_ice]

The Winter Soldier nods. "This way." 'Irma' might as well not exist for all the outward attention he pays her.

He leads the way to an elevator and enters the security code to open the door to the depths, then blocks the door open with his own body for them to enter.

[from_the_outside]

She follows Coulson in, cool and quiet, and takes up position at the back of the elevator while Coulson stands in the middle, leaving Bucky to take the door, where he'd take the brunt of any attack.

"Not a very warm welcome, is it, Ms. Kruhl?" Coulson asks the air. "With our resources and what we're willing to pay, you'd think they'd have managed to find a red carpet and rolled it out for us."

[nerves_of_ice]

The impulse to snort in disgust is dim and distant, buried beneath the layers of conditioning that he's drawn on like an old heavy coat - one that sheathes the wearer in the cold instead of protecting against it.

Bucky ignores the conversation, such as it is. It's not meant for him.

The elevator continues its steady descent into the depths of the Siberian permafrost. When it finally stops and the door slides open, Bucky is the first to step through, braced for attack.

The only sign of presence is the man standing in front of the elevator, clipboard in hand, eyes wide and innocent-seeming. He's anything but. Bucky knows this man, the facility's operations officer, Sergey Volkov, one of Karpov's trusted seconds.

He doesn't give any sign of recognition. The Winter Soldier stands between him and Coulson for a long second, checking the space around for any signs of ambush. Only when he spots none does he step to the side, giving Coulson precedence.

"We were not expecting visitors," Volkov begins.