[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]

There are some differences between today and the last time that he'd faced off with the other soldiers, not least that he was able to choose this fight.

It doesn't matter as much as he thought it would. Grief spikes sharply in him, mixed with resignation as he moves into the battle. There's very little room for anything but a full out effort, but he tries, calling out to him over and over as he blocks strikes and pulls his left-hand blows slightly, trying to get him to recognize anything beyond madness and rage and violence.

The pace escalates until they're moving with blurred speed, but the other soldier's lack of control is his undoing. Bucky ducks sideways from an elbow strike that was meant to incapacitate him and throws a leg sweep and a straight-arm punch with his left into the soldier's ribs, then follows him down to the floor as he crumples to pin him there on his stomach with the other man's arms pulled behind his back.

[from_the_outside]

Between the two of them, Sharon and Coulson deal with the guards and the moaning Volkov as the silo roof cranks slowly open. Cold Siberian light comes flooding in, along with the familiar whine of repulsors firing like rockets. Sharon shades her eyes as Iron Man comes soaring in, Clint gripping onto his hand. The archer lets go and drops lightly to the top of one cryo chamber, already nocking an arrow. Before Sharon can turn, he's loosed it, and the guard behind her who'd been moving settles with a thud.

The cement floor breaks into a starburst as Tony lands, before he looks over to where Bucky's subduing the soldier. "How we doing, guys?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Sweep the facility,” Bucky manages, through gritted teeth. The man beneath him is still fighting, or trying to, and it’s taking great effort to keep him contained.

“I don’t know how many more there are scattered about. Need to jam signals.”

[from_the_outside]

Tony looks over at her, the Iron Man mask flatly expressionless. "Agent, you come with me. Barton, you team up with Coulson."

He turns back to Bucky, focusing on the struggling soldier. "You sure you got him?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Yes.” Bucky sighs and does what he’d been reluctant to do. He shifts his weight to the right, the man below him twists onto his side to escape —

- and the solid metal of Bucky’s left fist slams against the man’s temple, knocking him unconscious.

“Go. I’ll finish securing him.” He doesn’t look away from the fallen man.

[from_the_outside]

Coulson heads to the barred door and waits for the others to take their positions — Tony in front of the door, Sharon tucked to the other side, Barton behind Tony, arrow nocked and string taut — then turns the handle with a sharp motion and drags it open.

In the next second, Sharon squeezes her eyes shut against the flare of Iron Man's palm repulsors as Tony unleashes on the gathered group of guards in the hall. Clint, behind him, sends three arrows zipping into the fray before Tony bowls forward. "C'mon, agent," he tells Sharon, as Coulson and Barton break right. "I'm not much of a dance partner, but I'll try not to step on your toes."

She huffs a breath and takes a swift glance back at Bucky, then slips into the hall and breaks left, running as fast as she can, Iron Man zooming out ahead.

[nerves_of_ice]

Guilt lashes him for letting them go ahead without him, but the fact of the matter is that the greatest danger in this facility is right here in this room.

It also happens to be one he’s uniquely well suited to face.

Bucky’s jaw sets in hard lines as he manhandles the unconscious super soldier into the chair in the middle of the room. He locks the cuffs around legs and arms, immobilizing him, but makes sure to keep the crown clear of his head.

He checks him again to make sure he’s still unconscious for at least another few minutes, then goes about checking the status of the other cryo chambers.