For all of us who've seen the light

[punched_hitler]

Meme Thread Continuation
From: Here




"Seriously," Steve said quietly, trying to smile nonchalantly, even if he still felt a little on-edge. He took a breath, held, it, then let it out at the question.

"That's the long story part. The short answer is, we've both been on ice. In my case, it was unintentional. In yours - not so much." There. That was the simplest explanation, wasn't it? It was the truth, too, if not all of it. "Honestly, you weren't gone more than a couple of weeks before I... ended up taking a very long nap. I woke up a couple of years ago when SHIELD - that's what the SSR turned into - found me. By accident, it turns out."

He watched Bucky as he spoke, looking for signs that he should stop, that it was too much - or that he could keep going.

Comments

[make_it_hurt]

Bucky was sprawled across the bed, the book open awkwardly in his hand. He had showered, his hair curling at the ends and clinging to his face - he had long since given up pushing it back, it was intent on sticking to his face. He was in the same clothes as before, but they were wrinkled in a way that suggested they had been washed and dried in some haphazard way, namely Bucky had washed them as best he could in the tiny sink and spread them out to dry.

"See, told you he was okay."

[punched_hitler]

Steve did visibly relax when he saw that Bucky was okay - and sprawled in a way that was definitely Bucky. "Yeah," he breathed, looking relieved, as he moved to get the door open - but stayed in the doorway. If Sam had given Bucky a book, clearly they had talked and no one had died. That was a good sign; still, he didn't want to startle Bucky. "Hey, Buck. We've got some dinner if you're interested."

[make_it_hurt]

Bucky looked up. "Dinner? Definitely." He sat up and tossed the book aside - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. "What'd you bring me, it smells good." He saw Sam's face peeking from around the corner and if he didn't look excited to see Sam, he at least didn't glare. Sam lifted his hand to wave at Bucky.

Bucky didn't stand, not sure if Sam would see that as a threat. They had talked, with the mirror up, and then Sam had slid the book under his door. Instead, Bucky looked to Steve, at the tray in his hand.

[Winter Soldier incoming as soon as Bucky sees the glass of milk in 3.... 2.....]

[punched_hitler]

Steve had read that one - it was one of the things on his list of "things other people tell me I need to do." He grinned a little, looking even more relaxed when Bucky looked interested in dinner. "Steak - you're getting the real five-star treatment, Sergeant," he said, stepping into the room so Bucky could get a better look - and a better whiff - of dinner. "And trust me, it's good.


[Ahahaha welp XD]

[make_it_hurt]

Sam stepped in as well, but as soon as Bucky caught sight of the glass of milk ("want a drink?") Bucky stopped dead. Something was unfurling, in that same place as the cold, roiling anger from before. A man - his handler, his master - giving him a mission: Kill Steve Rogers.

The Soldier stared up at Steve for a moment then said, voice mimicking Bucky's perfectly, "Sounds great. You staying?" He straightened then stood, Bucky's easy, loose movements fitting perfectly on him.

[punched_hitler]

Steve's mouth opened - he was about to ask what was wrong when Bucky stopped dead, but he seemed to almost restart a second later. His voice sounded the same, he moved the same, and so Steve figured he must have just been startled (maybe by Sam, and he didn't expect them to be best friends, so that was understandable, wasn't it?). "Yeah, sure. I can stay. I've got nowhere else to be," he said with an easy smile, coming further into the room. "And I promise I won't steal your potatoes."

[make_it_hurt]

The Soldier smiled Bucky's smile. He was wearing a mask, another man's expression and voice, and Rogers wasn't able to tell the difference between the mask and reality. So much for best friends. So much for sorry.

He sat back on the bed, watching Sam closely.

"Here, Steve." Sam passed the glass off to Steve then made a hand gesture- something like I'm going to watch. Be careful.

Sam stepped out of the room and pulled the door shut. He wasn't about to risk letting the Soldier out, even with that collar. Because that little jolt that Steve had passed off, Sam recognized for something going wrong. He had watched back the tape of the Soldier using Bucky's voice, but that was more word choice and accent than anything. The man on the bed not only sounded like Bucky, but had Bucky's loose, easy movements and broad smile.

Sam had learned to trust his instincts and his instincts were screaming that something was wrong. If that hadn't been Bucky in there, Steve would realize that too - that their prisoner wasn't who he had been just a moment ago.

[punched_hitler]

The real problem was, Steve saw what he wanted to see. He heard what he wanted to hear. And right now, he wanted - needed - Bucky to be Bucky. He was having a hard time truly equating Bucky's face with any other personality, even though he knew better, and it was harder still when Bucky looked so much better - clean and healthy, and smiling at him.

It was stupid. But Steve was pretty damn stubborn. Even when it really, really wasn't good for him.

He glanced at Sam, who looked uneasy - but again, that was understandable. He nodded, stepping over to Bucky, holding the tray and the glass of milk now, smiling his most genuine, relieved smile. "Where do you want to eat?" There wasn't really a table, so it would be the floor or the bed.

[make_it_hurt]

The Soldier smiled, "The bed's fine." He scooted back and crossed his legs in front of him, hand resting in his lap. He was, admittedly, hungry, and would only be too happy to eat before killing Rogers. They would no doubt put him down after that, so there was no real reason to die on an empty stomach. He took the tray and the plastic fork and knife and set to work devouring the food. He watched Rogers closely, waiting for the man to sit down.

Toss the tray, legs around Rogers's chest and arms, hand on his jaw, neck snapped, it could happen in an instant. Wilson would be powerless to stop it, even if he had the ability to shock the Soldier with the collar.

Sam stood with his hand on the door, ready to shove it open. He had the trigger mechanism for the collar in his hand, just waiting for the Soldier to make a move. But instead he started to eat, devouring the meat and potatoes much how Steve had, his head bowed over the tray, scooping potatoes into his mouth eagerly.

[punched_hitler]

"Did you eat like that in front of your dates?" Steve laughed - he knew Bucky hadn't, because he'd gone out on enough double dates (that had ended as no date for him and two for Bucky) to know that at least the jerk had better manners in front of the ladies. He couldn't blame Bucky for eating the way he was - hell, Steve had been doing the same, himself - and he moved to sit down on the bed, still gingerly because of his side, and watched his best friend go to work on that meal. "There's more where that came from, if you need it," he said, settling back a little, leaning against the wall. "This isn't the war. You're not on rations. But you will choke if you don't slow down, buddy."