(video)

[wipedclean]

[The video is showing two very different men sitting side by side on a couch in one of the apartments. The soldier, big, strong, metal arm, and still in his tactical gear but without his mask and goggles, seems to be showing the other, Steve, how to use the phone. The video joins this demonstration already in progress.]

Like that. See?

[He hands the phone over to Steve.]

And now it’s showing to everyone else.

[Steve’s figured out...well, most of the basics. Those that he could on his own. He was too stubborn to ask for help, but somehow Bucky must’ve known that he needed a little more instruction.]

Huh. [He takes the phone from the larger man.] So you’re saying that everyone can see and hear us right now? [The same way Steve has seen and heard others over the network. He blinks, expression brightening with an idea.] To everyone I haven’t met yet, my name’s Steve Rogers. And this is Bucky.

[Steve nods his head in his direction, but he never looks away from the phone.]

He used to like dancing. I don’t know if he does or not anymore, but if anyone needs a partner, it can’t hurt to ask.

[See what happens when you teach him things, Barnes.

For the soldier’s part, he turns his head to glare at Steve, then leans back into the couch, crossing his arms and scowling. He sure as hell isn’t going dancing with anyone.]

No one else calls me Bucky.

[The way it’s phrased, it’s clearly not a statement or a request. More like an order.

Only Steve gets to call him Bucky.]



(Bucky is red and Steve is blue. Replies will come from both.)

Comments

[video]

[mismanagement]

[Oh, it's Steve. Maketh hasn't spoken with him much, aside from their initial meeting, but she likes his attitude. The simplicity of him. The other one - Not-Bucky - seems different. It's hard to tell over the network, but there's something about him - the stillness, Maketh thinks - that has her on edge. Or maybe she's being paranoid.]

I see you have discovered the network, Steve.

[She hesitates.] What shall I call your friend?

[video]

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Not Bucky.

[That's all the input you'll get from him about that. Sorry.]

[video]

[mismanagement]

[She frowns at him.]

Do you have a rank or designation?

[Steve is military, and this man seems...well. Like the Inquisitor, if she's being honest. Perhaps he doesn't have a name either.]

[wipedclean]

[He shrugs a little, glances at Steve a moment, because he knows Steve won't like it, but says it anyway.]

Soldier.

[mismanagement]

[Maketh takes a moment to respond, composing herself until she's certain that none of her---weakness, sentiment, memories - will show on her face. She's the essence of professionalism when she finally does send the video.]

State your mission objective.

[If he's like the Inquisitor - if he's anything like the Inquisitor - then this Soldier will break whatever gets in his way. That cannot happen here.]

[wipedclean]

[He blinks, tilts his head. She talks like a handler, but she's not Hydra. Interesting.

And somewhat... strangely comforting, to have familiar territory to tread.]

No current mission.

[video]

[prespangled]

Yes ma'am, there won't be any problems with it from here on out.

[They definitely don't look like they could be friends, but that's always been somewhat true. Steve hesitates, glancing to the side before back to her.]

His name's James Buchanan Barnes. He always went by Bucky, but... [Steve trails off, frowning for a moment.] I guess a lot of things have changed.

[mismanagement]

[That's not as comforting as it could be. Someone might still give him an objective. Maketh doesn't trust anyone with eyes like the Soldier has. Too close to empty. It makes her remember things she doesn't want to.]

Regardless of present or future objectives, civilian casualties will not be allowed. Is that understood?

[video - private to Steve]

[mismanagement]

[The conversation - if it can be called that - which she's just had with the Soldier hasn't given Maketh much confidence about the situation. She has experience with men who have given up their names. It ended badly.]

I'm sorry. Truly.

[She hesitates.]

Forgive my bluntness. I mean no offense. But is he trustworthy?

[wipedclean]

[His eyes narrows. He might be Hydra's tool, but he doesn't have to take orders from anyone not designated to give him orders.

Though he understands this is less of an order and more of a warning. Which he can appreciate. So he nods.]

Understood.

[He won't say it's irrelevant. With how people seem to be brought here at random, he doesn't know if Hydra will show up or not. Maybe he'll get a mission. Maybe he won't. He may never know.]

[video - private to Steve]

[prespangled]

[Steve sighs, stands up and makes his way into the other room. It feels wrong, talking about Bucky and keeping it a secret from him like this. But he wants to do everything that he can for everyone in this situation.]

Bucky's my best friend. He's been through something...I don't really know what. He won't talk about it.

[Which might be just making things worse. At any rate, he hasn't answered her question.]

But I still trust him with my life. And he's definitely got skills that will come in real handy here.

[mismanagement]

[It's no comfort. This man - or this tool that was once a man - doesn't answer to her. The one giving the orders is elsewhere. Maketh nods slowly. She will have to work around this as best she can.]

Your friend trusts you. Don't make him a liar.

[video - private]

[mismanagement]

[No doubt there was pain. Maketh thinks again of the Inquisitor, who might have had a family somewhere. People who loved him and knew him by a name instead of just a title. Certainly there must have been someone.

It hadn't stopped him from killing her men.

Maketh nods somberly.]

All right. I--appreciate your honesty in this. But as a soldier, you must understand my concern.

[wipedclean]

[He's a little taken aback by that, unsure of how to respond. It's no real surprise Steve trusts him, but the weight of it seems to really hit him in that moment.

Should Steve be trusting him? In another world, he was sent to kill Steve. Not the Steve as he is now, but Captain America.

Steve can trust him now. But if Hydra shows up... he doesn't know.]

I'll... try not to.

[It's the best he can manage.]

[mismanagement]

All right.

[Her expression softens slightly.]

Welcome to Hadriel.

[video - private]

[prespangled]

You're just looking out for the city.

[Steve appreciates that, even understands it. Steve might be color blind, but he's not totally blind - he looks at Bucky, and he knows that he's no longer his friend who sent guys on their way with a solid right hook and a kick to the backside. He's someone different now, someone lethal, and he's not sure that he's seen the worst of him yet.]

I'll take full responsibility for him. No matter what.

[video - private]

[mismanagement]

[Maketh nods.]

All right.

[A pause.]

I appreciate your honesty in this. Thank you.

action;

[prespangled]

[He comes back to the couch after he finishes talking to Maketh. The mood in the room feels different, from the both of them. Steve's been reminded of something he's sure he'll be reminded of over and over again.

His friend has changed. People look at him now and they're not charmed the way they were back in Brooklyn. They're afraid. He sits down with a sigh.]

Maketh was really helpful when I first arrived. She's trying to look out for the people here, and I'd like to help her do that.

video

[quaerit]

[ Gansey recognizes the little one. He'd never have guessed that the larger one would have been his choice of companion; they couldn't look more different. Still, Gansey doesn't look a lot like his friends, either. ]

Hello Steve. Do I take it you've never used a phone before? I'm not really used to them contacting everyone at once, either, but you get used to it. I'd be happy to give you some tips, if you like.

And, Steve's friend... [ He was introduced as Bucky, but clearly dislikes it. Gansey tries to be polite about this sort of thing. ] ...is...there something you'd prefer to be called?

action;

[wipedclean]

[Steve's mood is different after his conversation with the woman, and the soldier is a little worried, wondering if he did something wrong. He sits a little on the edge of his seat, his posture tense.]

Alright.

[He doesn't blame the woman... Maketh. He doesn't blame her for her suspicions. The soldier is dangerous. Steve doesn't seem to fully understand that. But then this Steve hasn't seen him in action.]

[wipedclean]

[He huffs a little, a bit of a scoff, but then he hesitates.

Then, very softly,]

Thank you.

video

[wipedclean]

[He sighs a little. He should have addressed this in the video.]

Soldier.

[He looks over to Steve, his brow furrowed, then, hesitantly,]

Or... James?

[It sounds strange in his mouth, and he's clearly not completely comfortable with it. But he wants Steve to be happy, for reasons he's not sure he totally understands.]

video

[prespangled]

[They were always something of a mismatched pair, Bucky being everything that Steve wasn't. Now Bucky's just...everything that Steve isn't plus a metal arm.]

There's nothing like it where I'm from. I thought I could figure it out on my own, but I don't wanna break it. Any tips would be appreciated.

[Steve glances to his side, but he leaves the rest of it up to Bucky.]

action;

[prespangled]

[He didn't do anything wrong, and Steve tries to muster a smile for him when he looks over.]

I'm sure she could find you something to do too, if you ever needed it.

[wipedclean]

[The smile helps him to relax a little, enough so that he doesn't look totally on edge, anyway. He... shouldn't expect a punishment. Steve isn't really his handler. Even if he were, the soldier doubts Steve would be the type to punish the way most of his other handlers do.]

That... might be good.