video.

[prespangled]

[What started as a chill in his bones became the unnatural heat of a fever, but it's finally left him. It's time to play catch-up, which is always the toughest part for a guy who needs a head-start even under the best or circumstances. Is it days later? Longer? The network seems the quickest way of finding out some answers.

It has nothing to do with the fact that he's as weak as a kitten. Steve can't do anything about the palor of his skin, or that he looks like he could use two sandwiches (and a bowl of soup). But he does make sure that he's dressed, and that his hair is neatly combed. Ain't dead yet.]

I guess I was more tired after my last patrol than I thought.

[Downplayed, even if the people closest to him know the truth. Steve takes a deep breath, and asks what seems like the most obvious question to him.

He doesn't know the can of worms he could be opening here.]

What'd I miss?

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[prespangled]

Bucky.

[Steve glances back when he feels the tug, before turning his body a little more towards Bucky. He's quiet for a moment, eyes traveling from head to toe, the wheels going around in his head.]

Yeah. Yeah, much better. [A pause.] Are you okay?

[wipedclean]

[He... Bucky blinks, surpised to be asked when it wasn't him who was sick.]

I... think so.

[Bucky sinks down to sit next to Steve, close to him, their sides touching. He wants to lean into Steve, wrap him up in his arms, keep the comfortable cozy feeling going.

But there's a part of him that's still scared of all of this. He could feel Pierce's judgment when he was here, could feel how he was failing as the Asset. And he knows how much worse it will be for any Hydra handler to catch him swinging so far out of programming.

But he knows he has to try. He wants to try. Even if it's terrifying.]

[prespangled]

Good.

[Steve knows his tendency to worry too much about him, and he's thankful to see his friend still one piece.

Come to think of it, maybe they both worry too much. Steve takes a deep breath before standing up, carefully so that he doesn't topple right over.]

What's been happening around here?

[wipedclean]

[When Steve stands, Bucky puts out his hand, not wanting him to go, but Steve just stays where he is, so Bucky swallows and pulls his hand back, rests them both in his lap.]

There were a lot of extra people for a few weeks. The gods did something to the door that brought all of them in, but most of them disappeared after a while.

There were also these... portals, I guess, that were bringing demons in. Those are gone now.

[prespangled]

They're probably better off.

[Maybe those people went back to wherever it is that they came from, and aren't stuck in a cave now. Steve shuffles towards the kitchen, hanging onto things as he goes.]

The portals or the demons?

[wipedclean]

Both.

[When Steve starts walking, Bucky gets up and follows a few steps behind. He doesn't offer to help, he just hovers, ready to catch Steve if need be.]

There was...

[He trails off. How is he supposed to describe Pierce? Should he describe Pierce? Maybe he shouldn't. Maybe that should be kept quiet.]