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(no subject)

who: Clark and Bucky
what: Making friends and influencing people.
when: Today.
where: The abandoned part of the city.
warnings: None.

[ There are a lot of areas in the abandoned city impassable for humans. Clark's been exploring them when he can: most often he's out here for short periods of time, or with Ellie.

The past week he's been here on his own, hard at work clearing the rubble and securing the area. It's a distance from the outer fence, but that won't stop any of the bigger monsters. Clark is more worried about others with abilities coming across it when it's being used, but he plans to be here with its intended occupant during that time. Looking after him is the same as promising to be there when it's needed.

He tracks the whir of Bucky's arm, and waits until Bucky's alone. Clark lands slowly a few metres away, speaking with concern. ]

How've you been?

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Neither am I.

[ Clark gives him a small smile. ]

We're not ordinary people, either.

[He thinks about denying that, but what's the point when he knows Clark can hear the evidence of how he's not ordinary?]

Alright. Show me.

[He's not promising that he'll use it, but he's willing to look.]

[ Clark takes this as his cue to approach. Slowly. ]

It's faster if we fly. You don't get airsick, do you?

Edited (tweaked) 2017-03-23 22:51 (UTC)

[He doesn't move back, but he doesn't look entirely welcoming either.]

Is it possible to get there on foot?

[He doesn't get airsick, but he's not sure how much he trusts being so dependent on someone else for any length of time.]

It's very difficult but not impossible.

[ It's only impossible for a human. ]

[Bucky is still human, just pushed to the upper limits of what a human body should ever be capable of.]

Then I'll go on foot. You can fly overhead to show the way, if you want.

All right.

[ He'll have to be careful, flying low enough for Bucky to see him and make sure no one else does. People aren't in the habit of looking up, but things are different here. ]

This way.

[It's probably a really stupid idea, deciding to go for a difficult journey on foot when he's still wearing a splint over a broken leg, but Bucky is nothing if not determinedly stubborn.

So he sets off at a jogging pace, refusing to favour one leg more than the other even if Clark might hear the soft rub of bone, following wherever Clark leads.]

[ It's a really stupid idea.

Clark lasts about half a minute. ]

Should you really be putting weight on your leg? It's difficult terrain.

[The look he shoots Clark is clearly a warning not to push it.]

I've run in worse, I can handle it.

[ Clark meets it steadily with an expression of open concern. ]

You shouldn't have to.

[The concern itches under his skin and makes him think of someone else who looks at him that way, which just has his jaw firming stubbornly.]

Just keep going.

If you're sure.

[ He glances at the shoulder again, before shaking his head to himself and rising just above the tree-line. Listening to the forest is easier from here. Clark's also not one for small-talk. While he wouldn't find it awkward to walk quietly in front of Bucky, humans like to fill up silence. ]

[Bucky appreciates the silence as well, it lets him just focus on moving.

Even with a broken leg, he still moves with the silent grace of a predator, something trained into him over many years. It's not how he used to move as Sergeant Barnes, but it's something he can't get rid of now.

He'll follow as long as it takes, even if some of the obstacles are hard to get over, until they reach wherever Clark's hideout is.]

[ Clark has met soldiers. This is different.

He listens instead of watching. It's less unnerving, probably. Clark keeps them off the radar of anyone else in the forest and any monsters. It's well past nightfall when they finally reach, a long drop towards the ground. It's very secluded. ]

I haven't carved in a way for you to get down or climb up.

[ He was hoping Bucky would choose the best place for it after having a look around. Stairs are out of the question. Clark doesn't want to make this easy for anyone not Bucky. ]

May I help you down?

[It's a test of endurance, and his heart rate is up by the time they finally reach their destination, the pain in his leg harsh enough to throb with each beat of his heart. But his expression remains neutral, his voice level.

He leans over to try and gauge how far the drop is, and if the sheer cliff is made of rock or debris, anything he might be able to cling onto.]

You might not always be here to help me down, I can do it.

[Probably. Maybe.]

[ There's no ledges or places for a handhold. Clark was deliberate about that.

He looks at the leg, his jaw clenching. It's hard not to say anything when he can hear the pain. ]

We can circle around and find a place for you to climb down. It won't take me long to make one.

[ Maybe Bucky will at least rest while waiting. ]

[The drop is too far for him to just fall down, even Steve would probably get severely hurt if he tried it, but Bucky has an extra weapon in his arsenal that most people don't have.]

It's not necessary.

[And with that, he jumps at a calculated angle. About halfway down he juts his arm out and his gloved fingers dig into the rock easily, the vibranium alloy hard enough to puncture rock without problem, scattering pebbles and debris below as his fingers slow his descent enough to get him to the bottom without major injury. A wrench to his shoulder, but nothing too bad.]

[ HOE DON'T DO IT

oh my god ]

I don't suppose you could've warned me?

[ He'd nearly jumped after Bucky in shock, then slowly descended after his metal fingers dug into the rock, watching him. Clark shakes his head as soon as they both land. Now his shoulder's in even more pain.

He'll hit the same wall trying to say anything about it. Clark doesn't like this kind of powerlessness. ]

I'll get us something to eat.

[ No arguments. ]

[He knows that look intimately. Even if he can't remember all the exact circumstances surrounding why the look had been given to him, he can see it on the face of Steve Rogers both before and after the serum. The slightly clenched jaw, the eyes that show a mixture of concern and frustration, it nearly takes his breath away.

Perhaps it's the strange similarities to Steve that make him decide to keep trusting Clark a little more, because there's no better man than Steve Rogers.]

Thanks.

[For once, no arguments. He even gives a little more, perhaps in apology for the lack of warning.]

You can carry me back up when we leave.

[ Clark starts. He was expecting one. ]

If you're sure.

[ Clark won't make a secret of what he prefers, but he's not going to force Bucky unless he genuinely can't walk under his own power. ]

Here, sit down. I'll get firewood.

[ Around, there's scattered rock formations meant to look natural and haphazard to anyone looking down from the top of the cliff. They're all arranged into shelters of various sizes. One is a house meant to keep out the wind and rain. The others are for storage. Clark has even put some fallen trees to make this place seem like it's been here for a while.

It won't fool anyone looking closely, but he hopes to stay hiding in plain sight. Just like he's always done.

Clark fetches the firewood and starter from storage, and hands it to Bucky. He could do it with heat vision, but Clark's not in the habit of openly using that. It's not like strength or flight. Heat vision is a purely offensive power. ]

[It's a pretty impressive set up. It's very defensible, anyone trying to get down to here would be easily seen and precautions could be taken to either attack or hide, and it looks subtle enough to not be noticed from a distance.

Maybe it didn't take long to make, he has no idea what Clark is capable of beyond flight and having a body that's apparently made out triple strength vibranium. He could be fast too, stronger than even he let on before, there's no way of telling.]

I can really use this place?

[He takes the firewood and gets it into place, setting a merry little blaze flickering with the starter.]

[ Clark nods while he sets up the pot over the fire. He has three packets of instant soup that just need to be put in boiling water for a while (the best he could do on short notice that'd be stored here) and puts them next to Bucky for him to choose one. ]

Yes. Once you've walked around the perimeter, you can tell me where you want to climb up. I'll carve the handholds and ledges to your specifications.

Edited 2017-03-26 16:33 (UTC)

[That makes sense and he was planning on walking the perimeter anyway, he likes to scout an area out and get the lay of the terrain before he can be comfortable relaxing. Or relaxing as much as he ever does.]

I still don't get why you're doing this for me.

[That's the bit that doesn't make sense. So Clark gets what it is to be dangerous, wants to protect others from Bucky just in case, but it doesn't explain why he's being so nice to someone who's pretty much only ever answered him in monotone deflections and lies. Hell, the man still thinks his name is Simon.]

[ It's the right thing to do.

Clark sits down opposite him, measuring his words. ]

I understand why you're afraid. I couldn't always control my powers.

[ Even now, he worries. Clark only learnt to fly last month, and he's not very good at it yet. ]

My mom used to tell me it's good to go somewhere you don't have to worry, and you can stay there until you're ready to come back into the world. I hope this is it for you.