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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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[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.

[So, there's the answer then, he's idealistic. A nice guy trying to do a good thing, and Bucky's going to hurt him if he lets him.]

That's probably not going to happen.

[He feels like he needs a lifetime to hide away from what he's done and figure himself out.]

And you don't understand, this has nothing to do with powers.

[ An idealist is out of touch with the real world. Clark is no visionary. He'd say he's hopeful.

He leans forward, clasping his hands. ]

Then help me understand.

[His jaw clenches, fear behind his eyes even if he doesn't let it seep through into the rest of his expression.]

Some things shouldn't be talked about.

[He doesn't even understand the full story, how's he meant to help Clark understand?]

[ Even with the best outward control, there's usually a physical response to fear from the heart, or the sound of muscles tensing.

Clark presses his mouth into a thoughtful line.

He speaks softly. ]

I don't agree.

[ He shakes his head. ]

You shouldn't have to be so afraid.

Edited 2017-03-27 09:23 (UTC)

[That elicits the softest snort of wry amusement. Clark is a good guy, but he really doesn't understand if he thinks Bucky shouldn't have to be afraid. It's probably fear that's kept him alive and free this long; and at least fear, no matter how uncomfortable, is proof that he's not the Soldier any more.]

I killed a lot of people, is that enough understanding?

[It's half harsh and half pleading. But he's not refusing to talk any more, he just doesn't know what to say. He might answer questions if asked, but he might not.]

[ Bucky doesn't strike him as a cold-blooded killer. A deliberate and private man, yes. One with demons. Not one that's likely to pick up the nearest assault rifle and march into a shopping mall ready to open fire.

Besides, they say the same about Clark over Zod's attack. Lois and the Planet are on his side, helping his public image. Clark doesn't know what he'd do if he didn't have their faith.

Too many people died. ]

What happened?

[He's not expecting the question to be so calm, not a lot of people will look at a killer with compassion and he's not even sure if he wants or deserves it. He shifts uncomfortably, tiny frown marring his forehead.]

Have you heard of HYDRA?

[It's a very wary, very guarded sort of question.]

As in the creature from Greek mythology?

[ He has a feeling that's not it. ]

[Well, that answers that question. His jaw tightens.]

How about the Nazis?

[ Clark nods. ]

Yes. World War Two. Are they affiliated?

[It's probably obvious from the way he's tensing up bit by bit, as well as the way his heart is racing, that this conversation is already very uncomfortable for him.]

Yeah, HYDRA started as the Nazi Deep Science Division during the war.

[He's sure he doesn't need to elaborate. If Clark has heard of the Nazis, he can probably imagine what the deep science division did.]

[ Sometimes what's important is uncomfortable and overwhelming. He'd like the truth, though not at the price of hurting Bucky.

Clark's brows furrow. His attention zeroes in on the arm, looking away quickly so as not to stare. ]

What are they now?

After the war ended, they formed into a secret organisation designed to guide the world to their vision of a future. Not that much different, their vision of a future involved a lot of innocent people dead.

[The first trace of bitterness colours his voice.]

I helped them get there.

How?

[ It's too grand a scale. Clark doesn't see how one person, even one above-average like Bucky, helps that along. He's one soldier. It seems like politicians or businessmen would be more useful. ]

[He can't help but turn a hard-eyed glare on Clark now, almost annoyed that he's not condemning already. Why is he being so understanding?]

By killing anyone they pointed me at. Dozens, maybe hundreds, for seventy years.

[ Clark has an instinct for the truth. So does Lois. She gets her stories by being determined and unyielding. Clark finds his through patience and his desire for connection. ]

You look good for your age.

[ It's just to misdirect while he comes up with the real question. ]

Why did you leave them?

[ If Bucky wants him to believe he's the kind of person to destroy with impunity, he has to show it. All Clark has seen is his unwillingness to be around other people because he's afraid of hurting them. That fear makes him more than a killing machine. ]

[A part of him wants to run. Not just from Clark, but from this conversation, and from having to voice any of what happened. His grip on himself is still so fragile and fractured, he's scared of losing it again.

But Clark can contain him. He's proven at least three times that he can be trusted. And, most of all, he reminds Bucky too much of Steve without actually being Steve.]

I still don't really know.

[His memories of Steve are few and far between, but something in him had stopped the Soldier in his tracks.]

I don't know a lot of things. They wiped me after every mission. No memories, no emotions, makes for a better weapon.

What?

[ He's very glad he wasn't holding anything. It would have crumbled in his hands from the shock at experiencing this much anger this suddenly.

Clark's been angry before. He can usually get through even the worse times after years of practice. This is different. It makes him want to tear something apart just to feel it crushed by his power.

He spoke too sharply, so Clark softens his voice. His expression is still rigid, and he's staring openly at the arm. ]

They did that to you?

[Bucky's every muscle tenses at that anger, instinct combining with fear to put him so far on edge that he'd be amazed if he didn't end in taking a swing at Clark again just to make this all stop.

Somehow he's found himself on his feet, backed up several steps from the campfire, expression so carefully shuttered and voice deliberately neutral.]

The arm?

[He closes the fingers of his metal fist, soft whirring sound filling the air.]

Yeah.

[He can't explain how he lost the original arm, because that's just a blur of cold and pain. But he does remember the operations that followed.]

They called me the Winter Soldier, or the Asset. [He hesitates, before trying oh-so-awkwardly to draw attention away from this.] I prefer Simon.

[ Clark too is standing. He moves away, behind one of the storage units.

If this were home, he'd be listening to his mother's heartbeat and the sound of her walking around their house. He closes his eyes and remembers it instead.

The anger's not gone away. It might not, because he'll be reminded of it when he hears that arm whir. Clark will figure out how to keep it from surfacing around Bucky.

While he's finally calm, he keeps his distance. ]

I scared you. I'm sorry.

[He doesn't know what Clark is thinking, and that's almost more unnerving than the anger. He stares for a long few moments, silent, before he takes a half step back towards the fire.]

I told you that some things shouldn't be talked about.

[And that's just the surface, it's best not to go digging for horrors.]