[ This particular band had been trailing her for a little over a week now. It was not safe to be on the street level, except in brief spans, and so she kept to the rooftops. Alleyways.
She had seen this man many times over the past week. He rides a motorcycle, stops in at the little bodega, he likes plums, and always buys one or two. She watches him because he reads as able to protect. Not just able. Willing.
Laura can smell that she can trust him.
So, she takes a chance when they get too close. She climbs down from the fire escape she was in, and drops onto the dirty, cracked pavement with her backpack, tugging her hood over her head. When she heads into the store, she knows they aren't far, but they are looking for a young girl who is alone.
When she slips between a lady and man deciding on what to eat for snacks for the road, and takes the tall man's hand, small one curling around it. Now she isn't alone. ]
Bucky's simply too much of what he is, still far too much the Winter Soldier to not be aware of it. It's careful though, staying out of sight. And it doesn't make a move, so he lets it be. There had been a moment of course when he'd considered mentioning it to Tony, but he simply doesn't have enough information about it: no motive, not even a positive identification. It'd only make Tony worry, and that's not at all what he wants to do.
Besides, it's not like he goes out unarmed. And even if he did, it's not like he's not a weapon simply by nature of what he is.
Still, it's a good week and change before things change. He's out on a bike, as has become usual for him, and a bike means leather jacket and gloves, easy to conceal that arm. Not that he needs to do much of that, but it's easier. Simpler. Draws less attention, fewer stares. And he likes this shop, likes the friendly staff just trying to make a few bucks. They're simple people with simple lives. Sometimes he envies it.
Other times he remembers blood on the floor and the cold fear of having to press the reactor back into Tony's chest and he's thankful that he is what he is.
He's just starting to reach for a few plums off the display when a hand slips into his own and he stiffens for a fraction of a second, glancing down at the dirty figure at his side. His shadow then; she has to be. Younger than he would have expected; smaller too. And further observation is forestalled by the arrival of— Well, it doesn't matter what organization they're with, not really. Bucky knows their type well enough, and can certainly stop their type a mile away. The two who come into the shop aren't exactly inconspicuous, but that doesn't mean he wants to hang around for too long.
He bypasses the individual fruits for a prebagged dozen instead, pulling the paper bag off the display and tugging her toward the cashier. The sooner they're out of the shop the better; it doesn't take much for him to figure out that she's being hunted and he's her disguise. It'll work for a while, but a hooded sweatshirt and an adult make for a poor disguise overall and he'd like to put some distance between themselves and the two agents sooner rather than later.]
Put these in your bag. [It's quiet as he leads her out of the store. Putting a kid on the back of a motorcycle probably isn't the best idea, but it's going to have to work. And a dozen plums are too many to put in his jacket pockets.]
[ There were other people. Other regulars. Marks who could have passed. Made due. It would not be good. They do not carry themselves the same way that the tall man does.
They would not survive very long. They would die because they tried to protect her and could not. This man does not feel like that. He's also armed. It's a habit of his, she can tell. He doesn't want to use it, but always has it.
Laura can feel him tense as she takes his hand, and for a second she holds her breath, uncertain if she misjudged. She's glad to find that she hasn't when the men come in, and he keeps holding on to her hand, going about his business as if she were always there.
It's simple enough to go along with getting what the other man is buying, and not cause a commotion. She doesn't make eye contact with the men in the store, but keeps them in her peripheral. They are the ones that have been following her.
He keeps up with his longer strides easily. She slings her backpack off her shoulder, and opens it up to let the plums be put inside. She's ridden in cars before, but never a motorcycle. It's the one part of this plan that she isn't certain what to expect from. The bag is zipped back up, and slung back on, hand resting on the seat of the motorcycle, unsure how to proceed. ]
[It's just a brief look he gets of her bag but it's enough to confirm to him that she's alone and on the run. And inside are two men who want to change that and haven't realized their mark has slipped away. That's fine, but they're probably not the only two. And he probably doesn't have much time.
When she hesitates Bucky doesn't, hands on her waist to deposit her on the bike's seat. Even with a backpack she's small enough that it won't be a problem to have her in front, not once he shows her where she can hold. She's heavier than he would have though; good. At least she's not starved.
He wastes no time gunning the engine and pulling out of the small lot. He's not sure where to go except away, definitely out of town limits but certainly not back to the house. Not until he figures out what her deal is.
They're on the bike for a good half an hour before he pulls off and into a park. He parks by the picnic area, where the facilities building hides the bike from the road, and kills the engine.]
[ She has herself, a picture in her pocket of her family (the other kids), and a bouncy ball that barely fits in her hand. If one doesn't count the plums now. She tenses just a little at being picked up, but then straddles the motorcycle.
It reminds her of the mechanical horse outside of the convenience store somewhere else on the road. A lady had been nice to her and put a quarter in it to make it move like she was riding. She puts her hands where he tells her, eyes widening once the bike starts, and they are off.
She has a moment of surprised laughter that is swallowed up by the wind in her face, blowing her hood and hair back. Her eyes are wide as they speed through the roads with ease. She learns quickly to lean a little when he does, so that the bike stays balanced.
Eventually, they stop in a park. She shimmies off the bike in order to get her feet under her and face the man properly. ]
Men wanted to hurt me. Looking for me. Alone. With you. Not alone.
[ Her words are heavily accented, stilted and broken. She knows English, but not very well. Her Spanish is better. He slides her bag off of her small frame, unzips it, and pulls the bag of plums out to offer it back to him.
She's grateful for the help, but she doesn't expect any more now that they are not so close to the city. Her sleeves near her wrist are filthy, knuckles bloody, but not raw. ]
[He doesn't know if he's expecting an answer or not. Probably not, or at least not an adequate one. Why would men like that be hunting a girl like this? Why had she picked out Bucky as the most likely candidate for her plan to hide?
Why has she been watching him for a week?
He pulls a plum out of the bag and tosses it to her, lightning quick, mostly to get a better look at her hands. He knows blood when he sees it, but the absence of marks on her make it strange.]
De nada. [His Spanish is remarkable only in that it isn't; HYDRA hadn't wanted him to have too distinct an accent in any tongue.] Cuál es tu nombre?
[ Put simply. In actuality, they would likely want to bring her back, put her to sleep like they did the others, and take samples from her before disposing of her body. That is what they did with some others before they were released. Before they fought back against those who wanted to use them as weapons.
She reaches up to catch the plum easily and quickly, not phased by how quickly he tossed it to her. ]
Laura. [ She ate a little recently. She'll save the plum. It goes back into her bag for later. She should go now, but something makes her want to stay. She sniffs at the air. There isn't anyone dangerous around them. ]
[Well. That certainly makes things interesting, doesn't it? Bucky's no stranger to being a target, or to being the man sent after a target. He crosses his arms, regarding her curiously. From head to toe she doesn't look like much, and her weight certainly doesn't match her appearance. And her appearance doesn't match her appearance: blood and dirt on her, and not a scratch.]
Now why would they want to do that? [It's murmured more to himself than anything else; he doesn't really expect an answer. There also aren't very many people with the reflexes to make that catch as smoothly as she did. Something doesn't add up.]
So. Laura. [He doesn't tell her it's a pretty name, or any of that garbage that people seem to say to little girls. This is no ordinary little girl.] I'm Bucky. [He tosses her another plum before taking one for himself and biting into it.] What are you going to do now?
[ Laura has known only being a test subject in a lab, or being hunted. She doesn't know anything about this world outside, except that which she has learned by watching others. She saw other kids close to her size that would hold the adults by the hand, and no one paid them any mind. ]
Because they made something better than us. [ She doesn't expect the second plum, but still catches it just as easily. Following his example, she takes a bite of it. It tastes good. It's something she's never had before. ]
Bucky. [ It sounds hard on her tongue, but she manages it. Another bite with a little of the juice that ends up dripping down her chin as she chews. When she talks, her voice is muffled from eating. ] Run. Not safe.
Did they now? [That's curious, the phrasing. Bucky leans back against the bike, legs crossed at the ankle, and watches his young charge. She'd picked him out as camouflage. She's imitating the way he eats. She's been watching him, and she'd picked him out for her scheme.
There's no way it's accidental.
He glances to the road by which they came into the park, and then across the park at the playground equipment. It doesn't matter that they'd slipped away from her pursuers, he thinks. Eventually, they'll track her down. The next time they do, will she be able to get away? Or will someone get hurt doing for her what he's done?
Can he really justify walking away?
Can he justify taking her with him?
Fuck, when did his life get this complicated?]
Where are you going to go? Do you know a safe place? [Judging from her clothes, how dirty she looks, it's likely been a while since she has. And it's been a while since he's done something this reckless, truth be told. He's probably due.
Tony, he thinks, is going to have a heart attack. Figuratively speaking anyway; Bucky's not sure he can have an actual heart attack anymore.]
[ She nods when he asks that. It's the only reason they wanted to kill them. They said they were good, but they didn't want to hurt anyone. A soldier who won't kill is worthless to them, so that is what they all became to those who made them.
People have already gotten hurt for her. Because of her. Her friends. The nurses. Gabriella is dead in a room somewhere because of the Reavers.
She shakes her head when he asks her that, and takes another bite. ] No place is.
[God, Tony is going to have a heart attack, reactor or not. Bucky will have to make it up to him.]
I know a place that is. [He's watching her carefully as he finishes his plum. They have plenty of guest suites, the entire compound can be locked down in a heartbeat, they can figure out things like clothing. And trying to figure out where she's from and who, exactly, is after her would be a lot easier with JARVIS running the numbers, with Tony's brain working alongside Bucky's own.
And she'd trusted him enough to use him as camouflage, hadn't she?] Interested?
[ Not as bad of one so long as he calls ahead at least. But yeah, making up will still be a Thing for sure. ]
Si. [ She finishes her plum a couple of bites after he does. He seems to be thinking of how to do things. She thought of similar things when the men were looking for her at the bodega. ]
Ride again? [ She tosses the pit of the plum away, and looks toward the bike. What? She likes it. ]
Yeah. We'll ride again. Put these back in your bag? [The plums he means; it's still the best place for them while they're on the bike. Meanwhile he pulls out his phone to call Tony, at least to give him the heads up.]
You like Chinese? [The question is directed to Laura while the phone rings. Everyone likes Chinese though, really, and with Tony's habit of ordering the entire menu, Bucky's sure they'll be fine. And if she says she doesn't like it, well, there are other options.
He'll keep the conversation short at least, and in French because he knows Tony knows it and he just feels a need for a little bit of secrecy. Tiny bit. If she really is hunted, it might be safer for her to be in the dark about a few of the details related to Tony and himself, at least until they're in the safety of the compound again.]
[ She nods quickly, excitement clear, even if she doesn't really smile. Putting the bag back in her bag, she zips it up, and walks back over to Bucky again, putting a hand on the front of the bike. Her face scrunches up at the question. ]
No lo sé. [ She's not even sure what that is. Or means. The phone picks up after the first ring, Tony's voice on the other end. ]
[Her excitement makes him quirk a smile; he kind of likes that she likes the bike, especially since this one is kind of his baby. It's all vintage and rumbly, restored with a loving hand and more than a little help from Tony. It's a fun ride for sure. And a fast one too, if it comes to that.]
Don't worry about it. I like it, I think you will too. [Chinese is also easy for Tony to order way too much (not that too much exists around Bucky's metabolism) and easy to store the leftovers. And Tony's favorite place is more than used to them ordering an insane amount of food.]
Tony. Hey. [The rest of the conversation he has in French, just in case, but it doesn't disguise the fondness in his greeting.]We're going to have company. Can you order Golden Dragon for an early lights out? I like wontons.
[It's just one of the codes they have, little turns of phrase just in case of surveillance. Golden Dragon steps up Tony's perimeter security systems and lights out implies that Bucky doesn't trust he's not being followed. The wontons though, those actually refer to takeout. It'd been a near religious culinary experience when Tony introduced him to fried wontons dipped in sweet and sour sauce.]
[ Laura likes the way he looks when he smiles. She doesn't much, but then she's never had reason to. It doesn't mean she doesn't like things, though. But she also doesn't know a lot of things to like.
She nods when he says that she'll like it because he does. She liked the plums, those were very good.
Tony was working down in the lab, hunched over a workbench when he got JARVIS to pick up the call, but perked up as soon as he heard him switch to French. Even more so at the code when he talks.
He's already working alongside JARVIS to make sure that everything is bolstered. A quick message on the secure line to Happy, JARVIS steps up security on his end, scanning out further past the perimeter than he usually does, and a quick note has JARVIS put in their usual order but with an extra serving size added on.
He's not sure how much they need for their guest, so he just defers to another Barnes sized portion. ]
Got it. I'll see you when you get in. Don't be too long or the food'll get cold.
[ Security taken care of. Surveillance is stepped up. Food is in the works. ]
[Tony is so good to him, understanding of how Bucky can't explain until later and he promises himself that he'll make it up to the other man as soon as they get Laura fed and settled. After ending the call he stores his phone carefully back in the inner pocket of his jacket, zipping it in securely. He also takes a moment to check the gun at his hip, the knife at the small of his back. Just in case. He doesn't think they'll run into trouble but he also just wants to be prepared if they do.]
You ready to go for another ride?
[It'll be a longer one than their little trip to this park and Bucky means to stay off the major highways just in case. But it should be relatively uneventful with Laura perched in front of him and his arms around her. And they could always pull her hood up to hide her face and hair a little. Bucky's already thinking of contingency plans, and he knows Tony will be tracking the gps chip in his phone just in case.
Fortunately all his paranoia is unfounded, at least in this case; plans aren't needed. The ride is uneventful in the good way, nothing funny and no obstacles barring Bucky from driving through the gates of the estate and right into the protected garage. He kills the engine on the bike as he pulls her into her spot, shoulders rolling in a stretch. He'd been a little tense for the entire ride, on the lookout for anything even mildly suspicious, and it's good to be back where he knows it's safe.
He helps Laura off the bike with a steady grip at her waist, taking her left hand in his right when her feet are under her.]
Ready to go meet a friend who'd going to help me keep you safe?
[ Laura nods excitedly when he mentions another ride. She likes having the wind in her face, even if it blows her hood off of her head, and her hair around her face. It's---freeing.
Tony is definitely tracking Bucky's progress as they travel. He's ready to spring into action the second he's needed, but thankfully, it isn't. Still, he waits up in the living room instead of the garage. Bucky mentioned a guest, and he is wary enough to speak French in order to keep things between them.
Laura puts her hands on Bucky's forearms to grip carefully when she's lifted up, and nods, slipping her hand into his larger one again. ] Si.
[ Tony's not sure what to expect from their guest, but he's glad that the food has already arrived. It made it easier to lock everything down extra before they arrived. He stands up from where he's at on the couch when he hears the door from the stairs that lead down to the garage. ]
Hey. What's with all the hush-hush? Who do we have bunking over with us?
[There are points in the ride, just a few of them, where Bucky takes one hand off the handlebars to sling the arm around her waist for a little more security. Still it's an uneventful ride, thankfully so, and he's pretty sure they're not being followed. That's good, and good that they'd gotten out of town quickly. Bucky will have to go back later for some surveillance, check to see what information he can find.
Or Tony might go in a stealth suit, but Bucky is the better spy. He knows what to look for.
Still that's all consideration for later, not now. Now he lets Laura slip her hand into his, squeezing it lightly as he leads her through the compound. Strange how an action she'd used as camouflage already starts to feel natural, but he's decidedly not thinking about that. No, all he's thinking about is getting Laura upstairs to Tony, where she can be safe and fed and he can figure out what to do next.
He smiles, the expression small but still softening his eyes, when he sees Tony standing near the couch. It's one of their favorite cuddling spots, and far too often they eat Chinese from the comfort of the cushions instead of in the dining room or at the breakfast bar in the kitchen.]
This is Laura, [he says as he starts to cross the room with her hand still firmly in his own.] She's in some danger and needs a safe place. Laura, this is my friend Tony. You can trust him as much as you trust me.
[ Tony has never considered him one for kids. Well, he's met plenty of them both as Tony Stark and then especially as Iron Man. It's just par for the course.
But it doesn't stop the smile that comes to his face when he sees Barnes and the kid. Of course he brought home a stray. Had to happen eventually, right? He raises a hand to wave a little. ]
Hi, Laura. Nice to meet you, kiddo. Hungry? [ He gestures to the table where they have a ---frankly ridiculous amount of food. He can see the state of her clothes, knows JARVIS is already running a scan to find out what size she is and what she needs. He can have it there probably before morning.
Laura holds Bucky's hand a little tighter at the introduction of the new person, but he smells trustworthy, like Bucky. He also says that he can be trusted. He already protected her once, and she looks up at him and nods.
Though...the food does get her attention. She's never seen so much in one place, and her eyes go wide. ]
This is Chinese? [ She remembers him calling it that. It smells very good. Not like anything she's had before, and Tony takes a seat so as not to startle her. ]
You can have as much as you want. He really likes the wontons.
[He feels Laura’s hand tightening on his and Bucky squeezes back. Tony isn’t at all threatening — not like this anyway, in comfortable clothes and with an impressive spread of takeout on the table — but when a person has had no one at all to trust, it’s hard to accept even a small thing like this, he knows. The smile he gives Tony is small, one that promises answers to his questions later.]
This is Chinese, [he confirms.] Tony always goes a little overboard ordering, so don’t be shy. I can even show you how to use chopsticks if you want.
[Not that she’ll know what they are, if she hasn’t had Chinese before. Bucky tugs her forward so they can sit near Tony; he’ll defer to wherever she wants to be, between them or in his lap or even sitting cross-legged on the floor, but not before he leans in to brush a quick kiss across Tony’s mouth, and murmur a thank you into it.
Once they’re at least a little settled he pulls off his gloves and shrugs out of the leather jacket. He doesn’t know how she’s going to react to seeing a metal arm where the sleeve of his tee ends, but she’s been surprisingly level-headed thus far. And considering the tech in Tony’s chest, well, neither of them are entirely organic anymore.]
[ It is reassuring to feel his hand squeeze back when she is uncertain of the new man. Laura looks at the table, and then the couch, brows pinching together as she pokes at the soft cushioning. Bucky sits down as well, and she climbs up, doing as he does, and in between the two men. She only startles a little when she sinks in the soft material a little, eyes widening a bit.
Tony meets Bucky partway for that kiss. And while he doesn't respond verbally, he offers a quick wink. He knows he'll get the run down later. ]
Chopsticks?
[ She questions, but is distracted a moment by the glow that comes from Tony's chest. She doesn't reach out to touch it (he's still new to her), but she can hear the hum of it, even though it's faint. When she looks back at Bucky, he has taken off his jacket, and she can see metal where his arm is supposed to be.
She had heard the sound of it before, but she is tense for just a moment. It doesn't take long for her to realize that it is not the same as the Reavers. She reaches out abortively, as though she might touch it. ]
[He’ll owe Tony a longer, deeper kiss later, along with as much of an explanation as he has. They still need to figure out who Laura really is, and who’s after her, and the intricacies of why. Those answers won’t come in a single night; he knows it, and knows too that they should just focus on food for now. One step at a time.]
Chopsticks. I’ll show you and you can decide if you want to try them now, or next time.
[Though that will wait, clearly. Bucky tracks her gaze as it roams over Tony’s chest before returning to his arm. Moving slowly he meets her aborted motion, hand palm up and close enough for her to touch. The tension in her is palpable to him, and he doesn’t want to spook her now.he wants her to feel safe.]
I was. [He glances at Tony before turning his body a little more towards her.] I was hurt very badly. And some bad people found me and hurt me more. They made me kill other people, good people who didn’t deserve it. But Tony found me, and helped keep me safe, and showed me that I don’t have to do that anymore. And now I want to help you too.
[ They can worry about that after the resident munchkin is settled and asleep for the night. They have a lot to talk about, and JARVIS will have a run down on what he can get from scans. ]
I would like to see.
[ Her accent is heavy on her words, voice halting as she talks in English. Bucky offers his hand, palm up, and she gently places her own flat against his. ]
People hurt me too. [ Wanted to make her kill people. Wanted all of them to be soldiers for them. Using their abilities for their own profit and machinations. She looks over at Tony, clearly interested in the man that helped. ]
Personally, I think he's over-blowing my involvement, but he's got a soft spot. But yeah, kid, we're here to help. Both of us.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
( for sinistral. ) where do all the memories go the ones we hide away with lock and key
She had seen this man many times over the past week. He rides a motorcycle, stops in at the little bodega, he likes plums, and always buys one or two. She watches him because he reads as able to protect. Not just able. Willing.
Laura can smell that she can trust him.
So, she takes a chance when they get too close. She climbs down from the fire escape she was in, and drops onto the dirty, cracked pavement with her backpack, tugging her hood over her head. When she heads into the store, she knows they aren't far, but they are looking for a young girl who is alone.
When she slips between a lady and man deciding on what to eat for snacks for the road, and takes the tall man's hand, small one curling around it. Now she isn't alone. ]
no subject
Bucky's simply too much of what he is, still far too much the Winter Soldier to not be aware of it. It's careful though, staying out of sight. And it doesn't make a move, so he lets it be. There had been a moment of course when he'd considered mentioning it to Tony, but he simply doesn't have enough information about it: no motive, not even a positive identification. It'd only make Tony worry, and that's not at all what he wants to do.
Besides, it's not like he goes out unarmed. And even if he did, it's not like he's not a weapon simply by nature of what he is.
Still, it's a good week and change before things change. He's out on a bike, as has become usual for him, and a bike means leather jacket and gloves, easy to conceal that arm. Not that he needs to do much of that, but it's easier. Simpler. Draws less attention, fewer stares. And he likes this shop, likes the friendly staff just trying to make a few bucks. They're simple people with simple lives. Sometimes he envies it.
Other times he remembers blood on the floor and the cold fear of having to press the reactor back into Tony's chest and he's thankful that he is what he is.
He's just starting to reach for a few plums off the display when a hand slips into his own and he stiffens for a fraction of a second, glancing down at the dirty figure at his side. His shadow then; she has to be. Younger than he would have expected; smaller too. And further observation is forestalled by the arrival of— Well, it doesn't matter what organization they're with, not really. Bucky knows their type well enough, and can certainly stop their type a mile away. The two who come into the shop aren't exactly inconspicuous, but that doesn't mean he wants to hang around for too long.
He bypasses the individual fruits for a prebagged dozen instead, pulling the paper bag off the display and tugging her toward the cashier. The sooner they're out of the shop the better; it doesn't take much for him to figure out that she's being hunted and he's her disguise. It'll work for a while, but a hooded sweatshirt and an adult make for a poor disguise overall and he'd like to put some distance between themselves and the two agents sooner rather than later.]
Put these in your bag. [It's quiet as he leads her out of the store. Putting a kid on the back of a motorcycle probably isn't the best idea, but it's going to have to work. And a dozen plums are too many to put in his jacket pockets.]
no subject
They would not survive very long. They would die because they tried to protect her and could not. This man does not feel like that. He's also armed. It's a habit of his, she can tell. He doesn't want to use it, but always has it.
Laura can feel him tense as she takes his hand, and for a second she holds her breath, uncertain if she misjudged. She's glad to find that she hasn't when the men come in, and he keeps holding on to her hand, going about his business as if she were always there.
It's simple enough to go along with getting what the other man is buying, and not cause a commotion. She doesn't make eye contact with the men in the store, but keeps them in her peripheral. They are the ones that have been following her.
He keeps up with his longer strides easily. She slings her backpack off her shoulder, and opens it up to let the plums be put inside. She's ridden in cars before, but never a motorcycle. It's the one part of this plan that she isn't certain what to expect from. The bag is zipped back up, and slung back on, hand resting on the seat of the motorcycle, unsure how to proceed. ]
no subject
When she hesitates Bucky doesn't, hands on her waist to deposit her on the bike's seat. Even with a backpack she's small enough that it won't be a problem to have her in front, not once he shows her where she can hold. She's heavier than he would have though; good. At least she's not starved.
He wastes no time gunning the engine and pulling out of the small lot. He's not sure where to go except away, definitely out of town limits but certainly not back to the house. Not until he figures out what her deal is.
They're on the bike for a good half an hour before he pulls off and into a park. He parks by the picnic area, where the facilities building hides the bike from the road, and kills the engine.]
You gonna tell me what that all was, kid?
no subject
It reminds her of the mechanical horse outside of the convenience store somewhere else on the road. A lady had been nice to her and put a quarter in it to make it move like she was riding. She puts her hands where he tells her, eyes widening once the bike starts, and they are off.
She has a moment of surprised laughter that is swallowed up by the wind in her face, blowing her hood and hair back. Her eyes are wide as they speed through the roads with ease. She learns quickly to lean a little when he does, so that the bike stays balanced.
Eventually, they stop in a park. She shimmies off the bike in order to get her feet under her and face the man properly. ]
Men wanted to hurt me. Looking for me. Alone. With you. Not alone.
[ Her words are heavily accented, stilted and broken. She knows English, but not very well. Her Spanish is better. He slides her bag off of her small frame, unzips it, and pulls the bag of plums out to offer it back to him.
She's grateful for the help, but she doesn't expect any more now that they are not so close to the city. Her sleeves near her wrist are filthy, knuckles bloody, but not raw. ]
Gracias.
no subject
[He doesn't know if he's expecting an answer or not. Probably not, or at least not an adequate one. Why would men like that be hunting a girl like this? Why had she picked out Bucky as the most likely candidate for her plan to hide?
Why has she been watching him for a week?
He pulls a plum out of the bag and tosses it to her, lightning quick, mostly to get a better look at her hands. He knows blood when he sees it, but the absence of marks on her make it strange.]
De nada. [His Spanish is remarkable only in that it isn't; HYDRA hadn't wanted him to have too distinct an accent in any tongue.] Cuál es tu nombre?
no subject
[ Put simply. In actuality, they would likely want to bring her back, put her to sleep like they did the others, and take samples from her before disposing of her body. That is what they did with some others before they were released. Before they fought back against those who wanted to use them as weapons.
She reaches up to catch the plum easily and quickly, not phased by how quickly he tossed it to her. ]
Laura. [ She ate a little recently. She'll save the plum. It goes back into her bag for later. She should go now, but something makes her want to stay. She sniffs at the air. There isn't anyone dangerous around them. ]
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Now why would they want to do that? [It's murmured more to himself than anything else; he doesn't really expect an answer. There also aren't very many people with the reflexes to make that catch as smoothly as she did. Something doesn't add up.]
So. Laura. [He doesn't tell her it's a pretty name, or any of that garbage that people seem to say to little girls. This is no ordinary little girl.] I'm Bucky. [He tosses her another plum before taking one for himself and biting into it.] What are you going to do now?
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Because they made something better than us. [ She doesn't expect the second plum, but still catches it just as easily. Following his example, she takes a bite of it. It tastes good. It's something she's never had before. ]
Bucky. [ It sounds hard on her tongue, but she manages it. Another bite with a little of the juice that ends up dripping down her chin as she chews. When she talks, her voice is muffled from eating. ] Run. Not safe.
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There's no way it's accidental.
He glances to the road by which they came into the park, and then across the park at the playground equipment. It doesn't matter that they'd slipped away from her pursuers, he thinks. Eventually, they'll track her down. The next time they do, will she be able to get away? Or will someone get hurt doing for her what he's done?
Can he really justify walking away?
Can he justify taking her with him?
Fuck, when did his life get this complicated?]
Where are you going to go? Do you know a safe place? [Judging from her clothes, how dirty she looks, it's likely been a while since she has. And it's been a while since he's done something this reckless, truth be told. He's probably due.
Tony, he thinks, is going to have a heart attack. Figuratively speaking anyway; Bucky's not sure he can have an actual heart attack anymore.]
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People have already gotten hurt for her. Because of her. Her friends. The nurses. Gabriella is dead in a room somewhere because of the Reavers.
She shakes her head when he asks her that, and takes another bite. ] No place is.
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I know a place that is. [He's watching her carefully as he finishes his plum. They have plenty of guest suites, the entire compound can be locked down in a heartbeat, they can figure out things like clothing. And trying to figure out where she's from and who, exactly, is after her would be a lot easier with JARVIS running the numbers, with Tony's brain working alongside Bucky's own.
And she'd trusted him enough to use him as camouflage, hadn't she?] Interested?
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Si. [ She finishes her plum a couple of bites after he does. He seems to be thinking of how to do things. She thought of similar things when the men were looking for her at the bodega. ]
Ride again? [ She tosses the pit of the plum away, and looks toward the bike. What? She likes it. ]
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You like Chinese? [The question is directed to Laura while the phone rings. Everyone likes Chinese though, really, and with Tony's habit of ordering the entire menu, Bucky's sure they'll be fine. And if she says she doesn't like it, well, there are other options.
He'll keep the conversation short at least, and in French because he knows Tony knows it and he just feels a need for a little bit of secrecy. Tiny bit. If she really is hunted, it might be safer for her to be in the dark about a few of the details related to Tony and himself, at least until they're in the safety of the compound again.]
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No lo sé. [ She's not even sure what that is. Or means. The phone picks up after the first ring, Tony's voice on the other end. ]
What's up, Tin Man? On the way home already?
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Don't worry about it. I like it, I think you will too. [Chinese is also easy for Tony to order way too much (not that too much exists around Bucky's metabolism) and easy to store the leftovers. And Tony's favorite place is more than used to them ordering an insane amount of food.]
Tony. Hey. [The rest of the conversation he has in French, just in case, but it doesn't disguise the fondness in his greeting.] We're going to have company. Can you order Golden Dragon for an early lights out? I like wontons.
[It's just one of the codes they have, little turns of phrase just in case of surveillance. Golden Dragon steps up Tony's perimeter security systems and lights out implies that Bucky doesn't trust he's not being followed. The wontons though, those actually refer to takeout. It'd been a near religious culinary experience when Tony introduced him to fried wontons dipped in sweet and sour sauce.]
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She nods when he says that she'll like it because he does. She liked the plums, those were very good.
Tony was working down in the lab, hunched over a workbench when he got JARVIS to pick up the call, but perked up as soon as he heard him switch to French. Even more so at the code when he talks.
He's already working alongside JARVIS to make sure that everything is bolstered. A quick message on the secure line to Happy, JARVIS steps up security on his end, scanning out further past the perimeter than he usually does, and a quick note has JARVIS put in their usual order but with an extra serving size added on.
He's not sure how much they need for their guest, so he just defers to another Barnes sized portion. ]
Got it. I'll see you when you get in. Don't be too long or the food'll get cold.
[ Security taken care of. Surveillance is stepped up. Food is in the works. ]
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[Tony is so good to him, understanding of how Bucky can't explain until later and he promises himself that he'll make it up to the other man as soon as they get Laura fed and settled. After ending the call he stores his phone carefully back in the inner pocket of his jacket, zipping it in securely. He also takes a moment to check the gun at his hip, the knife at the small of his back. Just in case. He doesn't think they'll run into trouble but he also just wants to be prepared if they do.]
You ready to go for another ride?
[It'll be a longer one than their little trip to this park and Bucky means to stay off the major highways just in case. But it should be relatively uneventful with Laura perched in front of him and his arms around her. And they could always pull her hood up to hide her face and hair a little. Bucky's already thinking of contingency plans, and he knows Tony will be tracking the gps chip in his phone just in case.
Fortunately all his paranoia is unfounded, at least in this case; plans aren't needed. The ride is uneventful in the good way, nothing funny and no obstacles barring Bucky from driving through the gates of the estate and right into the protected garage. He kills the engine on the bike as he pulls her into her spot, shoulders rolling in a stretch. He'd been a little tense for the entire ride, on the lookout for anything even mildly suspicious, and it's good to be back where he knows it's safe.
He helps Laura off the bike with a steady grip at her waist, taking her left hand in his right when her feet are under her.]
Ready to go meet a friend who'd going to help me keep you safe?
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Tony is definitely tracking Bucky's progress as they travel. He's ready to spring into action the second he's needed, but thankfully, it isn't. Still, he waits up in the living room instead of the garage. Bucky mentioned a guest, and he is wary enough to speak French in order to keep things between them.
Laura puts her hands on Bucky's forearms to grip carefully when she's lifted up, and nods, slipping her hand into his larger one again. ] Si.
[ Tony's not sure what to expect from their guest, but he's glad that the food has already arrived. It made it easier to lock everything down extra before they arrived. He stands up from where he's at on the couch when he hears the door from the stairs that lead down to the garage. ]
Hey. What's with all the hush-hush? Who do we have bunking over with us?
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Or Tony might go in a stealth suit, but Bucky is the better spy. He knows what to look for.
Still that's all consideration for later, not now. Now he lets Laura slip her hand into his, squeezing it lightly as he leads her through the compound. Strange how an action she'd used as camouflage already starts to feel natural, but he's decidedly not thinking about that. No, all he's thinking about is getting Laura upstairs to Tony, where she can be safe and fed and he can figure out what to do next.
He smiles, the expression small but still softening his eyes, when he sees Tony standing near the couch. It's one of their favorite cuddling spots, and far too often they eat Chinese from the comfort of the cushions instead of in the dining room or at the breakfast bar in the kitchen.]
This is Laura, [he says as he starts to cross the room with her hand still firmly in his own.] She's in some danger and needs a safe place. Laura, this is my friend Tony. You can trust him as much as you trust me.
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But it doesn't stop the smile that comes to his face when he sees Barnes and the kid. Of course he brought home a stray. Had to happen eventually, right? He raises a hand to wave a little. ]
Hi, Laura. Nice to meet you, kiddo. Hungry? [ He gestures to the table where they have a ---frankly ridiculous amount of food. He can see the state of her clothes, knows JARVIS is already running a scan to find out what size she is and what she needs. He can have it there probably before morning.
Laura holds Bucky's hand a little tighter at the introduction of the new person, but he smells trustworthy, like Bucky. He also says that he can be trusted. He already protected her once, and she looks up at him and nods.
Though...the food does get her attention. She's never seen so much in one place, and her eyes go wide. ]
This is Chinese? [ She remembers him calling it that. It smells very good. Not like anything she's had before, and Tony takes a seat so as not to startle her. ]
You can have as much as you want. He really likes the wontons.
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This is Chinese, [he confirms.] Tony always goes a little overboard ordering, so don’t be shy. I can even show you how to use chopsticks if you want.
[Not that she’ll know what they are, if she hasn’t had Chinese before. Bucky tugs her forward so they can sit near Tony; he’ll defer to wherever she wants to be, between them or in his lap or even sitting cross-legged on the floor, but not before he leans in to brush a quick kiss across Tony’s mouth, and murmur a thank you into it.
Once they’re at least a little settled he pulls off his gloves and shrugs out of the leather jacket. He doesn’t know how she’s going to react to seeing a metal arm where the sleeve of his tee ends, but she’s been surprisingly level-headed thus far. And considering the tech in Tony’s chest, well, neither of them are entirely organic anymore.]
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Tony meets Bucky partway for that kiss. And while he doesn't respond verbally, he offers a quick wink. He knows he'll get the run down later. ]
Chopsticks?
[ She questions, but is distracted a moment by the glow that comes from Tony's chest. She doesn't reach out to touch it (he's still new to her), but she can hear the hum of it, even though it's faint. When she looks back at Bucky, he has taken off his jacket, and she can see metal where his arm is supposed to be.
She had heard the sound of it before, but she is tense for just a moment. It doesn't take long for her to realize that it is not the same as the Reavers. She reaches out abortively, as though she might touch it. ]
You were ---hurt?
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Chopsticks. I’ll show you and you can decide if you want to try them now, or next time.
[Though that will wait, clearly. Bucky tracks her gaze as it roams over Tony’s chest before returning to his arm. Moving slowly he meets her aborted motion, hand palm up and close enough for her to touch. The tension in her is palpable to him, and he doesn’t want to spook her now.he wants her to feel safe.]
I was. [He glances at Tony before turning his body a little more towards her.] I was hurt very badly. And some bad people found me and hurt me more. They made me kill other people, good people who didn’t deserve it. But Tony found me, and helped keep me safe, and showed me that I don’t have to do that anymore. And now I want to help you too.
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I would like to see.
[ Her accent is heavy on her words, voice halting as she talks in English. Bucky offers his hand, palm up, and she gently places her own flat against his. ]
People hurt me too. [ Wanted to make her kill people. Wanted all of them to be soldiers for them. Using their abilities for their own profit and machinations. She looks over at Tony, clearly interested in the man that helped. ]
Personally, I think he's over-blowing my involvement, but he's got a soft spot. But yeah, kid, we're here to help. Both of us.
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