definingfuture | IC inbox for duplicity

[ Is this something he should admit to over text?

...Frankly, if Tony's asking it means something that outstanding can't have happened to him, right? ]

where I'm from
I'm the reason your parents are dead
if that's the case, I'm gonna feel like an asshole flat out saying it now like this
considering how you took it back home when we were face to face, though, this is kinda the safer bet

Wait, what?

[That is a lot to take in. For a number of reasons.]

You killed his parents? I don't... How? Why?

[His personal relationships with them aside, the idea of cold-blooded murder hits hard no matter who it is. But maybe he's just misunderstanding. He hopes it's a misunderstanding. Just some misplaced blame.

He knows it isn't.]

I'm not sure how much overlap there is between where I'm from and where you're from but
There was sort of an accident during the war
Fell behind enemy lines
Taken as a PoW. Weaponized.
Hydra planted a series of words in my head. Like a sleeper agent, I guess, or
Mind control
Whatever you wanna call it

Couple decades later, they got intel that your dad had the serum that made me and Steve how we are.

Extract.
Terminate witnesses.
Make it look like an accident.
It was about what he had, not who he was.

[ If this is all spelled out emotionlessly, it's because he has a tendency to put up a sort of wall between reality and his feelings on the subject. It's the only way he manages to get through the god damn day. It may seem cold, it may seem apathetic, but that's the furthest thing from the truth.

As for saying your parents instead of his, well, that's going to take a little bit of learned distinction.

This whole god damn thing is weird. ]

How could you?

[The emotion that Bucky denies comes through Tony's text as if the device can hear his tone. It can, because Tony is speaking telepathically into the text now and as always he is driven by his heart above all else.]

How could both of you do that to- to anyone? Did you tell him? Does he know?

No, don't answer that.

What are you doing now?

Edited 2018-12-01 04:33 (UTC)

[ Somehow, seeing it in text like this almost hurts worse than the look on Tony's face had in person. Maybe it's because he has time to really stew on it, really digest the sentiment. How could you?

It isn't immediately followed by adrenaline and attempted murder, so it just circles. Wraps around his mind and suffocates everything out. ]

Nothing
Whatever you need me to be doing, if you're leading into asking me to meet up somewhere

[ He doesn't quite get that answer at first, but Tony soon starts to realize what exactly he's dealing with. ]

Jesus. How long have you people been working together?

Okay. First: What have you done to clear your triggers? I need to know that now and I need you to guarantee the job was done by an actual professional that can be trusted. Otherwise, we're going to get you to Strange.

It's- It's all right, Bucky. But I want you to know that if you had been more direct with me sooner there could have been help. That's what we do. If what you're saying is true and Hydra was involved, that's what they do. They manipulate and use people to do their dirty work. But you should have spoken up. And your Avengers should have been more active.

I really don't. Honestly, I can't say I understand your world right now. The whole reason we got together to begin with back then was to help each other do greater good. To help protect more people. That is always the priority.

Yes. Yes, we should talk in person.

[ Ah, yeah, that makes a hell of a lot more sense. What are you doing now about keeping it from happening again. Would have been a fantastic thing to consider before Stefano stumbled across Steve's poor document security practices.

Hindsight is 20/20. ]

Back home they stuck me in a cryogenic freezer until they could figure it out. We came up with an alternative solution for here. A little too late, but.

Can't say I know how active the Avengers could have been, considering Hydra infiltrated SHIELD where I'm from. Things fell apart pretty damn quick while I was waking up
Couldn't really trust anyone.
Couldn't really remember anyone to trust them if I wanted to

[ They're breaking off on tangents now, they're covering a lot of history over text and... yeah. Maybe not the best format. ]

Name the time and the place
And if we could skip me getting my arm blown off this time that'd be
Swell
God damn things are expensive here

[ His impression of that entire world's set of heroes so far is not so stellar. Strange is the only one who he hasn't been put off by, and as a hero and leader over decades, Tony is not so pleased by the performance he's seen.

Still. There is always the future. ]

Come to #17. Just you. If you really want to talk, then we can talk.

[ There's a pause, and then Tony adds: ]

Of the two of us, you're the only one firing shots so far. I wasn't offering.

No shots

[ Not from him, not intentionally. He doesn't intend on it. This is an amends-making mission. Granted, it's not right to superimpose the image of the two of them. They're different people, different histories, and logically he knows that.

But there's an emotion-driven guilt-fueled piece of him that feels like this is almost close enough, a part of him that's desperate for it. Craves it, can't not chase the lead.

So. ]

Be there in ten.

[ And he is, with a polite knock, pursed lips, and hands shoved deep into his pockets. ]

[The door opens on its own when Bucky knocks. Tony is in the kitchenette, setting up a tray which he comes into view holding a few moments later. On it are a couple mugs, a bowl of creamer cups, a small bowl of sugar and a carafe. He nods to Bucky as he moves toward the living room.]

Come in. Make yourself comfortable.

[There's a lingering seriousness under his soft voice, but not more than that. The armor stands silent in the corner of the room. Otherwise, Tony and the room seems completely normal.]

[ There are a few wary moments of hypervigilance. Eyes track to the door (god damn that's neat), the tray, the suit, back to the tray, finally up to Tony where he studies Tony's face.

Taking stock of the differences.
Taking stock of the similarities.

He's read more than his fair share of science fiction paper backs. He gets the premise of multiple universes. Tossed around the idea on his back in a pup tent with other guys who told him to shut the hell up or talk about something worthwhile, like women.

It's a little different seeing it face to face.

But he's adaptable, and he's good at compartmentalizing. So he comes in, edges into Tony's space like it's a fragile thing, like he's afraid of breaking it just by existing.

Finds a seat. Sits. Finds words shortly after, and mutters a rusty: ]

Thanks.

[The apartment is modern and, when Herbert isn't working in it, somewhat empty. Tony keeps decoration to a minimum, focusing on comfort and cleanliness instead. A good couch and some nice chairs to curl up in on chilly nights. A coffee table he sets his tray on as he starts pouring coffee. Nothing overdone or gaudy, but still carrying a lived-in atmosphere.

He slides a mug toward Bucky, at first not saying anything. He just looks him over briefly and nods. It might seem like he's taking in what the man looks like, but what he's doing is pulling information out of the metal arm, reading its condition as the suit behind them scans Bucky and takes a record of his health. By the time Tony has prepared his own drink, it's over.]

You'll have to forgive me, but I'm going to start with business. I need you to tell me what you've done to remove the conditioning protocols from your mind.

[ The arm's not impressive. Frankly, it's shittier than the one his Tony blew off back in Siberia. It's a replacement crafted by the powers that be, and purchased with the salary afforded to him as a cop in the Up. It opens doors. Regulates temperature. Registers touch in a rudimentary way, but not so much texture. He couldn't tell cloth apart, but he can feel the warmth of fingertips.

Health-wise, physically, he's at peak. Has to be, thanks to the stuff pumping through him. Probably could have slept better the night before, but it's just a small blip in an otherwise artificially flawless picture.

Mentally, on the other hand... ]

Wanda ripped the words out of my head.

[ He curls (flesh) fingers around the mug, but doesn't lift it. It's a tactile excuse. A preoccupation for his hand. ]

Not the programming, I mean, the... the actual words. I can't even... remember them, and if you say 'em out loud it's like my brain just...

[ Locks up for a second. Freezes up trying to build any kind of cognitive synaptic understanding, trying to chase neural pathways that have been closed. He can't comprehend them anymore. Mental blue screen of death, reboot, move on. ]

Can't do math in Russian now, for what it's worth.

That's crude.

[His voice is still steady and soft, a gentle tone that comes from someone that prefers quieter days to those with extremes. He likes action plenty, but not aggression. Tony gives Bucky the faintest smile as he takes a sip of his coffee, considering him and the team as a whole from this information.]

Interrupting the programming would have been enough. It's less invasive and not nearly as damaging to anyone involved.

[He definitely noticed that freeze.]

The potential side effects of what it sounds like you did could be dangerous to you. I guess you already knew that.

You said Hydra was behind what happened to you? They taught you Russian?

[ Crude, but he'd wanted an immediate solution. It hadn't seemed relevant here, being so far removed from Hydra, from their own god damn universe, from anyone who even knew of his history. Steve just had the piss poor luck to be roommates with a serial killer, and to leave sensitive things around that he shouldn't have. The problem bred a slapdash solution that, frankly, were he to be sent back home he would reimplement in a heartbeat. He didn't know of any other better ways, so.

One, nine, rusty, longing, freight car- All of it, gone. At least he's still got it in English, but there's a very loose aphasia at work in Russian.

The soft voice is a change, it's...
Comforting? Reassuring, maybe.

He thumbs the handle of his mug. Stares at it instead of the other occupant in the room. ]

They- yeah, that and a couple dozen other languages. They had a...

[ How the hell to even talk about this? Put everything in a box, unpack it later. Say the facts. ]

They had an initiative. Project: Winter Soldier. They reprogram people, turn them into... tools. Take out everything nonessential, replace it with stuff they could use.

[ Out goes his sister. In goes Systema. ]

[The whole process goes against what Tony finds is essential in work as a superhero: do as little harm as possible. Turning to heroics through Iron Man was always about that. It was about help over harm, about changing the pattern of destruction to one of productivity and life, and he would always be against any method that succeeded through damage and hurting others. When Bucky doesn't respond to his comment, he notices. It seems that in another world the Avengers have less concern about the amount of collateral they cause and that there might be better, cleaner solutions to achieving the same end. It says a lot.]

Steve asked me about that. I was wondering if he thought I might somehow have been involved with it. That does sound like Hydra. They aren't very creative or good at branching out in their methods. I'm sorry you had to go through that.

[ He doesn't respond to assertions about danger to his own well-being not because he's being deliberately uncommunicative, but because the damage doesn't outweigh the benefit. The side-effects are a small price to pay, and it doesn't matter that he's got one small problem. It wasn't phrased as a question, and he's taking for granted that means it can be glossed over.

Easy enough to do. He's got practice.

He shakes his head dismissively, expression inscrutable, hair shifting and catching at his shoulders. ]

It's over. It's not important. I just-

[ A pause, and then finally he looks up to Tony — this new one, this version, who is the same except for all the ways he seems different. ]

The way you- he found out back home was... wrong. If it was the same with you, what happened... where you're from, I wanted to do it different. Sounds like it wasn't, though.

[ Tony weighs out the exchange. Every response and every pause gets recorded and filed away, and that becomes literal for a man with a mind that is an actual database. He's getting a larger picture of their world and background through piecing together these snippets, and his ability to cross-reference comes more easily because of the way he processes information now.

Finding what he wants or needs to say, however, is always going to rely on the human part. That Tony holds back on, sipping his coffee thoughtfully before coming up with a reply. ]

My parents died in a car crash. It was brake failure. They had nothing to do with Project Rebirth, although I'm sure my dad had his share of enemies who didn't mourn when they heard about it.

[ He feels bad for this man. Not just for what he's gone through, but for what he's seeking. ]

It sounds like you probably should have told Tony sooner. But I'm guessing your people don't talk much.

[ Not like his friends. It's sad to know that. ]

Anyway, if it was an order by Hydra, you were being controlled. What matters is what comes after. What you do now. That's where you can make the difference.

[ He looks physically younger than the other Stark, not that he'd know, but the way he carries himself and his general mood is older, one that has seen the death of the world a few times and lived through it to put securities in place for next time. He's not exactly warm yet, but he's not cold either. ]

I guess if we're working with full disclosure, you should know I'm acting Director of SHIELD.

[ It's a lot to file away, and while Bucky's mind is very much not a database it is a series of unkempt cardboard boxes haphazardly taped together and shoved behind walls so he can deal with the here and now without succumbing to the contents of any one particular box. Tony touches on two or three at a time, and he licks his lips as he filters the information to their designated Do Not Kick receptacles.

His thumb worries steadily at the place where mug handle meets actual mug, that small joining divot constantly scrubbed with the print on his pad.

What matters is what you do now.
Murder five people in a city where he finally didn't have a history.
They're all alive again, though, which is better — but it means facing them head on, like he's trying to do now.

He bites his tongue, searches for the right path. His hesitance translates through in his speech, slow spoken, careful, deliberate words. ]

I made it look like a car crash.

[ Just in case. Just in case, because it's too close to the fabrication. It may be a coincidence. He hopes it is.

Being Director of SHIELD doesn't bother him so much; they tore the organization down before it was much of a factor where he's from. Unless Tony plans on starting a new BDSM chapter of it here, it's not likely to be a concern in the future.

Just another interesting fact to jot down on the mental notepad where he's compiling a list. ]

[Tony's expression tightens and he gives Bucky a hard look through blue eyes. It's perhaps the closest he's come to stern, a look he's echoing from someone else, but the emotion behind it is true.]

We don't have a file suggesting the Winter Soldier was active that recently. Not until he was employed for other means. And Hydra is relatively easy to spot once you've taken them down a few times. They leave fingerprints.

[He sets down his mug, leaning forward to ask the next question. The important one.]

These words you mentioned. How many people here would know about them?

[ Funny how it seems like Tony's already at a point that one stern look can make him feel chastised. His eyes duck, and he gets the message. Leave it alone. Focus on the present. ]

Know them? The guy who did this to me.

[ The one they still don't have a name for. The masked artist. ]

Know about them?

[ A more broad question, and he tilts his head a little to consider it. ]

Steve. Natasha. Sam. Wanda. Peggy, and... her partner.

[ His tongue searches his teeth, digging through his mind for anyone else. A careful exhale. ]

The two people I've told here.

[ Will Graham and Jack Benjamin. The two people he let in close enough to discuss it with. His submissive and his clone. A considering beat, and then a look at Tony. ]

You.

[ He makes a mental note of that list. They are names he knows, and he expects Bucky trusted them because of their familiarity. It checks out. The few loose ends are left unnamed, and that is more concerning, because it means he probably told some strangers. Which is obviously his choice, but Tony can't help being uncomfortable with those unknown variables.

His expression softens anyway, because it must have taken a lot for this man to come forward and approach him with everything he's just unloaded. That takes courage. ]

Okay. What did you want to know from me? I'm guessing you have at least a few questions.

[ The look he gives Bucky is slightly dry, but still soft. He's a decent man as far as Tony knows. Troubled and hurt, but trying. ]

[ Trying indeed, though how successfully remains to be seen. Maybe if he had the benefit of guidance during those formative months after waking up, maybe if the world hadn't gone immediately to shit. From freezer to loneliness to a civil war among the Avengers, he's been displaced and uprooted since he fell and hasn't found structure since.

He'd been better off alone, he thinks, sometimes. Less of a danger to anyone else, less of a burden, freer, safer in the hostels and the ramshackled apartments in Europe.

But he has Steve now, and that's worth more than freedom. Ironic, given what country he represents. ]

How do you know me? Where you're from, how is it different?

[ How could things have gone, in another life? ]

[ It's not the question Bucky is really asking him, but Tony smiles anyway. What Bucky asks is how Tony knows him and he doesn't. He doesn't know the man across from him at all, but at the mention of it, he still lights up with warmth he's been holding back. ]

Bucky is a friend. We occasionally work together. His missions are generally off-limits to someone like me... I have a certain image to keep, but I trust him.

Sometimes he even lets me improve his suit.

As for your file, that is in classified SHIELD knowledge. I know about it because I have clearance to know. And because he came back.

[ How it's different is a whole other trunk to unpack. ]

He cut his hair for one thing.

[ I have a certain image to keep, he says, and Bucky can relate to the sentiment. Back in the war when Steve was building a public profile, it didn't exactly due for Captain America to get his hands dirty in ways Barnes was happy to do. Some things, it seems, are consistent across universes. He does the dark jobs, the questionable ones, so that others don't have to.

At he cut his hair, though, Bucky pulls a face immediately. Disgruntled and incredulous, he cards his own hair back out of his face like he's making sure it's still there. ]

No thanks.

[ Is the flat, rather dry sounding answer he'll give to the very notion.

Circling back around: ]

Suit? Like-

[ A pointed glance at the suit in Tony's living room. ]

IC inbox for duplicity

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