For Coulson

[advanced]

[It's not been long after the fight over the Potomac. He's not sure how long exactly, time has blurred together and he keeps losing chunks of it, but he knows it can't be more than three months. Perhaps less. He went to ground pretty thoroughly after seeing the exhibit at the Smithsonian, all that evidence in black and white of exactly who this body used to be.

James Buchanan Barnes.

He doesn't remember any of it. Just vague impressions of the man from the bridge, a strange tight sensation in his chest whenever he imagines the man-- Steve-- falling into the water. But that's it. It's a malfunction, he should return to his handlers and request a fix, but he finds himself doggedly avoiding all attempts to track him down or pursue him.

He doesn't really have a plan of action for where to go, he moves like a ghost picking up food and money where he can. How he got to this strange hanger, he doesn't quite know, but the plane that stands gleaming in front of him is too much of a temptation. He can sneak aboard, hide somewhere, and get taken to another country. Safer that way. He isn't expecting it to look so much like living quarters when he gets aboard, and he spends a good half hour silently padding through the various rooms until he gets to one that looks like an office.

It's the comic that draws his attention. Old, framed, a pristine Captain America vol. 1 dated in the early years of the war. He sort of remembers seeing those, a propaganda tool after an experiment? Serum? He doesn't know, all he knows is that the comic is holding his attention very sharply. It's why he moves to stand behind the desk and, without care for how old it is and how carefully it has been preserved, takes it out of the frame to begin flicking through the pages.

He's so enthralled that he doesn't even hear footsteps approaching.]

Comments

[avengeme]

[Coulson has only just wrested control of his plane back from HYDRA. It's being hidden away in this secluded hanger temporarily, until the Playground's hanger is fully functional. As well mantained as Fury's hidden bunker was, there are some unexpected kinks that needs to be ironed out.

As he steps into his office, he doesn't expect to see someone. But years of training kick in and within seconds, he has a gun trained on the intruder. There's warning in his tone, despite how casual he makes it sound]

You might want to put that down.

[advanced]

[He swings around at once, the front cover of the comic ripping beneath the sudden tense grip he has on it, eyes focused hard on the man who interrupted him. He doesn't recognise him, but that's not a surprise, there's not a lot of people that he recognises.]

You don't want to do that.

[His voice is rusty with disuse, but he has to issue the warning. If this goes to a fight, it won't be Bucky that gets hurt.]

[avengeme]

[Agh. Coulson grimaces at the rip. There goes his mint condition comic. But as the intruder turns around, the matter slips from the forefront of his mind. He lowers his weapon, surprise coloring his features]

Sergeant Barnes?

[The winter soldier. Here?]

[advanced]

[Sergeant Barnes, that was the name at the Smithsonian display with his name on it. Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes of the 107th and Howling Commandos. It doesn't feel like his name.]

Who are you?

[His voice is gravelly from disuse.]

[avengeme]

[There's no mistaking it. He lowers his weapon completely though he keeps both hands around it]

Phil Coulson. You don't know me but I've read about you.

[he removes one hand from the gun and holds it up]

I'm going to turn around and close the door so we can talk, all right?

[advanced]

[He doesn't like the idea of the exit being closed off, but he has a hell of a lot of weapons on him and he can probably take one person, so he nods.]

At the museum?

[Is that where Coulson read about him?]

That's not me.

[avengeme]

[The precaution is more for his men's safety than his own, really. He has some protective people on his team. He turns and shuts the door. Then while in full view of Bucky, holsters his weapon.]

Not in the museum exactly but in the history books and comics as I was growing up.

[Then he's keeping his hands out as he says warmly]

That's you.

[advanced]

I don't remember.

[Not really any of it, only weird impressions of half recalled faces. He doesn't feel like James Barnes is him at all, it's a name for a ghost. The museum said Sergeant Barnes died.

He frowns, but he isn't making a move to leave or attack yet.]

You read about Steve Rogers too?

[avengeme]

Yeah. And the Howling Commandos and Peggy Carter. She's the founder of SHIELD.

[He gestures by looking around the office.

You're on the plane with the last surviving members. HYDRA may have broke us but we're not gone yet.

[advanced]

[He doesn't want to run into HYDRA, but he's not so sure that the remnants of SHIELD are much better, not when he knows that they're more often one and the same thing.]

I don't remember her.

[That's sort of a lie, he remembers bright red lips and victory rolls, but that's about it.]

How do I know you are who you say you are?

[ooc: Sorry for the wait, I've been on holiday without internet for a few days.]

[avengeme]

[He's right though. How would he know? After a pause, he holds up a hand.]

I'm going to reach into my suit pocket. You can easily stop me if it's a weapon but it's not.

[After that, he slowly moves that same hand to the inside suit pocket, retrieving a small square cube. With a press of his thumb against its surface, a virtual computer opens up around them with files and folders floating around in the air, controlled by the movement of the hands.]

See for yourself. My personnel file's in there. As well as the surviving SHIELD intel that didn't get leaked to the public.



[OOC: no worries! I usually tag back anyway. And I can be slow myself sometimes <3 ]

[advanced]

[His eyes track Coulson's every movement, and it's a good thing that they're slow and well telegraphed because that's all that's holding him back from either attacking or running.

Somehow he knows how to work the files projected in the air. He doesn't know how, it must have been information implanted before a wipe for a mission, but it's lost to him now, it's muscle memory that lets him manipulate the little virtual computer. At least he doesn't have to step too close to do it.]

This doesn't mean anything, Agent Coulson. Most of HYDRA had valid SHIELD personnel files too, all it gives me is your name and your on-the-book missions.

[avengeme]

This is Nick Fury's personal database. Only he had access to this and now me. [There are a lot more in-depth files in there, detailing secret bases, businesses, and other projects, including one for rebuilding the helicarrier with Coulson listed as the project lead. More importantly, it featured a lot of project Nick Fury had personally started that weren't within view of the World Security Council and Pierce.]

I know it's hard to believe right now. But if it'll make you feel better, I'll personally escort you out of the bus and we can pretend this meeting never happened.

[advanced]

[He starts flicking through a few of the mission files, before he reaches out to try and pluck the storage base to the database out of Coulson's hand.]

You'd let me go?

[It's only half a question. He could fight his way out if necessary, but he hadn't expected SHIELD to be okay with letting the Winter Soldier just walk away.]

[avengeme]

[At that, Coulson actually closes his hand around it but doesn't pull away, giving Bucky a curious quirk of the eyebrow.]

Without taking anything, preferably. I can't stop you. And I don't want my men or my plane to get hurt trying.

[He knows better than to think they can face off against the Winter Soldier right now]

[advanced]

[He considers this for a moment, before he drops his hand and nods slightly.]

I don't know where I'm going.

[Maybe here is a good enough place to pause for a while and figure some things out.]

I don't really know who I am.

[avengeme]

You lost your memory. [Spoken like it's both a statement and a question. Coulson lowers his hand, tucking it beside him, still careful to telegraph his movements.]

[advanced]

[He nods, but it's hesitant, and immediately followed by a shake of his head.]

No. It was taken from me.

[avengeme]

[Coulson looks sympathetic but he sounds like he means it when he speaks again.]

You'll get it back.

[advanced]

[His eyes narrow, trying to figure out if that's a platitude or not.]

How?

[avengeme]

Time, hopefully. But there is a more dangerous method, we have a machine... it stimulates the brain, unlocks memories buried in the subconscious. Honestly, having been through it myself, I wouldn't recommend it as the first option.

[He doesn't sound like he's all too charmed by the idea. He hates that thing.]

[advanced]

No.

[That's immediate and dangerous, and there's a knife in his hands again in another second, ready to attack.]

I'm not going to let you wipe me again.

[As if he believes that any machine that messes with his brain will do anything else, it's just a trick.]

[avengeme]

[Coulson's body sways back a little at the knife but he doesn't seem too alarmed. He does take note of the word 'wipe' though. HYDRA's brainwashing at work again?]

Yeah, I didn't think you'd like that option. Don't worry. That thing's not going anywhere near you. You're safe here for as long as you want to stay.

[advanced]

[How can he possibly believe someone that he's just met? Especially someone who works for SHIELD.]

I don't know if I can believe you.

[But it's probably obvious from the longing in his eyes that he wants to. He's tired, he's hurt, he wants to find the pieces of himself.]

[avengeme]

[Coulson sees that and he wants to help. He's silent for a moment, thinking through any scheduled maintenance and other possibilities that someone else might be on board, then nods]

You know how to fly a plane, right? Disable the tracking system and fly us anywhere you want. There should be half a tank left and she's efficient enough to get us half way across the world on that.

[advanced]

[His eyes narrow as if he's trying to figure out where the catch is in this offer.]

Why are you trying to help me?

[Surely, as an agent of SHIELD, he should be more concerned with bringing him in than helping him.]

[avengeme]

Everyone deserves a second chance. And you come with a glowing recommendation. You might not be Bucky Barnes now but you could find that side of yourself again. You just need a place to settle, right?

[advanced]

A recommendation?

[Is he talking about the exhibit? Maybe even Steve (Captain, friend, target, enemy)?]

[avengeme]

The history books. [He hasn't had a chance to have a lengthy conversation with Steve, as much as he'd have loved to.]

[advanced]

[Stupid recommendation, they're just telling about a man who might as well have died falling from that train for all the Soldier remembers him. But it's enough for now, maybe.]

Alright. Is there anyone else on board?

[Because he's taking the offer of taking the plane.]

[avengeme]

There shouldn't be. [It's why he offered to begin with.] They'll start calling when she takes off though so I'm going to need to field some calls. They have smaller jets they can track us on so let's avoid that.

[advanced]

I can avoid them.

[It's said with perfect surety, this is the sort of thing he's trained for. He finally slips out from behind the desk.]

You walk first.

[He's not dumb enough to turn his back to go to the cockpit.]

[avengeme]

I'd much rather not have you labelled as a kidnapper on top of everything else.

[He doesn't seem too worried as he turns to the door behind him to lead the way to the cockpit. The good thing is his office is on the upper floor of the large plane, where the lounge and sleeping cabins are. There is a holding cell there too. As well as weapons and restraints hidden away in compartments.]

[advanced]

[He really doesn't care what he's labelled as, Coulson wouldn't be the first person he's kidnapped and kidnapping is hardly the worst of his crimes. But he lets the man lead him through to the cockpit, alert and wary for a trap the whole time.

But it doesn't seem there is one, and he drops down into the pilot's chair to begin the take-off sequence with ease. HYDRA made sure that he was well equipped to fly or drive pretty much any vehicle on earth.]

Then keep it short.

[No phone calls long enough to be traced.]

sorry for the delay. RP drive fled

[avengeme]

[Coulson nods. He's not surprised by the ease at which Bucky gets the plane ready. He just reaches for the radio and speaks into it.]

Bus to base. Bus to base. Maintenance crew's taking us out for a test flight. Will reconnect when done. Over.

[He switches the comms off and leans over towards Bucky, just enough so he can point at a a red switch under the panels] That should buy us some time. You might wanna switch that off. [It's the homing beacon for the plane.]

no worries

[advanced]

[Bucky listens to the message sent out, satisfied that it wasn't a code for danger, and then leans forwards to inspect the homing beacon.

He doesn't bother turning it off, he just slams his metal fingers into the panelling and literally rips the system out of the plane altogether, crushing it in his hand.]

Last chance to bail out.

[avengeme]

[He can't help the slight wince at the callous wrecking of his plane]

Are you kidding? This is my favorite plane.

[He buckles in, ignoring the flashing red indicating an incoming transmission]

[advanced]

[Bucky takes them up with a rapid move that certainly isn't on any approved pilot's training regime, but he knows what he's doing and he wants to be out of here as fast as possible.]

Talk to me.

[The silence is cloying.]

Tell me about yourself.

[avengeme]

[Well, he's jumped off planes before, so this really isn't too wild a ride, thankfully. He raises his eyebrows at the request but doesn't question it.]

I was born and raised in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. My dad died when I was really young. He's a history teacher and he left me his red corvette. It's in the hanger. You might have passed it when you got in here. [he sounds oddly proud of it] It's been modified with Stark tech so it hovers, among other things. Now I do all the tune ups myself. My mom... Julie, she raised me right. But she died twenty years ago and, by then, SHIELD was all I had left.