At the door of Stark Tower

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He doesn't really have a phone anymore, at least not one that isn't a burner on the end of it's life, and that phone never had the number he needed in it, so he didn't call ahead. Instead, he's just there, heading for the front desk to see if perhaps, just maybe, he has a friend here. Or at least an ally.

"Steve Rogers for Tony Stark, please?"

Comments

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Not gonna happen," Tony interjects. "...but on the outside chance it does, I'll still take a shot at fixing him, because... because nobody deserves to have that shit done to 'em."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He looks up at Tony at that interjection. He doesn't say it anything, but it's clear he's wondering how Tony knows that.

Then again, Tony hasn't been inside his head.

[actuallyhasaheart]

Tony's had his own share of traumatic experiences, thanks. But yeah, he reads that look.

"There a problem, Cap?"

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"No, Tony, I don't suppose there is," and he straightens up a little before running a hand through his hair.

"I'm not sure this stuff is safe."

He taps the beaker.

[actuallyhasaheart]

Tony grins at him again.

"It's not. Not for most people, anyway, it's for super-soldiers, space Vikings, and serious alcoholics only."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"For me," he says, and he pushes away the beaker. It's obvious he's trying to sober up.

"I'm--"

He doesn't know what he's being. Inappropriate? Relying on Tony for things that their acquaintanceship doesn't exactly provide for? Letting loose?

He feels like he's been Captain America for all seventy years, even though he knows it's only been five or so for him. Guilt is already starting to sink in.

[actuallyhasaheart]

Tony pushes it back to him.

"You're just fine. Look, I'll even promise not to give you more than a little shit for anything you say. Sometimes, you just need to get it out, and I may be the closest you're going to get to a sympathetic ear."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He shakes his head, steadying himself a little further.

"I--"

He looks to Tony.

"I oughta take you up on that bed, if you don't mind. You have the general idea of what's going on now."

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Yeah, all right," Tony replies. "C'mon, lemme show you the guest suite."

He puts his own bottle away, and steps out from behind the bar, taking the file with a firm grip as he does.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve comes to his feet without so much as a sway before tugging his bag up on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Tony," he says again, because he wants to make it clear how much he appreciates this.

[actuallyhasaheart]

"You're welcome," Tony replies, smiling a little to show he means it. "This way."

The guest suite is just that: a suite. A big bedroom, with an appropriately-sized bed, a walk-in closet, and bathroom with separate shower and whirlpool tub, heated tiles, mood lighting, the works.

"If you need anything, just ask JARVIS."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He nods to Tony and starts looking around the room for books, maybe a record player. Something soothing. The bed... he walks over and tests it, accidentally kicking a small remote that apparently adjusts the firmness.

At 0% softness, he thinks he might actually pass out. Before doing that, he heads for the bathroom to wash off, keeping the shower short before changing into his underclothes. Normally he kept showers to the morning, but this was someone's guest room and he didn't want to get it dirty.

Eventually, he's laying out on the bed, the covers tucked off to one side, and he looks at the ceiling.

"JARVIS?"

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Yes Captain Rogers, how can I help?"

Comes the voice from nowhere.

Tony meanwhile has gone to get another drink, and scan that file, before sharing it with Bruce.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"What makes you happy, JARVIS?"

It's a stupid question, even he knows it's a stupid question, but he asks it anyway.

[actuallyhasaheart]

"A properly functioning system, and Mister Stark being healthy, relatively sane, and more-or-less in one piece, sir. Generally speaking," the AI replies. "I also quite like the Internet, and though I doubt I would characterise my feelings regarding it as 'happiness', I've often observed that happiness can be found in enjoyment."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He closes his eyes at that.

It was bad. It was damn bad when the AI could answer a question he couldn't answer himself. But that isn't the truth.

A happy, healthy, more or less in one piece Bucky is pretty much what happiness looks like to him, after all. It's the only time he can remember BEING happy.

Not satisfied or gratified or content, but happy.

[actuallyhasaheart]

"...is there anything else I can help you with?" JARVIS asks, after a long pause.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Sorry to bother you, JARVIS. I'm good. Thanks for the help."

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Of course, sir. I'm happy to help. And if I may be so bold, may I suggest you order in some food?" It's a suggestion he's had to make to Mr. Stark more than once.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Will I be inconveniencing anyone if I do that?" he asks, because it's kind of late.

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Not in the slightest, sir. Shall I pull up a list of menus from twenty-four-hour restaurants for you?"

(Tony, meanwhile, is hard at work breaking down the cybernetic arm plans over leftover pizza and more scotch.)

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Sure," he says after a minute, "though if you know a good place for a couple of burgers, I can save you the trouble."

[actuallyhasaheart]

"I certainly do. Do you have a preference for toppings, or shall I just trust my own judgement on this matter?" He does have access to Steve's file, after all.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"As long as it's got a patty and a bun, I'll probably be just fine," he says, closing his eyes.

There's a few moments before he speaks again.

"Is Tony working on things or did he go to bed?"

[actuallyhasaheart]

"Working, sir." There's a delicate, nuanced shade of disapproval in JARVIS' voice. "He seems to have discovered a number of blueprints in the Winter Soldier file, and I expect he'll be quite distracted for a while."

JARVIS is, of course, right. There's the matter of getting them scanned, translating them, picking them apart and figuring out how they work... Reverse engineering and recreation are on the list too, but not for a while. Maybe even two whole days.