starspangled | ic contact (riverview)

[ He waits a long time on this. Clark isn't sure how to approach the issue. It's very delicate.

He's aware Bucky's using him as a safety net. Now, he's extremely aware that death had been implied. Clark's not comfortable with that at all. He'd also rather not let Bucky's friend assumed the same thing, which they might. Bucky isn't charitable towards himself.

He spends some time in the sky during the evening mulling over his choice of words.

When Steve is alone on the communal floor, Clark descends to the balcony, stepping down from the railing. He's aware he must look strange, wearing a cape and knocking in full view of him. ]

Captain Rogers? If I could have a few moments of your time.

[it is a little bit of a surprise. he's pretty sure that balcony was empty just a second ago. none of it's actually new to him, cape included, he just hasn't seen as much of that here.]

Of course. [steve nods, curiosity and a little bit of caution in his blue eyes. but then someone looking for trouble probably wouldn't knock, so his demeanor is largely cordial.] Come in. What can I do for you?

[ Clark slides open the balcony door, closing it behind him quietly. He scans the walls and corridor for people. Just in case.

He doesn't smile back (Clark feels the gravity of the topic) but he speaks softly and cordially. ]

My name is Kal. We have a mutual friend... a gentleman with an unusual arm. He might have mentioned me.

Edited 2017-05-02 02:49 (UTC)

He did.

[the response isn't immediate. as soon as he says those words, steve turns equally serious, some questions answered while new ones arise. bucky never actually mentioned him by name, but there's no doubt that this was the man he was talking about.]

Is he okay?

[ Clark turns his head towards the balcony to listen for Bucky out in the city. It might look creepy to Steve but Clark would rather check now and answer honestly. ]

At the moment, he's all right.

[ He looks back at Steve. ]

I'd like to speak to you about him. I've been given some details about his situation but I don't have the full picture.

May we sit down?

How do you know?

[he's not doubting that he knows, he's just curious about how he does. steve's eyes had followed that movement, almost expecting bucky to appear. but when he didn't, it must be by some other way.]

I think we should. [steve nods in the direction of two nearby chairs before leading the way.] I hope you won't mind if I have a couple of questions of my own. Bucky's... [he trails off, a grimace touching his features before steve continues.] We've been friends for a long time, even if he doesn't remember all of it.

I can hear him.

[ Clark tracks people with their heartbeats. In Bucky's case, it's convenient he has that arm. Its whir is distinct.

Clark follows him and waits for him to sit before doing so himself. ]

I gathered as much from him. [ With Bucky, Clark has to listen for what he doesn't say. ] I'll answer what I can.

Edited (tweaked) 2017-05-04 13:21 (UTC)

Fair enough.

[steve sits down, fingers laced together as he leans forward.]

What do you want to know?

Is there something here that can hurt him, or anyone who might be looking for him for the wrong reasons?

Not that I'm aware of.

[not to say they don't exist, or that steve hasn't been on the lookout for it.]

Has he told you anything about Hydra?

A little. He mentioned some details of what they did.

[ Bucky might remember more than he's willing to tell Clark. That's okay.

He hesitates. ]

He broke his leg because of me. I'm sorry for that. I didn't mean to cause him more pain.

[steve gets that impression too sometimes.]

Any of their higher-ups would definitely like to have him back in their control. Even in my time, which is a couple of years past his, it's still a concern.

[they might be called hydra, but steve thinks of them more like cockroaches. hard to get rid of completely, and bucky still has those words in his head.

steve looks up again, eyes a litter wider.]

That was you? [but he said it was because of him, which isn't the same thing as him doing it.] I'm just glad it healed well. It was a fight getting him into the splint too.

I'm glad it healed too.

[ Bucky hadn't stayed off it. Clark doesn't understand why he'd do that. ]

How did they make him kill for them?

They brainwashed him, wiped his memories of who he really was - is.

[not that bucky's the same man, steve knows he's not. but he's not a cold-blooded murderer either. which brings him to his next point.]

The things that he did, they're not his fault. You can't imagine the ways they broke him down. Then they pieced him back together in a way to serve their own needs.

[ Bucky had said, "complete obedience". Clark is troubled hearing this but now it makes sense.

They have to keep Bucky safe. ]

I see, he mentioned conditioning. Is there a way to set it off? Would anyone be able to find it accidentally?

[a few warning flags rise at the questions. but bucky has shared with this man, trusted him with both their lives in a way, and that's something that he definitely wouldn't have taken lightly.]

There are words. Nothing anyone could just stumble upon. Even within Hydra, I doubt anyone but the higher ups knew them.

If that did happen, and it's a big if, I could stop him. I've done it before.

[ Clark relaxes when Steve says it's nothing anyone could find by accident. They'd have to know beforehand.

He pauses before he asks another question. ]

He seems to think stopping him means killing him.

He also seems to think that I'm still ninety-five pounds and can't take a punch.

[from their conversations, not killing steve isn't good enough. he doesn't want to hurt him either, not the way he did on the helicarrier. but some things are just worth the fight and pain that comes with it, and bucky's one of them for him.]

It's not the only way. He's snapped out of it before.

[ Clark nods in understanding. Bucky seems to think he'd hurt Clark, who's invulnerable. ]

I'm glad to hear it. I told him in no uncertain terms death was off the table.

[ Bucky wasn't happy with it but it's like Steve says. He's worth the fight. ]

[if there was any lingering doubt or suspicion of his own, it evaporates with those words. steve exhales heavily before mustering a smile.]

How'd the two of you even meet anyway? He's not in the most social place right now.

[just in case somehow kal missed that.]

[ Clark smiles warmly. ]

We ran into each other during the storm. He made a considerable effort to make sure I had fresh food. [ Bucky had convinced Clark he was a good person from that moment. ] My alien biochemistry means I don't need to eat like humans do. He didn't know that then.

Did he.

[steve's smile grows at that. with all that hydra did to him, all that the took, his goodness is still there. he's always known it. he'll always fight for that.

steve looks up with interest.]

Where're you from?

I'm from a planet named Krypton.

Is everyone from Krypton like you? The strength, being able to hear things?

[ Clark nods. This moon has a yellow sun. Everyone Kryptonian who comes here would effectively have the same powers. ]

Yes.

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