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[starspangled]

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[starspangled]

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.

[signifies]

[ 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?

[starspangled]

[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.

[signifies]

[ 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.

[starspangled]

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.

[signifies]

[ 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. ]

[starspangled]

[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.]

[signifies]

[ 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.

[starspangled]

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?

[signifies]

I'm from a planet named Krypton.

[starspangled]

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

[signifies]

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

Yes.

[starspangled]

And you're alone here?

[signifies]

[ Clark nods. ]

Yes.

[starspangled]

You're not now.

[steve doesn't presume to think that he can make up for any of the family and friends that he's been separated from, but he'll try to be a new one. a good one.]

Can I get you some coffee or something? [a pause.] If you drink that sort of thing.

[suddenly he knows how sam once felt.]

[signifies]

[ He had expected to be asked further about his background. Steve's statement makes Clark blink in surprise and smile.

He's never had friends, let alone people from other universes, so he's not sure how to go about it. Steve doesn't seem like he'd mind. ]

I'd like that. Some other time?

[starspangled]

Any time. [steve smiles. this man seems like a good one, and that's what matters most to him. the rest he can find out along the way.] Day or night, in fact. I don't sleep much.

[signifies]

You too?

[ Clark has been spending that time with Taako learning to meditate instead of sleep. It'd be nice to have some conversation or someone else to sit with who wouldn't mind him around. ]

[starspangled]

[he smiles a bit.]

I blame the bed, the pillows. I don't know if it has something to do with the serum or I just have too much on my mind. Probably both. On the bright side, I get a lot of reading and exercising done.

[signifies]

[ Clark knows that feeling intimately. ]

If you wouldn't mind company, shout for me. I'm usually reading.

[starspangled]

I'm guessing you mean literally.

[which is an amusing image for sure.]

I'll do it. We can even trade books.

[signifies]

I do. [ It is funny. ] What do you like to read?

[starspangled]

Biographies. History books. Stuff most folks probably think is boring. [steve shrugs.] I finished a couple of things by that Stephen King guy. He'll give you a reason not to go to sleep.

[signifies]

[ He reads those too. ]

Horror's not really my thing. [ He's a difficult man to frighten, and feels uneasy and unsettled often enough that he doesn't need it in his fiction. ] How do you feel about science fiction?

[starspangled]

[steve smiles at the mention of science fiction.]

Used to be a favorite of mine as a kid. Bucky's too. Books, comics, we couldn't get enough of it.