Twenty-Fifth (Fading) Spark! [audio]

[empyreanistic]

--the war.

[It's Alfred's voice, trailing off like he's been forced. For a moment, all that can be heard is sobbing, ragged breaths, not crying but certainly full of pain. There's the horrible scrape of fingernails on metal, scrabbling--]

OKAY?! Are you happy?! I fucking-- I give up. I-I lost, I can't save everyone, I can barely save myself, I'm a

Comments

[Audio]

[bucky_cap]

[Bucky's already on his way as he turns the audio on. He sounds worried, of course - why wouldn't he be? He hasn't heard from him all week and now this...]

Alfred? Alfred are you okay? I'm coming.

[Audio]

[empyreanistic]

In my room. [Alfred's breath sounds just as ragged, just as pained. Bucky will find him collapsed on the floor in a pile of limbs he can't move, all of them at odd angles, out of their sockets. There's nothing there to indicate what he was being held on-- it's gone already]

[In person]

[bucky_cap]

[He doesn't bother to say anything else, just barges into the room. He's a soldier, Alfred isn't the first person he's ever seen messed up and broken like this, but it never gets easier.] Shit. I- shit. [His limbs are dislocated, that's easy enough to see, but he isn't a doctor and his first aid skills aren't the best. Still, he'll do what he can.

His hands are gentle as he kneels by Alfred and attempts to ease him into a slightly more comfortable position.] It's gonna be okay, pal, we'll get you a medic...

[In person]

[empyreanistic]

What did you hear? [It's the first thing he asks, and it's also clear that his skin is dry and he's thin, now that he's turned over. Alfred has barely been able to drink, given the bare minimum to live, and he can't move himself at all. It's a complete lack of freedom, what they've done to him] How-- [He coughs, doubling in on himself a little] How much got recorded?

[In person]

[bucky_cap]

...Not much. Something about a war. Being a failure. [He gives him a stern look at that.] You're not. [But then his expression softens slightly, and he heaves a sigh, inspecting his friend as gently as he can. Dehydrated, malnourished likely. Shoulders dislocated at least, from what he can guess...] Shit, what the hell did they do to you? Just take it easy. Things are gonna be alright.

[In person]

[empyreanistic]

Had to say it 'r they wouldn't let me down. [Alfred just closes his eyes, trying to even out his breathing. He knows something about keeping calm from wartime, knows enough to try and get his heart-rate down. And it seems, at least, like they didn't broadcast everything] Was on this metal table strapped down and every day I didn't say it they dislocated somethin' else 'r broke it. Legs are broken, shoulders dislocated. Didn't eat.

[In person]

[bucky_cap]

Yeah, it's... It's best to just... get through it this week. [He's working hard to ignore a pang of heartbreaking nausea as his mind turns back to his and Steve's trap again. Yeah, not the time for that.] I think I can help relocate your shoulders, we'll get a healer by to help with your legs. Then we'll worry about getting you fed and hydrated.

[In person]

[empyreanistic]

's gonna hurt like a bitch isn't it. [Alfred attempts a laugh but it comes out weak and half-hearted. He wants to sleep. He wants to eat, and rest, and not think about how damn pathetic he is, admitting to all that stuff about himself.

It hurts him, because somewhere inside himself he worries if it's true]

[In person]

[bucky_cap]

...Yeah, probably. Want something to bite down on? [Bucky's running his fingers carefully over one shoulder, testing the damage, trying to figure out just how he should try to rotate it back into the socket properly with the least amount of pain.] Whatever the hell they made you say, you're not a failure. I know I'm damn fuckin' proud to be an American.

[In person]

[empyreanistic]

Got a bullet or a piece 'a cloth? [Alfred gives him a weak grin, even as he winces just at the touch] You can be proud all you want, dude. I-- I'm proud to be your country. I just...

[In person]

[bucky_cap]

[He isn't really feeling the smile. He can't return it as he passes him the towel to bite down on if he has to. It's going to hurt to relocate his shoulders, and Bucky can't do it quickly; he's got to be careful.] You just what? You aren't a failure. Everything these people say are lies.

[In person]

[empyreanistic]

[Alfred keeps it near his mouth so he can, unable to move his hands at the moment] I couldn't save anyone from their traps this week. I can't even get everyone out of here.

[In person]

[bucky_cap]

No one can. You shouldn't beat yourself up for something like that. There are things no one hero can handle by themselves - that's why the Avengers were formed in my world. [He waits for him to bite down on the towel before he gently takes hold of one of Alfred's arms, starting to rotate it just so to relocate it.]

[In person]

[empyreanistic]

Yeah, but I'm the hero. [Alfred refuses to make a sound, but he stops talking, gritting his teeth against a cry of pain. Even that just hurts]

[In person]

[bucky_cap]

No one can be the hero. [He's as gentle as he can be as he works to get his shoulders relocated and once that's done, he pauses, giving him a moment to catch his breath, hands gentle as he lays one over Alfred's.] You doin' okay?

[In person]

[empyreanistic]

Fine-- [But it's gasped out and full of pain, the only thing he can bring himself to say through the agony of having his arms pushed back where they're meant to be. He's breathing hard, barely able to move his hand into Bucky's]