And this is the song that the nightbirds wail

[bucky_cap]

Who: Capes and associated
When: All week 138
Where: Capes' secret hideout for the trip
Summary: A cowl is a weighty thing. Just like last trip, a rendezvous point is set up, somewhere for the capes to crash and be able to take their masks off in peace. With gold collars in place and more raids happening, the population around the base may start to

Comments

Wednesday-After Bucky's Captured | Closed to Timothy

[rogersthat]

Bucky was gone. He couldn't stop it. Couldn't save Bucky from whatever hell he was probably going to go through. It's just like the drone plane incident all over again except Bucky wasn't going to survive. He'd die and come back in whatever terrible mental state he'd be in.

But he had no time to lament over this. He had to find Timothy. He made a promise and he was very well going to keep that promise, which was why he was back at the safehouse. He'd stick to speak, but only for a short period of time. He still needed to find Accelerator then go back into battle. "Timothy? Are you here?"

[bridalgownwings]

He was clueless to this fact. Once the entire thing had happened, he had left the hillside where the father-figure had found him before the attack. Ordered back to the house he had followed the request and from then on had remained int he room that Bucky had sent him in the last two times it had happened. Looking out the window he could hear the screams throughout the night. It was horrible, it was something that he never expected to hear within his lifetime, the sounds of murder and struggle, of battle. Timothy had come from a nothing town, with a nothing future, misery and his own struggle but this as all war, only the things he read about in books and learned about in history classes.

Still, while it had quieted mildly he didn't let the tension fade from his form as paced throughout the room, back and forth between rubbing his hands together, rubbing his forearms and then crossing them. Still, when he heard the voice it was not the voice he expected to hear--it was Steve and he turned to face him, eyes wide.

"Steve."

[rogersthat]

It was impossible to tell what Steve was feeling right now, but it was nothing good. His entire body was tense and his face was devoid of the usual kind expressions he had before. After all, this wasn't the first time he's seen to much chaos. He looked like how he did in battle. A soldier, not just another man.

He held out Bucky's shield to Timothy. It was obvious it had to be Bucky's. Steve's own shield was on his back, and it would be impossible to miss the disk-like shield even on a man like Steve. "I was informed to give this to you if anything were to happen." His voice was neutral, but there was a sadder tone to his voice and a look of guilt flashed through his eyes. "He...Bucky won't be returning from the battlefield."

[bridalgownwings]

He wasn't aiming to tell what the other was feeling, he was simply watching him carefully. This was all new to him, the chaos of battle and war, the screams across the night. There was only so much someone could take but Steve was about to hand Timothy the one thing that would be his breaking point. A pause and a breath and he is watching Steve's face carefully, his eyes trailing over each movement and reaction, but it's not the face that moves first, it is the others hands. His eyes look up, then down, focusing on the shield. Another glance and he notes the others shield on his back, then back to the shield in his hand and it's suddenly clear.

Timothy feels his stomach clench and his chest starts to rise and fall heavier, quicker than before. Rubbing his hands on his slacks nervously he reaches out with hesitance, staring at the object as he listens to the other talk.

"I--" His fingers wrap around the edge, tears sliding along the corners of his eyes but refusing to fall.

[rogersthat]

Steve was very good at hiding his emotions. It's only when he was by himself where he seemed to let himself breakdown. Even then, he probably didn't.

His expression falls though as he watches Timothy's reaction. There's a strong look of sadness in his eyes. He was ashamed. He should have brought Bucky home. There were so many people who really cared for Bucky. It was stupid, but he probably wouldn't have minded if he could take Bucky's place even.

He pauses for a moment before pulling the hood back. He couldn't do this as Captain America, but as Steve. He pulled Timothy into a tight hug. Steve wasn't sure whether that would help, but he wanted Timothy to know he cared. He's done this before. For when brothers watched each other fall. Watching other people lose some of their closest friends. "I'm sorry Timothy." He was supposed to bring Bucky back so this wouldn't happen.

[bridalgownwings]

He had been doing well for the last few months, under all the stress, keeping it all in. Before it had been easy, before he could have pushed it away and had his moment to himself and all would be fine, he could mask it but lately with the connections he was making with these people, these people that he cared about--it made everything much harder and right now the man that he could call father, the man that he felt closest too was gone and he could feel his heart-beat spike, his emotions rise and fall as his chest did, faster and faster

[rogersthat]

Steve gave him a soft pat on the back. He wasn't used to this. He was used to men forcing themselves to keep walking because the war wasn't done. Because they didn't have the time. But he wanted to comfort Timothy in some way. To help him just a little.

"You can be upset if you want. It's normal to cry when things like this happen. It doesn't show that you're weak at all." Maybe he should be crying too. Maybe he really is more desensitized to death then he thought he was. Or maybe, that hope that Bucky will come back is enough to keep him from crying. But he still feels guilty. Guilty that Bucky was gone.

[bridalgownwings]

Everyone was used to different things in this world, and Timothy knew that intensely so. He knew that everyone came from different places and different times, different situations and well, he knew he came from a normal town that he despised living within and knew nothing of war, nothing of physical struggle asides the bullying, the teasing. It was all different and right now his struggle was not to cry, he could at least give them that.

He held tighter at the pat and then pulled back at the words. Maybe it was better to cry but he felt like he could not, not in front of Steve who he didn't know as well but didn't want him thinking he was pathetic. Bucky though, he needed him and to think that he might not come back torn him apart. "I--I can't right now, I just can't."

He shook his head and lowered his gaze to the floor, trying to stop the urge. "He wouldn't want me too."

[rogersthat]

Steve is sure Bucky would come back. He isn't sure when, but he would. Maybe it was because he was so intent to believe the worst would never happen.

"I don't think Bucky would mind if you cried. It's a normal emotion to have and it doesn't make you weak. Sometimes crying is harder then not." He didn't want to say he knew Bucky enough to know. That sounded pretentious. But maybe he also wanted to cry for his fallen partner. Not just Bucky, but for everyone who was dying.

[bridalgownwings]

Timothy is pessimistic at the moment and it's the worse state he could be in. With a sharp intake of breath he is shaking his head again. Knowing he cannot speak if he wants to keep his cool, what is left of it. A deep breath though, another breath and he's leaning his head against the others shoulder. A sob chokes in his throat.

He really can't stop the tears when it comes to the situation, when it came to Tim and now when it came to Bucky.

[rogersthat]

Steve was always incredibly optimistic. Bucky could tell Timothy all about how optimistic Steve could get.

He continues to give the other small pats on the back, not minding if the other starts crying or not. He wants Timothy to know that he doesn't find it shameful to cry. Even in his presence.

[bridalgownwings]

There is a moment where he thinks he is going to, a moment where he thinks he is going to breakdown in the manner in which should be expected but he does not, he simply begins to shutdown and after leaning against the other for a moment, he pushes back and though his eyes are wet, he looks down at the ground, looking at the shield in his grasp.

"Please stay alive." He murmurs, a near whisper.

[rogersthat]

Steve just gently places his hand on Timothy's shoulder. He can't promise that. He's ready to die out there to try and save everyone else.

"I can't guarantee it. But I can wholeheartedly promise that I have no intentions of letting them take me down. I don't plan on dying."

[bridalgownwings]

A small nod and he pulls away--he doesn't want any more contact because he'll sink lower. A small breath and he pulls the shield towards him, watching Steve and drawing his eyes from the ground.

"I'll take care of this." Came his reply and in his mind he knows he'll make good use of it, is what he really means.

[rogersthat]

"Take care of it and take care of yourself. I...I have to go back." He had to keep fighting. It was what he was made for.

"Please stay safe Timothy."

[bridalgownwings]

He pauses and nods, looking at the shield as the other speaks. Timothy already knows what he is going to do, already knows his course of action after the other leaves and he knows there is no other choice he is going to make. "I'll try."

Timothy replies quietly. "Try your best to stay alive, Steve."