You're breathing down my neck but it'll only make me win

[redinmyledger]

Characters: Natasha Romanoff and OTA (tag typicalsoldier)
When: Following this exchange
Where: Near the hospital, up on a roof.
What: A first meeting
Open or Closed? Open
Rating/Warnings PG-13, no warnings at present

Comments

[typicalsoldier]

He was up on the roof, looking out beyond the bounds. There was a whole city out there and it was killing him they were trapped. Sure the park had opened up, but at what cost. He hadn't been one to go near the tree, but he was interested in it. He'd have to talk to Steve later about it. About the whole thing.

There were a decent amount of people here with skills that could be useful. Whatever Steve was planning on making, it would certainly be helpful here.

[redinmyledger]

It probably spoke volumes that the ones that preferred rooftops were either assassins or military types. Those used to solitary, or needing the quiet just to turn their minds off from everything they saw and did. Natasha's boots made little noise on the rooftop as she approached the man she believed to be Bucky, the flat heals designed for stealth. The tiniest of nods to her old life apparently. No guns, but she could still have her boots.

She came up beside him and stared at the spot he was looking at. "Bucky."

[typicalsoldier]

He heard her when she came in, heels on black asphalt was a give away. Bucky continued to look out though, beyond the bounds the city had given them. There was more out there, and honestly, that was worrying. Not just because it was the unknown, but given what happened when the park opened up, what else could happen?

Bucky turned lightly and looked at her. Damn. "Tasha."

[redinmyledger]

She found herself giving him a look of appreciation now that she was seeing him in the flesh and not just through a video. Her smile grew but then she caught his expression. "Is something the matter, Bucky?"

[typicalsoldier]

He turned to face her and gave her a flat look. "Just keeping surveillance. The best we've got here." Bucky replied before looking out again. "We don't know what's out there."

[redinmyledger]

"Then you don't know anymore than the others?" Natasha moved closer to him as she turned to face the same direction, narrowing her eyes as she surveyed the horizon. "But you believe Captain Rogers' plan has merit in it? How can you attack an unknown enemy?"

[typicalsoldier]

"No. You've heard about the tree, right?" He gestures to the park, where the plant used to be. "That entire section was closed off until the tree appeared. These aren't good signs. I don't know if they're tests or experiments, but it doesn't bode well."

Bucky straightened and looked back at him. "Let me tell you that if Steve Rogers says he has a plan, he'll get it done no matter what. He crossed Nazi lines before with the help of Agent Carter and Howard Stark. He saved over 200 prisoners of war, and you're looking at one of them." He said, straightly. He wasn't normally so open about what happened, but no one doubted Steve. Whatever he had up his sleeve, whatever he thought was going to work, Bucky would be by his side no matter what. Two boys from Brooklyn, just like it'd always been.

[redinmyledger]

Natasha had to shake her head. "What about the tree?" Her gaze goes to the park and she finds herself frowning. "This can't just be one person. There has to be more behind it."

She shifted her weight again, moving closer as she studied his face. Reading reports on Captain Rogers was one thing. Meeting someone who had been by his side was another. But Bucky's expression said everything and she gave a slight nod. "Then consider my services at both of your disposals." And then she blinked, eyes narrowing slightly. "Howard Stark? Are you sure the last name was Stark?"

[typicalsoldier]

"There was a tree," He points toward the lake. "When it appeared, the park opened up. It was taking people's memories, feeding off of them. We had no way to protect ourselves except avoiding it."

"I'll tell him next time I talk to him." He told her, all business. "I'm positive. Howard Stark made all the tech for the Howling Commandos. I'm sure he's probably going to make all of it for us here." He stopped to take in her expression. "You know him from the files?"

[redinmyledger]

"How long have you been here?" Natasha asked him quietly while looking over the area where there had been a tree. His description of it had her clenching her jaw though and her nostrils flared at the idea of an enemy she couldn't fight.

Her eyebrow crept up, shooting him an amused look. He really was all business. Still, she was sure there was a charmer under there somewhere. It was just something hidden behind his eyes that he wasn't letting out. "I know his son. Anthony Stark. That was my assignment... gathering information on Tony on behalf of the agency I work for. I was undercover." She licked at her lips before pressing them together in thought. "Howard Stark's really here?"

[typicalsoldier]

"Since the beginning." He replied looking back at her. "About a month. I'm one of the original. So's Steve."

He was definitely a charmer, but right now they were talking about this place and what could be done. It felt more like a briefing than anything. And through and through, he was a soldier.

"Was there fondue involved?" Bucky cracked a smile. So much for the professionalism. But if Anthony was anything like Howard, he hit on anything with legs. "Yeah. Seems like a lot of people that were involved with the Commandos are. Though only me and Steve are here from the actual group itself."

[redinmyledger]

"I suppose it's being better late than never showing up at all." She seemed to go quiet again as a slight frown creased her brow and she tried to connect all the dots of the SHIELD files she'd read about Captain Rogers and his team. "At least you had a friendly face, though I can't..." She frowned again. "When was Steve taken from?"

Natasha let her own smile return as she turned around to face away from the park and glance in the other direction. "He wishes. No, he very much has eyes for Pepper even if he wishes to deny it. And if he had tried anything, he'd wind up with several broken bones." Natasha took a slight breath. "I'd like to meet him. To meet Steve as well, but you know that already."

[typicalsoldier]

His eyes looked out at that. "I don't know." He answered. "Steve and I haven't talked about it. He knew... he knows what happened to me though. I could tell."

Their meeting here had been intense. No words were spoken about what had happened to either of them, but Steve knew. The hug, the way he looked at him like he thought he'd never see him again.

But his solemn face was broken by a laugh. "Tough broad then." Bucky said with a smile. "I'm sure you'll meet them both. Peggy Carter is here from our time, too. She was an agent in the division we were in."

[redinmyledger]

"What happened?" If she already knows, she doesn't show it on her face. Clearly she wants to hear it from Bucky himself. "I suppose there are benefits to what's going on here, to being able to reunite."

Natasha doubts she'll ever have any reunions like that, her tendency to keep people at a distance stopping her from developing that sort of attachment. Besides, anyone that did show up here would no doubt turn out to be an enemy and not a friend.

She laughed softly. "The toughest. Does that bother you?" She hummed in thought, the name Carter familiar but not someone she knew much about. "I look forward to it. Does it make it easier having friends? Or you still feel concerned that they're stuck were when they shouldn't be?"

[typicalsoldier]

He cleared his throat. "I'm dead back home. Stupid accident that happened." If you can call falling off a train an accident. Bucky shrugged. "He knew about it. That's what matters. And I'm here. I'm glad I get to see him and the others again, but they shouldn't be here."

"You being tough doesn't bother me." He smirked back. The look on his face clearly said the opposite.

[redinmyledger]

"I'm sorry to hear that." A slight smile of sympathy before she tucked a red curl behind her ear. "You want to see them gone, even if it means staying behind?"

Her eyes lit up at the expression, her mouth pulling to the side as her smile grew wide and she ducked her head. Well then. At least she didn't scare off every man. "Good to know. It'll make the training more interesting. No holding back."