[ The tug on his sleeve brings him to a wobbly halt, and it's a could thing too, because he's not sure he could have stopped on his own volition. The ground beneath him slides in a fit of mud from the rain, Bucky's hands on his thighs as he leans over, tries to drag something other than water into his mouth.
His lungs are burning. ]
Shit. Shit. Hey, hey, Rogers. You okay? [ He doesn't have the energy to straighten for the moment, lets his worry convey through his voice and stay there. ] Christ. Oh crap, man. That was -.
[ Then he's swinging around in a stumble, hand curving around Steve's shoulder. ] Talk to me, sweetheart. Let me hear those dulcet tones.
[ Steve finds enough steam to laugh brokenly and fill the air around them, one arm held close to his chest because it hurts too much to do anything else with, and the other wrapping around Bucky, holding him up and keeping him close. ] I'll live. You good there?
[ The rain is making it hard to see, which is all the more reason not to carry on until they can regain their bearings. He finally seems to get his lungs to work at a normal rate, the dizziness of trying to take in too much air all at once and still not being enough slowly fading into a dull headache. ] Damn, that was one helluva fight. It's one to tell the kids, hey, Buck?
[ He lost his helmet forever ago and the rain is flattening his hair, making it all the more difficult to actually get his bearings. Blinking, the water leaks in under the collar of his jacket and now the exhilaration of running is wearing off, Bucky can feel the creeping cold licking all over his extremities. ]
Hah. Y-yeah. [ Bucky's frowning, noting the way Steve's cradling his arm, mouth going dry because, shit, that was bad. ] Okay there? Y'hurt?
[ The helmet attached around Steve's neck has slowly wriggled its way off his head and rests against his shoulder, an annoyance he's been aware of whilst running, but now they've stopped he can do something about it. He winces as he lifts his arm to unfasten it, uses the other to pop it onto Bucky's head for safekeeping. ]
Feels dislocated. A good shove ought'a do it, but we should keep moving for now, put as much distance between us and them as we can. [ He pats Bucky over all the same, checking for injuries - he didn't risk everything to rescue his arse just to get him killed now. ] Y'think you can keep going? It's gonna be a slow journey from here, but the rain should cover us.
[ His nose wrinkles when Steve shoves his helmet into place, water dripping down the curve of his face as he leans in, teeth clenched together because of the temperature. ] Resettin' your arm won't take more'n five minutes and the rain's covering up our tracks for no. 'Sides, what happens if y'need to get a good swing on?
[ His whole body aches, thrums along with pain like his pulse is made of it. He doesn't want to move, but they're going to have to. ] Don't reckon we'll make it to the checkpoint, but maybe there's somewhere we can stop 'till then if we get far enough?
[ Whether or not Steve could take the pain of throwing a few punches with a dislocated arm is beside the point. Bucky is right, they can find the time, and if he fails to protect his best friend for the sake of being stubborn he could never forgive himself. So he nods, lets the shield slip down from his shoulder and land in the mud, the pack on his back dumped on top of it. ] You're right, better get it over with so we can move faster.
[ Steve squints, slowly taking a look around their nearest surroundings, but even with his enhanced sight the rain is too heavy to see far. And when more rolls of thunder crack open the heavens he's forced to raise his voice to be heard over the top. ] There's gotta be somewhere 'round here to take refuge, but let's take it one step at a time.
[ Bucky also discards his pack, ignores the way it squelches against the ground, gets up close and personal to put his hand on Steve's back and one around his arm. Bucky hates this part, hates that his best friend can get injured, and no amount of calming words about his accelerated healing makes it better. ]
[ Steve inhales deeply, preparing himself for the pain that even he can't avoid, and gives a nod of his head, focusing on how close Bucky is, the pressure of his hand pressing against his back and the arm around his. It's the best distraction, or the only one that would help, and he keeps his eyes trained on his friend. ]
[ Exhaling sharply, Bucky doesn't even bother to give him a countdown, just puts his weight behind the force and shoves his arm back into place. Rubbing the spot at the back of his shoulder, wincing. ] Sorry, sorry. Y'okay?
[ There's a sick crunching sound that even the rain can't drown out, and Steve opens his mouth and starts to cry out with it, but he quickly cuts himself off, swallowing it down, and instead breathes his way through it, tries not to move for a good minute or two as it settles back in. It throbs, and he knows that it will do for a while, even with his quick healing abilities, but at least he can move it freely now.
He claps Bucky on the shoulder with his good arm. ] I'm good. And nice job, didn't doubt you for a second. [ His brain tells him to make a grab for their things, to move, but his heart is pounding unusually in his chest, and Bucky is still so close. He can't pull his eyes away. ] Thanks, I, uh - I owe you one. You're, uh - you - we should probably - you still good?
[ The world seems to zero in sometimes when he's near Steve. Bucky's long since gotten used to it, the quietening down of the atmosphere until it's just them, because to him it will always be just them. But he's clued in to notice the stammering, the slight rise of colour in Steve's cheeks, has to wet his lips and gather his wits together long enough to pat him soundly and scoop up his rucksack. ]
C'mon, this rain isn't going to let up any time soon. Whatever else injury we've done ourselves can wait until we're not soaked through. I think there's a lake in my boot.
'Least we'll have something to drink. [ He grins, pulling himself together, and he scoops up his backpack, throws it over both shoulders as carefully as he can, then adds the shield to carry over his good one.
The mud is growing softer beneath their feet as the water rises, nowhere to escape to drain out the ground, but he pulls his boots free and starts to put one foot in front of the other. ] If we're lucky we'll find some place we can set a fire going, get ourselves dried off.
[ He grins, takes another rasping breath with nothing but rain water to it. His feet make heavy pounding sounds on the ground, but at least Bucky doesn't think they're being followed.
Gruffly. ] I don't care where it is as long as I can prop myself somewhere and pass out for a couple of hours.
[ Steve makes a point not to get carried away and end up too far in front, sticking close to Bucky's side, but allowing them both enough room to move. He looks this way and that as they go, squinting through the rain and the on-coming darkness. He takes comfort in knowing that Bucky got lost with him rather than one of the others, not that he doesn't have faith in them and their abilities, but he would just rather know for sure that he's going to make it out safely. ]
I'll take first watch when we do. [ Although, the more he thinks about it, the tireder he feels, but he doesn't need the rest the same way Bucky does, so he's willing to make that sacrifice. The ground is uneven, some areas flooded more than others, and he slips and slides over the terrain, but keeps himself on his feet. ] Good thing I got some food supplies left, and we can boil the rain water if we can desperate.
Fuck, kid. They're not going to come looking for us in this. They probably think we've drowned out here. Or the ones'd could walk away probably wouldn't make it this far.
[ Rubbing at his face. ] We'll set up a trap or somethin' we could hear if anyone approaches. Serum or not, y'look dead on your feet.
[ Steve turns to look at Bucky, slipping around in the mud twice as much for the switching of focus, and he smiles, his heart skipping a beat each and every time he refers to him as 'kid' just like always and without fail. ] I'm glad that somethings never change.
His lungs are burning. ]
Shit. Shit. Hey, hey, Rogers. You okay? [ He doesn't have the energy to straighten for the moment, lets his worry convey through his voice and stay there. ] Christ. Oh crap, man. That was -.
[ Then he's swinging around in a stumble, hand curving around Steve's shoulder. ] Talk to me, sweetheart. Let me hear those dulcet tones.
Reply
[ The rain is making it hard to see, which is all the more reason not to carry on until they can regain their bearings. He finally seems to get his lungs to work at a normal rate, the dizziness of trying to take in too much air all at once and still not being enough slowly fading into a dull headache. ] Damn, that was one helluva fight. It's one to tell the kids, hey, Buck?
Reply
Hah. Y-yeah. [ Bucky's frowning, noting the way Steve's cradling his arm, mouth going dry because, shit, that was bad. ] Okay there? Y'hurt?
Reply
Feels dislocated. A good shove ought'a do it, but we should keep moving for now, put as much distance between us and them as we can. [ He pats Bucky over all the same, checking for injuries - he didn't risk everything to rescue his arse just to get him killed now. ] Y'think you can keep going? It's gonna be a slow journey from here, but the rain should cover us.
Reply
[ His whole body aches, thrums along with pain like his pulse is made of it. He doesn't want to move, but they're going to have to. ] Don't reckon we'll make it to the checkpoint, but maybe there's somewhere we can stop 'till then if we get far enough?
Reply
[ Steve squints, slowly taking a look around their nearest surroundings, but even with his enhanced sight the rain is too heavy to see far. And when more rolls of thunder crack open the heavens he's forced to raise his voice to be heard over the top. ] There's gotta be somewhere 'round here to take refuge, but let's take it one step at a time.
Reply
Ready?
Reply
Ready.
Reply
Reply
He claps Bucky on the shoulder with his good arm. ] I'm good. And nice job, didn't doubt you for a second. [ His brain tells him to make a grab for their things, to move, but his heart is pounding unusually in his chest, and Bucky is still so close. He can't pull his eyes away. ] Thanks, I, uh - I owe you one. You're, uh - you - we should probably - you still good?
Reply
C'mon, this rain isn't going to let up any time soon. Whatever else injury we've done ourselves can wait until we're not soaked through. I think there's a lake in my boot.
Reply
The mud is growing softer beneath their feet as the water rises, nowhere to escape to drain out the ground, but he pulls his boots free and starts to put one foot in front of the other. ] If we're lucky we'll find some place we can set a fire going, get ourselves dried off.
Reply
Gruffly. ] I don't care where it is as long as I can prop myself somewhere and pass out for a couple of hours.
Reply
I'll take first watch when we do. [ Although, the more he thinks about it, the tireder he feels, but he doesn't need the rest the same way Bucky does, so he's willing to make that sacrifice. The ground is uneven, some areas flooded more than others, and he slips and slides over the terrain, but keeps himself on his feet. ] Good thing I got some food supplies left, and we can boil the rain water if we can desperate.
Reply
[ Rubbing at his face. ] We'll set up a trap or somethin' we could hear if anyone approaches. Serum or not, y'look dead on your feet.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment