He nodded his head, looking up and around the cabin to see if there was a map or anything, but no go. Likely all the coordinates were placed in the console, and it would require some kind of code to break into it. Considering what it took to break out in the dead of night, it was likely not worth the effort when Steve could control this manually as it was. They had to have the ability to reach land on the fuel available, and he had seen the other helicopter going this direction.
"People will always fear those stronger than them and build things to contain them on the off-chance they turn on them," he remarked tiredly, looking out the window as the water rushed along the surface. This was an all too familiar sensation for him. Everywhere he went, people felt the need to contain him, lock him up, break him down so that he wasn't quite the same threat as before.
He hummed softly at Steve's remark, casting his eyes over and silently observing his best friend then sighed. "I'm sorry," he said, not certain what else would make a difference. "Apparently so did Stark, which was likely the only reason I am alive." He reached out and set his only hand on Steve's shoulder. "It's the effects of cryo for me. When I'm cold and unconscious, my heart slows and I basically appear dead. Normally, a tracker in my arm would go off and the Soviets would come and retrieve me... but you know..." he trailed off and looked pointedly at the space where the metal arm had once existed.
Steve kept his eye out for land. Wherever the helicopter had come from would have security, so they'd need to land somewhere else, which meant finding some sort of clearing and not just any land. He wouldn't risk hurting other people to put the helicopter down and he wouldn't risk Bucky's freedom again, either.
Bucky's words had Steve seeing red. His hands gripped the controls just a little tighter. Steve had spent years proving himself. Decades, even. He'd effectively died to protect people and they still sought to trap him like that? It wasn't just that, though. It was Bucky, too. Bucky, who'd never had an evil bone in his body. Bucky, who'd also died for them and who'd suffered for it. He should be protected, not trapped, and if they wouldn't do it, then Steve would see to it himself. Who have either of them ever been able to rely on if not each other?
He threw Bucky a quick glance. Maybe it was more about confirming that Bucky really was here and alive than anything else, though he liked that hand on his shoulder--warm and solid and grounded in a way that helped him let some of that fire die down. For once, there was something to be thankful for with that. When he'd thought Bucky was dead, Steve had felt like some sort of broken ghost. To go through all of that only to have Bucky ripped away again had been too much. In the years since he'd thawed, he'd been pushing himself to keep moving forward, but having Bucky dangled in front of him and snatched away had been too much. He would have to keep Bucky safe at all costs. It was what he should have done in the first place.
"I'll keep that in mind if I ever let you be cold and unconscious again." He wouldn't.
He also kept a weather eye out for land, mostly because he understood that any airstrip might not be particularly friendly towards them once it was clear that they had escaped. So far, there was radio silence, and he knew that they would eventually have to find coordinates in order to avoid an actual airport. That was just going to turn out poorly for all involved in it.
The trip was made more difficult because of the darkness and the unfavourable weather. It was unclear that they were going to find land quickly. Hell, he hadn't been conscious enough to estimate the time that it took to bring him to the facility in the first place, but Steve seemed determined to get them out of there and never look back.
"A freezer is a great hiding spot for me, I've been assured," he said, one corner of his lip rising. Gallows humor mostly.
He dropped his hand away to play with the radio frequencies, to see if they could find some radio noise in order to allow them to pinpoint where they were and how close to land they may be. There was mostly silence, but he continued to cycle through the frequencies in search. Steve had the job of flying, he had the job of navigating. Somehow it felt a bit like old times.
Steve spared a little glare at that joke. Right now is really not the time for that kind of humor. He doesn't need to think about losing Bucky or all the stupid things he knows he'll do just to keep him safe. Right now, they're together and he's going to get Bucky someplace safe or die trying.
"No more freezers for you."
He kept his eyes on the horizon. The good news was that he was pretty sure he could land this anywhere with a clearing. It wasn't like he was too worried about it taking off again and they should get away from it as quickly as they could once they landed, anyway, because there was no way it didn't have a tracker.
They would need to figure out what to do about Bucky's arm, too, because he knew it hadn't been looked at by any sort of expert, not that Steve was sure where they could go. Normally Tony was his go-to on these types of things. Now, there weren't many people to be trusted.
"You wouldn't happen to have any resources hidden somewhere that are still secure, would you?" Because he knows he should. He's sure Natasha has escape plans from her escape plans, but Steve just isn't wired like that. He's got nothing hidden and anything he has he can't get to without getting caught.
Testing how it felt, he reached out and ruffled Steve's hair. He knew that he used to do it when they were boys, but that was a long, long time ago, felt more like a different lifetime for them both. Maybe it had the same feel though, but he wasn't entirely certain. For one, his hands were bigger and Steve, even in this body, seemed less fragile than he had memories for. He even looked at his hand afterwards and flexed his digits.
"Except for ice cream, right?" He needed to keep Steve from glaring at him, or maybe he needed to see it again. It was so familiar, but in a fevered dream kind of way.
Despite being in a continual level of pain because of the ruined aspects of his arm, he had learned long ago to compartmentalize. As long as it wasn't touched or bumped on anything, he was fine to ignore it. He knew that they would have to deal with it, but he wasn't so certain how up to the task of removing it Steve was. It was, after all, a reminder of what he had lost way back in the War. Maybe it wouldn't matter. Steve was never given enough credit for being able to push boundaries, and he had no doubt this would be yet another situation for that. It wasn't like they had anyone but each other anymore, just like old times.
"I have a few places," he murmured, looking out the window. He had more than a few places, boltholes that had enough supplies to keep them safe, but he never stayed in one of them for any length of time. It was easier to discover then. "Once we land and figure out where we are, we'll have to steal a car likely and get to one of them. Depending on which one, we should have much of what we need." Money, food, weapons, clothing... though probably nothing that would fit Steve.
Maybe seeing his best friend in oversized clothing could lighten to mood?
"Depending on how the other side of the fight and the government feels, they may be able to sniff us out. We'll have to be careful," he remarked. He was used to hiding with little to no clues of his whereabouts though. He had done it for two years; he could do it again.
If anyone else ruffled Steve's hair like that, he might have honestly snapped a little, but it wsa Bucky and as usual, nothing about it felt condescending. He'd never rejected affection like that from Bucky and he had no reason to start now. The only response he threw at Bucky was a small smile.
Even when his health had been poor, Steve had never been one to give up and having Bucky here only made him feel stronger. Maybe the two of them could do anything together. They would succeed or fail as one and Steve didn't let himself fail, so even if he had to fight for both of them in this smaller body, he would do it.
"Maybe not even for ice cream."
Steve squinted at the horizon. He was used to near-perfect eyesight, but this could be a lot worse. That was probably land up ahead and he didn't see anything else in the air, which was a good first sign, but they would need to land away from people and preferably without being seen. It could give them enough of a head start to get somewhere safe and lay low.
He might not have been the spy that Natasha was, but he understood enough basics to keep his head down now and besides, he stood out a hell of a lot less at this size, didn't he? If Bucky could do it for two years, Steve would follow his lead now and make sure he didn't risk Bucky's safety. All he could hope is that Bucky wouldn't run again, because Steve had even fewer resources to find him again now.
"I can be careful when I want to be." Which is to say he rarely wants to be.
"Thawed ice cream is disgusting," he reflected sagely. Like he had gone out of his way to try it just to say that he had had the experience all over again. "Refrozen ice cream from a full thaw is even worse." Sometimes he wondered if Steve had experimented as he had, trying to figure out the new world in which they existed. Something so simple as the talk of ice cream between people who hadn't exactly been able to afford it in the times that they had grown up.
He watched the horizon slowly come into focus through the general haze of the storm. He was likely quicker to watch it emerge, but he was already surveying a possible area where they could set down the helicopter and just get the heck out of the way of any pursuit. Being on the run meant skirting small villages where everyone knew a stranger easily. It was too dangerous to go running to a brand new big city too, so they would likely be moving quickly and dangerously for awhile.
He nodded his head, aware that Steve could but often didn't bother. All big and confident even in that little body.
As the land came more into view, he pointed to an area that looked like a break in the trees a little further inland. If it was a glade big enough, they should land there and strike out. No point keeping a bird like this in the air for longer than they had to. In a forest, there would be logging roads to make use of. The government likely wouldn't want to be yelling about escaped convicts from a floating prison by his estimations unless he and Steve began to cause havoc, neither of which they wanted.
"Perhaps now would be a good time to want to be, right? At least you're better equipped now with those little fingers to help me get this arm off," he said almost flippantly, maybe the first indication that he was uncomfortable with it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
preshielding) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
keepcruising2018-09-06 02:25 pm
no subject
"People will always fear those stronger than them and build things to contain them on the off-chance they turn on them," he remarked tiredly, looking out the window as the water rushed along the surface. This was an all too familiar sensation for him. Everywhere he went, people felt the need to contain him, lock him up, break him down so that he wasn't quite the same threat as before.
He hummed softly at Steve's remark, casting his eyes over and silently observing his best friend then sighed. "I'm sorry," he said, not certain what else would make a difference. "Apparently so did Stark, which was likely the only reason I am alive." He reached out and set his only hand on Steve's shoulder. "It's the effects of cryo for me. When I'm cold and unconscious, my heart slows and I basically appear dead. Normally, a tracker in my arm would go off and the Soviets would come and retrieve me... but you know..." he trailed off and looked pointedly at the space where the metal arm had once existed.
no subject
Bucky's words had Steve seeing red. His hands gripped the controls just a little tighter. Steve had spent years proving himself. Decades, even. He'd effectively died to protect people and they still sought to trap him like that? It wasn't just that, though. It was Bucky, too. Bucky, who'd never had an evil bone in his body. Bucky, who'd also died for them and who'd suffered for it. He should be protected, not trapped, and if they wouldn't do it, then Steve would see to it himself. Who have either of them ever been able to rely on if not each other?
He threw Bucky a quick glance. Maybe it was more about confirming that Bucky really was here and alive than anything else, though he liked that hand on his shoulder--warm and solid and grounded in a way that helped him let some of that fire die down. For once, there was something to be thankful for with that. When he'd thought Bucky was dead, Steve had felt like some sort of broken ghost. To go through all of that only to have Bucky ripped away again had been too much. In the years since he'd thawed, he'd been pushing himself to keep moving forward, but having Bucky dangled in front of him and snatched away had been too much. He would have to keep Bucky safe at all costs. It was what he should have done in the first place.
"I'll keep that in mind if I ever let you be cold and unconscious again." He wouldn't.
no subject
The trip was made more difficult because of the darkness and the unfavourable weather. It was unclear that they were going to find land quickly. Hell, he hadn't been conscious enough to estimate the time that it took to bring him to the facility in the first place, but Steve seemed determined to get them out of there and never look back.
"A freezer is a great hiding spot for me, I've been assured," he said, one corner of his lip rising. Gallows humor mostly.
He dropped his hand away to play with the radio frequencies, to see if they could find some radio noise in order to allow them to pinpoint where they were and how close to land they may be. There was mostly silence, but he continued to cycle through the frequencies in search. Steve had the job of flying, he had the job of navigating. Somehow it felt a bit like old times.
no subject
"No more freezers for you."
He kept his eyes on the horizon. The good news was that he was pretty sure he could land this anywhere with a clearing. It wasn't like he was too worried about it taking off again and they should get away from it as quickly as they could once they landed, anyway, because there was no way it didn't have a tracker.
They would need to figure out what to do about Bucky's arm, too, because he knew it hadn't been looked at by any sort of expert, not that Steve was sure where they could go. Normally Tony was his go-to on these types of things. Now, there weren't many people to be trusted.
"You wouldn't happen to have any resources hidden somewhere that are still secure, would you?" Because he knows he should. He's sure Natasha has escape plans from her escape plans, but Steve just isn't wired like that. He's got nothing hidden and anything he has he can't get to without getting caught.
no subject
"Except for ice cream, right?" He needed to keep Steve from glaring at him, or maybe he needed to see it again. It was so familiar, but in a fevered dream kind of way.
Despite being in a continual level of pain because of the ruined aspects of his arm, he had learned long ago to compartmentalize. As long as it wasn't touched or bumped on anything, he was fine to ignore it. He knew that they would have to deal with it, but he wasn't so certain how up to the task of removing it Steve was. It was, after all, a reminder of what he had lost way back in the War. Maybe it wouldn't matter. Steve was never given enough credit for being able to push boundaries, and he had no doubt this would be yet another situation for that. It wasn't like they had anyone but each other anymore, just like old times.
"I have a few places," he murmured, looking out the window. He had more than a few places, boltholes that had enough supplies to keep them safe, but he never stayed in one of them for any length of time. It was easier to discover then. "Once we land and figure out where we are, we'll have to steal a car likely and get to one of them. Depending on which one, we should have much of what we need." Money, food, weapons, clothing... though probably nothing that would fit Steve.
Maybe seeing his best friend in oversized clothing could lighten to mood?
"Depending on how the other side of the fight and the government feels, they may be able to sniff us out. We'll have to be careful," he remarked. He was used to hiding with little to no clues of his whereabouts though. He had done it for two years; he could do it again.
ahh this is so late I'm sorry
Even when his health had been poor, Steve had never been one to give up and having Bucky here only made him feel stronger. Maybe the two of them could do anything together. They would succeed or fail as one and Steve didn't let himself fail, so even if he had to fight for both of them in this smaller body, he would do it.
"Maybe not even for ice cream."
Steve squinted at the horizon. He was used to near-perfect eyesight, but this could be a lot worse. That was probably land up ahead and he didn't see anything else in the air, which was a good first sign, but they would need to land away from people and preferably without being seen. It could give them enough of a head start to get somewhere safe and lay low.
He might not have been the spy that Natasha was, but he understood enough basics to keep his head down now and besides, he stood out a hell of a lot less at this size, didn't he? If Bucky could do it for two years, Steve would follow his lead now and make sure he didn't risk Bucky's safety. All he could hope is that Bucky wouldn't run again, because Steve had even fewer resources to find him again now.
"I can be careful when I want to be." Which is to say he rarely wants to be.
no subject
He watched the horizon slowly come into focus through the general haze of the storm. He was likely quicker to watch it emerge, but he was already surveying a possible area where they could set down the helicopter and just get the heck out of the way of any pursuit. Being on the run meant skirting small villages where everyone knew a stranger easily. It was too dangerous to go running to a brand new big city too, so they would likely be moving quickly and dangerously for awhile.
He nodded his head, aware that Steve could but often didn't bother. All big and confident even in that little body.
As the land came more into view, he pointed to an area that looked like a break in the trees a little further inland. If it was a glade big enough, they should land there and strike out. No point keeping a bird like this in the air for longer than they had to. In a forest, there would be logging roads to make use of. The government likely wouldn't want to be yelling about escaped convicts from a floating prison by his estimations unless he and Steve began to cause havoc, neither of which they wanted.
"Perhaps now would be a good time to want to be, right? At least you're better equipped now with those little fingers to help me get this arm off," he said almost flippantly, maybe the first indication that he was uncomfortable with it.