If Steve's Bucky is safe then he needs to know the boundaries of that safety. He has not been decommissioned for eating. He has not been decommissioned for using his towels or sleeping in his bed.
What else will Steve allow him to do?
Steve's Bucky slips out of the living quarters he shares with Steve and follows Steve, less like a shadow and more like a wisp of smoke against the clouds. He keeps his distance but stays close enough to catch the faint echo of Steve's boots down the empty hall. The acoustics call for a degree of stealth that Steve's Bucky has not practiced since coming to the Tower.
It is good to practice his skills. If he is not decommissioned then Steve's Bucky thinks he should be training. That way he will be useful if Steve needs him. Steve would be a terrible handler but Steve's Bucky would know what to do. Steve's Bucky would complete the mission, whatever it was, that Steve asked of him.
Steve has entered a kitchen. The woman with the red hair is there. The man with the rumpled clothes is not. Steve's Bucky did not expect them to be separated. That means the man with the rumpled clothes is unprotected.
There is no strategic position from which to observe the kitchen. It is to the building's tactical advantage that none of the vents will allow Steve's Bucky access and Steve's Bucky has not yet investigated a way around that. He will raise the priority level of that reconnaissance.
If he remains in the hallway, even at a distance, there is no guarantee that he will hear what Steve and the woman with the red hair have to say to each other. And it is possible that the woman with the red hair will see him. It is advisable then to adapt a new objective.
Steve's Bucky will find the man with the rumpled clothes and ask him questions. His voice was soft like towels and there is a tightness in Steve's Bucky's stomach when he considers that the man might be harmed without the woman with red hair there to protect him.
He moves back down the hallway and considers his options.
When he went to the basement, he used the elevator shaft. He can use the elevator shaft again to navigate the floors once he ascertains which one the man with the rumpled clothes is most likely to be on. Steve's Bucky thinks the man with the rumpled clothes does not like to leave his safe places - he will find the man with the rumpled clothes in his own den, like a tired wolf who needs recuperation.
The building watches everything. The building will know where Steve's Bucky is going. There must be a way to obscure his movements from the building. He does not think Steve would approve if Steve's Bucky disabled the building. That is one more reason Steve would make a terrible handler; Steve is not very efficient.
Can the building be subverted?
This requires more data. He has observed Steve interact with the building, particularly at the elevator. While Steve's Bucky has no intention of getting into the elevator itself - elevators are coffins suspended over an infinite abyss - perhaps he can interface with the building at the entrance to the elevator.
Steve's Bucky falls back even further to the elevator. And takes a deep breath before he pushes the call button.
"May I assist you, Sergeant Barnes?" The building's voice is very smooth, with a British accent. And Steve's Bucky thinks the voice is also nearly hesitant. He thinks the building is not certain it should be talking to Steve's Bucky.
That is an important data point. If the building is already off-balance and uncertain of its orders then it will be easier to subvert it.
Steve's Bucky takes another deep breath. He shakes his flesh hand to loosen the clenched muscles of that arm. Tightness is creeping across his shoulders and up his neck and it will impede his physical response capabilities if he does not monitor and prevent it.
He has to swallow, mouth dry and throat uncooperative, before he can make his voice heard. Steve's Bucky has not spoken for a very long time.
"The man who wears rumpled clothes is alone and unprotected. His location is required so that he may be guarded." Steve's Bucky has a very soft voice and he is not familiar with the accent that he can hear coming from his own mouth. It is similar to the accent that Steve occasionally uses when he tells stories about the past.
There is a pause, as though the building is considering its options and the parameters of its orders. When it speaks again, Steve's Bucky can tell the hesitance is gone. "Dr. Banner is currently located in his lab. There is no danger."
The tightness worsens. The building will deny him information and tell the others. Steve's Bucky will be decommissioned. His ribs feel constricted and Steve's Bucky forces himself to breathe deeply.
"The woman with the red hair is not with him. He is vulnerable."
Steve's Bucky ducks his head, keeps his eyes on the floor. The building has eyes everywhere but Steve's Bucky knows the correct posture required when asking for something when not actually asking.
It seems effective - another indication of the superiority of Steve's Bucky's former handlers. They trained him appropriately. It is obviously up to Steve's Bucky to utilize that training.
Steve would be a terrible handler. But the woman with the red hair would be a good one. Steve's Bucky shivers.
It is not cold in the hallway.
The building does not sigh but there is the feeling of a sigh in the building's voice. "Dr. Banner's lab is located on the 89th floor. I will inform him of your impending arrival." That did not sound negotiable.
Steve's Bucky blinks. And nods. And waits for the elevator doors to close again and the car to rise so that he can access the elevator shaft.
***
The man with the rumpled clothes - Dr. Banner, according to the building - greets Steve's Bucky with a gentle smile. Steve's Bucky does not smile in return. But he sniffs at the tea he is offered and does not outright refuse it.
"JARVIS said you were concerned I might be vulnerable. I appreciate the thought." Dr. Banner has a small smile on his mouth. He is not laughing but Steve's Bucky still thinks Dr. Banner finds something amusing.
Steve's Bucky doesn't speak. The back of his neck prickles with warmth.
Dr. Banner studies Steve's Bucky. "I stay here because I know I'm safe. And so is everyone else."
They like to tell him that he is safe. But this time Steve's Bucky considers his body. There is the tightness he has been attempting to regulate. There is the persistent ache of his spine and side. There is the warmth of his neck.
But there is not the coil of energy in his stomach that comes when there is an immediate threat.
Steve's Bucky steps closer to Dr. Banner, looks at him the way he would evaluate the condition of a target. The man's body is strong but his posture is somewhat hunched, particularly when his shoulders are relaxed. He moves consciously, aware of his body's positioning. There is tension there but not fear. Interesting. Dr. Banner exhibits the physical characteristics of safety.
This is new data. Steve's Bucky wonders who Dr. Banner's handler is. It cannot be the woman with the red hair.
His stomach twists and Steve's Bucky does not hesitate to follow his reflexive responses - he pivots and moves away from the door so that the woman with the red hair, when she steps into the lab, does not let the acid in his throat change his expression now that she is between him and the exit.
Dr. Banner is no longer alone. Steve's Bucky can leave him, assured that Dr. Banner's soft towel voice exists because Dr. Banner is safe. Steve's Bucky needs to go to his closet even though it will be cold there.
"Nat, let him go. We were just talking." Dr. Banner moves comfortably, relaxed and unafraid, in between them. He puts a hand on the woman with the red hair's arm. "He had a question for me and I was happy to answer it."
Steve's Bucky shivers. And as soon as the woman with the red hair moves, Steve's Bucky flees.
FILL: All Windows Are Tinted 7/?
What else will Steve allow him to do?
Steve's Bucky slips out of the living quarters he shares with Steve and follows Steve, less like a shadow and more like a wisp of smoke against the clouds. He keeps his distance but stays close enough to catch the faint echo of Steve's boots down the empty hall. The acoustics call for a degree of stealth that Steve's Bucky has not practiced since coming to the Tower.
It is good to practice his skills. If he is not decommissioned then Steve's Bucky thinks he should be training. That way he will be useful if Steve needs him. Steve would be a terrible handler but Steve's Bucky would know what to do. Steve's Bucky would complete the mission, whatever it was, that Steve asked of him.
Steve has entered a kitchen. The woman with the red hair is there. The man with the rumpled clothes is not. Steve's Bucky did not expect them to be separated. That means the man with the rumpled clothes is unprotected.
There is no strategic position from which to observe the kitchen. It is to the building's tactical advantage that none of the vents will allow Steve's Bucky access and Steve's Bucky has not yet investigated a way around that. He will raise the priority level of that reconnaissance.
If he remains in the hallway, even at a distance, there is no guarantee that he will hear what Steve and the woman with the red hair have to say to each other. And it is possible that the woman with the red hair will see him. It is advisable then to adapt a new objective.
Steve's Bucky will find the man with the rumpled clothes and ask him questions. His voice was soft like towels and there is a tightness in Steve's Bucky's stomach when he considers that the man might be harmed without the woman with red hair there to protect him.
He moves back down the hallway and considers his options.
When he went to the basement, he used the elevator shaft. He can use the elevator shaft again to navigate the floors once he ascertains which one the man with the rumpled clothes is most likely to be on. Steve's Bucky thinks the man with the rumpled clothes does not like to leave his safe places - he will find the man with the rumpled clothes in his own den, like a tired wolf who needs recuperation.
The building watches everything. The building will know where Steve's Bucky is going. There must be a way to obscure his movements from the building. He does not think Steve would approve if Steve's Bucky disabled the building. That is one more reason Steve would make a terrible handler; Steve is not very efficient.
Can the building be subverted?
This requires more data. He has observed Steve interact with the building, particularly at the elevator. While Steve's Bucky has no intention of getting into the elevator itself - elevators are coffins suspended over an infinite abyss - perhaps he can interface with the building at the entrance to the elevator.
Steve's Bucky falls back even further to the elevator. And takes a deep breath before he pushes the call button.
"May I assist you, Sergeant Barnes?" The building's voice is very smooth, with a British accent. And Steve's Bucky thinks the voice is also nearly hesitant. He thinks the building is not certain it should be talking to Steve's Bucky.
That is an important data point. If the building is already off-balance and uncertain of its orders then it will be easier to subvert it.
Steve's Bucky takes another deep breath. He shakes his flesh hand to loosen the clenched muscles of that arm. Tightness is creeping across his shoulders and up his neck and it will impede his physical response capabilities if he does not monitor and prevent it.
He has to swallow, mouth dry and throat uncooperative, before he can make his voice heard. Steve's Bucky has not spoken for a very long time.
"The man who wears rumpled clothes is alone and unprotected. His location is required so that he may be guarded." Steve's Bucky has a very soft voice and he is not familiar with the accent that he can hear coming from his own mouth. It is similar to the accent that Steve occasionally uses when he tells stories about the past.
There is a pause, as though the building is considering its options and the parameters of its orders. When it speaks again, Steve's Bucky can tell the hesitance is gone. "Dr. Banner is currently located in his lab. There is no danger."
The tightness worsens. The building will deny him information and tell the others. Steve's Bucky will be decommissioned. His ribs feel constricted and Steve's Bucky forces himself to breathe deeply.
"The woman with the red hair is not with him. He is vulnerable."
Steve's Bucky ducks his head, keeps his eyes on the floor. The building has eyes everywhere but Steve's Bucky knows the correct posture required when asking for something when not actually asking.
It seems effective - another indication of the superiority of Steve's Bucky's former handlers. They trained him appropriately. It is obviously up to Steve's Bucky to utilize that training.
Steve would be a terrible handler. But the woman with the red hair would be a good one. Steve's Bucky shivers.
It is not cold in the hallway.
The building does not sigh but there is the feeling of a sigh in the building's voice. "Dr. Banner's lab is located on the 89th floor. I will inform him of your impending arrival." That did not sound negotiable.
Steve's Bucky blinks. And nods. And waits for the elevator doors to close again and the car to rise so that he can access the elevator shaft.
***
The man with the rumpled clothes - Dr. Banner, according to the building - greets Steve's Bucky with a gentle smile. Steve's Bucky does not smile in return. But he sniffs at the tea he is offered and does not outright refuse it.
"JARVIS said you were concerned I might be vulnerable. I appreciate the thought." Dr. Banner has a small smile on his mouth. He is not laughing but Steve's Bucky still thinks Dr. Banner finds something amusing.
Steve's Bucky doesn't speak. The back of his neck prickles with warmth.
Dr. Banner studies Steve's Bucky. "I stay here because I know I'm safe. And so is everyone else."
They like to tell him that he is safe. But this time Steve's Bucky considers his body. There is the tightness he has been attempting to regulate. There is the persistent ache of his spine and side. There is the warmth of his neck.
But there is not the coil of energy in his stomach that comes when there is an immediate threat.
Steve's Bucky steps closer to Dr. Banner, looks at him the way he would evaluate the condition of a target. The man's body is strong but his posture is somewhat hunched, particularly when his shoulders are relaxed. He moves consciously, aware of his body's positioning. There is tension there but not fear. Interesting. Dr. Banner exhibits the physical characteristics of safety.
This is new data. Steve's Bucky wonders who Dr. Banner's handler is. It cannot be the woman with the red hair.
His stomach twists and Steve's Bucky does not hesitate to follow his reflexive responses - he pivots and moves away from the door so that the woman with the red hair, when she steps into the lab, does not let the acid in his throat change his expression now that she is between him and the exit.
Dr. Banner is no longer alone. Steve's Bucky can leave him, assured that Dr. Banner's soft towel voice exists because Dr. Banner is safe. Steve's Bucky needs to go to his closet even though it will be cold there.
"Nat, let him go. We were just talking." Dr. Banner moves comfortably, relaxed and unafraid, in between them. He puts a hand on the woman with the red hair's arm. "He had a question for me and I was happy to answer it."
Steve's Bucky shivers. And as soon as the woman with the red hair moves, Steve's Bucky flees.