Bucky wasn't sure how Steve managed to move him into the bedroom they were currently standing in. He was shaking, not so much from fear but more from shock, and didn't recall exiting the elevator. The room was dark and cool with a crisp clean smell that the Solider found oddly comforting. It reminded him of the room he'd stayed in once during a mission. That one mission was the only time he'd stayed in a hotel room, and if he remembered correctly, he had quite enjoyed it. But this was not a hotel room, this was his new owners base and he had just attacked one of their guards. Surely someone was going to come and administer a punishment. He was scanning the room for any potential dangers when Steve appeared in front of him. Still in a sort of trance, Bucky continued to stare right through Steve. When it became clear to the other man Bucky wasn't hearing a word that was spoken to him, he placed his hands on Bucky's shoulders. Cap fully expected a knife to the ribs, but when no move was made by the dark haired man, Steve gently began steering him toward the bed.
Bucky was forced to sit when his legs bumped into the mattress and Steve released him and backed away, taking a moment to think. The blonde ran his hands through his hair and looked at Bucky. This was not how he imagined Bucky coming back to him would go. He'd believed Bucky was moving past the Winter Solider part of himself, but the events that had just unfolded proved Steve horribly wrong. Now he looked at his best friend. His broken best friend. Bucky was bleeding profusely from a deep gash above his eye. Steve hadn't really seen Bucky since the incident on the Helicarrier. He honestly hadn't looked at Bucky too well that night at the hotel. His pain pills had worn off and he had mainly been focusing on not throwing up from the pain. Steve's breath caught in his throat as he looked at Bucky now. His usually tanned skin held a pale sickly green hue, his long dark hair hanging around his face in matted clumps. The dark circles around his eyes suggested he hadn't had a decent nights sleep in awhile, and judging from his filthy clothing he hadn't bathed in awhile either. Steve noticed dried dirt and blood caked the visible parts of skin. Steve scrubbed his face with his palm and took a deep breath. He turned and walked into the bathroom, stopping in the doorway to look back at him.
"Don't move." He told him. Bucky didn't seem to hear and he continued to stare straight ahead. Steve padded into the bathroom and snatched up a wash cloth. He was digging around in the cabinet beneath the sink for the First Aid Kit when his phone rang.
"Natasha," he answered on the second ring.
"Steve," she replied, her voice soft.
Steve lowered his voice, "Is Clint alright?" he pushed aside an Iron Man toothbrush that looked like it had been down there for years.
"He's got three broken ribs, a fractured wrist and a missing molar. Oh, and plenty of cuts and bruises." Her voice was flat and quiet as she listed of the injuries, and with each word Steve felt like he was being stabbed.
"Will he be okay?" Steve forced out.
"The ribs will mend, as will the wrist. The doctors expect him to make a full recovery." Natasha paused and when she spoke again he could hear the smile in her voice. "However, he's pretty upset about the tooth."
Steve couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. That sounded like Clint.
"Are you at the hospital?" he asked.
"Yes. I'm with him right now. They've got him on some pretty strong pain killers and I don't feel comfortable leaving him when he's drugged up like this."
Steve heard the sound of fabric rustling on the other line and heard Clint's voice. He heard Natasha's voice, then Clint's again and Natasha whispered into the phone," He wants to talk to you."
"Okay." Steve said, biting his lip nervously.
There was some more rustling, then Clint's slurred voice.
"Hey Stheve," Clint mumbled.
"Hey buddy, how are you feeling?" Steve asked.
"Like I thook a beating from a guy with a metal arm." Clint pronounced each word slowly and carefully. Steve could tell he had a piece of cotton in his mouth.
Steve chuckled and said, "I see it hasn't taken any of the sass out of you."
"Never. Stheve, is that guy okay? Nat told me he wath your friend."
Steve was taken back for a moment. Bucky had just almost killed him and Clint was worried about him? "He's got a few cuts and bruises but other than that he's fine."
"Oh!" Clint gasped on the other end dramatically. "I'm stho thorry!"
Steve could tell the apology was genuine and not sarcastic.
"Its not your fault Clint, you were only defending yourself." Steve replied.
"In this case I'm glad I missed." Clint said, then declared a moment later, "My mouth hurts."
"Well, maybe you should rest then. You need to keep your strength up so you get better." Steve suggested.
"I'm sleepy I'm gonna go. Bye Stheve." Clint slurred then Steve heard him yell loudly a moment later, "NAT! Phone." Steve could heard Natasha scolding him lightly on the other end as she took her phone back.
"The medication is making him act like a toddler. Not that that is much of a change from his usual behavior." She said breathlessly. Then she asked seriously, "How are you holding up?"
"Trying to get him settled in. He's in some of shocked state right now and isn't moving or speaking."
"Don't get hurt, Steve." She said after a moment of hesitation.
"He wouldn't hurt me." Steve replied, wishing he could believe that.
"Maybe Bucky wouldn't have hurt you. This is the Winter Soldier now." Natasha said coldly.
"This is Bucky!" Steve snapped.
"He's dangerous!" Natasha exclaimed.
"He's my friend!" Steve replied.
"Have you ever wondered what you would do if Bucky isn't there anymore?" Natasha pressed.
Steve didn't like where this conversation was going. "He is still there." he replied through gritted teeth.
"You say that, but we don't have any proof. He could just be waiting for his opportunity to kill you." Natasha continued.
"If he wanted to kill me he wouldn't have pulled me out of that river, Natasha." Steve growled.
"Perhaps he acted under impulse." she retorted.
"Perhaps he acted to save his friend!" Steve shot back. There was silence on the other line and Steve sighed heavily and tilted his head back against the cabinet, closing his eyes. "This is my best friend we're talking about here, Natasha. You didn't give up on Clint when he was brain washed, no matter how dangerous he was."
"This is different-"
"There is no difference here." Steve interrupted. Natasha was silent again.
"Alright." She murmured at last. Steve breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright. You're right Rogers."
"Thank you." he breathed.
"Remind me to punch him in the head when I get back. Maybe we can make him snap out of it." She said, a comical tone about her voice now.
"Something tells me that wont work." he replied, allowing himself to smile.
"Take it easy Cap." She said.
"Bye Tasha." he murmured and ended the call.
