Chapter 10
Steve eyed the ground, feeling irritated as Barnes surveyed the surrounding area. The Police sirens now in the distance and the alley below them, empty. Sighing, Steve looked at Barnes and asked whether they should go back to the apartment as he took out his phone to message Nat. Barnes stood and looked at Steve, honing in on the phone in the Captain's hand. Calculating his next move and executing it with finesse, he knocked the phone out of Steve's grasp before he picked it up and snapped it clean in half with little effort. Steve flinched at the sudden movement and his mouth gaped open with shock. "What the hell did you do that for?!" he demanded; Barnes stood unnaturally still as he fixed Steve with a glare. "Technology can be compromised", he stated clearly. "We are HYDRAs number one targets, it would be easy for them to locate us. We need to move."
Steve stared dumbfounded and supplied a brief "oh" in response as Barnes moved around him with renewed urgency, "We need to lie low. Where is your safehouse?" he questioned suddenly. Steve looked uncomfortable, "I don't have one… I'm jacked up on serum, I don't usually need to worry about that kind of thing." Barnes slowed his movements to look at Steve in surprise, casting an eye over Steve, he did note the man's muscles and clearly defined form. Pausing, he recalled the museum exhibit and his mission intel from the past for more information, he hadn't thought much about the sickly-looking boy from his brief memories that had started to resurface being the same person as the man that stood before him: Captain America. Grunting, Barnes spat "Safehouse. Now" at Steve as dread curled within his body. The last thing they needed was HYDRA finding them on this rooftop when they eventually caught up to them both.
Steve thought for a few seconds before nodding, "I know somewhere… but it will be tricky". Turning on his heel, he led Barnes back the way they came and was about to walk into the street when Barnes grabbed him by the throat again. Collared, Steve's eyes shot up as he was whipped around to face Barnes, noting somewhere that there was no pressure on his neck this time, it still didn't make Steve feel much better about it. "Buc-Barnes! What did you do that for?!" Steve demanded; frustration evident as he stared at Barnes' eyes. Barnes questioned exactly where Steve was going and why he was intending on strolling casually into a crowded street where more dangers might be lurking; He felt this man was being deliberately obtuse as he once again scanned the entrance to the alley. Steve responded with "my place" casually, when Barnes continued to stare at him like he'd lost his mind, Steve quickly clarified: "We need a car for where we're going, we can't walk that far."
Thinking this over, Barnes tilted his head and removed his hand from Rogers' throat, "and you think walking casually down the road in plain sight is a good idea" he stated, enunciating every word clearly. Thinking about it, Steve had to agree it wasn't the best move he'd tried. Looking at Barnes he asked if there were any better ideas.
Barnes shot Steve a warning glance, before stepping aside to look around him, he knew they couldn't stay here, but Barnes did not fully trust Steve's apartment to still be safe. Choosing a course of action, Barnes tilted his head to the side quickly, the intent clear as Steve followed him through the alley. After sticking to the back alleys of the city, they finally returned near Steve's apartment. Pausing, Barnes took stock of his surroundings and proceeded to stealthily climb the same building where he had previously kept his vigil and noticed movement inside Steve's apartment. Climbing back down with unnatural speed, he asked Steve where his car was and if he had the keys. Once Steve had told him, Barnes commanded Steve to stay where he was as he made his way around the corner of the building, using the shadows as a safe path before bringing the car around. Steve jumped in and they made their escape from whoever was waiting for them back at Steve's place.
Barnes drove on, adjusting his direction in-line with Steve's directions. Keen to get out of the city, they drove on in uneasy silence as the sun beat down on them from above. After an hour, Steve suddenly reached toward the CD player and Barnes startled so violently that he had to swerve to avoid the car in the next lane. Turning his glare on Steve, he was about to speak when he heard something familiar fill the car, Steve watching in trepidation as he wondered whether Barnes would make a grab for him again.
"What did you do?" Barnes asked, looking a little dazed. "You don't like music anymore?" Steve questioned, unsure of what he should do next. Barnes shook his head to clear the images that had suddenly resurfaced within the deep recesses of his mind: [him and a young Steve stood next to some girls, music flowing in the background. Barnes and a woman dancing, her laughs falling easily from her smiling lips. Barnes and Steve watching the TV as war propaganda flashed across the screen]. Lost in his thoughts, Barnes continued driving, not paying Steve any direction as his thoughts turned to mud. What did these images mean, were they his? Had someone planted them to confuse his mind? Was this a kind of power play to make him to lose his mind? Frowning, Barnes ignored Steve's question and kept his eyes on the road as he let the images wash over him with their strange, new feelings building inside him as he drove.
They had been driving for around 2 hours when Steve's stomach rumbled suddenly making them both jump. Barnes' eyebrows raised as he stared at Steve, who shrugged nonchalantly before directing Barnes to a nearby shop. He was about to exit the vehicle when Barnes spoke again, "what are you doing?" Steve looked back at his friend and said, "buying food, you want something?" Barnes stared, unsure of what to say. Now that Steve mentioned it, he did have that hungry feeling in his stomach again, and his throat was dry. Nodding, Steve made his way into the shop where he purchased some supplies and headed back to the parked car hastily. Barnes watched Steve with a sense of boredom as the latter opened the door and slid inside, putting his seatbelt on. He passed a drink and a sandwich to Barnes before opening his own but just as they were about to pull off, he noticed Barnes didn't have a seatbelt on and demanded that he did it up before driving off. Barnes looked at Steve, feeling that the other man was being ludicrous. When Steve started to object, Barnes cut him off in a tone that brokered no argument: "I am a super-soldier. I have no need for pointless things that serve to bind me in one place."
Steve snapped his mouth shut and shrugged as he digested this information, if Barnes didn't want a seatbelt well, on his head be it. Taking one hand off the steering wheel, Barnes struggled to open his sandwich. Steve automatically made to help him which made Barnes uneasy. He did not like people putting their hands towards him when he felt confined. Swallowing it down, he watched as Steve opened his sandwich and handed one to him, Barnes nodded in thanks before taking a bite. He felt he preferred this sandwich to the sausage rolls, but pizza was definitely his preference so far. They drove on as the music continued to fill the car for the next two and a half hours, Steve still directing him.
The sun had started to dip low in the sky as evening drew in when they came to a stop. Looking out the window, Barnes spied a huge building that towered above them. "Where are we", he questioned quickly, his body telling him that he shouldn't be here. "We're at the Avengers tower, Tony should be in." Steve made to exit the car when Barnes grabbed his arm, "Tony?"
"Tony Stark, we're both Avengers… sometimes we stay here between missions" Steve supplied evenly. Barnes' mind was working through some details that had cropped up in his mind as it stopped on Iron Man. With a sinking feeling that he couldn't understand, he looked back at Steve with a grimace, "I am not meant to be here". Steve looked at Barnes before reassuring him, "It's fine, Tony's a friend of mine. Stay here, I will be back now" as he made his way over to the ground floor entrance which was guarded by a large man dressed in security clothing. The man fidgeted, about to tell Rogers to clear off before stilling. "Oh my god – it's Captain America!" he whooped out, clearly surprised. Rogers chuckled and side stepped the man, entering the building. As he made his way to the front desk, the receptionist informed him that the man was new to the job and that Steve should expect a lot more reactions like that for a while. Picking up the phone, she was about to dial her boss when the man himself walked towards them both with purpose. "Cap! What can I do for you?" he called out.
Steve turned to face Tony, as a grin fell across his face. "Tony, it's good to see you! I don't want to say much here but I have a request from myself and my friend. Can we come up?" Tony eyed the Captain carefully before nodding his assent, turning to the woman behind the desk, Tony told her to have someone move the car that Rogers had arrived in as Steve went to escort Barnes into the tower.
When both men had stepped inside again, Tony paused, eyeing Barnes with confusion. Steve gave Tony a look that clearly said not now whilst Barnes stared back at the man, trying to work out why he looked so familiar. Tony led the men into the elevator, as a cool voice sounded: "Sir, I see you have company. What do you need?" Barnes jumped as the voice surrounded him, unsure of where it was coming from, Steve looked sideways before nudging Barnes, who looked back at Steve and he clearly had some questions flitting through his mind. Even though his initial reaction had been to find the source of the voice, Barnes trusted that this was… normal for Steve and worked to keep his body still. Tony started whistling as the elevator rose several floors before coming to a stop.
Getting out, Tony guided them to a room with sound proofing, you could never be too careful these days.
