"Well, this is nice," Tony sarcastically muttered to himself as he rolled over in the field's grass and dirt. A long, pink tongue lapped at his face. He pushed it away tiredly.
A loud yapping was the response.
"Jarvis?" Tony asked. The dog leapt onto him, attacking his face once again. The teenager found himself giggling. "You're certainly following me now, aren't you?"
Tony turned to the woods, which loomed over the field, meters from his face. "I don't suppose you know the way through, do you? Guess not."
Tony heaved his bags onto his back, picked up a good sized stick for Jarvis, and started on the path he'd found.
The scenery in the forest was pleasant, with bright sunlight peeking through the thick canopy of leaves stretching above his head.
"You want me to throw this again?" Tony asked the seemingly hyperactive dog. "You'll just tire yourself out." He found himself throwing it anyway.
"You lost?" A voice echoed. A boy, tall and muscular with broad shoulders and ruffled dark hair, came running out from behind the trees. He seemed to have appeared from nowhere.
"I'm actually looking for the bunker. We need insulin for diabetics at the school, and they've only got a day or so's worth left." He offered a hand. "I'm Tony."
The boy chuckled. "Nearly didn't recognise you, Stark. Bucky, if you remember me as much. Steve's friend." Two dogs came to Bucky's heels, one carrying a dirty tennis ball. Tony remembered Bucky well; he had a colourful sense of humour and a great personality. He'd shared English classes with him in Years 8 and 9; the pair had been friends for a while.
"You have dogs too?" Tony asked, trying to shift the conversation. If Bucky didn't let him through, kids would be in danger. Young kids. Bruce had explicitly told him that there were two diabetics in year 7 alone, and that they needed the medicine.
"They're Clint's. There's a shortcut over a bridge to get to the bunker, if you're on a schedule. I'm headed that way, if you want to come."
Tony couldn't believe his luck. "Yes, please, that would be brilliant."
The dogs started running in circles, yapping happily. Bucky chuckled along with them, which fascinated Tony. He'd never gotten to know the American exchange student, but it was nice to know that they both liked dogs. Being his friend would come in useful.
"How come you've not just run off into your ivory tower - well, mansion?" Bucky asked as the dogs quietened down. "Isn't that one of the safest places to be?"
"It's a long drive, and the last FAYZ incident - which I believe is what happened here - was only ten miles in radius, and the house is half an hour's drive away. Plus, I was needed at the school. Leadership and such."
"Why would they send the leader out on some goose chase like this? Surely you had other people to send." Bucky glanced at him, an eyebrow raised.
"Loads of kids are looking after siblings, or doing important jobs like looking for food and insulating the rooms. Bruce and Helen are heading the nurse's office, so they're not really expendable. I don't have any siblings and Pepper is better at running things than I am." Bucky picked up on how Tony's voice deflated throughout the small speech. Clearly he didn't value himself.
"Well, you got everyone organised, which is more than any of us here have done," Bucky said, leaping over a fallen tree and calling for the dogs to follow. "Sam and Steve should be in the clearing, it's not far from the bridge. Hey, here it is."
The bridge was concrete, with the iron supports sticking out where the material had worn away. Water rushed under it, swift and strong. If Tony fell, there would be no returning, or even climbing out. From what he could see, the banks were too steep to climb.
"Come on," Bucky shouted, already jogging over to the structure, Jarvis and Clint's dogs at his heels. Tony followed, walking beside him.
"So, Stark, how's everything at the school?" Bucky asked as Steve and Sam jogged towards them.
"Pretty okay, if you count the lack of power, water and heating." Tony and Bucky smirked at the sarcasm.
"What is Stark doing here?" Steve didn't hold back his cold stare.
"I'm just trying to help people." Tony returned it, warm brown eyes now dark and intimidating.
"Why do I find that so hard to believe?" Steve hissed, his eyes narrowing.
"Guys, calm down, he's just here for insulin from the bunker." Bucky and Sam separated them.
Steve backed off, turning away quickly and heading downstream.
Sam sighed, rolled his eyes, and followed on light feet.
"I guess I'll be taking you up to the house then," Bucky sighed. "You and Steve never can get on, can you?"
"Hey, don't look at me! He started it." Tony whistled for the dogs to come to him.
"We have insulin in the basement, I'll just grab a torch." Bucky disappeared into the house.
"Hey, you, Stark, right?" Clint came padding over. "Have you seen a guy about this tall, really fierce eyes, pointed jaw? Dark brown hair and stubble?"
Tony shook his head. "No, I haven't seen anyone apart from Rogers, Wilson and Barnes."
Clint cursed under his breath. "Well, if you see him, tell him that Wanda and Clint are looking for him." The boy melded back into the forest.
"Hey, got the torch, you should head down into the basement." Bucky tossed the item at Tony, who caught it one-handed, and pointed to the hatch on the floor of the hallway.
Inside, the air was musky and dark, with a strong smell of flour - was that flour? - filling Tony's nose. He stepped off the ladder too quickly and for a moment was suspended in midair before his head slammed into something solid. The loud smacking sound was the last thing Tony heard.