american gladiator

@heroamended

                             “…hold your fire and await further orders.“

          The authoritative voice is distant within earpieces, protocols drilled into tactical agents forming a loose albeit particularly distant perimeter beyond layers of tarmac for potential backup. Stark had vehemently declined the assistance regardless of the ever-present possibility of things going south, a lingering impression of optimism infiltrating the futurist’s perception once the man had caught wind of the invitation for the meeting. The Avenger was far from being a spiritual person ( conversely, in fact ), but faith in the apparent ‘monument’ of a figure such as Rogers played a part in his buoyed trust, the incoming projectile of the tin-man abruptly making contact with the ground in its usual flair.

                    Metal knuckles shred concrete, the sound of reverberating actuators unfurling and glowing repulsor points powering down from having ignited the atmosphere, the industrialist standing upright within the protective encasing - now a mere extension of himself as opposed to a cocoon in which the engineer had grown accustomed to. Preliminary scans concurrently take place to analyse a multitude of probable data, namely the number of individuals attending this impromptu little shindig. The two figures are far from alone, either ‘side’  bringing with it a hefty means of accompaniment each more daunting than the last. But a vaguest semblance of coy humour ( easily mistaken for flippancy ) weaves into the voice which filters through the tiers of alloys comprising of the stoic faceplate, the latter betraying the appearance of the man’s nervous eagerness.

                    < SO WEIRD HOW YOU RUN INTO PEOPLE AT THE AIRPORT >

Steve walks forward with the knowledge that every step he takes is one he can’t take back.  The people who follow him,  the ones who have been following his lead this whole time,  wait his command.  But Steve knows,  he has their fates in his hand.  If things go sideways,  it’ll be on him.  He has to tell himself that this is important enough ----  That what they’re fighting for is vital enough to stand up to their friends for.  Steve didn’t want it to come to this.  He never set out to make enemies out of those he trusted.  But he couldn’t change their minds.  They couldn’t change his.  And Steve has never been the type to go along with something he didn’t believe in. 

And he believes in this.  

As Tony lands in front of them,  cutting off their path,  Steve stops in his tracks.  His brow raises as he watches Tony land before he stands up tall in his suit.  He certainly came for a fight,  thought Steve wonders how much he’s been able to take off his suit during all of this.  He stepped forward,  feeling the weight of his friends behind him waiting for the call to action. 

16. captain america

“You’ve been asleep, Cap. For almost 70 years. You gonna be okay?”

     ( mostly, Bucky wishes he could muster something other than silence, some shred of appreciation– because as much as he’s quietly hated Steve’s stubborn insistence that he’s worth anyone’s concern, it’s somehow tolerable here, a goddamn reprieve; but all he can think is– Steve shouldn’t have to figure out how to deal with this )

It’s an unknowingly loaded question– one he’s pretty sure he doesn’t have an answer for, more to anything Bucky could say to him than what lies atop the surface– the way algae blooms on water; not a cause but a REACTION.

     ( it doesn’t change the fact that what lies beneath is just as toxic )

Bucky manages a smile, shy of crooked and convincingly genuine.

“You know me– always am.”

Steve tries to smile. He makes an honest-to-god effort but all Bucky gets is a short nod of his head. Bucky is a survivor. But he shouldn’t have to be. The fact that he’s running around with a tracker on his arm because it’s for the greater good makes Steve’s head spin and blood boil.  He shouldn’t have to put his life on the line over and over and over again. 

But if he didn’t,  Steve thinks,  he wouldn’t be Captain America. 

Even when they’re on the outs with the powers-that-be, Steve knows that shield belongs in Bucky’s hands still.  None of this changes any of that.  So as he watches Bucky smile,  Steve gives it another try.  He musters up an earnest,  hopeful smile which he hopes Bucky will take with him.