jumpthegun | IC Inbox (v1.0)

North of the school. I think Sherlock and I will probably be heading toward the pass. He's got his memory back, too, so that's a relief.

Where will you be going?

[Away from them, that's enough information to be going on with.]

To resupply, maybe find hot water somewhere.

Might want to avoid the aquarium, mate. Seems like everything bad happens there.

[To him. John means to himself.]

What do you mean?

[The response comes rapidly. He's a little concerned, he just told his handler that the aquarium was secure.]

[The doctor raises a brow, but remembers that jokes probably aren't a good idea with Bucky once more in paranoia hell.]

It was a joke, Buck. I've just gotten hurt a lot there.

Right.

[Good, so there's no actual danger at the aquarium.]

I should go.

[There's something else that seems just slightly off about that. Bucky doesn't usually tell him what he should do, he just... does it. Hanging up abruptly. Again, it's brushed off as minor.]

Bucky, wait. How are you doing? I mean really doing? I know you've caught Pierce, but having him with you isn't good. Are you sure you have to be with him alone? I don't like the idea of it. What if he manages to get that gag off and trigger you?

[This would be a lot easier if he really remembered this man, or the relationship he shared with Bucky Barnes. They're close, that's all he knows.]

I have it handled. I'm coping with the added stress and will make sure that he is kept safely contained. How are you doing?

[That sounds incredibly mechanical, not to mention... politer? More honest? John's brow furrows. Something's wrong. Well, of course there's something wrong, but there's something wronger than he thought.]

Healing. Bucky, could you do me a favor?

[John switches to video, and while it's dark in the house, the illumination from the tablet still provides enough light to see the concern etched onto the doctor's face.]

Could you turn on your video and show me Mr. Pierce. I don't need to see you, just him.

Edited 2017-01-14 17:55 (UTC)

[He doesn't want to leave too much of a hesitation, so he sends a reply even as he turns to glance at his handler.]

Why?

Because you're acting strange, like you've forgotten parts of our conversations, and I don't trust him.

[There's a momentary pause, but not too long, before the video clicks on. It shows Pierce sitting in the corner of the cafe with his hands in the fuzzy handcuffs that Bucky had on him, a long strip of fabric (from the artist's smock) gagging him.]

I thought you trusted me.

[John's eyes scan over Pierce, how he's cuffed and gagged... and bearing more injuries than before, by the look of him.

That's not right. Is it right? The doctor's expression shifts to confusion, then uncertainty. He'd been sure something was off. Is this just his own paranoia acting up? Bucky's exhausted. He probably hasn't slept, he's just been running on nothing.]

I...

[John's miscalculated, misread the signs, and now he feels like an idiot.]

I do. I just... sorry. I thought you'd be angrier still. [This doesn't feel right, but there's clear evidence. 'Do you suffer from PTSD?' John shakes his head minutely, blinking a few times.]

Sorry. I think I'm tired, Bucky. You must be, too. Are you gonna be able to sleep?

Yeah, of course.

[Should he not be able to sleep? He can feel the fatigue in his body, as if he hasn't slept, and he recalls telling his handler that it's been days since he has. But he can't quite recall why.]

I'm not angry with you, John, get some sleep. We'll talk again soon.

[The confusion only mounts on the doctor's face. What in the hell is going on? Did Bucky talk to Nat about what happened? Has catching Pierce somehow calmed Bucky down? No. When they caught him in the maze, Bucky was pure terror atop the paranoia. And the man's paranoia should be kicking in, shouldn't it?

But after so misjudging it earlier, John's not sure he can really trust himself here.]

Uh... Yeah. Goodnight, Bucky. Sweet dreams.

[Here's the real test. Or a test.

Is Bucky high on Fentora? That's the only other thing John can think of right now.]

[Bucky appears in the video feed preparatory to turning it off. He doesn't look any different than usual, still filthy. He offers a small smile, though someone who knows him as well as John might notice how hard his eyes remain.]

Goodnight, John, you too.

[Sweet dreams seems a strange thing for adult men to wish one another, but the Soldier doesn't question it. If that's what these friends say, that's what he'll say.]

[John offers his own very confused smile that's more of a smirk and hangs up.

What the actual hell just happened there? He's going to have to puzzle it out. Bucky never told him that the Winter Soldier could be a particularly genial person, so that's not connecting as any sort of possibility. You can't mind control someone to be pleasant.]

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