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You've reached Dr. John Watson. Please leave a message.

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> video

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[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.

> video

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[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?

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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.

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[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.]

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[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.]

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[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.]