It's always the fucking quiet before the storm. The quiet with a decent night's sleep and breakfast that doesn't taste too bad. Getting to work a few minutes early without having to rush. You know, nice. The kind that doesn't last if you bother to think about it. So Buck is riding around in a truck with his best friend in another lifetime, thinking he might actually get used to this after a while. Certainly better than what the glitches say he endured.
And then -- explosion.
Big explosion, considering how hard the truck is rattled by the impact tremor and aftershocks. And whatever the hell just landed on the roof. The smell of smoke and fire fills the air, and for a moment Buck feels weightless. Timeless. Like the smell of war has been with him forever. Then orders filter in through the communication lines, and he has to brace himself against the side of the vehicle in order to keep from falling out as they race towards R&D.
Steve shares a look with him, fear glinting around the trepidation that Bucky also shares. Not that it'll stop them from going into help. And it doesn't, despite his shaky nerves. He follows instructions like he was born to it, making a mask to reduce the potential for damage to his lungs, makes sure his weapon is locked and loaded, and races into the building just behind Steve, with the rest of his gear.
The hallways are dark and smoke-filled, but he knows better than to lose sight of his CO. With each step taken, the nerves fall away, replaced by instinct as old as war itself. By the time he and Steve reach ground zero, his worried expression is replaced by a sternness that anyone who knew the Commandos would recognize. Sergeant James Barnes, reporting for duty, come hell or high water. He takes in the nightmare scene before them, ordering anyone moving behind him to either search for more survivors or clear a path through the debris to get the wounded out. Paramedics are expected shortly and they'll need every second.
Nor does he bother to make sure that his orders are being carried out. It doesn't matter than everyone's jumpsuit is RED. Time is precious and right now Steve is the only one he knows outranks him. Steve who already has a plan. (Because of course he does.) Bucky carefully moves around the trio on the floor, recognizing only Natasha. He nods at her, offers narrow eyes to Clint (who is this yahoo) and Tony merely gets a brief look-over before he hustles on to help Steve finish up the stretcher.
"I don't think we can wait for medical to get here, Cap. These guys gotta be moved now."
no subject
And then -- explosion.
Big explosion, considering how hard the truck is rattled by the impact tremor and aftershocks. And whatever the hell just landed on the roof. The smell of smoke and fire fills the air, and for a moment Buck feels weightless. Timeless. Like the smell of war has been with him forever. Then orders filter in through the communication lines, and he has to brace himself against the side of the vehicle in order to keep from falling out as they race towards R&D.
Steve shares a look with him, fear glinting around the trepidation that Bucky also shares. Not that it'll stop them from going into help. And it doesn't, despite his shaky nerves. He follows instructions like he was born to it, making a mask to reduce the potential for damage to his lungs, makes sure his weapon is locked and loaded, and races into the building just behind Steve, with the rest of his gear.
The hallways are dark and smoke-filled, but he knows better than to lose sight of his CO. With each step taken, the nerves fall away, replaced by instinct as old as war itself. By the time he and Steve reach ground zero, his worried expression is replaced by a sternness that anyone who knew the Commandos would recognize. Sergeant James Barnes, reporting for duty, come hell or high water. He takes in the nightmare scene before them, ordering anyone moving behind him to either search for more survivors or clear a path through the debris to get the wounded out. Paramedics are expected shortly and they'll need every second.
Nor does he bother to make sure that his orders are being carried out. It doesn't matter than everyone's jumpsuit is RED. Time is precious and right now Steve is the only one he knows outranks him. Steve who already has a plan. (Because of course he does.) Bucky carefully moves around the trio on the floor, recognizing only Natasha. He nods at her, offers narrow eyes to Clint (who is this yahoo) and Tony merely gets a brief look-over before he hustles on to help Steve finish up the stretcher.
"I don't think we can wait for medical to get here, Cap. These guys gotta be moved now."