comesfrompain | [ to-do list ]

She doesn't have to seduce you with her body, Bucky. She's just as capable of offering the idea of friendship.

[Which, it seemed, the Soldier had already fallen prey to. The vehemence with which he defended her seemed indicative of as much. Rumlow debated letting that show. He wanted the Soldier to know she was already manipulating him, but didn't want to lay the distrust on so thickly that it alienated him and made him feel like he didn't have the choice to bring her in. Granting him some form of agency continued to be a double-edged sword.

He drew in a breath and put his free hand up to his face, rubbing at his temples. This was a massive hurdle, infinitely worse than Rogers. Like all things though, Rumlow was prepared to put in his all to make it work.]

Don't doubt how creative I can be, Bucky. I'll give her this chance, but if she tries to break up our partnership, I will do what I have to to keep her out of the picture. I hope it doesn't come to that, and that we can get her to fall into place, but I have to think realistically. In my timeline, she's helped topple HYDRA before. I can't think that she won't try again.

[He stalled as he considered that seriously. She had definitely offered the hand of friendship towards him, and he had openly taken it with little convincing. He was not particularly suspicious of people by nature because he was kept in relative naivete thanks to HYDRA only using him as muscle. It meant that he was willing to trust most people even in Hell unless they gave him reason not to.

He looked away, wavering on his choice. She could be using him; she could be using him to get to Rumlow, to have a clear shot at undermining the only source of order that he had. Why didn't it feel that way then? He had been so easily comfortable with her in a way that he wasn't able to be even with Steve. Like two peas in a pod, he supposed.]

She did. Did I make a mistake? It doesn't feel like a mistake, but I will... explore the possibility that she is using me.

[He watched Rumlow and knew that this turn of events was a major glitch in the plan. It wasn't as if his commander could think through it, but right now, it must have seemed like a big pain. He reached out and smoothed his flesh fingers through his commander's hair.]

I won't let her harm you. You're my priority. And I don't want this to turn into a war between you and her.

Maybe you did. Maybe not. We're never gonna know until we try and bring her in.

[Rumlow said, trying to imagine what methods she had already used to get the Soldier to trust her so readily. The truth was always the most potent bait, and he was sure that had been her go-to approach. She wasn't overly concerned with secrecy if it served her better to be transparent -- he learned that when she put the country's security at risk with that intel dump.

He leaned into the Soldier's touch, smiling a little at his reassurance. He appreciated it for what it was as well as what it meant between them. His own hand reached up, settling atop the Soldier's.]

Thank you though. I don't want to either, but she's the outsider here. She might seem to trust me now, when I met her, but it's tenuous at best. We're both keeping our hands hidden, neither of us wants to really tell the other what we know. She might know I'm HYDRA, she might not.

[Rumlow drew the Soldier's hand down and kissed it.]

We have to tread very carefully. The best way to approach it might just be to sell her on the idea that what we're doing here is unlike what was happening topside.

Should I put her recruitment to the top of my priority list then?

[It was an attempt to assuage his commander's concern regarding him being unable to complete his duties. He knew that he could recruit a certain type of person, but it was unclear if the connection that they had from the past could be maintained here in Hell or if she was even susceptible to being re-exposed to HYDRA. She had served before, so why not again?

His fingers splayed so that Rumlow's could slip between his own. He moved the tips of his fingers to scratch at his commander's scalp.]

I will keep your identity and nature to me classified as always. I won't risk you, though with your acquisition of powers here, perhaps you soon won't need my assistance in any combat situations.

[He nodded his head and leaned his head forward to rest it against Rumlow's shoulder.]

It is unlike what we were doing topside. We only have each other right now, but that will change. The game is already shifting.

[Rumlow had no doubt that the Soldier would be the best candidate for bringing the Widow in. They shared a past of sorts, at least, according to the files and the short little bit of information Pierce shared with him during his indoc brief. It had been labeled a non-issue, given the wipes, and Rumlow had thought little of it, until now.

He squeezed his hand, giving him a smile and a kiss to the temple.]

Near the top at least. Standard concerns still apply.

[It wasn't an easy thing to give the command for. He was still, reasonably, on edge about it. There was only much he could say or do to dissuade the Soldier without outright telling him no. This was going to be a Hell of a ride, and Rumlow really hoped it would pay off.]

As far as fighting goes, you might be right. Doesn't mean I don't like having you around though, Bucky. [He nuzzled against him, trying to relax in the wake of such a decision.] Regardless of how different things are down here, we make a good team. We'll come out on top.

[He leaned for the affection, humming softly now that it seemed as if Rumlow wasn't too upset with his encounter with Natalia and the possibility of bringing her in. Yes, he would be careful, but he wanted her to join them, and he knew if he could convince her that Rumlow would be insanely proud of him. She could be a better asset than anyone else that they had found in Hell so far.]

I understand. I will keep to standard protocols.

[In that, he would not fail. Not even Steve had pursued who his handler was, and that made life easier for them both he suspected. He would do the same with Natalia, but he felt like her inquisitive nature might be more difficult. He would lie to her if he had to, since there were other handlers he could use if she looked too deeply into who currently had control of him.]

Do you think you're developing so many changes so quickly because you're a permanent resident of Hell and I am a limbo case? [Was it the corruption? The most he had was damage to his shoulder blades, which was nothing short of inconvenient.] We haven't had to fight much together. There has been no need.

[Somewhat assuaged, Rumlow continued to snuggle up against the Soldier -- not hard to do, given their positions. He settled, at least for a while. The Soldier had more questions, of course. Really, the guy was as inquisitive as ever, but Rumlow was pretty used it by now.

He tilted his head up, considering his answer. It was likely the case, though the Soldier wasn't without a few changes of his own. Rumlow sneaked a hand around to press fingertips against the Soldier's twin wounds. They were still hard, blackened by neither knew what.]

Could be. Though when I asked, some of the other demons said it seemed pretty random. One suggested it could correlate with how evil you are, but that sounded too subjective to me. I guess I like what I've been stuck with. Helps in a fight, like you said.

[The open wounds on his shoulders had finally sealed to the point where they no longer oozed blood, but the black flesh should have looked unhealthy yet it was clearly thriving. If he concentrated, he could flex the muscles under them, the nubs of flesh that almost had a bony appearance. He still only allowed Rumlow to come into contact with them like this, and his commander's touch relaxed him.

He was only pleased that they were not messy anymore. However, they offered no benefit to him either. It almost seemed like an odd waste to have developed them in the first place, what with Rumlow's almost instantaneous development of that shadow shifting ability.]

Perhaps I won't develop any abilities above and beyond what I already have because I am awaiting trial and haven't been sentenced to Heaven or Hell. [And with no date, it seemed as if the development of random abilities would pass him by. He would still protect his commander to the best of his skills.] I should inquire with other limbo cases if they have developed any new abilities or limbs.

[The Soldier was lucky his wounds didn't end up a handicap. Rumlow remembered the awkward, though thankfully brief, transition period where his tail decided to suddenly shoot out his backside, bone and muscle and skin slowly layering over one another. It was simultaneously painful, disgusting and fascinating. Rumlow didn't want a repeat performance.

In any case, he was glad the Soldier's own weren't bleeding anymore, though it did sort of end the point of their daily routine. Not that it really stopped Rumlow. He still did it, it was just more of a bonding thing. And a little sexual. The black flesh was kind of interesting too, even if Rumlow had no idea what it was for, only that it covered something. It felt like bone, not that there was any bone that ought to be there.]

Sounds like a good idea. Though, I wouldn't discount whatever these are. [Rumlow said, fingers rubbing over the blackness again.] I doubt they're just gonna be weird black skin forever.

[He turned his head to look back over his shoulder in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the blackened skin that made up a portion of his shoulder blade. He could reach back and touch them, but they didn't feel like any healing wound that he had ever encountered. However, Hell was full of disgusting afflictions, but he ignored the healed flesh because there were no effects to his performance.

And he required no new enhancements. He was enhanced and skilled enough to mind his own health and that of his commander.]

They are currently nothing. [He twitched his shoulder with the contact.] Is there any sign what it may turn into? They still ache from time to time, but I ignore them.

Well, there's this. [Rumlow said, running his fingers over the denser feeling tissue below.] Might be bone.

[They could be anything really, given this place, but the image that came to mind most immediately was a pair of wings. They seemed to be pretty commonplace, though primarily, he noted, amongst angels. The Soldier was a Limbo case though, so maybe that was why they hadn't come through?

Rumlow could guess all he wanted, the chaos of this place didn't mean he'd be right.]

Can't say for sure, but the only guess that makes sense would be wings. Be kind of neat, if they work.

[He concentrated and was able to flex the muscles along his shoulders, and he knew that there was something different about those spots on his back. The musculature felt different, so perhaps this was the formation of wings, though it was slower than anything he had seen anyone else receive.

Was it a sign of corruption? Why did that idea make him uneasy? Would he someday lose any chance at Heaven? Steve had mentioned it was boring for one was used to activity. He did not like to be idle, but the idea that he was losing the opportunity to a fair trial unsettled him.]

If they never form, do you think I will receive a fair trial? I could keep myself to protective duties only... [Rumlow would understand, right? He teetered between Heaven and Hell, but surely his commander would want him to go where a fair trial sent him?]

I don't know what they've got to do with keeping you from a fair trial, Bucky.

[Since Rumlow wasn't psychic and couldn't read the Soldier's thoughts about corruption. Unless he was remarking on the whole 'evil' concept Rumlow had mentioned earlier, though he thought that was a bunch of bull. Evil was subjective and un-quantitative.]

Besides, I still need you for recruitment. Especially if you're trying to get Romanova on board.

Maybe they are a show of my corruption since I arrived here.

[He nodded his head though because he understood that he had a mission to complete. Recruitment was very much necessary in order to advance the goal, and he would do just that to the best of his ability.

He shifted so that he could disentangle himself from his commander's arms.]

I should go and start now. The sooner I have her routine down, I can find opportunity to approach her again.

What matters is the mission, Bucky. We all have to get our hands dirty sometimes.

[The look he gives him lingers, contemplative and quiet. He supposes there's no point in waiting. Not if the Soldier is going to be this adamant. He rubs at his stubble and tilts his head down, breaking their shared gaze. He snatches at his hand before he lets him get too far, brings it to his lips to kiss again.]

Don't fall into her trap, Bucky. I care about you too much to lose you to her.

I'm aware of that. The mission will always be paramount. And if it requires my corruption to achieve it, that is part of what I am.

[He stepped back to Rumlow and raised his eyebrow at the kiss, remembering distinctly when he had done quite similar to Natalia. Somehow the effect seemed rather different when it was him doing it rather than receiving it. He still shifted his fingers around Rumlow's in return.]

I will be on the look out for traps. I will report on my progress.

[He withdrew his hand, caressing Rumlow's face as he went and then moved to head out to search out Natalia to watch her from a distance.]

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