[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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no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 10:11 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 10:59 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-21 11:08 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-22 12:02 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-22 12:33 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-22 09:36 am (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-22 05:39 pm (UTC)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?]
no subject
Date: 2016-08-23 09:31 am (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-23 01:11 pm (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-24 03:17 pm (UTC)[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.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-25 01:29 am (UTC)[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.]