lucetilogs | There'll be trouble when the kidz come out

There'll be trouble when the kidz come out

Who: All remaining draftees
What: Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!
When: The 29th to 31st
Where: Vaskoth
Summary: Please read here for event information
Rating: B for BRRAAAIIIINSSSS

On the 29th, the Malnosso announce over the radios that the power cap will be lifted to a full 100%. Carol broadcasts a message.

On the 30th, the Malnosso declare Vaskoth completely lost. Those with radio access will discover that the enclosure is to be bombed.

On the 31st, survivors will have one last chance to evacuate or try to find the cure. 3PM is do or die.

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[They had indeed sedated her, in order to give her the proto-cure that would keep her mind whole, able to reason and think and process every horrible thing that would happen to her in the next few days. But now the effects start to wear off, and Pepper stirs, opens her eyes to see a blurry shape standing the in the doorway.]

…Tony?

[Except it isn’t him. She blinks, trying to bring focus to her vision, and she can see well enough to know the shape is wrong. Shifting in bed, Pepper tries to push herself up onto her elbows.] Hello?

[Of course that's the first person she thinks of. So much for looking out for Stark's girl.

His voice feels stuck in his throat, but she's coming around so he shakes his head and comes up to the bed so she can see him. It was hard the first time around, with the little bit of hope he and Steve had held on to until he started to break down, until he stopped recognizing Bucky's voice. He doesn't want there to be a second time. For everything he was to Bucky, Steve was a soldier too, and a part of him had always known they'd go into battles they might not both come out of.

Pepper is just a civilian, and he'd told her she'd be okay.] Hey, Pepper.

I know I'm probably the last guy you wanna see right now I just... thought I'd check on you.

[Bucky steps closer, and Pepper finally manages to recognize him. But that awareness comes with a price; she also starts to remember everything that happened. The last time she saw Bucky had been after, when Steve fell to the ground dead.

Bucky had been the one holding the gun.

She stares up at him in silence at first, while the haze gives way to horrible memories.]

Why--[Pepper swallows, her throat dry.]--why wouldn't I want to see you?

[How do you want that list? Bucky thinks, but he shakes his head and doesn't say it aloud. He can see in her face that she remembers and that's something else she doesn't need. Maybe he really shouldn't have come, after all.]

I know it's not gonna make up for anything but... I'm sorry. [He swallows.] For everything.

Edited 2012-11-02 04:26 (UTC)

[She shakes her head, not because she agrees, but because Pepper doesn't blame Bucky in the same way he blames himself. He had tried to save her. He had killed Steve to do it.

There just hadn't been enough distance.]

Don't. This isn't your fault. [How could she possibly blame him, when he'd killed the person who matters most to him? That burden will be hard enough for Bucky to bear without him trying to shoulder responsibility for her too.]

Sure. [He's not going to argue, he even tries to sound like he believes her.]

You need anything? Want me to get a doctor back in here?

I mean it. You did everything you could. [More than Pepper had been able to, certainly. Bucky had told Pepper to run, had taken the shot she couldn't. He'd done his best to keep her unharmed, and to keep Steve from hurting anyone.

At the offer of a doctor, she shakes her head.] No, I'm okay. Maybe a little thirsty, but you don't need to go.

There wasn't anything else I could do. [He says it wearily like he's said it too many times before - usually to Steve, long before this place pulled him in. It has about the same effect on him as it does -- as it did his friend: none. He's not saying it for himself.] I know. Let's not talk about it, okay?

[He shrugs the pack off his shoulder, and after a moment he settles down in the chair by her beside and rifles through for what he's got left. The bottle of water he produces is almost full. He took Steve's stash the night before, when they realized what was gonna happen.] You still alright to sit up?

Yeah. Okay. [Even though she agrees, the way Bucky agrees with her makes her ache for him. They’re words that don’t do anything to soothe him, or to ease the guilt. He’s a lot like Tony in that respect, and that only makes Pepper dread what she has to do all the more.

Maybe it really is for the best if they don’t talk about it.]

I can. [Pepper’s only been infected for a short while, and she’s still mostly fine. She shifts so she’s upright, but the sight of the bottle has her shaking her head.]

Bucky, you’re going to need that more than I do.

I get a cut of the supplies I bring in. I'll be fine.

[Of that he doesn't really have a doubt. He's a soldier, he knows what his body can take, and he's thinking about it even now.

He looks around and takes an empty cup from her nightstand, fills it before handing it to her.] Drink slow. If you've been dehydrated it'll make you sick.

You better be. [There was a ghost of a smile on Pepper's lips--the most she can manage under the circumstances.] You've still got bridesmaids to chase, right?

[Pepper takes the cup carefully, waiting until Bucky moves away before she pulls down the respirator. It's hard to follow his advice, especially when she takes her first sip, but she makes herself take her time.]

[Bucky leans back in his chair, glad to see she's taking the advice. He doesn't return the smile, but his tone is light and he wrinkles his nose just a little.]

Considering what I smell like right now I wouldn't blame 'em for running.

[It’s a bad joke, but what else do they have?  Talking with Bucky is like a horrible precursor to talking with Tony, and the thought has her eyes straying to her journal laying open on the counter beside her.

Only for a moment, though.  She can’t let herself think about it too much, or she’ll break down before she can get the words out.]

I must smell pretty awful too.  I hadn’t noticed.

[Bucky shakes his head.] 'm afraid that's scientifically impossible, ma'am. Everyone knows ladies never smell bad.

[Pepper is doing that face again. He glances at the book too before meeting her eyes.] Have you talked to anyone else yet?

A lot of things have changed since the forties. [Pepper watches Bucky look toward the journal, and she knows what’s coming next. She can’t hold his gaze for long when he asks, because he’s not just talking about anyone.]

He hasn’t checked in yet. We’ve been doing that—just telling each other we’re okay. [Usually over the journal, sometimes in person if they can manage it. Pepper grips the glass of water tighter in her hands. Despite how recently she drank, her throat suddenly feels dry again, the words too thick in her mouth.]

I don’t know how I’m going to tell him.

[He nods. He was doing the same thing with Steve before, has stopped himself from reaching for the journal since this morning.]

Hey, save a little for later. [He leans in to take the glass from her hands. She probably won't break it, but he sets it on the nightstand anyway and wraps both his hands around one of hers. There's nothing he can say to that.]

You need him here. If you know where he was last, I can go take a look.

Edited 2012-11-12 23:22 (UTC)

[She lets him take the glass, then a moment later remembers to pull the respirator back up with her free hand. She's glad for his touch, and she curls her fingers lightly around his hand, giving them a gentle squeeze.]

Don't. He's fighting. Protecting people. [Pepper's certain of it, because she refuses to think of any other reason why Tony might not have called yet.] He'll check in soon, and I'll ask him to come here.

[And after that--she doesn't know.]

Alright.

[He doesn't argue. He's thinking just about the same thing.]

How about I hang around 'till then?

[He doesn't let it show on his face because there's no way he'd be anywhere else but honestly - he's tired of this. He sat with Clint, then Steve, and Steve is there like a hole in his chest.

This is the best he can do for her, and it's not nearly enough.]

You can tell me about those bridesmaids you keep promisin' me.

[He offers to stay, and Pepper’s hand tightens in his, because it’s not until she no longer has to be alone that she realizes just how afraid of it she is.  Waiting for Tony in a room filled with cruel silence with nothing to do but question just how she would tell him, never coming up with an answer, might have shattered her before she heard his voice.]

Thank you.  [Her eyes are wet when she says it, but Pepper is quick to blink away the tears.  Bucky is suffering too, even if he doesn’t let it show.  This distraction is for both of them, and she tries to grin at his quip.

It doesn’t matter that there aren’t any bridesmaids, or that she’s sure there will never be a wedding.  Pepper rambles on anyway.  Anything to fill the silence.]

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There'll be trouble when the kidz come out

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