breakout

[ostavil]

( Bucky actually hasn't had his own mind in decades and now he does. It's a secret - a huge one - but he can think for himself. The words aren't gone so if anyone knows he's not just a blank slate waiting to be commanded, he'd be completely wiped and put on ice again, but if he's careful no one will notice. He's quiet and taciturn as the soldier and he's quiet and taciturn as Bucky.

He owes it to an unlikely source. It's Loki, of all people, and from what he understands, Loki had just tried to take over the entire world and then gone in with HYDRA to see if he could still get control and cause mayhem that way. In spite of all that, Loki had chosen to bring him along when he left and Bucky still isn't really sure why. Loki hasn't made that explicitly clear. Bucky's not naïve enough to think a mischief god has done this out of the goodwill of his own heart but it's a better option than staying where he's used and abused so going with him is no question. Where they're going is a bigger problem. )

You know that they know how to track me, right? Did you think this through?

( His whole life has been nothing but rigid commands and structure between the Army and being the Soldier and he doesn't know what to do with someone who simply broke him out of the hell he's been living in without informing him of what the plan is. Bucky knows how to hide and stay off the radar because his work as the Winter Soldier had been more or less covert but he also knows that HYDRA had provided for him in those instances and given the directions as part of his orders. They'd find him very quickly if he went to any of those safe houses. He knows how to survive on the street, too, but Loki doesn't carry himself like someone who is used to being on the street or wants to be on the street. He carries himself like, well, a god, and he's going to be noticed. )

Is there a plan?

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

[ no. loki is quite sure he can't go home after what he did to new york. and what would be the point? odin would disown him or kill him. he doesn't have a place there. he doesn't have a place anywhere. it's like he's still falling in space, trying to find a hold.

he pushes his hair back. one thing at a time. ]

For now, it is to create as much distance between us and HYDRA. I'm not without assets myself.

Is that suitable for you, Soldier?

[ostavil]

If it's not HYDRA, it's better than where I come from.

( One of the first things he'd remembered was his name but he doesn't know if he can trust Loki with that. Should he? Names have a lot of power, after all, but there's something else that has more power over him. He guesses for now, until they're settled, it should be Soldier. )

I'm going to have to throw in with you whether I want to or not so if you've got assets, that's better than what I have. Where are we headed, other than away?

[dothelokimotion]

[ that comment makes him pause, not used to anyone's recognition, no matter how small. he clears his throat as if to ignore it.

where, indeed. loki has been out of touch of midgard for some time now. he runs through his old memories. getting out of america seems like the best plan for now. where did the northmen live before? england? norway? perhaps one of those will do. ]

I was thinking Europe. What about you?

[ostavil]

I know Europe. I've got most of the languages crammed into my head if you need a translator. It's as good a place as any.

( Do gods need translators? He's not sure but it's probably better if he has something to contribute to this partnership if he's going to continue being in it. Loki affords him some measure of protection that he won't have on his own. )

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki shakes his head. ]

I can manage the languages.

[ but that is good to know. language is a shifting, changing, living thing. and loki is out of touch. not even a few days operating the world's underground will give him a huge edge.

still. loki is adaptable. ]

Europe it is then. We'll find ourselves a safehouse, and then plan our next move.

[ostavil]

I should have figured you didn't need the languages anyway considering who and what you are. I guess you just brought me along to fight for you, yeah?

( Bucky has no idea why Loki thought it was a good idea to free him and bring him along and he feels grateful for it. Grateful enough to help him even though he knows the guy has done some shit that isn't good. It's not like Bucky's hands are clean. )

How are we getting there? I can't exactly get on a plane, you know.

[dothelokimotion]

[ he purses his lips. he hadn't exactly freed bucky to fulfill a need or turn him into a minion. though the impulse is there, to dig into his head, to make him one of loki's. only then, he thinks, he'd feel safe. sentiment. foolish.

he clears his throat instead. ]

There is no need for that. There are ways to traverse the planet without needing to get into those claustrophobic flying machines. Or we can simply steal one.

[ostavil]

Never stolen a plane before but I guess it's not much different than any other vehicle and I've stolen plenty of those. But you said there's other ways - do you have mystical god powers that'll teleport us to Norway or somewhere like that?

( The longer he's out of HYDRA's control, the more he feels like him even if he's not really sure who that is after so long. )

Do I have to hold your hand and think about home?

[dothelokimotion]

[ dryly. ]

I am assuming that is a reference to some inane piece of media.

[ loki then shakes his head slowly. ]

There are special pathways. Mystical ones. Hidden all over this planet. All I need to do is locate one and it will take us where we need to be.

[ostavil]

Mystical pathways. I should have guessed that. My Norse mythology is limited to a singular book I read in 1938 so I'm far from an expert.

( Bucky laughs a little. )

And yeah, it's a reference. Wizard of Oz? You never got around to watching that one?

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki blinks, a bit nonplussed. ]

No. I did not have much time to . . . indulge when I arrived here.

[ too angry, too hurt, too afraid. now it seems to have burned out, like a candle down to the wick. for a moment loki tries to dig it up, but it splutters and dies. instead he thinks of thor and feels his stomach hollow out. ]

[ostavil]

No, I would guess not. I'm not going to ask you why, just so you know. My resume drips blood and none of it shed for a good reason.

( Once, Bucky thought being a soldier for America was a good cause and that anyone who died was a bad person who deserved that death. It isn't so simple now after being the Winter Soldier and he doesn't know how to feel about it. )

We do what we have to do. What do I have to do to find one of these pathways?

[dothelokimotion]

[ ah. that feels familiar. the insistence to help. to be useful. loki doesn't know why but it chafes at this very moment. like a reflection. ]

Blood is blood. We're still alive because of it. No one has time for regrets. At least not now.

And there's nothing you need to do, at the moment. Just inform me if I miss a cue. I can only imitate a human so well.

[ostavil]

To be fair, I've only been recently thawed out so we might mess up but I'll try to keep you looking as human as possible. You might have to tone down the godly glow, though.

( It's a joke, really, and Bucky just enjoys that he can make jokes now and not just give robotic, one-word answers. He owes that to Loki, more or less. )

If I give you my name, are you gonna use it to hurt me? I don't know how god magic works.

[dothelokimotion]

[ the corner of his lips twitch in amusement. ]

I cannot bind your soul in servitude or whatever it is you're imagining. And I am not interested in hurting you.

[ that would serve no purpose. and while loki can hurt people regardless, he does try to be pragmatic about it. when he's not lost to his own rage and sorrow. ]

[ostavil]

Hey, I told you I only read one book about you in the 1930s and that book said you were tied up with snake venom dripping in your face. Oh, and there was the one where you got pregnant with a horse, that was a good one. Obviously you're not tied up under a snake or pregnant so I'm guessing the book was a little...off.

( Bucky smiles a little, amused both at Norse mythology and relaxed about not being on the chopping block. )

Maybe I'm supposed to defend you from the snake, yeah?

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki huffs. ]

Those are just stories. They have no basis in the Asgardian reality. I am afraid you are out of luck.

[ostavil]

You could tell me a true one, you know. Who am I going to talk to that isn't you?

( Bucky is genuinely interested and he's sure that's come across in his tone. )

And I'm Bucky. James, I guess, but no one calls me that. Called me that. I haven't been anything but a soldier for years now.

[dothelokimotion]

[ a true story. a true story of loki's. someone who might believe him. the weight of it squeezes his heart like a vice. ]

James, then.

[ostavil]

So I make sure you blend in and you make sure we end up somewhere that isn't terrible? Our hair's a little long, I think, but we can pull it off. I'll try to hide my arm as best I can so I don't draw any attention.

( That's going to be more important than anything else. Loki's accent isn't exactly going to make them seem unusual in Europe and neither is his own - people travel. That said, people don't have arms made of titanium. )

Once we get somewhere, we can deal with food and supplies. Sorry. I'm a planner.

[dothelokimotion]

Not at all. Plans are useful.

[ the arm is an issue, but a well placed illusion should serve. ]

And now we have an objective. We can pick up clothes and supplies along the way.

[ostavil]

Exactly. I basically function on objectives.

( It's been his life for the last several decades and he thinks maybe his brain has been rewired to only take orders, to only think in the logical way a soldier thinks and not how he used to think. He's joked a little with Loki and seems able to keep up a decent conversation but this has all been very light. What's going to happen when he runs into a situation that requires him to think on his feet and go off the plan? Is he going to freeze or adapt?

It's something he's just going to have to worry about later, though, because for now they have to get to safety and hiding. )

I don't have cash on me but I'm assuming that's not...an issue for you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ objectives. at least the disposal of hydra and ensuring their safety is a present, immediate thing to deal with. and loki is sure they can. still, he wonders what happens after. he can see the tell-tale signs of james' individuality slowly trickling back. would he even want to stay with loki afterwards? or would he simply leave?

absurd. there's no point thinking about it now. ]

It's not. We should be fine for a while.

[ostavil]

Lead the way, I guess. We're not going to pass for brothers but we can be business associates or friends or something. No one is going to ask any questions.

( The less obvious they look, the more likely peoples' eyes will just glance over them and not notice. Bucky knows plenty about just blending in and being the background and now it truly matters that they do. He just wonders if Loki is going to be able to do that - he cuts a striking figure. )

You lead, I follow? Unless you want to give me coordinates and have me take point.

[dothelokimotion]

Hm.

[ loki conjures a hair tie to bundle up his hair. bucky was right about long hair not being common, but having it tied should pass for normal enough. he conjures a second one for bucky if he wants one. ]

Is that what you feel comfortable with? Simply following?