ostavil | breakout

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loki

breakout

( 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?

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[ 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.

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.

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?

( Bucky ties his hair back before he responds and he's instantly happier with it off his neck. Loki had a good idea on that one and he doesn't know if he should praise it too heavily. He's gotten a little bit of a read on him and it seems like Loki enjoys being...right? Maybe that's not the right thing. Bucky isn't sure. )

No, not really, but I've been taking orders for a long time. In this particular situation, you're the one who can get us somewhere safe. I'd end up blowing our cover. So I kinda have to follow your lead, you know?

[ he considers this. it feeds his ego, but he has to be practical. he made mistakes in new york because he let his emotions get the better of him. for all he derided sentiment, he let his ego control him.

loki doesn't repeat mistakes. ]

No. You can take point. We need to get to a bridge. The older, the better. From there, we can find a path.

I suppose I should ask if there's anything pertinent about being human I should know.

I'm just remembering how to do that myself but humans are...I don't know. You act like you're a prince or something. Regular people don't do that. They're more relaxed than you. Your speech wouldn't be as precise, your words would be more modern. You stand too straight so you should relax your posture a bit. Make sure you get distracted by something every once in a while - someone's coat, a storefront, stuff like that.

( Bucky tries to think about other things he'd do to blend and he chews his bottom lip. )

If you're checking for a tail, make sure it's really subtle like you're looking for someone you know. Maybe even lift your hand for a cab or something and don't let your eyes settle on the suspicious person for too long. Does that make sense?

[ that . . . is a lot of things to keep track of. loki adjusts his collar for a moment. surely he can still wear a suit, right? humans wear those. he had no problem at the concert. ]

I can adapt, but I'm not that adaptable. Also I feel it is ludicrous to adjust posture.

The alternative is that you are a rich, aloof bastard and I'm your bodyguard. Either one works. You're just gonna get more attention if you're walking around looking like yourself, that's all. Bonus is that they're all gonna be looking at you and I'll be the wallpaper.

( It's not the worst option but they both have faces that probably shouldn't be caught on camera right now. )

[ hm. that should do. rich people are more noticeable, but a well placed illusion here and there should deal with recording equipment and cameras. it is best to pick a role he feel comfortable with rather than forcing himself in a strange mold that would make him stand out. ]

All right. I think that should work out well for us.

I know you don't need me to protect you but it might work out better if I'm the one checking all the angles. Means you can concentrate on finding us a pathway. Don't think anything here is gonna be able to kill you and it's hard as hell to kill me but you never know.

( Bucky levels a serious look at him. )

You realize that means I'm trusting you, right? If you fuck me, I'll find a way to make you pay. I'm not a regular human.

[ loki frowns, resisting the urge to bristle. he saves the man and he's still treated this way? but he supposes he can't hold that against bucky. after all, loki would probably react similarly.

still, the sting is there. ]

Do I seem so undependable?

[ his voice is light. ]

Fear not. I am not interested in deception at this moment.

Didn't think you were. Just saying, I'm gonna be wary of anyone even if I trust you more than anyone in the world right now. Don't make me regret that.

( The longer they stay still, the easier it is for them to get caught so Bucky wants to get a move on as quickly as he can. They need to head to one of these pathways with a detour for supplies en route and somehow he thinks he's gonna be better at the supplies part than Loki. )

All right. Let's get going. I'm assuming you can keep up with me so we can set up a good pace. The sooner we're out of sight, the better. HYDRA is gonna be looking for me. They won't want to lose their asset. I'm the most expensive thing they've ever owned.

[ loki snorts a little at that, rolling his eyes. ]

Yes, yes. We will manage.

( Loki might snort at it but it's very true: Bucky is the most expensive, most valuable thing that HYDRA has ever possessed other than the Tesseract. He knows too much to be left alive and unprogrammed so they'll be sending out everyone they have to find him.

Pretending to be a rich Loki's bodyguard actually works well, even when he goes into stores to get clothes and supplies. No one questions when a rich man buys strange things and no one notices when his hired bodyguard is the one to carry them. Bucky manages to navigate them to one of places where Loki can travel and tips his head toward him. )

Your turn. Make us disappear.

[ loki does nothing outwardly, but there is a flash of sorcerous green in his eyes before it fades away. ]

It is done. We're unlikely to be recognized by anyone. Even by your computers and technology.

You look the same. Some kinda outward reflection, then? Or did you turn me into a caveman?

( That's paired with a smile, though, because the idea of Loki not changing his looks while making Bucky look ugly and worn down is pretty damn funny to him. Then again, he's probably not looking his best anyway. )

Probably want a cabin or something. We stay in a hotel too long, it'll get weird. Hope you don't mind the woods.

[ his nose wrinkles in an act of maturity. ]

Don't tempt me. But you look fine the way you are.

[ though bucky could certainly use some improvements. ]

And I can make do with a cabin. I have some experience with the wilderness.

Good. I think it's for the best. I don't think the snow will come until we get settled in, anyway, and I can deal with a little snow. I bet you walk on top of it like an elf or something but I have to sludge through it and don't look so ethereal and god-like.

( Bucky frowns a little, thinking. )

I need to steal a car. Or, more importantly, I need you to get someone to give us a car that's legitimate. A truck, actually. If we're holing up, we need to have something to get back and forth. Other than, you know. Magic. I don't wanna put that pressure on you.

[ ethereal? elf? loki's brow furrows for a moment. sometimes, humans are just . . . strange. ]

Are you asking me to . . . "magic" you a vehicle? Because I cannot do that.

Not asking you to make me one. Asking you to persuade someone to give us one without going through the process of buying it. Just impressing on them that they really want us to have it? Otherwise, I'll just steal one.

( Loki seems to be frowning and Bucky doesn't want to hit on something he can't or won't do. )

I can handle it if I have to.

[ loki can't help but smile faintly, the corners of his eyes crinkling in humour. ]

I can persuade someone to hand over a vehicle.

( So he is amused. Good. It's also good that it's a possibility because he definitely doesn't want to commit any crimes to get them set up to hide. )

Good. Just...persuade in the way you persuade and we can do that. I'm not going to think about how you do that because it's going to make me think about how I've been persuaded to do things but it's what we have to do right now.

[ loki hums. ]

Fair enough. Just wait here. It won't take long.

( Bucky isn't one who can idly wait anywhere so while he waits, he's checking all around him to make sure no one is looking for them. It looks like they're unmemorable though and whatever Loki did has people's eyes sliding right over him like he's blending into the wallpaper. When he sees Loki walking back in his long-legged stride, he tips his head. )

Got us a ride, I'm assuming? Freely given?

[ loki preens, combing his fingers through his hair. ]

Of course. A few promises, some silver-laced words and men give way easily enough.

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