Sentinel/Guide AU for starkingenuity

[starspangledspandex]

Things have been going remarkably well between them. Even if the beginning was somewhat rocky, their compatibility was obvious and not just to them. Steve was old-fashioned and though his instincts made it clear what they wanted, he did things the "right" way. There were dates and gifts and just general wooing. They talked about it and they were ready.

He smiled at Tony, watching him as he worked and couldn't stand it anymore. "Tonight," he said, then added, for clarity, "We should bond tonight."

Maybe not the most romantic proposal but he figured he shouldn't smother Tony in it anyway or the man would get sick of it. No the rarity made it special.

Comments

[starkingenuity]

The Soldier looked like he had been smacked... Which was interesting because Bucky never had any other expression on his face than placid monotony. His eyes lifted from the center of his Captain's chest to his eyes.

"He isn't special. He is a target. What he makes you feel is a lie." He sounded upset. He was upset!

[starspangledspandex]

"Then why did I know him?" He demanded, meeting the Soldier's eyes. He wasn't afraid of the man's anger. He could feel it down their bond. "All the people in the world... All the targets... Why him? If he wasn't someone? He knows who we used to be. That's why they want him dead."

[starkingenuity]

"We don't question! It's not our role--"

The Soldier was disgusted and went to crouch in the corner, arms over his head. He was failing in everything. Failures were not tolerated. He was afraid. He stunk of it.

Upstairs, Natasha finished translating just as Tony returned. "You should start the video feeds. They're paying attention."

[starspangledspandex]

"Because they don't want us to know," the Captain finished, as the Soldier retreated and he understood the fear. He could smell it on him. He knew why the man was afraid. Captain was afraid. If their handlers came for them...

He dropped heavily onto the edge of the bed. He didn't want to fight with his mate but it seemed like all he was good at right now.

The Captain jerks slightly when the first video starts, eyes warily watching it fade into view.

[starkingenuity]

"It shouldn't matter what--"

The Soldier was instantly distracted by the movie shown on the back wall of their cell. There was the Captain leaning on a jeep, an old propaganda film, with someone that looked a little like their Target and... And himself. Right there in the background.

It was smart of them using old war footage. Start from the beginning and work their way up.

[starspangledspandex]

His eyes fixated on it as he tried to learn from it as much as remember it. It looked like it was from a very long time ago which didn't make much sense considering how old both of them seemed at a glance. It was still, unmistakably, them.

The Captain swallowed, glancing toward his Soldier. Silently saying--see?

[starkingenuity]

The Soldier moved towards the image. The focus was on the Captain and he was fixed in him anyway. The video switched to newspaper photos, the headlines in English that Captain America had crash landed-- and then others about the finding and recovery of him.

There wasn't too many stock images of Bucky... And that initial propaganda video was it, really. Steve was their focus. Tony's focus. He was all that mattered.

[starspangledspandex]

It was almost strange reading about your life and yet, barely remembering any of it. Such a thing would undoubtedly take time, but it made Steve uncomfortable anyway. Every shift made his head more of a jumbled mess until he was sitting, cradling his head in his hands and trying to ignore the plethora of incoming information.

At least Bucky was there, the Soldier could see that he was at least someone even if those memories were all in the Captain's head.

[starkingenuity]

The Soldier kept moving his fingers, the fleshy ones, over the walls. He was completely enthralled with Steve's image blown up at several times normal. He kept tracking them...and it would have been adorable if Steve could register such a thing.

Natasha just felt sorry for the pair in there...more sorry than she had ever felt for Tony Stark. The billionaire already had everything he wanted. Boo hoo that he couldn't have Steve too. She stood and walked to the door.

"We need to separate them. Sam, you and I will take the Guide."

[starspangledspandex]

He was watching the Soldier just as much as he was watching the video. The Captain was hoping that the man realized this was what he meant. There was no way that this was faked. It was impossible.

The Captain stood when he heard footsteps approaching and the door opened. If this was Tony... He was an idiot.

[starkingenuity]

Tony was more or less being sat upon so he wouldn't stupidly go down there and interfere. No, there was Sam and Natasha, Thor in front. He was grim.

"I would ask you to step to the corner, Captain. No harm will come to either of you."

[starspangledspandex]

"Why? What are you doing?" He demanded, expression pulling tight and wary. If they felt the need to bring this man, something was happening. He was strong as them if not stronger.

[starkingenuity]

"Because we need to talk to him," Natasha spoke up. "We're Guides. We have things to speak about that you wouldn't understand." The Soldier didn't feel like a Guide, but that was still how the Captain saw him. "Thor is not invited." She smiled ever so slightly.

[starspangledspandex]

He probably looked skeptical, because he was, because no one ever just wanted to talk when they were involved. It felt like they were prisoners here and they didn't have a choice.

The Sentinel's gaze shifted to his Guide and back to Thor. He couldn't protect him if he wasn't with him. Logically, the Soldier could handle himself but that didn't change the biological instinct and need.

"No," he said, finally. His eyes shifted back to his Guide. Ultimately, it was up to the Soldier if he wanted to go.

[starkingenuity]

The Soldier didn't want to go anywhere. Separation was punishment and he was afraid of what they would do to them when they were apart. He moved to stand with the Captain, causing Thor to lift his hand and call forth the hammer.

The room was made of Vibranium but that didn't mean that it wasn't going to get damaged. Either way, they would speedster the two. Bucky would be taken by the Guides. It was just that simple.

[starspangledspandex]

Thor knocked the Captain pretty solidly against the wall. It was hard enough to daze him and disorient him enough that could get the upper hand on his Guide.

He stayed where he had sunk down the wall, wrapping his arms around himself and waited for the shared pain to come down the bond. The Captain was failing his Soldier and went so far as to defend their captors.

All for what? Memories that may or may not exist?

[starkingenuity]

There would not be pain from the Soldier. Emotional distress, yes, but not pain. They were only talking to him. And to prove that, the video on the screen shifted to the feed inside the interrogation room where Bucky so happened to be.

No sound, but Steve could at least watch.

[starspangledspandex]

He was certainly no stranger to emotional distress. The Captain was experiencing his fair share right now. He still couldn't figure out what their game was--were they really trying to help them?

The Captain was relieved that they let him see the Soldier. He didn't know what they were saying but at least he could see that they weren't hurting him.

He watched with rapt attention, waiting quietly where he was sitting.

[starkingenuity]

And that was about the point that Tony came back. He was stupid yes. But the Captain had only not killed him but also saved him from being killed. And that was the important thing here.

He stayed by the door. Quietly. Okay, he was quiet for about five seconds.

"He was drafted," Tony said quietly. "Into the army you so desperately wanted to join. He was afraid, he didn't want to fight, and he never told you. But you saved him. He's your best friend."

[starspangledspandex]

His gaze shifted to Tony, frowning slightly at the man as he talked and finally shook his head. He remembered bonding the Soldier but not much else.

"I don't remember," his forehead creased. "Pieces, maybe, but nothing concrete." He didn't know why he felt so compelled to tell Tony.

"It hurts my head."

[starkingenuity]

"Sorry about that," Tony said. He didn't want to hurt Steve. "But you'll live. I promise. Learning sometimes sucks."

He recklessly joined his boyfriend on the mattress, close enough so that they could smell each other, close enough to be within arm's reach of one another.

He knew what he was doing. His eyes stayed on Steve.

"What do you remember about me? What bits and pieces?"

[starspangledspandex]

The man didn't sound especially sorry but then again, the Captain probably wasn't the best judge. He tracked the movement of the man over to the bed. He could smell him and that did things for him he was sure he wasn't supposed to feel.

It confused him.

His forehead was going to be perpetually creased at this point. "I... It's flashes, like a photograph. It's hard to see some things. I remember... making you breakfast? Watching you work in... some kind of workshop."

[starkingenuity]

Those flashes were more precious to Tony than he had initially realized that they might. His eyes welled but he blinked away the moisture. He wasn't an idiot and crying was weakness. He couldn't be weak.

"You cook better than I do. You use to come over and surprise me." It wasn't like Steve could sleep over. They had been trying not to give in physically to temptation. Sex would have meant bonding.

It had been a rough patch for Tony, dealing with his hand.

"And we use to fix your motorcycle together."

[starspangledspandex]

He scrunched up his face like that might help him remember. The Captain was afraid to remember and wanted to all at the same time. It was obvious that Tony had feelings for him but what about his bond? He had a mate.

...though, he wavered on that point often enough too. The memory of his bonding was rough around the edges. He didn't know what led to the actual act. Tony kept saying he loved him. He didn't understand. There was an odd disconnect between his Soldier and Tony--why?

[starkingenuity]

It was all right that Steve didn't remember all of it. It would take time to come back and Tony was oddly all right with that too. He just wanted to stay here and watch some home movies and be with the Sentinel.

"You can ask me anything, Steve. If you're confused, I'll answer and try to give you proof that I'm not lying."