thisavrou_log | (catch-all) lowlife, yo life, boy we livin it up

[the first time he hears those magic words, that he could go back home, big boss doesn't hesitate to take a chance. even if it was all bullshit, even if it wasn't real, he'd rather be able to witness a lie than to keep wondering what could be. unfortunately, getting someone to go with him would he difficult. he didn't know too many people on the ship and the most of the ones he did had too much of a stake in his life to bring along. he needed to see his squad, the six men that had been traveling with him for the last two years.

but there is one person who can be considered a neutral party: bucky.

john hates asking for favors and he knows jim will enjoy having the man in his pocket, but he does anyway. if barnes will accompany him so he assure his men that he's fine and that he'll back eventually, then john would gladly repay him in anyway he saw fit. big boss stands at by the ingress down on the planet, waiting for the young soldier to make his appearance.

he really hopes he doesn't regret this.]

[ And here he comes now, excited as ever to meet up with Ishmael, because for once he shouldn't be getting tranqed or manhandled. That'll be a nice change of pace. That and he asked him to come along, not anyone else. Bucky considers that a point of pride and he's not about to miss this chance. ]

You're gonna tell everyone I'm your grand prodigy, right?

[considered yourself honored, bucky, you're the only one he trusts not to make a big deal about this. even though you probably will. john gives the kid a lop-sided smirk, obviously something incredibly rude about to come out of his mouth.]

Yeah, I'll them you're certainly...something.

[sorry, bucky, john already had a prodigy. but you're pretty good, too. he steps up the ingress, ready to take the plunge.]

Ready?

Gee thanks, old man.

[ Rude! He asks for one compliment! But even with a wrinkled nose, Bucky steps up beside Ishmael, ready to take the plunge. ]

Last one in's a rotten egg!

[ And just like that, Bucky slaps him on the ass and jumps forward into the Ingress. ]

[hey bucky, you know how you thought this would be different from all the tranqing and manhandling? well, ok, it will be, but as soon as they get your ass is grass for that slap. for now, john puts it in the back of his mind and jumps forward immediately behind bucky.

they don't fall through some insane, zany tunnel of clocks or colors. one second they're falling and the next, they're not. where big boss had expected to land on the sand and dirt of the last iraqi province he and his squad had been driving through, instead the wind up in... a city? the buildings are dilapidated, obviously shelled out and burnt up from the flames of war. the skies are dreary and, moments later, john notices that it's raining.

this isn't the middle east.

the building have a european look to them, though he has no idea which country they could be from. he hears the din of gunfire crackling in the distance, fives miles off or more at the least. somewhere, he thinks he hears the sounds of a tank's treads making its way through the rubble. where the hell are they?]

Barnes, do you--?

[he doesn't get to finish the question. while they had been standing there, gawking, a handful of troops had managed to come up behind them. john never heard the sounds of their boots, too lost in thought as he was, but he definitely picks up on the sounds of guns being primed to fire. he stays very still, complying when they shout to not move.]

[ No, it sure ain't. But it's damn familiar to Bucky, and maybe if he had more time to study their surroundings he could have told Ishmael, but that time has passed. ]

Alright, alright, fellas! We come in peace'n all that jazz!

[ At least what they are speaking is English. They would be hosed if this were German soldiers.

Just like his partner in crime Bucky remains perfectly still, letting their newfound friends come around to their front with rifles poised. He is all sweet smiles and obedience since he certainly didn't pack for the trip (he assumed meeting up at Ishmael's base would afford him weapons). But one of them breaks position looking curiously gobsmacked. ]

Bucky?

Uh... Yeah—

Oh my God, Bucky! Sweet Jesus, we been lookin' everywhere for you! [ And like that the handful of scouts put their rifles down. ] The Invaders have been sendin' out parties for months. Same with the Commandos, Sir. [ As if he forgot himself, he acknowledges Ishmael with a salute. ]

Oh! Uh, yeah, sorry, we've... [ He looks at the older man beside him with a look that says he has no clue what's going on, but he's going to wing it. ] Well, it's sort of classified.

Right, let's just get back to HQ. You can get the Boss up to speed. [ Despite the confusion on Bucky's face he keeps talking. ] She'll be relieved to know you both're in one piece.

Uhmm, yeah, o... kay, good call.

[this isn't right. the soldiers are dressed in garb he hasn't seen since to war in the 50s. and even then, the uniforms were being phased out for a newer model. their guns are about 30 or 40 years too old to be standard issue. what the hell was going on?

he doesn't say anything, letting bucky do all the talking. all he can feel on his tongue are words of confusion, wanting to demand to know where they were. and then the saluting, which isn't too odd, given the kind of reaction he generally observed being around othe soldiers. invaders? commandos? he doesn't recognize the names, can't recall any pmcs going by those names. when jim says what happened to them was classified, john just nods in agreement. keeping appearances.

just when big boss thinks this can't get any weirder, when it can't get any worse, he hears the soldier say 'boss'. not too strange, especially if the commanding officer is more on the ground than in a tent. it could just be they're all comfortable with each other. but then he says she and john visibly locks up. there weren't many female officers or soldiers in official military groups, even in his time. the way the grunt says it, john's brain immediately jumps to a conclusion.

he hopes to god what he's thinking isn't true.]

Take me to her. Immediately.

[his voice is a little funny, like he's nervous and excited all at the same time. the scouts all nod, looking a little confused, but begin walking back anyway. john follows, unsure what he's going to find.]

[ To be honest, Bucky isn't all that gung ho to find out just whose clutches he's been dragged into, and he would have thought the same for Ishmael. But the way he sounded was too strange to be acting for the situation. Honestly, he can't imagine the guy ever acting at all.

He keeps his mouth shut for the moment, gradually walking slower and slower until they've got a wide distance between them and their escort at the front. That's when Bucky finally speaks up, keeping his voice low. ]

What's up your butt?

[there's a moment where john is hesitant to answer. he could just ignore the question, wouldn't be the first time, but they're both in this together. unfortunately. hell, maybe bucky even knows something about where they are. he grumbles before finally shelling out an answer.]

I have a hunch about who we're going to see.

[but he doesn't want to say it out loud. in fact, he really doesn't even want to believe it. they were supposed to land in 1986 Iraq, instead they've seemed to have landed 40 some years in the past in what, looked like, a european city. and if the person in charge who he thinks it is, then they're in world war two.]

What about you? Any ideas?

The Invaders are my Special Forces unit. And the Howling Commandos work with us sometimes...

[ He stays quiet for a beat, considering how this can all be. ]

I think... I think I'm home. But, I don't know who this Boss is.

[ They've never called Agent Carter "Boss" before, so he has no idea who this woman can be. There are very few who serve in combat and possibly none who could hold the mantle of "Boss". So this? This is going to be interesting, and he sure hopes it's not a trick of Lady Lotus' or Madam Hydra's or even Warrior Woman's. That would really put a damper on their day.

But when they return to camp in the evening, everything seems as it should be. Although, word has already spread to their base that they are returning. The new blood is talking with each other, some running to find their friends and tell them what they know. ]

Bucky! [ It's Toro who stops him first. He grabs him with his smoldering hands like he can't be sure he's real. ] Holy smokes! I thought—Gosh, I didn't want to think it, but...

Jeez, have a little more faith in me, pal.

[ If Bucky weren't seeing this with his own eyes, he may never believe it. But his good friend is standing in front of him, flesh and blood. He pulls the guy into a big hug that leaves Toro a little confused as their entourage continues toward the Boss' bombed out quarters. ]

Uhh, Barnes...? You okay?

Yeah, I just... It feels like forever.

Well it has been. Cap's been searching night and day.

Ha, whatta guy...

[ The look Toro gives him is disconcerting. ] Guy—?

Bucky. [ His name comes from the front, and it sure isn't Steve's. It's a woman's, strong and beautiful really. She's dressed in red, white, and blue, holding Captain America's shield in one hand. ] Jack. You're both alive.

[more and more it looks as if they ended up in bucky's world than his own. he had jumped first, so maybe the ingress had sent them to a battlefield in world war two. not that off-putting, as they would eventually be pulled back to the moira. once there, boss would make sure he was the first one through the second time around.

when one of the kid's friends find him, john seems to deflate a little. whether out of relief or disappointment is anyone's guess. he takes in their surroundings as they travel further into the camp, how hastily put together it was. this is more of his element, despite the chaos. the sounds of war are a constant white noise in the background.

his mind is completely off whatever thoughts he was having before, of who they might be meeting and why she would be here. that is, until he sees the commander who comes out to greet them. at the sound of his old nickname, said in that authoritative tone, mixed in with relief, he stills. it's a little like when a deer freezes sensing danger or something out of place. in that moment, he can barely breath. in fact, for a few seconds, he's pretty sure he doesn't.

it's Her. she's doesn't look any different than she had during the virtuous mission in '64, face not young but not yet old, either. and very, very alive. she's dressed in a uniform he's never seen her wear, carrying some shield he knows she never carried. how can she be here if this is bucky' world?

how can she be hear at all?

vaguely he thinks he can hear her repeat his name, maybe once or twice. but the shock clouds every sense and words trip over themselves on his tongue. he can't find anything to say. in lieu of words, he nods once.]

I never had any doubt. Your Commandos will be back soon, but for now, we need to get you both caught up.

Yeah, up to speed... [ Bucky doesn't sound too enthused about that. At all. ] About that, ma'am—Er, Boss—Cap!

[ God, what is he supposed to call her? What does he call her in this world. Her face doesn't change, but it's clear something in her eyes becomes a little harder. ]

Bucky, are you feeling okay?

You know, now that you mention it, I'm feelin' pretty beat! You know, tired, a little worn around the edges. Probably from all that torture we were subjected to for, like, however... long we were gone. Yeah, man, it's all just comin' back to me now and I can't make heads or tails of what or where or even when I'm from so maybe we should do this whole debriefing thing tomorrow after a good night's rest, because I think, you know that'd really.... help...

[ HE IS RAMBLING SO HARD SOMEONE SAVE HIM FROM HIMSELF! ]

[torture, bucky, really? they don't exactly look worse for wear, despite them being 'gone' long enough to make the boss worry. even though barnes flounders, john agrees that they both need to get their heads on straight. especially him.

he places his hand on jim's shoulder, a silent plea to stop talking and to ground himself. he can barely look her in the eye as he tries to lie his way out of this. hopefully she realizes what an 'ordeal' they must have both gone through.]

Bucky's right. [never thought he'd actually say that.] We need a couple hours to get ourselves together. The trip was...exhausting. [he can already see how she wants to tell them to deal with it, but, mercifully, she doesn't disagree.]

Two hours, Jack. Get some rest, get something in your stomachs, and then rendezvous with me for debriefing. There's still a war going on out there and it doesn't wait for anyone.

Edited 2016-05-17 07:26 (UTC)

Right! yes, Thank you, Cap. [ He gives a mock salute and spins around before the woman can change her mind. Bucky sticks as close as he can to Ishmael so no one can overhear them. ] So. Jack, huh? Just how many goddamn names do you have?

[john literally has no idea where they're going, just knows that he should walk towards where other soldiers are currently resting in between firefights. plus he doesn't want to arouse anymore suspicion than they already have by asking where anything was. his head's still spinning, walk not as confident as it usually is.]

It's her nickname for me... [it's a name that belongs to her, practically. one other person called him by that name, but john was really hoping against hope that the major didn't decide to show face in this messed up timeline. if he did, there would be no chance of big boss not shooting him on the spot.] She's not supposed to be here, Jim. She never fought with any groups calling themselves the Invaders or the Howling Commandos.

[her entire life had been declassified after her death, but even if it hadn't, the boss had never spoken about either group. granted, she had never really spoken about the cobras, either, but she had never really lied about her involvement in world war ii.] Who are they, anyway?

Uh, they're my group—Well, my partner's group. Who is. Now a woman that you know. [ And boy is that going to take awhile to get over. ] Hot damn she's a looker, though! That must get distracting.

[ It would for Bucky. ]

The Invaders are a team of uhh super people, basically. Some fly, some catch on fire, some happen to be the King of the Fish People. I mean, except for me. I'm normal. [ And boy oh boy doesn't that just fill him with pride! ] The others—The Howling Commandos are—You remember that cardboard tank I was drawin' on? Remember the guy that looked like you? Nick Fury lead the Commandos. They are just a ragtag bunch that help us out a time or two.

[generally, john can turn the other cheek to bucky's overactive mouth. well, except for when the kid calls him 'b-cup', but it wasn't often enough to really cause an issue. when barnes calls his mentor a looker, though, john can't stop himself from practically spitting venom at him. she was more than just a woman.

she deserved his up-most respect.]

Don't ever call her that again.

[his tone is dire, as serious as a heart attack. she's not an object to be admired, but a force to be feared. bucky might not understand that now, but he will.

after a full, tense silence, john continues on as if nothing had happened. he surprisingly unperturbed about hearing of people who can survive being on fire and are king of fish people. there were individuals in his world that had extraordinary gifts and abilities, it must just be the same here. what gets him is the commandos part. the boss had called them john's commandos. had he somehow replaced whoever nick fury was in this world?

had the commandos been replaced with his own men?]

The Boss called them mine. Either Fury is dead or he doesn't exist here. Anything I should know about the Commandos in case we run into them?

Jeez, alright. Take it easy... [ Ish may snap at him form time to time, but this is entirely different. This is personal, and boy is there a story here that Bucky would love to get his hands on. But for now, he'll be "good." ]

Uhhh, well, if it's the Commandos I know Dugan's your second. He wears a bowler hat and he's got this huge bar handle mustache. And, boy, are the Howlers on the brass' bad side. Fury doesn't really listen to things like regulations. Seriously, just be you and you'll fit in perfectly. Find a cigar if you can.

(catch-all) lowlife, yo life, boy we livin it up

02MAY

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