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*
Bobbi strode into Headquarters looking more than a little on edge as it were. Though, that had been a staple of her look since the news of Director Carter being replaced with an alien had come to be known. She had only left in short intervals, normally keeping to the labs and helping test the back log of blood work that needed to be done to keep up with the demands of 'who's an alien today?' list.
Never mind all the chaos that came from waking the sleeping people who'd been returned recently.
Still, it had been Director's orders that had sent her home.. and the appearance of one Winter Soldier had her shooting back to the offices in less than a few hours later. Strain pinched around her eyes, and in her frame as she made her way toward the coffee machine, impatient waiting for the drip to fill the pot. Blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, she had yet to change out of her uniform, much less take off her leather biker jacket.
A low growl followed as she folded her arms and glared at the pot, tapping her foot as she dragged a hand over her face.
*
Steve returns to SHIELD to check on some things with some agents. He's not one of them, but he is kind of. It's always been a tenuous link, but he helps when he can and seems to keep a good comraderie with the low level agents. "Hey Morse," Steve says, obviously having no clue what she's experienced.
*
The much needed coffee was became a forgone conclusion at the sight of Rogers entering the headquarters and Bobbi pushed off the wall she'd leaned against as she had waited. "Damn, you've just gotta have perfect timing don't you Rogers?" She exhaled, a hand settling on her hip while the other dragged through her hair.
"Just the man I wanted to have a chat with. Preferably while we walk. You got a couple of minutes?" She hooked a brow upwards as she spoke, and jabbed a thumb toward the door.
"I need caffine and that's taking too long."
*
"Everyone has to be good at something," he says with a shrug in reply and grins. Steve nods to her and begins to follow. "I can take a stroll. The weather is a bit better than it's been. Let's go get a cup."
*
A grateful sigh followed as Bobbi nodded and promptly made her way to the exit, zipping up her coat as she walked and tugging the collar higher around her neck.
"Wonderful." She flashed him a smile, but it was strained and didn't necessarily reach her eyes as she paused to hold open the door for him, her pace quick with short steps.
As they walked out of the Headquarters and out of the resturant and then out into the winter's air she cast a glance around once and back. The line of her shoulders would look relaxed to anyone that wasn't used to being around spies and government agents. To Steve, Bobbi Morse decidedly would look on edge.
"Right. So." Her boots crunched on the refreezing ice and sand that covered the sidewalk. "On a scale from one to ten, how much do you like your surprises sugar coated, Rogers?"
*
"Well, I am a fan of sugar. That being said, I think whatever it is had just better come right to the point," Steve replies with a smile. "On a scale of 1 to rip it off like a bandaid, I should probably end up at the end. Both for your benefit and for mine." Steve dips his hands into his coat pockets and keeps stride with Bobbi. He looks slightly worried about her, but does not mention her stressy exterior.
*
The fact that Steve Rogers was a gentleman and did not comment on her stressed state, would've been remarked upon in any other circumstances. Bobbi was known for her lighthearted cheer, her easy smiles.
There were none now.
An exhale followed as Bobbi shoved her hands into her pockets and slowed her steps slightly to match her pace to his. "Right." A pause, blue eyes flickering in his direction and then around once and back again.
"Well. Here goes nothing. Your old war-buddy showed up at my apartment and held me at gun point to have a chat. Apparently he wants me to work on curing Miss Potts of her recently acquired drug addiction. He wants to do something to keep Russia off his back, and the other international communities that he pissed off, I suspect. But he didn't want me going to the Director." Her voice was hushed.
"So, currently, other than my good nature, there's nothing keeping me from taking this to Director Carter as I should be doing.."
*
The first time Cap heard about Bucky his jaw hit the floor. The same happened when he saw him. Each time, however, it has become more and more normalized to Steve, despite how crazy the entire ordeal has been. Immediately he's in question mode. "Did he know about Director Carter's kidnapping?"
*
A slow shake of her head followed that, "No, asked him actually. I thought, hey maybe he knew something the rest of us didn't, since he tried to kill the Director a few times. But he was just as shocked as the next man when it came to the news of alien invasions and replacements." A shrug at that.
"Gave him a brief run down on that, and he asked if I was bullshitting him." A twist of her lips follows, "As if the world wasn't crazy enough." She muttered.
"He was honestly surprised." She paused, her brows furrowing. "He was downright chatty too, Brooklyn accent."
*
"Did he say anything else? Anything at all that might be taken as interesting? As far as I understand it, Bucky's wanted for a whole heck of a lot of crimes," Steve says with a bit of a sigh. "I mean, legally, what we should do is bring him in."
*
A shrug, "He offered to be a non-alien gun on the ground. Only he demanded to work with you and me. That's it. Not the Director or anyone else." She frowned, "As if I have some authority at all."
Bobbi fell silent for a long moment as they walked, eyes scanning the sidewalk ahead and aroudn them. "He knows if he gets caught he'll be ghosted away by someone higher up the chain of command. He's broken a lot of laws. And frankly, I'm not entirely onboard with working with a known criminal that's wanted by most of the international community. It's part of that whole taking oaths to defend your country and all.." She sighed, and dragged a hand over her features.
"But I did tell him I'd help with Miss Potts. I've read a few files on the drug that she's hooked on. He .. cares a great deal about her. Which, considering last time she threw herself into the smoke and carbombs he'd set off?" She arched a brow, shaking her head.
*
"His care for her seems to wax and wane depending on…well," Steve shrugs his shoulders. "Depending on whatever his mood is. Kill her. Save her." He tilts his head, wondering aloud, "You know, I can't even tell you what's happened to Miss Potts. I haven't seen her in quite some time."
*
Bobbi fell silent for a long while, frowning faintly as she stared down at her feet for a long moment. "Your friend is mental, Rogers. I've fought him in an ally. He broke my leg, and tried to shoot me when I was down without a blink of remorse. Then he shows up in my apartment to hold me at gun point for a chat to work together." She shakes her head, exhaling a sigh.
"Miss Potts is on the street drug called vigor. Apparently. Same thing that has caused a few cases we've looked into. We have tracked down a few suppliers of I think Russian origin. Mob. And the drug seems to give people powers." A shrug again, and Bobbi tosses her hands up in the air with it.
*
Steve has partially disconnected.
*
Steve can't help but agree with her assessment about Bucky's condition. It doesn't make any sense—she's right. He frowns as he hears about what's happened to Miss Potts. The redhead has always treated him with kindness and it hurts that she is going through a difficult time. "Maybe we should just tell Bucky that in order to get your help, he has to come talk to me. Then at least you'd have cover in case Carter came after you."
*
A sardonic look was shot toward Steve, as speaks of covering their bases by telling Bucky to contact Steve. "I'd imagine that he plans to on his own time once he ditches the suits and black vans that tried to raid my street after he jumped out of my window." Her voice was dry, clipped, and less than amused by the event.
"I'm going to have to find a new apartment again." She kicked a pebble along, the rock skittering ahead of them and lost to the tramp of pedestrians.
"And if it gets out that I was working with him? Director Carter would be the least of my worries, Rogers. I could be brought up for a court marshall if I was lucky. People in my line of work don't typically get that much time in the light, and if we go off the beaten path we don't tend to get back on it."
*
"You can crash at the Baxter Building with me if you don't mind it when Jack stays over," Steve offers. He looks at her sadly. "You can't get away with it, but I can. If you want my help, I can be that for you."
*
A sigh, and Bobbi side eyed him again, pinching the bridge of her nose. "He's right, you're a boy-scout. Hell." She shook her head, and rolled her eyes skywards.
"Yes. Okay. Sure. Fine. I'll regret this. I know it. If I get ghosted to some shadow agency where they store the agents gone rogue, I'll be counting on you and him to fish my ass out. Okay?" She wagged a finger in his direction, arching a brow upwards.
"But I'm doing this to help Miss Potts first and foremost. This drug has been hitting enough people. So long as I'm not dealing with more lab incidents or don't get kidnapped by aliens, then yeah I'll help."