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Of all the things one doesn't expect the Winter Soldier to be doing while in America….walking in broad daylight on a public street with no more disguise than longish hair pulled back and a rather worn military surplus coat over a shooting sweater and faded jeans is probably up there. More so yet considering he's walking with someone, and no one's at gunpoint. He's identifiably the Sergeant Barnes Brian knew back when, if thinner, more openly weary, and without that trademark air of easy assurance. He does not, however, look that much older - nowhere near the middle forties he should be. There've been reports trickling into SHIELD of contact made, and an assassin strangely confused and amnesiac.
He's keeping easy pace with Kai, hands in his pockets. The elf's doing most of the talking, but no one's at gunpoint….and the subject of the conversation seems to be noodles. Oh, Buck's eyes are darting, some instincts less conscious still intact…but he's nothing like the fearsome killer that his file paints him as.
*
Of all the people to be walking with, a beatnik might seem out of place. Kai is in black chinos, a black turtleneck with a red scarf tied round his neck, and a beret. An English-sounding beatnik, at that. "It's all about the broth, man. Theirs is, like, wow. You just have to try it, mate. Don't worry, I'm you're angel. You-know-who gave me food money, but he never said who the food had to be for, dig me?" There's a hole-in-the-wall place not far from here that serves Asian food. Noodles, apparently.
*
Though there's no doubt that a SHIELD unit could take down a confused assassin, Brian couldn't let them get themselves injured, not when Union Jack could be doing something about this. Someone had a tip, a possible sighting in Hell's Kitchen, so Brian went looking. He's dressed well - a charcoal-grey single-breasted suit, dark shoes, a crimson tie and the proper hat. "That… yes." he says to himself and falls in behind the pair to trail them.
*
His smile is crooked, uncertain, but genuine enough. "I'll take your word for it," he says to Kai. His voice's got a rasp to it it didn't have before, low and grating. "I don't know what I like," he adds, with one of those little shrugs. "So I'll try anything. Serrure probably won't like it, but I won't tell him…." He seems oblivious to the possibility, looking mostly at Kai.
*
"He knows I can't help it," Kai says. Like that makes it okay. Compared to Bucky, Kai's a small creature. Thin, not very tall. He looks like a stiff wind could blow him over. "I think they put some kind of sauce in." He's got a habit of keeping aware of his surroundings, but someone walking behind him isn't automatically an indictment. He makes a note there's someone there, then looks back to Jack. "You'd better order two, though. You've got to keep up your strength."
*
So far, so good. Bucky is behaving himself. Still, if there's a confrontation about to happen, it might be best if it happen outside, not in a restaurant. So, he speeds up a little, to close the gap.
*
That's when Buck finally clues in. He turns to look at Brian, meeting his gaze….and there's not an iota of recognition there. The blue eyes are quizzical, a little wary, and a good bit vague. Then he looks to Kai, then back to Brian, and asks the light elf, "That a friend of yours?"
*
Kai turns around to see the stranger gaining ground on them. It's almost quaint, the way he starts to put himself between the man and Bucky. "No, never seen him before. Looks like a square to me." Still, he offers Brian a smile, all the while inching Bucky behind him. "Hello," he calls out in cheerful confrontation.
*
Brian stops a good distance away, a car's length or more. "Barnes? Sergeant James Barnes?" he asks, the edge of command in his voice. "Is that you?" he wonders more gently. "There are a lot of people looking for you, old chap."
*
It's a subtle change that comes over Bucky, but it's there. Any hint of ease in his posture is gone, and the vagueness fades into something sharper, more feral. There's a beat or two of silence as he gazes at Brian. "….yeah?" he asks, finally. "So I hear." No weapons in his hands, but then, he's never really needed them. The metal arm's concealed in the sleeve of his coat, a leather glove over it.
*
Kai keeps his position as Bucky's meat shield, which is no impediment on the conversation since both men can see over him without much trouble. Glancing back at Bucky, he says, "You're name is James Barnes?" Then, to Brian, "You've found him, far out, but we're just about to go have lunch so…" So shove off, is the tone of that. He doesn't seem to be armed either.
*
"I'm Brian Falsworth. During the war we fought on the same side, though usually I was behind the lines. DO you remember? White face, a little black domino mask, 'The Destroyer'? he says to Barnes. "Hmm. Maybe you don't." he shrugs, then. "I have to know what your intentions are. People are going to come looking for you and it might come to blows." he says. He looks back to Kai. "I can't."
*
That doesn't seem to make Bucky any easier in his mind. He regards Brian for a long time, brow furrowed. Clearly searching his memory, and just as clearly failing to rouse anything from the murky depths. "I don't remember," he says, enunciating very carefully. "I'm sorry. And….I talked to Steve. Did you know Steve?" The fact that his big blonde friend is also Captain America doesn't seem to have clicked with him. Steve Rogers is just Steve Rogers, the man with no damn sense when it comes to getting into fights. "My intentions?….Steve says he can get me a trial. Maybe amnesty." By his tone, he puts no particular faith in Steve the Naive's assurances - he sounds more resigned than hopeful.
*
"You never know what you can do if you believe in yourself, man," Kai tells Brian. He glances then to Bucky, and he frowns. Did Kai cease to exist? He's trying to defend the man's life, here! But then trials are mentioned, and he refrains from any cutting comments. Instead, he says, "Should we discuss this over noodles? Because I don't care if the world's about to end, I'm getting lunch."
*
"I know Rogers. Good man. Pity his team was broken up." Brian says. "It's alright not to remember, it was a long time ago." He nods at the idea of a trial and the like. "I hope so." He looks back to Kai. "Alright. I suppose that would be alright."
*
"No," says Bucky, still with the care of a man trying to feel his way around a dark room, "You don't understand. I don't remember anything. Nothing before a few weeks ago. I know my real name's James Barnes because a woman told me so….and I went and looked it up in the records. The guy in the picture's me." Then he pauses, and says to Kai, "Sorry. I…I still think of myself as Jack, so I hadn't mentioned it." Back to Brian, "This is Kai. He's, uh….well, he's been real kind to me in the meanwhile. A friend." Don't you feel honored, Kai? "So, you knew me in the war?"
*
"Then we'll call you Jack," Kai tells Bucky with a gentle smile. He's not all fierceness and fuggoff. He gives Brian a little wave, then nods down the street toward the noodle shop and begins to lead the way. He does hover near Bucky still, though, more than a little protective. To Brian, he says, "He's safe right now. I've been looking after him, and he's not hurting anyone." That Kai knows of.
*
"It's not so much him that I'm worried about." Brian replies to Kai. "It's more a question of what certain people or groups will do to bring him in. There are a lot of different people who might want him, for good or ill. Some might not care if he is dead or alive so long as he's not a threat anymore." He follows the pair still. "We didn't do much together, only when you were behind enemy lines. But, yes."
*
"Tell me what you know," The tone is gentle, but it's very much a command. "I….I've gotten bits, here and there, from different people. I've found the public stuff, newspaper clippings, things like that. My army records," Bucky's shoulders are hunched, as he follows Kai in to the little restaurant. "But….I've had encounters. There's at least one agency that wants me to defect, but I don't even know who they are - NSA? CIA's my guess, but…" he shrugs, tightly. "Steve wants me to come in….and I really don't have any other options, when it gets right down to it." He's matter of fact about it. "I can't run from the Russians forever - without the protection of another agency, they'll have me eventually."
*
"Then we'll protect him," Kai says. "We'll protect you, Jack." Even he doesn't sound entirely sure about that. NSA? CIA? The Russians? These might be out of his league, but at least he can pay for lunch. He goes to the counter and orders two noodle specials. After a sidelong glance at Brian, he orders a third, and he pays for them with crumpled bills and change. Then he leads the way to a table with a view of the street. "And who are you with?" he asks Brian.
*
"Not really something I can discuss." Brian says to Kai. "Thank you." he says pleasantly as the scone elf order three bowls of noodles. "CIA I think would make you disappear. Steve can find you a group that you can trust. I'll see what I can do also." He considers Barnes a long moment. "What do you want to know? You fell off a train and you couldn't be found. I always assumed that the Nazis had you, or Hydra."
*
Bucky's grin is entirely humorless, a baring of teeth. And no matter what the horror stories one hears about Soviet dentistry, they at least have survived more or less intact. "I think anybody's going to make me disappear. Steve thinks a trial, but that's not gonna happen. I was never discharged - I'm listed as MIA, suspected KIA. Anything like that happens will be under military discipline." He turns a slightly softer look on Kai, but it's sad. "Kai," he says, more quietly. "You've been really good to me. But….these guys will steamroll you. Don't. You've done more than enough already….." He pats the elf on the shoulder, lightly, even as he settles into a seat. "That….Steve rescued me from HYDRA's hands. They had some fun with me," His tone is chillingly casual, glossing over that particular nightmare. "But…that wasn't the end. No, Steve and I….we were assumed KIA on a later mission, or so the papers said. The Russians got me after seems to be the opinion," He cocks his head at Brian. "With that accent, I'm assuming MI6?"
*
Kai's brow knits with vague annoyance when Brian doesn't break his cover for him, but he doesn't push. The look deepens as he listens to Bucky. "You know that won't stop me, man. I'm not afraid of the pigs, I don't care what they're calling themselves." He does muster up a smile at the pat. He doesn't sit yet, and the why is soon apparent. The person behind the counter calls out the order in Cantonese. Kai says, "Right, I've got it." Then he brings over lunch, Brian and Bucky's first, then he goes back for his own. He chats a little with the counter person, them in Cantonese, him in English. Then he comes back and takes a seat between Brian and Bucky. It's entirely possible the scone elf would at least try to take on all comers.
*
"Not as such. I serve my Queen and country, but…" Brian begins, but he shrugs. "I'm not sure what happened. I was in Germany trying to wreck everything I could. Rogers would know more.. do you remember the SSR? They can help you too." He nods to Kai again as noodles are brought. "Thank you."
*
"Thanks," Bucky says, to Kai. And not just for the noodles, clearly. "I know you're not," he tells the elf. "But at least some of these people would kill you without giving it a second thought. It's not worth it, Kai. Don't get into the line of fire…..please." His lips thin out, as he looks back to Brian. Only idly picking at what Kai just brought - so much for his appetite. "No," he says, softly. "Who're they?"
*
Kai inclines his head to Brian at the thank you. He wasn't lying bout the noodles being good, though. Scone elf doesn't mess around when it comes to food. "It wouldn't be the first time I'd be on the run, Jack." He studies Bucky's face, then says with a quiet sigh, "I won't go looking for trouble, you dig me? But don't stay away. I'll think something bad happened and come looking." That said, he tucks in with all the appetite Bucky seems to lack.
*
"They were the Strategic Scientific Reserve." Brian explains. "A little like the OSS, only with bleeding edge technology. They helped make Captain America." He has some noodles and goes on. "They don't exist anymore, much like the OSS, but there are successor organizations."
*
He's got that listening look, like what Brian's saying is resonating somewhere. Bucky nods, slowly. "And who are those successors?" he asks, voice halting. Kai gets an upnod in acknowledgement. "I'll try and tell you, but I can't promise," he allows, with that grim tone again. "IS that …..no, you can't say, I'm sure," Buck goes back to picking at his noodles.
*
"What's your dog in this race," Kai asks Brian. "You sound like you want to help him, but for all I know, it could be a ploy. Get him to trust you, you get me." He gestures vaguely with his chopsticks. "It's what I'd do if I was going to trap some cat. Jack here, he's the closet thing to a best mate I've got. Wherever you want him to go, I'm going with him."
*
Brian finishes his noodles, then produces a business card that he offers to Bucky. "If you'll take my advice, wear a disguise and lay low. Call me if you think Rogers is being watched too closely by the Russians or the Chinese." He looks back to Kai. "I don't want him to go anywhere just yet. Keep your mate's head down for him, won't you?" he suggests, good-naturedly. "I think I should go see if I can get some groups to back off, or at least not to shoot first and ask questions later." and he stands. He produces some bills and puts them on the table. "Thank you for your hospitality."
*
"I've been tryin' to lay low," He's finally eating in earnest, a little more appetite. "Hard to disguise the arm, but I've een doing my best." He chews meditatively. "Well, I won't say no. But….I'm not keeping a close eye on Rogers. I'm a one man team…." He pauses, asks, suddenly, "…..what do they want me for? It's all a big nothing…..but the glimpses I catch, the things that show up in dreams….they're not good."
*
Kai considers the money on the table. This was to be his treat and he's got his pride on one hand. On the other hand, with a swipe over the table, he's got all this free money. Which he tucks in his pocket. "Anytime, man," he says. "I'll keep him out of trouble." He produces a pair of shades from another pocket and perches them on Bucky's nose. "Shave and a hair cut, you'd look like a completely different person," he says. "We'll get you a ginchy hat. Maybe you should dress more like a hep cat. They'll never look for someone like us."
*
"Best not to think about it. You might not have been yourself." Brian replies to Bucky. "this is New york City and the UN is not far away. So, there's every agency of every government you can think of snooping around here. Even going out for lunch will draw attention." He nods at Kai. "How about a Mod clippin' around the ears and claim he's your cousin from Ulster?" He begins to step away. "Have a safe day, gentlemen."
*
Bucky passes a hand over his chin, grimacing at the rasp of stubble. "Definitely need a haircut," he agrees, more to himself than them. Long hair's still distinctive, even in the more bohemian parts of New York. He pulls a face at Brian's comment. No one wants to tell him about the horrorshows he's committed while he was out, so to speak.