Unexpected Arrival
Tony watched as Steve led Barnes back into the compound. Seems like this team lunch was over. He sighed and ventured down to his workshop, already ready to be done with having to put on a happy face with Wanda around. Despite what Steve may think, there was no way Wanda was truly that innocent.
"Fri, how's our new house guest settling in?" Tony asked. He figured that if Barnes was going to be staying here for the forseeable future.
"Captain Rogers has led him to his room. He is currently checking the perimeter and Captain Rogers has asked me to not allow him to leave in case he is to make a run for it," Friday answered. "However, if you were to wish so, I would be happy to open the doors for him."
Tony nodded. "Anyway that I could pay him a visit without being caught by Rogers group of fanatics.
Friday hummed. 'Not currently no, I am able to set up a small call between the two of you if you wish,' she said.
Tony thought that over. It would probably be easier to convince Barnes not to tell Steve if it really came to it before Steve told him about how terrible of a person Tony was. "Sure, let's see how Frosty the Assassin is doing," he said.
Friday hummed an affirmitve and after a couple seconds said, 'You're connected boss,' she said.
"Hey, Frosty, how are you?" Tony said.
"Как ты со мной разговариваешь?" (How are you talking to me?) Barnes asked. Friday quietly translated the Russian for him.
"I've got an AI named Friday, she basically turned on some speakers so that we can hear each other," Tony explained.
"Oh," Barnes said. "Why?" he asked. Barnes sounded very nervous about the question, Tony really hoped that he would learn that no one was out ot get him. Tony wasn't able to see the file that Nat had got on him, but he guessed it wasn't good judging by how Barnes was asking and the whole, murderous cyborg Winter Soldier thing.
"Well, I didn't want Spangles to get upset with me and I wanted to know what brought you over here before we kinda dragged you into the compound," and locked you in a room, Tony added silently.
Barnes didn't answer right away. "I was...searching for a new handler," he said quietly, kind of like he was embarressed.
"Oh? And who on this team did you figure would make a good handler?" Tony asked. He was better that Barnes woudl say Rogers, not only would he have the whole best fried thing but surely Rogers would be a good option. Although, Tony really didn't think that Barnes needed a handler, probably because it had something to do with his time as brainwashed murderbot.
"You," Barnes said.
Tony blinked in surprise. "...what?" he said.
"If you want," Barnes said quickly. "I would...like...for you to be my handler," he said.
"So you want me to, be your handler? How does that even, why not anyone else on the team?" Tony stammered out.
"I have been watching the team," Barnes said. "You would be a better handler than HYRDA and other members on the team."
Tony thought for a second. "Does Steve know? That seems like something he would like to know," Tony said, not wanting to get between Steve and his long lost friend.
"I am not the person my Mission remembers, I don't have to tell him anything," Barnes said, a slight annoyance flavoring his tone.
"Well, yeah, that's resonable," Tony said. "Have you told him that yet?" Tony asked, "To make sure that, id on't knowhe annoys you into killing him."
Barnes was quiet. "If I were to kill him would you be upset about it?" he asked.
"Well, I mean yeah, please don't kill him," Tony said.
Barnes hummed. "If he were to hurt you would I be allowed to kill him?" he asked.
"Maybe," Tony said. "I don't really want anyone dead."
"Boss, Captain Rogers is calling a team meeting in room AB," Friday said. Tony sighed.
"Well Elsa, I'm afraid I have to go. Spangles is calling a meeting, probably about you, actually, and I should be present for that," Tony said.
Barnes didn't answer right away. Tony got a little worried he had hurt his feelings. "Of course," Barnes said quietly. "You should go to that."
Tony sighed and stood up. "I'm sorry that I have to leave early, but maybe we could talk later?" Tony asked.
"If that's what you want," Barnes answered. Tony frowned but didn't comment on it, instead walking out of his workshop and down to Room AB. He swept into the room, the rest of the Avengers were already there. They looked up as he entered and Steve smiled at him.
"Tony, we were starting to get a little worried," he said.
Tony shrugged. "Ah well, I'm not exactly as close to the room as I wanted to be," Tony said. "I'm guessing the reason you called us all here had to do with the icicle in your room?" Tony asked.
Steve winced. "Um, yes," he said. "Although I don't know if we should call him nicknames until he really reembers his name. I don't want him thinking something else is his name when it isn't."
Tony supressed rolling his eyes. "Seeing as he's been following us I'm pretty sure he knows who you are and then probably has a vague idea of his nam,e I don't think calling him Frosty every now and then will do any harm. Besides, it fits with his while 'I am the Winter Soldier' thing," Tony said.
"Tony, please," Steve said.
"Even better," Tony continued on, "we ask what he thinks of all this and what he wants to be called."
Steve had adopted a sour look on his face. "I have seen his mind," Wanda said. "He's not thinking properly and needs someone who knows him from before he was the Winter Soldier," she said, "So then he won't get confused while his brain gets sorted out."
Tony withheld a scowl. Wanda hadn't even asked for permission and has already taken a peek inside the guys mind. She waved her hands around a bit, the red magic tricklingn from her fingers. "Perhaps I could help with that, I could use my powers to help heal his mind," she said.
Steve was starting to nod along. "Wait, we can't just assume that he will be okay with that," Tony said. "We need to ask him and if he says no, he says no and we are going to respect that decision," Tony said.
Thankfully, before anyone could say that Tony wasn't thinking, Sam agreed with him. "Tony's right. We need to respect Barnes' decisions now that he is in a safe environment where he can express those opinions and wants," Sam said. Tony decided that the next chance he got he would give Sam some new upgrades. That man deserved them for still managing to be a rational person when surrounded by the craziness that makes up the Avengers.
"Great, I'll go and get him and tell him about are plans," Steve said, he looked around the meeting room. "Perhaps it would be best to do this in the commons, with a friendlier and more open environment," Steve said.
The other Avengers agreed and all stood up to leave. Tony watched as they all ambled their ways out of the room. Sam stayed and waited for them to leave before turning to Tony. "I'm assuming you've talked to him?" Sam asked.
"What gave it away?" Tony said.
Sam shrugged. "Just kind of the fact that you're making some more personal claims for him. Mostly on his name, or you're always like that and we just haven't noticed," Sam said. Tony nodded. Yeah, if he hadn't met the person before hand he was more likely to take other people's advice and comments, he always changed them if they didn't fit the person, but he tended to notice that his thoughts and actions on what people did as good weren't always as well thought out as the other team members.
"Yeah, he doesn't seem to like Spangles very much, actually," Tony said.
"Wait, really?" Sam said. "Steve's been going off about how he surely remembers him and that they're going to be best friends again like it's still the 1940s."
Tony studied Sam. "And you don't believe that?" he asked.
Sam shrugged. "People change, espacially after traumatic events. I would be surprised if Barnes went back to being the same person he was before the fall."
Tony nodded. "Well, I kind of want to see how this will play out, so let's go over to the commons room, shall we?" he said. Sam smiled and nodded and they both walked out of the room. By the time they reached the commons Steve was leading Barnes in, who looked like he was trying to murdur everyone with his eyes.
Steve gestured around to the team. "These are the Avengers, we're here to help you," Steve said. Barnes' eyes studied each of them and he didn't say a word. Barnes gave a slight nod to Tony, but that was the only sign of ackowledgement he gave.
Wanda studied him. Barnes' lip curled as he glared back. "We were wondering if you would let Wanda help you, she can help you bring your memories back," Steve said hopefully.
"Keep that HYDRA witch away from me," Barnes snarled. His fingers twitched, probably to a hidden weapon somewhere on his body. No doubt that Barnes didn't actually give them all of the weapons he had on him.
"Bucky-" Steve started.
"Don't call me that!" Barnes shouted, wrenching away from Steve. His eyes were wide. Wanda and Natasha stood up, Wanda with her hands wreathed in red magic. Tony had a very bad feeling that this was not going to end well. Sam and Vision seemed to have the same ideas.
"Perhaps it would be wise to put away your weapons to help descalate the situation," Vision said. Natasha and Wanda ignored him. Natasha was holding a small knife, both of their eyes were fixed on Barnes who had backed up against the wall.
Sam put himself between the two Avengers and Barnes. "Guys, this isn't helping!" he said. Wanda had adopted a faint scowl along her face. "If anything you guys are making it worse! Please back up!" Sam said.
Natasha put the knife down slowly but Wanda didn't seem to be stopping. "Natasha, put the knife away, Wanda, stop waving your hands around it's not helping right now. Barnes please don't stab someone," Tony said as he noticed a knfie in Barnes hand. Just as quickly the knife dissappeared. Wanda glared at Tony but stalked back to the couch where she sat moodily. "Thank you," Tony said, he chose a chair at random and sat into it, tired from the near disaster they had.
Vision cleared his throat. "Perhaps an introduction would help," he offered.
"Yes, an introduction!" Sam said before anyone could disagree. "I'll even start. My name is Sam Wilson and I'm the Falcon," he said. The rest of the team said their names and callsigns befre it was Barnes' turn.
"I am the Winter Soldier," Barnes said. "You may call me Winter."