rekindleme | Flashy meets Slashy, Part 2!

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Flashy meets Slashy, Part 2!

Who: Tony Stark & Bucky Barnes. Later: YOU!
Where: First and second districts, possibly elsewhere
When: September 6th
Summary: A rematch for the ages, thanks to a little bit of malfunctioning dangerous tech. Later: Bucky roams around so people can point and laugh.
Warnings: Violence. Murderous intent. General Winter Soldier things.

[The former assassin thought he was beginning to improve himself, that maybe he could reclaim some part of his life that wasn't HYDRA and begin to move forward in earnest. He's been making progress towards that end and towards keeping the memories he's managed to get a hold of. He felt like he had purpose--that he was ready for whatever came his way.

It isn't that he clung to Steve so much that a day away makes him nervous. It's the thought that he might not return, that he might not remember, that brings him the most unease.

But instead of focusing on the things he can't change, he decides to focus on something he can do. Said something is currently taking a good look at the closed southern districts from atop a few roofs in the first and second districts. He remembers the warning given to them--that entering the places will drain their energy rapidly--but he wonders if maybe there's something hidden there, some reason for them to have kept these places closed when it's been pointed out that enough energy has been made to open them.

He doesn't really expect anyone to bother him, and he's fairly certain anyone he encounters will leave him be. It's not like he hasn't made peace (however shaky) with the one he had a violent encounter with the last time he was surveying things from a roof.]

[OPEN]

[To say Bucky is tired and in pain is a massive understatement. He's been tossed around and injured in more ways than he'd like to admit, and frankly, he doesn't intend to. He honestly could have nodded off in his room to speed up his recovery, but given that Stark is currently inhabiting the apartment, he thinks it's better to... go elsewhere, at least for the moment.

He decides to walk through the nearby districts, seeing what kind of collateral damage they left. A few dents and cracks in walls, a mark where he narrowly dodged getting blown up, bloodstains here and there--some his, some Stark's. He wonders if anyone saw them fighting, either the empty suit going berserk and attacking him or his attempts to hunt down the fleeing engineer. It would be nicer if no one did. He really doesn't feel like explaining anything.

At least he's in some less-tattered clothes now, even if he's only half bandaged up. He still looks like a mess, sadly, walking through the streets for no real reason except to get out of his shared apartment.]

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[The suit hovers, waiting to see if the threat's been eliminated. Seconds pass with no sign of him, though, and it nearly marks the dangerous target destroyed.

Then it registers the groan, and Bucky appears in the destroyed window. Target not eliminated. Additional firepower required. The suit's head snaps to look in Bucky's direction, and in the same inhumanly fast response several smaller rockets emerge from its shoulder and fire.]

[The suit catches his attention as it aims at him again, and he ducks back inside the window to narrowly avoid the bullet-like projectiles headed his way.

That's all it takes for him to fully register that the suit--Stark, he assumes--is attacking him, likely aiming to kill. That's all he needs to start thinking more like the Winter Soldier and less like Bucky Barnes.

He needs a way to bring the suit down, to lure it closer so he can do some actual damage. He finds himself sorely missing HYDRA's arsenal--again.

There are a few metal pipes inside the uninhabited building he crashed into--some remnant of construction or renovation that was never finished. They're about as close as he can get to anything remotely useful, so he grabs the nearest one and jumps out the window, rolling when he hits the ground.

He doesn't waste any time once he's gotten to his feet to toss the pipe at the suit with as much strength as his metal arm can manage.]

[If the Mark 42 was a person, it might be frustrated by the two misses. It also might find the presence of that pipe in its target's hands worth noting. Neither of these things are true.

The pipe is not a threat, Bucky Barnes is. The suit only gets three more missiles fired before the non-threatening pipe hits it directly in the faceplate with a loud clang that shakes up the circuitry inside. The software reboots, and the armor plummets to the ground like a sack of bricks.]

Edited (computer i stg i did not click that) 2014-09-06 08:31 (UTC)

[The soldier rushes forward as soon as the pipe is on its way to its target, dodging yet more projectiles. If he had time to think about it, he would be grateful they weren't explosive like the first was.

His left hand is drawn into a fist as he runs, ready to meet the falling suit with a punch if he can manage to get close enough. And if not... he'll just end up a little close for comfort and no way to attack, no big deal.]

[As soon as the system restarts, the repulsors light up, saving the armor from slamming into the ground. They don't, however, prevent the metal fist from connecting.

The HUD inside flashes the damage to the chestplate in red, even though there's nobody inside to see it. Damage to the exoskeleton must cease. Weapon damaging exoskeleton must be removed.

The suit grabs Bucky's metal wrist, thankfully not having the sense to rip it off the soldier's body, and attempts to fling the man away.]

[The split second after his wrist is grabbed, the soldier thinks this could have gone better. He doesn't have the time to think of how to escape the thing's grasp--and in any case, the problem is solved (in a way) relatively quickly.

Although his last mission target was the one that was closest to being capable of throwing him in such a way, he's not entirely prepared when the suit tosses him into a nearby wall, leaving a bit of a dent. Now that he's more focused and aware of what's going on, however, it doesn't disable him for nearly as long as the first attack. What it does do is piss him off a little more.

He doesn't have much trouble staying on his feet after that and begins to move sideways away from the wall, glaring at the suit and watching to see its next move.]

[The Mark 42 doesn't waste time or wait to see if its target has recovered. If Bucky went down, he needed to be finished off, and if he didn't, he needed to be taken down. Without emotions, it doesn't particularly matter to the suit.

When Bucky glares he'll find himself facing two glowing palms before it fires repulsors at him, much harder than Tony did in their first fight.]

[The soldier has little time to react. He only manages to take half a step before being forcibly thrown back into the wall, leaving an even larger dent next to the one he just created. He's again dazed for a moment, sliding to the ground despite a mild attempt to at least stay on his knees.

The suit is well equippped for ranged combat, and without any weapons of his own (aside from his currently-useless knife), the assassin is decidedly not. Not to mention the stupid thing's ability to make ranged combat stay ranged.

But he's not about to lie down and take it. He attempts to get to his feet once more and quickly move so that maybe, maybe the next attack will miss, or if it doesn't, that he won't be tossed into the same damn wall.

...He can only hope.]

[Start hoping really hard, Bucky.

The repulsors remain trained on him and quickly fire again. Bucky may be avoid to avoid being knocked into the same wall, or if he's very lucky have the attack miss altogether, but the Mark 42 appears to be doing its damnedest to smash him into hard surfaces until he doesn't get up again.]

[While he does manage to miss the poor building he's been thrown into twice, the repulsors hit him so hard he's tossed into another one anyway.

There's some more distance between them now, which could either be a good or a bad thing, but he's not wasting any time before trying to get to his feet and duck into an alleyway. Unfortunately the nearest one is... still not terribly near, and he's not as steady as he'd prefer after getting knocked into so many things.]

[The suit's head turns as it watches Bucky shakily stand and for once try to escape instead of fight. It's a good choice when up against Iron Man, but the Mark 42 has a pilot/dad/creator to protect, so fleeing isn't an option this time.

It raises its wrist, not in any particular hurry due to the distance to the nearest viable escape route and how unsteady the assassin's movements are, and from beneath a compartment in the forearm emerges a rocket of modest size. An anti-tank guided missile should do the trick, right?]

[As the assassin attempts to make his escape, he spots the rocket approaching out of the corner of his eye. It's only thanks to his superhuman speed and reflexes (and the use of his sturdier arm as a shield) that he manages to not get completely obliterated by it when it explodes and takes out a chunk of the road, along with a few unfortunate bikes.

What he is is forcefully thrown in the air several feet into a brick wall, and gravity does its job bringing him down from there. He's unconscious before he even hits the ground.]

[The Mark 42 registers that its target managed to dodge, but the margin of error is small enough to not matter. Bucky is flung against a solid wall by the explosion and for a moment disappears behind the veil of destruction. When the smoke clears, the target is down and unresponsive. Bleeding from multiple minor abrasions and lacerations. Estimated collective damage from seventeen projectiles fatal.

The suit watches in complete stillness for thirty seconds, during which the target makes no movement. Satisfied its creator has been successfully protected, the Mark 42 fires up its repulsors and takes off.]

[Another ninety seconds after the suit leaves, the injured man finally begins to stir, rasping out a breath as he tries to lift his head. He finds that the action reminds him of just how much pain he's in--which happens to be a lot. He can't recall a time he's been covered in as much of his own blood as he is now.

A cautious glance from the ground reveals that his assailant has left the area. Iron Man didn't even bother to stay and finish him off while he was vulnerable, or underestimated him and thought that these wounds would be enough to kill him. He doesn't know whether to be relieved or furious.

He decides on the latter. He should have known that Stark would make his move as soon as Steve was gone.

His anger and drive allow him to ignore the pain and weakness his body feels as he pushes forward, stealthily making his way to the shared apartment in order to avoid any possibility of being spotted by the man in that damned suit.

When he finally arrives on the eighth floor, panting and covered in blood, ash and glass, he doesn't hesitate. With an electric keening sound likely audible from inside the apartment, he wrenches the door off its hinges and tosses it halfway down the hall in order to find the engineer inside.]

[MEANWHILE...

Tony noticed Steve is gone. Of course he noticed--he's Tony Fucking Stark. He's just not terribly worried--the guy disappeared and reappeared once before, right? He's not even all that worried about being left alone with Barnes. Sure, they're not buddies, but the assassin hasn't assaulted him in months, which is enough for Tony to move him into the category of Annoying But Not Life-threatening.

... Which is why he never suspects the danger of Bucky return. Sure, he hears the familiar mechanical whine and turns in time to see the door be forcefully ripped out, takes in the image of the Winter Soldier looking like hell, but his only reaction is that of disbelief and minor indignation.]

Uh, wow. Okay. Anger issues, obviously--in this decade we use doorknobs, just FYI--but what the hell happened to you?

[All Stark's feigned ignorance manages to do is enrage the assassin further. Hardly waiting for the man to finish speaking, he rushes forward to forcefully take the man by the throat before he can retaliate. He won't allow himself to be at a disadvantage again.

The Winter Soldier is an efficient killing machine, but that time has passed. He's going to make this hurt.]

[For a second Tony's confused. Why is Barnes running at him, and why does he look so pissed?

It's one second too long. Tony realizes Bucky is attacking him far too late to do anything but make a weak attempt to dodge. It's distressingly similar to their second meeting, with one major difference--the metal hand that closes around his throat is far stronger and less forgiving than the assassin's flesh and blood hand.]

JAR--[Tony's attempt to call out for JARVIS to shut down that arm ends prematurely in a choked gurgle. Shit. Shit.]

[With the engineer in hand, the soldier turns and takes a step towards the ruined door frame, his arm nearly screeching as he prepares to use a significant amount of its strength. He bodily throws Stark out into the hallway and against a wall, going just easy enough to prevent the blow from knocking the man out.

He's going to inflict as much pain as he conceivably can before he eliminates his target. He will not be fooled by false allies again, and he will not be underestimated.]

[Tony's had a look inside that metal arm. He could practically rebuild parts of it in his sleep. So he doesn't bother trying uselessly to pry the gleaming fingers off his throat. There wouldn't be a point.

He looks around wildly, trying to find an actually viable solution to the problem, before his world abruptly shifts and pain shoots through his body. The engineer blinks and groans, disoriented, realizing he was actually thrown into a wall. Son of a bitch.

But. He's free of that metal grip at least. And Tony Stark is nothing if not an opportunist and a survivor.

He stumbles brokenly to his feet, adrenaline thankfully making him able to ignore the way his body aches, and flees down the hall.]

[With a smirk pulling at his lips, the soldier turns and pursues his target, mechanical arm reaching to grab the man from behind. It's not quite yet time for the hunt; he still has a few things to inflict upon the man before he sends him out running.

After that, though, he'll be patient. He knows every corner of this small city thanks to his constant hyper vigilance, and he's ready for whatever the man tries to do to retaliate.]

[It's probably not a good sign how quickly Tony's thought process switches away from Why is Barnes trying to kill me? It feels inevitable, and the flash of anger that bubbles through adrenaline is for Rogers, not his so-called friend. Rogers was the one who insisted Bucky wouldn't turn on them like a rabid dog, and lo-and-behold, look what happens when Rogers leaves.

Tony flees down the skywalk, taking advantage of the very brief privacy turning the corner yields. He stumbles, falling on his knee with a loud curse, but it's exactly the opportunity he needs. There's a 3" nail on the floor, and Tony lunges for it, palms it right before the metal arm closes around the back of his t-shirt.]

[Once he gets the engineer in hand, he doesn't waste any time forcefully dragging him over to the stairwell. Seeing as they're on the eighth floor, he's hoping it'll be an especially satisfying tumble down, maybe with a few fractures--but if not, he can always inflict them himself later.

He doesn't see the nail that Stark grabs, and doesn't bother keeping an eye on the man as he's dragging him. The soldier will be able to feel if he tries something to escape.]

[Oh good. Thrown down the staircase. Exactly what Tony needs.

He fidgets with the nail as he dragged across the hall, thinking fast. It'd be better if he could use it later, when the surprise would give him a better chance of escape, but on the other hand... Tony really can't think of a way for tumbling down stairs with a rusty nail in his hand would end well for him. He's had quite enough metal in his body, thanks.

Well. Guess that's that. Tony waits until the last possible moment, when the metal grip has loosened. Step one: get rid of the nail. He twists with a loud grunt, flinging his arm out to slam the nail between two plates in the soldier's bicep with all the strength he can muster. Step two: escape. Gravity is unfortunately his best ally here, and he's pretty sure the tumble down will still suck less than whatever Barnes will do to him.]

[The assassin lets out a startled cry of pain when the sharp point makes its way to the one vulnerable part of his left arm, stopping him from following through on the throw as he first intended. Despite the one unharmed part of him being unexpectedly harmed, however, he recovers quickly--it only serves to make him angrier. Not even when he fought the captain had he been this furious.

Well, the captain hadn't convinced him he was an ally at that point, either.

A preliminary attempt to dig the nail out shows the effort to be a waste of time. Instead of continuing to try, he begins to slowly make his way down the stairs and begin his pursuit. He wants to see Stark scramble to get away and ultimately fail when the soldier corners him.]

[The ungraceful descent down the first flight of stairs ends thankfully with Tony managing to somehow stay on his feet. Aw, yeah, stuck the landing.

He doesn't waste time looking up at Barnes, just scrambles down the next flight...

As it turns out, eight floors of stairs turns out to be a hell of a lot of stairs. Especially for a guy who recently had major chest surgery. Tony makes it as far as the fifth floor before he has stop, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. Barnes obviously isn't running to catch him, which means he's either up there but not in a hurry... or the bastard's shimmied down the outside of the building and is just waiting for Tony to get to the bottom floor.

He takes a few precious seconds to get his breathing under control, then makes the gestures to call the Mark 42 to him and considers his options. One floor down there's a skywalk to the next building. Plus maybe he can find an apartment that's unlocked. Tony heads down.]

Flashy meets Slashy, Part 2!

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this is like the first time i've used all three of these icons

i'm glad i could give you this opportunity

i'm quite pleased

well i do aim to please

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