[log] A Matter of Trust [closed]

[jumpthegun]

Characters: John Watson and Bucky Barnes
Location Building 235 (the Aquarium)
Date: Day 160 - Night
Summary: John's come to try to help Bucky with his frostbitten arm. Bucky was using that as a lure for a trap to interrogate Watson about what he knows. It's not going to end well for anyone.
Warnings: Excessive violence, blood, gangrene grossness

[The aquarium has the feel of a small-town tourist attraction, the sort built to give people just stopping to fuel up on petrol a reason to stay for an hour or two. As John makes it into the place, it's early evening. There are various aquariums inside that, according to plaques beside them, once showcased various Alaskan fish; they're empty now. He checks in the bathroom and finds that the water does, indeed run hot, and that's a relief. The whole atmosphere is kind of eerie, with the water casting rippling patterns on the walls, ceilings, and floors, but there's warm water, and John's just going to have to wait for Bucky since a look around tells him he's alone.

After washing up, himself in the sink, and taking the moment to shave and wash his hair, John goes looking in the gift shop. He finds a stuffed dolphin that he decides to keep for Ecks. As that leaves him still with no Bucky and time to occupy himself, the doctor sends a brief message out:]

@jwatson > @username
I'm here.

[When Bucky arrives, John is entirely preoccupied using his tablet light to read some of the plaques. His ears are tuned for the sounds of others, but someone making the effort could probably sneak up on him.]

Comments

[advanced]

[He doesn't leave his hand there long, dropping it back to his side and retreating a few steps to outside of arm's length once more.]

Then maybe it's enough you know and you believe.

[There's no fix for this. He's lost someone important - boyfriend(?!) - or just friend, and there's no way to make it better. He knows, he's lost people before and he's sure Watson has too. Military men in combat don't go through their careers without losing friends.]

I understand why you don't want to think about it. It doesn't work like that though, does it? The things you want to forget, they're the ones you remember the clearest.

[jumpthegun]

Mrs. Hudson still believes in him... [The only other attendant at Sherlock's funeral. Molly, Lestrade, and Angelo had sent flowers, at least. Mycroft, as well. John had seriously considered just throwing that arrangement into the bins.]

It doesn't matter here. [John rolls his shoulders and immediately regrets it as the motion pulls at his chest. His breath catches in his throat, and he winces.] I'll just... I'll rest in here, but you need to clean your shoulder after the way I wrenched it. Please.

[advanced]

[That's a dismissal and he'll respect it. They still have all day tomorrow to spend in one another's company, that's probably more than enough for the poor doctor.]

I will.

[He'll be up all night anyway, he'll do it at some point after Watson has gone to sleep. He won't clean his shoulder off with the man in here, he'll grab some water later and do it outside. He takes a few steps back towards the door of the bathroom.]

I'll be outside.

[jumpthegun]

Goodnight, Bucky.

[advanced]

Goodnight, Dr. Watson.

[He doesn't hang around after that, leaving the bathroom as promised.

If Watson does wake in the night, or when morning comes, Bucky will be awake and keeping watch as promised.]