[log] transfusion test [closed]

[advanced]

Characters: Bucky, Watson, Zack and Kunsel
Location: House 76
Date: Day 188, evening
Summary: John performs a blood transfusion to hopefully cure MN poisoning
Warnings: None (as the actual transfusion is being skipped)

[A standard single-story house with a kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom, and bedroom. All of the doors inside the house have had their handles broken off. They can still be pushed open, but none of them close properly, not even the bathroom.]

Comments

Before

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel and Zack had actually arrived the night before, along with Zell and Jim. The other two had gone on with all empty packs to grab much-needed supplies from the store, leaving everything else behind to lighten their load. As for the two SOLDIERs? They've spent the day resting - or doing squats - and probably distracting each other with terrible romance books. Hey, don't judge. This is how grown men cope.

But they're already set up, with blankets on the bed, and their extra gear stashed in a closet, before anyone else arrives.]

[heroproceeding]

[ There's only so many squats you can do in a day. Of course, there's also only so many bad romance novels you can read, too. Even while Zack's done his best to try and get as obnoxiously into character as possible, it doesn't really erase the lingering unease that sits with him. He'd told Tony once before- even if he knew there was something more, he still didn't trust this Bucky guy. Add in the fact that John's been attacked by him once already among his other offenses and the longer the day goes on, the more restless Zack gets.

But he tries his best to deal if only for Kunsel's sake. If things work right, maybe they'll get ahead of worst of what's going on with that other man. Worst case? He'll be helping to trap him somewhere where he can't hurt anyone that night.

He's gonna hope it doesn't come to that though as he shoots another text off for another update on the boys. Then, he's glancing out a window, head tilting to the side even as he cradles the latest book in his hand. ]

Think I've romanced myself out for the day. Man... This is probably more than I've ever read in my life.

[advanced]

[He's not looking forward to this.

Even if it had just been John, someone he mostly trusts now, this isn't a situation he feels comfortable in placing himself. Vulnerable physically, and with two added people in the mix now, he's especially on edge. He almost doesn't stop at the agreed meeting point. Almost.

He's not happy to see two people that aren't John when he slips inside the door, and it shows in the small scowl at his face.]

Is John here yet?

[jumpthegun]

[John is last, unfortunately, but he's not actually all that far behind Bucky. It's just dark, at this point, which makes seeing the other man difficult. Not long after the former Soldier enters, the doctor raps on the door.

He's carrying himself a little stiffly, limping, there are bandages over where his right eye used to be, and a stitched up slice down his cheek on that same side. There are a few other injuries that aren't visible from his latest fight with the Joker, but he's not going to mention those and just let the assumption be that these are all from Stein.]

Evening, gentlemen.

[Said wearily.]

Thank you all for coming.

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel might have cracked a joke at Zack about that comment on his reading, but the interruption of arrivals saves his best friend from whatever sorry attempt at humor that might have been. Zack should thank Bucky and John for that.]

Hey. Glad you made it.

[He steps back now that they've confirmed that it's who they're expecting, and not...

Well, there's a few people that Kunsel's glad they're not, not to mention the monsters around here.]

Better get in. Lockdown's not too far off. [A pause as he looks over John, concerned.] You alright there, John?

[heroproceeding]

[He had already been eyeing Bucky warily the moment he had set foot in the house, surprise finding him quickly followed by something that might have been the start of sympathy though whether it comes from the lack of arm or something else, it's hard to say. His hand hadn't twitched for the grip of the knife on his belt until Bucky had asked about John. There had been something of an incredulous expression on Zack's face then as he realized who he really was. But by the time he gets himself sorted enough to say something, John's already at the door and John's-

Zack's eyes go wide. ]

Seriously, what the hell happened to you?

[ His gaze darts from Watson to Bucky and back before landing on Bucky again and this time he can't help but add: ] And what happened to your arm?

[advanced]

[He doesn't relax at all when John gets there, his eyes darting from one to the other in wariness. He hates being trapped in a house with people he doesn't know well and he can't shake the little voice at the back of his head that whispers a pervasive surety that John is only trying to hurt him. That this transfusion is just to weaken him so that they can all turn on him.

It's so stupid, so wrong, and he can't dispel it no matter how hard he tries.]

I lost it.

[Said so blankly, looking over at Zack with the most unimpressed expression.]

It's not your business how.

After (and later)

[jumpthegun]

[The others in the bedroom might be able to hear some of John's conversation with Alfie. Although, he does have the sound on his tablet turned down low, and his own voice is soft until the very end when it breaks for a moment.

The doctor stands abruptly, placing his hand against one wall as a guide and moving away to one of the unoccupied rooms in the house. His face is blank, but he has the tablet clutched in a white-knuckle grip. He wants to scream, he wants to cry, he wants to be angry, but there's too much anger at himself for letting them get to this point. For letting Alfie matter this much to him when he knew the sort of man he was. It's always his fault. No matter what he does, John knows that it's always going to be his fault.

If anyone follows him, they'll be treated to one of two sights. If they're very quick about it, they might catch John picking up one of the dining room chairs and chucking it against the wall. If they wait and come after the crash, they'll find him just standing silently, head down and a hand over his face.]

[advanced]

[He's been mostly sitting in silence once it's done, feeling the extremely odd sensations of the paranoia that's been eating at his brain slowly recede. It's like a search beam cutting through fog, and all of a sudden he can see just how twisted his own thoughts had become. How distrusting, how eager to see enemies where there were only friends.

It's cost him a lot.

It cost him Steve.

He needs to thank Kunsel for the donation and John for giving him back his sense of self, but he's distracted before he can by the sound of the argument over the tablet. He's swift enough to see the chair being destroyed, but he doesn't make mention of it as he picks his way over the broken wood.]

We all have lines we can't cross without breaking, don't be ashamed of yours.

[jumpthegun]

He said I disgust him. [It's just so... visceral. John's heard things like that thrown at Harry, especially when they were younger and he was still trying to defend her from bullies at school. But it hits him harder than anything else Alfie's said.] And he's right to think it.

[John sniffs and brushes a few tears away. He doesn't look at Bucky, just keeps his head down, turned away from the other man in the dark.]

No one wins here. If I kill him, murder him in cold-blood, he might come back even worse. If I don't I'm the man who let the Joker get away to kill and hurt people.

[The doctor laughs humorlessly.] Look at me. He's a bloody gang lord I've known a couple of months. God, he shouldn't matter this much.

[advanced]

Everyone says things they don't mean in the heat of the moment.

[He has no idea if Alfie means what he says in this regard; but from all he's heard about Alfie and John's friendship, it seems to be strong enough that a remark of being disgusted has to be heated tempers.]

But you're an idiot to think that.

[Blunt. Firm.]

You're not the only one who's had charge of the Joker and not killed him, what makes you more culpable than them? Or do you blame all of them as much as yourself?

[jumpthegun]

[John's pretty sure Alfie meant it. That tone... But he doesn't want to sound like some sort of jilted boyfriend, so he doesn't protest.]

Of course I don't blame them. But Alfie... He yelled at me for holding my ground on not killing them an, and then he got away. I promised I'd make sure to keep the Joker away from him, from Emily. If I can't, that is on me. [Because he's broken his word.]

[advanced]

No, it's not.

[He's not going to stand for this sort of stupid self flagellation.]

It's your fault for making a promise there was no way you could keep, but you can't take responsibility for someone else's actions. He makes his own choices, and he'd make those choices if he came back from the dead too. You're a smarter man than to blame yourself for this.

That should have been 'him, then.' And the italics ended sooner. Thanks autocorrect.

[jumpthegun]

That's not how Alfie's gonna see it. [Alfie's already told him he'll be holding him responsible.] I have to fix this. I don't... know how to fix it. Sherlock's... we fought sometimes. He doesn't care about people like I do. He cares, just... the puzzle matters more. He breaks the law, he's a prick to people, he doesn't care about rules if they don't suit him, but we've never rowed about anything like this. He's always understood that taking a life matters. Why you do it. How you do it. It matters.

I don't know what to do with Alfie.

[heroproceeding]

[ It's not until later that Zack comes to find John. Not that he hadn't been... well. Eavesdropped a bit anyway. At least enough to know that Bucky's not doing anything to John again. Even with what Tony said, even though Bucky seems to be a non-threat at the moment, he also doesn't have another arm, so that also might have something to do with how low key things are. Zack... doesn't know. But he hasn't tried anything on Kunsel, John, or himself that night.

Doesn't mean he's not going to check on him later though, poking into the room. He doesn't want to leave Kunsel for long. In fact, he'd rather have this conversation in the other room with him. But that just means multitasking as far as attention goes as he nods to the other man. ]

Hey... What's going on?

[jumpthegun]

[John's calmed down after his talk with Bucky. But he sense that he's just failed and lost someone very important is still there. He's not crying anymore, or teary, at least. So that's a plus.]

Nothing.

[Okay, that's a lie he can't keep up.]

Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Zack. I'm sorry for the racket.

[heroproceeding]

[ He's heard that before. Much like he's heard the latter before. But if John was hoping to sway him away from talking, he's gonna have to try harder than that, especially if the raised eyebrow's any indication. ]

When you come in the door and the first thing I see is a bandage the size of Midgar over your eye, I'd say I have a lot to be concerned about. And you were getting on my case for taking care of myself. And that's not even getting into how you didn't tell any of us what happened between you and Bucky at the aquarium until after Kunsel and Zell got back.

[ Among other things. He doesn't sound mad at least. But definitely exasperated as he folds his arms. ]

[jumpthegun]

[John bristles a bit, but he doesn't have the emotional energy to get very defensive. He just sounds tired as he replies.]

Stein took my eye out the night everyone went crazy. I've done what I can for it. There's nothing much else to do. Bucky was... it was a misunderstanding between us. That's why I wanted to keep it quiet.

[heroproceeding]

[Zack winces at the truth. Not only was he injured- worse. His eye removed? He bites his tongue a moment as he studies the bandage. Better his eye than his life, but watching him work the delicate work he dows up close and personal for once....

Zack sighs sympathetically. ]

Even if it was a misunderstanding, you withheld information that could have done a lot of damage. I know what he's done before, John. Whether or not he means to do it isn't going to matter if he catches someone I care about off guard and kills them because they didn't know.

Was the MN poisoning getting to him back then, too?

[heroproceeding]

[ Even long after the transfusion, Zack's up. Keeping an eye on Kunsel or general unease? Likely both. It gets him pacing here and there. Falling back into his regimen of exercises another time. Here and there, he even pulls out his tablet, tempted to contact Jim and Zell, but they have already notified him. He needs to keep working on trusting them. But no matter what else he does, nothing seems to hold his attention for long and he keeps rolling his shoulders when he thinks no one is looking. Sometimes accompanied with a wince.

It's gonna be a long night if he remains this way and he knows it. Knows heading out that morning will be rough. But a glance Bucky's way at times probably tells much of the story. ]

[advanced]

[Bucky remained stoic throughout the procedure, he didn't even wince when the needle was drawn in and out so many times, and he moved away as soon as humanly possible when it was all done.

Now, hours later, it's the strangest sensation to be able to feel the dark thoughts ebbing from his mind. The glances that Zack throws his way aren't interpreted as the threats he would have seen only that morning, and that in itself has him offering a tiny smile.]

Thanks.

[heroproceeding]

...Huh? Yeah, uh. No problem, I guess.

[ He.. vaguely shrugs his shoulders as he debates on wandering off again. But stays in the end, gaze slowly going directly to the other man. ] Though it's not like I did much. John and Kuns are the ones you ought'a thank. I was just the man holding the light.

[ Let's be real here, buddy. That's all he was doing for the most part. And... doing whatever John needed him to do when necessary. It doesn't really change the way Zack's gaze lingers too obviously. ]

[advanced]

[He's not wrong, but Bucky is feeling more relaxed than he has done in weeks. Even with the added stress of Pierce being there, knowing his mind is free of the fog of paranoia is a huge burden lifted. It means he wants to be a bit friendlier, even to the strangers.]

You came with him, you didn't have to.

[He knows he came to take care of Kunsel, but that doesn't change that he's here.]

Thank you both for coming to help me.

[heroproceeding]

Kuns is my best friend. Whenever he goes, I follow. [ Whether he necessarily agrees or not.. There might be the faintest hint of a smile at the thought before it dissipates. ]

...But I guess I figured I owed you, too, in a way. For the other night. I know you could'a stopped me if you wanted to. [ Killed him. ] ...But you didn't go about it the way I would'a thought you would. It... surprised me.

[ And judging by the touch of a thoughtful grimace and the way Zack folds his arms, it did more than just that. ]

[advanced]

[He understands that sort of feeling, he had it about Steve back in the day. But that was a long time ago, back when he was a different man.

His eyebrows raise, surprised.]

You expected me to attack you.

[Of course he does.]