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Event - Dogged

Dogged

The message goes out to everyone on ADI's network. It seems to be something captured live. It's Pam Ruan, head of HR who holds a prosthetic finger up to her lips before whispering, "Everyone's pushing for transparency right now, right? Figuring out where threats are coming from and sharing. I think that should come at all levels. Let's see what Nia's talking about with Mr. Zyrian Steel, hmm?"

The camera flips around as Pam clearly creeps closer to an office door. There are muffled voices, and Pam sets the phone face up before using one hand to shove the thing under the door. The video shows a sliding picture of the office's bland ceiling for a moment before coming to a stop. The voices become much clearer.

"-down in Wolf Trap," a masculine voice is saying. Presumably, Zyrian Steel. "There's just no need for that."

"Zyrian, this ain't a negotiation." Nia Lehrer's voice is familiar to most people working at ADI at this point. They've likely heard her speak in some pre-recorded training videos at the bare minimum. Nia's tone is no nonsense and clearly on the edge of snapping in frustration. "You're not hiring us. I'm sending my people down to Wolf Trap next month. We've got evidence of those signalhead things being on the march, one down that way, your kick off for New Horizons in the park, and evidence out of there about the Lullaby Girl from some of my people."

There is silence.

"You remember her? Ava? Or Amber, it seems like. She's the one you gave us those Lucidio masks to help train our people against. Frankly, I'd be surprised if you don't remember her, Mr. S." Another drawn out pause. "You ain't been straight with me for a long time. You ain't been straight with ADI since Tawnya was Warden. You tell me you need us in Buffalo, payback for helping in Wolf Pen and Cortana and the mobile med units, and not only do half the staff come back with crab claws and whiskers, but I find out you're using us for business politics." There's venom in her tone. "Or were you just going to stay quiet about Etcher's enterprises competing with your own software companies? ADI is not your personal attack dog. You are our client. And I thought my friend. But I'm about 30 seconds away from firing you from both."

Further silence, then a heavy sigh. "And I was going to offer to send you and your staff on such a nice retreat." There's the sound of a chair being pushed back. "Warden, I think you misunderstand the nature of our relationship. You are the dogs. I am the master. I hold your leash. Or have you forgotten just how much technology I've donated to ADI over the years, how many of your systems run on things I built? We've had a mutually beneficial relationship up until now- Well… you and I have. Tawnya got to be a problem before the end, too. But I made sure that was taken care of."

"You self-aggrandizing son of a-"

"You're a much more practical woman than she ever was, even with those shiny ideals you hold so dear. You'll compromise for the greater good, to protect what's yours. Such a good Warden, looking out for her charges."

"What are you talking about? And get your hands the hell off my desk."

"Haven't you ever wondered about the title? Warden. Odd name for a leader of any organization, even one like yours. But maybe not so odd when you consider your more eldritch masters." A scoff. "The Hunt always does pick out the most oblivious avatars, doesn't it? What does a Warden do?" A beat. "She controls the monsters, Nia. Sniffs them out and contains them. And she goes after the poachers coming after her prey. Tell me, have you ever noticed how you're always picking up on threats far afield with uncanny precision. It's been getting stronger, hasn't it? Tawnya was the same way. As was her predecessor, I imagine."

"That's not- I wouldn't ever…"

"Wouldn't you, though? Every time you sent your own dogs after a threat, reveled in it, you were being such a good Warden, instilling terror in the hearts of your enemies, ADI's enemies. So many cults know who and what you are and they fear it. Fear the Warden of ADI, famed avatar of the Hunt. Even now, I know you've compromised yourself. Have you considered what that's done to you? You let that Visionary kid stay alive. I rather think that might have been the start of your slide, hmm? Making exceptions, just this once.

"Now," he continues, voice growing louder and footsteps starting toward the phone, "I realize this is a lot to take in, to think about. Why don't you do that self-reflection while I attend to other matters? You are doing good work, puppy. I need a dependable pet to take care of all those nasty pests who keep trying rituals. But no need to worry about the New Horizons launch, really. I'll just-" Zyrian pauses and everyone will have a view of a middle-aged caucasian man with dark, slightly graying hair and a beard. He's wearing khakis and a Hawaiian shirt, and he's looking down at Pam's phone.

"Well… fuck." He stomps a heeled shoe on it and the transmission ends abruptly.

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Steve nods. He's been thinking about Cortana a lot. And the others like her - the ones who aren't human.

"I want to see if we can help the people who can't just... walk out, the same way we can." He knows they're privileged, him and Yelena and Winter and Kate, at least. They can just walk out into the world. Cortana, Rue and Hob, so many others - they can't, and Steve doesn't know how to help them.

But maybe he could, if he can find out what ADI is doing in the first place, so they can replicate it or steal it or - something. "So it's okay if we stay a little longer. I want to do some digging. And Steel needs to be dealt with, I don't disagree."

So, yes. They should stay that long, at least.

In the meantime, "Will you talk to Kate? And anyone else you think might come with."

"Belova might talk to Kate first, but if she doesn't." He hesitates briefly, then nods. "I will. I'm not leaving her here if she doesn't want to be here. She's my team, too."

And they've got time. Time to plan. Time to make plans. "Belova and I have been looking for places for a while. We'll need to fix something up, probably, but. We can go somewhere together."

"We'll manage." Jesus, it feels like a mantra at this point, but it just... has to be true. "I don't have a lot of experience as a handyman, but I do know which end of a hammer to hold."

He pauses, then lets one corner of his lips tick up. "I even come with my own."

Which probably should not be used to pound nails.

But, more seriously: "Do you have anything picked out yet?" It doesn't sound like it, but he's a little surprised - and then a little not - to think about them looking for places. Just in case.

"Don't you dare use Mjolnir on construction," Winter warns, only about half seriously. "You'll zap the whole building."

He shakes his head a little, then. "There's a couple options. Belova needs to approve and then we need to. Actually buy it." He pauses. "I don't know how to do that. Hopefully she does."

Steve rolls his eyes a little, but, "I won't," he promises. Even he knows that's a little ridiculous.

But as for the actual matter at hand, "I can help. I don't know much about it, but I know something." He's never bought a place, but he's fairly sure he can help with finances and contracts. "If she needs any help. But I wouldn't doubt it if she does know how to handle that all on her own. I trust her." And any place she'd choose. "I'll talk to her. See if she needs anything more concrete than my support."

He pauses, then, taking a breath, letting it out. "I know you don't believe ADI could ever help us get back. I - don't know what I believe about them, but I do believe it doesn't matter anymore. I'm in this. With you, and with her."

He'd spent a long time believing there was some way home, through ADI or otherwise. Now... Now, he's realized that he's slowly stopped caring quite so much.

Winter blinks a few times at him, clearly taken aback. "You are?" Winter is still not great at long-term planning. He's been letting ADI do that for him, and sometimes Yelena, but he'd always known they were never going home. Even if it were possible, it would take so much fear-powered magic that it would be... a bad idea.

But he also knows Steve has always wanted to go back. Never actually thought he'd be content with what he has here, a broken not-his-person and constant danger and fear. So this-- is a surprise. And it makes him want to... do something. He isn't sure what that something is.

He settles for what he usually does when overwhelmed with a positive emotion. "Steve. May I hug you."

Steve had wanted to go back, both out of a sense of duty and a sense of longing. But while the first still eats at him a little, the second... doesn't, after everything. And even that sense of duty - well. What about this place? He's here, and he isn't going to ignore what's in front of him for someplace he doesn't know how to reach. That's - that feels like a mistake he's maybe already made, and he doesn't want to do it again.

"I - yeah, pal," he says, and does what you do for that to happen: He opens his arms. But he also waits for Winter to make the next move. "Yeah, of course."

He... thinks that's a good sign, right? Winter generally only wants to touch when it's for a good reason. Literally.

There's a beat of hesitation as to how to go about this, as everyone he's hugged has been smaller than him not bigger, but then he steps into Steve's arms and tucks his under them, around Steve. Finds his head right up against Steve's shoulder. He could tuck his chin over it, but he doesn't want to, he wants to press into the stop of Steve's shoulder, instead. So he does.

"I'm glad," he says, a little muffled now. "Don't know what I'd do if you somehow went back."

Well, Steve doesn't have a lot of experience with hugs, either. But he does his best, wrapping his arms around Winter and thinking it's both good and weird, holding him like this. Being bigger. But definitely not bad.

Especially not when Winter leans into him, face pressed to his shoulder. It sends a little thrill of warmth through him, even as he lets out a quiet breath and murmurs, "You'd be okay."

Maybe not great, for a while. But okay. Winter - Bucky - is a survivor. Somehow, they both are.

But even so, "I don't want to leave you." He knows that, deep down, more certain than anything else. Things have changed, and he can't - won't - take them back.

Edited 2023-07-20 03:43 (UTC)

"No dying, either," Winter warns, not moving his face from Steve's shoulder. He smells good. Well. Maybe not good but like Steve and that's... kind of automatically good. "Got to be careful so you can stay with me. Okay?"

It seems important that he impress this on Steve. Whether because of something in their past, or from Steve's general reckless behavior now, he has to make sure Steve knows to stay alive.

Steve laughs, just a little, though there's the tiniest, tiniest hint of wetness underneath it. If you listen carefully. "No. No dying, either. That's not the plan."

He's glad Winter hasn't moved, yet, even as he lets out a breath. "But I've gotta admit. I'm kind of shit at being careful."

He feels like he should at least be honest.

"Maybe I could practice."

You walked right into this one, Steve. Winter lifts his head, finally, and there might be a hint of wickedness behind his bland expression. "Then you'll wear gloves for Mjolnir. That'll be good practice."

Steve groans and rolls his eyes a little. It's all very dramatic. "What would I ever do without you here telling me how to be safe."

It's sarcastic, but also a little fond. And yes, he'll wear the damn gloves. He guesses it really is the least he could do. "Some of your suggestions ought to involve me not looking like an idiot, though."

Well.

"More of an idiot than usual."

"You don't look like an idiot," Winter counters, and steps back again. "You look like you. With big rubber gloves on." He claps Steve on the shoulder once. "Come on. Let's get some lunch and I can tell you about the places me and Belova have been looking at."

Steve rolls his eyes. Hard. Can you feel his suffering, Winter? So much suffering.

But he does want to hear about the houses (if they can be called that), so he relents. "All right, yeah. Let's do that."

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Event - Dogged

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