[That is unexpected; but he'd figured on something being off since he felt Howard watching him. Even though it is confirmation, his shoulders stiffen and he turns to stare at Howard briefly, before searching for a weapon. Where's his spare when he needs it?]
Seems to me that most people who fought in the war do. [He knows that's not what Howard meant, but he's choosing to disregard it for now. Maybe if he ignores it Howard will go away and he can find Steve.]
[That. That almost gets through to him. He looks physically punched and whatever's going on wavers. How does it feel? He's pretty damn angry. Something sours in his stomach.]
[He bristles at those words, fighting back the internal shudder that goes along with that. He forces himself to keep cool, though, knowing that a violent reaction would likely get more punishment than just insolence. Even so, he can't help but flex the hand on his metal arm a bit, just to get his point across. When he replies, his voice is as collected and detached as the Winter Soldier's should be, no emotion.]
[Later, much later when he's back to normal and recovering from whatever the hell happened to him he will cry. Quietly and to himself, pushed to the limit. And drink harder. Much harder then he would, then he should.
Now however he meets bucky's gaze head on, cold and cruel.]
[This is not Howard Stark, this is howard stark hydra agent. This isn't Howard Stark who would have driven to the senate chair committee, who would have shut it down as he had tried to do. This was a man who was corrupted, who had corrupted ideals.
He leans over Barnes's body before patting him on the cheek]
SHIELD, sir. [For a moment it feels ...almost wrong to say that, but he pushes that back. He pushes a lot of things back. They're not relevant to his orders.]
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[What happened to subservience?! He growls] ...You nearly killed me!
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[He wipes a hand over the back of his mouth] back to the labs with you.
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Go to hell.
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He smiles]
You'd know all about hell wouldn't you?
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...Stand down asset.
[He's breathy, speaking hard and fast]
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Go fuck yourself, Stark.
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Now however he meets bucky's gaze head on, cold and cruel.]
sputnik.
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He leans over Barnes's body before patting him on the cheek]
Asset.
Can you hear me?
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Who do you serve?
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[He stares at him.] And who am I?
[If this worked, he should say director of shield. but if it didn't...well no small loss. He wouldn't remember him taunting him at least]
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[He puts a hand on Barnes's head] One of our agents has turned traitor. He threatens everything we're trying to do here. I need him eliminated.
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Time limit?
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As soon as you can.
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[There's no hesitancy in his tone]
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Yes, sir.