thecapitol | Mission: Capitol Liberation

Who| Bucky Barnes, Enjolras, Joan Watson, Punchy, & Marius Pontmercy.
What| Liberation of the idiots.
Where| The Tribute Center
When| January 1st
Warnings/Notes| N/A

This leg of the mission would require more stealth and discretion than anything else. The team would go into the Capitol, making use of the smuggling method the rebels had established and make their way into the Tribute Center. Bucky, Enjolras, and Joan would be provided with elaborate disguises to aid in their infiltration if necessary, otherwise they would be very much on their own. The hovercraft couldn't wait around for them and they would have no back up in case something went wrong.

It wasn't until they were nearly to the Capitol that their targets were revealed. Punchy and Marius. Wait... Punchy and Marius?

Doubts as to their suitability as soldiers aside, the trio's mission was clear. They had to be in and out of there and at the rendezvous point before 2300. It was 0700 when they were dropped off. Plenty of time, right? Right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's that last part that earns him a little surprised look. It wasn't that he thought war was a uniquely Panem thing, it was more that he hadn't thought about the other worlds much at all. In all honesty, it warmed him more towards Sam than just about anything else the other man could have said.

"Well, thanks for that. You're right, I am a victor, but there's more to it than that. I believe you that you're a soldier and I think you're a good man if the company you keep's any indication-" He wouldn't name names, couldn't more like, but if Steve was still Steve, then anyone he trusted Bucky could trust as well. "-so that's why I need you to listen when I tell you it could mean serious trouble for you if the wrong ears heard you'd seen me, I'm from District 13." His lips twitched in what was almost a smile. "And I'm dead, so you see why I need your secrecy. Can I trust you?" If he didn't think he could, he wouldn't have said as much as he had, but he still wanted to hear it.

He can't help but give a little bit of a grin at that surprised look, but it fades when Barnes starts talking, as he listens intently.

Recognition sparks in Sam's eyes when he mentions District 13. The home of the rebellion, the ones that the Tributes had talked in circles around on what Sam'd read on Lonestar's post, and no one seems to be sure if they can trust them or not. Hell, Initiate himself had said to be careful how much they trusted the rebellion. But a lot of people had also said they were their best allies, and even as short of a time as Sam'd been here compared to some of the others, he agrees.

There's a few things he could say here, arguments he could make on behalf of his trustworthiness, but he doesn't want to say too much here in the Tribute tower. And he kind of figures Barnes wouldn't have asked if he wasn't already pretty sure of the answer.

"Yeah, you can." He tilts his head a little, raising one eyebrow. "Can I trust you?"

That was a bit of a loaded question, but he wasn't too surprised by it either. Sam didn't seem like an idiot to Bucky, he had every right to pose the same question. Luckily, he had an answer, even if it was a little mixed.

"I'm not going to say 'trust District 13' because I know some of you don't and the reasons you have are valid in some cases...but, yeah, you can trust me."

He was itching to not have this conversation so out in the open, there might be someone listening and there might not be, they had no way of knowing. But he couldn't leave and take Sam to one of those blind spots Susannah had told him about either.

"I'm not here for long, we're retrieving. We can only take one or two of you at a time, but we're doing our best. I trust you won't tell anyone who can't have this sort of knowledge, if we're caught, we can't save anyone else."

He can’t help but raise his eyebrows a little, when Barnes admits that some of the reasons they have not to trust District 13 are valid. Sam wouldn’t have thought that someone from the rebellion would admit that. Assuming he’s not just volunteering that as a way to placate Sam, it makes Sam think a little more of him.

There’s a lot of questions he wants to ask - who they’re retrieving, why they’re taking this kind of risk, if it’s really for the Tributes or just to help 13’s cause, what kind of situation is 13 in, what’s their plan, more he can’t even think of right now - but he knows better than to try asking them in the Tribute Tower, and he doubts Barnes has time to go to a blind spot, if he’s in the middle of a mission.

So instead he just looks at him for a long moment, doing his best to get as good of a read on the guy as he can with their limited interaction, and finally nods.

“Okay. I’ll trust you.” And if he puts a little bit of emphasis on the ‘you’ part, well, he’s not ready to go out on a limb for 13, even if he’s willing to trust one of its soldiers. “There anything I can do to help?”

He notes the emphasis on 'you' and what it implies but doesn't say anything about it. That in and of itself is lucky, he probably wouldn't have blamed Sam in the slightest if he'd just dismissed Bucky entirely.

If it weren't for the fact it could endanger Sam to know their targets, Bucky might have just asked him if he knew where Pontmercy and O'Conner were, but it was an unnecessary risk. He shook his head.

"You've already helped me. Go wherever you were headed before you found me and forget about this whole thing for now. It's the safest thing for you if you simply pretend it didn't happen." He offered the shadow of a smile but then seemed to think of something else.

"Actually there's one thing: don't believe a damn word you hear from this place, Wilson, I'm sure this won't shock you, but they're a bunch of lying bastards and always will be."

That's pretty much the answer that Sam was expecting to hear, for the same reasons that he didn't ask Barnes any specifics about the mission, though he doesn't really like it.

Still, the corners of his mouth turn up a little in a wry smile when Barnes adds that last bit on. "If I didn't believe anything else about the rest of what you said, man, I sure as hell'd know that." He's playing their game as best as he can because he has to, because he can't afford to draw any suspicion onto himself, especially given who his friends are, but that doesn't mean he believes a damn word of it.

"Now's the time where I'd be asking for your number before I left, but I'm guessing there's not an easy way to keep in contact with you?"

"If I had one, I might give it to you. Unfortunately, no, we can't risk it."

They could communicate to the Capitol and they could get a window into it through the broadcasts, but it had to be one-way, otherwise they might be found out -them or their allies.

"But this isn't the last time you'll hear from us, either. Sooner or later, we'll talk again and maybe I can tell you more." Although, Sam did bring a thought to Bucky's mind: having someone on the tribute's side who knew what was going on might not be a bad idea, just to establish that connection and build some trust.

But with their higher connections in the Capitol's inner-workings, he could see Coin dismissing the idea immediately. It wouldn't hurt to suggest. Bucky pulled the mask back over his face and replaced the hat on his head and tipped it to Sam like a good Capitol Dandy might when leaving company.

"You'd better get back to whatever you were doing or you'll get rumors about spending time with a mystery man." His tone turned more serious and his expression changed to match. "Sam...thank you again. I appreciate what you did."

Sam smiles a little at that first part, but tilts his head in acknolwedgement. Would have been nice, if Barnes could have told him different, but he kind of figures if there'd been an easy way for Tributes to communicate with District 13, Sam'd know about it by now.

He lets out a little exhale, nodding. "Okay. I'm gonna trust you on that, man, I'll be waiting for you." He gives a slightly self-deprecating smile. "Not like I got a lot else to do." You know, aside from fighting to the death and trying to figure out how to make plans without the Capitol knowing.

"How do you know I don't have those rumors already?" Sam asks, tone teasing as he reaches out to grip Barnes' shoulder. But is expression is serious as well when he gives it a squeeze before letting go. "Any time, Barnes, and I mean that. Good luck."

A smile that lasted longer than a split second spread on Bucky's face at the implication that Sam might have a reputation for 'running around' with people.

"Good luck. Keep safe."

He turned, expression smoothing once again to vanish back into the crowd. He'd find a new place to wait out, somewhere nearby but not as noticeable. Maybe outside was better after all. It was what he chose to focus on rather than that anxious hope that Sam's luck really would hold out and they'd get to meet again sometime soon. He actually liked Sam, hopefully the Capitol would continue to as well and keep bringing him back every time he didn't win. At least until D13 could rescue a few more people.

Mission: Capitol Liberation

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