Stasis || Bucky Barnes (1)

Fifteen

The sea wind was chilling that morning as the white cliffs of England began to become a faded line on the horizon. Basil sighed as he rested his arms on the railings. Underneath him the sea was a churning blue grey, only a shade lighter than the clouds above. Their rare sunny weather in London had finally faded to common British overcast. It had grown colder too, despite the fact that it was almost summer.

He shivered and tugged his new army jacket closer round his stomach. The sea wind chilling and the sun was still rising into the sky. Whoever decided that they would leave at dawn was obviously cruel and had no idea what it was like to get up and travel from London to Dover to make the seven o'clock ship. Basil didn't mind early mornings but that was a bit much. He stifled a yawn into his sleeve. Two arms appeared on the metal next to him and there was a amused chuckle. "Tired Parrish?"

Basil squinted at Bucky sleepily. "And you're not?"

Bucky tried to grin but it didn't hide the bags under his eyes. "Yeah but I don't look like I'm about to fall asleep at the drop of a hat". His face turned slightly serious and he gave Basil a considering look. "You okay? No more headaches?"

Basil shook his head. The wind tugging at his curly hair. After the bombs a two nights ago, the squad had been worried. Steve had taken him aside and asked if he was still able to go with them. ( "I don't want to jeopardise anyone. Are you sure you're fully recovered?").  Basil smothered another yawn. "I'm fine", he reassured. "The headache was a one time thing". He hoped so anyway.

"You sure? No more"- Bucky paused. "Symptoms?" Basil turned away from the disappearing cliffs of Dover to meet Bucky's blue eyes. "It's the stuff they were injecting into us right?"

"Have you been having any symptoms?"

Bucky took a second to clarify that there was no one near to eavesdrop. The ship was large for a fishing boat. Only the fishermen were out on deck, the rest of their small squad all having gone below deck to catch up on some sleep. Basil had only stayed to watch England as they left. He had the feeling that he wouldn't be seeing his home country for a very long time.

"I don't know", Bucky sighed. "I can't explain it but I feel different. Stronger maybe?" He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. The wind was tugging at it.

Basil nodded. "I can see in the dark. And I mean everything, I can see in the dark as clear as I can see you now in the light. That's why I had a headache".

Bucky took a whistling breath. "That's new. I would not believe you but my childhood friend went from being two inches shorter than my shoulders to two inches taller than me. And it definitely wasn't army training that did that". He and Basil chuckled.

"I don't know what they put in us", Basil murmured. Britain was a blurry line now. "And I don't know what is going to happen now. The others, we can't tell them".

"Steve would worry too much", Bucky nodded. "And the others, wouldn't understand".

"No. They wouldn't". Basil turned and narrowed his eyes at his Sargent. "Sarge, I am now saying this as your doctor and the doctor of the whole team. But if you get anymore symptoms, you tell me. Anything changes or you feel weird, you tell me". He pulled a small notebook from his pocket. The leather was still shiny with newness as he opened it up and pulled out a pencil. "I'm going to keep a record of any changes. Since we have no idea how we are still alive. I mean, we could drop dead at any moment".

"That's a comforting thought". Bucky's grin was wry.

"I mean that we are in war", Basil shrugged with a smile. Bucky snorted and it was contagious. Soon they were both laughing. Basil's laugh high and deep. The darkness of their situation somehow funny. It was scary. He was scared of dying, either in this war, or due to whatever hydra did to him. And the fear showed itself via laughter. Instead of blinking in shock, Bucky laughed with him. For a minute they were both bent double clutching at their stomachs as if to contain the humour. It was stupid. It was a dark and depressing thought. It was hilarious.