Who Am I? » [Stucky]

150. Trust Exercise

“Rogers-Barnes have fallen off the map…” Coulson cursed, turning to the other two members of the guidance team in the cramped office; windows sealed with metal shutters and their faces illuminated by harsh white light.

“What’s our play?” Bruce turned to Coulson, evicting his spectacles from their home at the end of his nose. He shut his eyes and massaged his wrinkled eyelids. “Because I can only recommend that the team finish the op now that they’re this far along… But I-“ He breathed deep, his shoulders sinking as he allowed the tide of calm to wash over him. “I don’t know what to do about them. We have no way of tracking them!” He pounded a fist on the table and looked back up as he saw both Leo and Coulson flinch.

“We have one hope of finding them if they’ve dropped off the grid and are in Hydra’s hands…” Coulson absently stared at a blank wall, a sardonic expression on his stiffened face. “And he lies inside this base.” Coulson’s eyes darted between Bruce and Leo.

~

Bruce swiped the touch screen device from the stand in vault four and tapped out the sequence to turn the electro barrier transparent; clearing the grey solid light wall.

“A little birdy tells me that you’ve been wanting to redeem yourself, and since Coulson is too busy taking care of the Avengers and Leo’s too terrified to come down here to talk to you, I thought I’d broach the subject with you…” Bruce paced in the room, judgemental eyes raking over Grant’s shabby appearance – trying to unravel the enigma of his person. “And can I just say – from personal experience – if he’s not scared of me, and is terrified of you, I’m beginning to wonder what kind of monster you are, kid.”  Bruce frowned deep, his forehead craggy with canyons of wrinkles and his downturned lips making his face droop melancholically. “Poor Fitz had an anxiety attack the moment Phil mentioned your name. You, son, nearly have me scared – apart from I’m willing to withhold judgement until I’ve gotten to know you…” He pointed critically at Grant Ward. “So, let me get to know you.”

Grant’s dark eyes were calculating and his face unreadable as his thoughts were unrevealed by his face. “The famous Doctor Banner… What is it that you want from me?” Grant suspiciously crooned, an irked expression clouding his features and something akin to curious delight glistening in his treacherously deep eyes.

“I want to know if I can trust you… Because-“ Bruce feel into the chair in the room. “We have the lives of two men, hanging in the balance and right now you’re pretty much our only lead. You save them, you’re back on side; there may even be a chance that Coulson lets you out of there…” Bruce gestured towards Grant with his glasses.

“A chance?” Grant snorted, giving a malevolent sneering smile. It was hardly a strong motivator.

“Right now, I’m willing to bet that you’re going to take that chance. Because you really don’t have another choice – and a chance is always way better than nothing. Take it from me, I’m a mathematician as well as a physicist.” He concentrated his eyes on Grant – unnervingly not breaking his focus for a second. Silence dangled between them on a thread – lingering unsettlingly.

“What is it you want me to do?” He offered, breaking weakly. Emotion flooded his face – breaking his unfeeling act in a second, desperation burning in his yearning dark eyes – pleading for emancipation.

~

Steve awoke in the groggy darkness, the smell of damp and rust filling his nostrils, and a feeling of coldness and moistness all over his body. He felt freezing.

There was a distant echoing drip in the dark vacuous space, giving him an idea of just how big the room he was in was. The repetitive plipping of the water was maddening – monotone and feeding one of few senses that weren’t deprived in the darkness he was plunged into.