[ There's a flash of disbelief at first, brief at the words your successor. He holds Sam's gaze, that notch at his brow getting deeper as he continues.
None of should warrant surprise out of him. When he signed back up with SHIELD after the ice it was because he was drifting. He needed an anchor. He joined because it was Peggy's legacy, because Fury gave him a good pitch. Because if he couldn't keep himself moving it felt like he was going to fall straight through the floor, down a pit he couldn't afford to get caught in. Took him two whole years to find out who they'd really been working for all this time.
Sam doesn't say HYDRA when he explains. Doesn't say SHIELD. Doesn't matter when they all fall under the same umbrella, just shifting blame. Someone up top gave an order, and everyone down the chain followed. It's the same story. It's the same betrayal.
When Sam finishes his closes his eyes for a second, swallowing as his jaw goes tight. ]
I'm sorry, Sam. [ He shakes his head, gaze fixing on Sam's tightened grip for a few seconds before lifting to meet his eyes again, narrowed and imploring. ] I swear, I didn't know. I should've...
[ Should've guess that they'd keep trying after him, after Bucky. Howard never stopped trying to recreate it.
(two sides, same coin — it's a blood stained thread connecting Howard, Peggy, himself)
He pulls him a breath. Doesn't matter that he should've, or what he would've done if he'd known. A man still suffered, thirty years of his life stolen.
There's another pause, his mouth forming a thin line. Fought the Winter Soldier one time. ]
no subject
None of should warrant surprise out of him. When he signed back up with SHIELD after the ice it was because he was drifting. He needed an anchor. He joined because it was Peggy's legacy, because Fury gave him a good pitch. Because if he couldn't keep himself moving it felt like he was going to fall straight through the floor, down a pit he couldn't afford to get caught in. Took him two whole years to find out who they'd really been working for all this time.
Sam doesn't say HYDRA when he explains. Doesn't say SHIELD. Doesn't matter when they all fall under the same umbrella, just shifting blame. Someone up top gave an order, and everyone down the chain followed. It's the same story. It's the same betrayal.
When Sam finishes his closes his eyes for a second, swallowing as his jaw goes tight. ]
I'm sorry, Sam. [ He shakes his head, gaze fixing on Sam's tightened grip for a few seconds before lifting to meet his eyes again, narrowed and imploring. ] I swear, I didn't know. I should've...
[ Should've guess that they'd keep trying after him, after Bucky. Howard never stopped trying to recreate it.
(two sides, same coin — it's a blood stained thread connecting Howard, Peggy, himself)
He pulls him a breath. Doesn't matter that he should've, or what he would've done if he'd known. A man still suffered, thirty years of his life stolen.
There's another pause, his mouth forming a thin line. Fought the Winter Soldier one time. ]
Bucky told you.
[ Not really a question. ]