( though he doesn't wear the uniform of haiva's soldiers, it's easy enough to fall back into that mindset and look like he belongs there. he doesn't even really know what he's looking for, just that he wants to leave the political shit to someone else.

here, he's able to listen to the conversations of the men that do the work, that are in the trenches and ignores.

and he's also right there when tempers come to a boiling point and two soldiers end up going at each other. ordinarily, bucky would just stay out of it but when one man grabs for a weapon, he steps in, blocking what he thinks might be a killing blow with his arm. metal hits metal, sparks emanating from the contact. he can hear the surprised murmur of other soldiers and he knows it's probably time to go.

he gives the soldier a shove, sending him tumbling into a wall and then tucks his hand back into his pocket. he's out of the barracks quickly, head down, trying to ignore the footsteps of soldiers behind him. )

( he hates this. he really hates this. kids shouldn't have to deal with all that's happening here and the fact that they are? he hates it. and there's really very little he can do about it. he's not someone who comforts and consoles. he leaves that to other people while he goes in and takes out the person who caused the problem.

except that some of the kids have caught sight of his metal arm and they're fascinated. they touch it and peer at it and, for a second, they forget all the shit that they're dealing wit.

normally, bucky doesn't really like people gawking and poking his arm but these are kids and they've never seen anything like this before so letting kids hang off his arm and lifting it up to slowly lift them in the air? he'll do that.

in the absence of punching the hell out of something, it's the least he can do. )

( there's a feeling of claustrophobia here that tries to burrow its way underneath his skin.

the quiet is unsettling and bucky doesn't really believe it either. while it might be quiet, there's no way this place is empty. something's lurking which makes bucky cautious, step by step.

when he comes to a wall. he presses a hand against it and then an ear. it's a thin wall and he thinks that if he —

with a quick jab, he throws a punch with his metal arm, fist connecting with the rock and shattering it. the ground seems to shake for a moment before it stills and, in front of him, another entrance opens up. )

Well, that worked.

( for anything that's not written above. )