Sample scene flavor two for marvel_universe

[cold_shoulder]

He was standing on the roof of the building.

He knew he should go downstairs and knock on Steve's door, the way a civilized person would. The way he should have a long time ago, when he first remembered. But he couldn't. Facing Steve with what he had done, in a place where they could actually talk? Knowing the look of disappointment that would inevitably cross the familiar blue eyes?

It wasn't any easier knowing that he wasn't Steve's partner, after all, not really. Nothing was easier.

But running hadn't really changed anything, had it?

He looked out over the street once more. In a moment, he'd go down.

In a moment.

Comments

[cold_shoulder]

"And I, you." Steady, certain. He has absolutely no doubts that Steve is carrying plenty enough on his shoulders, and while he isn't up to turning down the offered help - there are things, as he can appreciate right now, that Steve alone can do - and the corresponding burden, he can help in other ways. The usual ways that they both know without having to think of.

"I'm... Natalia helped me find an apartment. Even with the time I spent here hiding, she knows the city as it is now better than I do."

He starts to give the address when he finally registers what Steve is preparing. And his eyebrows rise in surprise before his face changes in a startled, much more youthful expression than he's probably shown in decades. And a smile. "Oh."

[cap_a]

"Tasha's a good friend," Steve acknowledges. He gives a smile to Bucky as he glances down and realizes what he's making.

"You still like hot chocolate, right?"

It wasn't something they had very often back in the war, but it was a treat when they could get it. Coffee or tea was more common, but after a long mission in cold weather, there was nothing like coming back to the camp to enjoy a cup of cocoa.

[cold_shoulder]

"Yeah, she is," Bucky agrees quietly, ducking his head to hide the small, wondrous smile at that thought.

And the other smile at the question is less hidden, and he rubbed his neck. "I think so. I remember liking it..."

But he, himself. The clone. Just hasn't actually had any.

[cap_a]

The expression regarding Tasha doesn't go unnoticed by Steve. But he lets it go unmentioned.

As the kettle begins to whistle, Steve pours the hot water into the mugs, stirring the powder in. Jarvis would scold him for keeping powdered cocoa in such a manner, instead of having "real" hot chocolate, but this is exactly the sort of thing they had back in the war.

He hands the cup to Bucky, then offers his up in a toast.

Bucky's been gone a long, long time. He's been on a cold mission that tested him to his limits. And now he's back... and he gets to enjoy a cup of cocoa.

"To coming home," he offers with a smile.

[cold_shoulder]

It's not that Bucky is trying to hide from Steve, because he isn't. But what's going on there is... a whole layer of complicated and difficult to put into an explanation.

But this, here... he takes the cup in both hands for a moment, the warmth from it seeping into his palms as the warmth from his friend, his... (his progenitor's) older brother, warmed him in an entirely different way.

"To coming home," he echoed, raising his drink in return. And maybe his toast also has the flavor of finding home, but it is true all the same, making his voice quieter, thicker with emotion. "And friends."

He is smiling as he raises the cup to his lips for a sip, and the familiar (slightly removed, but still familiar) taste, in this company, almost makes it hard to swallow.

A deep breath into the aroma over the cup, and he grins up at Steve. Because even with the time and complications, there are ways in which Steve knows him better than he knows himself, almost. And that makes it easier to believe in Cap's faith him. And that is a lot. "Thanks. For... for knowing how things oughtta be." Shrug. He's not really all that good with words. But he suspects Steve will get it, anyway.

[cap_a]

Steve smiles, understanding, and gives him a casual two-finger salute. "Any time," he replies... and he means it.

[cold_shoulder]

And return of the salute - complete with ducking his head with another smile, this time hidden behind the cup.

Oh man. This is good... and it has been hell of a long time (if ever, technically) since he's actually let himself start to relax. Home... indeed.

He tugs a stool with his foot and settles on it. "So. Generally speaking. Aside from you and Natalia, and a few dicks on the Russian side, who knows about what I am?" Curiosity. And this is kind of important, right?

[cap_a]

"Nick and Dum Dum," Steve explains. "I... wanted to find you. I figured SHIELD could help. The Avengers know; I filed a report for the team. The Fantastic Four would have access to that level of clearance of files, so they probably know. And two people who often work as my partner... the Falcon, and Diamondback." Steve realizes suddenly that Jack will need to know eventually, too -- but he hasn't had the frame of mind to look up other people who aren't always around.

[cold_shoulder]

"Right." Bucky frowns slightly over the cup, even smiling a bit at the first two names. "That's not too bad, then. I'm sure most of those will be able to find me if they have questions, but if they go through you... you can let me know? Some will probably realize I've got a lot to answer for."

It really doesn't seem too bad. And he thinks Falcon might have been with Natalia when they extracted him and Sharon from the Red Room.

[cap_a]

"They can all go through me first," Steve replies. "The only thing you have to answer for being brainwashed."

[cold_shoulder]

That gets a surprised, slightly wry - and thankful - laugh out of him. "I know they can, but when do we ever work that way, if we can go directly to the source?" We. People who live slightly outside the 'ordinary' way of things. Or in the shadows.

Bucky is very comfortable in the shadows.

"And they'll probably want to know if it'll happen again, to begin with. Which, I admit, I'm worried about myself." Small shrug. "I won't make them feel any better if I try to hide behind you."

[cap_a]

"If you backslide, I'll be there to catch you," Steve replies. "And they can go to you when you're ready. Not before."

On this point, Steve is firm. Bucky needs to get his head on straight before people start challenging him and who he is.

[cold_shoulder]

"Hey, easy. Nobody's been crowding me or anything." And if they wait for Bucky to have his head on straight, well, they'll all grow old. Or, uh, most of them. "But thanks. I'd... that'd be good."

And there is a lump in Bucky's throat at that. It's not just words, not with Steve.

"Not that I have any urges in that direction. Towards backliding, I mean." The opposite, really.

[cap_a]

"I know," Steve replies. "And I don't think you will."

[cold_shoulder]

"... I hope not." The shudder isn't very pronounced, but for a fleeting moment, it's there.

[cap_a]

"Because, even if they put something in you... you'll fight it."

[cold_shoulder]

"Oh, I will fight them. That's..." His shoulders don't quite hunch, but the tiny motion is definitely in that direction. "I suspect that part of it is that I'm more scared of what I will end up doing, myself. And another part is... I couldn't really fight what Zemo did. Although maybe the difference is that he was using actual memories, not fake ones."

[cap_a]

"You have control of your own destiny," Steve notes. "For the first time. That's bound to be frightening."

[cold_shoulder]

Wry look. "It's not like I'm used to being frightened, either." Though that's less of a problem now that it's defined into a shape. Frightened. Destiny.

But instead of pondering that more, he smiles wryly, raising his cup towards Steve. "Then let's see what I make of it, hmm?"