[ It doesn't even feel like a lie. He's probably not okay by anyone else's standards, but after everything he's been through, he has to figure this is as okay as he'll ever be. It's more than he deserves, anyway, so he'll take it and he'll make it work. ]
Didn't mean to worry you. It's just been a rough couple of--[ decades. ]--days I guess.
That's understandable. You're allowed to be thrown off by the end of the world.
[ or (presumably) whatever came before it. it's not like the picture she saw paints the portrait of a happy, uncomplicated life in Brooklyn. add in what she knows about Steve, about how there's nothing uncomplicated in that guy's past, and she figures there's more to deal with than cold weather and weird pictures. ]
I didn't mean to make things heavy when I mentioned my son. I just... [ she pauses, like she can't decide whether or not to explain herself. the guy's got enough to sort through without her adding to it, she just figures he's probably not much of a talker on his own.
she didn't used to be, either, so maybe she's projecting.] I'm not as good at being hopeful as he is. Henry believes in everyone all the time.
[ and with a little self-awareness, she adds;] To the surprise of no one, the kid's a lot better at making friends than I am.
[ Bucky shakes his head, but when he looks at her again, there's a real smile on his face. It's warm and genuine and even if there's still a hint of the things that haunt him under it, it's not like he's going to let some bleeding, listless despair destroy him. ]
Nah, you're fine. Thanks for sharing that with me.
[ It's personal, he knows, even if it isn't dangerous. Sharing things like that means something to Bucky, especially these days. ]
I used to be like that. Better with people.
[ He turns his head a little, lip twitching. ]
Now I think Steve is. Only took him 70 years to learn.
Then you're ahead of me, because not good with people has always been my natural state.
[ she smiles though, because it's a little easier if he's owning it, too. opening up is infinitely harder without Henry here to point her in the right direction, but she'd like do make the kid proud all the same.]
Steve's one sword short of being a Disney prince these days. And I'd know, he reminds me of my dad.
[ her eyebrows lift for a second and she laughs, conceding to his point with a hint of amusement.
the way he encourages her doesn't go unnoticed, either. Emma has always felt like she could trust Peggy and Steve, and that same feeling tends to kick in around Bucky, too. she tends to think she has pretty good instincts with people, and she includes him in that without question. ]
I noticed. You know, if you don't mind me saying so, I think there's a part of you that's still good at this.
[ there's a little more warmth there than past tense allows for. he has to give himself some credit when he deserves it, right?]
[ His smile grows and the tension that had pulled at his shoulders when he'd been grabbing at the pictures melts away a little. He's not so sure he's really all that great at it. He can remember how to smile and flirt, but he can't control his moods and he feels so awkward so much of the time. ]
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Overflow for Emma
I'm okay.
[ It doesn't even feel like a lie. He's probably not okay by anyone else's standards, but after everything he's been through, he has to figure this is as okay as he'll ever be. It's more than he deserves, anyway, so he'll take it and he'll make it work. ]
Didn't mean to worry you. It's just been a rough couple of--[ decades. ]--days I guess.
no subject
[ or (presumably) whatever came before it. it's not like the picture she saw paints the portrait of a happy, uncomplicated life in Brooklyn. add in what she knows about Steve, about how there's nothing uncomplicated in that guy's past, and she figures there's more to deal with than cold weather and weird pictures. ]
I didn't mean to make things heavy when I mentioned my son. I just... [ she pauses, like she can't decide whether or not to explain herself. the guy's got enough to sort through without her adding to it, she just figures he's probably not much of a talker on his own.
she didn't used to be, either, so maybe she's projecting.] I'm not as good at being hopeful as he is. Henry believes in everyone all the time.
[ and with a little self-awareness, she adds;] To the surprise of no one, the kid's a lot better at making friends than I am.
no subject
Nah, you're fine. Thanks for sharing that with me.
[ It's personal, he knows, even if it isn't dangerous. Sharing things like that means something to Bucky, especially these days. ]
I used to be like that. Better with people.
[ He turns his head a little, lip twitching. ]
Now I think Steve is. Only took him 70 years to learn.
no subject
[ she smiles though, because it's a little easier if he's owning it, too. opening up is infinitely harder without Henry here to point her in the right direction, but she'd like do make the kid proud all the same.]
Steve's one sword short of being a Disney prince these days. And I'd know, he reminds me of my dad.
[ big time.]
no subject
You know you don't seem to be doing too badly with me.
[ He claps her on the shoulder gently. She's been nothing but friendly to him and he's not exactly the easiest person to be around these days. ]
no subject
the way he encourages her doesn't go unnoticed, either. Emma has always felt like she could trust Peggy and Steve, and that same feeling tends to kick in around Bucky, too. she tends to think she has pretty good instincts with people, and she includes him in that without question. ]
I noticed. You know, if you don't mind me saying so, I think there's a part of you that's still good at this.
[ there's a little more warmth there than past tense allows for. he has to give himself some credit when he deserves it, right?]
no subject
Thanks. I don't mind you saying that at all.