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Hey, you got a minute?
Wasn't sure who else I could talk to.
[There's a faint edge there that this is maybe important.]
Wasn't sure who else I could talk to.
[There's a faint edge there that this is maybe important.]
you can always talk to yourself.
you okay? relatively speaking, of course.
you okay? relatively speaking, of course.
so i may have just asked caitlin to move in with us and i probably should have asked you first you need to meet her again before she does because if you're not happy with it happening she won't move in okay bye i'll see you later
[look, he's still out for his run, and it's a whole lot easier to use that as an excuse than to admit that he's actually worried about what bucky thinks about all this.]
[look, he's still out for his run, and it's a whole lot easier to use that as an excuse than to admit that he's actually worried about what bucky thinks about all this.]
you contracting her or just trying to get us all arrested?
it's fine either way. just want to know what I'm in for.
it's fine either way. just want to know what I'm in for.
[its nearing 2am by the time that steve makes it home that night (morning). when his shift had finally finished, he'd foregone his nightly run, and had instead opted to head back up to the apartment. though not before having to intervene in yet another drunken fight that'd taken place in the streets of the down.
when he slips back in to the apartment, steve makes a beeline for the bathroom, a shower being the first thing on his agenda. he's quick though, mindful of the time, and the fact that he knows that bucky is in the apartment. that his lack of presence in the living room means that he's in his bedroom. (he'd like to believe he's fast asleep. but he knows that no matter how quiet he may try to be, bucky would have likely heard him before he'd even reached the front door. yet alone after turning on the shower.)
freshly washed and with a clean pair of lounge pants pulled on, steve finds himself faltering at the door of his room. he had planned on heading to the kitchen. on getting a drink and a sandwich and going back to his room to hole away until he can slip away again in the morning. but he isn't able to take the steps he needs to this time. isn't able to shift his attention away from the door to bucky's room.
it'd be so easy to just cross the hallway. to reach for the handle. to let himself in and see the one person he misses most right now. the one person who can bring him the peace he needs to actually deal with the thoughts that have been running through his mind nonstop this past week.
it's why he doesn't find himself as confused as he probably should be when he feels the press of a mattress against the front of his legs. when he finds his fingers already curled around the edge of a blanket. when he's left staring down at the all too familiar figure tucked beneath it all. there's a question left unaired. a request for permission to climb underneath the covers so he can finally claim the one place he needs to be right now.]
when he slips back in to the apartment, steve makes a beeline for the bathroom, a shower being the first thing on his agenda. he's quick though, mindful of the time, and the fact that he knows that bucky is in the apartment. that his lack of presence in the living room means that he's in his bedroom. (he'd like to believe he's fast asleep. but he knows that no matter how quiet he may try to be, bucky would have likely heard him before he'd even reached the front door. yet alone after turning on the shower.)
freshly washed and with a clean pair of lounge pants pulled on, steve finds himself faltering at the door of his room. he had planned on heading to the kitchen. on getting a drink and a sandwich and going back to his room to hole away until he can slip away again in the morning. but he isn't able to take the steps he needs to this time. isn't able to shift his attention away from the door to bucky's room.
it'd be so easy to just cross the hallway. to reach for the handle. to let himself in and see the one person he misses most right now. the one person who can bring him the peace he needs to actually deal with the thoughts that have been running through his mind nonstop this past week.
it's why he doesn't find himself as confused as he probably should be when he feels the press of a mattress against the front of his legs. when he finds his fingers already curled around the edge of a blanket. when he's left staring down at the all too familiar figure tucked beneath it all. there's a question left unaired. a request for permission to climb underneath the covers so he can finally claim the one place he needs to be right now.]
You gonna get in or just stare a hole through my head?
[ The words are mumbled into his pillow, but as soon as they're out, he scoots over to make room in the bed. Things have been awkward between them and Bucky's not exactly the best at talking through his feelings, either, but he's faced much scarier things for Steve and he'd do it all again. There's not much he wouldn't do for Steve, really, so inviting him into the bed hardly seems like much at all.
He'd heard Steve come into the apartment. The front door always makes him stir awake, but that's okay. He likes tracking Steve's movements around the apartment and keeping track of where he is. It's a reminder that Steve is here and safe and that they're together. It's still too easy for Bucky to fall into his nightmares and lose track of what's real. Steve helps a lot. He's always been a grounding force in that way.
So maybe things are awkward right now, but Bucky prefers whatever this is over not having Steve or worrying about whether or not he's safe. This way, Bucky can still take care of him. ]
[ The words are mumbled into his pillow, but as soon as they're out, he scoots over to make room in the bed. Things have been awkward between them and Bucky's not exactly the best at talking through his feelings, either, but he's faced much scarier things for Steve and he'd do it all again. There's not much he wouldn't do for Steve, really, so inviting him into the bed hardly seems like much at all.
He'd heard Steve come into the apartment. The front door always makes him stir awake, but that's okay. He likes tracking Steve's movements around the apartment and keeping track of where he is. It's a reminder that Steve is here and safe and that they're together. It's still too easy for Bucky to fall into his nightmares and lose track of what's real. Steve helps a lot. He's always been a grounding force in that way.
So maybe things are awkward right now, but Bucky prefers whatever this is over not having Steve or worrying about whether or not he's safe. This way, Bucky can still take care of him. ]
got it. what else did you tell him? I've been trying to avoid clueing him into too much. he shouldn't even know I'm still alive yet.
[it's still ridiculously early, though he's long since slipped out of bucky's bed to head out for his run. but barely half an hour in to it, and steve had ended up giving up completely. there's only so long he can avoid dealing with this, and as long as he still has his contracts with bucky and caitlin, the knows he needs to pay attention to those twenty-four hours.
well, ten hours, now.
...they're going to hate him when they find out.]
Hey, Buck. Sorry if I woke you up.
I just got a call from a friend who needs my help with something, and it might take a while. I don't know how long exactly yet, but it's going to leave me out of contact till we're done.
Sorry for dropping this on you like this.
well, ten hours, now.
...they're going to hate him when they find out.]
Hey, Buck. Sorry if I woke you up.
I just got a call from a friend who needs my help with something, and it might take a while. I don't know how long exactly yet, but it's going to leave me out of contact till we're done.
Sorry for dropping this on you like this.
what friend? what the hell are you doing that you'll be out of communication?
[ Because if Steve's doing something dangerous, he'd better take Bucky. ]
[ Because if Steve's doing something dangerous, he'd better take Bucky. ]
[It's a few days later, after he's got the citation settled, and it takes him long minutes to send it. Bucky types, erases, and retypes the message a few different times. In the end what he's left with is:]
Steve from home is gone.
Steve from home is gone.
Edited (when you forget to remove a word) 2019-05-31 20:56 (UTC)
Hey Barnes, is Cap on another one of those self-imposed anti-phone kicks again?
I have no idea where he is. he said he was helping a friend and he'd be out of communication and that's the last I heard from him.
I kind of thought you'd know where he is.
[ Good thing you can't see blind panic through text. Or maybe Tony can. ]
I kind of thought you'd know where he is.
[ Good thing you can't see blind panic through text. Or maybe Tony can. ]
Hey, Buck? I'm at the hospital with Pepper. We're fine, but...
[a slow exhale as he takes a glance back into the hospital room.]
Tony's unconscious, and they have no idea when he's going to wake up. I'm staying here with them for now, but I thought you'd want to know.
I don't know if this is getting through or not, but I'll be here if you need me.
[and then his voice turns softer as he finally adds--]
Be careful out there. And if anything happens, call me. Doesn't matter what time it is.
[a slow exhale as he takes a glance back into the hospital room.]
Tony's unconscious, and they have no idea when he's going to wake up. I'm staying here with them for now, but I thought you'd want to know.
I don't know if this is getting through or not, but I'll be here if you need me.
[and then his voice turns softer as he finally adds--]
Be careful out there. And if anything happens, call me. Doesn't matter what time it is.
is he okay? do any of you need anything? I can be there. just say the word.
[on the evening of the 16th, a link to a group message is sent. whether it arrives on time or not is anybody's guess.]
alive and still in 3/4 of a piece. I'm guessing you are, too.
everything okay over there?
everything okay over there?
[ its only been a couple of days since the city shifted back to normal, and steve has done his best to follow suit and get back to his usual routine again. something that's a little easier said than done, given the sudden loss of one of his few close friends here. it leaves him distracted; something that is both a blessing and a curse. it makes it easier though, in the long run, for him to focus on those around him. to try and do all he can to help those left behind.
as important as people like tony and peter may have become to him though, there will always be one person who stands out above all else. one person he refuses to lie to anymore.
placing a box down on the coffee table- colored paints. pencils. chalk -steve drops in to a seat on the sofa, staring at the contents for a few moments too long. it's only once he finally leans back, once he nudges the box away with a socked foot, that he finally looks down the hallway and towards the room he can hear movement in.
here goes nothing. ]
Hey, Buck? Could you come in here for a bit?
as important as people like tony and peter may have become to him though, there will always be one person who stands out above all else. one person he refuses to lie to anymore.
placing a box down on the coffee table- colored paints. pencils. chalk -steve drops in to a seat on the sofa, staring at the contents for a few moments too long. it's only once he finally leans back, once he nudges the box away with a socked foot, that he finally looks down the hallway and towards the room he can hear movement in.
here goes nothing. ]
Hey, Buck? Could you come in here for a bit?
[ For his part, Bucky has been managing the best he can. Even without the added benefit of the serum, he's still a pretty strong guy and he's in great shape, so he's not struggling too much. It had never really dulled his sense of pain, anyway, so he knows when he needs to stop to avoid damage and he figures he'll have to work out more to maintain it, but that's fine, too. The real issue is the constant soreness around his left shoulder now and the fact that he knows he really should tell Steve. He just needs to figure out how.
It's all running through his mind as he finishes washing his face when Steve calls to him and he towels off his skin and walks out to the living room. ]
Hey. What's all this?
[ He gestures towards the box before taking a seat next to Steve. ]
It's all running through his mind as he finishes washing his face when Steve calls to him and he towels off his skin and walks out to the living room. ]
Hey. What's all this?
[ He gestures towards the box before taking a seat next to Steve. ]
Hey Bucky
Steve messaged me
He said you could do with a friend right now?
I don't wanna pry too much, so don't feel obliged to talk about it or anything
But if you're hurting, maybe company will help
You were there for me when I needed it
I wanna be there for you too
Steve messaged me
He said you could do with a friend right now?
I don't wanna pry too much, so don't feel obliged to talk about it or anything
But if you're hurting, maybe company will help
You were there for me when I needed it
I wanna be there for you too
I really am okay. the serum's gone from my system. metal arm's a little sore. I might need some help if I need to lift a car now.
but thanks.
Steve's just not used to seeing me with human weakness. the only other time he saw me in rough shape, it was when he saved me during the war.
but thanks.
Steve's just not used to seeing me with human weakness. the only other time he saw me in rough shape, it was when he saved me during the war.
hello! if you're receiving this text, it means you've been cordially invited to peter parker's surprise birthday party. as always, this city has the shittiest timing on the planet, so things were still a little rough around his actual birthday. he thinks i'm going to let his "lowkey 18th birthday" plan slide. hah! oh, no no.
i'd like to get a group together to meet at scott's new arcade - time heisters - around 7:30pm on 8/29. i'll bring peter around 8, and we can all game and sing some karaoke and be generally awesome to our favorite nerd. bring a present or just bring yourself, either way, if you're getting this i'm sure he'll be happy just to see you there.
and remember, it's a SURPRISE. which is usually asking for trouble, but whatever. i want to try it.
any questions? ask away. thank you!!
i'd like to get a group together to meet at scott's new arcade - time heisters - around 7:30pm on 8/29. i'll bring peter around 8, and we can all game and sing some karaoke and be generally awesome to our favorite nerd. bring a present or just bring yourself, either way, if you're getting this i'm sure he'll be happy just to see you there.
and remember, it's a SURPRISE. which is usually asking for trouble, but whatever. i want to try it.
any questions? ask away. thank you!!
Some of us were here when Veracity first opened its gates. Some of us only heard about the horrors that took place after the fact. Either way, it should be clear to everybody here that Veracity is not a place to be taken lightly.
Since everything that took place at the start of the year, the entrance to Veracity has been blocked off. However, yesterday, that all changed. The route's opened up again, and I think we need to find out why so we're not caught off-guard again.
Heading in to Veracity is dangerous, and I know it's not something some of you may want to do. So I'm looking for volunteers to head in on a recon mission. We head in, find what we can, and head out.
Who's in?
Since everything that took place at the start of the year, the entrance to Veracity has been blocked off. However, yesterday, that all changed. The route's opened up again, and I think we need to find out why so we're not caught off-guard again.
Heading in to Veracity is dangerous, and I know it's not something some of you may want to do. So I'm looking for volunteers to head in on a recon mission. We head in, find what we can, and head out.
Who's in?
[and then a few minutes later, once he realizes he missed out on one, key detail-
there's a picture of a leaflet he was given, the words "emotional support animals and you" emblazoned across the front. surprise?]
Again, it's your choice. I'm not going to be upset if you're not interested.
there's a picture of a leaflet he was given, the words "emotional support animals and you" emblazoned across the front. surprise?]
Again, it's your choice. I'm not going to be upset if you're not interested.
Am I right to assume that the dream was a shared phenomenon?
[ he can't imagine his mind coming up with bucky as a knight ]
[ he can't imagine his mind coming up with bucky as a knight ]
Yeah, I guess you're just the wizard of my dreams.
[ There's more than a hint of warm amusement in his voice. He can't help it. ]
[ There's more than a hint of warm amusement in his voice. He can't help it. ]
Are you all right?
[ you know, given the civil war happening in the city right now ]
[ you know, given the civil war happening in the city right now ]
for now. it's everyone else I'm worried about. you staying safe?
that's usually your job, so I could say the same.
I'm fine. Steve was funny in the head for a minute there, but he's back to his usual stupid self now.
you?
you?
[ It only takes Bucky a few minutes to call back, because Steve could have an arm fall off and say it's not urgent. ]
I'm not busy.
I'm not busy.
[there's a delivery to the apartment that evening. though given the fact that steve...isn't entirely himself these days, it's down to bucky to accept it. ...it may also happen to have been addressed to him in the first place anyway though.
it's a box, plain and generic looking. but once he opens it up, he'll find a selection of items inside.
the first is clear, the contents visible through the plastic covering. there's a cupcake inside, a "32" topper proudly on display, and complete with a note attached to the front that reads: "Because the time we were apart doesn't count. Happy 32nd birthday, Buck."
next in the box is a poster tube. and inside that, there's a set of drawings. naturally. only these are clearly something he's spent a long time on. they're of bucky's family, but with a focus on his sisters. every page is in black and white. something he isn't happy about. but he didn't want to mess it up by trying to guess what the colors looked like if he used them. each image is taken from memories he has of the moments they were all together. evenings where he'd been a guest in their house and felt more like family than anything else.
the next is a bottle of whiskey. but not just any old whiskey. this bottle is fresh from 1917. so no, this isn't one for him to get wasted on.
and lastly! a contract. two of them, actually. the first is a copy of the deed to a certain house that he's been working on most mornings, with all three of their names emblazoned on the front. and the second, a potential addendum to their own contract. one to give bucky full ownership of the building. steve may plan on living there with them- him -but with the last document in place, it's bucky's decision as to whether he allows it. it may not be much, but he wants to give the man some level of control over the situation they're trapped in.]
it's a box, plain and generic looking. but once he opens it up, he'll find a selection of items inside.
the first is clear, the contents visible through the plastic covering. there's a cupcake inside, a "32" topper proudly on display, and complete with a note attached to the front that reads: "Because the time we were apart doesn't count. Happy 32nd birthday, Buck."
next in the box is a poster tube. and inside that, there's a set of drawings. naturally. only these are clearly something he's spent a long time on. they're of bucky's family, but with a focus on his sisters. every page is in black and white. something he isn't happy about. but he didn't want to mess it up by trying to guess what the colors looked like if he used them. each image is taken from memories he has of the moments they were all together. evenings where he'd been a guest in their house and felt more like family than anything else.
the next is a bottle of whiskey. but not just any old whiskey. this bottle is fresh from 1917. so no, this isn't one for him to get wasted on.
and lastly! a contract. two of them, actually. the first is a copy of the deed to a certain house that he's been working on most mornings, with all three of their names emblazoned on the front. and the second, a potential addendum to their own contract. one to give bucky full ownership of the building. steve may plan on living there with them- him -but with the last document in place, it's bucky's decision as to whether he allows it. it may not be much, but he wants to give the man some level of control over the situation they're trapped in.]
( on Bucky's bed a few days after her return is a neatly wrapped gift box tied off with red ribbon and a card made out to him in Peggy's penmanship. )
First, please pretend this isn't over two weeks late for your birthday. And second, while I'm sure you don't need them, I thought you might like to have them.
Happy birthday, Bucky.
All my love,
Peggy
( inside its simple packaging sits a pair of boxing gloves. )
First, please pretend this isn't over two weeks late for your birthday. And second, while I'm sure you don't need them, I thought you might like to have them.
Happy birthday, Bucky.
All my love,
Peggy
( inside its simple packaging sits a pair of boxing gloves. )
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