Yeah. They approached me a little while after they put you to sleep.
[ The paranoid part of Steve wonders if they waited specifically for that. When he would be at his most desperate. Most vulnerable. ]
I'm glad you're here too. Tell you the truth I thought that was gonna be the last time I saw you for a while. At least until we could figure out a way to fix things.
Yeah, me too. Figured I'd be under til they found a way to get my head straight.
[But the incentive here was worth it. He'd never be a threat to anyone, never have to look over his shoulder again. The fact that he doesn't have to spend it alone only makes it better.]
[ It's why Steve's here. To fix everything he can. Rumlow turning himself into a bomb. Wanda having to be in that position. The Accords. The explosion. Bucky having to run. The brainwashing triggers. The Avengers splitting. ]
[Bucky's not the most skilled cook. He can manage well enough, but why spend the time when the diner makes the best food fast. Besides, he can eat a lot and often, so he takes advantage of this when he can.
He's in a booth at the back of the diner when Steve comes in and his shoulders visibly relax when he sees him. It's his Steve, no doubt about it.]
[ He's not sure if he's scared or excited. Because it's a chance to just talk to Bucky. A chance to talk without all the chaos and the insanity that surrounded them back home. He gets to look at his friend and maybe not feel guilty about taking a second to talk. To walk down memory lane to a time where the biggest worry for Steve was who would he pick a fight with next. Or for Bucky it was who would he have to beat up next to rescue Steve from.
Getting to the diner is a relief. The town seems so normal. Which is strange for Steve. Especially after everything. But he gets inside and there he is. Same doof who flirted with half the women in a dance hall while Steve bombed out with the other half. ]
It's good to see you too, Buck. [ He thinks about a hug for a half a second before he sits opposite him. Leaning forward to rest his forearms along the table. ] You look good. I'm glad to see this place is working out for you.
[Bucky misses the time when things were easier between them.
When he could toss an arm around Steve's shoulders and Bucky wasn't as skittish about being touched. When he could relax enough to get to that kind of point. It's easier around Steve than anybody else, he doesn't flinch when he drops a hand on his shoulder, but there's years between them now. A lot that they don't know about each other.
Maybe this place can help with that. If he's lucky, they can get to be just as close as before.]
You look good too, Steve. [His eyes coast over him, checking for any injuries. Marks, bruises, signs that trouble's found him here somehow. Habit.] All seems like a dream, you know? The incentive. What we've gotta do to get it.
[ It'll at least give them a chance to catch up. To quiet down the chaos in their minds. They won't have to worry about the phrases or the programming. They can just exist. Like back in Brooklyn. Only now they got a new city that lays before them. His mind already working through ways to properly introduce his old friend to his team. If Bucky agrees. It's time they saw the man underneath all the rumors and the false news stories.
He gets it. Once upon a time when he used to meet up with Steve it was a daily routine to check for a black eye. Find out where he got sucker punched cause he picked a fight. Wiggle the name out of Steve so Bucky could go find them and show them that you don't knock out little guys. ]
Kinda reminds me of the summers in Brooklyn. Where almost every woman on the street was uh--fair game to you and your hormones. [ He smiles just thinking about it. Home. ]
[Bucky smiles at that. That was one of things that was easier for him back then - flirting, picking up dames. Knowing what to say and when to say it. Getting out of his head long enough to be charming. It's all still in there, he just hasn't needed to use it, hasn't wanted to. He's rusty but he's hoping the people around here won't mind that.
Going by what he's seen on cuddlrs and the network, most are pretty open about everything that happens here. He's had contact from men and women both, so he's just rolling with it. Waiting to see where everything goes.]
Almost? C'mon, Steve. It was all of them.
[He's teasing, leaning back in the booth, expression softening. He hadn't realized just how much he's missed this until now. Bucky never really could find a gal to set Steve up with that could see how great he was back then. They focused too much on what didn't really matter.]
[ At least Steve had an excuse after the serum. Then he developed another after the ice. Dating just was a lot more complicated when you had all that on your shoulders. Eventually Steve's interest just waned. Especially when he realized any woman he could be interested might just be hiding things. That's what gets to him.
He smiles as he leans back in his seat. Steve shakes his head just thinking about that. Having to keep up with Bucky on the street while he chased down any single woman that he could get his eyes on. Sometimes running across the street and dodging cars to get someone's attention. ]
What can I say? [ He shrugs. ] I been busy. Settling in. Looking for people I know. Now I'm gonna have to run alongside you probably as you run the streets looking for nice women.
[Bucky smiles, still, but he shakes his head. Nice women wouldn't want anything to do with someone like him, not anymore. He'd do what he needed to meet his incentive, but anything more than that might be too much. At least right now.]
Maybe we can find somethin' else to do together.
[Getting to know one another all over again, to start. The city seemed to be pretty busy, there'd always be something happening that they could get involved in.]
Haven't been to a movie in seventy years, figured its changed by now. [He smiles up at the waitress when she comes over, ordering quite a bit of food for himself, waiting while Steve places his.] Tell me something I don't know about you.
I mean not that I don't love watching you pick up dames, pal. Sometimes it's a little boring. You always did an awful lot of talking. Only so long I can watch you blow hot air.
[ It's nice to talk about a simpler time. A little weird, but nice nonetheless. Despite their youthful appearance he definitely feels his age here. Times were different. People were different. ]
A lot different. [ Steve used to love movies. When he wasn't getting into fights with people in the other rows. He orders his own food and settles back. ] Uh. To be honest, Buck, I don't know if there's much you don't already know. Not a whole lot about me changed. Went on a few dates a long while back. Wasn't very good at it.
[Bucky frowns then. If anybody is on team Steve, it's him. He figures the problem lies with the women, since Steve is goofball with a big heart. Stubborn, sure, and has spunk, but what woman wouldn't want someone like that.]
If you were being yourself and they didn't ask for a second date, that's there loss then, pal.
[He leans back when the waitress drops off their food, thanking her before she goes.]
But you get better the more you practice. All you gotta do is find someone you click with and ask them out. Take them to a movie.
[ It would have helped if Steve had actually put a bit more effort into his dating while working for SHIELD. But he was sort of going through the motions in that instance. Devoting himself to every single operation that he was needed on. They made great excuses for Natasha's romance services. ]
To be fair I was working for SHIELD so it's not like honesty was gonna be easy. Especially then.
[ Then he got tied up chasing you, Buck. Too busy. ]
Would probably work. A lot of movies these days are a lot more intense than what we were used to.
Heard from what I was told is a reliable source that you might be in need of a date. I'm Faith, and I guess you could consider this me officially volunteering.
[A first for her as far as a potential date, but not exactly unheard-of in certain circles. *ah hem* Also not the only possibility, just didn't hurt to ask.]
You're not the first person to question if I'm mortal, but I am. Very mortal. Not a vampire. The government did an experiment on me back in the forties. To turn the tide of the war.
Back in my world everyone kind of knows the story.
[It's the only question she feels right about asking. He can avoid, or he can answer, either way she can only imagine what it must be like. Slayers may have gotten famous but she'd never really been singled out outside of Magic Town. That was for Buffy to deal with. And she could keep it. Faith enjoyed her privacy.]
And what about you? You get anything out of it? I mean,it's all well and good to help but I hear balance is kind of important. Something about not losing yourself.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Which is why Bucky'll need to see him in person to believe that he's actually Steve.]
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And you can't tell them apart from me?
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[The sass, though, that's all Steve.]
Any chance you can fill me in on what happened since they put me back under.
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[ All the sass just oozing out. ]
I'm afraid I might be in the dark too, pal.
I remember T'Challa and them putting you back under.
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That's all I remember, too. Then I woke up, talked to a rep, and they brought me here.
[A sigh.]
I'm glad you're here, Steve.
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[ The paranoid part of Steve wonders if they waited specifically for that. When he would be at his most desperate. Most vulnerable. ]
I'm glad you're here too. Tell you the truth I thought that was gonna be the last time I saw you for a while. At least until we could figure out a way to fix things.
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[But the incentive here was worth it. He'd never be a threat to anyone, never have to look over his shoulder again. The fact that he doesn't have to spend it alone only makes it better.]
Wanna meet up?
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Course. Where?
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[ Steve can cook, but he hasn't exactly stocked his apartment since arriving. ]
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[Bucky's not the most skilled cook. He can manage well enough, but why spend the time when the diner makes the best food fast. Besides, he can eat a lot and often, so he takes advantage of this when he can.
He's in a booth at the back of the diner when Steve comes in and his shoulders visibly relax when he sees him. It's his Steve, no doubt about it.]
Good to see you, pal.
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Getting to the diner is a relief. The town seems so normal. Which is strange for Steve. Especially after everything. But he gets inside and there he is. Same doof who flirted with half the women in a dance hall while Steve bombed out with the other half. ]
It's good to see you too, Buck. [ He thinks about a hug for a half a second before he sits opposite him. Leaning forward to rest his forearms along the table. ] You look good. I'm glad to see this place is working out for you.
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When he could toss an arm around Steve's shoulders and Bucky wasn't as skittish about being touched. When he could relax enough to get to that kind of point. It's easier around Steve than anybody else, he doesn't flinch when he drops a hand on his shoulder, but there's years between them now. A lot that they don't know about each other.
Maybe this place can help with that. If he's lucky, they can get to be just as close as before.]
You look good too, Steve. [His eyes coast over him, checking for any injuries. Marks, bruises, signs that trouble's found him here somehow. Habit.] All seems like a dream, you know? The incentive. What we've gotta do to get it.
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He gets it. Once upon a time when he used to meet up with Steve it was a daily routine to check for a black eye. Find out where he got sucker punched cause he picked a fight. Wiggle the name out of Steve so Bucky could go find them and show them that you don't knock out little guys. ]
Kinda reminds me of the summers in Brooklyn. Where almost every woman on the street was uh--fair game to you and your hormones. [ He smiles just thinking about it. Home. ]
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Going by what he's seen on cuddlrs and the network, most are pretty open about everything that happens here. He's had contact from men and women both, so he's just rolling with it. Waiting to see where everything goes.]
Almost? C'mon, Steve. It was all of them.
[He's teasing, leaning back in the booth, expression softening. He hadn't realized just how much he's missed this until now. Bucky never really could find a gal to set Steve up with that could see how great he was back then. They focused too much on what didn't really matter.]
Surprised you ain't battin' them away, pal.
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He smiles as he leans back in his seat. Steve shakes his head just thinking about that. Having to keep up with Bucky on the street while he chased down any single woman that he could get his eyes on. Sometimes running across the street and dodging cars to get someone's attention. ]
What can I say? [ He shrugs. ] I been busy. Settling in. Looking for people I know. Now I'm gonna have to run alongside you probably as you run the streets looking for nice women.
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Maybe we can find somethin' else to do together.
[Getting to know one another all over again, to start. The city seemed to be pretty busy, there'd always be something happening that they could get involved in.]
Haven't been to a movie in seventy years, figured its changed by now. [He smiles up at the waitress when she comes over, ordering quite a bit of food for himself, waiting while Steve places his.] Tell me something I don't know about you.
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[ It's nice to talk about a simpler time. A little weird, but nice nonetheless. Despite their youthful appearance he definitely feels his age here. Times were different. People were different. ]
A lot different. [ Steve used to love movies. When he wasn't getting into fights with people in the other rows. He orders his own food and settles back. ] Uh. To be honest, Buck, I don't know if there's much you don't already know. Not a whole lot about me changed. Went on a few dates a long while back. Wasn't very good at it.
my apologies for the late reply!
If you were being yourself and they didn't ask for a second date, that's there loss then, pal.
[He leans back when the waitress drops off their food, thanking her before she goes.]
But you get better the more you practice. All you gotta do is find someone you click with and ask them out. Take them to a movie.
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To be fair I was working for SHIELD so it's not like honesty was gonna be easy. Especially then.
[ Then he got tied up chasing you, Buck. Too busy. ]
Would probably work. A lot of movies these days are a lot more intense than what we were used to.
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[A first for her as far as a potential date, but not exactly unheard-of in certain circles. *ah hem* Also not the only possibility, just didn't hurt to ask.]
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Back in my world everyone kind of knows the story.
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[It's the only question she feels right about asking. He can avoid, or he can answer, either way she can only imagine what it must be like. Slayers may have gotten famous but she'd never really been singled out outside of Magic Town. That was for Buffy to deal with. And she could keep it. Faith enjoyed her privacy.]
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[ Even with all the loss and the tragedy. He can say it was worth it. Because if it wasn't then Abraham died for nothing. ]
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[At least that's what she told herself. Sometimes she even believed it.]
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