Not-an-OOM: Bucky

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Once they're back inside, Steve drops onto a stool at the bar and says, "Coffee, please. Irish it up."

A large cup appears on the bar top. Steve's hands are steady when he picks it up.

He's grateful for that.


He has a sip, then says quietly, "So what the hell was that?"

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"Make it two, please."

He wraps his hands around his own mug when it appears, but doesn't try to lift it yet.

"A bad idea, apparently."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve looks at him.

"Bucky. You went out there by yourself, after all we've learned and all we know we don't know?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I've been out there on the range by myself before," he points out. "Lots of times."

He's staring into his coffee.

"I couldn't sleep. Thought I'd take a look."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Before all this started, I wouldn't have worried."

He adds quietly, "Now I'm worried. Not just about you--about everybody. That--that thing isn't ..."

He drinks.

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's not human," he finishes. "I don't know what it is, but it's not... it's not."

Bucky picks up his own cup, finally, and takes a large swallow.

"I know it was stupid."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I was planning to say 'foolhardy,' but stupid works too."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Thanks," he says, dryly, and takes another swallow of coffee.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve is quiet a moment.

"Bucky," he says as he puts his hand on Bucky's shoulder, "we still have no idea what this thing is. We don't know what it's capable of or what it wants. All we know is it's terrifying and it can't be killed.

"This is not an enemy we're trained to fight.

"Running in half-cocked is only going to get you killed."

Or worse, he thinks, frowning.

[nerves_of_ice]

"We know that now. We were just guessing before. There was the chance that bullets could have worked."

He sets down his coffee cup and looks up at Steve.

"You didn't see yourself the other night," Bucky says, quietly. "After what it did to you, just the chance that I could have ended it -- "

"-- I figured it was worth the risk."

He manages a small smile.

"We already know you'd do the same for me."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve is quiet a moment, deeply touched. "Yeah," he says simply.

"But we didn't know anything before. The first thing we do before any mission is gather intel and we didn't have enough.

"At the very least you should have gotten me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I know," Bucky admits, quietly. "I just..."

He shrugs, and scrubs a hand over his face, then blinks tired eyes, trying to focus.

"... had to do something."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve is still watching him.

He says, "Instead of sleeping, I take it.

"How long has it been since you've slept, soldier?"

Steve Rogers, Stern Commander.

[nerves_of_ice]

"... I've caught a couple of naps."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve rubs his eyes.

"No wonder you're a mess. Want me to come sit in your room or something so you can get some sleep?"

Orpheus is in Paris again--Steve doesn't really want to be alone, either.

[nerves_of_ice]

"You don't need to babysit me, Steve."

He reaches for the coffee again.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I'm not going to sleep knowing you're not sleeping, so we may as well not-sleep together."

Slight smile.

This is as close as he gets to a dirty joke, don't you think?

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky gives him a startled look, then chuckles, wearily.

"Fair enough. Trade off watches?" he suggests.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Sure. I'll take first."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Somehow I'm not surprised."

He pushes the coffee away again and glances over at Steve.

Quietly:

"Thanks."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve pats his back. "No trouble. C'mon." He drains his cup and gets to his feet.

[nerves_of_ice]

He climbs off the barstool and adjusts the way his rifle's slung over his shoulder with the absentminded care of long habit.

"At least it's still early enough we won't lose the whole day."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Does time actually pass here?" Steve wonders as they climb the stairs. "It always seems like it's the middle of happy hour to me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Maybe it is, given all the places people come in from."

He shrugs.

"Or maybe it just doesn't matter, because everyone here's out of their own time."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Or time doesn't exist," Steve says. "Just our perception of it.

"Where's your room?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"This way."

Bucky indicates the corridor to the right with a nod, and leads the way down it.

His hand drifts absently to his sidearm as they draw near the door, and brushes over it before he pulls the key from his pocket instead.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve notes the gesture, but doesn't remark on it.

[nerves_of_ice]

It doesn't take long to unlock the deadbolt and open the door. He gives the room a quick scan, and relaxes slightly on not seeing anything untoward.

Bucky flips the light on and pushes the door wide.

"Home sweet home," he says. "It's simple, but it gets the job done."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve takes off his shield and jacket, but leaves the pistol strapped to his thigh. "Not bad."

Orpheus's room is prettier. And homier.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Seen worse, anyway."

He's moved the furniture a little; enough so that the armchair in the corner by the reading lamp has a view of the single window, the hallway door, and the bathroom door.

The closet door's been latched shut with an extra bootlace; the few things Bucky'd brought with him have been put away in the dresser against the side wall.

The bed itself has been dragged so that it backs up against the far wall, so that all a sleeper has to do is open his eyes to see the whole room. It's there that Bucky goes, hanging his rifle from the post on the headboard and sitting down to unfasten his boots.

"I don't have a real sketchpad. I've got a notebook around here somewhere, though, if you want."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I came prepared," Steve says, wry, and takes out the sketchbook and pencil he keeps inside his jacket. "Having a light on won't keep you awake?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Doubt it."

He's tired enough to sleep through just about anything, he knows, as long as it's safe to do so.

With Steve there, it will be.

"Wake me in a few hours for your turn, okay? Or earlier if you get bored."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I will," Steve says, and thinks "a few hours" could easily mean eight or longer, right?

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay."

He lies down and gives Steve a quick grin before closing his eyes.

"Night. Or morning. Whichever it is."

No more than five minutes later, Bucky's slipped into a true sleep.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles when he hears Bucky's even, deep breathing, and breathes a little easier himself.

He draws Bucky, of course.


(He leaves out the drooling.)