OOM: Bucky, after the cells

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve isn't sure when Bucky will be released from the cells, and so is passing the time at the Caribbean inlet, wondering how to get Orpheus's boat here. If it's possible, which he isn't sure about at all.

(There are boats floating on the perfect blue water. That seems promising.)

Boots off, pants rolled up, face turned up to the sun.

(Remembering, too, days spent at the shore, drawing sunbathers and flirting couples and Bucky as a boy, as a young man.)

His sketchbook is tucked in his coat. He may take it out before much longer.

Comments

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"A nice little break from winter."

He shoves his hands in his back pockets.

"Did you stop by the bar for your Christmas present?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not yet - I came out here first," James tells him.

"I will, though."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Good.

"I love the book. It's a beautiful book."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles, a little.

"I'm glad. I thought it might... suit you."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"It does."

He's quiet a moment. "It ridiculous, how happy that makes me. You do remember, don't you? You remember me."

[nerves_of_ice]

He hesitates for a long moment, then nods.

"Yeah. Not... not everything, yet, but I do."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles enormously. "You will, I'm sure.

"Though I guess the more important question is what you remember about yourself."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Some things."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Any blanks you want me to fill in?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not right now," he says, after a moment's hesitation.




"I'm... sorry."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve shakes his head. "It's okay. You don't need to apologize for anything."

He picks up his boots and jacket. "Want to walk a bit?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sure."

He moves to Steve's left without hesitation.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve glances it him with a faint smile as they start down the fine white sand.

What do you remember about the last seventy years? seems like an awkward way to start a conversation, as does So we met about ninety years ago..., and aside from their shared past he's not sure what he should talk about.

Though he could say nothing.

The silence seems to settle between them quite firmly.

[nerves_of_ice]

It holds for some time.





"In the cells."

Abruptly, out of nowhere.

"She's ... different. From what you know."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I know the woman you fought?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"You... will. Someday."

A long, long beat.

"Natasha. Romanova. --Romanoff."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I do know her," Steve says quietly. "She was on my team in SHIELD and in the Avengers. She helped expose the history of HYDRA within SHIELD.

"She's actually great."

[nerves_of_ice]

"You don't know her now," he says, flatly.

He considers the sound of those words, then qualifies them.

"Her now."

Another long beat, as he frowns over what Steve has just said.

"She engineered the intel release?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yes, she did."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Ah."

He walks several steps in silence.




"I wasn't ... sure."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I trust her, Bucky," Steve says simply.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay."

He nods.

"And... I know. Now, I mean. That ..."




"They wouldn't have. Targeted her, with you. If she was ... with them."

A thoughtful beat.

"Probably."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Probably," Steve agrees, wry.

"It's harder than it ever was, knowing who to trust. But when you've fought at somebody's side, that still reveals their character."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yeah."


There's another long silence, the only sound around them that of their footsteps.


"I knew her, once. Before..."

The barest hesitation.

"... she relocated. To the-- to America. A long time ago."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"You did? Before the--she told me about an engineer in Odessa."