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

[nerves_of_ice]

He shakes his head.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve sighs and rubs Bucky's back, hoping to comfort him.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Anyway. When I saw her - here - I, I had to, to know, to be sure..."

The corner of his mouth turns up in a wry half-smile.

"... I wasn't too clear. And she thought - and so we, uh, got into it."

And ended up in the cells for a week, goes unsaid.

"It's... earlier. For her. She doesn't... know. What's coming."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"When you put it that way, it's actually understandable. Still, I hope it brought home that when they say no violence in the bar, they mean no violence in the bar."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yeah. It did."

He opens and closes the fingers of his let hand, carefully.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve rubs Bucky's back again.

"I hope Milliways will be a safe place for you, since God only knows what you'll be facing at home. I need to know you're safe somewhere."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Safe enough."

He glances over at Steve again.

"Sorry I missed Christmas."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"There'll be more. And your gift is still at the bar.

"Should we go get it?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sure. Okay."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Let me get my boots on." He leans against a tree for balance.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Sure," he says again, and takes up a stance to observe their surroundings in case of potential threat - visibly, obviously so.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve glances up, notices the stance, and says quietly, "You know, aside from the demon bunnies, I'm pretty sure there's nothing out here to worry about."

He finishes tying his boots and pulls on his jacket.

[nerves_of_ice]

He slants a look at Steve.

"And as long as I'm on watch, there won't be."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve looks right back, an expression that's both touched and heartbroken on his face.

"You don't need to, here. You don't."

[nerves_of_ice]

He shakes his head in denial, but doesn't say anything aloud.

After the danger he himself brought to this place, how can he not keep watch?

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

It's pointless to argue, Steve supposes. Bucky will just have to see for himself.

"Well, let's go inside. It's warmer, anyway."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Okay."

He falls in on Steve's left once more.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve watches him sometimes as they walk back to the bar.

"I want to tell you stories. Do you want to hear them?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"I ... do. Now," he adds.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Okay," Steve says.

He taps his left ear. "I used to not hear so well out of this ear. You'd walk here to make sure nothing snuck up on me. The sidewalks of Brooklyn could get pretty crowded, and you'd just...put yourself in my weak spot."

[nerves_of_ice]

He considers that for a few steps.

"Was I good at it?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yeah," Steve says. "Nobody would mess with you, and so nobody would mess with me while you were around.

"Which isn't to say," he adds in a self-deprecating tone, "that I never got into any kind of trouble. I was small and weak, and I had a mouth on me ... well, I had to do a lot of standing up to people who really enjoyed knocking me and a lot of other people down."

[nerves_of_ice]

James looks over at him, studying him.






"... that's ... how we met."

He sounds a little uncertain, but only a little.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve nods. "We were eight."

He pauses.

"Want me to tell you, or...let it come?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"There were -- kids," he says, slowly. "In a - playground, or something like it."

A beat.

"Bunch of punks. All on one."