[oom] a shadow in pursuit

[nerves_of_ice]

It's been well over a month since the auction, a couple of weeks since the procedure, and Bucky thinks they're all beginning to settle into what he thinks of as 'after.'

Sharon's at the lab with Shuri this morning. He's supposed to swing by there later or tomorrow, depending on how far she's gotten with the latest prototype - he'll wait to hear. In the meantime, he's concentrating on chopping up the latest fallen tree.

It's good work. Clean work, in more ways than one.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"Same goes," Bucky puts in. "Well, for Natasha anyway. Wilson if he wants."

"Take care, Rogers. Watch your back out there."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I will. You, too. I miss you guys."

He hangs up before he can get any sappier.

[from_the_outside]

She leaves the phone where it is on the table after the call drops, and looks at Bucky.

"It's a start," she says. "A good one."

[nerves_of_ice]

He's staring at the phone and doesn't speak at first, but then shakes himself out of his own thoughts and looks up at her.

"It is," he agrees.

[from_the_outside]

She frowns a little, eyebrows flickering together.

"What?"

[nerves_of_ice]

He blinks at her, confused.

"What d'you mean, what?"

[from_the_outside]

"You just seemed lost in thought," she says.

"Missing Steve?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"You'd think I'd be used to that by now," he says, more than a little wry. "I just worry about him sometimes."

[from_the_outside]

She reaches across the table for his hand. "I get it."

Her smile is just as rueful. "He's your best friend. And worrying about Steve was a full-time occupation for you, back in the day. Guess you're still in the habit."

[nerves_of_ice]

He curls his fingers around hers. "Guess so." After a second, he asks, "It doesn't bother you, does it?"

[from_the_outside]

She frowns again, bemused.

"Does what bother me?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Me and Steve," he says, simply. "I know sometimes people don't really understand how close we are."

[from_the_outside]

Her mouth makes a soft 'o' as it clicks, and she gives the question the deliberation it deserves, even as she's shaking her head. "No," she tells him, and smiles, a little wry.

"You and Steve are a package deal. You'll always be first for each other. I think that's great."

She shakes her head, not in negation but in thought. "I've never really had a best friend, someone who gets me like you get each other. I'm happy that you do. You guys deserve to have each other again."

[nerves_of_ice]

He smiles, and it's warm and bright and shining. "Yes. That's it exactly."

[from_the_outside]

He looks so happy that she couldn't possibly say anything else, even if there were something else to say.

"Good," she tells him, and reaches to squeeze his hand with hers.

[nerves_of_ice]

He threads their fingers together. “I hope this thing with Ross works out,” he says.

[from_the_outside]

"I really think he'll find a way to get Lang and Barton back," she tells him.

"And Sam doesn't have kids, right? But he's got family. Ross can work with that, too." His hand is warm and steady in hers, and she smiles at him. "Even with Lagos, the Avengers have a lot of goodwill at home. Secretary Ross will want to go with that, not against it, if he's got even two braincells to rub together."

[nerves_of_ice]

“That’s probably in doubt,” he informs her. “The Secretary, I mean.”

[from_the_outside]

She huffs a laugh at that. "Maybe. But he's still got to work with PR as much as possible, like every other politician."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky grimaces.

[from_the_outside]

Her lips twitch, but she just shakes her head. "Yeah, I know. But we need every angle we can get."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I know. But I don’t have to like it. Or to trust him.”

[from_the_outside]

"Definitely not," she agrees. "I don't."

Like it or trust him. She curls her fingers around his. "It'll be okay."

[nerves_of_ice]

He doesn’t say anything, just squeezes her hand.

[from_the_outside]

"Maybe we should have taken M'Baku up on his invitation this week."

She's only half-joking.