controlledvariable | (no subject)

Stephanie. Do you have time to talk?

For you? Always.

[It's a light answer, but she means it, she just doesn't like making a big deal out of things like that. Steve doesn't need to worry about bothering her.]

[That's quite the proclamation, there, and for a moment he is honestly taken aback. He toys with his phone briefly before replying,]

I'd like to know what you know about Bucky. The other one, the one you met in Exsilium. Please.

[That's an odd question, but she can answer it easily.]

Not a whole lot, really. I knew he fought in World War Two, and the Cold War. I know he's an Avenger, but I don't think he was from the same world that Tony was from, since I never saw them together.

[And even if people might not have gotten along well before they came to another world, being from the same place tends to draw people together.]

A lot of people who'd come from the past, you could tell, you know? But he never seemed like that.

[Which was a bit odd.]

[... An Avenger. Yet fought in the Cold War. Excuse him, Steph, you just shorted out his brain in a manner most spectacular.

Because that means somewhere out there there's a version of Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, who comes home.

After a slightly strangled silence,]

I-- see. Thank you. I know it's a lot to ask, but would you-- mind not telling him much about it? He doesn't... know certain aspects of his future, and I'm waiting for the right time to tell him. It needs to come from me.

Edited 2014-11-01 07:43 (UTC)

Sure, it really isn't much anyway.

[She sounds a little... wary, maybe, but that's only because she's not sure if that plan might backfire horribly.

Hence:]

I'm not sure if he even liked me, but can I give you some advice?

[Normally he'd just. You know, nod. But in lieu of that--]

Of course.

Whatever secrets you're keeping, don't keep them for too long. You don't know who could show up here or what could change, and secrets have a way of fucking everything up.

[She knows that one from experience.

And yet it doesn't stop her keeping them, but she's a hypocrite like that.]

[With an element of something - sadness, maybe - to his voice, he just. Exhales.]

I know. Believe me when I say I'm not trusting to divine providence on this one. But he's been out of the Second World War for less than two weeks. I'd like him to have a little peace before he hears what I have to say.

There's no peace here.

[It might be quiet at the moment, but she's sure it would've been quiet in the war sometimes. That doesn't mean it's peace.]

More than what we had back home.

[And he doesn't just mean the War.]

[She has enough not to point out things must've been really shit, then.]

Still, don't keep it to yourself too long. It seems like Yao Corp likes playing games, and if they know whatever this is...

[It could be bad.]

I'll keep my head above water, Steph. You don't have to worry.

[It's a mirror to her unspoken statement of earlier.]

Worrying's what I do best, don't take that away from me.

[She figures his comment was enough of a dismissal of the topic that she can roll in with a joke.]

Then you must be an Olympic-level worrier.

[He's still not. Comfortable joking with her, because how does frand, but he's trying.]

[She hums in agreement.]

I've got gold in worrying and in witty comebacks. It's why I have so many friends.

Well, how's one more for the pile?

[Yes he is offering to be your friend, Steph. He's good with people. And words. And pretty women.

Actually none of the above.]

Does this mean we weren't already friends?

[She's hurt, Steve.]

I did only meet you once.

[Faintly teasing.]

Hey, I hadn't even met my boss before I decided we were friends.

[That's because phone calls were a thing.

Also don't lie, Steph, you were terrified of Oracle.]

Sounds a little like friendship roulette.

[In. A weird way. Does she seriously just point and click...]

[pretty much tbh]

It's a lot more fun than the Russian version. [a beat] Actually you might wanna ask my friends about that. Their opinions might differ.

Well, I'm not really one for talking to myself--

[Steven Grant Rogers]

-- But I could always ask Bucky.

[That's cute, and it earns a small chuckle.]

You might not wanna trust his opinion, I think he's biased.

[She means it well, just that she, well, she's noticed how he looks at her. And she doesn't mind, but it is a thing.]

Well, I tend to trust his opinion regardless of bias.

[He keeps his tone light.]

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