neversurrender | IC Contact || riverview

Should I come over now?

[Look, if he wants to offer to hang out, she's not going to say no.]

The sooner the better. Or else I can't promise they'll be any pie left for you.

[He can only fight the temptation before him for so long Wanda.]

Give me 15 minutes?

[Look, she can't just snap her fingers and be there like some people around here. But fifteen-ish minutes later, there will be a knock at the door.]

[He opens the door almost instantly. It's not like he's been pacing by the door or anything...

He's definitely been pacing by the door, but it proved a good distraction to keep his thoughts away from the treats awaiting them in the kitchen.]

Come on in. I've got them set up in the kitchen. On plates and everything.

[Unfortunately, this Steve is so hard-headed and persistent he tends to sabotage his own efforts to get anywhere with Bucky. The man seems determined not to get involved with him and Steve has a hard time accepting that, which only makes the tension worse between them.]

I just wish he would talk to me. I can't figure out what's going on in his head. It's almost like he blames me for something.

[There's a lot he could have done to earn that, but Steve is unaware of himself sometimes. He sighs.]

You're not worried?

[Wanda laughs and steps inside, raising the bag she's carrying.]

I hope you warmed them. I brought ice cream.

[You know, like a good friend.]

[He shares similar sentiments about Bucky these days. They've managed to talk a little bit better recently, but it's still nothing like the ease in which they could share with each other growing up. His friend definitely isn't as easy for him to read either.]

Blames you? I don't know how that would be possible. Have you tried asking him about it?

[Even as he asks he knows that it would be easier said then done. Just because he asks doesn't mean that Bucky will give him a straight answers. Or any answer.]

About my team?

I was waiting for you. I figured it might be cold by the time you got here otherwise.

[Entering the kitchen, he scoops up both of the plates and sets them inside the microwave, putting forty seconds on the timer.]

What kind of ice cream?

[He looks eager.]

It's just vanilla. Unless...

[Pardon her, she's just going to start flitting around the kitchen looking for the cinnamon.]

It's your birthday. I think we can make them even more special.

Well, that'd involve finding him first. And he doesn't like it when I find him much.

[He gives the other blond a wry smile. Bucky takes his forceful approach pretty badly. Steve figures he won't be happy to see him in any case at this point.]

I've been trying to give him space.

About your team. About your world. All of it.

[His eyes follow her with curiosity as she moves around the kitchen.]

Okay...what do you have in mind?

[The microwave dings, signaling the pies' readiness. He opens it and pulls both plates out, setting them on the table.]

That would be telling.

[She grins at him, checks two more places, and finally finds the cinnamon before returning to the table with everything floating behind her.

Each pie gets a scoop of ice cream followed by a light dusting of cinnamon.]

There. Try that.

Yeah. He prefers finding you.

[Which makes reaching out to him pretty difficult.]

Probably a good idea.

[He's silent for a long moment. He had been concerned about those things when he'd first arrived. About the teammates he's left behind on the run. About how he and Tony would ever repair the damage done to their relationship. But as the months went by he's grown more and more content within the Quarantine.]

I used to be. But ultimately I think I can do more good here right now. The situation I left in my world is...not ideal.

[He sits down in front of one of the plates and watches as Wanda adds the finishing touches.]

It looks great. Take a seat and we'll dig in.

[Wanda sits, but even if she's a guest, it's his birthday, so she'll wait for him to eat first.]

Happy birthday. I hope you like it.

I kind of got that impression after he told me to stay away.

[Steve smiles dryly. Figuring out Bucky's thoughts is a real puzzle for him. But he's also starting to realize that the more he struggles, the worse he's making things. Sometimes you have to let the fish swim and leave it before you get wet. It just takes him a long time to actually realize he cant punch his way through everything.]

If it's that bad at home, shouldn't you go back to it? I like this place. It's a good city with good people. But if you think your world is in trouble, you should protect it.

[He nods, grinning, and then begins tucking into his pie and ice cream with gusto. He speaks again after savoring several bites.]

This is really good. You'll have to share your recipe with me.

[He's been trying out his hand with cooking more lately. How much harder could baking be?]

Not that kind of bad.

[He shakes his head, smiling grimly.]

My team...we had a bit of a falling out. The government got involved and some of us had to go on the run. Not ideal. But not world endangering.

[Steve looks surprised. Not because he hadn't heard about the tension between the Avengers, but by the other man's face. The issue is still a deep wound to him and it makes Steve wonder if that's how he looks too when he tries to pick at the old injuries he carries.

If it meant saving the world, he'd go back without hesitation. But if it's healing himself, well, maybe things aren't that easy. His gaze softens with sympathy.]

What are you doing now?

[Wanda smiles warmly. She's glad he likes it, and it's not half bad if she does say so herself.]

They're a little easier to make than a normal pie. Have you made one before?

[She didn't know he baked, but she wouldn't exactly be surprised, either.]

[There's noticeable relief in his expression when Steve doesn't press any further. He's worked so hard to repair things with Tony and the rest of his teammates, to be in a good place again, that he doesn't want to linger on what awaits for him back home.

Of course he would return if his world needed him. He just hopes that it can get by without him for awhile longer.]

Talking to you. [He grins.] Was thinking about heading to the gym later. Why?

[He shakes his head as he finishes chewing.]

No. My mom did. I used to help her with little things. But I don't remember enough about the process to get very far on my own.

IC Contact || riverview

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>> action!

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