neversurrender | IC Contact || riverview

[He couldn't hold back the chuckle, but it was brief, as if it startled its way out of him.]

That would get to him. He spent most of our childhood pulling me out of fights, and sometimes finishing them himself. I was always the kid too stupid to run away. [He shrugs.] I guess I still am.

But becoming Captain America changed that for you. [It's not a question.]

Captain America gave me a chance to do something. To act.

[It's definitely not something Steve would ever have to question. The smile he gives him says that.]

So you got in trouble, huh? I can see why Bucky might be worried about that. And now that you're bigger I guess that just means you find bigger problems?

[He says that fondly. Even though he did spend his early years running, he usually finds his own big problems these days. They have that in common.]

[He nods. That he can understand, as his whole reason for signing onto Project Rebirth had been to have that chance as well.]

Bullies around the block. Nothing too extreme. Bucky worries too much sometimes.

You could say that. But it seems like most of the time the biggest problems always seem to find me and my team first.

[He certainly hadn't gone looking for a fight with the Chitauri or Ultron.]

Sounds like he might worry just enough.

[Steve chuckles, amused by how familiar that is to him. No wonder Bucky thought they should talk.]

Well, you do make a good target. So I hear.

[And really what's wrong with that? Steve doesn't question what he does enough. To him, attracting the dangers just saves him time looking.]

So you're friends with the other Avengers here? The ones from the other world.

Don't tell him that. He'll never let me forget it.

[His expression appears serious for a moment, and then the corners of lips curl up.]

I mean, the shield is hard to miss. I guess everyone thought is made for a good bulls-eye.

[Which is partly why he had it painted the way it is. Why he dressed the way he did. In the middle of a battlefield, you're not going to miss the guy running around dressed in bright red, white, and blue. He likes to think making himself a target helped him fellow soldiers out in tough times.]

Yeah. They're my team. [Were. He forgets sometimes that outside of this place he's not actually an Avenger anymore. Neither is Sam or Wanda for that matter. But here, with everything between him and Tony sorted, he feels like they're a team again.]

Doubt I'll get the chance to tell him anything soon. He tends to keep away from me when he can.

[That is said a little sadly. He would like to be Bucky's friend, but it seems like there's just too much working against him. Steve doesn't know why Bucky seems to dislike him so much, but perhaps he's just not the man he's looking for. That would be the blond he's talking to.]

That's good. You have a good team here. It's nice to see so many of you together.

[He'd like to see more of his own team, but just knowing there are Avengers around is encouraging.]

[He doesn't know if he should feel surprised or relieved to hear that. Surprised that Bucky would avoid this Steve who doesn't come equipped with a lifetime of baggage that he doesn't remember. Relieved that he's not the only one who has been avoided, if for different reasons.]

Don't take it personally. He seems to prefer to keep more to himself these days. [A great deal of that having to do with Pierce.]

Yeah, it is. It's...been awhile since we've all been together back home.

[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?

[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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

[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?

IC Contact || riverview

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