Steve Rogers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
unshielding) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
keepcruising2018-04-22 09:44 pm
unshielding) wrote in keepcruising2018-04-22 09:44 pm
Entry tags:
you find what you were looking for?
[ In Wakanda, he means. ]
[ In Wakanda, he means. ]
Probably as much as I'm going to for now. Are you ready to get back on the road?
I have a lead on something in Russia, so pack layers.
[ Not that Steve's entirely keen to go back there, but they've got terrorists to stop. ]
[ Not that Steve's entirely keen to go back there, but they've got terrorists to stop. ]
Bag's already packed if you can grab it for me.
[ Sometimes Eve doesn't quite know how to talk to Steve, given the whole saving the world/Captain America thing he has going on, but- This is too important for her to get hung up on things like that. And it's not like she hasn't helped out with world-saving before. ]
Hey, do you have a minute? I think I might have found something.
Hey, do you have a minute? I think I might have found something.
I might even have two.
[ Right now, he's happy for any intel he can get on his current personal mission, but in lieu of that, he'd rather spend his time helping someone than being idle. ]
[ Right now, he's happy for any intel he can get on his current personal mission, but in lieu of that, he'd rather spend his time helping someone than being idle. ]
Great. I know you're probably working out leads of your own, but we might be able to help each other out here.
[ Or maybe not. She's not completely clear on what Steve's end game is here, but if what little she knows could be useful, she'll gladly clue him in. ]
[ Or maybe not. She's not completely clear on what Steve's end game is here, but if what little she knows could be useful, she'll gladly clue him in. ]
I'm happy to help you out, either way.
[ He's hardly one to put his own agenda above helping people if there's any sort of public safety issue, or even a private one. ]
[ He's hardly one to put his own agenda above helping people if there's any sort of public safety issue, or even a private one. ]
[→from here]
[The apartment itself is as it's always been: simple and sparsely furnished, partly because Bucky doesn't need "stuff" and partly because, with how their lives are, it's best to be prepared to pack up and leave town at a moment's notice. Nevertheless there's a warmth to the space, one in which Steve's always been welcome.]
I feel like there's no answer I can give that question that isn't going to incriminate me, so I'm going to pretend I didn't hear it.
[Which is also a little bit teasing, light and easy and accompanied with a smile. It's kind of what he wants for this whole thing to be: just an extension of everything they already are and no need for any of that to change.]
Do you want coffee or anything? [Those flowers probably have to go in water, so the small kitchen seems like as good a destination as any.]
[The apartment itself is as it's always been: simple and sparsely furnished, partly because Bucky doesn't need "stuff" and partly because, with how their lives are, it's best to be prepared to pack up and leave town at a moment's notice. Nevertheless there's a warmth to the space, one in which Steve's always been welcome.]
I feel like there's no answer I can give that question that isn't going to incriminate me, so I'm going to pretend I didn't hear it.
[Which is also a little bit teasing, light and easy and accompanied with a smile. It's kind of what he wants for this whole thing to be: just an extension of everything they already are and no need for any of that to change.]
Do you want coffee or anything? [Those flowers probably have to go in water, so the small kitchen seems like as good a destination as any.]
[ Steve chuckles softly and toes off his shoes near the door so he can get comfortable in the familiar space. The teasing is something Steve's come to rely on in a way. If they're teasing each other, it means that nothing big is wrong between them and he leans into that thought like a security blanket. ]
Coffee sounds good.
[ He follows Bucky into the kitchen a moment later, socked feet quiet on the floor, and stands at the doorway watching him. There's a little smile on his face that doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon. He's not trying to hide it, either. There's no point in hiding anything from Bucky right now. ]
[There's comfort in Steve's comfort in the space, honestly. Since he's had the place Steve's always been welcome in it — a far cry from the discomfort of discovering Steve as an intruder back in Romania. Then, he'd needed to hide from the world. Now, he wants Steve in his world.
Full circle, or as near to it as he's likely to get.]
I am sorry, you know. If I pushed that joke too far earlier.
[Water and ground beans in the coffee pot and the device is switched on; he can't complain at all about some of the modern conveniences. There's a little hunting around to find a container for those flowers though, and they're ultimately going to end up in a coffee mug because it's what he's got.]
Full circle, or as near to it as he's likely to get.]
I am sorry, you know. If I pushed that joke too far earlier.
[Water and ground beans in the coffee pot and the device is switched on; he can't complain at all about some of the modern conveniences. There's a little hunting around to find a container for those flowers though, and they're ultimately going to end up in a coffee mug because it's what he's got.]
Don't be ridiculous.
[ Bucky's so relaxed these days that Steve can hardly believe it. He knows there's more to it than that. There are things that weigh on both of them that just weren't there before and that's not going away. Some ghosts never fade and they're just a part of who Steve and Bucky are now. Still, Steve looks at how far Bucky has come and it's so good to see him like this. He'd rather Bucky take a joke too far than not make it at all.
When he sees the flowers going into a coffee mug, his smile gets wider. He steps further into the small kitchen space, stranding close to Bucky. ]
Are you still going to teach me how to dance?
I thought you liked it when I'm ridiculous.
[It's easy to fall into this, the back and forth that they'd always enjoyed in their younger days. It's as natural as breathing, which it always had been with Steve. That things had drifted from that ease was out of either of their control but now?
Well, there's no denying that there are still things about which they probably need to talk. But right now isn't the time for heavier thoughts; right now is for smiles and a rumble of a chuckle as Bucky half turns to Steve.]
Are you still going to step on my feet? [It might be a yes on both their counts.] I can't promise I'll remember everything I used to know.
[It's easy to fall into this, the back and forth that they'd always enjoyed in their younger days. It's as natural as breathing, which it always had been with Steve. That things had drifted from that ease was out of either of their control but now?
Well, there's no denying that there are still things about which they probably need to talk. But right now isn't the time for heavier thoughts; right now is for smiles and a rumble of a chuckle as Bucky half turns to Steve.]
Are you still going to step on my feet? [It might be a yes on both their counts.] I can't promise I'll remember everything I used to know.
[ Of course Steve likes it when he's ridiculous. The teasing and joking is a quality he's always liked about Bucky. The way Bucky sees and treats him never changed. Even when Steve had been small and sickly, Bucky had seen him for who he was. Nothing could take that away. ]
I'll help you remember.
[ He reaches for Bucky's hand, like he has plenty of times before, but this is a little different, isn't is? ]
And I'll ice your feet after I step on them. It's the least I can do.
Steve...
[It’s rare that Bucky’s caught up completely speechless, rare that he doesn’t have a joking comment to make with the one person who knows him better than any other, who’s seen him at his best and at HYDRA’s worst and is still here. And the topic of his memory is probably among the things they need to discuss at some point. But not right now, not with Steve’s hand curling around his and Bucky’s fingers spread, lacing with Steve’s. He can’t help the happiness he feels for it; they fit even like this.
Looking over at Steve really is looking over at him now; they’re of similar height where once he’d needed to look down. It’s nice, and the smile that curls across his face is warm, genuine.]
Why don’t you have a little more confidence in yourself, huh? I do. [Confidence in Steve that doesn’t have anything at all to do with dancing, confidence that sees him turning more toward Steve, sliding a hand to his waist.] Let’s do this.
[It’s rare that Bucky’s caught up completely speechless, rare that he doesn’t have a joking comment to make with the one person who knows him better than any other, who’s seen him at his best and at HYDRA’s worst and is still here. And the topic of his memory is probably among the things they need to discuss at some point. But not right now, not with Steve’s hand curling around his and Bucky’s fingers spread, lacing with Steve’s. He can’t help the happiness he feels for it; they fit even like this.
Looking over at Steve really is looking over at him now; they’re of similar height where once he’d needed to look down. It’s nice, and the smile that curls across his face is warm, genuine.]
Why don’t you have a little more confidence in yourself, huh? I do. [Confidence in Steve that doesn’t have anything at all to do with dancing, confidence that sees him turning more toward Steve, sliding a hand to his waist.] Let’s do this.
[ They've never held hands like this before and Steve can't help noticing how right it feels, how well Bucky's hand fits in his now. He could worry about all the scars they both have, all the great and terrible things they've missed in each other's lives when they were apart, but after everything's been stripped away, they still fit together better than ever, like two halves of a whole.
Bucky looks good when he smiles like that and Steve can't help returning it. He wants to make Bucky smile like that as much as he can.
That's about his last thought before he feels Bucky's hand on his waist and he knows his cheeks must be turning a little pink. Confidence isn't really a problem for Steve in most things, but now he's got Bucky here, touching him and standing so close and he's not entirely sure if he remembered to breath.
He squeezes Bucky's hand gently. ]
You have to lead. You're the one who knows what he's doing.
[ In more ways than one. ]
Bucky looks good when he smiles like that and Steve can't help returning it. He wants to make Bucky smile like that as much as he can.
That's about his last thought before he feels Bucky's hand on his waist and he knows his cheeks must be turning a little pink. Confidence isn't really a problem for Steve in most things, but now he's got Bucky here, touching him and standing so close and he's not entirely sure if he remembered to breath.
He squeezes Bucky's hand gently. ]
You have to lead. You're the one who knows what he's doing.
[ In more ways than one. ]
[Steve's blush is as endearing as his smile and it hooks in somewhere right behind Bucky's heart, a warm, weighted feeling. And it's nice, as simple as flowers in a coffee cup and the soft burble of the coffee maker on the counter. And maybe it can stay that simple, at least a little bit.
Maybe Steve will keep smiling like that, with the faintest hint of pink high on his cheeks and the light of something happy and carefree in his eyes.]
If you want me to—
[And he doesn't mean just for the dance lesson; he's pretty sure that Steve will know it as well. His gaze moves to their joined hands when Steve squeezes, and it brings a chuckle to his lips. He's about to shift that half step closer, about to nudge Steve into movement but he stops himself with a shake of his head.]
What am I doing? We should do this right.
[Right means pulling his hand from Steve's waist and digging his phone out of his pocket instead, saying a silent thank you for things like the internet and Spotify. A moment later soft jazz fills the kitchen, the closest he can get on short notice to what was popular in their younger years.
He slides that hand to Steve's waist again, slides that half step closer.] Hand on my shoulder, just move with me for a bit. Nothing fancy.
[Nothing complicated, mostly just a sort of swaying together so Bucky can learn (relearn) how Steve moves. Normally this is where he'd pull out the half-lidded eyes, the deliberate laugh-and-lean-closer, all the moves he had to make a girl melt in his arms. But it's not just about seducing Steve, not just about one encounter, one night. It's about figuring out how this works — because he thinks this could maybe really work.]
Maybe Steve will keep smiling like that, with the faintest hint of pink high on his cheeks and the light of something happy and carefree in his eyes.]
If you want me to—
[And he doesn't mean just for the dance lesson; he's pretty sure that Steve will know it as well. His gaze moves to their joined hands when Steve squeezes, and it brings a chuckle to his lips. He's about to shift that half step closer, about to nudge Steve into movement but he stops himself with a shake of his head.]
What am I doing? We should do this right.
[Right means pulling his hand from Steve's waist and digging his phone out of his pocket instead, saying a silent thank you for things like the internet and Spotify. A moment later soft jazz fills the kitchen, the closest he can get on short notice to what was popular in their younger years.
He slides that hand to Steve's waist again, slides that half step closer.] Hand on my shoulder, just move with me for a bit. Nothing fancy.
[Nothing complicated, mostly just a sort of swaying together so Bucky can learn (relearn) how Steve moves. Normally this is where he'd pull out the half-lidded eyes, the deliberate laugh-and-lean-closer, all the moves he had to make a girl melt in his arms. But it's not just about seducing Steve, not just about one encounter, one night. It's about figuring out how this works — because he thinks this could maybe really work.]
[ Steve follows Bucky's instructions and lets the music wash over him. It's nice, almost familiar if a little changed in much the same way Bucky is now, too.
They've been partners in so many ways for so long now that moving like this with Bucky feels more natural than it used to. They've fought together practically as one for so long that it's easier to read Bucky's body now, to move with him, even in these simple movements.
He sways with Bucky, letting Bucky set the tempo. It's not always easy for him to let someone else take charge, but with Bucky there's so much trust there that it's a lot less of a struggle to just go with it. ]
You were always so good at this stuff. I never understood where you even learned it all from.
[ His eyes are warm and fond, flush not leaving his cheeks, and he just keeps smiling warmly at Bucky, because he can't imagine any place he'd rather be or anyone he'd rather be with right now. This is perfect.
His socked foot slides on the floor then, tapping Bucky's bare one and Steve chuckles. At least if he steps on Bucky like this, it won't hurt too much. ]
They've been partners in so many ways for so long now that moving like this with Bucky feels more natural than it used to. They've fought together practically as one for so long that it's easier to read Bucky's body now, to move with him, even in these simple movements.
He sways with Bucky, letting Bucky set the tempo. It's not always easy for him to let someone else take charge, but with Bucky there's so much trust there that it's a lot less of a struggle to just go with it. ]
You were always so good at this stuff. I never understood where you even learned it all from.
[ His eyes are warm and fond, flush not leaving his cheeks, and he just keeps smiling warmly at Bucky, because he can't imagine any place he'd rather be or anyone he'd rather be with right now. This is perfect.
His socked foot slides on the floor then, tapping Bucky's bare one and Steve chuckles. At least if he steps on Bucky like this, it won't hurt too much. ]
[It really is perfect. Sure it's a far cry from what it used to be, Bucky making sure his date had a sister or a cousin or a friend so Steve wasn't left out, trying so hard to get the kind of smile that he sees on Steve's face now. Maybe in a way it's good that their lives happened as they did, if it means they can be together like this now. That's sugarcoating things for sure, but right now Bucky can't find it in him to care.
Right now he has Steve moving with him, smiles on both their faces. And it's so natural for them to fight together that really, dancing shouldn't be much different. It still requires skill and coordination and that instinct of being able to read your partner. And it requires a heck of a lot less punching!]
Mostly by doing. [Bucky shrugs; it's less important where he learned it from and more important that he gets to share it all with Steve now.] Kinda like how I want to teach you now.
[Which apparently includes the bump of Steve's foot against his own! It makes Bucky laugh again, laugh and shift his own foot out of the way even as pressure at Steve's waist encourages him to move a little more with the music.]
Right now he has Steve moving with him, smiles on both their faces. And it's so natural for them to fight together that really, dancing shouldn't be much different. It still requires skill and coordination and that instinct of being able to read your partner. And it requires a heck of a lot less punching!]
Mostly by doing. [Bucky shrugs; it's less important where he learned it from and more important that he gets to share it all with Steve now.] Kinda like how I want to teach you now.
[Which apparently includes the bump of Steve's foot against his own! It makes Bucky laugh again, laugh and shift his own foot out of the way even as pressure at Steve's waist encourages him to move a little more with the music.]
[ Bucky's always had natural charisma. Steve remembers it even when they were kids. He thinks all the dancing must have come naturally to Bucky the same way everything else had. He's always figured Bucky could have been friends with anyone he'd wanted, but he'd chosen Steve all those years ago and stuck by his through so much. Steve can't imagine a better friend to have than Bucky. ]
Laugh it up. Just be happy I took my shoes off.
[ There's no bite to his tone, voice soft as he follows Bucky's lead. He moves a little more now, trying to loosen up and only half succeeding, but being awkward in front of Bucky isn't too embarrassing anymore. It hasn't been for a long time. Bucky's seen him at his worst and he's still here, touching Steve and looking at him like he's worth everything. ]
Laugh it up. Just be happy I took my shoes off.
[ There's no bite to his tone, voice soft as he follows Bucky's lead. He moves a little more now, trying to loosen up and only half succeeding, but being awkward in front of Bucky isn't too embarrassing anymore. It hasn't been for a long time. Bucky's seen him at his worst and he's still here, touching Steve and looking at him like he's worth everything. ]
[The statement makes him laugh a little more, and he squeezes their joined hands happily. It's a bit silly perhaps, a dance lesson in Bucky's kitchen, but that hardly matters. What matters is that they're being silly together, that Steve's smiling and clearly glad to be here.
He's lighter like this, happier. Bucky adores it to no end.]
Close your eyes? [It's a quiet little thing, a request instead of a statement. Steve's still a little bit stiff and that's half his problem; Bucky thinks a large part of the other half is Steve not actually believing that he can dance.] Stop trying; just close your eyes and feel how I move. Move with me.
He's lighter like this, happier. Bucky adores it to no end.]
Close your eyes? [It's a quiet little thing, a request instead of a statement. Steve's still a little bit stiff and that's half his problem; Bucky thinks a large part of the other half is Steve not actually believing that he can dance.] Stop trying; just close your eyes and feel how I move. Move with me.
[ Anyone else might get an incredulous look, but it's Bucky and Steve closes his eyes before he's even finished talking. He feels foolish like this, but he just lets himself feel Bucky's hands and his guiding movement. With a few slow breaths, he even manages to loosen up a hair.
With his eye closed, he can hear Bucky's breathing more clearly, smell whatever shampoo Bucky is using these days, faint as that smell is. Bucky smells good, familiar and welcome and with his eyes closed, it's possible that Steve's head starts to tilt forward a little towards it. ]
I don't know how to stop trying.
With his eye closed, he can hear Bucky's breathing more clearly, smell whatever shampoo Bucky is using these days, faint as that smell is. Bucky smells good, familiar and welcome and with his eyes closed, it's possible that Steve's head starts to tilt forward a little towards it. ]
I don't know how to stop trying.
[He's patient, because Bucky does realize that, at some level, this is difficult for Steve. Not the dancing, which is little more than just swaying with the beat of the music. But it's more in the giving up of some of the stiffness, some of the alertness that's always present in his friend. It's about just relaxing into things and the fact that Steve does, just a little bit? That's huge.]
You're doing just fine.
[Soft, because they're so close and because he doesn't want to jolt Steve into opening his eyes just yet, doesn't want to bring anything of the stiffness back into the space between them — a space that's small to begin with, a space that Bucky makes even a little smaller by pressing a little closer. His eyes rove over Steve's face, memorizing and re-memorizing every little detail even though he knows he's looked at Steve a million times by now. But he doesn't think he'll ever get tired of the long lashes, the high cheekbones, the strong line of his jaw, the fullness of his lips. And it's be easy, if this was back then: lead his partner into a dip, laughing and smiling to pull them back up and into a kiss. He'd done it time and time again.
But this is Steve, and he deserves something more.]
I already know what you're gonna say— [which clearly isn't stopping him from voicing the quiet question] —but do you trust me?
You're doing just fine.
[Soft, because they're so close and because he doesn't want to jolt Steve into opening his eyes just yet, doesn't want to bring anything of the stiffness back into the space between them — a space that's small to begin with, a space that Bucky makes even a little smaller by pressing a little closer. His eyes rove over Steve's face, memorizing and re-memorizing every little detail even though he knows he's looked at Steve a million times by now. But he doesn't think he'll ever get tired of the long lashes, the high cheekbones, the strong line of his jaw, the fullness of his lips. And it's be easy, if this was back then: lead his partner into a dip, laughing and smiling to pull them back up and into a kiss. He'd done it time and time again.
But this is Steve, and he deserves something more.]
I already know what you're gonna say— [which clearly isn't stopping him from voicing the quiet question] —but do you trust me?
Page 1 of 13