uprightness | ɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ

--- then we'll need to clear your name.

[ quite a task to do when the winter soldier has a reputation for killing and orchestrating such events. Steve hums, thinks of it and shakes his head. ]

We can't answer to a board. We've agreed to take down SHIELD exactly because we never know what are the agendas of the people above us. It'll be like taking two steps back.

Steve, a hundred and seventeen countries approved it. It's a bigger deal than just answering to a board. [ He shakes his head. ] This is where the problem is. You're against it. Stark's going to try to get you to sign. It's going to cause a lot of fucking problems. It's just what he wants.

[ God, this is already a mess. He knew it was a bad idea to tell Steve. ]

The one who framed me for it only did it to smoke me out. He's going to cause more problems to cause a rift between you and Stark.

--- Tony only approved of his mess because he blames himself for Ultron. We're past that. It's no reason for us to let a higher organization made by politicians run the Avengers. The last time we answered to an organization, I found out I've been working for HYDRA all along.

[ Tony will have to see sense, somehow. ]

This is just letting more people like Pierce a chance of having a say in what we do.

We can argue about it all damn day, but the fact of the matter is I'm telling you what's going to happen. Zemo gets what he wanted, he fucked you over, fucked Stark over, and got the Avengers to disband.

[ There's an ugly sort of anger moving just beneath his skin, and Bucky clams up, trying to quell the beast. He's angry at Steve for being so damned good. Angry at himself for his inability to calmly fucking explain this, and that small bit of programming still trying to sink its claws in him.

He will not defend HYDRA or Pierce, but god how he wants to make a snide comment about the matter. Must have been tough, huh? It's not fair to Steve, it's really not. He means well. ]

We're not going to disband here. Tony and I - we'll work things out, we always do. The Avengers will stay together, there's a bigger cause here than a rift created because of a madman.

[ like the Atroma and going home and - ]

If it happened, then it happened. I can't change it. But we can still do something about things here. We'll not let the Sokovia Accords get between us. He's not here, he can't get to us.

Once he knows, the result is the same. I mean once he knows everything. You can't always predict what people will do, Steve.

[ He doesn't mean to, but Bucky lets out a hollow bark of laughter, shaking his head. It's bitter and unfriendly. ]

We don't need him to be here to get to us. [ He taps on the augment behind his ear. ] Not when they can fuck with us just as well. They proved that before Zemo did a fucking thing.

I can't give up on my friendship with Tony. You're right. I can't predict what will happen, not by a long shot but I can make sure Tony understands I'm not about to let this ruin things too, at least not on my end.

[ he thinks about it and adds ]

It's obvious it's what I should have done to begin with.

[ a weird thing, to talk about the future in past tense but he has no time to think about the paradox here. ]

That's not what this is about. I'm not asking you to give up on your friendship. I never asked you to choose, and I'm not about to.

Just-- [ He sighs, dragging a hand through his hair before looking seriously at Steve. ]

Be careful.

[ he smiles a bit, despite it all. despite of everything, of the future and the present, Atroma and Zemo and the Sokovia Accords. ]

You know me. always careful.

[ ok, he's definitely being a punk but it's better than all this sadness ]

...Yeah. Uh-huh.

[ He rolls his eyes, crouching down so he can reach under the bed. He pulls out a bottle of a planet's version of Fireball, and two glasses. ]

Pour us a drink, punk. We deserve it.

-- We can't get drunk.

[ said with a huff of something akin to laughter but he pours two glasses of the stuff anyway ]

Does it matter if we can't? Not always about getting drunk.

[ Once Steve has the glasses, he sits on the floor with his back against the bed frame and takes one of the drinks. ]

Cheers.

Cheers -

[ he takes a long swig of the drink and cringes ]

--- it's definitely not about the taste.

[ good grief ]

No, it's not. You'll be hard-pressed to find the good stuff most planets. Had this leftover from a few months ago.

[ Back when they had to work in the planet for currency and Natasha was the fight orchestrator. The underground fighting had been fun. And profitable. ]

Won it in a fight.

Yeah I still remember the wine on the last planet -

[ but you know what, he'll pour himself another. ]

You know, if it weren't for the serum, I think this stuff would knock me out.

Probably, yeah..

[ He holds out his own enjoy glass once he knocks back the first. ]

[ he pours him another and takes a sip from his. ]

--- if my mother could see me now.

[ a snort. she'd likely have a bit of a heart attack. ]

I have something for you.

..I think she'd be proud of you.

[ He doesn't want to think about how Sarah or his own mother would think him, now.

He looks up at Steve, curious. ]

Don't have to give me anything.

[ his smile is soft for a minute. it means a lot, hearing this and he seems like he might say something else before changing his mind and reaching into his pocket, offering him a small stack of papers. ]

Made it anyway.

[ it's a series of drawings, all of Brooklyn in the 40s, the familiar streets and little shops. ]

[ Bucky knocks back the drink, setting the empty glass on the floor before he reaches for the papers.

God, he made him something...

He's speechless, jaw moving, but no sound coming out. They're amazing, and places that he vividly remembers, now. Coney Island.. the soda shop.. The store he used to pick up art supplies for Steve.

When he does speak, the words are quiet, awed. ]

This is... amazing. Nicest gift I've ever gotten.. thank you.

Figured I could give you some nice memories.

[ now, with all of this happening, it seems like they need them more than ever. ]

Sometimes I walk in Brooklyn and I can still see it the way it used to be.

[ he reaches an arm around his shoulder, gives a little nudge. it's a small hug of a sort. ]

You're welcome.

[ Bucky leans into the embrace briefly, giving Steve's leg a pat in return. ]

I'll have to find a good spot for them.

We can arrange them all over the walls, give the place a sense of home.

[ he smiles, looking around ]

I could probably do the same on the Starstruck.

What, the mask that looks like a unicorn skull doesn't remind you of home?

[ Wrath had gotten it for him on the toxic moon, and it seemed rude to just keep it in a trunk after that. So of course, he put it on the wall. ]

I'm sure you could. Bet a splash of color wouldn't look too bad, either

It's - something, alright.

[ he smiles a bit ]

I think they sell these sort of things down in New Orleans. Never checked it out myself.

[ he smiles ]

I need to find paint. All I could find on the last planet was coal pencils.

ɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ

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