[Natasha likes to keep it short and sweet, especially over the network. With Barnes turning up, she has to wonder how Steve is doing. It's got to be good seeing his friend alive and whole, and relatively stable. At the same time, they lead complicated lives here.]
Are you asking about a particular one that has too much stubble?
[If she couldn't hear the humor in his text, he'd eat someone's hat. Losing James had hurt, deeply, but gaining Bucky was going a long way towards helping that heal. With his best friend by his side again, everything looked brighter, even the Hell Hotel. It was hard to do anything but smile with Bucky never more than a glance away, not that the man made tailing him easy. Steve still wasn't quite past the need to obsessively watch his brother lest he suddenly disappear again.]
Really? More modern, huh? You think I'd look good in a beard? I couldn't ever grow one before the serum, but I do shave now . . . So you've met him then? I mean, I'm not just having a really long and vivid hallucination?
[Jokes were fun, and he was enjoying himself. How could he feel bad with Bucky within reach again?]
What? When? After I went AWOL? I bet it was then. Shaving probably wasn't much of a priority then . . . Also good. That's seriously good. I really was just a bit worried I was living too much in my head. He looks good, you think? I mean, way better than the last I saw him.
[And wasn't that an understatement? But he was trying to keep things light, and so far it was still more joy than sorrow. Steve liked it better that way.]
[Which had been when he died. Up until then, Barnes had actually seemed... reasonably stable and happy, all things considered. But the fact he's alive makes this an improvement.]
You're not dreaming, though. He's here. He looks good. Confused what he's doing here, I figure, but otherwise.
Good. Just good. You ah . . . You got to know him back home, right? I mean, I've heard I found him eventually and we all fought together, but a lot of the specifics . . .
[Trying to fish for information? Maybe. Mostly . . .]
I don't know that I'd say I got to know him. We've met. But he was in Wakanda taking some well deserved time away from the world.
[It's far from the whole truth, though it is true. Carefully curated facts to keep Steve from finding out too much about a future he can't do anything about here.]
[He really had no idea what Natasha did or didn't know about Bucky, and that sort of bothered him. Steve knew she'd read the files, but beyond that . . . well. It bothered him, thinking she might not like Bucky very much. Steve wanted all of his friends to get along! or at least be civil, not that he thought anybody was going to suddenly start throwing down . . .]
Yeah? I see. I know he can be a little quiet these days, but he's a good man. You think it would be a good idea to have a little get together sometime soon? So people can meet him I mean? The important ones.
[Steve wasn't sure Bucky would go for something like that, especially with a bunch of people all at once, but he wanted his found family to meet his first one. He wouldn't just spring on anyone though. It was just a thought still.]
[Steve's anxiety comes from a good place, though he needn't have worried. Natasha already plans to get to know Barnes a little better while they're here. They might not know each other well, might not be close, but she's well aware of his skill and she's confident he'd be a worthwhile ally.]
If you're inviting me, I'll come. How's Barnes feel about a get together?
Well, he'll probably hate it, but I plan to talk him around. And yeah, that means a lot to me Natasha. Seriously. You're part of my family too and I want everyone to get together, you know? I love all you guys!
Well you, Thor, Loki, Billy. I hear Clint is around? I haven't had a chance to see him in person yet but I'm sure he'd want in. I . . . maybe not Tony. Much as I love him . . . you know. Peter definitely. Peter's the best at making someone smile! Setsuna of course. Not sure about anyone else. You have any ideas?
I'd say that's between you and Barnes. I can tell you that Clint would like to be there.
And it's up to you if you want to include Tony, but I wouldn't. Most people aren't so keen to get to know the guy who killed their parents. That wouldn't be comfortable for either him or Bucky.
Yeah. I'm gonna talk to Tony about it all. Somehow. And I don't want him to feel left out or unwanted. It's not his fault there's . . . that. I suppose I should be more upset myself. I mean, it was Howard. But it's also Bucky, you know?
Complicated.
But I'll let you know. It'll take a while to convince Buck a party would be fun. In the mean time, I can totally force smaller groups on him though! We can do a movie night or something! It would be fun!
Bridge? Why would I know how to play bridge? We played poker back in the trenches! But I was thinking a movie night! Some snacks and drinks and a good flick! It'll be really low-key that way, you know? I think it would work well.
Is it such a bad thing to veg out and just enjoy the company for a day? And I'll settle for just something you like. It's ok not to have faves, it just means you haven't found the right movie yet! We can work on that too!
You know, you're not wrong about that. Bucky needs a new style, and mine's shaggy enough you could probably get some length on a braid. Let me get my hands on yours and it'll be a real party though! Handiwork, I'm telling you. Gotta do something during all that wait time on missions, you know?
[It was really only barely a joke. Steve liked playing with people's hair, and he wasn't terrible at it either.]
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timeasmymeasure
text
Date: 2020-05-14 03:42 am (UTC)Saw some new faces recently. Status report?
no subject
Date: 2020-05-16 05:25 am (UTC)[If she couldn't hear the humor in his text, he'd eat someone's hat. Losing James had hurt, deeply, but gaining Bucky was going a long way towards helping that heal. With his best friend by his side again, everything looked brighter, even the Hell Hotel. It was hard to do anything but smile with Bucky never more than a glance away, not that the man made tailing him easy. Steve still wasn't quite past the need to obsessively watch his brother lest he suddenly disappear again.]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-16 05:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-05-17 11:56 pm (UTC)[Jokes were fun, and he was enjoying himself. How could he feel bad with Bucky within reach again?]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-18 12:11 am (UTC)And yes. I did meet him.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-26 12:48 am (UTC)[And wasn't that an understatement? But he was trying to keep things light, and so far it was still more joy than sorrow. Steve liked it better that way.]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-26 12:58 am (UTC)[Which had been when he died. Up until then, Barnes had actually seemed... reasonably stable and happy, all things considered. But the fact he's alive makes this an improvement.]
You're not dreaming, though. He's here. He looks good. Confused what he's doing here, I figure, but otherwise.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-07 09:31 pm (UTC)[Trying to fish for information? Maybe. Mostly . . .]
no subject
Date: 2020-06-07 09:43 pm (UTC)[It's far from the whole truth, though it is true. Carefully curated facts to keep Steve from finding out too much about a future he can't do anything about here.]
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 12:43 am (UTC)Yeah? I see. I know he can be a little quiet these days, but he's a good man. You think it would be a good idea to have a little get together sometime soon? So people can meet him I mean? The important ones.
[Steve wasn't sure Bucky would go for something like that, especially with a bunch of people all at once, but he wanted his found family to meet his first one. He wouldn't just spring on anyone though. It was just a thought still.]
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 01:01 am (UTC)If you're inviting me, I'll come. How's Barnes feel about a get together?
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 01:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 01:36 am (UTC)Just who else were you putting on the guest list? Out of curiosity.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 01:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 02:21 am (UTC)And it's up to you if you want to include Tony, but I wouldn't. Most people aren't so keen to get to know the guy who killed their parents. That wouldn't be comfortable for either him or Bucky.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-20 07:41 am (UTC)Complicated.
But I'll let you know. It'll take a while to convince Buck a party would be fun. In the mean time, I can totally force smaller groups on him though! We can do a movie night or something! It would be fun!
no subject
Date: 2020-06-20 06:57 pm (UTC)Instead, she lets him push the conversation in an easier direction.]
That's a lot of exclamation marks, Rogers.
But if you want to get together and play bridge or whatever it is you old men do for fun, I'll show up for it.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-21 05:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-21 10:07 pm (UTC)I give up. You already won, Rogers. Tell me when, and I'll show up for a movie.
Assuming you can find a movie worth watching.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-22 01:05 am (UTC)Yes! And there's always something worth watching, come on! What's your fave flick? Maybe we can make a night of it switching off. That would be fun!
no subject
Date: 2020-06-22 02:53 am (UTC)And I don't think I have a favorite. Things I like, but no favorites.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-03 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-04 01:14 am (UTC)[Joking, but she does mean that she'll be there. Clearly Steve wants this.]
wrapping up?
Date: 2020-07-20 03:36 am (UTC)[It was really only barely a joke. Steve liked playing with people's hair, and he wasn't terrible at it either.]
wrapping up
Date: 2020-07-20 04:09 am (UTC)[That seems as far as Natasha can get without entertaining Steve's jokes further. Besides, she figures he wants to catch up with his friend.]
done!
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