![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
โง ๐ฌ๐ก๐'๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ-๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐
for spam, texts, tfln overflow, starters, prompts โ
for spam, texts, tfln overflow, starters, prompts โ
for spam, texts, tfln overflow, starters, prompts โ
no subject
Wait. What? You mean the one with Al Pacino isn't the original one? [ now there is genuine surprise written on her face. ] During stakeouts sometimes, I will have movies playing from a very legal streaming website in the background while I keep watch. I'll send you the link so you're not too far behind those sequels.
[ what's he looking โ ah, yes, her boots. ]
Maybe. [ goldilocks is a cute nickname, but she has yet to catch a wink of sleep, actually. ] I may have left a couple of strands of hair here and there. Sorry about that. But โ did you see? I didn't take the apron this time.
no subject
Yep. 1932, directed by Howard Hawks, he's great. He's one of my favourites. He did Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday— I caught The Big Sleep just a few years ago, that was a treat. Realising that he kept making stuff after I— wasn't around to see them.
And really? Didn't notice. I was mostly checking to make sure there wasn't anyone with a gun or a grenade or a knife waiting for me. Priorities.
[ he glances back, towards the kitchen. feeling that slow, warm amusement ticking over and that grin wanting to broaden on his face. ]
'This time'? Meaning you'll be back?
no subject
she keeps howard hawks' name tucked away in her mind for later research. maybe she'll watch a couple of his films when she's back home with fanny. ]
You're around now, and that's all that matters, right? Movies aren't going to go anywhere, anyway. [ the thing about yelena is that she is disgustingly transparent, and it with a rather sad kind of fondness that she regards bucky's person. ] You have all the time in the world! When you're not saving it, obviously.
[ then she spins around to show him the gun tucked under the waistband of her pants, at the small of her back and kicks a leg back to point at the holster holding her knife inside her (still) unlaced boot. ]
Ah โ but I left my grenades in the car, my bad. [ she beams at him, like the little shit she is. ] But yes, I will be back. I'll even bring a couple of things to spruce up your apartment so it isn't so... So bare-bones, you know? You need some plants.
no subject
when she flaunts her weaponry, bucky leans slightly in order to peer closer at the knife in her boot. ]
Is that a Ka-Bar? Nice choice.
[ because comparing brands of combat knives is a totally normal topic of conversation. ya dummy. at least she can relate? ]
Home decor really, really isn't my strong suit. And, like, wouldn't a houseplant die if I'm away for a few weeks? I still don't get how you're keeping a kid alive. What do you do with Fanny when you need to go on a job?
no subject
it is also much easier to get out of bed knowing she has a purpose and that's what keeps her going. ]
Do you want to see?
[ yelena doesn't wait for an answer; she's just as excited to show off her brand new knife. her thumb and index finger pinch around the skull to pull it out of its leather holster before bearing it to bucky in all of its silver beauty. ]
It was a birthday gift from my mother. [ a beat, ] Melina. It's pretty, right? Flashy, for sure but useful still.
[ this is exactly what regular people talk about on like, a daily basis, duh.
she's following until he mentions a kid, then he loses her completely. what kid? fanny, he says and her eyes widen ever so slightly with relief because โ oh right, THAT kid. ]
I'll get you something low-maintenance, don't worry. Like a teeny, tiny baby cactus you can keep on a windowsill. And believe it or not, Alexei is a pretty good babysitter when Melina isn't busy. Fanny is also a big girl. Very independent. Like me.
no subject
[ congratulations, yelena: you've finally broken him and now he's just breaking into startled, incredulous laughter as he takes the knife and turns it end-over-end in his hands, either admiring the balance or being aghast at the decorative skull, or both. he flips the knife, testing the weight and heft of it. it's obnoxiously over the top, but it is still a ka-bar, and so you can effectively shank someone in the kidney with it and murder them while also looking, at best, extremely tacky.
it's the best and most ridiculous thing he's ever seen.
with another chuckle, bucky flips it back over and sets it back in her hands, and finally seems to notice what she'd said. he's still reeling at the mental image of yelena with a kid, but doing his best to be very cool and blasรฉ and totally chill with it. everything is fine!! she'll divulge more details when the time is right; maybe when he meets fanny herself. ]
This is gonna sound really weird to say, but I feel like the Red Guardian could give really good piggyback rides. And bear hugs.
[ alexei shostakov was a big guy, and exaggeratedly physically affectionate โ as demonstrated by the absolute bear hug he'd given james barnes upon first meeting him, with an exuberant comrade!! and literally lifting the other man off his feet before then challenging him to a wrestling match. they'd gotten along, surprisingly. the man seemed like he could be a good dad, when he put his mind to it.
(and maybe that was what made it so much worse. how effective that ruse had been; how he'd worked his way into his youngest daughter's heart without even knowing the wreckage he'd be leaving behind once the job ended, once they came in from the cold, once the family was stripped away from her.) ]
no subject
You look very cool with it.
[ she's holding her hands out like a child going door to door on halloween for candy and he places it carefully back into her palms. her turn to play with it, the tips of her fingers dancing along the ridges of the handle. โ]
Sounds like to me somebody wants a piggyback ride from the Red Guardian himself. And a hug, too. Would you like his autograph as well?
[ alexei and melina were the best parents anyone could ask for. they set the standard for her (they played their roles to perfection after all), and even after she and natasha were taken into dreykov's "care", she still thought the world of them โ at least for a while. she was never able to hate melina, because she thought she was dead and that was the thing, wasn't it? what was the point of holding a grudge against someone who wasn't even alive? but alexei โ he never came back for them. and then later, natasha never came back for her.
those three years were everything to her and she remembers every single second of it. it kept her grounded, after oksana had freed her but it still hurt like fucking hell.
well, things are better now since she apparently trusts them enough to look after her dog, which she feels really bad about now, for not telling bucky that it is in fact, not a child. ]
I give amazing piggyback rides too, you know. Maybe not so much hugs because my arms are not as massive as Alexei's but I am awesome at carrying people on my back.
[ she's really not ]
no subject
[ there's the skeptical tilt of an eyebrow as bucky straightens to his full height, looking down and pointedly eyeing the eight inches of space between them. he holds his hand flat right above her head, indicating the exact spot where her height ends.
all of this teasing is playful and joyously stupid and banal and it's actually exactly what he needed, after too many hours awake crossing timezones and the ache of bruises on his ribs and the smell of gunpowder on his gloves. he hadn't expected a conversation. he'd expected to come home to this empty barebones apartment, kick off his boots and just pour his body into the bed, hopefully exhausted enough to actually sleep the whole night through this time.
except now he's wired with a kind of overtired energy and the unexpected delight in finding her here. (in not being alone, just a little while longer.) ]
I call bullshit, Belova.
no subject
[ she's only a little embarrassed that she practically squeaks the word out but OKAY, now it's yelena's turn to look at him in complete disbelief when his hand hovers above her head like, what the Fโ
how did she go from goldilocks to pipsqueak in five minutes flat??? ]
That was so uncalled for! I'm almost 5'4" so I am pretty much the average height of a regular Russian woman and [ she goes into a half-squat and slaps her thighs ] I have super strong legs.
[ she has half the mind to keep rolling with her bluff because it's what she does best, but it almost feels like he's going to ask her to prove it which she WILL because yelena belova does not back down from a challenge, ever. โ]
Don't think I don't know what you're doing, Barnes. You're just pulling some reverse psychology shit on me so I can give you a piggyback ride to your bed and tuck you in, yes? Men! So predictable.
shh ok NOW i vanish
and then yelena does all that, and bucky splutters. ]
What? No! Your thighs are very nice but you don't have to prove anyth—
[ except now that she'd summoned it up, now he was picturing one of them — probably him, let's be honest, despite all her bluster— carrying her towards that bed. he's suddenly realising that not having a bedroom was a newfound Problem™, because it meant the bed was just sitting right there in plain view, even when you were trying to entertain a guest in your living room. he'd never had a guest before. he hadn't thought through how intimate a studio apartment was; how all of the walls were disassembled and she'd have such a plain view into every empty corner of his life.
he didn't even have a couch. if they wanted to sit next to each other without having to pull a plain wooden dining chair beside a stuffed armchair, they'd have to sit on the bed instead. this is a Problem™!! ]
If you gotta know, what I was planning on doing was asking if you wanted a drink. Y'know, before you climb off my balcony and flee over the rooftops like Batman.
I SHOULD ALSO BE SLEEPING BUT.....
oh, does she make a face at That. it's not a bad one, though. far from it. the comment was fleeting and he probably didn't even realize that came out of his mouth, but it echoes in the back of her mind. mostly because it'll serve as good blackmail/teasing material for another time when he's not feeling so skittish, because bucky is very much like a stray cat that has no idea how to react to being approached and she knows that very well. even she can't tell if they're flirting but...
yelena is just pleasantly surprised that their bantering back and forth translates exceptionally well from text to real life, not that she ever doubted it but it's just โ refreshing. makes her feel a little closer to being normal. and that she definitely enjoys being in his presence more than she lets on.
bucky's words come to an abrupt halt and suddenly he looks like he's having a brainfart, but she doesn't pry and instead stands there, looking at him in silence. curious.
and then he clarifies, and all she can do is smile at him, cheeky as ever. ]
Well? Are you going to offer me that drink or not?
no subject
Alright. D'you want a drink, Belova? Come inside.
[ said so offhand, casually, as if he does this all the time— except that this is the first person who's ever seen the inside of his apartment, because bucky is notoriously guarded. he lives out on mission, or visiting the wilsons in delacroix, or stopping over by the new avengers compound as it's being slowly rebuilt. people don't come here. it's a box to sleep in, and little else.
as he re-enters the apartment, he toes off his own boots and deposits them by the front door. flicks on the one hanging kitchen light, and starts rummaging through the cabinets. they are, unsurprisingly and just like she called it, just as empty as a bachelor's depressing apartment: a single set of plates and cutlery, few supplies, even fewer glasses, and so when he reaches for the whiskey he winds up pouring his into a clean coffee mug while setting aside the tumbler for her.
(the fridge might be perpetually-empty or full of expired takeout, but he does keep alcohol around. enough to try dulling himself to sleep at night, but it never really works, that metabolism chewing its way through the liquor faster than he'd like to keep up. so in terms of coping mechanisms for the nightmares, he's still never found a good one.) ]
No absinthe or vodka. If you give me more headsup next time, I can stock something you like.
[ next time, and those two little words are a nervous flutter in his chest, even as he tries to sound nonchalant about it. be cool, barnes!! ]
no subject
she follows him without another word and hums, but leaves her boots by the balcony door instead of out there like she did before. she's not sure leaving through the front door would be a good idea? she doesn't want to give off the wrong impression to his neighbours. something along the lines of, "random blonde girl is leaving the apartment of their mysterious and gruff neighbour."
she trails after bucky into his kitchen and while she did do a tour of his place โ it's not like she opened all his drawers and cabinets? imagine her unsurprise when she sees there isn't much in his cupboards. she watches him pull out the whiskey, to which she mumbles under her breath in russian โ ]
So American of you.
[ the studio is small as it is, but the kitchen is even smaller and she doesn't realize it until he's moving around to find some glasses so she occupies herself by making herself right at home and opening the fridge. ]
How many people live here? [ she kid, she kid.
but it won't hit her until later how they both kept throwing around the possibility of a "next time" on more than one occasion. how could she, when they're just engaging in normal conversation as if they don't have their own separate and busy lives to lead?
it is nice to pretend, sometimes. ]
Absinthe is a bit much. I like vodka, though. And beer. I am not really picky. I'll bring cookies next time, too.
no subject
he glances down at his drink, takes a deep swig of the amber liquid. ]
I do like beer for the flavour. Local brews. It's just kind of like juice to me, though; I can't get buzzed off it.
[ he could go through a bottle like it was water, unthinkingly, not even realising how quickly he was downing it. it really was the most annoying part about the metabolism. they'd talked about sleeping pills and how they didn't work for him, but he would've been reluctant to use them even if they did. he doesn't like something knocking him out where he isn't in control of when he wakes up. ]
How long are you stateside?
no subject
[ yelena, on the other hand, is fully aware of how fast she downs alcohol โ she's almost done with hers by the time she closes the fridge door shut.
in the corner of her eye she spots what she came here for in the first place; it's the only thing with personality in his little... humble home and though she has a committed Many A Crime โ this was one she knew deep down she couldn't do. at least, for now. who knows how bucky will make her feel ten minutes from now. ]
Beer is like juice to me, too, except I feel it... Do you even remember what it feels like to be drunk?
[ yelena sets her glass down, just to hop onto the little half-wall counter he's got going on. she really is getting too comfortable hereโ ]
Probably a week if things go according to plan. I have a lot of work to do here. Where were you before you caught me red-handed?
just mashes all this headcanon into this happier au
Technically, I think it's classified and I'm not supposed to tell.
[ but there's another hitch of his eyebrow, a sardonic expression, and bucky pushes on and tells her anyway. she might be rogue, but she's not an enemy. nat's the savviest judge of character he knows, and if she says the other woman is to be trusted these days— ]
Coming back from SHIELD headquarters. We were doing them a favour with some arms dealers working out of DC.
You ever noticed there's a shitton of heroes working out of New York? Between Spider-man and The Defenders and that time sorcerer guy, the city's pretty much covered locally. Kinda feels like the other cities need more representation.
[ which is also why he's so often away from home. any job he and sam are called out on, it's usually not happening here. ]
my turn
yelena belova is, by nature, an assassin after all.
but what she isn't, is a rat nor is she a liar. and so, when bucky continues on and tells her anyway โ there is a weight that is lifted off her shoulders. there is an unspoken understanding between them, he clearly trusts her since he indulged her. ]
Ah. Well, that definitely explains the hole in your jacket. [ she frowns some, tsking. ] Shame. It is a nice jacket.
[ there is a twitch in her brow when he brings up the heroes that reside in new york โ and it leaves a sour taste in her mouth. don't get her wrong, yelena loves what she does; knows that she is the only one that can do it, that should do it but she often wonders why there aren't more of those... heroes, looking for not just her fellow widows scattered all across the globe, but for them when they were just little girls that disappeared. because of the red room, because of dreykov.
she might only have herself to blame, really, since she is hardheaded and doesn't know how to ask for help unless it's from her family but even then, it's like pulling teeth. ]
I guess they either have their plates full or they don't care about trafficked women enough because I am still tracking down Widows, even after allll this time. [ she laughs โ coping mechanism โthen shakes her head. ] I'm glad that you and Sam are doing what you can to help outside of New York.
It is too dense and it stinks here anyway. No offense.
no subject
[ it's still mostly banter, but now his expression's gone thoughtful as he looks at her over the edge of his drink, contemplating. she might be joking, but bucky recognises that strain to the laugh, the way it's ever so slightly forced when it's about this particular topic. edging too close to home, stepping on that raw wound. and so he asks the thing, even if he has a pretty good idea that she, like him, struggles to accept help: ]
Speaking of. I've— been meaning to ask. You up for any more backup on that front?
[ the widows aren't technically his problem, but the winter soldier conditioning is. the fact that it was still alive and well and in use was a fucking nightmare. the only thing stopping him from just muscling his way into the mission right from the start was that he and yelena didn't really know each other that well yet. ]
no subject
Well. At least you don't stink like New York.
[ she flashes him a shit-eating grin โ one that lasts for all of half a second before he offers his help. which, she predicted he would eventually because he's trying to be a Good Guy. in her head, he is already.
she finishes off the rest of her drink before shaking her head again, this time almost vehemently. like what he'd asked her was the most preposterous thing she'd heard all week. ]
No. You're already occupied with the rest of the America, I'm fineโ [ correction: ] We're fine. Thank you, though.
no subject
It's not just a favour to you, for the record. I don't—
[ bucky exhales. forces himself to say the rest of this. he's not great at opening up, trusting people with these slivers of himself, but it's relevant here and so it's worth saying. why he cares about her mission. ]
A while ago, Baron Zemo cleaned up the last survivors of the Winter Soldier program. Tracked them to where they were in cold storage, and shot them all in their sleep. They were HYDRA volunteers and rotten from the start, so hell, I probably would've had to kill them too — but he took the choice away from us. From them. You, though, you've still got that chance to fix things. Properly.
Anyway. Put it in your back pocket. Keep it in mind. If you guys ever do want an extra pair of hands.
[ phrased carefully, and as if it's a normal everyday project like building a patio. but still. ]
no subject
he's right though, to think that she thinks he's just owing her a favour, because that is precisely what goes through her mind when somebody offers their help.
so she listens when he keeps going, opens up to her about things he's probably only told sam or steve or natasha.
her eyes never leave his, not even once he's said his piece. she feels vulnerable, like this; but bucky must feel it more. ]
I'm trying. [ to fix everything that dreykov destroyed, to piece them back all together one by one. ] And I know your offer is coming from a good place, too, it's just โ this feels like something we should be able to take care of on our own, you know? [ but she brings up a hand to stop him from talking, because she knows he'll tell her it's okay to ask for help and yadda yadda. ]
But I will keep you in mind. I mean it. You will be the first person I reach out to if I need help.
no subject
as if remembering that he actually lives here and he should get comfortable too, bucky unbuckles and unzips his jacket — it's the combat one he wears when he's out on mission, because like hell is he letting the comfortable leather jacket risk bullets — and tosses it over the back of his dining chair. he tilts his head toward where the apron is still hanging. ]
You didn't take it.
no subject
I didn't. [ she gives bucky a shrug from across the room, as she makes a beeline for the whiskeyโ ] May I?
[ she's pouring herself another drink before he could even get an answer in. typical russian behaviour, is it not? ]
But, I can take it if you want. I just figured it would be nice for me to have a reason to come back here, you know? Like how women in American movies leave a very obscure hair clip on the edge of a man's bathroom sink.
no subject
Huh, yeah. Movies taught me about that. I hear it's normally earrings and sweaters.
[ there's a small, considering pause, his head still tilted thoughtfully, his attention having shifted from the apron to her as he processes that little piece of information. ]
Leave it, then.
[ it's not as forthright as an explicit invitation, a straightforward i'd like to see you again, and yet it's about as straightforward as he's ever gonna get: his gaze steady on hers, that little almost-smile still flickering in the corner of his mouth. ]
no subject
You'll get sick of me.
[ yelena shoots him a toothy grin, despite her threat. she is much less shy on that front; she's not afraid to show her contentment, however she does appreciate that bucky is stingy when it comes to giving those smirks of his away.
his smile is the kind that could break a heart, and she wonders if he's broken many in his lifetime. or before his time as the winter soldier. not exactly something she wants to bring up right now, as she saunters over to him with her drink in hand and his in the other. she holds it up for him to take, totally not because she's hoping for their fingers to brush or anything!! ]
What happens after I take the apron then? [ she's pushing him a little further, she knows. ] Will I have to start leaving random jewelry and mismatched socks?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
wrap or yours to close!