[ If Sam stops and thinks about it - and he has, with Bucky in his head, and especially after this - he's more than aware that it's probably been a long, long time since anyone touched Bucky like this, gentle and playful and meant to comfort. Hell, he'd known a long time ago that it's been too long since anyone treated Bucky like a person, which is one of the reasons that Sam always has. He figures the last thing that Bucky's ever needed was someone else treating him like he was broken, or walking on eggshells around him just waiting for him to go off.
It's easy, to incorporate touch into that. To soak up Bucky's grin and return it with a gap-toothed smile as he hassles him about being in the finishing school they like to call the army, as he stays in Bucky's personal space, radiating as much warmth as he can short of actually running his fingers through Bucky's hair.
He might have technically just admitted he liked Bucky okay, but he's pretty sure that's a level they're not at. ]
They got 'em now, can't remember when they first started giving them out. There's a game that goes along with them - it's why they're called challenge coins. If someone pulls theirs out, it's a challenge, you gotta show yours, too. Whoever doesn't have theirs on them has to buy everyone else a drink.
[Moments like these- sitting side-by-side, talking as if Sam didn't have every reason to run and leave a broken weapon- remind Bucky of Brooklyn, of warm summer days, jumping from shadow to shadow to avoid burning brick. Or sitting in the shade under a tree overlooking the river.Things weren't easy back then, but they were simpler, uncomplicated by war or brainwashing.
He continues to beam, his mouth edging into a wry smirk.]
So what're you gonna do without this one if I challenge you?
[ The question catches Sam by surprise, and there's a startled burst of laughter, deep and genuine. ]
You're such a jackass, what the hell, man. [ And yet Sam's expression is lit up, and there's no mistaking the tone for anything else but fond amusement. Yeah, he can see why this guy is friends with Steve; they've both got the same kind of sense of humor.
Of course, it's Sam's kind of sense of humor, too. ]
Then I guess I'm gonna buy you a drink. You name the kind and you'll get it, probably not dumped on your head.
[It's almost a shame Bucky doesn't drink anymore; free drinks from Sam sounds like a pretty good deal. He meets Sam's laughter with his own low chuckling. It's been a long, long time since he's done something like this and it's like a breath of fresh air.
It quiets, like all bright moments in his life, but Bucky's countenance is a bit brighter, a bit more relaxed. He bites down on the side of his lip as he turns the coin in his fingers, a swell of affection and joy crashing through him.
He doesn't have much in the way of personal items, sentimental or otherwise. More since he came to Concordia, but every one of them leaves a significant impact on him. The weapon wasn't ever allowed to keep anything, not even his own memories. The assassin couldn't hold onto his freedom or his backpack of notes on his life.]
Thanks. [The word is small and quiet, but deeply reverent.]
[ It's good, seeing Bucky laugh like this. Being able to give him a space where he can relax a little, for however brief of a time. This, right here, this is one of the reasons that Sam'd offered to help Steve look for him in the first place, that he spent two years trying to find him. There was a time when Sam was the one who needed help getting his shit together, finding reasons to smile again, and he knows how important it is to have that.
It's become more than that now - it's become personal - but it hasn't changed the determination to plant himself firmly in Bucky's corner.
His laughter fades, but the smile doesn't, and he shakes his head before resting a hand on Bucky's knee. ]
Anytime. [ It's just as quiet, just as sincere, and he gives Bucky's knee a squeeze before he lets go. ] Come on, I'll make us something to eat. What d'you want? I've been making a lot of pizza, but I can do spaghetti or burgers pretty easy with what we've got.
[Bucky doesn't mind the touch to his knee as he does some deep breathing, but for a reason other than panic. He's not the type to get emotional. He doesn't do emotions, but the sense of gratitude is so profound he can't help but eek out some uneasy laughter in an attempt to vent some of the pressure under the surface. Bucky still focuses his gaze on the floor, but he nods anyway.
He's just shy of exhausted coming out of the other side of the mental ordeal and food sounds like a great idea, even if he thinks he doesn't deserve it, any of this.]
[ Emotions are hard, Sam gets that. But he's come a long way to believe that the good ones are worth all of the bad, even if the bad are real damn shitty. As far as he's concerned, Bucky feeling emotions is a new success.
He'll just maybe try to ease Bucky into them a little, because he knows they can be overwhelming - hell, he can feel it a little, through the mental link. So he doesn't call attention to that laughter, just lets Bucky do whatever he needs to in order to feel a little more comfortable, as though it were normal. It is normal, really, at least to Sam.
Sam gives an amused snort at hot dogs, but he's definitely not gonna veto something if Bucky's actually volunteering a preference. ]
Hot dogs it is. [ He pushes himself up to his feet, absolutely using Bucky's shoulder to steady himself, and then offers him a hand up. ] If I make you a root beer float to go with, that gonna count as the drink I owe you?
[Spoiler alert, he and Steve love hot dogs. Bucky doesn't realize he's made a request until Sam acknowledges it, but the fact that Sam's not making a big deal of it leaves Bucky under the pressure of more emotions. Another venting chuckle escapes him as he nods. He bites down on his lip to try and keep more of those from escaping.]
That mean I gotta challenge you? [He doesn't really know how to initiate a challenge anyway so this might be a touch difficult.
Bucky first tucks the coin into his pocket before accepting the hand up.]
[ There's another smile when Bucky takes his hand up, and Sam lingers, just a little. Gives his hand another brief squeeze, strokes reassuringly over the back of his hand, before he lets go. There's a faint hint of understanding that bleeds over from Sam's side of the mental link. You're okay, man, it's okay to feel. Judgement free zone up in here.
Well. About emotional stuff, anyway, no promises on how much Bucky and Steve love hot dogs or anything else. ]
You just gotta pull it out and show it off, or drop it on the table to make a challenge, so I'll call this one a freebie.
[Sam sends more comfort over the link and Bucky can't help but silently marvel at his broodmate's temperament. He must be one hell of a counselor back home. When Bucky first arrived here with Sam as his broodmate, he hated it and the thought that Sam would always have some kind of backdoor into his head, but now? Now, it's not so bad and maybe he even likes having the support, shocker.
Whatever, two Brooklyn boys who grew up on nothing had to eat to survive and hot dogs were surviving.]
Wait, pretend to be Air Force? [Yuck. Gross. Clearly the worst part of this whole situation.]
[ Honestly, Sam had been the same. It's not like he wanted anyone to be in his head as much as his brood is, and he definitely hadn't been thrilled that one of them was Bucky Barnes, but they're making it work. He might even acknowledge that he's glad it's Bucky, instead of someone else - maybe - and he'll at least admit that it's easier to be the kind of support he wants to be, to do the kind of things that he'd done back at the VA, with the connection between them.
It's his experience at the VA that means his own sense of inter-branch rivalry has faded a little since he was younger. They all got the same problems, when it comes down to it. That, and it's easy to be gracious when everyone knows pararescue is the branch response for saving your dumb ass.
But it's good to see Bucky identify with something, to take pride in being in the army enough to hassle Sam about being in the air force, and he's got no problem dishing it back out. ]
Brother, I was pararescue, you'd be lucky to pretend to be one of us.
[Bucky raises an eyebrow at Sam. Last he knew, pararescue was still Army, but it's been a while since he was Army. Still, this feels good, more comfortable than the overwhelming radiance of Sam's warmth of a few minutes ago. This is infinitely more familiar, too; Steve and he had memories like this from back in New York. He hopes there will be more, but quiets the blossoming emotion in his chest. None of that, now.]
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sizeofyourbaggage) wrote2016-05-22 03:26 pm
no subject
It's easy, to incorporate touch into that. To soak up Bucky's grin and return it with a gap-toothed smile as he hassles him about being in the finishing school they like to call the army, as he stays in Bucky's personal space, radiating as much warmth as he can short of actually running his fingers through Bucky's hair.
He might have technically just admitted he liked Bucky okay, but he's pretty sure that's a level they're not at. ]
They got 'em now, can't remember when they first started giving them out. There's a game that goes along with them - it's why they're called challenge coins. If someone pulls theirs out, it's a challenge, you gotta show yours, too. Whoever doesn't have theirs on them has to buy everyone else a drink.
no subject
He continues to beam, his mouth edging into a wry smirk.]
So what're you gonna do without this one if I challenge you?
no subject
You're such a jackass, what the hell, man. [ And yet Sam's expression is lit up, and there's no mistaking the tone for anything else but fond amusement. Yeah, he can see why this guy is friends with Steve; they've both got the same kind of sense of humor.
Of course, it's Sam's kind of sense of humor, too. ]
Then I guess I'm gonna buy you a drink. You name the kind and you'll get it, probably not dumped on your head.
no subject
It quiets, like all bright moments in his life, but Bucky's countenance is a bit brighter, a bit more relaxed. He bites down on the side of his lip as he turns the coin in his fingers, a swell of affection and joy crashing through him.
He doesn't have much in the way of personal items, sentimental or otherwise. More since he came to Concordia, but every one of them leaves a significant impact on him. The weapon wasn't ever allowed to keep anything, not even his own memories. The assassin couldn't hold onto his freedom or his backpack of notes on his life.]
Thanks. [The word is small and quiet, but deeply reverent.]
no subject
It's become more than that now - it's become personal - but it hasn't changed the determination to plant himself firmly in Bucky's corner.
His laughter fades, but the smile doesn't, and he shakes his head before resting a hand on Bucky's knee. ]
Anytime. [ It's just as quiet, just as sincere, and he gives Bucky's knee a squeeze before he lets go. ] Come on, I'll make us something to eat. What d'you want? I've been making a lot of pizza, but I can do spaghetti or burgers pretty easy with what we've got.
no subject
He's just shy of exhausted coming out of the other side of the mental ordeal and food sounds like a great idea, even if he thinks he doesn't deserve it, any of this.]
Hot dogs? [Okay he's not a man with fancy taste.]
no subject
He'll just maybe try to ease Bucky into them a little, because he knows they can be overwhelming - hell, he can feel it a little, through the mental link. So he doesn't call attention to that laughter, just lets Bucky do whatever he needs to in order to feel a little more comfortable, as though it were normal. It is normal, really, at least to Sam.
Sam gives an amused snort at hot dogs, but he's definitely not gonna veto something if Bucky's actually volunteering a preference. ]
Hot dogs it is. [ He pushes himself up to his feet, absolutely using Bucky's shoulder to steady himself, and then offers him a hand up. ] If I make you a root beer float to go with, that gonna count as the drink I owe you?
no subject
That mean I gotta challenge you? [He doesn't really know how to initiate a challenge anyway so this might be a touch difficult.
Bucky first tucks the coin into his pocket before accepting the hand up.]
no subject
Well. About emotional stuff, anyway, no promises on how much Bucky and Steve love hot dogs or anything else. ]
You just gotta pull it out and show it off, or drop it on the table to make a challenge, so I'll call this one a freebie.
no subject
and maybe he even likes having the support, shocker.
]Whatever, two Brooklyn boys who grew up on nothing had to eat to survive and hot dogs were surviving.
Wait, pretend to be Air Force? [Yuck. Gross. Clearly the worst part of this whole situation.]
no subject
It's his experience at the VA that means his own sense of inter-branch rivalry has faded a little since he was younger. They all got the same problems, when it comes down to it. That, and it's easy to be gracious when everyone knows pararescue is the branch response for saving your dumb ass.
But it's good to see Bucky identify with something, to take pride in being in the army enough to hassle Sam about being in the air force, and he's got no problem dishing it back out. ]
Brother, I was pararescue, you'd be lucky to pretend to be one of us.
no subject
You mean out of anyone in the Air Force?