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[ She completely assumed he'd think she's making fun of him, so his reaction is a pleasant surprise. Favorite girl? She'll take it. Disturbing? She's glad to know he didn't like it. ]
I have a list if you want the rest of it.
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Yeah. I'm not gonna let anyone talk shit about you while I'm around. That's my job.
And Sam's, occasionally. I'll allow it.
[ She knows what he's asking but she's going to play it dumb so: ] I think ice cream. And a movie. I'm gonna go get some and hole out in my apartment. I'll save you a pint if you want any. Pumpkin spice? Cinnamon apple?
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[ Her knee-jerk reaction is to refuse, because that's never really been her kind of thing. But... what the hell. Live a little, right? ]
Alright. But just one night. And no getting into trouble with the authorities. I'd hate to have to help them arrest you.
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I mean it. But only if you don't mind. I know you like having space. Otherwise I'll just spend the night on occasion and when you need to me to catsit Alpine.
1. It's a dog. I don't see the issue. Totally normal dog. Nothing to see here. Stop asking questions.
2. Are you the reason I have donuts this morning?
3. Maybe the forty-seventh time is the charm. You never know!
4. Two missed calls and no message? I guess I'm curious.
5. I'm not leaving my place tonight. I am staying in for the foreseeable future. I'm tired of people.
6. [ text her! ]
2. Are you the reason I have donuts this morning?
3. Maybe the forty-seventh time is the charm. You never know!
4. Two missed calls and no message? I guess I'm curious.
5. I'm not leaving my place tonight. I am staying in for the foreseeable future. I'm tired of people.
6. [ text her! ]
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They're large and octopus-like. Have you seen an octopus? They'd be fun if they weren't trying to sustain themselves by draining humans of blood.
What are you reading?
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Only second? I'm hurt.
My last read was very... modern.
[ Bucky calls it the "weird sex dragon book". Guess she shouldn't have gotten a book recommendation from TikTok. ]
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You're Mobius M. Mobius, right? With the TVA?
[ She does know about miscommunication, though, so she goes to check. And yetโ ]
I asked again. She said it's you.
My name is Stephanie Rogers. I was told I'm to be trained as an analyst?
[ She still doesn't understand half the things she's saying. ]
The tag reads:
[He considered a backpack leash first, butโฆ he found these wrist strap versions instead and figured there might be other ways to repurpose them.]
[He considered a backpack leash first, butโฆ he found these wrist strap versions instead and figured there might be other ways to repurpose them.]
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I could come over so you can finally use it. Rearrange your stuff a little and add some organized chaos to your life.
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Isn't that how dating's supposed to go, or have I been doing it wrong this whole time?
[ She's not going to admit to deliberately botching said dates because he's the one she wants to date instead. He hadn't taken it well the last time she'd brought it up, so she'll just continue to avoid that topic.
What she can't avoid is squirming from the poking. This isn't really the time to be having flashbacks to that night, Stephanie. ]
The mask didn't look military grade. More like a Victorian era costume? I was surprised they could see in that thing. And they wore some kind of factory coveralls. Really dark gray, but not black.
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What do you need, then, if you're trying to flatter me?
[ She doesn't buy the flattery bit, but he doesn't just text anyone for no reason. Something's up. ]
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Course you are. But your campaign manager said you were busy. Did you even get the invite? I sent it by post. It had a little doodle of you in a nice suit.
If you come, I'll introduce you to everyone. Tell them you're awesome, share embarrassing stories from when we were teenagers.
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It doesn't matter what they are. I'm just stating a fact. Doesn't mean I ain't doing this with you.
[ There's nothing she won't do for her friends. ]
[ Bucky was leaving, and there was nothing Steph could do about it, except to wait for the hours to pass.
She's wrapped in his uniform jacket with his arm around her shoulders, almost as if she might run off if he doesn't keep her close while his attention is on the flying car the Stark guy is showing off. It's not hard to feign excitement โ it's a damn flying car, after all โ but she doesn't really feel it. Her father had been a soldier, after all. Killed in action, during the last war, before she was born. This could be the last time she'll ever see Bucky. Her best friend, the closest she had left to a family... and the love of her life, though she's never breathed a word to him or anyone (especially not Becca!) about it.
Don't go, she wants to ask of him, but she realizes it's too late now, and it's something he could never give. Every other abled man in Brooklyn was going, laying down their lives for their country. Bucky Barnes, of all people, would never stay behind and just work in a factory or something. He would never live it down.
The flying car malfunctions, and the crowd's collective sigh of disappointment snaps her out of her thoughts. Bucky's still grinning, though. She has to smile.
"I did say a few years, didn't I?" the Stark guy says. The audience laughs and grants him a round of applause. Steph, dark humored about her condition as always, cups her hands around her mouth and yells: ] But I don't have a few years!
She's wrapped in his uniform jacket with his arm around her shoulders, almost as if she might run off if he doesn't keep her close while his attention is on the flying car the Stark guy is showing off. It's not hard to feign excitement โ it's a damn flying car, after all โ but she doesn't really feel it. Her father had been a soldier, after all. Killed in action, during the last war, before she was born. This could be the last time she'll ever see Bucky. Her best friend, the closest she had left to a family... and the love of her life, though she's never breathed a word to him or anyone (especially not Becca!) about it.
Don't go, she wants to ask of him, but she realizes it's too late now, and it's something he could never give. Every other abled man in Brooklyn was going, laying down their lives for their country. Bucky Barnes, of all people, would never stay behind and just work in a factory or something. He would never live it down.
The flying car malfunctions, and the crowd's collective sigh of disappointment snaps her out of her thoughts. Bucky's still grinning, though. She has to smile.
"I did say a few years, didn't I?" the Stark guy says. The audience laughs and grants him a round of applause. Steph, dark humored about her condition as always, cups her hands around her mouth and yells: ] But I don't have a few years!
Edited 2025-04-01 20:53 (UTC)
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What kind of magic have you actually witnessed? Real magic, not metaphorical magic.
Someone told me I'm gonna get to see some weird shit but, you know, I'm not there yet. Because of this time thing.
[ ......................................... this is just banter, right? He's not actually...? ]
The pain in the ass kind?
Hey, Scott. Got half an hour after your book signing to talk business? I have a proposal.
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There's this hole in the wall Sam took me to once, with a mostly military clientele, so we shouldn't get hassled too much. If you wanna try it.
[ It's mostly for his sake than hers. She's more used to dealing with people, as evidenced by her hanging out so openly in the park. Then again, the public's image of her is mostly the suit and shield, not a walking Barbie in a dress, ballet flats and a sun hat. ]
The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas. It's the book club pick. A bit slow, but I like it. And the book is thick and heavy enough to fight with, if needed.
Not a secret, just a low profile. Don't want your approval ratings to be influenced by it, you know? Though it probably helps having a trophy wife at those galas and things.
[ She's no trophy and she's also not a wife, but he knows what she means. ]
[ Steph could hear the music and the laughter from the women's barracks, and she had, in fact, already changed into her uniform to join in the revelry, but she couldn't make herself do it. So she's still sitting on the edge of her bed, staring down at her hands, which are shaking when they shouldn't be.
There had been many horrors in that HYDRA factory: their soldiers in cages, Bucky half-dead on that cold metal table, Schmidt peeling back his face, the weapons that disintegrated people in flashes of blue light, the deafening sounds of gunfire. But none had been as horrifying as the first time Steph had swung her shield right into a man's throat, killing him instantly. She can still feel his warm blood on her face and neck, no matter how much and how hard she'd scrubbed in the shower when they'd returned to camp.
She turns to reach for the sketchpad tucked under her pillow. The pencil nearly snaps in two from how much her fingers are shaking, and she has to pause and close her eyes and take in a deep breath. Then she starts to draw the outline of Peggy's familiar, comforting face. ]
There had been many horrors in that HYDRA factory: their soldiers in cages, Bucky half-dead on that cold metal table, Schmidt peeling back his face, the weapons that disintegrated people in flashes of blue light, the deafening sounds of gunfire. But none had been as horrifying as the first time Steph had swung her shield right into a man's throat, killing him instantly. She can still feel his warm blood on her face and neck, no matter how much and how hard she'd scrubbed in the shower when they'd returned to camp.
She turns to reach for the sketchpad tucked under her pillow. The pencil nearly snaps in two from how much her fingers are shaking, and she has to pause and close her eyes and take in a deep breath. Then she starts to draw the outline of Peggy's familiar, comforting face. ]
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You gonna keep me guessing, or can we stay honest for the rest of the night? Don't worry, I ain't gonna make you spill your life story or anything.
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Did Nat make out with you too or was that just me?
Okay, let's look for a timeline where you can smash face with Buck. There's gotta be one where he's into us.
[ When Hollywood comes knocking on his door for the rights to his life story - and let's be honest, it'll be sooner than later - this might be the most unbelievable twist that the audience won't be able to believe. Captain Fucking America being found in a block of ice and defrosted like a Swanson frozen dinner and then coming to New York to see the son of her long lost pal, Howard.
It makes him chuckle to himself, just thinking about it, even if his mouth is dry and his stomach is in knots. She has no idea what a monumental meeting this is for him. She has no way of knowing what she'd meant to his father, the shadow she'd cast over his mother, the way that Tony had thought the way into his father's heart was learning as much as he possibly could about a nobody from Brooklyn. He stares at his reflection in the overly polished elevator doors and waits for them to open at the penthouse level where his office and well stocked bar is. There's no way he's doing this sober. He slides on a pair of shades before the elevator comes to a stop and strides out onto the floor full of purpose and gusto. Pepper is waiting for him on the pristine white sofa, her blackberry in one hand and portfolio in another.
Beside her is the woman that's always been the biggest unknown in the equations that used to matter before Afghanistan. Christ, she doesn't look older than twenty five. So normal looking that she could be the receptionist at the front desk downstairs if she wore frumpy dresses instead of Gucci. Pepper gracefully gets to her feet, plastering on a smile that is silently begging Tony to be nice.] Tony, there you are. This is Stephanieโ
Rogers. [ He finishes, pulling off the shades and offering a hand for her to shake. ] The woman, the myth, the legend.
[ Pepper clears her throat and gives him a look before turning to Rogers. ] Captain Rogers, it was an honor to meet you. [ She gives her a small nod before moving to the elevator.]
You're not going to stick around? [ It's their code for "come back in fifteen with an emergency". Pepper narrows her eyes and shakes her head. ] Sorry, I've got a conference call in five.
Cancel it.
[ Pepper forces a tight lipped smile at him as she steps in the elevator. ] No. [ The doors close and she's gone. ]
[ Tony sighs and moves towards the ceiling to floor bar. He starts pouring himself a drink of the strongest stuff he has, finally looking Stephanie Rogers in the eyes. ] What's your poison, Cap?
It makes him chuckle to himself, just thinking about it, even if his mouth is dry and his stomach is in knots. She has no idea what a monumental meeting this is for him. She has no way of knowing what she'd meant to his father, the shadow she'd cast over his mother, the way that Tony had thought the way into his father's heart was learning as much as he possibly could about a nobody from Brooklyn. He stares at his reflection in the overly polished elevator doors and waits for them to open at the penthouse level where his office and well stocked bar is. There's no way he's doing this sober. He slides on a pair of shades before the elevator comes to a stop and strides out onto the floor full of purpose and gusto. Pepper is waiting for him on the pristine white sofa, her blackberry in one hand and portfolio in another.
Beside her is the woman that's always been the biggest unknown in the equations that used to matter before Afghanistan. Christ, she doesn't look older than twenty five. So normal looking that she could be the receptionist at the front desk downstairs if she wore frumpy dresses instead of Gucci. Pepper gracefully gets to her feet, plastering on a smile that is silently begging Tony to be nice.] Tony, there you are. This is Stephanieโ
Rogers. [ He finishes, pulling off the shades and offering a hand for her to shake. ] The woman, the myth, the legend.
[ Pepper clears her throat and gives him a look before turning to Rogers. ] Captain Rogers, it was an honor to meet you. [ She gives her a small nod before moving to the elevator.]
You're not going to stick around? [ It's their code for "come back in fifteen with an emergency". Pepper narrows her eyes and shakes her head. ] Sorry, I've got a conference call in five.
Cancel it.
[ Pepper forces a tight lipped smile at him as she steps in the elevator. ] No. [ The doors close and she's gone. ]
[ Tony sighs and moves towards the ceiling to floor bar. He starts pouring himself a drink of the strongest stuff he has, finally looking Stephanie Rogers in the eyes. ] What's your poison, Cap?
Edited 2025-07-12 23:26 (UTC)
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