[ It annoys him because 1) it’s none of their fucking business what Rogers and Barnes were to each other, and 2) that would explain a lot and he doesn’t know how to feel about it. ]
[ She might never truly comprehend what HYDRA had put him through, but she knows what it's like to grapple with your identity. The serum had changed her body and thus changed her; the woman he'd been with during the war hadn't been Stephanie Grace Rogers, not really. And then that woman — she jokingly calls her Libby in her head sometimes, like Howard did — went under the ice. She's still not entirely sure who came out of it. ]
[ It’s a relief to hear. He’s watched enough footage of them to see the naked devotion on Barnes’—his—face around Rogers. Seeing her now, even through his scope, makes him feel too much. ]
[ That will never change, no matter who they become.
He probably doesn't need the update (or care), but she desperately needs to change the subject. She's not about to cry while she's stuck in the Quinjet with the other Avengers, though she's already made the excuse of prepping her bike in the cargo hold. ]
[ He barely has time to feel touched before the second message comes in, and then he’s cursing and scrambling to his feet.
The Avengers and their fucking souped-up quinjet. He has to get moving now to have any hope of reaching Strucker’s base before they arrive and start wrecking havoc. He sends the first thing that comes to mind before shoving the phone into his backpack. ]
[ She busies herself with checking her bike, then her suit and shield and weapons. She sets the shield face down on the floor and kicks it up; the metal attaches itself to her forearm without needing to be strapped on thanks to the electromagnets Tony had installed. She finds herself smiling, suddenly reminded of the look on Bucky's face during the Expo, when Howard had demonstrated his flying car. It's a bittersweet memory. Everything from Before is.
Including the message she receives from him. She feels something in her chest constrict at the familiar words, which she reads over and over for about a full minute because she can't believe he's saying them at all.
So she can't help responding: ] How can I? You took all the stupid with you.
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dysmorphics) wrote2025-05-07 07:46 am
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[ For research purposes, obviously. ]
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[ You know, the WW2 ones. About her, about the Howling Commandos. About them. ]
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[ It annoys him because 1) it’s none of their fucking business what Rogers and Barnes were to each other, and 2) that would explain a lot and he doesn’t know how to feel about it. ]
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[ Well— ]
But if, you know.
You ever wanna know.
You can ask.
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Do you want me to be him?
[ Objectively he knows he was James Buchanan Barnes. He’s just not sure if he can go back to being that guy. ]
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[ She might never truly comprehend what HYDRA had put him through, but she knows what it's like to grapple with your identity. The serum had changed her body and thus changed her; the woman he'd been with during the war hadn't been Stephanie Grace Rogers, not really. And then that woman — she jokingly calls her Libby in her head sometimes, like Howard did — went under the ice. She's still not entirely sure who came out of it. ]
I'm not her anymore, either.
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You’re still important.
[ To him. And unfortunately, to HYDRA. ]
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[ That will never change, no matter who they become.
He probably doesn't need the update (or care), but she desperately needs to change the subject. She's not about to cry while she's stuck in the Quinjet with the other Avengers, though she's already made the excuse of prepping her bike in the cargo hold. ]
We're en route to Sokovia.
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The Avengers and their fucking souped-up quinjet. He has to get moving now to have any hope of reaching Strucker’s base before they arrive and start wrecking havoc. He sends the first thing that comes to mind before shoving the phone into his backpack. ]
Keep both eyes open, don’t do anything stupid.
[ At least until he gets there. ]
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Including the message she receives from him. She feels something in her chest constrict at the familiar words, which she reads over and over for about a full minute because she can't believe he's saying them at all.
So she can't help responding: ] How can I? You took all the stupid with you.