Snowblind Inbox

[bottledblond]

You have reached Steve Rogers. I am unable to answer you at this moment.
If you would be so kind, please leave a message after the tone with your name,
your number, and the best time to reach you. Thank you very much.


Uh, Tony? How long am I supposed to-- BEEP

Comments

[bottledblond]

Steve opened and closed his mouth before grinning. "That's real clever. I never would have thought to guess it. But how about this, pal. I'll respect your need for distance. You check in with me when you want to and only when you want to, all right?"

[advanced]

He nods, short and shallow, he can give that much at least. When he wants to might not be ever, though, and he can't help but wonder how long Steve will actually wait. He knows first hand just how relentless Steve can be in his pursuit.

"You should join the other Avengers, they're south of the school."

[bottledblond]

"Where are you going...?"

Because no. He wasn't going to take Bucky's place with them. He was fine. He'd scream it to the rafters if these people wanted him to!

"Buck-- Jay.. Stay with them. I'm exploring. It's not so bad." They can't both protect each other!

[advanced]

"I'm not staying with them whether or not you join them, so you might as well."

Bucky had realised his mistake about halfway through the evening when Natasha had been talking of the other Bucky, and when the little niggled voice at the back of his head refused to trust them not to lead him right to Steve in a misguided sense of doing the right thing.

He had been better out on his own, and he would just have to get better at controlling himself, that was all there was to it.

[bottledblond]

One sure fire way to get Bucky to disappear into the literal cold was to push him away by insisting he do what he didn't want to do. Steve tried to school his face, knowing he was still on video, but he couldn't quite hide the worry.

"Okay, all right, I'll try to meet up with everyone but-- If you need anything, even if it's just to talk, we're all still here for you." He didn't single himself out because he was sure that Bucky knew. Somewhere in there was the guy that was his hero all those years ago.

He'd lost Bucky a few days ago to the cold and ice...and now he was doing so again. What irony.

[advanced]

He didn't bother to respond.

But that he didn't refuse or claim he didn't need help was a silent agreement that he would remember they were all there if he needed them. Tony, Natasha, and even Clint had all said much the same thing. It's strange, having the support of all the Avengers even if he isn't ready to accept it yet.

So he just hangs up the line and hands the tablet back to Nat. Maybe he'll talk to Steve again soon, maybe not.