revivalproject

WHO:Bucky Barnes, OTA, (Closed post for Steve)
WHERE: where the Glownies graze, Steve/Bucky's place
WHAT: Glownie Therapy, Flowers
WHEN: Early days after being released
WARNINGS:TBD

OTA- Glownie Therapy

Still lacking the proper data point, Bucky couldn't care for the glownies as well as the others. Besides which he didn't want to step on the those of those who had assumed it as their job. But he visited them when he needed something to calm him down, bring him of a little of that peace he'd felt out in Wakanda.

He'd spent hours on another fruitless search for Soldier, or the Red Book, turning up neither, and hesitant still to bring his concerns to Steve because...well, if he was being honest with himself it was because he was afraid of Steve seeing an activated Winter Soldier in the flesh. The memories were bad enough.

So he stopped to visit the glownies before heading back, brushing them down slightly and giving a fond pat to it's flank, feeling the tension ease away.

For Steve

Back in his prime, Bucky was sure he didn't spend nearly this much time fretting over stupid things like this. He was confident, and sure, and dating came easy. He wasn't sure if it was that he was older now, everything he'd been through, or just...that this was Steve.

Adorably old fashioned.

The words kept echoing in him man, and he made a face at the flowers in his hand, making a half aborted turn to abandon them all together before making himself stop. He took a breath let that confident look fall back into place, and let himself inside.

"Steve? You back?"

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Seeing someone hurry towards him, Bucky tensed, shoulders squared in a reflexive defensive stance. There was recognition in his eyes from that first syllable alone, and he frowned, shaking his head faintly, that tension not really leaving him.

There were other difference now that Reeve was closer, even just in the way they held themselves. Similar, but different enough from the branching paths their lives had taken.

"No," he confirmed, "...you're looking for him too?"

"Yes," Reeve said, bowing his head to Bucky. "You're the other Bucky, the one from another version of his Earth? Have you seen him? No, I suppose not since you said too."

And oh the distress in his voice. Truly he did care about Soldat.

"We are friends, even if he sometimes pushes me away. He was behaving weirdly, before the storm came. And I haven't been able to see him since then. I think he released Beck, which made no sense. Something to do with his history I think. And I absolutely didn't see him during the Calibrations. I don't know what to do."

Friends. Even if Soldat didn't know what to do with it, Reeve was his friend, and he cared. Deeply.

The other Bucky.

That felt weird, and Bucky couldn't help but make a face at that without thinking. He was so used to thinking of Soldat as the other. It hadn't really struck him before that it would be the other way around for him, and any who knew him first.

"I've been tracking him, but I haven't been able to locate him yet." He frowned faintly, holding back what he knew about Beck for now, not sure how much Soldat had shared of their past, and feeling uncertain about revealing knowledge of the Winter Soldier. Or the book. The fewer people that knew about that the better, even if Soldat had deemed him trust worthy. "He wasn't the only one missing from calibrations. And he can take care of himself. He wouldn't want you to worry," he tried to assure.

Why wouldn't he be the other Bucky? Reeve doesn't even notice that issue, just keeps frowning over how the other man didn't know where Soldat was.

"Perhaps he wasn't, and he most definitely can care for himself. I don't feel that justifies neglecting a friend. Would you want those who care for you to not be invested in you?"

Though he supposed if the man has even half so negative an opinion of himself as Soldat has... Well, he might not want it.

"I'm not asking you to neglect, just..." he frowns, not sure he can explain his point without sounding insulting or dismissive. If Soldat doesn't want to be found, this man isn't in a position to find him, no matter how much he might care for him.

Which is also a prospect Bucky really hasn't had to properly think about before now. That just like there are people here who care for him and may not have the same feelings for Soldat, there are people who care for Soldat and know nothing of him. It's a bit of a mind twist he really hasn't considered before now, despite feeling he'd come to terms with Soldat existing as a separate person from himself. There's clearly a lot more to deal with there.

"...he's out there. Somewhere. They haven't sent him home yet. But uh...it might be best if you don't go looking. I don't think he'd want you to see him like this," he guesses. Nor would he want to put a friend in danger.

Really? Reeve raised an eyebrow at that. Was this said with caution, or lack of care for the other man?

"If a friend of yours, capable or not, was out there alone, perhaps not in full control of himself, would you abandon him? I would hope not. For I have not done so before and I would not wish to be the sort of man who would do so."

He has known men like Soldat before, dangerous men with dark pasts and assassin skill. And many times he has risked himself for them. This will not change here.

"No," Bucky answered, a bit stiffly, thinking Reeve had rather the wrong impression of what he was trying to say, but not entirely sure how to set him straight without revealing Soldat's compromised position.

"I just think he may not be in a state where he wants to be found by someone he might...hurt."

"You believe Beck has found a way to hurt him not unlike whatever was done to you both when he was younger, that made him Soldat instead of Bucky, and made him fear he might hurt others," Reeve said. Yes, he gets it.

He gets what the man is saying. But here's the important part.

"I still want to help him."

"..." Bucky pressed his lips together, silent a moment as considered Reeve's words.

"To control him," he corrected finally, a guarded expression masking his features. Hurt, yes. But control. That was the key element. And the reason he felt he could confidently say Soldat wouldn't want to meet someone he called a friend in that state.

"...if you want to help him, you can help me find something," he broached cautiously. Soldat apparently trusted this man, but Bucky didn't have the same connection. "...there's a book- Beck can use it to hurt him. He's stashed it somewhere and I need to find it. I can describe it to you, but you have to promise not to look inside."

Control. Reeve hissed in distaste at that. Were it not for his certainty that it would come to nothing, he might seek out this Beck himself and deal with him. BUt it was not in his nature.

"Describe the book's exterior, and whether or not you'd have me destroy it once I find it. My first magic should make short work of it."

Distaste was definitely warranted. Bucky was tense even just mentioning the thing, but he found himself trusting Soldat's judgement more when Reeve agreed without questioning the contents.

"...Red. With a black star on the front. I...I want to see for myself that it's gone," he explained. Otherwise he'd never quite believe it. Maybe it would be good for Soldat to see the thing destroyed with his own eyes as well, though neither of them could be sure Beck didn't have copies, or couldn't get himself another version with how this damn world worked.

Red with a black star. He can definitely work with that.

"In case I only see a part of it at once, how thick is it? And what material is the binding? I ask only so I can be sure to find the right thing."

Still, he gets what should be done. He stands a little straighter.

"Fine an illicit book, never open it, and contact you immediately to turn it over. I can do that."

Peace

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