Network/Text

[wearingthestars]

Some of us at the hospital have been thinking that it would be good to get a general medical background from people, so we're better prepared in case of...well anything, really. Things like blood type, allergies, any known conditions or family history. But also, given we come from so many different places, there could be anatomical differences that may be important to know.

If you want to answer here you're welcome to, or myself and/or Lauri-Ell would be happy to meet with you in person.

I promise, we'll do our best to ensure this information stays private and is only used in case of emergency, but of course it's entirely voluntary. We understand if anyone would prefer not to.

And if anyone needs help with anything please don't hesitate to ask or drop by.

Private to: Soldier

How's your head today, any better?
I hope you've been taking care of yourself out there. Sometimes I wish you weren't so stubborn.
I might have some news to cheer you up. Are you busy?

-B (...obviously)

Comments

[wearingthestars]

[What private things? Gods. Billy turned red, sure now Soldier was either purposely teasing him, or really didn't bother with any of that enough to realize what Billy had meant with his own teasing.] Heh, um...lots of stuff I'm sure. I uh...I guess I was thinking something more intimate though. That you wouldn't want an audience for. [Could the ground just eat him up now? Where were the evil plants when you needed them.]

[He was glad for the concession of a bed, even if it was just for the night, and he grinned, not pressing his luck. Maybe Soldier would like it enough to keep.] What sort of lesson?

[sinistral]

Oh. No, I don't engage in what you would call intimate activities. [Spoken in a completely matter of fact voice, no big deal. Billy might be dying of embarrassment but the Soldier spoke of it plainly, as if he was discussing the weather or the plant life.] What I do in private is more along the lines of letting my arm go uncovered. Performing maintenance. Training.

[As far the bed was concerned, he'd consider the idea. Maybe. So long of sleeping on the floor and it might feel too strange.] I haven't decided yet.

[wearingthestars]

[The plain way he spoke of it very nearly had Billy automatically agreeing 'Oh no, me neither', but he merely nodded quickly, feeling very foolish for making the teasing remark in the first place.] Right, yeah, sorry-

Anything new you were thinking of adding to the routine? [Something that might change the subject he prayed.]

[sinistral]

You're not the first to assume. It doesn't offend me if you ask. [Nothing to feel foolish about, in the Soldier's eyes. He knew academically that most people had at least some level of sex drive. To not experience that put him in a minority, and he didn't mind if Billy had questions about it. What he couldn't answer was why he was this way: had HYDRA broken something he once had, or was there some other explanation? He didn't know.

But he could change the subject, at least.]

I was thinking of a little more in strength training. If the building we were just in wasn't stable and the second floor collapsed, you'd catch yourself with your magic. But I think you should also be able to use your body to pull yourself up. How do you feel about it?

[wearingthestars]

No, it was a stupid joke. And it's none of my business. [Billy assured, still bashful. From what he knew of other Buckys it hadn't occurred to him, but Soldier had all ready proved himself quite different from them on many occasions.]

Heh- [He flushed, looking a little uncertain about his abilities in that area, but Soldier wasn't wrong.] I could definitely use some work there.

[sinistral]

Your jokes don't offend me either. [He shrugged.] I suppose the point is more that I had no plans that you can't be a part of, private or otherwise.

[A nod, glad that Billy agreed. Running laps wouldn't help him in that regard, and the ships had very little in terms of workout facilities. The planet had even less.] I will work with you to start lifting weights. And I'll teach you to climb.

[wearingthestars]

[Billy smiled, and some of that bashfulness seemed to fade away at last.] I'm glad.

At least it won't be as humiliating as gym class.

[sinistral]

Humiliation serves no purpose at all. [Not that gym classes anywhere would get on that wagon any time soon. But the Soldier had no intention of dwelling on what Billy couldn't do, or berating him for it. He'd rather work with Billy to develop the talents he already had.]

I want you to feel comfortable here, whether or not we're training. You give so much away to everyone else. I don't want to weigh you down with unnecessary expectations.

[wearingthestars]

You're always good about that. I always feel safe with you. [Billy never felt weighed down by their training. And he scoffed a little at Soldier's thoughts about him.] I don't do anything special, it's not a big deal.

[sinistral]

You freed my mind. That's a big deal to me. [Probably not to anyone else, but without Billy's efforts the Soldier did know how long it would take him to shake off the control, especially with Beck still having the book.] Come, let's work on your punches a little, and work up an appetite.

[wearingthestars]

Okay, well that's... [A harder one to deny, and Billy smiled, giving a small laugh and nodding, eager to switch back into training mode.

Punches were at least a little easier. Though Soldier was so fast,it was hard to keep up with that reaction speed. That at least was a frustration Billy was more than used to, living with Tommy all this time.]

[sinistral]

[He smiled and nodded, and let it go. It was important to both of them but they didn't need to dwell. Sometimes the most important things were said without words.

Instead he faced Billy, considering.] I have an idea. Can you create pads I can put over my hands? I want you to not hold back, but I don't want you to get hurt punching metal.

[wearingthestars]

[After taking a moment to mentally conjure the image Billy nodded, reasonably sure that shouldn't be much trouble. It was easier to conjure things he'd personally interacted with in some way before, but he'd seen plenty of examples in films and comics through out his life time.]

I think so. Let me- [He murmured a repeating spell, a set of pads materializing in a red colour that might have been meant to favour either of them really.]

Will they work?

[sinistral]

[Look, any conjuring Billy did was amazing, period. Whatever he came up with, they'd make work. The pads he produced had straps that the Soldier slipped his own hands into, and held up in front of himself.]

Try a few punches and tell me how they feel. If they work, we'll work on your form.

[wearingthestars]

[Shaking out his hands, Billy flushed a little, but assumed the position, feeling less bashful about it all that he had when they'd first started. After the first blow was cushioned he tried a little harder, rubbing curiously at his knuckles.]

Hurts a lot less than punching a person. Still a little bit of impact, but I'd guess that's normal?

[sinistral]

Yes. But it should hurt less than actually punching me. Now try again: a quick punch, like an explosion. Remember that you want to surprise or stun, to buy time for your magic.

[He would coach Billy on form, on how and where to strike, on following up with a spell. He didn't plan to work his companion to the point of exhaustion, but just to the point of a good kind of tired.]

[wearingthestars]

Way less cool fist bump. Got it.

[If his sixteen year old self could only see him now. Certainly in the best physical shape of his life, able to semi-confidently perform moves he never could have dreamed of, and being trained by one of his childhood heroes. He'd always thought athletic types and runners were exaggerating when they talked about the high of working out, but the more regularly he worked with Soldier the more he understood.

It was easy to see as he was starting to get worn out, focus slipping some, a little less quick on following through on Soldier's feed back.]

[sinistral]

Give me one last good one. [He could see Billy tiring, but getting him to that point took more time than when they'd started training. He caught the punch and lowered his hands, pulling off the pads.] Good. Let's stretch so you don't get too stiff, then we're done with working out for the day.

[Stretching was the good kind, slow movements with the Soldier's hands helping where necessary to achieve and hold a deeper stretch. It also let him evaluate Billy's range of motion and how far he'd come in that respect as well.]

I'm proud of you for today. You've improved a lot.

[wearingthestars]

How do you get used to that? [Billy shook his hands and arms out with a laugh, and wondered how badly all his non-magical heroes must ache after a long fight.

Stretching was much more in Billy's wheelhouse, having been a fan of yoga long before coming to this place, though he never knew how much better it could feel after a long work out, especially with Soldier helping to reach that deeper stretch.

He sighed with relief as he helped him reach that much deeper, smiling at that praise.]

Yeah? You're a good teacher, I couldn't have done any of it without you.

[sinistral]

How do you mean? [The Soldier could interpret that question in several ways. He smoothed both hands along Billy's shoulder blades, helping him reach farther forward.]

You are a good student. It's a good feeling, working with someone like you.

[wearingthestars]

The pain part. It's sore. [Billy flushed, wondering if maybe that was just something you harden to, and he was showing how unsuited to this he still was. He shrugged then.] Or...all of it, I guess? I like learning, but if I had to use this all the time like some of the heroes...I dunno if I'd be up for it.

[Soldier's words made him smile softly.] Feeling's mutual. Obviously. I know you maybe weren't into me checking in on you all the time, I know you like your space, but...I'm glad you put up with me. I think you're one of my closest friends here...

[sinistral]

Where does it hurt? [He was pretty sure that he had a good enough sense of Billy's abilities to know when to stop, but he needed to make sure.] The pain is easy. You punch something hard, your knuckles hurt. You punch something too many times, your muscles get sore. It all makes sense, clear cause, clear effect. It's easy pain. Alive pain.

[He helped Billy ease out of the stretch and nodded his head to the side. Broken Agrii furniture comprised most of the spare furnishings but at least offered a place to sit.] I would not call it 'putting up with'. Your visits are neither overbearing or unwanted. I am not good company but it is an honor that you would consider me a friend, knowing what you know about what I am.

[wearingthestars]

My hands mostly. My knuckles. Not horrible or anything, just...sore? [He explained with a bashful look. Obviously you didn't just...go numb to the pain. But was Soldier always in some kind of pain then? Always hurting? He tried his best to relate.] Like...the good kinds of fear?

[It felt much better, and Billy made himself comfortable, taking a seat.] You're awesome company. And I think your choices say a lot more about who you are then the choices other people made for you. People were the same about my mom...about Wanda, but that wasn't her either.

[sinistral]

Let me have them. [If Billy consented he'd find the tension slowly rubbed out by callused fingers, Bucky's metal hand holding each wrist steady in turn.] Like the kind of pain that comes from your own actions, and not because someone else just felt like causing it.

[HYDRA was, well, HYDRA. But they didn't need to dwell on it.] Besides, I heal quickly.

[The Soldier also sat, a comfortable distance away. With Billy, that distance had shrunk to within the reach of Billy's arms. Funny, that.] I am absolutely poor company, and perpetuate it by choosing to keep the community at a distance. Shouldn't gloss over that fact.

[wearingthestars]

[Billy didn't hesitate, offering his hands without thought, and the gesture surprised him, especially given how many times Soldier had shrugged off such things for himself.] That feels nice. Thank you.

[Ah. Well...Billy understood that a little better than he'd like to admit, having been a depressed teen fairly recently. Though he didn't imagine that was anything near the same as what Soldier had been through. Still, he frowned faintly at those final dismissive words, a look the Soldier would be familiar with by now.]

Is that something you want to change? [He tried to keep his tone neutral, but there was a teasing look in his eye, smiling softly.]